Thank you all for the views. Sorry about the delay.
There is no character bashing or hate intended. Since this is a PoV, it's from HER VIEWS on events.
Constructive criticism is appreciated.
Time, such as timeskips, flahbacks, and memories.
Sign language.
Television or scroll voices.
Writing.
"Again!" comes the demand.
Grass and dirt lodge in my grip as the flimsy, green blades and specks of earth twist around my fingers. My face tightens into a snarl. The push my arms give isn't. My hair sways as the strands fight the force of both wind resistance and gravity while my heels rest back on the ground where they belong. The sound of cracking as my fingers roughly curl around the smooth wood of the staff. A silent scream, and my feet pound on the grass below. My staff crashes against my sister's. She's barley phased as her bangs wave slightly. It feels like almost no effort was put into protecting her face. I try to strike the top of her head. She blocks by holding her staff straight and leaned. With a slight rotation of her hands, the butt of the tool hits me square in the face.
"You left yourself wide open!" Dad coaches from the sidelines.
Pain in my nose, worsened when it feels the tips of my fingers while I turn a glare at my father. Thank you, Captain Obvious, for your oh so helpful input.
Why am I doing this?! I don't even have aura! I find myself signing in frustration.
"You need to learn to defend yourself, kiddo."
Why the stick?!
His arms uncross. "Because until you have your own weapon, it'll be easier to train you with Ruby. Besides, you're going to want distance from your opponent."
My face falls into a deadpan.
"Yang and I already have our preferences set. The weapon she's building is for close quarters. There's still over half a year before Signal starts, you should take some time to decide."
My face slightly scrunches in anger. I'm not going to Signal!
"Are you sure? Our family comes from generations of huntsman. I thought that you'd want to tag along with Ruby. Some kind of twin team or something."
Stop planning my life for me! I wish I could scream. Tell him exactly what I think. But I can't. And now I'm once again forced to be talked down to. Like my opinion doesn't matter. And stop talking to me about Ruby. About how great she is. Stop comparing me to her.
Dad's command is firm. "Again."
A heated sigh makes its way out of my nose. The grip is starting to hurt my hands. I rush Ruby, wanting to get this over with. I swing at her side, and she blocks. A slight gust bounces off my face as she spins her weapon. My feet backpeddle and the thrust of her stick grazes past my cheek. My eyes watch the tip, and she takes this to her advantage. The other end strikes my hip. Another blow comes for my neck. Knees bent, my hair blows a little as the weapon swipes overhead. Pushing one leg out, the feeling of Ruby's calf collides with the top of my shoe. Her leg buckles. But before I can do anything else, my body is suddenly sent toppling to the ground a couple feet away. Cheap shot. Smart to use her semblance like that. My eyes watch the smile on her face as Dad applauds the method. She looks so proud. She probably can't stand the thought of losing to me. After all, she is better in every way.
After picking myself up once more, my feet carry me away before the two can continue my beat down. The slam of the door. A cabinet door jerks open, and the cool glass of a cup rests in my palm. After drinking some water, the sink refills my cup, and I start to head to my room. However, Yang stops me.
"Hey, Peony." she calls from the couch, and her hand pats the space beside her. "Come spend time with your big sis!"
Yes, your majesty. I sit on the couch, but my butt flops on the other end. The corner of my eyes catch her own. Watching me. After the hospital trip a couple weeks ago, Yang has been insufferable. Trying to give excuses as to why she acts like a parent. I don't care. You don't have to be one anymore, so just stop. Even if you did make a better one than Dad.
"So," comes the question, breaking the silence. "How's training going?"
My eyes stay on the TV, my hand going out and pointing my thumb down.
"It will get better. You might even enjoy it! Ruby had a hard time at first too."
There it is again. The comparison. I'm. Not. Ruby. I'm not strong. I'm not brave. I don't even have a damn semblance. If she went and killed an ursa, they'd expect me to do the same thing. I get that I'm her twin, but just because I'm younger by a few minutes doesn't mean that I'm going to leap off every bridge she does! Follow her footsteps like a freaking puppy! I'm my own person damnit! I'm not a copy! I'm not Ruby! And I'm not mom!
The fabric of my shorts are slowly crushed in my hand. If she were still here, would she train me too? Try to make me a huntress just like her? No. She was too kind for that. Mom would be the only one who understands. ...But she's gone. I know that everything that's happened is punishment for what I did, and I should just accept it. But I can't. It's all just too much. My eyes catch my reflection off the TV when it powers down. The girl looking back isn't even recognizable anymore. She looks so defeated. So broken. Is this what I've become?
Yang's voice is cautious, like she's talking to a wild animal. She might as well be. "Peony... I know that you hate to talk about how you're feeling, but dad and Ruby aren't here. It's just us. Something's happening to you. I get that you're angry. I know that you're scared, confused. I just want you to know that I'm here for you. We all are. Please, let us help you. Let me help you."
The only way you can help, is to put a bullet in my head.
Silence fills the room as I remain unmoving, watching the pathetic reflection of the girl in the TV. What I wouldn't give to not look like them anymore. What would I want to look like anyway? Obviously not this sad sack. A slight rumble interrupts the quiet atmosphere. Shut up. I'm trying to rethink my look here. I can't stand to look at myself. I can't stand anything. It's all a constant reminder. No one will move on. I didn't even notice that Yang had left until a bowl of ice cream was shoved into my view.
At the sight of my quirked brow, she says "You sound like you could use something to eat, all that working out will make you hungry. And I know that ice cream isn't the best thing for a snack afterwards, but we haven't done this in a while."
Against my better judgment, I find myself submitting to the darn smile on her face. I take the bowl from her, giving a slight nod as a thank you. I had expected her to go back to her own seat, but the shifting of the cushion reveals that she has taken the place next to me as my eyes are still on the tri-colored frozen treat in my hands. I let out a sigh, and Yang turns the television back on. The next twenty minutes are pretty nice actually. Just sitting together and eating ice cream, watching some silly cartoon. Damn. It really has been a while, hasn't it? Too bad those days are gone. For some reason, even after all the crap that my older sister pulls, it's easier to be around her than either Ruby or Dad. Why is that? Because she essentially raised me? Well, I guess Mom raised me and then Yang. Dad tried after he stopped acting like an ass... but I can't really say that he raised me. After all, he hates my guts.
And you know what?
I'm not particularly fond of him either.
"Hey, Peony?"
A tilt of my head.
"I..."
The creaking of the kitchen door quiets my sister, and the other one enters the room.
"Hey, guys!" She smiles. "You'll get better, Sis. I've just been training for a few years already."
Gee, thanks. And what was with the awkward chuckle? You thinking kicking my butt is funny? The weight of the couch shifts again. When was the last time we all sat together like this? Why are they wanting to be around me anyway? It takes a few minutes for me to finally get it. Wait a second. Oh my God, I'm getting played. They don't want to be with me. They think I'm going to snap or something. It's not out of love, it's out of fear. God, how could I be so stupid? A clink sounds over the television when my bowl is placed on the side table. Soft taps of my shoes follow me out the door, leaving the neapolitan ice cream behind.
When the cold, January air fills my nostrils, my first goal is to get out of sight as quickly as I can. Knowing that at least one of them will follow me after everything that's happened, wood fills my grasp, and I scamper up a tree. And sure enough, Ruby comes out the door. My body tries to hold firm when the wind picks up a bit, rustling the trees while my gaze follows my twin as she takes a look around. The annoying sound of her voice hits the air when my name is called. Really? You think I can, or even would, answer that? Why won't they leave me alone? I'm so sick of this prison. Dad, Ruby, Yang, an ill feeling takes over just thinking about them. My heart wants to believe that they were being nice just now, but my head knows better. What would my heart know about love anyway? That kind of wish only brings pain.
After what seems like forever, Ruby's feet finally carry her away. Should be safe now. Once my own feet hit the dirt, my legs carry me off in a sprint towards the woods down the hill. The feeling of a smile crossing my face as the clearing comes into view. The wish of never wanting to leave always hits when I'm here. Breaking off into a run, my mind wonders as my body flips through the course like second nature. Why did this have to happen to me? Why did she have to die? What's the point in Dad trying to keep me "safe."
Dad. The word feels like venom. He used to be a father, but now, he's just a warden. There used to be a time that we played, that his love for me was apparent. Then he changed. I did too. Memory can't recall how many times I've wanted to disappear. To shatter like that mirror in the bathroom. It's said that one way for semblances to appear is under great amounts of stress. So why don't I have one yet? How is that fair? Yang got hers after almost getting killed by an Ursa, and Ruby got hers when outrunning a couple Beowolves, so what do I need to do? Considering my luck, it will probably be something stupid. Like maybe I cried a certain amount so now my tears are acidic or something? How would that even work? Would I burn every time I cried? It would be kind of funny to kill Grimm with tears. Don't want to be a huntress though. Far from it. But I'm not going to stand by and be a weak little girl forever.
Besides... Grimm scare me. Maybe it's just past trauma, but just a drawing of one is enough to make my stomach knot. Would Mom be ashamed? I know Dad is. But she's dead, so I guess I'll never know. How messed up to I have to be to think about all this at eleven years old? It was already established that I'm crazy. Still can't believe that I fell for their crap. The whole "We haven't done this in a while" and fake smile. Manipulating little...
The sound of a crack. A pull of gravity. My heart freezes for a moment. I plummet. My back hits the ground. Sharp pain shoots through my head. A soft, weak groan escapes me. The fabric of my brown gloves matches the dirt, hardened by the winter air. My eyes stare upwards, looking at the snapped board on my course. Why did it...?
Something wet presses against my neck. It moves to my face, and slobber traces across my cheek and forehead. Z-Zwei?! What are you...?! Footsteps. My heart drops. N-no...
"Peony!"
No! How did she find me?! Ruby puts her arm behind my head and uses her other to help me sit up.
"Oh, my gosh! Are you okay?!" She questions as I squint my eyes in pain. "I was watching you do all this cool stuff before you fell, now I know where you've been disappearing to."
She was watching me?! My head turns quickly in surprise to face her, sending another shot of pain and making my flinch again.
"H-hey, try not to move so fast. When you left the house, I came outside to look for you, and when I couldn't find out where you went, I started to leave when I heard a branch snap. I turned around and saw you drop out of the tree before running away. I wanted to ask why you left when I showed up in the living room, but then I saw you practicing. It was..."
Her voice fades away as the horror kicks in. I got found out! Is she going to tell Dad?! Is he going to ban me from this too?! He is, isn't he?! Why didn't I wait longer?! What is wrong with me?!
"... ony. Peony!" Ruby's voice pulls me out of my thoughts. "I said, can you stand?"
Refusing to meet her gaze, my body twists so that my hands are on the ground. My knees follow suit, and I'm able to lazily push myself up. My hand rubs the side of my head as my one open eye looks up again. It's not that far off the ground, but I didn't have aura to take the blow for me. Then I realize that Zwei wasn't around when I had first seen Ruby, so I point at the happy corgi.
Getting the question, she responds "I don't know, actually. Dad must have let him out for a restroom break or something." She then grabs my hand. "Come on, we need to get you home."
Fear takes hold, and I can feel my eyes widen. Quickly, I rip my hand away. She looks at me in confusion.
"What's wrong?"
Are you going to tell Dad? I sign, my hands trembling.
"I have to."
I shake my head furiously. No! No, you don't!
"Yes, I do! You could have gotten seriously hurt!"
Why does that matter?!
"I told you to stop saying stuff like that!"
You're not in charge of me! How can you even care what happens to me after what I did to Mom?!
For a few moments, the only sounds within the woods are the rustling of leaves in the wind and the pants of Zwei. Awaiting an answer, my gaze watches Ruby as her own is on the earth below, her head tilted down and her fists clenched. Her shoulders start shaking. Great. She's crying again. Am I supposed to feel bad? Because I don't. Why does she get upset when I say that? She said it first.
"Peony..." comes Ruby's quiet and darker toned voice. "I... I just..."
Spit it out. However, she never does. Ruby simply runs away with her semblance. And now she's going to tell on me. I try to get my legs to move. To chase her down. ... But they refuse. I can only find myself falling on my rear as tears fill my eyes. A few minutes later, and here comes the cavalry. Dad and Yang look at my homemade course in shock, while Ruby stands back, a hand on her arm, and a guilt look adorning her face. Yang comes to my side, giving me a hug and asking if I'm okay. I can only shake my head. I'm not hurting much anymore. But I know what's going to happen next.
"Yang." comes Dad's voice. "Move your sister to the clearing."
At his demand, my eyes grow in size once more. Then, I finally notice the sledgehammer in his hand. No. He's not going to just ban me from it. No no no! It all becomes a blur as Yang's arms slip away from me after a twist of my body. Trees are nothing more than a mess of color when my heels pound on nature's floor. My chest can't even feel the beat of my heart as wind resistance shoves against my form, blowing my hair back. My arms push up against Dad's own. The hammer is stopped in place above his head.
A rumble of thunder sounds from the dark clouds above.
If there was one, a pin drop could be heard. The only movement comes from the wind and the tears flowing from my eyes. Even Zwei has quieted. The surprise on my father's face soon morphs into a frown.
"Peony..."
A shiver runs up my spine. My legs, trembling. I've never stood up to him before. I've argued. I've run. But never before have I put up a fight. What came over me? Why am I only now doing this? Forcing the fear back slightly, my eyes are able to bring a glare forward to watch his own. That's right. I built this course with my own hands. I poured my blood, sweat, and tears into it. There's no way that I'll just let you take it from me. You will not take it from me.
... That was the goal.
But he's stronger. And he has his dogs. A twist of his arms, and my feet find themselves stumbling.
His shout echoes through the trees. "Hold her!"
They do as they're told. It doesn't matter what kind of a fight I put up. My sisters' arms keep my own in place... as Taiyang destroys the one last thing that truly made me happy. My body gives out, collapsing on its knees as my hands cover faces. My sobs can be heard in between the echoes of splitting wood. They let me go. I remain for a few moments... and then I run. I run as fast as I can. The door to the house slams open as crashes of raindrops hit the ceiling. My feet stomp up the stairs and into my room. My vision red with anger while my backpack is unzipped and shaken violently. My hands grab my bathroom supplies, a light-pink blanket, a change of clothes, a stuffed cat, and a photo of mom. Each item falls from my grip into my backpack. The weight of the bag hits my back and my legs carry me down the stairs. Once my sneaker hits the third to last, the rain grows louder as the door creaks open. Silver eyes meet the rest. The twin irises stare in shock. Lilac appears desperate. And blue rests full of rage.
"Where do you think you're going?" comes the accusation.
Facial muscles tightening, my vision narrows.
"Put down the bag."
My feet hit the bottom floor, my gaze not even bothering to register his presence. Both Yang and Ruby speak, but my ears tune their voices out. Who cares what they have to say? It doesn't matter. They don't matter.
"Sweetheart, I did it for your own good."
... The dam burst.
What in the hell goes on inside your head, old man?! You really think that all of this is what's best for me?! You all treat me like shit! You act like I'm a wild animal that you have to watch at all times! No wonder I lost my fucking mind! Were any of you even going to tell me?! Did it ever even occur to you that I should probably know I'm insane?! My head finds itself pointing towards Ruby momentarily. I could blame her. Say that all this is her fault. But it's not. It's mine! Ruby's the only one that ever told me the truth! My gaze turns on Yang. You nearly got the three of us killed! You keep pushing and probing! Get off my back and stop trying to replace Mom!
Finally, the glare meets Taiyang. And you. You're the worst. You basically abandoned us, then tried to fit back in like nothing ever happened! You drank and drank until you admitted your thoughts about me as well! At least Ruby came forward about it! You pretend like it never happened! You're lying, manipulative, and just a complete, demanding, asshole! You try to keep me locked up because of an injury that wasn't even my fault! You don't actually care if I get hurt, you just don't want to see HER in pain! Well guess what?! I'M NOT MOM! I'M NOT RUBY! Stop comparing me to them! You expect me to be this great huntress, but I will NEVER be like her, not after what I did! And if you expect me to forgive you for destroying the last thing that I really cared about, then you're a bigger fool than I thought!
Silence. A rumble of thunder and pitter patters of rain. Then finally, he speaks. "Peony... I admit that I've messed up, a lot." Good. "But I'm really trying here. I just want you to be safe. You shouldn't run around on a course that's unstable. You got hurt. Honey, you've nearly died from a Beowolf, you got kidnapped, and you tried to take your own life. I have to keep a close eye on you. Sweetheart, I lost your mom. I can't lose you too."
"Peony," the sound of Yang's voice intrudes. "Please, put down the bag. We can talk about all of this, about everything, right now."
A low growl emits from me. Still trying to take charge. A glare turns her sheepish, then turns back to Taiyang at his next words.
"You'll thank me for this later."
A bright flash of lightning followed closely by a scream of thunder.
Taiyang's arms raise to the sides. That stupid, fake look of pity and sadness on his face. Is he trying to comfort me?! Offering me a hug?! No! You don't get to do that! You destroyed the last thing that made me happy! I hate you! I hate you all! A teardrop splashes on the floor. I wish I would just shatter!
... Crackling of glass. His expression turns to shock. D-did his face just fracture? There's the sound again. It grows bigger. The split runs off him and onto the wall.
"Peony?" comes Ruby's voice, her tone full of fear.
My hair sways as I face my sisters. They're breaking too. Is... is it me? My arms raise. The ticks of cracking as my arms start to split. Ruby and Yang's gasps are the only sound to rival the fissures. I can feel my legs breaking apart. My stomach. ...Did I get my wish? My head turns to face Dad once more. An expression unreadable rests on his face as my vision has spiderwebbed. The feeling of his fingertips on my arm lasts only less than a moment.
A shatter echoes throughout the house.
Shards hit the floor.
