Author's Note: This is a compendium of some of my contributions to the Writing Prompt Wednesday posts on the r/RWBY subreddit, run by Shandromand. WPW is one of the biggest reasons I've remained in the FNDM and is something I've wanted to present to fans who may not be aware of it on . Each week Shandromand selects from a handful of prompts and invites writers to create short stories based on the prompts presented, and we've formed a tight little community of regulars.

Somewhat against my better judgment, I've opted not to include any of the prompts that inspired these works and just presented them with the titles I slapped on. Part of the fun I had with readers was in not explicitly stating which prompt I went with and letting them figure it out as they read, and I'm hoping to replicate that experience here. The only exceptions are a handful of explicit sequels to earlier popular prompts.

I hope you'll enjoy this anthology of works.

Yang had been stuck in her room since the results of the tournament match. Apparently her presence was bringing down the visitors and dignitaries attending the tournament. She wouldn't mind the quiet words people spoke behind her back - her teammates and her best friends all believed her- but she didn't want to cause any more trouble. She just hadn't anticipated the hours she'd be waiting... with little to do but replay the fight and feel the tiniest twinge of doubt when Blake hesitated to reassure her.

At least she had Zwei to keep her company. He was a good distraction, cuddling up in the bunk bed with her. Zwei didn't remove the pain of recent memories, but his presence certainly lessened it. And he would be a reminder of consistency in the world: he hadn't changed, and no matter how screwy things got, Zwei would be the same as he'd been the previous day, and be right by her side.

"Hey, blondie."

The words brought her right back to that moment, when she saw Mercury attack her. When her world fell apart because of her instinctive reaction.

Yang shot up from her cot and steeled herself. "What do you want? Back for the rematch?!" She wasn't even sure how Mercury was up and moving... but then, she hadn't been sure how he'd been able to keep fighting her after she defeated him in the match and saw his Aura level drop.

"Look, it's not about that, alright?" Mercury answered from the other side of her door. "I'm..." There was a very long pause, while Yang half-expected him to kick the door down at any moment. "...I'm sorry."

"You're sorry?" Yang repeated, processing the message, before her confusion turned to rage. "You're sorry?! Do you have any idea what you did?! What people think I did?!"

"That's why I'm here," Mercury answered. "I was... I just got upset that I lost and I lashed out. I can get like that sometimes; let my emotions get the better of me."

That was something Yang understood. Her own rage was making it oh-so-tempting not to listen to him; to deny him a chance for redemption. Even if he was sincere, why should she believe him? She hadn't gotten a read on him before, other than him being a decent fighter and kind of a laid back guy... and she was pretty sure when he'd fought Pyrrha before he'd played dumb and let her win...

"I..." Yang fought against her violent impulses, trying to focus on his words, and appealing to her own better nature. If he was honestly repentant, her refusal wouldn't help either of them, no matter how she wanted to just lash back at him.

"Look, it... it's not personal, it's not because you got the better of me," Mercury continued. "I just... sometimes I act on impulse. Sometimes I don't do the things I'm supposed to. Sometimes I screw things up because I don't like the way things are playing out."

Yang hadn't thought it personal. She grasped his perspective well. She could feel her own rage subsiding, because she'd been in that same position.

"And really, I know you didn't mean anything by it," Mercury added. "You just did what came naturally."

There was something in his tone. Something Yang couldn't quite identify, but certainly didn't like.

"And I didn't think about all those people watching the fight, and really, I'm glad they didn't see me being a jerk..."

What had before seemed relatable and earnest now felt a bit more calculating. Was he being selective with his words? Only making himself feel better?

Or just making her feel worse?

"Anyway, I just wanted to clear the books," Mercury went on. "Make sure there's no bad blood or any scores that needed settling."

He thought she wanted to fight him again? Or get revenge? He thought so little of her that he expected her to attack him? Was that why he was still on the other side of the door?

"Yang? Anything you want to say?" Mercury inquired.

What was he expecting? Gratitude? Some act of contrition on Yang's part? No, maybe she was reading too much into it. Maybe he really was trying to apologize and just not doing it very well. There wasn't reason to assume the worst, no matter what her temper suggested she do.

"Just tell me... would you do that again?" Yang asked him.

There was a long silence for several seconds. What was there to contemplate? Why would there be any second thoughts to such an action?

Mercury gruffly replied: "Yeah, I probably would. If I'm being honest."

He was asking for forgiveness without being willing to change. Yang's temper flared up. "Then all I have to say to you is next time I see you go out of line I'll make sure to break both your legs."

It wasn't quite true. But it felt good to say in that moment. The words were sweet on her tongue, and sweeter still to remind him of his weakness and failure.

It was a terrible thing to take pride in. But she did.

"Okay. That's the way you want it." Mercury replied. She heard him step away from the door and walk down the hallway.

Yang turned her attention to Zwei, who'd been snarling at the door door for several seconds, but had resumed being his happy, lazy self once Mercury left. Zwei didn't like him, and he was a good judge of character.

Uncouth though she'd been, Yang didn't feel she was wrong. Some people would never change their ways, and if those ways included attacking from behind and fighting dirty, she was only too glad not to give them the time of day.

He'd had her right until she asked him that question. He'd been able to remind her of their similarities, and found a path they could both take for redemption. Until Yang asked him if he'd do it again.

He'd been in plenty of fights in his life. He would probably be in many more, once Cinder's plans accelerated. And he'd attack someone from behind if he'd win the battle. And he'd let his emotions take over because that survival instinct of his had made him the deadly warrior he was.

When seeking forgiveness, he'd tried being honest. He thought she'd understand, or at least appreciate it. He hadn't liked letting Emerald deceive Yang -that wasn't the way he liked to do business- but he'd followed the boss's plan and he'd played his part.

It was unfortunate, because he didn't hate Yang. She understood the thrill of the fight. She felt the same lust for battle he had. It was a rare quality in a world at least nominally full of warriors, but warriors trying to create peace, not seek the glory of personal victory or the fun of battle itself. He'd have much rather had a rematch with Pyrrha, but Cinder had other plans for her. Plans that would make things far worse for the others than things were for Yang Xiao Long.

There was no point in dwelling on it. It was a moment of personal weakness; a wasted attempt to bring someone like himself along into a much more enjoyable new world and a chance to offer his sincere regret at having to deceive her. He'd been rejected out of hand. That made it far easier for him to keep pressing forward.

Mercury took out his scroll and called Cinder. "I'm back in Beacon," he reported. "On my way to the arena now for the next match."

"Good," was Cinder's simple reply, and the communication ceased. Things were getting close now. The real fun was about to start.

And if Yang didn't want to give him a second chance, then she'd be his enemy on the battlefield again. It'd be a shame to remove her from the board, but he'd given her her chance.

It made it that much easier to not look back.