The debris surrounding the library had been cleared away, new construction had quickly began to intermingle with the old. The excavation of the artifact was well underway, the White Fang had increased the guards and patrols, all were on alert for the hunter.

"(Chump)…So it would seem…(Crunch)…that the white fang have setup some kind of machine to get the water out. (Gulp)… So let's go destroy it." Bianca said, her mouth half full with some berries and nuts that she had brought along for training.

"Why? And could you please swallow before answering?" Jaune said in a stern whisper, Bianca looked over at him with an innocent expression before swallowing and grabbing a drink from her canteen.

"We have to keep up the illusion," she said with a quaint smile. "If they drain it and find nothing they will begin to spread out." She then pointed her thumb to the building and drew it to the location of the machine with a wicked grin, "and I know just how to take it down."

An hour later it should have been twilight, but Jaune couldn't tell. As a matter of fact Jaune could barely see anything as they walked under the city.

"How are these tunnels not flooded yet the city above is half under?" Jaune asked, Bianca was in the lead with a torch.

"The surface is flooded because these sewers have been sealed, they turned into convenient passages to avoid the bandits in this city. You know before the White Fang…" She then slid her finger across her throat, making a gacking noise.

"You know, you are just a ray of sunlight." Jaune said dryly.

"I know, don't you just love it?" She replied sarcastically, turning to Jaune, who gave her a grin. She turned away with a smile and they continued down the tunnels. They continued a way before freezing at the sound of a loud humming noise, they had arrived beneath the machine.

"Ha, well look at that… perfect." Bianca said with a laugh, she walked into an area where the tunnel opened into a large pit, the path continued on across a walkway before coming to an abrupt end against a brick wall. At the corners of the entrances were some old mortar pillars that looked like they were ready to crumble at any moment. Beneath walkway was what Jaune could only describe as the abyss. A darkness that continued down for as far as he could see, a low roar as a slight breeze went through.

Bianca let out a small chuckle before turning to Jaune. "This will be easy, but I need you to stand aside, unless you want to get buried." Jaune obliged and Bianca closed her eyes and face went calm, she began to glow softly, her aura was building. Her eyes opened, her blue iris's burning with energy she lifted both hands and spread out her palms. A smile suddenly cracked her calm features, "boom" she said softly and flicked her palms.

THWIIISSSSSHHH! KA-BOOM!

A wave of dark energy with a golden outline exploded forth, the pillars dissolved like they were made of sand, with a flash of light the ceiling above exploded leaving huge cracks and crumbling mortar falling into the dark pit below. The light dissipated and Bianca began to fall, but Jaune caught her. "Looks like I might have under preformed, how shameful." She said looking up at the ceiling, before Jaune could speak a loud groan resonated from the ceiling above. Jaune instinctively grabbed Bianca and pulled themselves back further into the tunnel, immediately the ceiling fell through. A metallic screech pierced the air as the metal machine fell through and down into the darkness below.

"B…Bulls…eye" Bianca said weakly before passing into unconsciousness. Jaune quickly pulled Bianca's arm over his shoulder and put her on his back, she had clearly used a lot of aura to be feeling this weak. Jaune slowly walked her back down the tunnel, he heard voices shouting above and the hurried rush of footsteps. Eventually, Jaune had reached the point they entered from, an old manhole cover that was slightly raised above the water to keep it out and make a passerby think it was submerged.

Jaune climbed up slowly with Bianca clinging to his back, it was nighttime and the full moon hung low in the sky. He stood and pushed the cover back over the hole, before he began to jog back to their base. He began to walk towards a dilapidated building to get to the rooftops when he heard a voice shout. He bolted inside with Bianca asleep on his back, she was out cold and defenseless against attack. He found the stairwell and began to ascend, he heard the entrance he had come through explode open. He found the door to the roof and used his great sword to pyre it open from the rusted frame, He ran to the edge of the building and began to search for a way down onto the next building.

"Here they are!" Someone shouted, Jaune turned to see a White Fang Guard readying his gun to fire.

"Hold!" Someone shouted from behind, the guard stepped to the side, Bonnie stepped forward. She looked at the guard with a polite smile. "Go get the others. By time you get back, I will have handled the situation and we can have them taken to Adam." The guard looked unsure, the rabbit faunas laid her hand gently on his forearm, "don't worry! He can't even fight and I'm itching to release some unhealthy feelings out." The guard nodded and ran back down the stairs, she watched him go before turning to Jaune, a twisted smile on her face. "Finally, I get to deal with you, Kara is going to love me for this!" She then leapt at Jaune, who rose his shield to meet her, Jaune then felt a stinging sensation just below his ribs. Jaune reached down and felt around, his shirt was ripped but his aura had blocked any actual damage.

"Oh darn! Your still shielded!" Bonnie said with disappointment, she let out a small sighing and then beamed out a smile somehow more unnerving than the one before. "Oh well! It's not going to be that way for long!" She said throwing up her hands, it was then Jaune saw what cut him. Her hands were covered in gauntlets, each finger having a razor-sharp tip, it looked like a nasty piece of work.

She ran at him again, but this time Jaune was prepared. He rolled at her feet, catching her off guard at the sudden movement, she fell over him. Jaune, flipped up and immediately went to swing with his sword, but found himself thrusting at nothing. Jaune felt his neck hairs stand up on end as his gut shot up into his throat, on instinct, he flung himself forward, bringing his shield up whilst twisting around wildly.

SCREECH!

Steel claws met shield, leaving scratch marks across his family crest. Jaune went down to his knees gritting his teeth, he was fuming and used it to help focus. He stood up and walked in a circle with her, the fight was on. Jaune spent a few seconds strategizing, he guessed he had a minute or two before reinforcements arrived. He decided he needed to bait Bonnie and see if she had any surprises in store for him, he feigned a lunge forward and an exaggerated swipe.

The great sword felt foreign in his hands, he wasn't used to the weight and the balance kept throwing his reaction off, it was going to be a dangerous game. His training with Pyrrha kept him one step ahead of the murderous opponent, he held the blade loosely as he swung, only gripping it firmly as he began to make contact.

Unfortunately, Bonnie new how to deal with his basic tricks very quickly, dodging and swerving to avoid his swings. Jaune found himself growing tired, the blade was a beast to try and stop and took even more energy to try and counter Bonnie's strikes. It wasn't long before Jaune found himself on the defensive. He tried to bait her out one last time, making a large arc forward his sword. It smashed into the ground with a dull THUD, that was when Bonnie made her move.

She crouched low and went to slice at Jaunes exposed stomach, his training with Pyrrha saved him as he flipped over her avoiding the claws. Unfortunately, that was where her training ended as Jaune failed to stick the landing and ended up landing on his back, his sword spinning out of his hand.

Jaune knew he had screwed up big time, she would be on top of him, ripping him to shreds within a moment. He looked up and saw her mid-leap towards him a look of bloodlust painted on her face with her arms out stretched, Jaune threw his hand forward, "NO!"

THWIP! SHOOM!

A golden ray of light burst forth from Jaunes hands, Bonnie didn't even have time to react before it slammed into her chest. The force from the blast sent her flying from the roof to the ground below.

SMASH!

Jaune crawled over to see the rabbit faunas crumpled on top of an old pile of debris, she had only just missed the pavement, Jaune noticed something interesting. A small flicker of pink flowed around her before winking out, it had taken all her aura to handle the fall. Jaune stood up, immediately feeling light headed, before shaking his head and walking over to Bianca.

"So you did it, I'm impressed." Bianca said softly, she then weakly stood up before resting on Jaune.

"You've been awake this whole time!" Jaune said shocked and annoyed, but Bianca shook her head.

" Just in time to see you send that bunny bitch flying." She said with a chuckle, "Now you have done something impressive, it usually takes someone who is learning this stuff at least a month before they can do something like that." She then walked over to the edge of the roof on her own, her aura returning quickly now.

She jumped off the roof they were on to the adjacent one, Jaune followed suit, though he was tired and tripped over his own feet and landed on his face, receiving a quiet 'oh' from Bianca, he rubbed his nose and stood up. They began to walk across when they heard a bloodcurdling scream from the street below.

Jaune made the mistake of looking back, Kara was clutching Bonnie a look of absolute horror in her face. "WHO LEFT HER?!" She demanded, one of the guards stepped back, he tried to explain.

"She told me to come get you!" He stammered, Kara whipped out her weapon. "W-wait, wait, wait!"

SHLOCK!

The White Fang lackey clutched at his throat, blood pouring out, only able let out a gurgle as he slowly crumpled to the ground. Kara picked up Bonnie and began walking back toward the base, careful of where she stepped as the rabbit faunas laid motionless in her arms.

"Geez, you really did a number on her. Come on, this way." Bianca said, she had been crouching next to Jaune to view the scene. She crawled over to the other side of the roof and jumped down onto a lower building, Jaune joined her. Together, they walked across the buildings until they found themselves crossing under the shadow of the center building.

"The Black Thorn," Jaune said under his breath, Bianca looked at the building and scowled before spitting on the ground and began to stomp forward, but Jaune caught her arm. "Ok, spill." Jaune said plainly, Bianca blinked in confusion. "What happened here? Every time, I bring up this city and ante you get all withdrawn and vague about this place. Before, I left I was told this city fell due to corruption and Grimm. However, I get the feeling that isn't all there is to it, so answer me. What the hell happened here?" Jaune threw his hands up, but Bianca merely lowered her head, shrugged off Jaunes arm and began to keep on walking.

"Follow me and you'll know." That was all she said before jumping off and began to jog off to the north, Jaune followed keeping right behind her.