I do not own RWBY or AdventureQuest Worlds.

The girl dreamed.

Magic made life by Chaos itself. Seeking to be free, and be its own master, it made a great monster to feed on the life force of the planet.

All it wanted was to be free, and the only thing that stood in his way was the life of every single creature in lore. The young warrior stood against the mana made life, grasping a staff of Supreme Arcane.

In the end, its own master destroyed it for daring to want to choose its own fate, and the young warrior thought of his own place in the gameboard of life.

]|[

"—council has denounced this attack by the White Fang on our officers. Atlas has pledged to help in reinforcing security in the city following the preparations for the upcoming Vytal Festival.

Speaking of Atlas, the city is thankful for the help they provided when the Wyvern attack. The city is still reeling from the suddenness of an Ancient Grimm attacking the city! You'd think the natural barriers would deter that.

Can't have that much barrier if you can FLY, Violetta.

Well, that's the rub isn't it Marty? Vale isn't in relative safety anymore. That's what the people think. That's what I think. And it's great that Atlas is coming in to donate some of their equipment and men to help us!

The spirit of cooperation, now that the Vytal Festival nears. Isn't that great? Kingdoms now having more dialogue and helping to solve each other's issues.

Well, the issue of GRIMM that is. The White Fang is still out there, after all. Menagerie's chieftain, Ghira Belladonna, and to note, former of the leadership of the White Fang, has publicly denounced as well the actions of the current White Fang.

The public is split on this. We have news of some blatant hate attacks happening from across the city, and hell, across different kingdoms! This is not what we need right now folks!

Well, how about some good news then, Marty? The heroic 'Dragon Faunus' seen by the people during the Battle at the VPD plaza. Heard about him?

Well, he seems to be someone affiliated somehow to the academy, isn't he? People saw him throw around fireballs, lightning, and laser beams! Like a super hero from one of those Mistralian cartoons, eh?

The term is Anime, you uncultured trog. Haven't you watched Dragon Stars, Marty? People are comparing him to the main character that threw around ki blasts from his hand!

Well, sooooorry for not watching these, 'Anime' Violetta. Besides, that's not all the things we have today that seems out of place right?

That's right, the miraculous 'Healing Rain' after—!"

]|[

Ruby sat by Blake's bed in her hospital room. The Faunus had just barely escaped getting a heart attack, and just barely avoided getting permanent organ damage from the hold Beatrice Astraluna put her through. After the medics shocked her heart back into proper rhythm and drained her lungs of excess fluid, Blake had been taking it easy for the past two days. Luckily for her, Beacon had announced a week long break for the students, after the tragedy two days ago.

Ruby and the still bedridden Blake watched the television, each channel still talking about the massacre at the VPD building, Roman Torchwick's escape, and the White Fang's involvement. Beyond that, there were talks about the awakening of the Ancient Grimm of Mountain Glenn. It was theorized that the disastrous Dust explosion from recently causing much negativity had certainly helped in its awakening. The public is abuzz with fears of other Ancient Grimm that could be lurking in the continent.

One thing was clear, the White Fang was again being claimed as the cause of all tragedies the city has been experiencing recently.

"Sis! Blake!" Yang's voice was heard as she entered the room, carrying two large paper bags. "Got you some food." She sat at the sofa in the room, placing the bags in the high table to the side of Blake's bed. Blake sat up and dragged the table closer to the side, scooching over to the edge of the bed. "Tuna sandwich and chicken soup." Yang said. "Something easy for the stomach, eh?"

"Where's Weiss?" Ruby asked. Yang's eyes darkened. "She went back to her sister's room, wanted to check on her." The blonde teen sighed and leaned back to the sofa. "And still angry. Acting like Blake after the Port incident."

Blake gave Yang the stink-eye, but Yang ignored her. "I understand too. If someone had done that to Ruby, I'd wanna hunt the White Fang down too."

Blake closed her eyes in pain. "Where did it all go wrong?" Blake said, eyes misting up. "When we all started, we just wanted to change how we were treated, by fighting back. How did we go from that, to this…?"

"It is not your fault." Ruby said, placing a hand on Blake's shoulder. "You were not the one that hurt Weiss' sister."

Yang nodded, standing up to face Blake. "Ruby's right. You weren't the one that was violent. You left. You're here with us."

"I could have done more to change them, from the inside…"

"You really think you could have changed all their minds?" Yang challenged her. "All those people that wanted blood. You think you could have talked to them all, one by one, and set them straight?"

"No! I meant with Adam!" Blake shouted. She met the eyes of her teammates, concerned over her. "I'm sorry. I meant, if I could have just changed how we went about our operations, held Adam back, it wouldn't have ended this way."

"And if not Adam, who'd be there at the top?" Yang continued. "Some other psychopath chomping at the bit wanting to blow up the kingdom. Like that woman that took Winter's arm and eye."

"Who was she?" Ruby asked. "What happened really?"

"That was Beatrice Astraluna." Blake spat bitterly. She swirled the chicken soup in the styrofoam cup. "One of the maniacs that was attracted by the prospect of a more violent White Fang. She was a doctor, once."

"Then what?"

"I don't actually know for sure. Just said it was the reason she joined. She was amazing at first you know? Her semblance was amazing when she used it to heal people. But then we saw how deep her hatred was for humans." Blake shuddered. She turned to her teammates. "Her semblance was to control fluids, or flow, or something like that. Using it, she said she was able to control the chemicals and electric flow in the brain or something, and forced people to move to her whim. And she could use it to," Blake touched her chest, feeling her heartbeat. "Mess with the blood flow of other people."

"That was just some of the things she could do." Blake frowned. "Beatrice can force steel to rust immediately somehow. And then there was the way she tore Winter's arm off. She can absorb the water in your body, but she can only do it if she's close, or if she's focusing using her wand from up to a few meters. What remains is a desiccated and dusty corpse."

"That…" Ruby looked horrified. Yang grimaced. "That's insane." Yang finished for her sister. "How are we even meant to fight someone like that?"

"When fighting her, keep out of her range. She'll drain you immediately." Yang winced at that, thinking on how she tried to punch Beatrice. That means she got lucky. Blake continued. "And you have to keep moving, or she'll do to you what she did to me. Also do not use your weapon against her, or at least, don't rely on it too much." Here Ruby really looked horrified. "Beatrice will destroy your weapon. Her defenses are complete like that."

"She's… she's a monster." Ruby said, mind racing, thinking what she'd do if her baby got destroyed by Beatrice.

"How have we not heard about her? We know Adam Taurus, and that other woman?" Yang snapped her fingers, trying to remember. "I forgot her name. That other infamous gal from the White Fang. I mean, if Beatrice was that terrifying, why isn't she as famous as the others?"

"Because even Adam and Sienna know how bad it would be if word about a sociopath being member of the White Fang spread." Blake said. She responded before Yang got her word in, guessing what her partner's question would be. "And they can't get rid of her. She's too useful. An almost invincible leader, and a skilled doctor. Not to mention a powerful Dust specialist, too boot."

Ruby and Yang digested that for a bit. Beatrice did seem to be invincible from Blake's description of her.

"She has a weakness." Blake smiled. "That's how I got her the first time." Ruby and Yang leaned in. "It's that you can overwhelm her senses. She can lose concentration, and openings might happen. I used large amounts of lightning dust to shock and blind her. It almost took her out…but," Blake sighed. "Somehow, using her wand, Beatrice revived herself."

"What is this?" Yang groaned. "Why is her semblance so insane?"

Blake shrugged. "I think it's not that her semblance is powerful. It's that she has the skills to back her control of it up. She was a doctor, meaning she'd know exactly where to apply her power the best." She said.

"Does that mean if we study harder our semblances, we can use it in more ways than now?" Ruby thought. "I can't wait to see if our semblances can evolve!" She said excitedly.

"I don't think mine gets better than how it is now." Yang scratched her head. "What would it do? Make me punch even harder?"

"I mean, to be fair, that would still be amazing…" Blake offered.

The three girls talked, getting back into the normalcy of their everyday life, momentarily forgetting the tragedies that haunted the city.

]|[

"They only deserve death."

Bang.

"They deserve it, for supporting a regime so steeped in the suffering of MY people."

Bang.

"She dies, for turning against her own people."

"Stop. Stop. STOP!"

A hand caressed her skin. "You won't need these for that." Indescribable pain assaulted her.

"Please, enough…!"

"I suppose you won't need this too."

"AAAAAAAGGHHH!"

"I've always wanted a doll"

"Get…Get away from me!"

Winter woke up screaming. She held her left hand to check her right arm. It still wasn't there.

"A doll."

She choked, feeling her lungs grow heavy, and her breathing quickened.

"Winter? Winter!"

Arms wrapped around her. Winter tried to pry herself away.

"Get away from me! Don't touch me!"

"It's me Weiss! Please Winter!" Weiss plead, not letting go.

"Get…OFF!" Winter pushed Weiss with a surprising amount of force. Weiss stumbled and fell on the ground. She looked up at her sister in concern.

Winter looked at her sister and realized what happened. "I…I-!" She said, choking between sobs. Weiss knew what she had to do. She stood up, and hugged her sister tightly, feeling Winter shake in her arms as she cried.

All this, because of the White Fang. Weiss knew it was the same thing she criticized Blake about. But she now understood. Her eyes hardened, feeling a cold rage build inside her, as she held her broken sister in her arms.

]|[

"This is a nightmare, Ozpin!" Ironwood paced about the office. "These rogues are getting far too out of control!"

"Hate to say it, but I have to agree with Jimmy." Qrow said from his place near the wall. "Cinder is out there, and that maniac from White Fang too."

Ozpin sighed. He had just given a statement on Beacon Academy's opinion on the incident and the White Fang. The racial tensions are escalating. He had to say that he decried the actions of the White Fang, and that the academy is open to all, regardless of race or gender. Some people didn't like that, and someone actually tried to throw a shoe at him in the press conference.

"Not to mention your witch, Ozpin." Johnny said. The adventurer lazed on one of the seats in the office, legs up on Ozpin's desk. "She sent that Wyvern. Probably to help Cinder, I think."

"We should start hunting them down." Ironwood said, fire in his eyes. "We cannot let this happen again! Look, I already got clearance. We can move our people into the streets and flush these scum out and arrest them."

The headmaster leaned back in his chair. "For once, I agree." Everyone looked at him when he said that. "Our enemy is ready and willing to bring the fight to our door. We should do that first. Glynda." He called to the blonde professor. "Contact some of the huntsman teams that are available. Recall them all back to Vale."

He looked at Ironwood. "How are you planning to get the White Fang out?"

Ironwood nodded. He placed his scroll on the desk, projecting a map of the city. He pointed at the city borders. "We're going to raise perimeters around the limits, and each of the districts. We're also going to propose a city wide curfew for now. Seeing that the students were able to handle themselves," He nodded to Glynda. "This won't apply to the students. I suppose I'll have to extend my trust that they would be able to handle themselves as professionals out in the field."

"We have another problem. The racial tensions. We have to find a way to contain it, or the city would fall into chaos." Ozpin said. He remembered the times before this era. Pogroms would be held trying to get rid of Faunus from the cities. It had toned down through the ages, but the hatred was still there. Just another tally to his long list of sins for failing to stop it. "We can put a face to our enemies. Announce a bounty for Cinder Fall, and her affiliation with the White Fang." Ozpin said, steepling his fingers, leaning forward on the table. "This way, we can remove the weapon of anonymity from our opponents."

"How about the one that…injured Winter?" Glynda said. Ironwood's eyes closed, remembering the state his right hand woman was left in. She was currently unfit to work. Miss Belladonna had told them in her report about the woman that had did that to the specialist.

"Beatrice Astraluna." Ozpin said. "According to some records, a doctor from Mistral that lost her family and job. Details end there. Semblance registered as 'flow control'."

"An incredibly dangerous individual, according to Miss Belladonna. An ability she apparently uses to control people." Glynda read from her scroll.

"Add her too, then." Ozpin said. "What concerns me, is that Salem is now moving actively. Qrow?" He looked to the huntsman, who nodded.

"Salem herself contacted Cinder during the fighting. Even left a message for…Ozma." He said. Ozpin's eyes narrowed. "Saying she'll see you soon."

"Well. I think I have an idea why she was personally moving now." Ozpin stared at Johnny. The rest of them followed, too. "What?" Johnny asked.

Ironwood rubbed at his forehead, trying to hold back his migraine. "You weren't exactly discreet, Mr. Dragon Faunus."

Ozpin nodded. "Indeed. According to Miss Sustrai and Mister Black, Cinder's plans was destroyed the moment you interfered with them during the time that led to the Dust explosion. Apparently, they were going to use the Dust to blow the tunnels leading to Mountain Glenn, causing a massive breach that would have led to a Grimm incursion into the heart of the city."

"And when that didn't happen, Salem herself stepped in with her Wyvern?" Qrow guessed. Ozpin nodded. "Then the Breach happened anyway. Luckily, we saw that shit happening miles away. Wyvern wasn't really discreet either."

"It sets a dangerous precedent, though." Johnny cut in. They all turned to him. "I'm guessing with the way you all reacted to the Wyvern, Grimm like that ain't exactly common?" They grunted an affirmative at that. "This means that Salem is willing to throw more and more of her monsters at the city, if there is something she wants here."

"I don't think the city would be able to handle more Ancient Grimm attacks." Ozpin sighed. "So we must prepare. The training of the students would be stepped up, in preparation. Haven Academy students…" The headmaster clicked his tongue. "…would first undergo a screening process. I'll handle Leonardo myself."

"Atlas will help. I can assure you of that." Ironwood said.

"I'll help stalk the streets, look for the White Fang." Qrow said. "They must still be somewhere around the city."

"And you, Johnny?" Ozpin asked the adventurer. "Will you help?"

Johnny shrugged. "Sure. I don't have anything better to do right now." I'm sure everyone back home could handle me not being there without everything imploding, right? He thought. The alliance was stronger than ever, albeit uneasy with Drakath's presence. Brentan, Victoria, and Gravelyn at least shared that one thing that kept them from tearing each of their own kingdoms apart: the grudge they have for the ex-champion of chaos. Besides, Artix and the others were there. Dage already swore to uphold the balance.

"Excellent. You could be something that Salem would never suspect." Ozpin said, considering his future plans. Johnny coughed into his hands, nervously scratching at his head.

"Yeah uh, about that…" He said sheepishly. "Salem, uh, talked to me? When I cut off the Wyvern's head."

They all looked at him with wide eyes. "What?" Ozpin said. "What did she say to you?"

"Well you know, just basically asking me who I was, and why was I interfering with her plans, basic villain stuff." Johnny recounted. "She got in contact with a vision? Or telepathy? Something like that."

"Strange." Ozpin muttered. "I didn't know she could do that."

"Oh yeah!" Johnny remembered. "She also asked why the Grimm blood didn't affect me. Or something like that."

Ozpin stared at him intensely. Johnny raised an eyebrow. "You got Grimm blood on you?" He asked in a grave tone.

"He was practically drenched in it when he cut off the head." Glynda said. "But it disappeared when the Wyvern died."

"Was that supposed to do anything then?" Johnny narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "Like, ah, say, corrupt me somehow?"

"Yes." Ozpin answered back sharply. "Yes. It was how Salem got her powers to control the Grimm, and even become like them. Salem was a powerful sorceress even before her corruption. And you're telling me that you aren't even the slightest bit affected?"

"Yes?" Johnny answered back. "It stung a bit but that's it? What was that supposed to be then? That liquid." Salem mentioned that it was darkness, but what did that mean exactly?

"An essence of the God of Darkness himself, the creator of the creatures of Grimm." Ozpin said, recounting old, painful memories. "Salem threw herself in one of the pools in the land of darkness filled with those, and turned into a being of darkness."

[Evil] Somewhere within Johnny, a connection to darkness and doom trembled. "If you call that 'dark', trust me," The adventurer snorted, holding back a laugh. "You won't want to face the things hidden in the night and the pits of the underworld. No. The liquid didn't do anything but probably connect me to Salem with that vision."

"And the chances that you're being controlled by her?" Ironwood said seriously, glaring at Johnny. Qrow fingered the handle of his broadsword at his back. "How do we know you aren't being used to spy on us now?"

"Absolutely no chance." Johnny said confidently. Gravelyn would strangle him if he dared to be affiliated to another ruler of darkness. "I'll tell you what I told Salem: the darkness I know would swallow the darkness you know. Deeper than hers. Nothing she can do to corrupt me. Besides,"

[Good] "I promised I won't harm the innocent. This is a promise. It may not convince you now, but I won't move against the people that has nothing to do with this war of yours."

Qrow snorted. "So we're just going to ignore the fact that he mentioned something worse than Salem?"

"Meh." Johnny waved him off. "The darkness that would swallow the world doesn't exist here. I just…know of it, that's all." He lied, not mentioning his already existing connection with the dark. "She's also pretty busy too. Got an empire and all that."

"She?" Glynda caught. "The 'darkness that would swallow the world' is a she?"

Johnny smiled fondly, eyes distant. "A pal. The alliance of crowns back home is at peace."

An alliance of kingdoms. Ozpin dreamed. Just like his own mission. "How did that happen, then? The alliance." He can't help but ask. Johnny smirked.

"Well, like here, it also required another threat that would destroy the world…" He said, getting into the story of the lords of chaos and the heroes from back home that stood against Drakath.

]|[

Cinder paced around the little motel room she had acquired. She had been trying to contact her minions Mercury and Emerald, but they hadn't been answering for a while. She dialed their numbers again.

Emerald's number rang. "Where are you?" She said, trying to control her temper. "You haven't been in contact for two days!" Cinder's hands was clenching into fists. She'd have to discipline Emerald and Mercury when they got back.

"My apologies. My schedule had been tied up these past two days. So much dreadful things have happened. But you'd know all about that, wouldn't you, Cinder Fall?" Ozpin's voice chilled her down to the core. She was compromised. That thought didn't stop the irrational fury she was feeling right now. How dare he look down on her!

"You…" She seethed, hands beginning to burn. "You think you've won? You think you can stop me?"

"…Classic villain lines right there." A voice in the background said. "Your boss said the exact same thing too!" The voice, a man's chuckled.

"Call me a villain if you must. These peaceful days won't last, and Vale would burn to the ground."

"Threat noted, Miss Fall. Allow me to say a few words then." Ozpin said and paused a bit.

Ozpin's voice now held an arctic tone. "We will hunt you down. The city will hunt you down. Everyone will know your name, and you and your little band of rogues are going to be hunted down like dogs. We will drag you from the hole you are hiding from, and force you into the sun. I will personally make sure that you understand the mistake of crossing the Kingdom of Vale, and consorting with Witches. We know what you plan, and we will make sure that nothing but failure remains of your legacy. Wait for us, when we grind you to the dirt, whilst the power you crave slips through your fingers. Good day, Miss Fall. See you soon."

The call ended with a click, and the scroll melted in her hands from her semblance. Cinder was shaking with anger, but she had things to do.

They'll get theirs, one day. Cinder swore on it with her soul.

]|[

"Woohooo! That was cold!" Johnny cheered as the call ended. The call from Cinder was unexpected. He was in the middle of retelling the scuffle he had with Escherion, when Ozpin's scroll rang, showing Cinder's name. Immediately, the details of the call were saved, and Ironwood had people analyzing the call to triangulate the position of the caller.

Ozpin had to chuckle. "Comes with experience." He said, smirking as he drank from his mug. Qrow shook his head, chuckling in spite of the situation. Glynda sighed at the antics of the men before her.

"That's bound to spook her, eh? Hahaha!" Qrow laughed.

Ozpin smiled contentedly. It was a small, petty victory, but one they really had needed. One learns to treasure the small things in life, after living this long. He thought.