Hello, everyone! We hope that you all had a pleasant holiday season. But now that they're over, we're back with a new chapter! As always, thank you for the favs, follows, and reviews.

Comic book characters mentioned: Pastor Destin Kale, Dante Kale, Magdelena, and the Furies.

(Island of Patch, Xiao Long-Rose Family Home)

Yang had woken up in the night from another nightmare. While trying to calm her mind her attention was drawn to the sound of laughter coming from downstairs. She went down and joined in on the conversations of her father and the two visiting teachers Port and Oobleck. They soon found themselves discussing Yang's fears and giving their advice about said topic.

"Fear is like any other emotion, it comes and goes. It's all in how you handle it." Port said. "Why, even I find myself wrestling with that emotion from time to time."

"Really? You?" Yang said in minor disbelief.

Oobleck leaned over to whisper. "He's afraid of mice."

"They bring only disease and famine!" Port said slamming his fist against the table. "And don't even get me started on their tails! So hairless, simply unnatural." He finished with Yang snickering all the while.

"Port, I assure you, you're safe." Oobleck said. "There's no mice here right now."

"I'd take his word for it." They all turned their attention to the doorway leading into the living room to see someone that most of them never expected to see again. "He's a professor after all."

"Mr. Blaze?" Port asked in disbelief.

"Doctor." Oobleck quietly corrected.

"Dear boy, where have you been?! You were among the missing, we feared you were no longer with us."

"Surpriiiise." Johnny said with an awkward smile. "I kinda had a few things to sort out. But, I'm back, and I bring gifts. For you, Pete." Johnny tossed a gray plush toy on the table in front of Port. A toy mouse.

"AAAHHH!" Port screamed and fell out of his chair causing everyone to laugh.

"Oh, that is priceless." Johnny said wiping away a tear. "Man, it's good to see you guys. And to meet you finally. Johnny Blaze." He said shaking Taiyang's hand.

"Taiyang Xiao Long. My daughters talked about you sometimes whenever they wrote home."

"Daaad!" Yang exclaimed in embarrassment.

"Nothing too embarrassing I hope." Johnny smiled.

"Nah, they were just happy to make a new friend."

"Anyway! Johnny! Good to see you, you here for something?" Yang interrupted.

"Yeah, actually. Can we talk?"

The two of them went into the living room with Yang sitting on the couch and Johnny in the chair next to it.

"How are you adjusting?" Johnny asked looking at her missing arm.

Yang looked at it somberly. "I'm…still adjusting."

"Best not to rush anything. Still, makes you look distinguished. Says 'Yang Xiao Long, seasoned Huntress.' Now that sounds cool."

She smiled. "I guess scars do make me look more distinguished. More rugged and handsome." She winked.

"Oof, very handsome." He laughed.

Her smile became a little more somber. "Thanks."

"For what?"

"Not treating me like glass. Like I'll break if you say the wrong thing."

"Yeah, well, I figured that was the last thing you needed. Besides, you're made of stronger stuff than glass." He said, earning a chuckle from her. "In all seriousness, I'm very glad that you're ok."

"But I'm not."

"You're alive. And that's more than we can say about the friends we lost…even after the tower fell." He looked down sadly.

"Something happened to you while you were away, didn't it?"

"A lot happened. Which is kind of why I'm here."

"I thought you just came to check in on me."

"I did, but it wasn't for that." He said looking at Yang's arm, earning a confused look from her. "Yang, have you been having nightmares?"

"Why?"

"Please, just answer the question."

She took a moment before answering. "Um, yeah, I-I've…I've been dreaming about that night. And about Adam." She looked to her arm when she finished.

"Anything else? Anything new?"

"Just…fire…and sometimes there are monsters. But, they weren't Grimm, they were like-"

"Demons." Johnny interrupted.

"I guess."

"One more question. Have you…been on fire? Fire that burns but doesn't hurt?"

"How did you…" She looked at him and finally spoke after a moment. "I got a package a few weeks ago. No name, no return address, and it was addressed to me. Inside was this orange crystal thing with a little skeleton inside. Later in the night my bike caught fire and I went to put it out but the flames didn't damage it. Then my left arm got caught on fire and I used my other arm to put it out."

"Your other arm?"

"Exactly. Once I realized, I looked and…" Yang took a breath. "My arm was there again but it was on fire and I could see the bones. And then the flames just spread everywhere else. I was scared and I didn't know if I would set fire to the house so I ran. I ran and ran, and when I finally stopped I was near a puddle. I looked to see my reflection and…" She stopped.

"And what?"

"I looked just like him."

"Him?"

"The guy from the news. The Ghost Rider. My skull was on fire and everything, Johnny. I…I don't know what's going on."

"Yang, this gem, did the skeleton inside have its arms folded over its chest?"

"Yeah. You know what it is?"

"I do. I had this friend called Danny and he went through the same thing you're going through right now. One day, he decided that he didn't want that anymore and got himself a very special exorcism. The people who did it placed that spirit inside a blessed gemstone and buried it somewhere secret in the desert. Looks like someone found him."

"Who?"

"I don't know. Whoever it is, they've been setting up a lot of things for something. I guess he's a part of it." Johnny pointed to her chest to the spirit inside.

"But…what is he?"

"He was once a man named Noble Kale and he lived in a time before the Great War. He and his younger brother Dante lived with his abusive father, Destin Kale. A despicable man who had no right to be a pastor. One day, the Quentin Carnival came to their town and Noble fell in love with one of the women who travelled with them. Her name was Magdelena. They hid their love from his father because he would think that lust was driving them and that their relationship would damn their souls or some crap, I don't really remember."

"That's helpful." Yang said sarcastically.

"Continuing…" Johnny said in an annoyed tone. "Eventually, Magdelena became pregnant and Noble thought that his father would finally accept their love with his grandchild about to be born."

"I take it that didn't happen."

Johnny shook his head. "He whipped his own son for his 'sins' and worked him near to death for the next nine months. Magdelena fought back, of course, but knowing that her beloved's life was at stake she played along. Sometime after her son was born, the pastor wed them both for pureness sake or something. She then discovered that Noble's father had made deals with the devil, Mephisto, to keep the town safe from the Grimm and prosperous with green lands and flowing rivers. The pastor found out about her discovery and labeled her a witch. The entire town burned her at the stake. And that horrible, disgusting man made his own son watch helplessly as his wife…" He struggled to finish. "The act didn't go unnoticed. The Furies, the goddesses of retribution, came down upon the town and killed some of the people responsible."

"Some? Not all?"

"No. You see, in his moment of desperation, the pastor tried to bargain with them. He even offered Dante as their servant to spare the town. Once they realized Dante was his blood they cut him down. A little boy…and they went right back to killing everyone else. Destin had one last idea: offer the soul of his grandson to Mephisto for protection. Mephisto came but before he could accept, Kale stood up. Bloodied and exhausted he offered his soul to exact vengeance upon the people who took his loved ones away. And the devil accepted. Mephisto disappeared and Kale fell dead. You see, Kale wasn't human anymore so he couldn't be alive. He became the Spirit of Vengeance. He destroyed everything and everyone but left his father for last. He took his son from the arms of the man who caused him so much pain and burned him with the flames of Hell he feared so much. He left his son with a family who would love and take care of him, buried what was left of his wife, and went with Mephisto to Hell to honor his end of the deal. And that's the story of the spirit that lives within you." Yang couldn't speak. The story had left her speechless with shock and sadness. "Take your time. I know it's a lot to take in."

"No kidding." She said. "How do you know about all this? About him and how you even knew about what was happening to me?"

"Show me your arm." He said. She looked confused and brought up her left arm. "No, your other arm."

She looked to the kitchen to see that the other three adults were focused on their own conversation and not looking into the living room. She raised right arm and the flames began to form with the bones forming within a moment after. Johnny removed the glove from his right hand and summoned flames through it. Yang looked at his hand in shock and then back at him.

"I know about Kale because a magical old man told me all about him, I know about you because I'm friends with a clairvoyant sorceress who had a vision of your transformation, and I know what you're going through because I'm the Ghost Rider."

The expression on Yang's face was pure shock. She lost concentration on her arm and it dissipated. Johnny put his glove back on and he let there be a moment of silence so Yang could comprehend everything he had just told her.

He took a breath before speaking. "I'm also here to ask you for help. People are looking for the scattered pages of this dark ancient spell book called the Darkhold and if they get their hands on it, it could mean the end of everything we know. I'm putting a team together and I came to ask if you wanted to be part of it. Usually I wouldn't ask in your time of healing but I am very desperate and I need all the help I can get. I don't expect you to give me an answer right now so, if you need time to think about it, I'll give you time."

"Um…I-I don't…I'm still trying to…" She looked at her arm. "Even if I said yes I don't think I'm ready to get back out there."

"That's fine. But, if your answer does end up as yes in the future…" Johnny stood up and placed a piece of paper on the table. "That's how you'll be able to reach me."

Yang picked up the bit of paper and saw the same spell that was given to Badilino to contact Seer.

"Couldn't I just call you?"

"Well, after Beacon went down, I don't have a scroll anymore."

"Right." Yang put the paper in her pocket.

"I wish I could stay longer but I've got some things that need my attention."

Yang stood up. "Right. 'End of the world' stuff."

"Yeah." He walked to the door but stopped halfway and turned to her. "Yang, you don't have to join if you don't want to. It's an invitation not a draft."

"I know."

"If you have any questions don't be afraid to ask Kale. He's a little unhinged but he's considerate."

"Sounds great." She said a little unenthusiastically. "Thanks for stopping by, Johnny."

Johnny nodded with a smile but it quickly fades when he saw the image of Roxanne instead of Yang. He closed his eyes and looked back to see only Yang standing there.

"You ok?" She asked.

"Yeah." He lied. "Just tired."

"I know the feeling. Stay safe."

"No promises." He said before walking out the door.

He pulled out the list of recruits from his pocket and looked at the newest name added to the list and wrote next to it with his pencil.

Yang Xiao Long Membership: Pending

(Higanbana Inn)

"If you don't know where the Relic is, then we have nothing left to talk about." Raven said to her brother as she grabbed her helmet.

Qrow quickly grabbed it. "I don't know where the Spring Maiden is either. But if you do, I need you to tell me."

"And why would I do that?" She yanked her helmet from him as she finished.

"Because without her, we're all going to die."

After a moment of silence Raven chuckled. "And which 'we' are you referring to?"

She put on her helmet as she turned and walked away. She opened a portal but before she could step into it, Johnny walked through it from the other side.

"Hello." Johnny said enthusiastically as he walked past her and over to Qrow.

"Blaze?"

"Hey, Qrow. Nice to see-" Their attention was turned to the sound glass shattering and saw that it came from the startled waitress.

After looking between Johnny and his sister he looked to the waitress showing his glass.

"Better make this one a double."

Johnny waved awkwardly at the waitress before she quickly left. "She seems nice."

"How did you do that?" Raven asked.

"I've got a friend who knows a thing or two about portals." Johnny said, pointing behind him.

Raven looked over the banister and noticed a lady with a tattoo over her left eye at the bar next to Amber waving at her.

"I'd say it's a pleasure but I just got through one headache and I'm not looking to add to it." Qrow said.

"You're still charming as ever." Johnny said sarcastically. "Bottom line: Centurious is back and he and his buddies are looking for the pages of a dark spell book called the Darkhold. It'll allow them to shape the world how they want it and if you remember Centurious's 'hospitable nature' then you know what that means for everyone else."

"I'm sorry, a spell book? What are you involved with, Qrow?" Raven asked.

Qrow sighed. "Stuff I thought I was done with."

"Yeah, well, the guy that was impossible for us to kill is back from Hell and tore through a Vale police station just for his helmet. I'd hate to think what he'd do looking for the Darkhold pages."

"Hell? As in actual Hell?" Raven asked, receiving a nod from Johnny. "I think I might need a drink."

"Well, luckily you're already in a tavern."

Raven looked at him before turning to Qrow. "And who is this?"

"Standing right here." Johnny said under his breath.

"He's Johnny Blaze. He was a circus act, then janitor, now demon hunter or whatever." Qrow then slid his drink over to his sister. "So, did our old friend let him loose?"

"Who's your 'old friend'?" Raven asked, drink in hand.

"The devil." They said in unison and Raven paused for a moment to realize what they said. The moment passed when she decided to down the rest of the drink in one go.

"I'm gonna need more of these."

"While you do that…" Johnny said before turning to Qrow. "I'm putting a team together."

"Look, the Hearts of Darkness was a one-time thing for me. And I've got my own end of the world crisis going on."

"I know. I came here to tell you that I'm considering Ruby for the team." Qrow was silent. "And I think you, Jaune, and the others should continue the fight against...whoever it is you're fighting."

"You wanna drag my niece into one of your wars? One of which cost the lives of Vale citizens, the life of my former colleague, and almost cost us our own when we tried to fight Centurious." There was a moment of silence. "And you want my family to fight him and whatever else lurks in the shadows? I got a glimpse into your world and let me tell you something, it may have similarities but it is far worse than mine. So, no. She's not going."

"Should probably tell you that I asked Yang too." Both siblings shifted slightly.

"She doesn't even have an arm."

"Some things have changed while you were away."

"I don't give a damn, my nieces are not going to be part of your war."

"But they have to be part of yours?" Qrow's fist clenched and Johnny soon sighed at the sight of it. "Look, there's going to be more than three of us this time round and there's going to be a whole other team helping us out."

"Who's going to be on this team you like to talk about?" Qrow asked irritatedly.

"Me, Seer, Badilino-"

"The hellfire powered cop that tried to kill you?"

"Where's the waitress with that double?" Raven asked herself, not coping well with all the information.

"Yeah…and we were also thinking maybe…Amber?"

Qrow's expression didn't waver. "Let me guess, you want to recruit my sister as well?"

"Oh, god no! She's frickin' crazy."

"Well, he's nice." Raven said sarcastically to her brother.

"I've heard all kinds of stories about you from my time here in Anima. You're lucky I'm feeling nice right now." His eyes glowed orange then quickly faded.

"Easy." Qrow said. He massaged his temples before looking up to speak. "If I agree to this, you're in charge of keeping them safe. No one else, if they get hurt or…worse, you answer to me."

"Deal." They shook hands. "I'll be back to ask Ruby in a little while. Still don't know what's in store so I don't want to rush into anything."

"If that's how you feel then why'd you ask Yang?"

"She needed to know about a few things." He pointed to his chest and Qrow understood that as Zarathos.

"Gotcha."

"It was good seeing you." Johnny looked over to Raven. "Pleasure meeting you."

"Was it?"

"You should hope so." His eyes glowed in the direction of the ice cubes in the glass in front of her and they quickly melted.

They both exchanged looks before he turned and walked away toward the stairs. When Qrow turned to look at his sister he saw that she was gone. Qrow let out a relaxing sigh and looked at the glass now filled with warm water.

"She had a point." He said to himself. "Where is that waitress?"

Johnny walked up to Seer and Amber at the bar and sat at one of the stools next to them.

"Meeting go well?" Seer asked.

"Better than expected actually."

"That's good."

Johnny looked over to Amber. "Amber."

"Flame head." She responded.

"Let's just stick with Johnny." He reached his hand out which she shook.

"Before you ask, yes, I'd like to join the team."

Johnny looked at Seer in shocked confusion. "I filled her in on what was going on while you were chatting up 'Mr. Scruff'."

"Well, um…good work."

"I aim to please." She said before taking a drink.

Johnny took out his list and made another scribble.

Amber Membership: Active

(Island of Patch, Xiao Long-Rose Family Home. Morning)

Yang went outside and shielded her eyes with her new robotic arm. Taiyang stood up from watering the plants with a smile spread across his face.

"Ok. Let's get started." He said.

"I think I should start getting used to this." She said, matching his smile. She looked at her prosthetic and quietly spoke to herself. "I've got a world to help save." She said with glowing orange eyes.