RWBY Through Worlds (End)

BC89: Bait (Heroes)-2

A couple days went by of resting.

Qrow and Raven both interrogated the new captures.

Mino still refused to talk. Dolly remained pretty out of it. She finally seemed to recover enough to eat, but she didn't want to talk. 

Oscar tried to help her recover. He had some success but not enough to get any explanation from her.

All she told him was that the Deimos' living nightmare had felt like her mind plunged straight into hell and everything was an enemy and torture. Fear is torture, and the fear of everything makes everything painful.

That made her more than eager to have the Grimm vermin removed from herself, and Oscar and Ruby removed it. However, the fear and dread of the bandits seemed just as much as before. And they couldn't get her to speak of it.

Royal was restless and ready to go to Vacuo and finish sorting things out.

But before they were cleared for this, the team got a surprise visit from Shine and Wally.

They had heard what happened and were anxious to comfort their crew as well as they could.

Emerald had a good cry with them about what happened to the shelter and the kids.

Winter asked if they could help them find the bandits.

"I'm sorry," Shine said, "but it won't mean as much if we do it. I'd fight with you, if it would help. But the world must not see us as the only people who know, or your success will forever be tied to us and not the real source."

"It's tough for us to stay out of it," Wally said. "I'm super mad about what they did. So mad, I don't even want to talk. I'd rather just go punch some bad guys." He made a fist.

Shine put a hand on his shoulder. "Me too," she said.

"Any ideas for the big battle?" Mercury asked, "if we find the scum. Which we don't know if we will."

"I believe that you will. They've messed up too many times for you not to," Shine said. "These people are always found sooner or later. Raven's idea of setting a trap has merit. But they'll expect you to try that. It's clear that this Mala woman is not stupid. But she is certainly crazy. You can't rule anything out. Any corrupt thing they might try when the Grimm are overrunning their minds... he horrors that people like that can contrive never cease to amaze and disgust me. That said...the power to use the Deimos, it's not something they would just get. They have to be using rituals of some kind."

"Ew," Emerald said.

"So what do we do about that?" Jaune asked.

"Nothing to do," Shine said. "You must stop them. Our power is stronger than any profane ritual, never fear. But you must be on your guard. The dark powers are strong, and they're sneaky--that's the worst part. In pure force, they can't beat you, so they will try to trick you into doing what they wish. When you find the tribe, be wary of any attempt to scare you or even anger you. You will not be able to help hating what they do, but do not let them use that against you. If they try to disgust you, you have to push it aside. Focus on justice, on life, on why you're doing this. That is what I always do when I face the corrupt, evil overlords of the worlds we go to."

"She's right about that," Wally said. "Same here. You can't let that evil get inside your head and sit there. That's what they want."

"Remember that is a weapon of the evil one also," Shine said. "Our revulsion of what they do is the proper reaction, but it can distract us. So don't let it overwhelm you. And remember, they are still human beings. You may have to slay them if it comes to that, but it's not a thing to take lightly. You've rescued some already. They may have been smaller members, but that is still something. They need the light more than anyone."