I do not own RWBY or AdventureQuest Worlds.

The next lesson from the professor brought the young warrior to a face he knew well, a friend.

He asked why if, for all its power, the Eternal Dragon of Time did not stop the doom that approached the previous timeline. In his surprise, his friend just shrugged. Perhaps it could have stopped the end of the world. But it didn't, and for all its power, it does not excuse the being from having its own agendas for its inaction.

The Eternal Dragon of Time, there from the beginning, and will continue to be there at the end of everything, was not a hero, nor a villain. It just is. They cannot lay blame everything that had happened to the inaction of the dragon.

The threats, the villains, they can come from those familiar, one's own kind, and not just from 'monsters'.

A simple lesson, but the young warrior was confused why it was being taught to him by the professor.

]|[

The events following the incident the general population dubbed 'The White Fang Bombing' were hectic. Residential areas were destroyed chiefly, and some areas of the industrial and commercial districts were flooded by the river and the sea after the bombs destroyed the river banks and the drains near the ocean. Sewers were blocked, and it was estimated that it will remain so for weeks. Clearing operations were mobilized as soon as possible.

Water supplies got interrupted into some parts of the city, and with the effect of the explosion of Dust into the pipes below the city, the council had urged the public to avoid drinking from tap and urged the population to buy directly from suppliers. This had turned into a mass panic buying of purified water from the suppliers in the city, and long lines were seen commonly along the city.

With the sinkhole blocking the waterways, shipping routes via the river was blocked, and a 'traffic jam' of shipping vessels had happened at the docks near the sea. It had jammed up some supplies in the city, but nothing that an increase in air traffic couldn't handle.

And there were the traffic into and out of the city. It was made even harder for people to go in and out of the city. Representatives for the upcoming Vytal Festival were the only ones that had a clear pass, and even then intensive background checks were initiated for each. This move was criticized; what was the point of a trust building festival if the hosts were unwilling to trust their guests? However, the recent tragedies of the city had silenced most of these critics. It had not died away fully, though.

There were critics that had questioned the ability of Vale and Atlas and the huntsmen of Beacon in defending the city. They had failed in defending the city, in their eyes. But many had commended their actions. Experts relay that if the people involved had not intervened in removing the bombs along the underground, the collapse would have been city wide; a sinkhole that would expand from the river fork and outward into the edges of the city, turning it into a giant crater.

The culprits of the recent tragedies, the White Fang, had almost been entirely gone from Vale. Some had been caught after the explosion, and some had escaped again into the city. What was clear however, that the leadership of the Valean cell had been rounded up. Beatrice Astraluna and a lieutenant by the name of Nino Naranja had both been apprehended by the actions of students of Beacon Academy and the VPD. Adam Taurus was declared dead after being witnessed caught in the middle of the bombings.

Even with the disappearance of the White Fang, people still turned to the nearest outlet for their anger. Anti-faunus sentiment was again returning, and more and more public assaults are occurring. More establishments have been banning faunus, and have been putting high frequency sound emitters that warded off and harmed the faunus with sharper senses of hearing.

The council had denounced the actions against the faunuskind. All kingdoms had decried this action against the faunus, yet all public statements had been met with a growing crowd of anti-faunus demonstrators.

The earthquake after the incident just sealed the grim atmosphere the city was now experiencing, at a time where the Vytal festival was nearing. An ominous sign to most.

Chaos was growing in the city. A powder keg waiting to be lit. And with the CCT secretly sabotaged by Cinder, everything was falling into place once again. The black-haired woman wore a disguise as she had walked across the city. She was one of the people implicated in the recent incidents, yet the face of the tragedies remained to be the White Fang. Exactly the image she wanted for their group. A kingdom divided would make it easier for her to destroy it.

She had uploaded the virus, modified further by Arthur Watts in adjustment to the new developments in the city. With it, she only need to wait for the right moment. The city pushed on with their plans to continue the festival despite the recent setbacks. It would be their grandest mistake, Cinder smiled to herself.

She had not heard from the so-called 'Dragon Faunus', however. It seemed if he had died, the city had pushed on with the narrative that it was through the actions of the 'brave defenders of the city'; Beacon Academy and the joint forces of the Vale and Atlas.

It didn't matter; she was going to destroy all of them, anyway.

She had to find new allies though. Luckily, with Torchwick's disappearance, a power vacuum in the Valean criminal underground had emerged, and there were some interested groups of people she could talk to…

]|[

Teams RWBY and JNPR had spent the next few days of their break recuperating. Pyrrha and Ren's ribs were broken. Thankfully, no permanent damage had been done. Weiss and Yang weren't so lucky. Being exposed to Beatrice's semblance, Weiss was unconscious for the next few days, descending into seizures, and was confined to the intensive care unit. Yang had incurred a bit of anemia and serious fluid loss, and had just narrowly escaped descending into shock. She had been rushed to emergency quickly, and had her fluids restored.

The White Fang had fought back terribly against them. Fighters like Beatrice and Ella gave them a taste of the kinds of opponents that were waiting for them in the future. They were skilled in combat, with extremely powerful semblances to boot. Everyone looked at Weiss at the intensive care unit. Even now she suffered at the hands of Beatrice. Her sister had incurred much damage as well.

As soon as Winter heard about what had happened to Weiss, she had insisted on being let out of her own room. Ironwood gave in, and wheeled his right hand woman to the ICU where they had met with the rest of Weiss' friends.

Winter stared at her sister through the window. She was sleeping peacefully now, but still not awake. Her hand gripped the guards of the chair hard. Ironwood placed a hand on her shoulder. "Weiss will be okay." The general reassured her. "Our best doctors are working with her. She will be fine."

"I wasn't there for her." Winter whispered. "I wasn't able to protect her when she needed me the most. Because of my failure with Astraluna, my sister is comatose."

"Our…father." Winter hissed out, frowning. "Would certainly use this opportunity to bring Weiss home. She would never be able to achieve her dreams again."

Ironwood shook his head. "That won't happen. No one is allowed in or out of the city right now."

It didn't bring any comfort to Winter. She continued to look at Weiss with a tormented look.

Mirroring her own feelings was Ruby. It was her call to have Weiss and Yang fight Beatrice. It was on her. Maybe if she had thought about the distribution, this wouldn't have happened. Maybe if she had forced them to train even harder in their own trainings, this-! "Ruby." Blake gripped her leader's shoulders, snapping her from her thoughts.

"This wasn't your fault Ruby." Blake said. "I hold more responsibility for placing Weiss and Yang in this..." She closed her eyes in pain. Like Ruby, she was wracked with guilt, with her past as an ex-White Fang.

It wasn't just Yang and Weiss though. There was the fact that Johnny had held Ella back so they could escape. They didn't stand a chance against the rogue huntress, and because of it, Johnny had to sacrifice himself.

It was a sobering thought that a death was on them. Ruby, Blake, Winter and Ironwood stood by the ICU in silence, watching a still sleeping Weiss.

]|[

It was the same silence in Ozpin's office. He, Qrow, and Glynda stood in silence as they listened to the council meeting. Surprisingly, both Torchwick and Neo stayed with them, lounging on the chairs. Both kept silent in respect to the meeting however. Their hands glowed with a seal on it, the magic from their Contract still active.

"This is unacceptable!" One councilor said. "Three incidents in one month! The problem of the White Fang had seriously gotten out of hand! Even with Atlas' help in security, the people are in an uproar!"

"Water and supply shortages, a hundred million Lien in damages, and riots across the streets." Another councilor said. "We had heard that you were planning operations to stop the third incident from happening, considering you were in pursuit of the White Fang after the VPD plaza incident. What has happened?"

"The White Fang had progressed their plans far too quickly. Not even the combined forces of Vale and Atlas were able to stop them." Ozpin answered back coolly. "There was also the matter of Adam Taurus sneaking in from the old subway system from Mountain Glenn." He narrowed his eyes, not breaking eye contact with the city councilors. "The same subway system that was supposed to be filled in years ago." He said in a sharp, accusatory tone.

The councilors certainly did not miss the implication of Ozpin's words. They held themselves impressively, but broke in a bit of a cold sweat. The headmaster continued on anyways. "There was also the fact that our rogue elements had been able to gather documents that were meant for our own local government only." He pushed a button on his desk, letting the map of the Valean underground system flash. "They had taken advantage of the much unmaintained pipelines and structures underneath the city, and the unreinforced soil of the river banks and sea ports. The experts from both Vale and Atlas deduced what would happen, and we had taken action immediately. The great miscalculation was that the White Fang were more numerous than previously thought, and had snuck in into the city, taking advantage of one backdoor that WE," Ozpin stressed the word, making some of the councilors gulp. "Had forgotten about."

"W-well. All these weaknesses are now well noted." A councilor said, trying to regain face. "But well-trained professional huntsmen and the combined forces of both Vale and Atlas not being enough to take out the White Fang?" They pointed out, needling more criticisms against the current head of security for the Vytal Festival, trying to shift less blame onto them.

"Unregistered semblance users were part of the White Fang's operation. Beatrice Astraluna herself had dealt with most of the forces sent into their base. With the addition of Adam Taurus leading the troops, a decision was made to send in our more elite personnel." The headmaster glanced to Qrow and Glynda listening intently in silence. "A group of students had taken the…initiative to investigate the White Fang's movements within the city and a huntsman professor was sent in after them. But by the time the White Fang was found, their own plan was now too widespread to stop. Our personnel made a magnificent job in capturing and eliminating the heads of the White Fang operations in the city, and mitigating the damage that the bombings would actually have done." He grimaced. "With heavy losses on our part."

Qrow's grip on his flask threatened to destroy his own drink. Glynda shut her own eyes, remembering the state her students were left in, and Johnny. Both Torchwick and Neo shared a knowing smile with each other, unseen by the other people in the room.

Ozpin continued on. "There was also the fact that one of our own huntsmen, Ella Cerulean, had betrayed us. She was one of the people that had helped the White Fang and had hindered our personnel from apprehending them." Here even the council had winced. Ella Cerulean was a powerful asset. A betrayal by one of their own, with documents from the government leaking into enemy hands…

"This city government and huntsmen registry is compromised." One councilor concluded grimly. "Our efforts to crush the threats to the city had been decisive, yet our city lacks discretion. Some of the administration may have already been corrupt long ago." They had glanced a suspicious glare to his fellow council members, who had glared back nastily for the accusation.

"If this is the issue, then allow me to move unchecked for the duration of this festival at least." Ozpin urged the council. Their eyebrows raised at the brazen move from the headmaster. "Our core group could handle some of the issues without fearing a betrayal from a rogue huntsman or a leakage of information from middle management. My communication with General Ironwood could help coordinate the continued joint forces of Vale and Atlas. I remember that you had left the administration of some of the local forces to Atlas, under the general and his specialist?" Thee councilors nodded. They had looked between each other, weighing their decisions. The city is in chaos, and if Ozpin wanted to handle the problem of security without checks from the council, and thereby shifting all responsibility on him if something goes awry?

"Fine. I agree with this. The others?" A murmur of affirmatives echoed throughout their meeting. "Then it is decided." The councilor said. They narrowed their eyes at Ozpin. "I trust you know that if anything goes wrong, it all solely falls on your head, correct?"

"I do." Ozpin said simply. The meeting had concluded shortly after that.

]|[

"Well, wasn't expecting a government meeting to be so full of drama." Torchwick said, breaking the tense silence in the office. Neo giggled at his side as Ozpin, Glynda, and Qrow glared at them. "Seriously though, I thought most of that shit was supposed to be boring."

"Torchwick." Ozpin said seriously. His tone was heavy enough that the thief and his assassin partner were silenced. "How did you get…those in your hands?"

As soon as they had returned to solid ground, Torchwick and Neo were arrested by Glynda and Qrow. Before they had been passed to the authorities however, Ozpin stopped them, noticing the seal on their hands that was glowing of magic. Trying to minimize the exposure of the public to the hidden side of the world, he took the two criminals into his custody first.

"It was something Johnny bound us in." Torchwick said seriously, losing his casual tone. Neo straightened up beside him. "Something that makes us work for him, until whatever shit in this city is dealt with." He pointedly didn't mention that Johnny would set them free after the contract is finished. No need to lay all the cards in the table.

Ozpin's eyes slowly widened. A magical contract, binding to both parties. It was a dangerous kind of magic to deal with, that can force people to follow a certain set of actions. He had known that these kind of magic could lead into a forced slavery. If this was what Johnny had placed on Torchwick and Neo however… He shook his head. Torchwick did mention the caveat that the contract would end if their crisis in Vale is dealt with, meaning he hadn't just taken the two to become his own slaves.

There was one detail he had missed however, that Qrow pointed out. "But if Johnny's gone, why's the…uh, magic thingy still glowing?" He asked the headmaster. Ozpin looked to Torchwick and Neo, who had helpfully held up the back of their hands, the binding seal of the Contract glowing purple.

Ozpin muttered, hands on his chin. He certainly wasn't prepared to be quizzed on arcane knowledge today! He was understandably rusty after a millennia long history of being one of the sole users of magic in Remnant, up until Johnny had surfaced. "It might be that the Contract had endured beyond Johnny's death, if he was using a source of mana other than his own aura, so that the binding had persisted long after he had passed. In cases like from what I have seen, this is the basis of some curses; where the curse is tied to an entire place rather than on individuals. There was something wrong here, however. Most magics he knew originated from within, and not from outside. So what was happening here?

"Heh." Torchwick chuckled. "I think I can actually explain that." He stepped in into the conversation. He held up his hands, looking at the faintly glowing seal. "You could cut through all that with a much simpler solution." Neo nodded beside him, signing something quickly. Torchwick nodded in agreement with his partner, and Ozpin and Glynda's eyes widened.

"What? What did she say?" Qrow asked, the only one in the room not understanding sign language.

"She said that 'the simple reason why the seal is still active, is because Johnny is still alive somewhere.'" Ozpin said in some shock. Qrow's jaw dropped, and Glynda smiled happily with relief.

Johnny may have been an unknown, but his actions to sacrifice himself had solidified him in Glynda's mind as someone with good intentions. He had personally saved her students, after all.

That presents a new question on all their minds: where was Johnny right now if he was still alive?

]|[

Deep below, on the caverns underneath the city, Johnny and Ella clashed blades.

Ella had crashed into Johnny with her desperate attack, and the fiery explosion had incinerated most of the Grimm below them. Distant roars echoed deep across the caves, but both fighters paid it no heed, completely absorbed in their own duel. The Grimm creeped towards them, but did not converge, almost as if they were waiting for the other to kill each other.

Ella's aura was broken long ago, but she continued to fight. She was running on fumes, and it showed. Johnny's strikes that she had normally ignored with her Fujin were now getting through, even if she had tried her best to deflect and parry each slash. Her fatigue had cut her ability to fight by half; where attacks she could've dodged and weaved out of, she was forced to block and parry, and it weighed down on her arms.

"Give up." Johnny had said. Ella planted her claymore down on the ground, on her knees and heaving breaths, trying to get her strength back. "You can't fight anymore. You won't be able to survive if the Grimm around decide to actually kill us now." He looked at the edges of their little 'arena' made by the circle of surrounding Grimm. Their red eyes glowed ominously in the dark, and a cacophony of growls, hisses, and shrieks echoed around them. The area was lighted by the lingering flames created by Ella's crash, but even then, they were waning, and soon the dark will surround them soon.

"I can't. I won't." She forced herself to her feet and brought up her weapon in front of her. Ella grinned at Johnny. "I'm so angry, but I'm also enjoying myself way too much!" Johnny scoffed as Ella charged at him. He raised his hand and casted a Furious Gale at Ella, blowing her back. She was so weakened now that even his simplest of spells launched her away.

"Zeuster above lady." Johnny shook his head. Ella scrambled back to her feet and slashed at him wildly. The adventurer easily deflected each swing and danced away from Ella. "You call this enjoying yourself? You can't even fight properly anymore." He rolled his eyes. [Good] "Please just stop fighting and so I can finally focus on the Grimm and find a way out of here?" Johnny pleaded.

Ella wasn't interested in talking. Leaning back against a clumsy strike across his head, Johnny sighed. "Look, I'm just going to knock you out and carry you out of here if you're not going to stop." Ella had to stop mid-swing when she heard that. Her eyes widened in horror. "You wouldn't." She said with a slight tremble in her voice. Johnny only smirked in reply and raised his hand. "You would, wouldn't you? You actually had no plan to honor a fair fight." Ella said incredulously.

[Neutral] "Really? Were you really expecting that kind of fight?" Johnny scoffed. "You aided a terrorist group in a plot to destroy the city, and you wanted me to fight fair?" Now the woman was just ticking him off. She had no place to demand an honorable duel after placing so many innocents in danger.

"Even criminals have a sense of honor among them." Ella said in her own defense. "And I just wanted a fight I could enjoy."

[Evil] "Oh cry me a river. Can't always get what you want." The adventurer clicked his tongue. He leveled the katana at the now hesitating huntress. "Now give up so I can throw you into a cell back up there. Won't be able to get the fight you want ever again."

Ella gritted her teeth, furious and frustrated at her situation. If Johnny drags her back to the surface, she'd get captured. If she fought back here and now, he'd try and knock her out and drag her out anyway.

Her hands tightened around her claymore. A life of fighting wasn't one she wanted to give up. She charged at Johnny, screaming in rage. If she was going to get dragged into a fate she wanted no part of, then she'd at least fight back kicking and screaming-!

"I warned you." Johnny said after dodging her desperate charge. He placed a hand on her head and forced a Psychic Assault on her mind. Ella, tired, beaten, and humiliated, succumbed to the mental attack and fainted. Johnny took the claymore before Ella could drop it, and placed it in his inventory.

[Murakumo x 1]

Carrying the unconscious huntress over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, Johnny turned to the Grimm, now starting to march toward him. He inhaled a sharp breath, brandishing a katana in challenge, looking at the massive horde of Grimm before him. "Right," He huffed a breath. "Just like Doomwood. Easy peezy." He muttered to himself, psyching himself up for the headache of a fight he had before him.

A/n: Sorry I did Ella dirty here lmao just happened that way. Thanks for all the support with this fic, it really means a lot.