Chapter 50

Pyrrha jumped over debris. Slid through a hole comprised of fallen planks, then threw her new spear into a target made of rocks. She had been training like that for two months since her ankle finally healed. Using trash and rubble for practice was the best she could do, since the fall. She looked up to the darkened silhouette of Beacon. The giant grimm still petrified was in place of the tower.

Pyrrha looked down and sighed. Penny and Xion were dead and she couldn't help but blame herself, "Why didn't I say yes when I had the chance?"

"Because it probably wouldn't have made a difference," Pyrrha turned to the source of the voice. A smile spread over Pyrrha's voice.

"Riku." She went over and gave her long missing friend a hug, "I was so worried, when they told me, you and Sora were kidnapped, I didn't know what to think."

"Yeah, apparently, we were gone for a long time and… Oh man, the school," Riku looked at what was left of Beacon Academy, "I still can't believe this happened."

"Neither can I," Pyrrha said, "I should have taken the maiden's power when I had the chance."

"We can't keep wishing for the past to change," Riku said, "What we can do is move forward," he looked back to Pyrrha, "That's why I wanted to ask you if you wanted to come with me and Yang to Mistral."

"Yang's here too?"

"Well she's on Patch, its where we're staying until the motorcycles are ready," Riku explained.

"Motorcycles?" Pyrrha repeated.

"Long story short, Yang lost her motorcycle," Riku shrugged, "She was really pissed, but it wasn't a big deal in the end. Apparently, the guy who gave it to her owes her for saving his daughter so, he's making her a new one and giving me one as well."

"And when they're done you're going to Mistral?"

"Yeah," Riku said, "I'm surprised you didn't go home already."

"I couldn't travel with my injury and when I could, all flight travel was completely banned," Pyrrha explained.

"Sorry."

"It's all right," Pyrrha said, "I'd would love to go with you and Yang to Mistral. I need to catch up to Jaune, Ren, and Nora anyway."

"Great, come on you can stay with us on Patch."

How did things get so bad so fast?

Heather had been asking that for the entire day, even now as she helped carry Qrow into the ruins of Kuroyuri. Apparently when he was scratched by Tyrian's tail, he was also poisoned. And from Qrow's mumbling it wasn't getting better.

They didn't have time to get him to Mistral, Ruby hoped that the Kuroyuri's remains would have medicine. But they found no sign of a clinic let alone an antidote for scorpion venom. Nora and Ren had gone to try and get to Mistral through the mountains, hopefully they would find help.

She went back to the tree where Qrow was resting at. Ruby sat in front of him. Jaune wasn't there, he was probably looking again. Ruby noticed Heather approach.

"Did you find anything?"

Heather shook her head. Ruby looked down disappointed.

"Hey," Heather placed a hand on her shoulder, "When Sora was turned into a heartless, I started to think we couldn't save him. But he was saved. Just because you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel doesn't mean there isn't an exit."

Ruby smiled, "Thanks Heather, I'm glad you found us."

"Well, I guess I'm useful for something," Heather said.

That made Ruby's smile fall, "What do you mean?"

Heather looked up at the overcast sky, "I just… after everything that has happened, I feel so small, insignificant."

"Why would you say that?" Ruby asked, "You're really not, insignificant."

"I… Sora, Riku, Fern. They went through horrible things before we all met. Sora lost Kairi, Riku was used by a madman, Fern's parents died. It was horrible, I wish it didn't happen to them, but, because of what happened, they were more motivated than most to become stronger, to train, to become huntsmen. I just wanted to become a huntress to help guard my home town. They have a goal, a purpose, to make our world a better place and I just met more people like them and they shine brighter than I ever could. Sora somehow got a magic weapon, Weiss is a princess of heart, you have the silver eyes… What do I have? A drill."

"Hey," Ruby said, "First of all, your drill is awesome. And second, not all of us need to be people who got strong because we got hurt first," Ruby looked down, "We don't need you to know what it's like to be hurt that way, or to have some weird power. Being there, being nice, we need that more."

"But Weiss saved…"

"We all have strengths and weaknesses," Ruby said, "One person can't do everything. It's why we have friends. It's why we have each other. The only thing we can do is try our best at the things we can do."

Patch

Yang blocked her fathers punch and tried to retaliate, since she couldn't go anywhere yet, she decided to get in some sparring. She was rushing head in this time. She was trying to be smart. Look for openings, build up her semblance instead of just taking punches right away. If her little trip to Atlas has taught her anything it's that she needs to get smarter. The enemy was different, using the same tactics wouldn't work. She got into a lock with her father, then she used her foot to knock him off balance. She quickly caught him before he could land on the ground.

"That was pretty good," Yang looked up. She saw Riku approach with Pyrrha.

"Pyrrha!" Then she let her dad fall on the ground, so she could give her friend a hug, "It's great to see you walking again."

"It's great to see you can still fight," Pyrrha said.

"She said she'll come with us when the bikes are ready," Riku said.

Yang didn't look away from Pyrrha, "That's great."

"Well, I think that's enough sparring for one," Tai got up, grunting a little, "I'm going to go shopping for dinner." As he walked by, he stopped and look Riku in the eye, "Don't do anything while I'm gone."

"Why are you just looking at me?" Riku asked annoyed.

After Tai left, the three went into the log cabin.

"I guess we can goof off just a little," Riku said, "Maybe we can watch a movie."

"That sounds nice," Pyrrha said, "I haven't watched a movie in a long time."

"Yang?" Riku asked. The brawler just glanced at Riku before making her way upstairs.

"Do whatever you whatever you want," was all she said before disappearing into the second story. Riku watched her go. She wasn't wearing her usual leather, she was wearing an orange top and cargo paints, and her hair, usually wild and free, was in a ponytail. Riku sighed, Yang was avoiding him again.

"Did something happen?" Pyrrha asked.

Riku sighed, "I didn't tell her I saw her mom. She's mad at me for it, I already apologized. I don't know what else to do."

Yang listened as she leaned against the wall. She didn't go straight to her room. She stopped to listen to them talk.

"I'm sure she'll forgive you… eventually."

"I doubt it," Riku said, "I think she hates me now."

Yang went to her room after that. That's not true.

Yang went to the room she shared with Ruby. One bed was red, the other was yellow. She recalled the nights she would read to Ruby when her dad was away at work. She went to the yellow bed and laid on it.

I think she hates me now.

Riku's sad confession echoed through her. It wasn't true, she didn't hate Riku, she wasn't mad at him. It was what she realized when she first woke up after Castle Oblivion.

They were about to get attacked. A light fell from the sky, the first thing Yang did, the first thing she wanted… was Riku. She ran to him without a second thought. She didn't even think about the others.

When she woke up and remembered, the first thing she thought was, Oh gods. I've fallen in love with that dork.

Her hands clutched the bed covers. Yang never felt like this before. She had relationships before, and by no means was she shy. But they weren't serious. They were fun and short, but Yang knew they would end. She did like a few of them, but not enough to continue their relationship.

Riku… Yang couldn't stand being separated from him. She spent every moment in Atlas looking for him. She thought it was just because he was abducted, but Sora was taken too. However, thinking back, Yang realized she was more afraid for Riku.

Why did she feel like this for him? She teased him, he teased back. She took him to the dance, but that was to keep his fangirls at bay. When she was under house arrest for the Vytal festival match, he comforted her.

I'll always be on your side.

The message he left her. She listened to it so many times.

Yang just sighed, she wasn't a therapist, how was she supposed to know what love was? Her parents broke up shortly after she was born.

Yang just didn't know how to act around Riku anymore. She was so confused, if she really did like him that way should she try to get with him? But what if he didn't like her that way? What if he rejected her, then things would get awkward around each other? As those question's ran through her head, it just dredged up all the bad thoughts she had tried to keep buried down: Of course, he would reject her. Clearly there was something wrong with her. Her own mother didn't even want her. When her right hand clenched the sheets, she heard the slight mechanical sound. She didn't have both arms. She needed a replacement. Why would Riku want damaged goods?

A knock at the door made Yang sit up, "Come in."

When the door opened it revealed, "Hey."

Yang looked down, "Hey."

"Can I come in?"

"… Sure."

Riku went to the desk. He pulled out the chair and sat. For a few minutes there was silence.

"Look Yang," Riku finally broke the silence, "You're mad, I get it. I should have told you, your mom visited me. But could you do something about it? Yell, punch me, I can't stand you hating me."

Yang looked down, "I don't hate you and I'm not mad, Riku. Not at you at least. I'm just… having a hard time dealing with everything…"

"Beacon getting destroyed, going to Atlas to look for me and Sora, losing…" Riku looked at the robot arm, "… to Adam Taurus?"

"All of it I guess," Yang said, "Riku, I'm glad I found you, I really am. It's just, things are never going to be the same again. It's just taking a while for me to get use to it. When I was in Castle Oblivion, I hesitated, I almost got everyone killed. And I don't know how to talk about it. I doubt you understand."

Riku was quiet for a moment, "After Kairi's funeral, for a week, every time I woke up. I thought what am I going to do with Sora and Kairi today? Because it took me a minute to remember she wasn't there anymore."

Yang looked at him.

"She was one of my oldest friends. She was large part of my life. She was always there. But now, I have to live, today, tomorrow, the day after, for the rest of my life, and one of the most important people I had, will never be there again," there was a small hitch in his voice. Yang thought she saw his eyes gloss over before he blinked. "So I understand Yang. But, you should know, the only reason I got through it was because I had a friend. Even though he lost his girlfriend, we only had each other to support. I'm saying this, because, me, Pyrrha, your dad, we'll help you get through it."

Riku got up and walked out, but he did stop for a second to look back.

One month later

"They're finally done," Yang said. In front of her house were two motorcycles. One was an exact replica of her motorcycle bumblebee. Riku's had the same build but was blue and black, he called it Highwind.

"Are we ready?" Pyrrha walked forward with her new battle attire. Two gauntlets were on her arms. She had a bronze chest plate that covered her entire chest. But her waist was covered by a black top. She had black shorts. But red ribbons flowed down both sides of her legs. She wore armored boots. She still had her bronze circlet on her head.

"Yeah, food, water, money to get us to Anima," Riku said as he fastened his bag to his Highwind. He got on and Pyrrha, then got on the motorcycle with him. Yang couldn't help but notice Pyrrha wrapping her arms around Riku's waist.

"Um… Pyrrha, why don't you ride with me?" Yang asked.

"What difference does it make?" Riku asked. Pyrrha then got off and went to Yang.

"It's a girl thing," Pyrrha said.

Riku rolled his eyes and started down the road. Pyrrha then got on, "You know I'm not interested in Riku." Pyrrha managed to figure it out.

"I know," Yang started her bike as she muttered the last part, "still don't like it."

Destiny Islands

Sora walked onto the bridge that connected the smaller island to its larger counterpart. He looked ahead, sitting on the tree that grew the star shaped fruit, was Weiss Schnee.

Happy 4th of July

I'm giving Riku and Yang new motorcycles and I'm bringing Pyrrha back baby. Sora is staring at Weiss. Why? The next chapter will take place right after they wake up.