The Shattered Moon and the Shallow Sea

AN: This has been an exhausting couple of days. As I write this, I just woke up and it's four in the morning. I've got way too much to do today, it's really not funny. Luckilly this is a simple chapter.

Chapter 54: Pushing Even Further

Nova's entire body strained as she punched Yang again. Her punches were slow but heavy. This was her idea and Yang had been happy to oblige. Yang's body shuttered with every impact. Sure, she could have dodged but that wasn't the purpose of this exercise. Nova was building up her strength and hoping her speed would increase with it. She twisted her body for a kick. A massive pain shot through Nova's back as she collapsed, unable to follow through with the kick.

"You can't try moves like that under this exercise." Yang warned. Nova staggered back to her feet and grit her teeth.

"If I can't move like that with all this on I won't be able to move like they did." Nova's mind flashed to those she fought in the Huntsmen Games.

"Training weights aren't for everyone." Yang said. Nova extended her heavy foot at Yang's face. Yang blocked it and with a simple push, put Nova back to the ground. "Take five."

"I don't have time for breaks." Nova fumed. Yang swatted the back of her head.

"Have you learned nothing? You're running yourself ragged again. All of this was your idea but you have to do it right." Nova's nostrils flared as she removed the weights from the arms. "You're adding a tremendous weight to all your limbs AND your tail. So, you must keep things simple until your body has time to adjust. Otherwise you'll destroy your back."

"Whatever." Nova took the weights off her legs. "Verdant was able to move just fine with them on."

"Verdant has been doing this training for years. When it comes to this kind of stuff, Neptune is smarter than me. He knows the limits of his students and I guarantee when Verdant started off he was in an even worse boat."

"He said it was out of necessity." Nova unstrapped the weight on her tail. It did feel good to be free from the weights.

"Is that all he said?" Yang grinned with her metallic hand to her chin.

"We talked about other stuff." Nova's face heated up.

"What kind of other stuff." Yang pried.

"All kinds of stuff that I don't really care to share with you." Nova said.

"Awe, is my little banana nut muffin smitten with this exotic stranger?"

"As if. I merely have a decent respect for Verdant. You can see the effort he puts in. If he can do all those things with his condition, lose, and still smile, that's worth my respect if nothing else."

"What about Johnny? You always go on about how strong he is but you don't seem to like him as much."

"It's complicated. I respect him. He's certainly earned that. But he always sounds so condescending and I don't think he realizes it. Not only that but I've never seen him lose. You don't know what someone is really like until the chips are down and they're faced with a dilemma."

"I can see that." Yang sat down next to her.

"I just want to be strong." Nova put her head to her knees. "I see people like him, and Verdant and Deus, that Cero girl, Akhdir, Ramil, even Citrine. I know that I have no right to be weak." Nova's voice shuttered. "But no matter how hard I try there's always someone stronger! Kuso!"

"Sometimes people just…talent will only get you so far and hard work will get you further. But someone who has both, someone like Citrine, they become a force to be reckoned with. I think that could be you." Yang wrapped her arm around Nova and pulled her close.

"It's their fault." Nova fumed.

"Whose fault?"

"My mom and dad. Citrine was pushed so much by her parents. But mine, Dad always coddled me and my mom was never around. The only one there who would always train me was you."

"You are saying, I'm not good enough?" Yang said.

"Maybe."

"Nova…they have a whole year of hard work over you. And yes, your mom not being around is at least a reasonable reason for you to miss out on that training. But I know that doesn't matter because you are well on your way to surpassing her. Keep going at this rate and you'll surpass me soon enough." Yang squeezed her tight.

"You really think so?" Nova asked.

"I do…and Ruby does too. That's why she helps train you when she has the time."

"Which is almost never." Nova pouted.

"Hey, she's got plenty of mouths to feed already."

"I know. And I know I'm lucky she even bothers with me."

"She wouldn't bother if she didn't see a greatness inside of you." Yang rubbed the younger girl's back and ran her other hand through the thick black hair.

"Well then why haven't I…"

"Stop." Yang put a finger to her lips. "You have proven it. You did way better in the Huntsmen Games than anyone thought you would."

"You're right." Nova admitted after a moment of silence. "Thank you."

"Anything for you, kiddo." Yang kissed the top of her head. "Sometimes I wish you were my kid." The thought made Nova smile. "I'm so proud of you."

"Then why did you lie to me?" The thought left Nova's mouth before she could stop it.

"I regret it. I just…your mom means the world to me too. I…I needed her help and she needed me. But all that's over now. Her leg has only gotten worse."

"That's why she's home…in Vacuo?"

"She'd come here if you showed any desire to be with her."

"Iyarashi." Nova cursed. "There's a line between what's good for me and what I want. If she really wanted to be in my life there's nothing I could do about it. Just look at my dad!"

"Let's change the subject please." Yang said. "How was your vacation?"

"It was pretty cool." Nova started lightening up. "The beach was great. We told stories and sang songs and I even managed to get a few hours of training in with Mrs. Ruby."

"See, we all need a break every once and a while. No one can go on forever." Nova stared out at the setting sun. "That's why you got your name. Nova, the phenomenon that stars go through when they die and turn back into stardust. Both of your parents are well aware of how fragile life can be. If even stars die then what use is there in achieving immortality. But we do. We live on…through our children." Yang said solemnly.

"I think you'd make a great mom." Nova said. "I think…you would settle down and raise that child, set aside the Arbiter instead of becoming one like my mom and your mom did."

"Problem would be finding a man who's worth the effort." Yang said. "I'm not that old, but I'm not exactly a young spring chicken either."

"Well that's for you to deal with." Nova said. "Far be it from me to give dating advice to anyone, let alone you."

"Aunt Yang! Nova!" Citrine called out and ran into the clearing.

"What's up Citrine?" Yang asked.

"Dinner is ready." Citrine said. "How was training?"

"I think we're making progress." Yang said. "We'll pick it up tomorrow."

They walked down the trail towards the Rose House of Patch. It might as well have been a landmark. It wasn't the original, that one had burned down eighteen years ago. But everyone on the island knew where Ruby and Jaune Rose-Arc lived.

They sat down at the picnic bench that was set up outside. Citrine and Jaune set out the plates with hotdogs and chips. Prim and Glade sat next to each other, across from Citrine and Eiess. Nova and Yang sat across each other, with Nova next to Argent.

"Glad you can all join us." Ruby said.

"We'll be back at Beacon tomorrow." Eiess said.

"What do you want to drink?" Jaune asked.

"I'll have milk." Eiess said.

"Ooh, can I have some wine?" Citrine asked.

"You can have a glass." Ruby said.

"How come she gets too?" Prim asked.

"She's eighteen now. She's officially an adult." Jaune stated.

"Oh, right." Prim grumbled.

"I'll have the strongest thing in your liquor cabinet." Yang said.

"Wine it is." Ruby said.

"Not too whine but…is that seriously the best you got."

"That's the best you're getting." Ruby said. Prim snickered at her aunt.

"I'll have tea." Nova said.

"Alright." Jaune poured everyone their drinks.

"So, Nova, where's Johnny?" Prim asked.

"He's at Beacon doing…whatever it is he does in his free time."

"You've got quite the charming team." Ruby said. "It was nice getting to know them during our vacation."

"I like Ariadne." Argent spoke, which was a rarity. "She's nice."

"She tries." Nova said. "She's like the opposite of me. She's tries so hard to be nice but will snap after a point."

"Scott seems really cool." Glade said. "He um…yeah, he and Topaz said they were going to help me with something."

"Help you with what?" Ruby asked.

"Oh, it's a…."

"Nephrite." Prim sung and then made kissy noises. Glade's face went beat red.

"Prim!" Glade said indignantly.

"All my babies are falling in love and growing up so fast." She fake-cried.

"I'm not." Prim said.

"Whatever." Citrine said. "You were all over Johnny the other day."

"I was just having fun." Prim shrugged. Ruby's eyes focused on Yang.

"What?" Yang asked.

"Nothing just…. this all seems so familiar." Ruby sighed.

"You're a bad influence." Jaune clarified.

"Hey, I can't help it if your kids pick up from the cool sides of the family." Yang said as she put her sunglasses on.

"Yeah." Prim put her shades on and fist bumped Yang.

"Well this explains a lot." Jaune sighed. He took Gelb into his arms. "Please grow up with some actual sense." Gelb burped up on Jaune then started laughing. Then everyone was laughing except Jaune.

"I think that was a no." Nova said with a smile. She loved this place. She considered the Rose-Arcs as her second family, especially since she started spending more time here. It was satisfying knowing that the strongest warrior in history could have so much fun just being with her family. And she was relieved that so many could care about her while also pushing her forward.

AN: That's it for this chapter. I love doing this little life chapters more than anything. But things are going to finally pick up soon enough. And when they do, I don't know if it'll ever stop.