Chapter 4: Light in the Darkness

Yang was standing on the path with Roland at her side as Beowolves closed in on them. They launch their counterattack; Roland deals with the Beowolves behind them while Yang confronts those charging from the front. But then, all but one of the Beowolves disappear, and the shape of the remaining one begins to change. It fades to black except the white on its head, and its shape changes to a human's, or so it seemed. She then sees the crimson hair of the person, no, faunus appear holding a crimson katana. The shadow fades and Yang trembles as she sees the face of Adam Taurus. She tries to fire some shots from her Ember Celica but Adam blocks each as if they're nothing as he slowly approaches her. She cries out to Roland for help but she hears no response and sees that he also has vanished. It's just her and Adam. He says nothing as he gets closer to her. Yang tries to run but no matter how far she goes, Adam just gets closer. She trips and falls down and looks only to see Adam standing right over her. He raises his sword and all Yang sees is her own terrified reflection in the crimson blade as it falls. Yang then gasps and opens her eyes. It is the middle of the night. She looks and sees the hollowed-out tree she was sleeping in and she sees Roland tending to the fire in their camp. He takes a moment to look out for Grimm and he notices that Yang is awake but has a troubled look on her face. "Yang? Is something wrong?" he asks. She says nothing and averts his gaze still looking troubled. "You had a nightmare didn't you?" he says.

"Yes... How... How did you know?" she asks.

"Why don't you come over here and I'll tell you?" Yang walks over to a log by the fire and sits on it. Roland continued, "My sisters had the same look when they had nightmares."

"Your sisters had nightmares a lot?"

"Yeah, when they were little. When we were younger, our parents were very busy with missions and defense of our hometown. They had to leave the house often and would leave me in charge when they did. They started doing this when I was 13 and when my sisters were 6. My sisters had a hard time understanding why our parents would leave. Every time my parents had to leave, my sisters would be terrified. They'd have nightmares about Grimm entering the house. At first, they went to our parents' room and discover it was empty. Then, they'd just sit in the hallway and cry. Their crying would wake me and I'd rush in to see what was happening. I'd see them just sitting in the hallway crying..."

(scene change to flashback)

Roland wakes hearing crying coming from the hallway of his home. He comes out from his room and sees his sisters in front of their parents' room crying. He turns on the light in the hallway. "Scarla, Ella, what's wrong?" he asks.

"We both had a bad dream," they both say sobbing.

"Mommy and daddy are gone," Scarla sobbed. "I want them here."

"I'm so scared," Ella sobbed. "The Grimm are coming to get us!"

Roland looked at both of them with compassion. "Hey...come here you two," he said softly. They both comply and he hugs both of them and holds them for a while. They hug him back and continue to cry. Roland looks at the two of them, seeing Ella's pale blonde hair in two pigtails and Scarla's short, red hair that went just halfway around her neck. He waits for them to stop and then says, "Why do you think mom and dad left me to take care of you both? Because they believe I can take care of you two, and that's exactly what I'm going to do."

"R-really?" they both ask.

"Of course, that's what big brothers are for. I'll protect you both with my life. As long as I'm here, I won't let anything bad happen to either one of you, even if an army of Grimm appears. You don't need to be scared while I'm around," Roland says to them while smiling.

"Do you mean it?" Scarla asks.

"Would I lie to you two?" Roland replies.

"N-No," Ella relpies.

"Then I mean it," Roland says to them. He looks at his parents' empty bedroom. "I've got an idea. Why don't we all sleep in mom and dad's room tonight? There's plenty of room for all of us on their bed. This way, you can still cuddle in mom and dad's bed, and you two don't have to be alone in your room. I'll stay with you both."

"W-Will you stay with us the whole night?" Scarla asks.

"All night," Roland replied.

"You promise?" Ella asks.

"I promise, pinky promise even," Roland says. He holds out his pinky and the three do a pinky promise. "Alright. Come on. Let's get to bed." They stand up and enter their parents' bedroom. Roland then turns off the hallway light and turns on a light in the bedroom. Ella and Scarla each hold one of Roland's hands. They climb into the bed, the two of them at either side of Roland, snuggling close to him. "Now, how about a bedtime story?"

"Ooh, yay!" his sisters say, forgetting all their fears. "Tell the one of the four maidens."

"Alright The Seasons it is. There once was an old wizard in a house far away from civilization..." Roland then tells the tale and reaches its end. "...and then the four sisters head off to share the gifts the wizard gave them but they always remembered to visit their new friend. The end." Roland then notices that his sisters fell asleep. He then chuckles affectionately. He kisses them both on the head and whispers, "Goodnight little ones."

They both sigh and say, "Goodnight daddy," and continue to slumber. Roland is shocked by their statement. He then smiles and looks at the ceiling. Don't worry mom and dad, he thought. Scarla and Ella are in good hands. He then closes his eyes, holds his sisters close, and falls asleep.

(flashback ends)

"Ever since then, that's what we've always done when my parents were away, at least until my sisters got older," Roland said. "We all grew very close during those times and they taught us to take care of ourselves, and taught me responsibility. They showed my sisters could always come to me when they were scared. It's like I became a surrogate parent to them." Roland stopped for a second and said, "Oh look at me! I'm rambling! Here you're the one with the problem, yet I'm the one talking. Heh, sorry Yang."

Yang giggles. "No, it's ok Roland," she said. "In fact, I loved hearing your story. It made me feel much better."

"Well, I'm glad. I guess the bottom line is, hold onto your happy memories. They can be the light in the deepest darkness. I often think of this time with my sisters, and it raises my spirits."

"So, find a memory that brings you joy?"

"Yeah. Our memories are the most valuable things we carry. With memories, time becomes irrelevant, and they're something that we carry with us forever."

"Wow, I actually forgot about that." Yang then looked at Roland and saw a man wise beyond his years. It was like he was an older man in a young man's body. Roland then yawns, "You know, your timing was actually perfect. I was about to wake you to switch with me. I could use some sleep. So, are you ok now?"

"Oh right. Yeah, I'm ok now. You get some sleep. Thanks for talking with me," Yang says with a smile.

"It's my pleasure to help," Roland says while smiling back. "Goodnight Yang. Wake me when it's time to switch."

"Goodnight Roland. Will do!" Roland goes to the hollowed-out tree and lies down. Yang then tends to the fire. She hears a Beowolf howl and becomes a little intimidated by its eerie sound, but she remembers what Roland said. She thinks of the time she and Ruby were in town shopping with their dad. He then gives them money for the sweet shop in the area while he goes shopping. The two go and Yang gets a strawberry ice cream with sprinkles and a cherry on top while Ruby gets two chocolate chip cookies. The two sit at one of the tables and eat their treats. They share their treats with one another while and they smile and laugh at the joyous time together. Thinking of these brings Yang comfort as she tends the fire and watches for Grimm.