"Queen? Like a Vampire Queen? You're kidding." Cinder's frost fingers began to crawl towards the back of your neck. You hadn't forgotten about Neo or Emerald either. They clung to your arms, embracing your upper limbs into their chests.

"Oh, we're not kidding, cutie. We, vampires, are indeed real. You've already seen Mercury in action, and he's... well..." Emerald stole a glance at Mercury, earning a growl from the gray vampire. "Say anything else, Emerald, and I'll be sure to break your legs."

Emerald laughed and replied with irony. "You can't even walk. How are you going to break mine when yours are already broken?" Mercury snarled at her snarky remark. "You better watch yourself, Emerald. You know not to--"

"Silence. You both are to speak when I tell you to. Do I make myself clear?" Cinder hadn't turned or made any movement to glare at her accomplices due to immersing herself in your looks, but she couldn't hide the frown that bestowed on her lips.

Emerald immediately straightened up, glaring at Mercury in the process. "Yes ma'am." The gray assassin shrugged, not saying anything in return. And, Neo nuzzled up against your left shoulder.

"Why did you do it? Why did you turn yourself into a monster?" You asked Cinder through your helmet. The noirette uses her fingertips to draw light circles on your nape, the mere action set out to give you an adrenaline rush. "Rather than monsters, I see this as an evolution towards mankind. Vampires are set to live for eternity and are guaranteed brand new powers. Even if they die, they'll live forever."

You frowned at her response. "You see this monstrosity as some sort of upgrade toward the human race? No, it isn't! You've turned yourself into a blood-sucking beast for what?! Power!? How can you just stand there and smile when you're draining the life force of innocent people?!"

Cinder giggled at your wild outburst. "If it makes you feel any better, not all of them were innocent. If you're going to insinuate that we are killing off the human race, then you're absolutely wrong. We don't kill them— we simply just enjoy the thrill of the hunt that humans give us."

The evening breeze ruffled the surface of the earth, swaying the large trees, and the rumbling sound of leaves. The serene atmosphere contrasted with your own deep despondency. "Tell me, am I speaking to the same woman that I fought against a few days ago, or are you someone else?" You stare back at her radiant amber eyes.

With a raised brow, the noirette answered, "You've already seen my true colors, and you're seeing them now. As a vampire, I'm no longer bound by human morals. The serious impediment I once felt as a human is gone now. I can roam and do as I please. Neo, Emerald, and Mercury can agree with me on that."

"You didn't have morals to begin with. What you had in mind is power, and so you left your humanity behind in order to obtain that source, even if it meant being turned into a ravenous beast that craves and devours blood. You're sick and flat-out disgusting for not only infecting yourself but also other people." You spat at the vampire.

She didn't seem to take any offense at your words, and instead pulled you closer to her. If you hadn't transformed, you could almost imagine what she'd do to you without your armor in the way. With half-lidded eyes, she purred, "Such a feisty dragon we have here.~ You'd make an excellent Queen for Remnant."

A growl escapes past your lips. You quickly drew another card from your belt buckle and inserted it into your darkened visor. The heroic, valiant voice that's heard when activating a Vent Card is now replaced by a deep, malevolent voice.

Cinder's eyes shot down at your gauntlet, then pushed herself away from you. She's already experienced your powers as a Kamen Rider, and had a faint idea of what was to occur. However, Neo and Emerald had no clue about what's happening. "What does that mean?" Emerald asked puzzledly. Neo mouthed to the mint-green vampire, 'I'm not sure.' You chuckled darkly and pointed upward. "Look up and you'll find out."

"You two! Stay away from her!" Cinder instructed and formed an ash-colored bow from her Dust-imbued dress. Neo and Emerald stared out at the sky to see a black mechanical Japanese dragon flying towards them. Luckily for them, they were able to hover over to Cinder and barely avoided the Contract Monster.

Dragblacker, the dark version of Ryuki's Dragreder, greeted with a husky voice. Rolling your neck in a circular motion, you look down at the monster that's revolving around you. "It feels good to be back. Now that we've merged souls, I suppose I'll help her out with this. After all, she did save me from being nonexistent."

Dragblacker turns to the four vampires, growling brusquely. You shook your head, looking back at Cinder, Neo, and Emerald. "No. I'll be heartbroken at the thought of them dying. No one deserves to die. Not even them."

The dragon spun his head, surprised by your answer.

You took a step forward, resulting in the trio to step back. They weren't sure what you were planning and readied themselves in case you were to attack. You may have landed a spot in their hearts, but if they had to put you down then they won't hesitate to do so.

"Leave." You told them coldly. "I don't want to hurt any of you, so please leave while you still can. The other students have probably heard the ruckus by now."

Mercury chuckled behind his team. "You've already broken my prosthetic legs, and now you're saying that you don't want to hurt any of us?" You glared down at the maimed assassin. "You tried to attack me first. I simply did what I had to do in order to protect myself, and if that meant ripping off your robotic legs then so be it."

Neo takes out some sort of electric device and types into a notepad before showing you what she'd written. 'We came here to capture you, and you don't want to fight us or for your life? Why?'

You let out a small 'hmph' and told them once more. "I said leave. Leave me alone. You don't even want to be involved with me. The next time we meet, I won't be as generous and friendly like now." The thought of coming empty-handed had deepened the frown on Cinder's lips. However, she couldn't possibly take you without having to face your comrades or a Huntress/Huntsman.

In spite of that, the faction leader remained calm and unconcerned. They were coming back for you... soon. The bloody evolution has just begun... Cinder flashes you an amorous smirk, putting away her bow and arrows, and the two weapons are sewn back into her dark-red dress. "Fine. We'll be taking our leave now. But, we will return for you.~"

"You shouldn't--" Your sentence was cut off by a certain blonde leading the whole team towards you and Cinder's faction. "Guys! The explosions came from there! Hurry! [Y/N] might be in trouble!" You let out a long sigh and smacked a hand to your face. 'Jaune... Oh, Jaune... Why do you always have to ruin the moment?'

"Cinder, we have to go. They're nearby." Emerald tilts her head at the direction of Jaune's voice. The noirette nods at Neo, and the mute vampire stands at the front, waving her parasol from side to side. Though when she oscillated her parasol once more, the group had magically vanished.

And it seems like Cinder had left a message when you suddenly hear a voice. 'We'll be back, my Second Queen.~' That was all she said. What did she mean by 'Second Queen'? Was that some type of nickname she made up for you? Who knows why...

Your thoughts dissolve at the sight of your other Contract Monster. Dragblacker stares into your eyes with his ruby-red pair, awaiting for your answer. Glowering down at your black gloved hands, you begin to speak, "I'm starting to learn from my true self. I can feel her emotions running through me — happiness, sadness, fear, and more. This is what it means to be human... If I had won the Rider War, I wanted to use that wish to be able to exist in this world. I wanted to become a real person — I wanted to become [Y/N] [L/N] instead of her duplicate. But now I understand that I wouldn't have been able to fulfill her part if I continued to think like a monster."

You smiled under the helmet. "You've changed as well, Dragblacker. You're not the savage monster that I once knew. You're a lot more sociable with Ryuki's master than with me. You've also developed a friendship with that crimson dragon of hers."

Dragblacker:

"And, you're hardly the type to obey orders from the person that we had once considered as a rival." The black dragon grew silent. The person standing in front of him is his master. The one person he stood by in the Rider War. Yet, Ryuga was also another person. She's a part of Ryuki‐- no. She's a part of you now.

Dragblacker:

Ryuga chuckled and smiled sadly. "I was to never exist in the beginning. My true and original identity has to reclaim the dark side of herself, but she couldn't accept me. And, I couldn't accept her for being the last standing Rider. But, I think we've passed all stages of everything that happened in the past. We don't talk together, but deep down we care about one another. I watch from afar and to see her being so happy with you and Dragreder... brings me so much joy."

The mechanical beast hadn't moved or said anything. He watches as his now former master becomes shards of shattered memories. Within a few seconds, the shards suddenly cracked and flew up into the clouds, leaving the remaining body behind on earth. "Take care of her, won't you?" And those were Ryuga's last words before fully merging souls with the original host.

Dragblacker couldn't see your running tears, but he could tell that you were trying to stifle your cry. "I... I shouldn't cry. I can't cry... The person that I had to face in the war was the dark version of me... They don't deserve my tears... So, why...? Why do I cry for them...? I'm crying for myself... It sounds stupid, huh?" You turned your head and looked at the dark-colored Japanese dragon.

"Why aren't you saying anything...? Dammit, say something! I don't understand at all! Why can't you tell me anything?!? Huh, Dragblacker!?" You struck the ground with a clenched fist. "I hated that side of me... I didn't want to accept that person from the Mirror World, yet I can't help but feel dejected now that they're no longer here with me... with us. Please, Dragblacker... Please help me... I can feel myself breaking; I can feel myself falling apart! Why... why won't you say anything?!? Why does this have to happen to me!?!"

The dragon glides over to you. And one of the most shocking things happened: Dragblacker resting his head on top of your head. A dragon's way of hugging their master.

Dragblacker:

"I just... I don't want anyone dying. Ruby, Weiss, Blake, Yang, Pyrrha... They're all very important to me. I don't want to lose any of them... I don't want to lose you and Dragreder... Please don't leave me... Please..." You said through clenched teeth as more tears poured down your cheeks. This was the first time he felt wanted. Monsters aren't supposed to feel emotions. What's happening to him?

Dragblacker:

And with that, you enveloped the dragon into your arms, shedding more tears. Instead of the guilty memories that you've always received, you were greeted with a recollection of your past friends. You fought with Ren in the beginning of the Rider War; You teamed up with Shinji, Ren, Yui, and Tezuka; You hung out with Shinji, Ren, and Yui at the coffee shop; and finally, you celebrated Yui's birthday with Shinji and Ren. It all felt like yesterday. It makes you miss them even more.

The sudden rush of memories made you smile in reminiscence. "God, I miss them... I miss them so much..." You hugged the beast even tighter. And, what you didn't know is that Ruby, Jaune, and everyone else had been observing you and Dragblacker after arriving late to the scene.

"[Y/N]..." Ruby whispered your name softly. The heartbreaking scene tugged at her heartstrings, causing her to instantly feel desolate and glum. The girl that she had a massive crush on is the same girl that's trying to live her life after surviving a war where all had fallen except for her — after pulling through one world of bloody evolution.

Jaune whirled himself around to face everyone. His face grew serious as he spoke gravely, "We shouldn't interrupt them... [Y/N] needs some time to herself. As much as I want to help and comfort [Y/N], we shouldn't bother them right now. And besides... I'm really bad with words."

Yang snorts quietly. "Yeah. We can tell, vomit boy." Ignoring his glare, the blondette drops the act and stares at you with worried eyes. Watching you cry from afar, where no one would see or hear you, makes her heart ache. The lilac-eyed fighter wondered why and how — why someone as radiant as the sun crying; and how much pain was carved into your heart to make you feel so torn and severed?

Even though Blake wasn't much of a talker, her eyes were overflowing with expression and emotion. She barely knew you, but observing you cry your heart out from afar made her feel doleful. That night, when you and her started to converse, she truthfully felt warm, accepted, and content for the first time in a while. Pleasant emotions that differed from the previous self-loathing, guilt, and desperation. She wanted to just rush in there and gather you into her arms. But, after hearing Jaune's words, the Faunus painfully held herself back.

"We can inform Professor Ozpin and Professor Goodwitch once we finish the task we've been given. All we need to do is secure our relics and kill off the Deathstalker and Nevermore. We'll come back for her." Ren tells them, earning uneasy nods from the girls. As him and Jaune quietly left, Nora trailed after her childhood friend but not before giving you one last glance. "I hope she'll be okay..." The hammer-wielder leaves it at that and trudges back to the abandoned temple.

Pyrrha couldn't take her eyes off of you, but she eventually had to break the gaze. They were still in the middle of a battlefield, and emotions shouldn't get the best of them, but... it was painfully hard to ignore that pang of heartache. Alas, the red-haired warrior walked back with the rest of her friends.

Yang grabbed Ruby by the shoulder. "We should go, Ruby... I know you want to stay here and wait for her, and I would love to do that as well, but we have to take care of our assignment. We can come back for her like the pretty boy said." The older sister holds her hand and leads her further away from you.

"But... [Y/N]..." Ruby calls out your name as Yang drags her back to the temple. Blake and Weiss were the last ones to leave. The Schnee heiress had no idea what was going through your heart and mind. She usually dismisses everyone and their feelings, but... this time is different. You, who had stood tall and strong against her as she kept rubbing salt to your wounds, were shedding tears behind their backs. She felt guilty and ashamed of herself.

"Come on. We should go." Blake rests her hand on top of Weiss' shoulder. As if she read her mind, the noirette tells her, "You didn't know anything. It isn't your fault. We still don't know anything, so it's best if we give her some space." The blue-eyed female unveils a pensive frown. She wanted to say something, but kept her mouth shut and pushed past the Cat Faunus.

Letting out a long sigh, Blake turns her head towards your direction one last time before heading back to the abandoned temple. Now grouped together, the large avian-like Grimm fluttered its black wings, hovering above them. The Deathstalker from earlier still had its stinger frozen by Weiss' ice, however, time was ticking and the scorpion-like Grimm could break out in any passing second.

"Time we left." Ren insisted as the ice around the Deathstalker's stinger began to crack. Jaune and Ruby hurriedly packed their golden relics and led the way. The fighting assembly were now sprinting through the wind, and split into two groups of four as the Nevermore made its way back to the stone tower.