Chapter 13

Black Hearts

The sun shined through the window, but she didn't feel the warmth. The room was very decorated, shelves full of various trinkets and knickknacks from all of the four kingdoms. The leather couch was wrinkled and cracked, but it was comfortable. At least from what she remembered, she couldn't tell at the moment.

Suddenly, she felt a scratching at her scalp, a slight tugging at her hair, but it didn't hurt. It felt rather gentle and nice.

"You always have such pretty hair." The red and black haired woman said behind her. Yang could felt herself swell with pride at that remark, though there was a question on her mind.

"Do you think my mom just as pretty hair as me?" Yang asked. The brush scraped against her scalp, it's was rather irritating, but it didn't bother Yang too much. After a moment of hesitation, Summer continued to brush, just as gentle as before.

"Yes, I'm sure she does." She replied, sounding sad.

"What?! What do you mean I have scales?!" A voice sounded, rousing Yang out of her dreams. She sat up in her bed, opening her eyes to the light of the lamp, which stung her eyes, have her feel an annoying, burning sensation. Her matted hair was everywhere, something that going to take a full ten minutes of combing.

"What's going on?" the blonde asked, half that question being a yawn. Blake was already sitting up in her looking much more alert. Yang wished she could sleep some more, that dream had been a nice breath of fresh air instead of her usual nightmares.

"Ruby has scales and some kind of protrusions growing out of her back!" Weiss responded. Yang immediately woke up after that, forgetting the previous thought and headed for her sister's side. With the direct light of the lamp, Yang, and Blake who soon joined her, have a clear look at the young girl's back.

Just as the white haired heiress said, there were pink scales all along Ruby's back, many of them have a bright sheen to them, having a raw look. There were many of them cluster around dark, dull grey bumps protruding in six symmetrical places down Ruby's spine. Both the blonde and the dark haired Faunus gaped at the sight. Yang reached out and touched one of the nubs, the texture being hard and firm. However, Ruby flinched away for her sister's touch as though she had been struck by lightning.

"Don't do that! Whatever you just touched is really sensitive!" Ruby cried out.

"Ruby, how did this happen?! What is going on?!" Yang cried out, only to see a shape just right under the elastic band of Ruby's pajama bottoms. Grabbing the hem, much to Ruby's confusion, and pulling them down to reveal a lump of flesh and new scales. Yang and Weiss looked in shock and confusion at what they were looking at, but Blake knew what it was, for she seen it on many young Fanus.

"You're growing a tail!" The catgirl said, startling the other with her discovery.

"You sure?" Ruby asked, really hoping that Blake was mistaken.

"I've seen many budding tails. This is definitely looks one." Blake answered, the scaly stub also reminding her of some amputated tails, including her own.

This entire situation was utter madness to Yang, especially with all the recent revelations. Her sister possessing by a malevolent, alien being, magical happenings like this was some comic book, powerful golden figure appearing out of nowhere for a brawl, and now this, which is most certainly tied to the magic and demon nonsense. Yang was at wits end with this.

"Ruby, what is going on right now?" Yang asked hoping will have some answer that would make just a bit of sense. Ruby, however, looked distracted, looking off in some direction. Soon enough her eyes refocus, and she immediately looked worried.

"He isn't saying anything." Ruby stated, "He isn't even mocking me, or saying some vague threat. Diablo is keeping quiet."

"Great, just great." Weiss said, pinching the bridge of her nose, the other hand on her hip, "So what can we do about it?"

"I suppose we wait for Deckard Cain." Ruby said nervously.

"Who?" Her team sounded simultaneously.

"Er, Professor Ozpin." the red and black haired girl corrected, lightly pounding her fist into to her forehead. She doesn't know why she unconsciously refers the headmaster as Deckard Cain. Perhaps it is that the old scholar left a rather lasting impression on the Lord of Terror. Not to mention, much to Ruby's disgust, taking Leah, who Cain had adopted and looked after, was a satisfying bit of petty vengeance for the red devil. "Unless you guys have some other idea on how to solve this, then we're going to have to wait."

Yang wanted to argue, but her sister was right. The blonde didn't want to sit on her hands, waiting for someone else to solve their problem, but what in the world can she do? She can barely fathom the situation they are in, let alone solve it. "Alright Ruby, if that's what you think." Yang then looked at the clock, its digital face displaying the advent of the time they would usually be up. "Weiss, shut off that alarm, let's get ready for class." Yang commanded, going over to her night stand, and retrieving her supply of toiletries, and walked off to the bathrooms.

The others went about in their morning routines, trying to ignore the terrible elephant in the room. Ruby did the same, also trying to ignore the situation. While Ozpin couldn't help with getting rid of Diablo, hopefully he can do something about this. She put on her uniforms, noting that she will have to do it carefully now, with the new additions to her back giving all sorts of strange tingles. She'll probably have to bath late at night, until Ozpin gets back.

/

Professor Port rambled on about various Grimm, the various types, and other sorts of information of the like. Ruby was resting her head in her hand, trying not to fall asleep. It didn't help when the portly elder sometimes when off on tangents, describing his past experiences, how he'd gotten hurt in grotesque detail, until someone would remind him to get back on track.

'I don't have to listen to this.' a thought ringed within through the young girl's mind. She then realized that it seemed rather mean of her, and filed it away that it was early in the morning, and the recent turn of events have made her fuse short.

"Now," the professor continued after finishing some odd story, "this my dear students is something that you all have some fleeting knowledge about, as this topic have been in many legends and stories, both ancient and modern. What I will be discussing is the four Grimm Kings." he said, pulling down a screen covering in photos and artist representations of the creatures.

"First, is Dracul, the bloody drake." He said motioning to a portion of the images, showing a flying, four limbed creature. Stout is was, depicted with a stubby snout, wings like that of bats. "It is the one with the most sightings, and one that we have the most information on. However, it has been theorized that Dracul is the weakest of the four. However, it is recorded that it drips a substance that spawns more Grimm, hence the moniker of 'bloody drake.' It is unknown if it is the only one with this ability, or if the others have it as well."

"Next is the King of the Land, the dread chimera Kisar Rey." He said directing attention to another portion of the screen, showing an ugly creature. "It has been stated that Kisar Rey is a terrible amalgamation of various animals, but is not known what sorts of beast it entails. It is has been speculated that it has the tail of a serpent, horns, and more."

"Then we have the creature from the depths, who reigns over the deepest pits, and lords over the sea monsters that dwell in its domain, Kragathon." Port continued, moving to the other side of the screen, this side displaying charts with approximate scales, displaying blurry photos, and several drawing of a fearsome creature with rows upon rows of teeth, and uncountable number of tentacles, ready to drag all into the dark below.

"Lastly is what said to be the most powerful of the four, a Grimm of immense size and power, who is said to vaporize you with but a glance. I speak of the legendary two headed monster, the Thunderbird, Groth Sora." the professor said, ominousness dripping from his voice, as he pointed to a single photo. It was grainy, but it displayed a massive creature taking to the skies.

"It has been theorized that there is a fifth Grimm King, one that has been in old stories of a Grimm that commands all of the Grimm. However there has been no conclusive evidence in this regard, nor do we have any idea what it looks likes. Many stories have contradicting descriptions. Whatever the case, and thankfully," the professor continued, pulling down another screen that cover the first. This one had a political map of the world. "They have never been seen outside the land of Calavera." the pudgy man said, gesturing to the grey continent in the Northwest corner of the world. "It is in that blighted land where the Grimm rule. The Grimm that lurk outside our walls? The ones many of you have faced in battle? These Beowolves, Ursas, and others? Pests to a true Huntsmen." Port states, and no one in the classroom heard his boisterous tone of his tall tales. Many realized that this man was telling them the truth. "Even the most powerful of the creatures I mentioned, in the land of Calavera, they would be lowest of threats. The strongest of Beowolves cannot compare to the average Dire Lycan." the professor paused.

"I can see the fire in many of your eyes. You think this a challenge, to try and venture into the Grimm Wastes? Don't, for it is a death sentence." Port said with finality. "I did, joined an expedition with a troop of twelve hunters along with some scientist and researchers." Port said, many leaning forward for they actually wanted to hear this tale of his, "Only I and one other survived, and we barely made it out with our lives, let alone our sanity. It..." the old man looked his age at the moment, old fright entering his voice, "It is not something I wish to share nor dwell on." After the professor said.

'When will this old windbag shut up?' Ruby thought, surprising herself. Before she could dwell on it, the bell had rang, signaling an end to the lecture.

"You are dismissed." Port announced.

/

The day continued on, and more venomous thoughts invade Ruby's mind. They whisper cruelty, pettiness, and impatience, insulting anyone who crosses the young girl's path. They have to be something cause by the Lord of Terror, for he continues to be frustratingly silent. At the moment she sat in Professor Goodwitch's classroom, waiting for something important that the blonde woman would like to show.

'Get on with it, you old broad!' the thoughts hissed.

'Shut up!' Ruby snapped, thinking how ridiculous it is, yelling at herself.

"Now class what I am about to show you is very important." Goodwitch said, as she use her telekinesis to place a heavy armored case atop her desk. "It is something that is incredibly rare, and extremely powerful. It might be something you have read in many stories, and some of you never have thought it to exist." the professor began to unlock the complicated device. It soon opened up reveling a glass cylinder, containing a brightly shining white crystal, looking similar to Dust and Ashes, but much more immaculate and bright.

"This, students, is Glass." Goodwitch presented, the class erupting in whispers. Ruby herself never thought the item ever existed to begin with, being only a MacGuffin in stories and comics, or the reason to the creation of superheroes and villains. It was almost cliche to have some happen 'because of Glass.' To have it right before her in all its glory as something she had not expected, nor would she expect the magic radiating off it. Torchwich's necromancy gave off faint waves of magic, but the Glass crystal easy eclipsed that.

"Now student is important to know about this substance, this mere shard has the potency to power all of Vale for months. If you can imagine that, then you can imagine the result if this was turned into some bullets, a bomb, or if you used it to enhance your Semblances or Auras." she give the young ones a moment to mull over the possibilities. "It is for that reason that if you were to find such a rare item that you must turn it over to the proper authorities. If you can imagine what you can do with this single shard, then you can conclude why it is important for it not to fall the wrong hands."

"I do not expect any of you to come across any more Glass, but if you do, please present to the right people. I can promise you that you would be well compensated." Goodwitch informed, many of the students silently conversing with each other. Ruby, meanwhile, continued to gaze at the Glass crystal. She could feel the power and magic. Ruby never forgot the feeling of magic that she felt from... That night. This crystal, this Glass shard was radiating magic the likes of which she hasn't felt before. There was so much of it.

'I can take it.' the posionious voice whispered, 'I can take it and become even more powerful. No could stop me, not even now with my special abilities.'

Ruby could just take it, use her Semblance to speed away with it, and become the most powerful Huntress in all of history. She could go to Calavera, slay all of the Grimm Kings, and purge the threat of Grimm from the world. She cou-

Ruby clamp down on those thoughts, she will not be tempted by this insidious voice of the devil in her head. Thankfully, Goodwitch put the Glass back inside the secure case, and put it out of sight. Ruby tried banished the sinister thoughts out of her mind. She has to hold out for Ozpin. He could help her.

'Or he will kill me.'

/

Lunch hour had arrived, and teams WBY and JNPR were on their way to grab some food, all except Ruby who went off in the opposite direction.

"Ruby," Jaune called out, "aren't you going to get something to eat?"

"Not hungry." Ruby said with some malice, then she sighed, "I just... I just need to get some air." she said as she sped off. Yang was worried, she had been growing more and more irradiated by the hour. Before she could think another thought, Jaune stepped away from the group and started after Ruby. "I'm going to go see how's she's doing."

"You sure about that?" Pyrrha asked her partner, "Ruby been acting... strange lately, more so than usual." Her tone and words, though might not be intentional, miffed the long haired blonde.

"Don't worry, besides I need to return a favor for Ruby anyway." Jaune smiled, and he started after the red cloaked girl.

Ruby slowed down to a slow walk after gathering some distance. Her mind swirling, this poisonous voice becoming seriously bothersome. It didn't help that there was a pain in her chest. Ruby stopped as the pain continued to bug her, growing more and more. Ruby clutched her uniform wanting to loosen them, but that wasn't the problem. It felt as though her skin was tightening up, stretching to the point of being ripped apart. Her heart began to race, beat hard against her chest, the drumming being heard in her ears. Ruby fell to her knees, her body feeling an awful tightening, then she began to heave.

Ruby's body felt as though she was going to empty out her guts on the floor. Her eyes began to tear up as she felt something crawl from within her. She was breathing deeply only for the air to be wasted on chokes, coughs, and gags. Whatever she was about to hurl came to throat, and soon exited her body, but Ruby looked in stunned horror as what had just emptied from her was red smoke. The pain her chest continue to grow to unbearable levels as more and more of the scarlet fumes tried to escape her. Ruby tried to shut her mouth, but it felt as though she was trying to bite down on rocks, and it didn't help that her body still wanted to expel it.

However, the smoke stopped growing after a moment, then was violently pulled back into Ruby's body. The tightening soon gave, but Ruby still vomited the contents of her stomach all over the marble floor. Diablo roared within her mind.

'Damn it all! If only I had more power!' the Lord of Terror yelled.

"Wha-" Ruby started only to pause to spit the last of the bile in the disgusting puddle of half-digested breakfast, "What did you do?"

'I had been trying to figure out how to escape this retched imprisonment. It only resulted in the both of us feeling pain as our souls stretched.' Diablo said, trying to think of another way to take control or leave his keeper.

Ruby took deep breaths as she recover from the upchuck, a foul taste lingering in her mouth. "What are you doing to me?" she said, as she spotted specks of blood mix in with the vomit.

'What do you mean, mortal? I have been concentrating on this endeavor, so specify on what you mean.' Diablo said, obvious angry that this attempt failed.

"Don't play dumb. The scales, the voices, that is all your doing. What you doing to me?!" Ruby demanded as she wiped the tears and snot from her face. Diablo took a moment to answer. After that, the red devil began to bellow in laughter. "What's so funny?"

'This is not of my doing.' Diablo stated, stupefying Ruby, 'This the result of being my host! You are being corrupted, if not in soul, then in body and mind!' he said, continuing to at the young girl.

"What?!" Ruby exclaimed, "Make it stop!"

'Foolish mortal! Even if I could, I would not.' Diablo countered.

"You mean there is no way to stop this?" Ruby asked, scared of the answer.

'No.' Diablo stated, 'Did you think there would be no cost? Did you think that you would breeze though you pathetic life without consequence? No Ruby Rose, you may have inherited my powers and abilities, but with it you gain my corruption and influence, all without me having to lift a finger.'

"What..." Ruby said trying to make sense of the words, "What are you talking about?"

'You are become a demon of Burning Hells, shaped in my image.' Diablo chuckled, then mockingly said 'Congratulations, my dear daughter.' Ruby sat there in silence and disbelief. 'In time, you will not be able to resist your demonic urges, and you will accept me! You will embrace the evil that grows and blackens your heart and soul.' What Diablo won't say is that this is a slow process, it may take months before her demonic nature truly takes hold, and a couple years before her body to take full shape. But Diablo wasn't going to tell her that.

"No." Ruby silently said to herself. It felt as though fate was conspiring against her, for this was spiraling into a worse and worse situation.

"Ruby!" someone sounded behind her, followed by furious footfalls against the marble. "Ruby are you alright?" Jaune asked, worry written all over his face as he reached her side. Ruby forgot about her predicament, if only for a moment, she need to take her mind off this issue. As Jaune pull her arm over his shoulder, and lifted Ruby to her feet, Ruby cleared her mind. "Jaune, I need to talk to you."

"Whatever it is, it can wait until after we get to Doctor Nightingale's office." Jaune said, as he proceeded to drag the black and red headed girl.

"No, it can't wait!" Ruby responded, planting her feet, and grabbing Jaune by his shirt with her free hand. "Jaune listen to me, I know about the voice in your head. I know about Mephisto!" Ruby said, trying to get through to him, and hope that he really wasn't some kind of persona of the Lord of Hatred.

Jaune looked surprised, for he had hardly spoken of the voice in his mind, "How do you know about Gramps?" he asked slowly.

"Because I have Diablo, and both of them will only corrupt us." Ruby said, urgency in her voice, "Please Jaune, we have find Ozpin, he's Deckard Cain. Something is happening to me, and he can expel Mephisto from you if it isn't too late!

Jaune looked off to the side, his gaze becoming distant. 'Gramps, is this true?'

'Oh dear, I did not expect my young brother to fall so far.' Mesphito said, having already made up a plan in case something like this happened, 'My boy, you know that my name is not Mephisto.'

'Yeah, you said it was Mefis.' Jaune answered.

'Correct. And what inhabits the soul of this... Poor girl,' Mephisto hated his words, 'is my young brother, Dialon. He was a brave, if stubborn warrior of great power, but he was corrupted by the cruel scholar Cain.' Mephisto lied, using the Prime Evil's old Triune personas, 'It breaks my heart to see my brother so far gone, and filling this innocent girl with lies.' The irony made the Lord of Hatred want to laugh.

'Is there anything we can do for her, Gramps?' Jaune asked, wanting to save his friend.

'No my boy. There is none.' the elder Prime Evil said with false sincerity, 'We must put this girl out of her and Dialon's misery. They only feel pain from the corruption, then we must take care of the vile Deckard Cain.' Mephisto could pull this off, kill these two, and come out the hero with the right words. Jaune mulled over the thought, but then refocused back to Ruby and grabbed her shoulders.

"Ruby, the entity inside you is really named Dialon. He was turned from his brother by Cain who is a villain." He stated, much to the disbelief of Ruby.

Diablo huffed in amusement, 'It seems Mephisto is using our old names. I despised that time, pretending to be benevolent deities to you mortals.'

"Jaune, what are you talking about?!" Ruby shouted, "They are pure evil! Please listen to me, Mephisto is using you! He'll take over your body and wreak havoc!" Ruby said trying to plead with the blonde boy, the one who shown her kindness outside of her family. The dorky boy that was her first friend. "Jaune, plea-" but Ruby was cut off when Jaune laid a hand on her head.

"Sorry Ruby." he said, before he sent enough of a magical, electrical current to knock her out. Jaune proceeded to sweep her off her feet and make his way to the doctor's office.

'Boy, are you not going to kill this girl?' Mephisto asked his charge, wanting to be rid of Diablo. He will only cause problems later.

'We should try to save them, Gramps. Ruby is my friend, and she has your brother. We have to find a way to cure them.' Jaune replied.

Mephisto damned the boy's bleeding heart. 'Of course my boy, but I have tried, to no avail. The only thing to do is release them from there torturous existence. It is a mercy that they deserve.'

'Surely there something here in this world that could help them.' Jaune responded, not want to give up like that. 'I'm sure we'll find a way. That's what heroes do, right?'

Mephisto despised the blonde's optimism, he will have to convince him that killing Diablo and his host is the best course of action. 'Fine, my boy. However you must remember that their suffering is on your hands. Don't prolong it, or it may be too late.'

The Lord of Hatred and his knight said nothing more to each other as they continued on to their destination.