What If Scenario: Melanie and Miltia Malachite Joined Salem's Group in RWBY
The Malachite twins (Melanie and Miltia) are minor antagonists from the "Yellow" Trailer and early volumes: skilled close-combat fighters working as bodyguards for Junior Xiong in Vale, later revealed as daughters of Lil' Miss Malachite, leader of the Spider crime syndicate in Mistral (a powerful underworld network involved in espionage, assassination, and information brokering). They're trained assassins/spies with bladed heel boots (Melanie) and claw gauntlets (Miltia), excelling in synchronized tag-team fighting. Post-Fall of Beacon, their fate is ambiguous due to Vale's destruction.
How They Could Join Salem's Faction:
Recruitment Path: After Vale falls (Volumes 3-4), Spider retreats to Mistral. Lil' Miss Malachite already interacts with Cinder in Volume 6 (providing info on Ruby's team). Salem could leverage this connection—offering Lil' Miss protection/power in exchange for lending her daughters as operatives. Alternatively, the twins (displaced and seeking bigger opportunities) directly approach Cinder/Emerald/Mercury during underworld dealings, impressed by Salem's Grimm army and immortality promises.
Motivation: As career criminals from a ruthless family (their mother killed their father without remorse), the twins prioritize money, status, and excitement. Salem offers unlimited resources, Grimm enhancements, or even experimental power-ups (like partial Grimm hybridization for regeneration). Melanie (more arrogant/clever) might see it as a promotion; Miltia (polite but deadly) follows her sister's lead.
Impact on the Story:
Strengths Added to Villains: The twins become elite enforcers/assassins alongside Mercury and Emerald. Their seamless coordination + Semblances (fan-speculated, e.g., shared empathy or momentum-sharing) makes them perfect for infiltration or ambushes. In Atlas/Vacuo arcs, they could:
Hunt Relic guardians discreetly (e.g., targeting Winter Maiden candidates).
Sabotage hero alliances in Mistral/Vale remnants.
Tag-team against Yang (rematch from the trailer—personal grudge after she trashed their club).
Mid-Story Boost: Salem's group gains better ground-level intel via Spider networks, accelerating Relic collection. Twins could replace/reinforce losses (e.g., post-Hazel or Tyrian incidents).
Conflicts and Downfalls:
Internal Drama: Cinder's ego clashes with the twins (she hates sharing spotlight); possible jealousy if Salem favors their reliability over Cinder's obsession.
Neo Parallel: Like Neo (former Spider trainee who betrayed them for Roman), the twins might have strained loyalty—defecting if Salem threatens their mother or if heroes (Yang/Blake) exploit family ties.
Hero Counter: Yang gets epic revenge arcs; Ruby's team exploits twins' non-immortal status (no Maiden/Grimm arm protection).
Endgame: They add flair to villain fights but likely die mid-late story (fitting minor character escalation). If surviving, post-Salem world sees them return to crime or reform (unlikely).
Overall, this "what if" spices up Salem's human faction with stylish, synergistic fighters—making early-mid volumes deadlier for heroes—but their criminal pragmatism could cause betrayals, aligning with RWBY's theme of fractured villain alliances.