Emerald had failed Cinder. But she couldn't focus on that right now. Emerald, Mercury and Toga were in the heat of battle, slicing through students. Cinder hadn't reappeared. Emerald was very worried. But when the heroes appeared, the group of villains hid in the stands where Mercury had been. They heard a group of heroes outside, wondering if someone might be in with them. Toga took off, leaving Emerald and Mercury to follow. They heard the door open. Emerald looked back to see Ryukyu and Best Jeanist. They sped up, but Best Jeanist was slowing them down. Emerald stopped and turned to give Best Jeanist a hallucination of the three of them being captured by him. As Best Jeanist stopped, Emerald ran off again. Ryukyu shook Best Jeanist out of it, but not before the trio got out of sight. They were unsure where to go. Emerald just wanted to get to Cinder. Then she heard Toga cough.
"Shush!" Emerald whispered, before coughing herself.
The three started coughing, and black stuff came out of their mouths. The two heroes found them, but the black stuff enveloped them, and they appeared in a dark room. Shigaraki, Dabi, Spinner, Stain, Mr. Compress, and Twice appeared with them. Cinder appeared on the other side of them. Cinder was missing an arm and her face was covered in blood. Emerald ran over to her and began to try and clean off her face. Torchwick and Neo were nowhere to be seen.
"What is this place?" Spinner asked.
Someone entered the room from the side. It was All for One, but Emerald was too focused on Cinder to give him her attention.
"You did very well today." All For One stated.
"But master... I didn't get the boy's power." Shigaraki said miserably.
"Yes, we'll have to continue to work on that. However, you've fulfilled a greater purpose."
The room disappeared into nothingness and the villains were suddenly standing in a familiar hallway.
"How did you know about this place?" Mercury asked. "She assured us this was an anonymous deal."
"She asked me here." responded All for One. "She learned of my motives and concluded that we should combine our goals."
Emerald felt her stomach twist. She already hated working for Cinder's master. Now there really was no escape.
"Shigaraki, meet Salem."
The doors opened to the balcony. The dark crystals decorating the castle emitted a faint purple glow. Salem stood with her back to them, her white hair in an elaborate updo and wearing a black cloak. She turned to face them, her deathly white skin glowing in the red sunset. Her skin had bright red vein lines, like Grimm. There was a black diamond mark on her forehead. Her eyes had a jet-black sclera and the irises glowed crimson. Emerald felt a stab of fear go through her. Salem was one of, if not the, most terrifying thing Emerald had ever laid eyes on. She was thousands of years old, an immortal that had walked the earth with gods. She controlled all Grimm, creating them herself and sending them off to do her bidding. Emerald glanced at the others. Mercury was like Emerald, scared yet familiar with the witch. The others were terrified, pressing themselves against the now closed doors. Salem smirked, enjoying their fear.
"Fear not. As of now, we are allies." She said calmly.
This didn't exactly reassure any of the newcomers, but it was enough to stop them from cowering in fear. Salem walked over and looked at Cinder.
"Poor thing. I never thought Ozma would enroll a girl simply for silver eyes. Shameful."
She reached out her arms, and Emerald nervously handed Cinder over. Denying Salem would be suicidal. Cinder glowed for a moment.
"She's succeeded. Watts?"
Arthur Watts came running. He took Cinder's body and was instructed to heal her. He ran off. Salem motioned at Toga, who glowed like Cinder.
"You've succeeded as well." Salem noted.
When she motioned at Emerald, nothing happened.
"What happened?" She asked.
"I killed Vernal, just like how Cinder said to. But she didn't have the powers at all." Emerald explained.
Salem nodded.
"It's not unlike Ozma to set up something like that; perhaps someone even tricked him."
Emerald breathed a deep sigh of relief. Cinder and Salem both agreed she was innocent of failing. Salem began to look over her new followers.
"My name is Salem, the Witch. I've roamed the world for many millennia. I was created by the long-forgotten God of Darkness, who gave me power over his precious Grimm when he left. To follow me means a certain victory. To disobey or fight me will lead to your demise. I've heard many tales of you. I trust that you seven are willing to serve me."
"If we help you, what's in it for us?" Stain asked. "Because I've got some justice to serve."
"And I want to be with the people I love!" Toga put in.
"I serve no one but my master." Shigaraki stated.
Salem glared at them. If looks could kill, the villains would be smoldering.
"It's important not to lose sight of what drives us: Love, justice, reverence. But the moment you put your desires before my own, they will be lost to you. This isn't a threat; this is simply the truth. The path to your desires is only found through me."
The villains looked uncomfortable and unconvinced.
"It is thanks to me that your little blonde friend has been given incredible powers. Would you like to show them?" Salem asked, staring at Toga.
Toga smiled. Pink fire erupted from her eyes and feet as she started to levitate. Two columns of fire blasted from her palms. The villains jumped back in shock.
"I know most of you walk this path because you recognize the problems in a world of heroes. I wish to wipe the world clean of such problems and create a new one, one where you all will be powerful leaders. I can give you powers such as my new maiden and power over others. All I ask is that you bow down to me."
Toga landed and bowed. There was a bright flash, and Toga stood up. There was a small scar on the back of her hand shaped like an S. Emerald couldn't help but look down at her own symbol of servitude. Reluctantly, Mr. Compress, Twice, Spinner, Dabi and Stain followed. Shigaraki still looked upset.
"I cannot betray my own master. I swore to serve him and only him." He complained.
"All for One is part of my group. To serve me doesn't mean you don't serve him. Emerald and Mercury work for me under Cinder. You will work for me under All for One. Now, I don't advise testing my patience much more."
Shigaraki thought for a moment, then bowed slightly. The S appeared, and he fell to his knees, crying at his perceived betrayal. Salem placed her hand on his head.
"This is what your master wants you to do. He asked for this." She assured him.
Shigaraki calmed down, and the doors opened again. Salem ushered them to the conference hall. Salem sat down on her elegant throne, carved from dark wood and decorated with black velvet and rubies. The other seats were all carved with lighter oak. Emerald sat in her seat, decorated with emeralds. Mercury's had a metal emblem on it. Watts was in his own chair which had a brass lining. The two other members of Salem's inner circle were there, Hazel and Tyrian. Tyrian smiled evilly at the new arrivals, while Hazel sighed. All for One was also there, sitting in a new chair with onyx decorations. Cinder's chair, with its gold decor and red velvet lining, was empty. Emerald had been graciously seated across from Cinder, letting her gaze into her fiery yellow eyes as much as she wanted. Now Emerald had to trust Salem would take good care of her. There were more seven new seats, none of them with any decorations. Where once Emerald and Mercury had been the only people on the right side of Salem, now there were five plain seats next to them. Stain and Toga were allowed to sit on the left side as a sign of their power. Dabi sat across from Tyrian, Mr. Compress across from Hazel, Shigaraki across from All for One, Spinner across from Stain and Twice across from Toga. Salem looked pleased.
"Do we get cool stuff on our chairs?" Toga asked.
"Of course." replied Salem.
Salem snapped her fingers, and ornate details formed on each chair. Silver for Stain, garnets for Toga, sapphires for Dabi, peridots for Spinner, diamonds for Shigaraki, amber for Mr. Compress and obsidian for Twice. They all looked pleased.
"Our mission is to gain control of the spring and winter maiden powers, along with the quirk one for all. The spring and winter maidens are currently unknown to us, but one for all is possessed by Izuku Midoriya. Our fourth target is Ruby Rose, a young silver eyed warrior. I would like you to bring these four people alive." She explained.
She dismissed them all with the orders to rest in the Evernight Castle, assuring them their rooms were set up.