A/N: I gotta tell you guys, it feels great being back, and the outpouring of reviews and PMs tell me that you guys missed me a lot.

And I can understand that a few out there are pretty pissed that I haven't update my other stories in a long while. All I can say is that I'm sorry and I will get to updating them soon, but I can only work on one story at a time without burning myself out. Which ever one I update after this one is still up in the air, but I had a lot of chapters already made out for Maiden's Protector and I want to get them all out before moving onto another.

So for the fans of my other fics, all I ask if for a bit more patients, and you won't be disappointed.

But for now, for those who have been waiting for the continuation of this one, you're waiting has paid off.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

In the depths of the Emerald forest, a small pack of five Beowolves prowled through the trees in search of prey. Glowing eyes searching every direction while their muzzles aimed upward as they scented the air.

The one in the lead paused, turning its head to the East as if sensing something in that direction-

It's head suddenly exploded in a shower of black ichor and bone shards, three large slugs having torn through its skull like wet tissue paper.

The remaining Grimm growled, searching around for what killed their pack mate only to have two more to drop dead from the same fate. When the last two attempted to flee into the trees, but they were quickly cut down before they could make it a couple of feet.

Several meters away in a tall tree, John sat crouched on a thick branch that could support him and his armor with the scope of his HAR poised at his visor's level. When he was sure the pack of Grimm was down and out, he lowered the weapon and dropped to the ground below.

It had been a couple weeks since he and Amber agreed to be teachers at Beacon, and since then he had become well oriented with the ins and outs of the academy and what was to be expected of him as a professor with the students that would be starting the new semester the day after tomorrow.

The Doom Slayer had also gotten to know some of the faculty, each one more eccentric than the last;

Peter Port was a decent man, though he loved to hear himself talk a lot, often getting lost in a long winded story about his past as a huntsman in the process. No doubt it would be the same with his teaching style, however, underneath the preceived boredom of his tales, there were hidden meanings behind each one.

John had learned that the man was a decorated huntsman back in his youth, so his many tales had merrit to them. Port has also taken a shine to the Doom Slayer and his 'brutal yet affective' way of handling the Grimm.

Then there was Doctor Bartolomew Oobleck. A historian, a journalist, and above all someone who possessed the worst coffee addiction to anyone John had ever known. The man moved with a speed that was almost hard to track, either from skill alone or the amount of caffeine and sugar in his favorite beverage.

Yet despite that quirk he was a very intelligent individual who immersed himself in learning more about the past than anyone else.

Glynda Goodwitch was a strict woman, that much was for certain after their first meeting. But she had a good heart and a determination to teach the next generation everything they needed to know to get through the world they would be going into in four years time.

Other than getting to know the people he would soon be working with, John had also spent a good deal of time in the library. He and VEGA both absorbing as much information about Remnant as they could so that they would be prepared for what would be ahead.

The data collected about dust and its many uses intrigued the Doom Slayer the most, especially with its applications to weaponry. With the AI's help, along with what they had learned, he was in the process of making new attachments to his weapons that would utilize dust.

Infact, a few days ago he had just finished a new pod-missile launcher for his HAR infused with ice-dust that would freeze targets when the explosives detonated. Which was one of the reasons why he was out in the forest surrounding the academy.

Removing the scope attachment from his rifle, John took out the new ice-missile attachment and snapped it in place. The sun reflecting off the metal to show a snowflake emblem on the side, marking its elemental affinity.

When he was sure it was properly in place, the Doom Slayer set off farther into the Emerald forest to find a target to properly test it out on. All the while letting his mind to continue to go over all that had happened in the last couple of weeks.

While he was doing his research, and preparing for his new job to begin, John had also spent a good amount of time with Amber.

The Fall Maiden was still getting used to becoming a teacher herself, as well as being in one place for a long period of time. She had told him during one of their many talks that she liked to travel and the freedom she got from going place to place. Even though she understood the reason behind staying in Vale, it was still something she was trying to adjust to. Though she was happy to have the Doom Slayer there with her as well, making the transition a bit easier for her.

And if John was honest, it made the transition easier for him to.

Both of them had gotten a bit closer since their first meeting. During their talks, Amber would go into more detail about growing up in her home village, along with various things she had taken an interest in. One of her passions being drawing.

As for John, he couldn't really go into too much. Considering he had died in one lifetime and became a slayer of Hell's army due to the the interference of an omnipotent being. So all he could really tell her was that he never had a chance to explore other interests since all he had done was kill monsters.

Of course, the Fall Maiden believed that he deserved a chance to find more in life now that he was out of Hell and walking amongst regular people again. And made it her personal mission to help make that a reality.

Stepping into a small clearing, the Doom Slayer smirked behind his visor when he found three Ursa milling around. Perfect.

"VEGA, I'm starting the HAR attachment test." he said lowly, as to not disturb his targets.

"Acknowledged, data collection in progress." replied the AI as John moved closer to the Grimm. The Ursa looking up when they heard his footfalls, rumbling growls vibrating from the base of their throats when they saw prey entering their territory.

John didn't give them a chance to so much as flinch, the compartment of the missile launcher popping up, white wisps drifting out while it charged.

The mini-rockets fired in the same steady barrage as the original attachment, sailing through the air leaving a cold streak in their wake as they struck one of the bear-Grimm dead on. Each explosion a blast of ice and snow that enveloped the creature, leaving it a frozen from head to toe.

"3.26 seconds to full freeze after impact." VEGA reported while the attachment went into recharge. The Doom Slayer fired the rifle into the frozen Grimm. The heavy slugs shattering its solid form as easily as if it were glass

The other two Ursa roared and charged, their large forms gaining speed as they closed the distance. John greeting them with a wall of bullets that peppered their front as he waited for the launcher to finish recharging.

"7.56 seconds to full recharge." the AI said in his ear as the pod-launcher popped back up and the missiles primed. The Doom Slayer launched the next salvo in a wide arc, the missiles spreading out and hitting both targets, freezing various parts of the Ursas' bodies.

While they had a couple patches of frost forming on their armored and spiked skin, one projectile managed to hit one Ursa in the legs, freezing it to the ground while to others connected with the other's head, causing it to collapse to the dirt with it's skull encased in a block of ice.

Capitalizing on the the openings. John fired a quick burst that shattered the first Ursa's legs before putting another through the center of its head, killing it. The second he finished off by walking up and crushing it's frozen head with the heel of his armored boot.

With the Grimm dissolving, the Doom Slayer looked down at his HAR while VEGA brought up the statistics he collected during the test. "Not bad..." he muttered, removing the ice-missile launcher from the rifle. "Need to improve on the time it takes to recharge though."

"Shall we perform tests on the other attachment?" asked VEGA, referring to their first project; a barrel for the combat shotgun that would allow it to shoot rounds enfused with fire-dust.

"Be a wasted trip if we didn't." replied the Doom Slayer, switching to the shotgun and pulling off the barrel and snapping the new one in place. Looking similar to the explosive round attachment but had two vents on either side that glowed red from the dust within.

He didn't have to go far to find a new target to test it out on. The trees on the other side of the clearing came crashing down and the large form of an Ursa Major lumbered out into the open, more than likely sensing the loss of the lesser Grimm that had been there before.

"Care to try your luck, Yogi?" John asked, his response was the Grimm roaring loud enough to scare the birds from the surrounding foliage. "I'll take that as a yes." Racking the pump on his weapon, he took aim and fired without hesitation.

A small ball of fire left the barrel and and struck against the Ursa Major's head, the heat and flames from it splashing along it's shoulders. The Grimm rose up and swung it's front claws back and forth as a means to extinguish the minor blaze. The side of its bone-mask singed black from the impact of the projectile.

With the beast distracted, John charged forward, ramming the full weight of his body into the large Ursa and toppling it over before jamming the barrel of his shotgun into it's mouth. Firing down it's throat several times.

The Grimm shrieked in agony as it was ignited from the inside out, its pitch-black fur burning away and organs liquidating from the extreme heat within its body.

Within moments, the creature went still. It's eyes darkening before it began to dissolve like the others. The Doom Slayer stepped away and looked down at the combat shotgun with a frown. "Not nearly as powerful as I was hoping." he commented.

"The fire capabilities do provide a viable distraction in most combat scenarios." said VEGA. "Perhaps infusing fire-dust with explosive-dust will increase the damage output of the rounds. Further testing will need to be done."

"Agreed." said John, filing that for a later date as we swapped out the shotgun barrel for the three-round burst attachment. Checking the time on his HUD, he decided that it was time to head back to the academy. Trecking his way back through the forest toward the cliffs where he had entered.

No other Grimm came out to greet him on his return trip. Which wasn't surprising giving the other reason he came out here.

After all of the fighting and bloodshed he'd committed back on Mars and in Hell, he'd have random bouts of bloodlust from time to time, his solution to which was to go out and kill any and all Grimm he could find. When asked about where he was headed when he went out on his little trips, he simply replied that he was going hunting. Coming back an hour or so later, armor covered in black ichor and feeling very relaxed, especially when he encountered larger, older, more intelligent Grimm that provided a challenge.

One such incident occurred when he encountered a Death Stalker in a cave a couple miles from some old ruins in the center of the Emerald forest. Though the insectoid-Grimm took a bit longer to bring down given its size and hardened exoskeleton/armor, it wasn't prepared for what the Doom Slayer could dish out.

None of the faculty minded in the slightest with the decrease in the local Grimm population. Infact they approved of it so that the creatures stayed a safe distance from Beacon and the students.

Making his way to the top of the cliffs, John stored his shotgun and removed hsi helmet before peering out at the expanse of green below. The Emerald forest was a lot larger than it appeared, VEGA had told him it stretches for miles around the academy and reaches the outskirts of Vale. And the view of the mountains in the distance was pretty amazing.

Those that lived here may have grown used to such sights, but for him, after seeing nothing but smoldering ruins and burning umbral plains, it was a sight that filled him with a sense of calm and peace. So whenever he was capable, he drank in the sights and sounds of nature and breathing in the fresh unfiltered air.

"Back from another hunting trip?" the Doom Slayer looked over his shoulder and found Amber sitting at the base of a tree. A sketchpad in hand with an array of pencils lined out in the grass beside her.

"Field test for some new weapon attachments." replied John, moving over next to her and sitting his helmet down on the ground before sitting on a large rock.

"Were they successful?" asked the Fall Maiden, turning the page in her book and continuing to work on the drawing she had been doing.

He shrugged in response, "They still need a bit of work. I don't think the UAC intended to have their weapons work with elemental crystals, but VEGA and I are making it work regardless." John felt a light pressure on the back of his left shoulder plate and saw that it had been Tundra pushing with her nose. "Hey girl." he said, reaching up and running his gauntleted hand along the horse's mane, the animal snorting and moving her head so he had better access.

Amber saw her horse interacting with the Doom Slayer and smiled, "She really likes you."

"Hard to believe, considering my presence has been known to drive off certain animals." said John as he continued to rub Tundra's coat. "But I guess she doesn't see me as a danger."

"Tundra has a good judge of character, and very smart." the Fall Maiden said, picking up a different pencil and continuing on her art. "She wouldn't have approached you that day if she considered you a threat. And she saw how you were looking after me, which gave her more of a reason to trust you."

The Doom Slayer nodded, Tundra shacking when he was done petting her before she trotted off to graze on a nearby patch of tall grass. "Think you're ready to start teaching? The newbie's will be arriving later for initiation." he asked.

Pausing in her drawign, Amber bit her lip a moment then sighed. "I admit I'm a bit nervous. I've never really taught anyone anything before, let along a classroom filled with soon-to-be huntsmen and huntresses."

"Never really had to teach anyone before either." replied John, "Honestly, I'm surprised Ozpin offered me the job at all. You at least know how to control your aura in unique ways that could help. What are my qualifications save for crushing skulls and tearing off limbs?"

"You give yourself too little credit." said the Fall Maiden. "From what we all have seen and heard about your exploits, you've got a quick mind when it comes to combat, and your enginuity when it comes to weaponry is invaluable. Brute strength isn't all you got going for you, John."

A small chuckle broke through the Doom Slayer's lips. "And yet again you make an argument I have no chance at debunking."

Amber smiled back at him, "You think you would have learned by now."

Shaking his head, John stood up and rolled his shoulders. "I'm gonna grab an early lunch, you coming?"

"Not yet, I'm going to finish this before heading in." she replied, her armored companion simply nodded as he put his helmet back on and made his way back to the campus grounds.

When she was sure he was gone, Amber flipped the page in her book back to the one she had been working on before John had come back from his hunting trip. The image on the paper being a detailed drawing of the Doom Slayer in full armor. His helmet tucked under his left arm with his double-barrel gripped in the other, a calm smile on his face as he looked to the side.

The Fall Maiden smiled to herself as she touched up the drawing a bit more before adding color to it.

X

It was late afternoon when the first airships full of students began to arrive, many coming back for another year while others looked at what would be their new home for the next four years in awe.

On a nearby rooftop, John stood with his arms crossed. The visor of his helmet magnified to observe what would soon be his students. A profile of specific students appearing on his HUD when he got a good look at their faces, all the information coming from the database VEGA had downloaded from the academy's servers onto the Praetor suit's systems.

It was his way of getting to know the ones he would be teaching before actually meeting them.

"The school records of a select few show a great deal of promise."said VEGA after bringing up the profile of a young woman with long red hair wearing spartan armor. "Pyrrah Nikos is a native to the Kingdom of Mistral. A four time tournament champion and graduated the top of her class at Sanctum Academy. Her information states that her semblance is control over polarity."

The Doom Slayer hummed, turning his head and selecting another student. This one dressed in an all white outfit with white hair with a butler helping her mover her luggage. "Weiss Schnee, from Atlas. Heiress to the Schnee Dust Corporation, the biggest dust mining conglomerate on Remnant. Privately taught and trained from a young age, she was being prepared to take control of the company when her father steps down."

He'd learned a lot about the Schnee Dust Company since he was first told about it, the good and the bad. If there were a company anywhere similar to the UAC on Remnant it would bt the SDC. Being the leading energy refinery on the planet certainly gave them a rather large power base in the four kingdoms, they also had a hand in funding the Atlas military, making their kingdom one of the strongest.

But at the same time, like most big corporations, the SDC had its hand in more than enough unsavory investments. None of which could be proven and brought to the public, but their negative treatment of the Faunus work force was known far and wide. One of the many reasons the company was a very large target for the White Fang.

Moving on from the heiress, John blinked when he saw another student that looked far younger than the rest. Bringing up her profile, the Doom Slayer blinked when he read what was displayed;

Name: Ruby Rose

Age: 15

Birth Place: Patch

Previous Combat School: Signal Academy

Primary Weapon: Sniper-Scythe

Semblance: Speed

Notes:

- Despite her age, Ms. Rose has proven time and again that she possesses skills far beyond that of her peers while under the tutalege of Qrow Brawnwen.

- Due to her intervention of a robbery in Vale, in which she had stopped Roman Torchwick himself from making away with a large shipment of dust, Professor Ozpin has allowed Ms. Rose to skip her last two years at Signal so that she can start at Beacon where her skills can be honed that much better.

- Being the youngest in the new first year students, her progress will be monitored to see how she fairs. Although there are high expectations for the semesters to come.

"According to the files on the other students at Beacon, Ruby Rose is the youngest huntress in training to ever be admitted." said VEGA. "Her records from back at Signal show that she is rather energetic, but in combat is very focused and comes up with, although unusual, very affective strategies."

"Someone to keep an eye on..." John said, narrowing his eyes when he saw the girl in question get into an argument with the Schnee heiress who was waving a bottle of dust in her face.

A moment later, the red cloaked girl sneezed. The action igniting the dust causing an explosion of various elements. No one was hurt, but the Doom Slayer couldn't help but snort in amusement as the argument restarted anewed and grew much louder.

His HUD blinked in the bottom right corner, telling him of an incoming call via scroll from Glynda Goodwitch. "What can I do for you, Glynda?" he asked when the link was established.

"Professor Ozpin would like you to meet us in the amphitheater for orientation. We will be starting soon." replied the huntress.

"On my way." John ended the call before dropping off the building he was standing on. Hitting with a solid impact on the ground below, startling several students who were walking by at the time as he rose up from the crouch he landed in, walking past stunned spectators as they watched the armored warrior enter one of the main buildings of the academy.

The amphitheater was a large, circular room with an elevated stage in the back with rows of seats lining farther up the walls. It was where most of the assemblies were held, along with the combat courses that would be starting the day after tomorrow since it was the biggest location in the academy.

As he stepped inside, the Doom Slayer saw that the first year students had started to gather. Many of them looking his way as he approached the stage where Ozpin and Glynda were speaking to one another. "You called for me?" he asked, stopping before them.

"Indeed." said the headmaster, "I just thought it would be beneficial to have you here when we start the orientation. Considering you've been observing the new students for the last hour now."

John raised an unseen eyebrow at the man, "Do you make it a habit to watch everything your faculty does?"

Ozpin smiled into his mug as he took a drink from it, "Only a select few from time to time." he stated simply, Glynda rolling her eyes at her boss' antics as they waited for the rest fo the students to file into the room.

An hour later, all of the first years had taken their seats before the stage. When everone was settled, Ozpin approached the microphone set up. Glynda on his left, John on his right.

"I'll keep this brief." he said, his voice echoing all around the room. "You have traveled here today in search of knowledge. To hone your craft and to acquire new skills. And when you've finished, you plan to dedicate your life to the protection of the people."

Everyone listening stood a bit straighter, but his next words stopped them cold. "But I look amongst you, and all I see is wasted energy. Wasted energy in need of purpose, direction. You assume knowledge will free you of this. But your time at this school will prove that knowledge can only carry you so far. It is up to you, to take the first step."

When he was finished, the headmaster stepped away from the microphone and walked off stage leaving Professor Goodwitch to speak next. "You will all gather into the ballroom tonight. Tomorrow your initiation begins. Be ready. You are dismissed."

John watched Ozpin leave the room, curious about the brief and somewhat emotionless speech he made. Deciding not to dwell on it too much, he made his own exit. Intending on taking some time to relax before catching a bit of sleep to prepare for the next day.

X

Among the students that were on their way to the ballroom, Ruby looked back at the stage to see the large man in power armor head in the opposite direction. "Wonder what class he teaches..." she wondered outloud.

Her sister Yang following her line of sight, "Dunno. But whatever it is, must be pretty badass."

X

Later in the evening, John came out of the bathroom that was attached to his quarters. Dressed only in a pair of shorts as he wiped his bald head down with a towel after his shower.

The rooms the faculty stayed in during the school year could be considered one bedroom apartments, having a small kitchenette and a living room-like area to make the occupants comfortable.

Of course, John had converted the living space into a small workshop so that he could work on his weapons while he was there. Ozpin had even sprung to get a type of full body cradle for his Praetor suit that was set up in the far corner so it had a place to be put safely.

Finished drying off, the Doom Slayer tossed the towel onto the back of a desk chair. Intending on heading to the kitchenette to get something to drink when his eyes caught sight of the only thing sitting ontop of the desk.

Pausing his movements as his red eyes looked at the Crucible, the demonic weapon remaining perfectly still where he had set it days prior. In his spare time, he had VEGA bring up any and all information Hayden and the UAC had on the thing. Whatever there was only had a few key points of information, other than that there was no useful data to explain what exactly it was or how it was forged.

What John did know for sure was that it was his...the Doom Slayer's. And from what he could decipher from his many visions, and when he used it to close the Well, it was something very powerful that could not fall into the wrong hands.

Without concious thought, John's hand reached out. His fingers clasping around what he considered to be the 'handle' as he picked it up. It's weight in his hand oddly comfortable, familiar. A tighter grip caused the metal prongs to appear on the top a moment before the long, red, argent energy blade snapped into existence.

The Doom Slayer's eyes glazed over as he was suddenly pulled from reality;

Beasts of every size and shape, armed with claws and teeth charged.

The blade in his hand swiped through the air, its heat both parting and burning flesh as it cleaved through his targets with ease. Blood and burnt tissue flying through the air as the beasts fell in droves.

Sinking the blade through the middle of another abomination, he felt the ground shake below him. The monsters stopped advancing and parted like the red sea as a massive demon towered over them all. Four burning ember eyes leered down at the warrior, horns bigger than any of the demons below it sat atop its head while it clenched massive, claw dotted fists.

Extending out of both forearms were sharp spikes made of stone that glowed with a sinister red energy.

A roar that could have shaken the heavens if it existed in this plain bellowed from the beast as he began to advance on the warrior, who raised his blade in response before charging his opponent with a warcry of his own...

John gasped as he was pulled back from the vision. His hand clutching the Crucible to the point his knuckles were white. The argent energy blade seemed to pulse before settling back to its solid shape again, the Doom Slayer deactivating the weapon and setting it back on the desk as he looked at it with sharp eyes.

"Whatever is up with this thing, it obviously holds some form of answers to the things I supposedly can't remember." he thought while trying to make sense of it all.

Unknown to him, when the Crucible pulsed in his hand, the artifact in the vault under Beacon had also pulsed in response. As if becoming aware that the one it belonged to was close...and would soon be back in his possession.

The symbol burned into the surface glowing brightly in the darkness around it as it sat waiting in silence.

A/N: Seems John and Amber are settling in okay, and Amber looks to have taken a deeper interest in her savior turned friend. The initiation of the students is coming up next, and because I have the ability, I'm going to be shaking things up in a big way. You'll have to see for yourself to be convinced.

Leave your reviews, and I'll get back to you soon folks!