In a castle somewhere, there lies a throne. A throne of darkness that lies unclaimed by its true monarch. Within the room lies a table, and atop it, a black helm, with horns facing forward. The helm had lost its old murderous rage. Within it still, even as time had passed, in its gaze is a swallowing cold darkness.

"Hero, I sense a part of you is already connected and devoted to the darkness." A red-haired woman with long flowing locks, dressed in a regal red armor, said to Johnny. "This is my blessing to you. Let this small gift of mine help you." She smiled to her subject and friend.

Her eyes misted, and her gaze grew distant, staring at the helm at the table. "Have you known doom, hero?" The woman asked Johnny, who stood there silently, listening. She continued on. "Doom, a powerless feeling inside you knowing nothing can be done to stop a tragic event from happening. All you can do is watch and feel helpless. Everyone has something that made them feel doomed and hopeless while there was nothing to be done."

She turned to face Johnny. Gravelyn, Empress of the Shadowscythe, gave her friend a sad smile. "There is a lesson here to be learned. The question is though, what do you think it is?"

]|[

Johnny awoke. Memories played out before his eyes, as if they happened just moments before. In his hands lied a greatsword, with a handle of bone, the blade wrapped in a cloak of deep crimson. He sighed and dismissed the blade heavy with so much memories.

Johnny pushed himself up from his bed. He was bushed from yesterday's events. The explosion, the White Fang, Neo.

He turned on the TV in the room, as he fished around the refrigerator for some grub to eat. The news channel were on. He let the newscaster drone on as he took out some eggs and bacon from the fridge.

"—numbers the casualties at 35 at this point in time. The Valean Dust Explosion is one of the most terrible manmade disasters in recent history after the Great War. The VPD are still searching for the other members of the group alleged to be behind the incident, the White Fang."

Thirty-five dead. Johnny shook his head. Thirty-five gone because he wasn't fast enough. He wasn't able to stop Neo. It was on him. There was no stopping now. He was fully invested in this, whether he liked it or not.

It was dangerous, getting used to the fact that if he made a mistake, people will die. The voice of one goddess of war echoed in his mind about powers and responsibilities. He remembered to what extent Darkon was pushed because he made a choice.

He sighed. He'd think about this more after breakfast.

]|[

After leaving behind Neo and the other White Fang, he had no idea where to find a lead next. The other criminals might already be arrested. He left the closed bookstore and wandered the streets.

Tailing Mercury and Emerald was a great idea, now he was totally lost. One clue he had was the fact that everything they are doing, or were, is centered on Dust. The other is the fact that the White Fang is a part of the forces using the dust that was being stolen. Dust and the White Fang.

I should at least check the Dust shops still open around the city. Johnny decided. Using his scroll, he searched for the nearest Dust shops in the city, and set off.

]|[

No dice. Most of the shops in the city are closed. The city announced a holiday for today. Now that he thought about it, there were less people strolling around the city today.

Johnny sighed. He found a bench and sat down. What next. He thought. The Dust was no good, how about the White Fang? Where would I even begin to find them? C'mon think!

The White Fang was a Faunus Rights movement that gradually devolved into domestic terrorism. If I was a terrorist where would I skulk around? Obviously, they might've moved out of the warehouses after the fire.

Who was even leading the White Fang? That Cinder woman? Or was it a joint operation? Was Cinder another matter entirely? So Torchwick heads the White Fang…

I need more information! Johnny thought. There was one person he could think of that could give him some answers.

"Oof!" So deep he was in thought that he had accidentally bumped into someone. An orange haired girl with a pink bow and a white dress was on the ground where he bumped into someone.

"Oh sorry!" He said. He held out a hand to the downed girl. "Here lemme help you out."

[Penny, a Real Girl]

The girl stared at his hand before smiling at him brightly. "Yes. Thank you for helping. I am getting up now!" She said. Johnny quirked at the way the girl talked, but… I guess I don't have a place to talk about being weird. He thought to himself.

"Sal-u-ta-tions! My name is Penny! It's a pleasure to meet you!" The girl said.

"You can let go of my hand now, Penny." Johnny mentioned, smiling at the strange girl's quirks. "Quite the grip you have there."

Penny blinks before looking at her hand still holding his. She released them after a bit of thinking. "Oh, I am sorry. Can you tell me the optimal time for an individual to release a held hand?" She asks.

He can't help but chuckle. She was like a kid that's learning about the world around her. He decided he'd entertain her for a bit. "That would depend Miss Penny. In our case after you have been helped up, you release the hand immediately."

"Interesting! I shall store this information later for further analysis." Penny excitedly says.

"Any other questions about basic social interactions, Miss Penny?"

"How does one initiate a friendship with someone else?" She asks seriously, her green eyes staring at him.

"That's a deep question missy." Johnny thought for a bit. "I guess in my experience, it would be spending time with them, through bad times or good times, then they become your friends."

"So there is a time factor for friendship?"

"It also depends. What matters is the time you can give your trust to the other person, and they give you the same trust. Maybe it would only take a day," An image of a paladin with a blinding smile and axe appeared in Johnny's head. "Maybe it would take a lifetime." Another memory of a dear friend, a red haired woman sitting in a throne, surrounded by legions of darkness.

"Then…" Penny hesitates a bit. "How do you know who you can give your trust?"

"This is up to you, kid." Johnny can't help but smile at Penny's innocent question. So simple and yet, so difficult to answer. "It's up to you if you can judge who is a good person you can tell your secrets to, and share your treasures with. If you meet someone who you think is a good person, maybe they can become your friend."

Johnny looked at the time in his scroll. It was nearly 4 o'clock in the afternoon. "Well, Miss Penny. It was nice to meet you. See you around." He said his goodbyes, but Penny zipped quickly in front of him. "Wait! I have another question to ask." She said. Johnny nodded at her. "Would you be my friend?" She asked. Johnny was taken a back a bit.

"Are you sure, Penny? You haven't even asked my name yet, you know?" Johnny teased the girl, who widened her eyes in realization.

"Oh yes! What is your name?" She asked immediately.

"Johnny." I answered her. She nodded.

"Mr. Johnny, will you be my friend?" Johnny shook his head, and Penny frowned, but the adventurer explained for her.

"Penny. I told you earlier. Find out first if a person is good or not, then you can decide to be their friend."

"Are you not a good person Johnny? You helped me from being on the floor."

"I…" Johnny faltered. "I guess, I'm not purely good, Penny. But I promise I'm doing my best." He has to. He consciously chose to be involved every single time. If he failed, it was his own fault.

Penny looked stumped at that. "See you around Penny. I hope you make some good friends." Johnny told the confused girl as he walked away.

]
]|[

Junior's was still the same, loud place as it was the last time he was here. Johnny decided to at least enjoy some of his time here, ordering a glass of beer from Junior before he got to business.

[Junior, Bartender, Information Broker]

"Mm. Good stuff." Johnny sighed in relief. "Welp, I've got something Junior, think you can help?" He slid gold coins to the man behind the bar. "Just need to find the White Fang for now."

Junior eyed him a little, but didn't pry. "They're supposed to have a little recruitment today. That's all I know from their movements. It was supposed to be around this area actually."

"Supposed to?" The adventurer asked. Junior nodded.

"After that disaster of a fire, I've heard some announcements that the regular faction meeting and recruitment is cancelled. Seen the news lately? People are blaming the White Fang for blowing up almost the all the dust that was stolen. So I don't think you're going to be able to find a member right now. Most have gone underground by now, I reckon."

Johnny sighed again and removed his cap, setting it down the counter. Well darn. That was my last clue! And that explosion just had to ruin this lead. "Can I just order another glass of beer?" He said sliding another coin forward. Junior happily pocketed it and poured him another. Guess I can just chill out for the rest of the day. He thought, tuning out his surroundings, trying to relax.

At least, he tried to, until the clubs front doors blasted itself open. He and Junior groaned simultaneously.

]|[

"Here we are. Junior's! Come on, my friend's right in here!" Yang said, taking off her motorcycle helmet, letting her hair fall freely. Her tagalong, Neptune, was not as chipper as the rider of the motorcycle, who stumbled slightly as he removed his goggles and shook his head to try and get rid of his own dizziness.

"Cool…" Neptune fixed his ruffled up blue hair as they walked to the entrance. "And who exactly are we meeting here?" He asked. He heard some of the guards scramble inside the bar closing the door behind them. "Close the door! She's here!"

"Heh." With a grin, Yang approached the doors, and punched with Ember Celica, blasting it open. The poor guards' body blocking the door were promptly launched back. Yang strutted inside. "Guess who's back!" She announced to the club with a grin. Eight gun barrels immediately pointed at Yang. Unfazed, the blonde bombshell flared at the DJ at the back, who was messing up the track. "At least do your job properly!" She yelled at the bear-headed DJ, who took the needle off the record and fled the club.

Neptune entered the club, saw the guns pointed at Yang, and just had to ask: "Yeah, uh, so could you define 'friend' for me?"

Eight clicks. Eight guards pissed off and about to riddle the two idiots messing up their shift with bullets.

"Stop! Stop. Nobody shoot nobody!" Junior shouted. The tall man waded through his agitated guards, straightening his tie and fixing his collar. "Blondie!" He greeted the still smiling Yang. "You're here…Why?" He questioned.

"You still owe me a drink." Yang said, grabbing Junior's arm and dragging him back to the bar, where someone in a black cap and shirt was nursing a tall glass of beer and a headache.

Neptune shook his head, dizzy, but this time, from Yang. "Who-ho-hoa! What a woman…" He stared at the blonde.

He looked beside him to find a pair of twins staring at him with mild disgust. "'ey how ya' gals doin?" He said in the most suave tone he can. The twins both snubbed him and turned away.

He sighed, looking a little down. "Women, eh?" A voice asked, beside him. Neptune turned—

-and found himself face to face with currently the most wanted man in Vale, Roman Torchwick, smoking a cigar.

The crime lord chuckled a little. "Brothers above know I've been dealing with women the hardest these past few months."

Neptune gulped. This has turned from bad to worse. As he watched Roman and his little assistant walk towards where Yang was, he quickly took out his scroll and called everyone. "Everyone, get in here right now! Torchwick is here! Help!"

]|[

Johnny was still trying, and failing spectacularly, to tune out the argument beside him. Not even a straight drink from his beer could drown out their voices.

"I don't know!" "What do you mean you don't know?!"

Oh man. This was what Drakath must've been feeling when Xing and Xang argue with each other. Drakath may be gosh darn annoying at times, but man did he have the patience of a saint handling those two. Johnny thought, reminiscing past memories.

"I already told you everything! Torchwick hired my boys, and I guess he wasn't happy with them, which—Oh." Junior suddenly stopped. He looked furious, looking at the man walking towards his bar. The blondie beside him mirrored Junior's expression, equally as furious, eyes blazing red.

"Torchwick." Junior growled. "You have a lot of nerve showing up here, after your stupid stunt, blowing up half the district."

"I'm just here for your services Junior, for info. We'll pay, get the info, and get out of here fast." Torchwick answered, twirling his cane as he approached Junior and the blonde. "I'm too busy to deal with you for too long, anyways."

"Uh-uh." Said the blonde. Her gauntlets seemed to click, like a gun, in preparation for combat. "You aren't leaving here without at least a broken jaw, Torchwick."

"And who is this Junior? One of your new backup dancers?" Roman glared at the blonde, who growled in anger, and pulled the criminal by his collar to face her. "Who-hoa, hands off the goods, darling. I assure you this suit is more expensive than your fee." Torchwick taunted. The blonde snarled, pulled back her arms to punch Torchwick, but a hand gripped her elbow, and she felt a sharp prick on her neck. A pink and brown haired woman smiled sweetly at her, a sharp misericord at her hand.

Oh shit that's Neo. Crap. Crapcrapcrap. I gotta make myself not suspicious and have her not notice me! Johnny internally panicked as a fight brewed beside him. Slowly, he took off his black cap, and quickly, and sneakily, stood up from his stool and slowly inched away.

Even if he thought he was sneaky, Neo already noticed him, even if he was turned away. He didn't change his outfit after all. The mute woman kicked at Torchwick's legs, trying to get his attention. "What is it?" He asked his enforcer. Neo nodded in Johnny's direction, and the thief's eyes narrowed as he took in his appearance. "You…" He growled.

"Put your weapon down. Now." A voice beside Neo said. A bright blue blade crackled with electricity at Neo's neck. A blue haired kid held the guandao at Neo's neck, who gritted her teeth.

"This just keeps getting better and better." Roman hissed. "Look. We're only here for him." He jabbed a thumb at Johnny, who was still inching away. "Just let me grab him and we're out of your hair, Junior."

"Uh-uh." Junior said. He took out a red club from beneath his counter. "He's a paying customer. Pays real good money. You on the other hand, have nearly blown the fuck out of the district, got my men arrested, and now are siding with terrorists. Bad for business, Torchwick." He hefted the club to his shoulder. "I'm with blondie on this one. You gotta go, Torchwick."

Hands grabbed Neo's shoulders. "Neo." A familiar voice. Miltia's claws brushed near her throat.

"Roman." Melanie grabbed Torchwick's shoulder.

The blue haired boy and the blond girl looked tense at the showdown they got themselves into.

Johnny coughed. Suddenly, all eyes were on him. "So uh, thanks for the beers Junior…" He said awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "Gottagonowbye!" The adventurer quickly turned around and sprinted for the exit.

]|[

Neo exploded into pieces, surprising everyone. Yang took the opportunity to smash a fist into Torchwick's face, launching him to the dance floor.

Neo reappeared before Johnny before he could get far, seething in anger. She held her misericord up in a fencing position. Johnny held up his hands. "What are you angry at me for?! You're the one that blew up the dust!"

"What?!" Torchwick shouted from somewhere, before grunting in pain as Yang took the opportunity to smash a fist to his stomach.

"Your fight is with me, Torchwick!" She yelled, smashing a fist downwards, but got caught in Torchwick's cane. Torchwick pulled the trigger, using the force of the recoil to launch his body sideward, distancing himself from the blonde brawler. "Don't get too cocky, you brat!" He screamed at Yang.

Nearby, Neptune, Junior, and the twins scrambled to secure their targets. Neptune and Junior dashed to Torchwick, while the twins surrounded Neo.

Johnny held out a hand and summoned his katana. "Just surrender Neo. You and Torchwick ain't going to escape." He held the weapon at the ready. Neo actually growled, her voice scratchy from disuse. "I beat you up before, I'll do it again."

[Vs. Neo, Silent Assassin!]

The twins didn't wait for him. Miltia went high, aiming for Neo's throat, while Melanie spun a kick to the enforcer's midsection. Neo shattered to glass as the simultaneous attacks hit. Reappearing midair between the two, kicking them both in the face with a split kick, launching them back.

Johnny sliced up, Neo catching the katana with her smaller weapon. She parried, and used her momentum to launch a high kick. He tilted his head back and raised his other hand, firing off a Dark Pulse, pushing Neo back and making her flinch a bit.

Johnny capitalized on Neo's stagger. Tachi, he whispered, slicing into Neo a familiar attack, the three sequential slashes. Targeting her vital organs. Neo desperately brought up her misericord to block, and with the final slash of the Tachi, she shattered to pieces again.

"That's getting really annoying." Johnny said. His eyes shone with a bright light.

A kick from behind, to the base of the head. Johnny would be knocked out. A vision played out in his eyes briefly.

He tilted his head to the side, dodging the kick. Undeterred by Johnny's unexpected dodge, Neo slammed her foot down, hitting Johnny's shoulder. Johnny grunted in pain.

"Don't forget…"

"…about us!"

The twins launched back into the fight. Johnny backed off. Neo was quickly forced to the backfoot; dodging claws and bladed heels, she gracefully weaved her way past their attacks. But even her skills had limits. Miltia swiped her claws downward, and Neo parried the attack to the side, only to catch a kick to her chin, from Melanie in her blind side.

Neo tumbled to the floor, staring at her three attackers. It was not looking good for her. She used her semblance again, attempting to escape.

"Not that crap again!" Johnny shouted. His hands summoned a pitch black fog, scattering it everywhere. "Spread unlife in the name of the Legion!" he chanted, and the fog billowed in an invisible wind, spreading across the bar.

The twins beside him flinched, as the fog hit Neo's invisible form, breaking her aura, and her face twisted in pain.

"What…"

"…was that?!" They both screamed at him. He sighed. "Something you use when your enemy uses invisibility. Flood the area with something as unavoidable as smoke or fog, and you'll see them."

Grabbing Neo by the scruff of her neck, he walked towards the dance floor, where Yang, Neptune, and Junior were dealing with Torchwick. The twins followed behind him.

"Give up, Torchwick." Johnny barked at the thief, who was panting and on his knees, using his cane to stand. Seems blondie and the others did a number on him. Johnny thought, staring at the downed Torchwick.

Torchwick's eyes widened when he saw Neo's face: in silent agony, face stuck in a scream as the fog continued to eat at her body. "Neo!" He shouted in concern.

Yang, Neptune, and Junior stared in horror at Neo's state. Even if she was their enemy, seeing her like that was…uncomfortable. "What the hell did you do to her?" Junior asked. Johnny faced the three of them. Yang and Neptune dipped to a crouch, weapons at the ready. Junior looked wary, his hand tightening around his club. Johnny just shrugged.

The adventurer tossed the catatonic assassin to Torchwick, sending them tumbling in a pile of limbs. Torchwick attempted to aim his cane at Johnny, but it was quickly whacked away from his arms with the blunt edge of the katana. With another swipe, he smashed the katana across Torchwick's face, knocking him out. Seems his aura was already broken by the others.

"Who are you?" Yang questioned the adventurer. Johnny sighed inwardly. How am I gonna get out of this one now? He thought to himself, facing the others.