It took a bit but after some rest, followed by the not so subtle sounds of lusty time going on behind them - which Ruby did not watch - Prim had finally regained her senses.

"Just, just a second more." The woman shut her eyes tight as she leaned out the opening into the fresh air. "My head is still spinning."

"C'mon ladies." Came a luscious voice. "Time to meet your new hubbies."

Ruby gave Prim a soft pat on the back. "Seems we're out of time."

"Right... okay, let's do this." Prim sighed as she took in a few more breaths.

Following along behind the both ecstatic and wary women Ruby took note of how they were lead along, her eyes focusing and burning several small objects of interest into her mind. They weren't familiar with the palace, and while that alone confirmed to Ruby that it had indeed changed since Prim escaped, that fact did little to help in their approach. As they were essentially running in on limited information one of the key decisions Ruby decided on was the mental marking of various unique visualises of their little tour.

These objects were mostly decorative pottery, partially encrusted with jewels of various qualities in a series of patterns perplexing to the common eye, or some fanciful artwork which often held little meaning - or at points surface level meaning which historians would spend years trying to 'decipher' to no avail. None of these things held any monetary value for her, but would be useful should they need to retrace their steps in the event of things going sour.

It's always sex. Ruby thought scornfully as they passed by a rather large painting. A man surrounded by many sets of women was displayed, each tinted in bright colours. Oddly enough despite their nudity - highly detailed from the looks of it - the women looked to be praying towards the man, who was a darkened gray. Above him was a woman who matched that gray, however both looked to be surrounded by differing auras.

The man seethed in violet shadows, and the woman shined gold.

Word's gotten out. In a way the painting looked as though it were an interpretation of Salem's fight with the brother gods; what with the darkened figure opposing the light. However the fact that the divine figure was singular and a woman proved the details were flawed.

Back when she watched over the princesses in Mobius Ruby had been present to listen to the fairy-tales Salem told to her children. She spoke of two mortals who opposed two great forces of nature. It was an abridged version of the immortal queen's battle against the brother gods, however the version Salem told included both her and Ozpin, back when he was known as Ozma.

The brother gods were made out to be two great forces of existence, with the god of darkness being destruction, and the god of light opposingly creation. She had told of how Ozma and her captured and tamed the two great forces, and how they merged with them to become the living divines of Mobius. It was this same tale Ruby herself chose to tell Vermillion back when he was young, and like the others he would listen aptly; sometimes during visits to the queen he would listen along with the princesses.

A similar tale was used to sway the masses of Mobius, and as visitors came and gone it would be passed along to the outer world, with other kingdoms altering it to fit their own needs.

However the painting was strange, as oddly enough it had no signature. What caught her eye most of all were the colours chosen for each woman surrounding the man.

Red.

White.

Black.

Yellow.

Ruby didn't want to jump to conclusions, as Salem's stories were often changed by the woman herself to fit her own personal goals. Each of the princesses at the castle held a favorite colour, and the painting reflected it, however Ruby couldn't deny how those four colours reminded her of her team; the very same who she fought time itself to save.

"Weird." Prim spoke quietly as they passed into a larger theater room.

"That painting wasn't here, was it?" Ruby asked, getting a nod from Prim which only strengthened her worry.

The absence of the artwork from the original palace meant that it was either imported after the use of the crown... or created from it. Ruby hoped it was the former, as along with the four coloured women of the painting she saw how half of their bodies looked to fade a deep gray along the ends.

Ruby shook the damning thoughts and worries away, and the very moment she focused once more it was clear the show was about to start.

"Hello gents." Their illustrious guide spoke. "Happy to have you here. We have a lovely lineup of ladies for you today, so relax, lean back, and observe to your hearts content."

Prim nudged her side as the woman walked off, but not before said woman cast one flick of her pinky towards them. It was the signal, to show that everything hinged on them now, at least of a while; they needed to keep cool and wait. Ruby let out a breath as she observed the men sat high above them. They held leering gazes as their eyes trailed over their group, and Ruby knew well that they were sizing up the other women, mumbling between themselves as they most likely divvied out who got who.

Ruby was disgusted to an extent, but she knew damn well that all of the women present were there by choice. The idea of being owned as a trophy wife was all too common in the current time period she found herself in, and as such it was perfectly normal for them to apply as what amounted to premium product.

The nobles above would debate among themselves whether any of the woman they saw were worth anything, and would pay the host who collected such women a small fee to acquire their girl of choice. Considering the men themselves were all wealthy meant that the women would not engage in housework, and instead be used for either sexual play, child bearing, or the most common one which amounted to becoming a physical token of beauty to flaunt around others.

Essentially it was what most in her native time would call a dick measuring contest; who had the prettiest wife, and how is she better than all the others.

"What now?" Prim asked, and Ruby let her eyes wander as one of the men above stood and spoke.

"You there." He called from above. "Golden draped beauty, step forth."

Ruby watched as the woman ahead of them did as commanded, all the while she herself cast her glance back to the side where several men were situated; a pair of guards who stood at the exit their guide from before left through.

"Sire." The blond answered with a curt bow. "What would you have of me?"

"Spin for me." The man commanded. "I wish to assess your physique."

"With pleasure." The woman replied, twirling slowly with a saucy sway. Ruby could almost swear she heard the woman's breathing quicken as she cast swift looks above and took note of the man's various nods and whispers.

Ruby's focus still drew back to the exit, which at this point shifted into more excitement. The two guards were speaking with someone, and a small gust of relief blew through her veins as she noticed the guide from before. The woman sent a wink to Ruby, and Ruby in turn looked to Prim.

"It's time." She said as her partner nodded. The two slowly walked past, only to be stopped as a voice echoed.

"Stop." It was one of the men above. "You two, where do you think you're off to?" Ruby looked up, only to see a curious look cross his brow. "Have you had a change of heart and no longer wish to be brought into nobility?"

Ruby was about to reply when Prim nudged her, and as she looked she noticed the guide had walked out and faced the men. Instantly she knew to keep quiet as the guide spoke.

"Hardly." She let out with frivolous savvy, and let out a hearty laugh. "It would appear these two fine gems are no longer part of the meal presented for you. Our humble lord wishes to partake in these wonderous desserts himself, and has asked that you forgive his sudden burst of greed."

"Ah." The man above replied, with a noticeable spike of disappointment littered across his voice. "I understand. A pity that is, as I had hoped to take the finely sculpted passion for myself. However I will not scoff at our host's generosity thus far. Tell him it is of no worry that he indulge himself on his splendidly presented gifts, and that we wish him only the greatest of feasting his way."

'Finely sculpted passion', Ruby chuckled silently; it was one of the more creative ways she'd heard someone tell her that she looked good for her age. The nobility quite enjoyed their flamboyant language, so much so it was a wonder they even knew what half the words meant. 'Seasoned language' she'd heard her uncle Qrow call it, as it was usually peppered throughout the vocabulary of those who wanted to get a cheap fuck from gullible drunk partners.

Regardless it meant the men were letting Prim and her go without a fuss, and that was fine with Ruby. As they walked over to the guide Ruby saw how it smiled genuinely before it turned and wandered away with them in tow. Prim let out a sigh of relief as they left the theater, most likely glad that the ogling of the nobles was over, all the while Ruby herself watched the guide sway her hips as she walked along; drawing the attention of all the guards as they passed.

In a way it left Ruby wondering just where it had left the original woman, but she brushed those thoughts away and instead decided to take comfort in the fact that Prim's little copy could act out the role of it's original so effortlessly.

.

.

Pyrrha felt weird.

It wasn't anything painful or the like, just... weird. It was as if her body was fuzzy, which on it's own was a poor description of the tingly feeling that shifted through her skin. There wasn't any pain in a sense, just a strange feeling of 'distance' from anything familiar. Her eyes opened, and immediately Pyrrha knew she didn't belong.

The room was just as stern as she remembered, with an all too familiar desk just ahead of her, and Merlot sending off an uncomfortable grin.

"Well then, am I to assume we have a deal?" He inquired from the man stood before him. Every word dripped with an arrogance that made Pyrrha sick; he already knew the answer.

"Yes."

Merlot stood. "Well then, allow me to show you the way."

Pyrrha watched as the scene faded, and as her eyes watched the darkness engulf her she heard a voice call out in a hushed whisper.

"I can't do this anymore, please." It was a woman's voice, and from the way it lightly held itself together Pyrrha knew it was one of worry.

"I'll only be gone for a bit." A man's voice replied, calm and even, however still with that sense of doubt similar to the woman's, although it was heavily mellowed.

"I know, but please. Gold is... well... he's not in a good place right now. Since Vermillion left he's been... distant."

"I thought you wanted that-"

"Don't even!" The feminine voice bellowed, and soon enough silence. A ruffling of cloth brushed Pyrrha's ears, and once more the woman spoke. "Please Lapis. I... I don't know what Corsac told you, but please reconsider."

The man's voice sighed. "I'm sorry, but this is personal. I promise it's only going to be a quick trip, and I'll be back from Menagerie soon."

"But..." She was silent, and Pyrrha noticed the darkness began to lighten slowly. "Adam's launching the plan. I... I don't think I'm strong enough to go along with it." Her voice dropped. "But Gold is."

"He is, and I know he's been different, but he's still our ally... our friend. Even if his silence scares us it won't last forever. Have faith in him Magenta. He'll come back, I know it."

"Fine... okay." She seemed to calm. "I trust you."

"Yeah... you trusted me, but I let you down."

Pyrrha very quickly noticed that the voice was very close, and whipped around where she saw a man standing tall. She wanted to put up her guard, to raise her arms and prepare for a fight, and yet for some reason she felt no need to. Again it was a strange feeling, but somehow her body just knew there was no danger before her. Oddly enough the first thing she noticed was his nudity.

"You're not wearing clothes." Pyrrha stated as she looked over his body, and the same sense of not feeling things kept what should have been shame from forcing her eyes away. Staring at the bare body of a man should have made her feel something, however no feelings of lust, ire, disgust, or really anything presented themselves, just that same sense of calm that was with her since she first opened her eyes.

"I could say the same for you, but you're a much different case than I so I don't think it would count." He spoke, which struck a tiny nail of curiosity within her, again dulled like everything else, but at least she felt it at all. As Pyrrha looked down she immediately noticed what he meant.

She was naked like him, sure, but her body had taken on a less sensible appearance. Down to her breasts everything looked normal, however once she reached her waist that's when she noticed it. Her entire lower body was the same dark veined and pale flesh she had received from V's interference with her death, and yet at her waist it appeared as strips peeled down from the top which created a sort of skirt with how the skin hung below her hips.

It was hard to imagine really, but she likened it to peeling a banana, with that white skin being the peel. This left everything above her waist with the skin she wore before her change, and for the first time Pyrrha could see the healthy hue of her original human body. Even her hair was a bright scarlet again, untied and wild as it draped across her neck and shoulders.

"You have a point." She let out and looked back his way. "Although right now that's not important. Would I be correct in assuming you are Lapis?"

"You are correct." He confirmed, and with that Pyrrha pressed on.

"Then that Grimm creature we were fighting, was that you?"

"Yes."

"Alright." Pyrrha presented her mind once again. "Does this mean my attempt to control your Grimm form worked?"

"So that's what you were up to..." He released a soft breath. "Well that explains the odd ending of my pain."

"Pain?" Pyrrha wasn't too shocked as she expected his new body to be painful, still though, getting confirmation felt a little weird.

"Yeah." His face wore a more depressing mask. "It's like... every fiber of my body was eating itself; ripping and clawing for more and more of my soul. But my soul was out of reach, and so it ate at my flesh instead."

"I'm sorry." Pyrrha offered, only for Lapis to raise his hand.

"Don't be, it's not your fault. Besides, I asked for this, and even if I didn't expect this sort of transformation I still accepted the deal willingly."

"Deal?" Pyrrha softened her tone, only for her thoughts to click. "That scene with Merlot."

"Yes. I don't know what you're doing right now, but it isn't controlling my body. As unusual as it sounds this place we're in right now is my soul."

Pyrrha immediately felt interest spark, and though mellow she still leapt with her questions. "Your soul? How is that possible, and how do you know we're actually in your soul?"

"Because I've been trapped here since the experiment." Lapis said as his eyes fell. "When I accepted Merlot's deal for power I was put under some tests. All of them involved operating on my body in an attempt to 'perfect it' as he said. I'd known of his other volunteers, and of how they never survived, and yet I still pressed on, desperate for the power."

"Why then?" Pyrrha stuck in. "Why take such a risk? Why did you need power?"

"For Gold." He turned away. "Magenta was worried he was changing, but her worries were born from a lack of understanding. I however knew Gold, and I knew exactly what he was going through." His voice fell. "We had the same owner after all."

Pyrrha covered her mouth instinctually, and even though her emotions were mellowed she knew exactly what he meant. "Slavers."

"Yeah." He sighed. "I was brought in around the same time as him, and I watched as day by day he would ask the other slaves about the condition of his lady friend. I didn't know if they were siblings or lovers or whatever, all I knew was that he cared for her deeply."

Pyrrha knew she would regret the words she spoke next, and yet she had to ask. "What did he find out."

Lapis shook his head and turned back. "She didn't make it."

Pyrrha clenched her eyes shut in a display of the pity her current state denied, as if blinding herself from the knowledge, but she soon opened them again in time to see his worn face as he stood firm before her.

"We escaped eventually, but soon after I noticed he shut himself off from the world. He grew angry, and lashed out at anything and everything that crossed his path. When we joined the White Fang we were doing it for revenge; to make Humanity pay for what it had done and allowed."

"Is that what you needed the power for, to make your revenge certain?" Pyrrha knew it was a vile reason, and that she was wrong in her guess, but for some reason the idea of revenge didn't sour her gut; not even a mellowed emotional version like she had with other recent feelings.

"No." He looked to her, and in his eyes she saw a will so certain that it brought back thoughts of V; and with it something cracked inside. "I did it for Gold. I wanted the power to stop him if he lost control of himself; a power to tire him, just long enough for me to return his senses."

"Oh." Pyrrha could understand the idea, and yet something pulled at her mind. "You went to Merlot for the chance to get your power... but I heard your voice earlier, and you told Magenta you went to Menagerie."

"I didn't want her to worry." Lapis said, and a hint of regret latched itself to his throat. "I said the same thing to Gold too."

"It's alright, I understand." Pyrrha felt a dulled sense of empathy for him. "I've done the same thing many times before. Even if it is considered wrong or selfish I've often lied plenty of times to protect my friends, because I know they'll try and help if they knew the truth." One feeling welled up, less numb than the others; it was shame. "But they shouldn't have to get hurt for my mistakes."

"Believe me, I know that well."

"However." Pyrrha locked eyes with him. "There are times we need to let them step in, to ask for help. Maybe it's not their business, but we can't do everything alone. They're our mistakes, but there are points where we have to reach out, because even if it's none of my business I still want to aid and protect my friends and family, and I know many others feel the same."

"Also true." Lapis smiled. "If we run into rash decisions alone we can very well end up dead; I suppose you may take me as an example."

"I know." Pyrrha stretched out her hand as she beckoned him forward. "And that's why I'm here. Even though I can't control your Grimm body I'm still here with you. I don't know how, but I'm certain I can save you, you just have to let me."

Lapis smiled more, and even chuckled, but that chuckle was sorrowful, and instantly any minor bravado Pyrrha managed to drum up blew away.

"I'm sorry." He said. "But this is something you can't save me from. My body's already eaten beyond repair. Even if you took my soul and tore away the Grimm all that would stand is a skeleton and some muscle. The only organ I can feel still human inside me is my heart, and that's only because my soul still resides there, fighting an endless battle with the little remaining aura it can produce."

"Are you... are you saying we're too late?" Pyrrha wanted to be wrong, but she knew better.

"Afraid so." Despite the terrible news he smiled.

"Why are you smiling?" Pyrrha asked, only for his soft eyes to meet hers.

"Because I'm happy."

"Why?" She didn't understand. "You're going to die; you're going to lose everyone and everything; why are you happy?"

"Because I met you." Pyrrha swore she saw his eyes shine. "I got to speak with you, and I got to tell the truth about it all." His smile ached across an easing face. His body relaxed.

Pyrrha felt genuine emotion again, and it wasn't mellowed this time either. As her eyes focused on him she felt a deep sadness within her heart. As this pain rose she fought back that ache as he started again.

"I can stop it you know. The experiment required both the Grimm and a soul. The operation traps the soul in the body, and so long as it remains the creature not only gets control, but can also use the person's semblance by leeching it from the soul. However at any point the soul can choose to leave, and when I felt just how easy it was to start letting go I realized the other experiments failed because they all instantly left. I however stayed. I hoped that by holding on my new power would be enough to somehow help the others, and even with the lack of control I fought through the pain based on that belief alone; even as my vision and hearing started to die."

"I see..." Pyrrha strengthened her resolve, and allowed the hurt to sink back into her heart. She was ready for what came next.

"I can let go, and when I do the creature will lose all control for a moment. Soon after it will become just like any other Grimm, but before that point it will be severely weak. If you don't mind, may I ask your name?"

"Pyrrha."

"Pyrrha... I remember now; the invincible girl." He chuckled. "It's comforting to know I leave my final request in such capable hands. Now Pyrrha, when I let my soul leave you'll feel the Grimm go limp. It will only last a moment, and that moment is when you strike. Just as it happens you need to destroy my heart, as when my soul leaves the creature will flood all of it's essential power there, and shattering my heart at that moment will equally shatter the Grimm."

"Right... I understand." She confirmed, and just as she did all feeling returned, with a sense of peace reigning above all.

"Thank you, and Pyrrha..."

"Yes?" She asked, only to see his sorrowful smile soften.

"Please, let them know I still thought of them. I know it's greedy, and it will hurt them for a while, but I want them to know just how much they mean to me. I know they're strong enough to move on, to push forward, but I don't want to die without one last goodbye."

"Alright." Pyrrha walked forward, and gently pulled the teary-eyed man into a warm embrace. "I promise I'll tell them."

He returned the embrace. "Thank you."

Everything glowed and soon was engulfed in white, but before that Pyrrha would forever have the image engraved into her memories, one which struck a chord.

His peaceful, hopeful smile.

Author's note

...

This was a heavy one, but an essential one as well. Oddly enough there was a lack of clothing in this chapter, weird, but not the craziest thing by far.

Once more I have taken another from you, and I'm sure you're wondering why. Sorry, but I can't say. I've said it before but everything has it's purpose, and I will leave it at that.

We're coming close to the end of this arc, and in a way we're at the cusp of it's climax. You know what's coming next chapter, so brace yourselves.

Mistral is reaching it's finale, and with it a fast approaching turn.

Until next time.