Smile-RWBY One Shots

Pietro and Merlot: Inner Demons

Before I begin I need to explain a bit about the premise of this one shot. If you didn't know Dave Fennoy voices Pietro Polendina. But he's also the voice of Dr. Merlot, the villain in the RWBY video game Grimm Eclipse. When I found that out I couldn't help but wonder if somehow that was on purpose. So I began to wonder if Pietro was actually Merlot or would become Merlot later in the series. Now though I don't really believe that theory. Anyway about six months ago I wrote a one shot using the song waving through a window from the musical Dear Evan Hansen and since then I've wanted to do another one using a song from a broadway musical as opposed to just a song from a movie or a tv show or even just a really popular song. And lo and behold I found out that there was a musical based on The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde which is one of my favorite science fiction/horror stories out there. Well after listening to the soundtrack a bunch I decided to do a story based on one of the final musical numbers, Confrontation, along with the animation of the song done by S.K. Michels on YouTube. And what better characters to use then the ones who I originally thought were the same person. So now with all that said enjoy this one shot. Oh and before you ask, Penny is Pietro's biological daughter instead of his creation so he isn't bound to a wheelchair in this.

Key: Pietro, Merlot

Dr. Pietro Polendina sighed to himself as he opened the door to his lab and walked in. Tonight had been a nightmare, all he wanted to do was take a nice walk with Maria, who he was due to marry in a week's time. But as they walked all he saw stamped on lamp posts and walls of buildings were wanted posters asking for the arrest of the crazed killer Merlot. What people didn't realize though was that Merlot was actually the good doctor Pietro himself. Well at least sort of.

At first Merlot had been nothing more then an experiment of Pietro's, a way to see if it was possible to separate the bad in his soul from the good. But what he hadn't expected was that the bad soul would take on a persona of its own nor that he would randomly transform into this creature at a moments notice. What was even worse was that Merlot was everything bad about Pietro, meaning it...no he had no conscience, no sense of right from wrong. Everything he did, no matter how heinous, was a game in Merlot's eyes, it was fun.

Well enough was enough, Pietro was ending this here and now. He began to mix together ingredients in a test tube that would hopefully reunite the halves of his soul and would destroy Merlot for good. The sooner he was gone the better.

It's over now I know inside. No one will ever know the sorry tale and those who died. No one must ever know. They'd only see the tragedy. They'd not see my intent. The shadow of the evil would forever kill the good that I had meant

Next to him Pietro picked up the framed picture that he had of his daughter Penny. This was how the whole thing had started, Penny had been sick for a long time now and the good doctor had convinced himself that it must've been due to an evil spirit. He figured that if he could perfect his experiment then he could rid his sweet girl of the evil inside her. Now the idea almost seemed selfish. He couldn't put Penny or anyone else for that matter what he had gone through with Merlot.

Am I a good man? Am I a mad man? It's such a fine line between a good man and a—

Suddenly Pietro heard a noise like someone was tapping on glass. He turned to see if someone was at the window. What he saw instead made his blood run cold. There was a mirror set up on a nearby shelf reflecting the room and Pietro in it, but instead of his normal reflection Merlot's twisted face grinned back at him.

Do you really think that I would ever let you go? Do you think I'd ever set you free? If you do, I'm sad to say it simply isn't so. You will never get away from me.

Pietro took a deep breath to steady himself.

All that you are is a face in the mirror! I close my eyes and you'll disappear!

He grabbed a blanket to put over the mirror's surface but the creature wasn't about to allow that.

I'm what you face when you face in the mirror! Long as you live, I will still be here!

Merlot slammed his hand on the glass cracking it a bit and cutting his left hand which caused blood to run down it. But Pietro was horrified to see that his own hand was bleeding in the exact same place as well. He quickly marched back to his table and grabbed his test tube before holding it up for the monster to see so he would know what was about to happen.

All that you are is the end of a nightmare! All that you are is a dying scream! After tonight, I shall end this demon dream!

Merlot pushed hard on the mirror causing it to topple off the shelf and smash onto the floor. He then stood up and shook the glass shards off him.

This is not a dream, my friend and it will never end! This one is the nightmare that goes on! I am here to stay no matter what you may pretend. And I'll flourish long after you're gone!

Pietro put the last couple ingredients into the antidote and tried his hardest to block out sound of the demon behind him.

Soon you will die, and my memory will hide you! You cannot choose but to lose control.

Merlot grabbed his arm though and forced the man to look at him.

You can't control me! I live deep inside you! Each day you feel me devour your soul!

Pietro shoved him aside.

I don't need you to survive, as you need me. I'll become whole as you dance with death! And I'll rejoice as you breathe your final breath!

Oh, I'll live inside you forever!

No!

With Satan himself by my side!

No!

And I know that now and forever they'll never be able to separate you from me!

Pietro grabbed his creation by the collar of his shirt.

Can't you see it's over now? It's time to die!

Merlot pushed him back to the table and the force was enough to knock the test tube to the floor. Thankfully though it was sealed shut.

No not I! Only you!

If I die, you die, too!

You'll die in me, I'll be you!

Leave me be!

Merlot grabbed Pietro the same way the doctor had just previously grabbed him.

Can't you see, you are me?

Pietro shoved him away once more and went under the table to grab the antidote.

No! Deep inside-

I am you! You are me!

No, never!

Yes, forever!

The doctor grabbed the test tube and uncapped it before turning to face his inner demon for the final time and downing the antidote in one gulp.

Take all your evil deeds and rot in hell!

Merlot smirked.

I'll see you there!

With that Pietro his eyes become heavy and his body lethargic as the chemical took control, and everything went black.