A/N: Italics=thoughts
Eyelids slowly opened to reveal scarlet eyes. Raven frowned. She was in team STRQ's dorm room. Again. Raven let out a sigh of frustration. She knew she was dreaming. Which meant...
Raven felt something shift on her person. She looked down to see a mass of black hair with red tips laying on her chest. She recognized this hair. It was her. It was Summer Rose.
The woman tended to frequent Raven's dreams. Always, it was their old dorm room she found herself in. She then realized that she was nude. Raven could also feel that Summer herself was not clothed. She felt her former lover shift on top of her. Her red eyes looked down to meet pools of silver. They both stared at each other for a moment until Summer let out a cute soft yawn.
"Why do you do this Summer?" Raven's voice was tired and strained. Her weary eyes trained at her ex-partner.
The brunette rubbed her eyes. "What'cha talkin about?" She mumbled.
Raven narrowed her eyes. "You know exactly what I'm talking about. Why do you insist on haunting me? You're dead. Yet, you keep coming into my dreams. I even sometimes see you in the real world. What exactly do you want?"
Summer started biting the bottom of her lip. She let out a sigh. "It's because I...I get worried about you." A small blush dusted across her cheeks. She shyly looked off to the side.
Raven snorted. "Really? You came because you were worried? I can think of several different people you should be doing that to."
The small brunette snapped her head back at her former partner. A tiny pout forming on her face while shooting an annoyed glare. "Don't snort at me. I really am worried about you. Why wouldn't I come to you?" She said as she sat up. The cover slid off of her while she put her hands on her waist.
The bandit queen looked to the side. Her face twisting with sadness. "Because I don't deserve it. That's why." When Raven usually spoke, it was always with an air of confidence and authority. However, now, she sounded depressed. Her eyes shone with guilt.
The smaller woman's frown disappeared. She reached out with both hands and gently grabbed Raven's face and turned it towards her. Summer smiled down at her ex lover. "Raven. When are you gonna learn that I don't blame you. What happened wasn't your fault. You already know that there wasn't anything that you could do."
"I should have at least tried Summer. I should have done something, but I didn't. All I did was sit on that branch and watched her tear you apart like a coward."
"And do what exactly? Salem would have killed you too. Then what? Who would be there to guide Yang? Who would have been there to safe guard the Spring Maiden? Who would have been there to ensure your people's survival? Even though I don't like what they do, I don't want them to die either. All these things you already know." Summer countered.
Raven's lip began to quiver. It was rare that she ever felt emotions this strong that she could not outright control. Her own sorrow was suffocating her. It was taking all of her willpower to keep tears from appearing in her eyes. "If only I were stronger. If only this damned semblance of mine would have shown me what was going to happen earlier, then I could have warned you and then you wouldn't have died to that foul witch!" Balling up her fists. She gripped at the sheets of the bed beneath her. Her arms trembling in barely restrained rage.
Summer bent down to rest her forehead against Raven's. "But those things didn't happen. You weren't the one responsible. It was Salem. I would never blame you for what happened Rae. So stop blaming yourself for something you didn't do or couldn't control." She cooed lovingly.
Raven closed her eyes. She sighed. A small, warm smile formed on her face. "Damn your infuriating ability to make all of my pain wash away."
Summer beamed down at her former partner. "Always happy to help!"
The tribe leader smirked. "Always happy to help huh?" Raven reached up and pushed Summer's shoulders to flip their positions. The smaller girl let out a high pitched squeak. Raven hovered over her prey. Licking her lips in anticipation as a sort of primal, carnal hunger began to swell in her stomach. "I can think of a few...other things you can help with."
Summer watched as Raven's obsidian colored mane fell from her shoulders. It hung on both sides of Summer's head, making her only see black out of her peripheral. Forcing the small brunette to focus solely on the face of the woman on top of her. She looked at her ex lover's eyes. They were filled with lust and desire. To her, Raven looked so primal. Summer began to feel a certain kind of heat rush to her nether regions. Summer's face turned a deep shade of red. Turning her face to the side, she looked up at her partner shyly. "Really Rae? Could never let me be on top. Not even once?"
Raven let out a small possessive growl. "If you want top, then you gotta fight for it. If my memory serves me correctly, you tried and failed every time to claim top. I always won out. Rather easily too. Besides, you never seem to complain about it. If anything, my experiences with you have told me you actually like me being in control. Really, who knew you were such a kinky girl hmmm?" Raven dipped her head down at the crook of the trapped woman's neck. She then began to suck on her pulse point.
"Ahhh!" Summer moaned. Raven was attacking one of her weak spots. She wasn't surprised. Her partner knew where all of her erogenous zones were and always used them against her. "Raven!" She called out. She could feel Raven smirking against her skin.
The tribe leader released her captive's neck with a loud wet pop. Raven pulled away from Summer. She grinned as she surveyed her handy work. Summer's chest heaved. Her hair a complete disheveled mess. Her eyes half-lidded. In short, Summer was a complete mess beneath her. "I barely did anything to you and already you're like this." She grabbed both of the silver-eyed woman's hands and pinned them over her head with one arm while the other snaked it's way down below her waist. "Mmm. It really has been too long since we last did this hasn't it?" Summer let out a loud, amorous moan as Raven slipped in a single digit. "Since it's been so long, I think I'm going to indulge myself." The avian faunus then crashed her lips against Summer's. Plunging her tongue into the other woman's mouth. Immediately seizing complete control of her partner's tongue. The only thing poor Summer could do was moan and squirm beneath her.
Slowly, Raven's eyes started to open. She realized that she was back in the real world. A frustrated sigh left her mouth. She sat up and rubbed her face. Raven raised a brow as she heard soft giggling echoing from behind her. The bandit queen turned around to see a smiling Summer standing with her hands behind her back. Rocking back in forth on her feet, Summer closed her right eye and stuck out her tongue. Raven watched as her ex lover's spirit began to slowly dissipate. Once it disappeared completely, Raven chuckled. "Always so childish." She said with a loving smile.
The faunus looked at the wall of her tent. Raven concluded that it was still about an hour and a half before the sun would start to peak over the horizon. "Well, I'm already awake. Might as well get up and go train."
After putting on her clothes, Raven grabbed her weapon and attached it to the magnet that sat at the left side of her waist. Before she could pull out her sword to create a portal, thoughts of her daughter began to fill her head. Raven felt the urge to check on her child grow by each passing second. An exasperated sigh escaped from her mouth. Raven turned to the entrance of her tent and exited it. She moved at a brisk pace towards her daughter. She knew these feelings to see if Yang was doing well was irrational, but she reasoned the sooner she appeased this side of her, the sooner she can get to her own training.
Stepping in front of the blonde's tent, Raven could hear sounds of distress coming from inside. She immediately walked toward the tent to see the source of her daughter's distress. Even though she could only feel her daughter's aura, she still prepared herself to deal with whatever intruder that somehow made their way into the camp. For all she knew, this was an experienced assassin that knew how to mask their presence and nullify their own scent.
Placing her hand on the tsuka of her blade, Raven burst trough the entrance of Yang's tent. She blinked several times. There was no one here. No one, but her daughter. Raven let her hand fall from her weapon. She watched as her daughter tossed and turned beneath her covers. Yang was sweating profusely. Her face twisted in pain and terror.
"Blake." Yang whispered in a trembling voice.
Raven looked upon her daughter solemnly. The bandit queen walked over to Yang and sat down next to her. Her eyes never leaving her daughter's distressed form. "So. You have nightmares too huh?" The older woman asked her sleeping daughter. Raven knew all to well about having nightmares. Closing her eyes, she began to silently lament on the pain that she and Yang both shared. It was so very painfully obvious how similar her and her daughter were to each other.
Raven looked back down at Yang. She brought her hand over the blonde's head. The black-haired woman bite her lip. Raven hesitated for a few moments before finally placing her hand on her daughter's head. She began to gently rub her thumb across the crown of Yang's head. The pained frown on the young half-breed slowly disappeared. Her breathing became soft and calm. The blonde's face was now calm and peaceful.
Raven continued to silently comfort her daughter for a few moments before stopping. She stood up and began to walk towards the entrance. When she stepped outside, Raven looked up at the early morning star filled sky. "I promise Yang. I will give you the tools to make this right. Summer. I will avenge you. Even though I can't do it myself, Yang will. Through her, I will make sure that justice is dealt. She will be the one who slays that foul witch."
Weiss stood in the center of her room staring out of the window. She was worried about everyone. She hoped that the sisters and Blake were safe. The former heiress heard a knock come from her door. "Come in."
The door opened to reveal Kline. He walked into her room and quietly closed the door. The kindhearted butler walked to Weiss and bowed. Raising back up, he looked her in the eyes. "All of the preparations are complete Miss Schnee. We should leave now."
"I see. Thank you Kline." The pale girl smiled sweetly at her loyal butler.
Kline chuckled. "Think nothing of it. There isn't anything I wouldn't do if it meant making you happy."
Weiss giggled into her hand. "You have always been so sweet to me." The short teen walked over to her suitcase and Myrtenaster. As she was making her way to the door, Kline raised a hand. Weiss looked at him questioningly.
"Miss Schnee, you are going on an adventure. Do you not think that maybe you should wear some more appropriate attire. Besides, those heels are very loud. It will be much harder to sneak out with them making loud clopping sounds." He advised.
The diminutive girl looked down at her dress and heels. She realized that there was some truth in Kline's words. She looked back up at her stalwart butler. "Ah. You have a point Kline. Perhaps it would be wise to change."
"I will be just outside the door if you need me." He said a bit grumpily. His grumpy personality coming out as it sometimes did.
As soon as Kline closed her door, Weiss went to her closet and began to quickly think of what she should wear. "Should be something that is sturdy, but not too restrictive." After a few moments of looking, the former heiress finally decided on her outfit. She picked out a pair of pure white long pants. They were a bit similar to what her sister would wear, but they were good for what she was about to do. Then she pulled out a white blouse with her emblem on the right sleeve. She spied a pair of knee high black boots. Weiss concluded that these were good since they were combat boots and didn't have any heels like her other shoes. They also wouldn't make nearly as much noise as her heels.
After changing out of her old blue dress, Weiss looked at herself in the mirror. She nodded in satisfaction. Turning away from her mirror, red entered her peripheral. The white-haired girl looked back over to the closet to see a red colored coat with coat tails long enough to reach her knees. Walking over, she grabbed the sleeve and held it in her hand for a few moments. Gliding her thumb across the smooth red leather. Weiss remembered this coat. It was a gift from Ruby. She remembered when she first got it.
"No Ruby. I can not in good conscience accept this. Please return it and get your money back."
The shorter girl pouted. "Why not? It's suppose to be a gift Weiss." Ruby looked down. "You don't like it do you." She mumbled. Her voice quivering.
Weiss panicked. The last thing she needed was that fire starter Ruby calls a sister to come in and misinterpret the situation and break her neck. Or worse. Weiss shivered. Yang was terrifying when she angry. Like a damn erupting volcano. She reasoned that making her sister cry would definitely make that volcano erupt.
The heiress quickly grabbed the younger girl's hands. "I...I never said that. Ruby. This coat must have cost you an arm and a leg. I know you spent all of your lien on it." Weiss paused. She placed her hand underneath her partner's chin and gently raised her head back. Pools of blue meet silver. "I just don't want you to be going around without any money on you. You might need it to buy something you need. If you wanted to get me a gift, then you didn't need to get something so expensive." The older teen said as gently as she could. Careful not to hurt the smaller girl's feelings. After all, she was just trying to be nice, but Weiss was also concerned about her financial situation.
"But money doesn't really mean that much to me anyway. I can always make more with a few odd jobs here and there. Besides, seeing you smile is worth more than any amount of lien. Also, I just thought you would look pretty in this and that, maybe, you would also like it." The short team leader said. Her voice carrying the innocence of a child.
A red blush began creeping its way up the heiress' face. She felt her heart skip a beat. This shy, unassuming, and clumsy young girl only cared about making her happy. Money was never important to Ruby, but making her smile was. "How can she sound so innocent, but be such a natural romantic. She doesn't even know she's being romantic!"
Weiss was brought out of her thoughts when she felt something rest on her forehead. She blinked several times before looking down at her partner. "W...what are you doing?" She stuttered out.
Ruby locked her silver eyes with Weiss' blue. "I was just seeing if you have fever since your face is so red." Concern laced in her voice.
"Uh...uh no. I'm fine. Thank you."
The tiny leader moved her face closer to her partner's. "Are you sure? Cause your face is pretty hot right now."
"Yes. I'm most certain that do not have a fever Ruby."
"Well, if you say so." She looked down at red coat in her right arm. "Guess I better go give this back then."
Before Ruby could walk out of the door, Weiss dashed over and grabbed her shoulders. "Wait! On second thought, I will accept your gift."
The brunette blinked and looked down at the coat. She then turned gaze back up at Weiss. "Really? What made you change your mind?" Ruby tilted her head cutely.
"Because it's a beautiful coat and it would be such a waste after all the time and effort you spent just to make enough to pay for it." Weiss gulped. "Besides, you have some good tastes and sense into what I like."
Ruby gave her infamous puppy dog eyes. "Really? You mean it?!"
Not being able to take her partner's cute, puppy dog eyes any longer, Weiss balled up her right hand and gave the top of her partner's head a bonk. "D...don't get full of yourself you dolt!
Weiss smiled. Memories of a better, more innocent time always made her happy. She looked down at the scarlet leather coat in her hands. She nodded her head. She decided that she would take this gift with her. Weiss put her arms through the sleeves of her coat. Once it was on, she made her way over to her mirror. Looking at her image, she nodded. "This really does look good on me. I'm gonna make sure she sees me wearing this."
The short girl walked over to her weapon and suitcase. She then opened her door and stepped out. Weiss noticed Kline was off to the right of her. Eyeing her up and down to observe her new outfit.
"I must say, this is a good look for you! You look more mature. Though I have to wonder, where did you get that beautiful coat. Such a lovely shade of red."
Weiss smiled. "It was a gift from someone special to me."
Kline raised a brow. He chuckled. "Ah. Young love. I suppose this young lad is a gentleman?"
The former heiress blushed. "It's not a boy."
Kline's eyes widened in surprise. After a second or two passing, he then fixed a fatherly smile. "I see. Well, I do hope you find this young girl that has captured your heart. Perhaps I will get to meet her one day." Looking down at his watch, Kline jumped in surprise. "We really must be on our way Miss Schnee. Your transport will be leaving shortly."
Weiss put on a serious face and nodded to her loyal butler.
"Good luck old friend. I pray you have a safe journey to Haven!" Said Bartholomew Oobleck as he sped away on a tiny boat. The sound of the engine becoming fainter and fainter with each second that passed.
Taiyang readjusted his bag on his back before setting off to where he knew where Ruby would be. He would need to pass through the trading port city of Zhifu. It had both an actual harbor and a sizable airship station that took in not only airships, but also air buses and bullheads.
He began walking towards the east. Thoughts of Yang and Raven making themselves known in his mind. It had been roughly seventeen years since he had last seen his ex lover. He was certainly shocked to see her on that night. If he were to be honest, he was actually happy in some way to see Raven again. The blond man hoped that he would get the opportunity to see her again. Taiyang knew that despite her leaving and breaking his heart, he was still rather fond of her. He just hoped that Raven and Yang were at least getting along.
Taiyang sighed. He at least didn't have to worry too much about his little sunny dragon since she was with her mother. The hunter chuckled. "Well, I guess it is more appropriate to call her my little fire bird now."
He looked down at his watch. Taiyang started to press the side buttons on his watch to change the time zone to fit with this area of Mistral's. The numbers on his watch told him that it was currently 1:30 PM.
He then pulled out his map. "Looks like it's gonna take some time for me to get to Zhifu." He sighed. He continued his journey off the east. If he remembered correctly, the White Fang were rampant in this area. Clenching his fist so tightly his knuckles turned white. "Those fucks better hope I don't come across any of them." He growled out. The fury of an angry father barely being contained.
He breathed out to calm himself. "Should stay focused on getting to Haven." With his head cleared, he proceeded through the trees. Disappearing into the forest.
CLACK!
CLACK!
CLACK!
The sounds of wood clashing against each other resonated through the plains. Yang was currently running at her mother with her bokken raised above her head. She swung down only for Raven to easily swat her attack away and smashing her bokken across her knuckles as punishment for being careless.
Yang yelped as she felt the harsh sting of her mother's attack. Nearly dropping her weapon when Raven racked her knuckles. Yang backed away. She began to rub her hand.
"Again! This time pay attention to what you're doing. See the subtle changes I make to counter your strikes." Raven barked.
The blonde narrowed her eyes. She assumed the hedari gedan no kamae stance. She had seen her mother practice this when she had taken a peak into her own training. Of course Yang knew that her mother was very aware of her presence at that time. She just never did anything to acknowledge it.
"Oh. Mimicking me now are we? Well, let's see how you perform." Raven thought humorously. She bent her wrist up slightly to bring up her weapon.
Yang felt a drop of sweat fall from the side of cheek and fall off of her chin. She gulped nervously. The half faunus cautiously shifted and shuffled her feet over to her mother. Keeping her eyes on Raven's form to find any sort of change. Her mother's red eyes followed her as she slowly moved over to her opponent's left flank. As soon as she got close enough, Yang rushed her mother while still staying in form. As soon as she came within striking range, Yang's eyes widened with fright. Her mother's red eyes flashing at her, She was brought back to the moment of her greatest defeat. The man with the blood red sword.
Raven's eyes narrowed. She could see the fear in her eyes. She felt her hesitation. With a frown, the older woman swung her bokken violently across her daughter's face. The strike sent her sailing through the air and eventually crashing onto the ground. She watched as her daughter then began to skid across the grass. Eventually, she came to a stop.
Yang brought her left hand up to her mouth. She spat up her own blood onto the ground. The young teen could feel a small trickle of blood slide down her chin. Her mother's blows always went straight through her aura. There were also times that her mother struck her with such speed, she was not able to bring up her aura in time to at least try to lessen the blow.
Aside from the pain on her face and mouth, she could also feel the burning pain from her lungs as they begged and screamed for air. Yang was struggling to pick herself up.
"Get up! Now!" The tribe leader yelled. The tone in her voice let her daughter know just how impatient she was right now.
Breathing heavily, Yang turned to her mother as she still struggled to get up off the ground. "I just need a second."
Yang's eyes widened as she saw a shadow come over her. She looked up to see her mother looming over her like some dark effigy. Then, all of a sudden, she felt the older woman slam her leg into her stomach. Sending her flying into a tree. Saliva flew out of her wide open mouth as her back made contact with the bark of the tree. Yang slide down the tree and landed on her rear.
"I said get up! Do you think your enemies will give you a second. No! They won't. I can tell you that neither Salem nor Adam will give you time to recover. They will just kill you when the opportunity arises." Her harsh, cold, steel cutting tone causing her daughter to flinch. It left no room for arguing.
Yang began to rise up to her feet. Using the tree behind her for support. However, as soon as she moved off of the tree, her legs buckled and she crumbled to the ground.
"Get up!" Raven roared.
"I can't. I just can't." Yang responded. Panting in between her words.
Raven growled. "Pitiful. There is no way someone like Belladonna would ever get with you. You would make for a weak mate." Raven paused as her daughter looked up angrily at her. She bent down on one knee. "Hmmm. Perhaps I should take the little kitty for myself. She is quite fetching."
"Shut up!"
"I could definitely show her what it's like to be with a strong and experienced lover. Yes. That sounds like a lovely idea. Show her what it's like to have a strong mate." Raven continued.
Feeling her rage rise to new heights, Yang suddenly shot up. "I SAID! SHUT! UP!" The blonde brought her bokken down. Her body filled with renewed fiery vigor.
Raven brought up her weapon to block her daughter's attack. Looking into her child's eyes, she could see the red of eyes glowing menacingly down at her. The bandit queen smirked. "Oh. Angry are we? Tell me. No. Better yet. Show me what you're going to do to stop me." Raven shifted her bokken slightly and threw her daughter some feet away from her. The older woman then stood up to her full height. Holding out her weapon, Raven said "Come. If you think you can stop me."
Trembling with unbridled rage, Yang screamed as she rushed towards her mother. She wanted to make her pay for her words. Make her pay for beating and tossing her around like a rag doll for the four days that she had been training her.
Yang swung her wooden sword down diagonally with startling speed. Raven deftly dodged to the right, but before she could counter, Yang used the momentum from her attack to make her jump up in the air and spin. As she spun, Yang lifted her right leg and brought down her heel. Raven jumped out of the way. When she landed, she watched as Yang's heel make contact with the ground. It created a small, person sized crater. The loud sound of earth breaking apart echoed through the area.
"She's incorporating her own fighting style into her swordsmanship. Good." Raven's eyes widened as her daughter landed and launched herself at her with surprising speed. She quickly brought up her weapon to guard against Yang's strike. The loud sound of wood clashing reverberated around them. The wood on both of their weapons began to crack and splinter. Raven was a bit surprised with the strength of her daughter's attack. She looked up to see her child's angry smirking face. "Oh ho. Don't get cocky kid. You're still a ways away from being able to beat me."
As soon as the last word fell from Raven's mouth, she swiped left with her weapon. Causing Yang to go off balance. She then gave her daughter a left hook across her face. The tribe leader then ducked and spun to kick Yang's legs out from underneath her. Raven the brought her bokken to her side as if she were sheathing it and used the momentum from her spin to launch herself up as she then swung her weapon out across Yang's back. The force caused Yang to scream out in pain as she went flying up in the air. The force from her attack also caused her bokken to break apart.
Yang came crashing back down onto the ground. She landed with a single bounce, her body spun and she fell back down on her stomach. The blonde laid their on the ground gasping in excruciating pain. She could already feel her body beginning to mend itself. When she opened her eyes, her vision was hazy. Her surroundings spinning. Her eyelids suddenly grew heavy. They began to close as her head began to droop back down to the grass. Her eyes suddenly shot open. "No! I'm not gonna pass out this time dammit!"
Raven watched as her daughter stubbornly struggled to lift herself up with on her elbows. She wasn't surprised when Yang failed and plopped back down with a thud. The older woman could see tears of frustration forming at the corners of her daughter's eyes. "Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!" Raven heard her daughter yell angrily into the air. Slamming the bottom of her fist on the ground repeatedly each time she yelled.
Looking at her bokken, she noticed that the only thing that was left of it was the handle. She threw it away off to the side nonchalantly as she calmly made her way to her angry child. As soon as she was right beside her daughter, Yang stopped her tantrum and looked up at her. After a few moments of staring, her fiery child turned back to the ground. Disappointment clearly evident in her face, she let her head hang.
"Four days. Four days of this and I haven't improved at all." Yang turned her slightly to the right, away from her mother. "You must think I'm a massive disappointment. I wouldn't blame you. I'm a failure."
Raven saw something white out of the corner of left eye. She turned her head to see Summer Rose standing next to a tree. Her face filled with sorrow over Yang's plight. Her eyes pleading with Raven to help her own daughter. The black-haired woman sighed. She looked back down at her and crouched down on one knee. "Yang." The blonde's head lifted up to meet her mother's gaze. "Come with me."
Raven stood up and began to walk away from Yang. The half faunus herself stood up. Her body having mended itself enough to allow her to do more than just laying down.
Yang followed her mother silently. She still felt utterly useless. No matter what she did, nothing worked on her mother. She tried everything she could think of. The only amount of progress she made was how long she could handle a beating. The young teen had been able to stand up to six hours of hell with Raven as opposed to the three and a half when she first started four days ago.
When Raven stopped, Yang halted a few feet away from her. She looked over the side of the older woman to find that they had come up on to the edge of a cliff. She watched her mother sit with her legs hanging of the side of the ledge. The tribe leader motioned for Yang to do the same right next to her.
Once Yang took her seat next to her, Raven looked up at the night sky. The glowing, pale blue, shattered moon hung high in the star filled sky. Raven had concluded that it was midnight. Breaking the heavy silence, Raven spoke. "Yang. I need you to listen to me. Do you know why you feel like you haven't improved?"
Yang dropped her head. "It's because I don't have what it takes. I'm weak and I have already hit my peak."
"No" The avian faunus responded gently. "The reason why you have stagnated isn't because you don't have talent or because you've hit your peak. It's because you allow your fear to control you. From that fear, your doubt is born." Before her daughter could respond, Raven continued. "Listen, I know that you are scared Yang. You're absolutely terrified and you have every right to be. Your whole world has been destroyed. The people you care about have left you in your greatest time of need and you have had a great burden placed right on your shoulders. I know that you have terrible nightmares of the past that still continues to haunt you. Trust me. I know what it's like to have those kinds of nightmares. I know what it's like to have your past constantly haunt you. To always come back to terrorize you."
Yang's tired eyes stared at her mother. "You do?" The blonde said in a small voice.
"Yes. I do. More than you could possibly know." Raven paused. She brought her gaze from the stars to her daughter's scarlet eyes. "Summer wasn't just a partner Yang or just a friend. She was someone I loved dearly. Despite our very rocky start."
Yang looked aghast at her mother. Her and Summer were together. She began to wonder why no one ever bothered to tell her these things. "So you and her were."
"Together? Yes. For a time."
The blonde blinked several times. "Wow."
"But that isn't what I wanted to discuss. The reason why I know your pain is because I...I was there. I saw Salem tear her apart. That bitch didn't even have the decency to just kill her. No. She made sure to make Summer suffer." Raven's voice was full of barely restrained hate.
It was the first time Yang had ever heard this amount of genuine emotion come her mother. Her mother usually spoke in an apathetic, cool, and calm tone. Practically devoid of much emotion. The only time she let her any amount of emotion out was when she spoke of Ozpin and Qrow, but that was usually with contempt. "If you were there then why didn't you stop it?"
"Would if I could. Salem was too powerful. She would have killed me as well and Summer wouldn't have wanted that. That would have just made her suffer more. Even knowing this, I still feel that I was just being a coward." Raven looked out into the distance. "That's why I know your feelings of being powerless or useless. That's why I know your fear and your pain. However, I did not allow it to control me. Even though it would be easy to give in, I did not. There are too many people who need me Yang. Too many people who rely on me. Also, I'm sure Summer would not want me to give into despair."
Yang sighed "You make it sound so easy."
"No I do not." Raven countered harshly. "It isn't easy at all. Yang. I always curse myself for what happened that night. I always curse my semblance for not showing me what her fate was going to be sooner so that I could at least be given the chance to change it."
"Your semblance?" Yang questioned as she tilted her head.
"Yes Yang. My semblance. You see, I have the power of premonition or future sight. It was how I knew that you were going to die on that train if I had not intervened. Problem is, like Qrow, I have no direct control over my semblance. I'm given visions at random." She stated matter-of-factly.
Yang looked down. "That sounds more like a curse than a semblance."
"Indeed. I did not have the chance to save Summer. However, unlike me, you have the chance to save the one you love Yang. For her sake, that is why you must not allow your fear to control you anymore. You must take back control. Otherwise, Belladonna will share the same cruel fate Summer did. And I know you do not want that. Trust me, the pain of losing someone you love is unlike anything you have ever experienced."
"But I don't know how to be fearless." The blonde muttered.
"I did not say to be fearless Yang. I said to control your fear. Being brave or having courage is not about being fearless. It's about acknowledging your fears and being able to press forward without them dictating your life. This is what you must do Yang. I know it's hard, but you must. You have to do it. Otherwise, everyone you care about will suffer. You have many who will be relying on you Yang. You cannot afford to be paralyzed with fear." Raven reached out and grabbed both of Yang's shoulders. "You must take back control. If not for yourself, then do it for Belladonna. Do not allow her to share Summer's fate. Do not squander the opportunity I never had."
Yang stared at her mother's solemn face. She began to think on her mother's words. It was true, she wanted Blake to be safe more than anything. She did not want her partner to suffer as Summer had.
"Yang." Raven called out.
The sound of her mother's voice pulled her from her deep thought. "Yes?"
"You are not useless. My little fire bird, you are so much more powerful than you think you are. You have so much untapped potential. You can do this. I know you can. You are the reincarnation of the Phoenix. In you lies the power of a god. Your father believes in you too. He knows you are capable of so much more. You can take back control." For the first time in seventeen years, Raven had spoken like a mother. She had not done so since Yang was just an infant.
Yang stared disbelievingly at her mother. She was not use to hearing the older woman actually speak like a mother. It was just so shocking to hear Raven talk to her in that manner. Yang caught the color white in her peripheral. She looked up to see Summer standing right behind Raven. She gave Yang that famous Summer smile as she gave her a thumbs up. Signaling to Yang that she too believes in her.
Just as quickly as she came, Summer disappeared. The blonde frowned. She had allowed her fear to hold her back. Fear had controlled her entirely up to this point. "No. No more. I can't keep being like this. I don't have the luxury to do that. Blake doesn't have the luxury of me being like this. She's right. Blake needs me. I won't let Salem kill her. I won't let Adam continue to haunt her. I will kill both of them. I will destroy the White Fang and Salem's group. I will have my damn revenge!"
Yang felt it. She felt her true fire come back to her. Felt it burn in the pit of her stomach and in the center of her chest. It was back. Her warrior spirit had finally returned. The young teen could now move forward and start to take back control. If her mother could do it, then she could as well. Yang looked at her mother with a serious face. "I'll do it. I'll take back control. I won't let this thing paralyze me anymore. I'm gonna get my revenge!" Yang said resolutely. There was no room for argument in her voice. It was no longer shaky and insecure. It was strong and full of conviction.
Raven saw the fire return to Yang's eyes. She smiled. "Good." She stood up. Placing a hand on top of her daughter's head and started to ruffle her hair. Her daughter started to flail her arms at her in attempt to make her stop.
"H...hey!" Yang yelled indignantly. When her mother stopped, she shot her a glare as she pouted.
"Talk is cheap Yang. Show me with actions. Show me tomorrow with your actions that your words are not hollow."
Yang blew at her bang to move it out of her face. "Just you wait. I'm gonna give you a hard time tomorrow."
Raven chuckled. Amused with her child's sudden new found sense of confidence. "We shall see little bird. Now c'mon. It's late. Let us return." The tribe leader offered her hand to Yang. The teen reached up grabbed it and allowed her mother to pull her up.
Raven swiped at the air with her weapon. It made a loud whoosh sound. A swirling mass of black and red energy appeared.
"How do you do that?"
Raven sheathed her weapon. "With the right combination of dust and the right know how. That's how. Don't worry about it right now. I'll teach you when we have more time. Though you probably won't need dust to do it. After all." Raven paused as she smirked at her daughter. "You were born with the power of a god."
Thus mother and daughter made their way through the portal to journey their way back home. Both creating a new bond with each other. Both becoming closer with one another.
A few knocks rattled against a door. Jacques looked away from his son. He frowned. "I am busy with my son." He said in his usual cold voice.
"I...I'm terribly sorry Mister Schnee, but I have urgent news for you." The servant stuttered before replying hastily.
The owner of the SDC let out an irradiated sigh. "Fine. Come in." He said impatiently.
The door opened to reveal a middle-aged man with black hair. He walked in part way before bowing.
"Now what exactly is so important that you need to disturb me?" The white-haired man said as started tapping his finger on his desk.
The servant gulped. "Well, you see sir. It's about your daughter."
Jacques raised a brow. "What about her?"
"Well, when I went to give Miss Schnee her dinner, she wasn't in her room. We've searched the entire mansion and the rest of the premises, but we could not find her. It's as if she just disappeared."
Jacques narrowed his eyes. He could feel his anger building. However, before he lost control of his temper, he breathed in and exhaled to calm himself. "I see. If that is all then you are dismissed." He waved at the servant.
Bowing, he walked out and gently closed the door to the Schnee patriarch's office.
The older Schnee looked over at his son. "Well, Whitley. It looks like you will be down one sister."
The young boy feigned a frown. "Oh my father. What exactly are you going to do ?"
"I'm going to get my lawyers and remove that impertinent girl off of the Schnee family name. I will have her entire existence as a Schnee completely removed. All evidence of her presence here will be destroyed. I refuse to continue to tolerate her embarrassing us." He rose up out of his chair and stood in front of his portrait. "All of her inheritance that she was going to receive will be given to you. Also, since she will no longer a Schnee, I will notify the authorities of her attack on you. She may not be here in Atlas now, but should she ever return, there will be a group of law enforcement ready with cuffs and chains."
"But father, she still looks like us. That alone will still have people link her to us." Whitley said with a smooth, icy voice.
Jacques began rub his chin. "Yes, you are correct. We can't have her shamming us or this company anymore. I will be sure to hire some...people to eliminate her and make sure no one finds the body. I'm sure I can find a few very skilled people who would very willing to accept good pay for her head."
The heir grinned sadistically. "You are such a fool Weiss. I will be the one who wins in the end. Not you. You will pay with your life for the humiliation you caused me."
A woman with pure white skin and black swirling patterns on her arms was moving through a large empty corridor. She glided across the ground as if she were floating on darkness itself. She turned right to enter a room to see man crouched on the ground.
Tyrian Callows felt her dark, foreboding presence. The scorpion faunus immediately turned around to see his queen standing over him. He began to whimper like a child that was about to be punished.
Salem rolled her eyes. "Come now Tyrian. Enough of that. I'm not mad at you." Her voice dripped off her mouth like the venom from a snake's fangs.
Tyrian's head instantly shot up. His eyes shinning with childish hope. "R...Really? Are truly not angry with me my queen."
The witch smiled. "No Tyrian. I am not. I have come to give you another task. A way for you to redeem yourself."
"Oh yes yes yes yes yes. Please give this task to me. I shall not disappoint you again! I swear it!"
The pale white woman chuckled. "Yes. I know you will not fail me this time. I want you to bring me this girl." She pulled out a picture of blonde haired girl with lilac eyes. "Her name is Yang Xiao Long. I want this girl Tyrian. She is extremely powerful. This girl was responsible for destroying half an island with her own might. Her power would prove to be most useful in aiding our cause."
The scorpion man gently took the photo from his goddess. He looked at it more closely. He then began to laugh maniacally. "Oh. She is quite the looker! Hahahahahaha. I will not fail you. I promise! When do you want me to go?"
"Not just yet. I have something for you." A sliver case came floating into the room and stopped in front of her. "This is for you." She opened it to reveal a black mechanical scorpion's barb. "I want you to put this on before you go. After all." Salem bent down and gently put her right hand underneath his chin. "I don't want you to go out there so incomplete."
A/N: Here's another chapter for ya beautiful people. So in this chapter, we get our first bit of rosebird. I gotta say, I really do like that ship. Also, more on Raven's and Summer's rocky start later. Let's just say that if you thought that Weiss and Ruby had bad start, then be prepared for the rosebird rocky start. Also, got a little bit of steamy rosebird action. Can totally see Raven and Summer being like this.
This is also the chapter with some insight into whiterose. So I decided to change Weiss' outfit because let's be honest. The dress she was wearing in the show is not exactly suitable for a journey. Also, am I the only one who sat there while Weiss was sneaking and cringed when her heels went CLOOP CLOOP CLOOP. I'm like really Weiss? Really? Those heels aren't exactly quiet and they don't look good for walking around in for long periods of time or even fighting. So yeah, I decided to put her into something that was more appropriate and something to try to distance herself from the Schnee family. Something that made her look a little bit like her sister. Also, fuck Jacques and Whitley. Hate those two so I'm writing them as actual villains.
We also got to see some Taiyang. I have plans for him later, but you will just have to wait for that though. I promise you'll like it. Also, some people have been wanting to see his thoughts and feelings about Raven and Yang and what happened on that night. Don't worry. More on that soon enough.
We also have Yang finally starting to move forward. I thought that it was about time for Yang to actually get her control back and begin to move forward. It has been 6 chapters of her being rather mopey and down. So I thought it was a good time to start progressing her character. Otherwise, I felt like her being in her funk for any longer would start to really drag on and I don't want that. Also, how did you like the mother and daughter moment? Dove wasn't kidding when she said Raven was a harsh and strict instructor. I think everyone can tell that when Raven started talking about Blake, she only said those things to motivate Yang and give her a bit of a push. Personally, I think the best way for Yang to get back on her feet is to remind her of the people she loves and to be able to relate to her. Thought it was also a good time for Raven and Yang to begin to actually bond with each other. As for Yang being to do things like throwing fireballs or anything like that, you're just gonna have to wait on that. Yang will show off her fire powers soon.
Salem has now entered the story and Tyrian has been chosen to hunt Yang. It's really the only thing that makes sense at this point. After all, he's the only who is available to hunt her. Also, can totally see That scorpion prick getting a replacement for his tail.
As always, thank you for supporting this story and I will see you next time!
P.S. The new Samurai Jack is fucking awesome!