.

Tied Knots

.

"What, the blonde?"

"…!"

"You really have a thing for playing with fire, don't you?"

"…?"

"Well, there's the girl, then there's me, and you seem to have a lot of fun with Cinder. I'm seeing a trend. Don't get me wrong, Neo. It's probably one of the reasons you and I are soulmates—no, playmates for life! See, I liked playing with scissors when I was a kid, and—"

"…"

"Right. My point is, sharp things are fun."

"…?"

"Would I think you two make a cute couple?"

Torchwick tapped his cane against his chin a few times in thought.

"Yeah. I think that would be hi-larious."

"…!"

"Sure. Once this job with Cinder is over, we'll go kidnap you a new playmate for life. I promise."

.

.

In a small dressing room, Yang stood before an array of mirrors.

Though, she tried to appear composed, the way she repeatedly fussed with the orange bowtie of her suit betrayed that façade.

*Sigh* "How do I look, Em?"

Emerald appeared from behind her reflection.

"Eh." The girl made the iffy motion with her hand.

"Wow, thanks. So glad you're my best woman."

"Only 'cause Neo called dibs on Mercury for her guy of honor," Emerald smirked. "Turn around. I can at least make it tight enough, so you'll stop trying to fix it during the ceremony."

Yang turned obediently and let the other girl do her work.

After a while, she couldn't help but let out a small laugh.

"What's so funny?" Emerald asked.

"Nothing. Just kinda reminds me of the time we went shopping before the fast and furious gig."

"Ah, one of our first biggest hustles."

"We've come a long way since, then."

"Don't get all nostalgic on me."

"Em."

"What?"

"I'm glad you're my best woman."

"…What. Ever…!"

Emerald turned away to hide her face, but Yang knew her long enough to know when she was feeling embarrassed.

"Still can't believe I'm marrying Neo."

"Dude. You were the one who proposed."

"Yeah. But if you told me this was where I was going to end up when you first recruited me? I would've said you were crazy."

"Well, credit where credit's due. I still think this whole thing's crazy, but hey! I guess that's what you need to marry a little psychopath like Neo."

"That's my wife you're talking about!"

"So weird."

"Ahaha~"

"And speaking of crazy, I remember us having a little therapy session during our little drive to the Tower. Something about you not wanting to solve your issues by running each other over anymore?"

"Haha, yeah."

"And your solution to resolving those issues was…to get married?" Emerald cocked her brow.

Yang only shrugged in response.

*Sigh* "Once again, brute force is the answer to all your problems. Seriously, how are you supposed to learn when the wrong way keeps working out for you?" Emerald asked sarcastically.

"Well, someone once told me, if there were ever any rules to a relationship, me and Neo would be the last ones to follow them."

"Hey! That was me! I was the one who said that!" Emerald said with mock cheer. Then, flattened out the creases on Yang's suit.

There was an odd pause, before the girl lifted the empty sleeve where Yang's right arm was absent.

"Should we pin this up? Or Merc can find a replacement."

"Nah, I'd rather just leave it. It's how I was when you guys picked me up, after all."

"Going for that maximum corniness, are we?"

"Duh."

"Well, let's get a move on, south paw. If you keep your wifey waiting too long, she might stab everyone at the ceremony."

"Neo's about to be my wifey…" Yang's voice trailed with realization for the twentieth time that day.

"Right? You guys are such dumb freaks."

Emerald took Yang by the arm, and together, the two made their way to the ceremony.

It was a grand gathering at the base of Shade Academy's tree. Rows upon rows of chairs were erected for the attendees. Multiple aisles, altars, and archways were set up in the circumference of the campus.

It wasn't only Yang and Neo getting married that day, but a large many citizens of Vacuo. The war and the following attacks on their capital led to a number of marriage proposals being made all across the city. As a result, Temujin decided to make an extravagant event of it, deciding to have a majority of the weddings held together.

As Emerald and Yang arrived at their designated altar and took their place, Emerald side-whispered to her,

"Kind of feels less special with all these other people getting married too, huh?"

Just then, they saw Neo arrive with Mercury's escort.

"I…wouldn't say that…" Yang muttered breathlessly.

In a beautifully elegant dress, Neo made her way down the aisle. Crystalline decorations hung about her pristine, white skirt. Mirroring shards shimmered in the threads of her draped veil. Gentle clinks like windchimes rung with every step she took.

After having their thoughts blanked by Neo's appearance, Yang and Emerald noticed some tears appearing at the edge of Mercury's eyes. The young man pursed the sides of his lips in an effort to keep a straight face—trying, but failing.

""Oh, god. Keep it together, Merc."" Yang and Emerald both muttered, but even they had trouble keeping their own composure.

A sudden yelp came from the audience, which drew some attention.

Figures. Dad was the first to break.

Yang could see Taiyang hunched over in his seat, weeping openly. An embarrassed Glynda looking uncomfortably beside him, while handing him a handkerchief.

This elicited a holographic projection of Ruby to start crying shortly after. A similarly embarrassed Weiss comforted her, as well.

"You know, your mothers married like this."

Yang turned to the minister ordaining their marriage.

"It was much smaller, of course," Temujin added. "But it was like this."

Yang smiled at the thought, before having it erased by Neo's arrival.

She was still awestruck by her partner's beauty. Yang could hardly believe the girl standing in front of her was the one she had known for so long. They had been intimate, they were about to swear their whole lives together, and in this moment, she found herself surprised by a side of Neo she did not know.

It was then, Neo lifted her veil to show her face. A portrait-esque smile was revealed just beneath…

…right before it curled into an upturned grin. An air of smugness exuded from her, as she felt satisfied with dazing her partner with her appearance.

Yup. There's the Neo I know, Yang thought.

You got me.

The two gazed at each other lovingly, completely entranced in the other. Almost nothing else existed in the world between them, save for Temujin's next words.

"We are gathered here today to witness the eternal bond between Yang Xiao Long and Neopolitan. It is not only by love, but also anger, and sorrow, and joy, and laughter, that these two souls find solace in one another."

Yang grasped Neo's small hand, and her bride-to-be held her in her bright, pink irises.

"It is no easy thing to let another hold such sway in our hearts. It is frightening, it may even be construed as weakness, but it is through this trust, we can find strength unimaginable. And it is exactly that, which these two endeavor to find this day."

Temujin made a motion with her hand.

"Bring the rings forth!"

Mercury finished wiping his tears away when he came forward.

The pair of rings presented to Yang and Neo were forged by none other than Mercury himself. Simple in design for the couple, who would break ordinary jewelry in their next fight. But as soon as they slipped the rings onto each other's fingers, the perfect fitted craftsmanship was apparent at first impression.

"Thanks, Merc."

Good job not crying more.

"You're welcome, jerks," Mercury grinned, before stepping away.

Lastly, Temujin moved closer between the two.

From her robes, she unraveled an intricately braided rope. Weaved with carbon-fiber steel-wire and high-quality silk, it possessed an intermittent pattern of deep crimson and black. In spite of the materials being so different, the two elements were woven together seamlessly. An impression of ritualistic ceremony could be felt through its design.

And as Temujin started to tie the bands around Neo and Yang's outstretched arms, she spoke a sentence between each wrapping of the threads.

"It is this day you forego one of life's most treacherous searches. You have found each other, and in essence, a greater part of yourself you would have never known otherwise. And you will never be alone again, should that be your choosing."

Temujin nodded to them.

"Not only in life, not only in death. For however long the spark of your soul sustains, will you both be bonded. Two destinies shared. One life forged together."

"I will," Yang answered.

I will, Neo answered, as well.

As Yang observed the corded braid glow, she knew immediately it was no ordinary piece of rope. She wondered how it was possible, and saw Temujin wink at her.

"I'm not very good at this delicate sort of work," the old woman whispered. "But I did have a little help from someone."

"Oh?"

*Ahem*

"What?"

"This is the part where the brides kiss."

Low waves of chuckling resounded from all sides, as Yang smiled awkwardly.

The taller bent down to the smaller's height. A momentary pause before their lips met. A tingling sensation, and they could feel their hearts beat as one.

The braid bounding them reacted to their Auras. A link that became a part of their bodies. More than a bond of ceremony, it acted as a medium for the spiritual.

Yang felt Neo's Aura course through her arm. A feeling akin to syringes injected a foreign substance into her nervous system. There was a natural resistance to the invader, but after recognizing it as Neo, Yang accepted it—with all her heart and soul.

In her opposite, Neo felt something like boiling blood flooding into her veins. It threatened to consume her, but she calmed the urge to fight it off. The burn eventually settled into a warmth that washed over her skin, filling her core with heat—and Neo enveloped the sensation like something deeply precious.

Yang's Aura flared with a flash of pink fire. The fiery crown that blazed like a halo around her head, slowly became encrusted in crystalline glass.

At the same time, when Neo parted from the kiss and opened her eyes, her irises gleamed with a touch of bloody red.

Recognizing that the ritual was complete, Temujin untied the rope.

"By the power vested in me as Yang Xiao Long's godmother—"

Yang gasped.

"Shut up. It's a mere formality, don't get cocky."

"—I now pronounce you…married."

.

X

.

It was a celebration the likes none had ever seen, since the Faunus people successfully won their liberation.

Accompanied by the many marriages carried out, there were also a number of funerals held for the fallen. Among the dead were some of Temujin's closest friends and advisors. In any other place, the occasion would call for a quiet mourning.

But Temujin would accept no such thing.

She, who understood her comrades best, knew they would rather have them celebrate their lives than depress over their deaths. And after the first taste of the might Salem could bring to bear, it became more important to do so.

As a result, the whole city was in complete rapture. Its citizens drank and danced. They sparred and fought for sport, as per the Kingdom's favorite traditions. The children played without reserve, their innocent laughter could be heard down every street.

This was the world the people of Vacuo forged by their blood and sweat. It was how they paid tribute to the predecessors that sacrificed so much for their future.

Its people lived moment to moment. They honored the past, without losing sight of how important it was to the present—never more important than the people around them in the now.

It would be no exaggeration to say it was the purest city in Remnant. And for their home, the citizens of Vacuo would live and die for the Kingdom without hesitation.

…

Meanwhile during the festivities, sitting on one of the taller rooftops—which is to say a four-story building—a certain figure watched the parties below with a fond heart. A bonfire crackled softly beside her, barely lending light to her figure. In the distance, she could see plenty of other rooftops with similar torches. The only place with more scattered and vibrant lights would be the stars above.

"Hey."

A voice greeted the woman from behind. She had no intention of leaving her reclined chair. Only continuing to take a few careless sips of her whiskey bottle.

"So, you actually came to my wedding," Yang resumed.

"Yeah. Something told me I needed to come to Vacuo, no matter what," Raven finally responded. "Pull up a chair."

"You're not gonna try to kill me?"

"I think I can check the impulse for one night."

"Hmph," Yang scoffed, as she pulled over a second chair, and reclined in it.

The two soaked in the atmosphere for a while. Several fireworks shot into the air, casting crackling light. A nonstop parade of freshly roasted cuisines marched out from every restaurant with a working oven. The pungent smell of Dust and adrenaline filled the night. And it was as if the ground itself pulsed with the music.

"God! I love this place."

"Mom, how much have you had to drink?"

"Not that much, as a matter of fact. I'm not your Uncle," Raven sighed. "Just something about being home. This place is…"

"Special," Yang finished. "After being here, I feel like I can understand a lot of things. Not just about you, but myself, and maybe the people around me?"

"This place does have that effect on people."

Raven passed the bottle to her daughter, who took a hearty swig of it.

"I always dreamed of bringing you here, Yang—always. For so long."

"…"

"I know, it's more optimistic than you're used to—spare me the snide remarks. If Summer or Tai had budged even just a little bit, you would've been raised here instead of Patch."

"…I wonder how different things would be, if you had."

"The thought did cross my mind." Raven smiled bitterly. "I once told you I abandoned you for Temujin, for this place. And being here again, I remember the comrades I lost building this city into what it is now."

"Yeah?"

"Yes. More relevant, I remember what Taiga once said, when we were bleeding ourselves out in the deserts with a horde of Crusaders rushing down on us."

"…"

"He told me, 'I have a son waiting to be born. I want to make Vacuo a place where he can live freely. I think you also fight for a home you can be proud to show your daughter.'"

"Sure, sounds nice."

"Yeah, he was a good one."

Raven raised her bottle to the sky.

"To you, Taiga. I was proud to call you my friend. Rest in peace," she toasted, and then downed the whole bottle in one go. The woman set it aside and picked up a new one from a small crate, and uncorked it.

"So… what are you gonna do now?" Yang asked, after a time.

"If you're asking me if I'm going to be on Salem's side and wage war against my own home, my answer is a big, fat, resounding no. It's in the contract we have. She can't force me to fight Vacuo."

"So, about this contract you have—"

"I'll have to stop you right there, Yang. You won't get any details, regardless whether I want to tell you or not."

"More fine print?"

"Yeah."

Yang's attention went briefly to the sword leaned against her mother's chair.

"Don't even think about it," Raven warned, as if sensing her thoughts. "Seems like you're catching on, but if you make a move to destroy it, I'll have no choice but to stop you. And I'd rather not have to kill my daughter on her wedding night."

"Fair enough."

"Speaking of, where is my new daughter-in-law?"

"She's playing Sumo with some of the kids somewhere."

"I thought you two would be…"

"Having wild, honeymoon sex?"

"Yeah, that."

"The night is still young. We're saving it for later."

"Of course, you are," Raven took a long, drawn swig from her bottle. "Part of me was rooting for you and Blake to end up together, you know."

"Seriously?"

"You and Neo are a strange pair."

"This coming from the one sleeping with Cinder?"

"…Touché."

Yang took another draught before asking her next question.

"Did you and Summer get married like us?"

"Yes, we did. Which is why I know. Summer was too good for me and you're too good for Neo."

"Uh huh. Still gave us your blessing anyway."

"How do you know I wasn't just watching, while disapproving?"

"You made us that braid with Temujin. I'd recognize your work anywhere."

"Hmph. If you're getting married, the least I can do is provide you with the right stuff for the Aura Exchanging Ritual."

Yang rolled her eyes and produced a copy of Summer's diary from her back pocket. She then, tossed it on her mother's lap without warning.

"Mom's diary. I read it. Maybe, you should give it a read, too."

"…"

"'How could it have been anyone else?'" Yang said teasingly.

"Do not repeat that phrase."

Raven breathed an extensive sigh, while her eyes glued to the notebook in her hands.

"Looks like I've got some reading to do. Time to make yourself scarce."

"Yeah, it's about that time."

"And you," Raven said pointedly, to the petite girl appearing from the shadows. "You break my little girl's heart, and I'll finish what we started on that train so long ago."

Neo flashed an innocent grin.

Bye, mommy-in-law!

As Neo led Yang off the rooftop, Raven took a deep breath before starting to pour over the pages of Summer's diary.

Alright, Summ.

Is this really coincidence?

Or did you plan to have Yang bring this to me?

.

X

.

Having stealthily snuck away from the public festivities—and the bodyguards who forcefully volunteered themselves after the recent string of assassinations—Temujin arrived at a hidden room of the Hanging Gardens.

The chamber was more of a broom closet than a place to gather. Only a table and a few chairs—nothing near as grand as the throne room or the locations they held most of their conferences in. But for the sole purpose of secrecy between four individuals, it proved more than adequate.

Temujin opened the door as small an amount as possible to slip through, and turned to find her three other cohorts already waiting.

"You're late," Minerva condescended, while crossing her arms. Her stern professor demeanor was going full-force despite the merriment shared by the city.

"All of you have twice the amount of legs I do."

"We gave you twice the amount of time to get here."

"You know, part of me wishes the assassin that came after you had succeeded."

Minerva scoffed with a tinge of deprecation.

"If it wasn't for the sibling's Precognition, your wish would have been fulfilled. Fortunately, I was spared the embarrassment of dying at that man's hands."

"Who was he?"

"A former student. Now, only a demented, noseless monster."

"A dead noseless monster," Knives Rakis added.

"Indeed."

Temujin passed Minerva to address the Rakis siblings.

"Well? What has your Semblance shown you?"

"The future became… uncertain," Mouse Rakis answered slowly. "It fluctuated—slightly. Do you know the cause?"

"I have an idea. When did this divergence happen?"

"I believe it occurred during the group weddings."

"I see, I see…" Temujin pondered. "That confirms it. Yang may be the key to overturning the future you saw."

"Yang Xiao Long?"

"Yes."

"She is only one person," Mouse shook his head dejectedly. "Granted, she is the Spring Maiden, but what my sister and I saw was the work of gods! Hordes of Grimm swarming the continents, until all of Remnant was covered in darkness! How can one person hope to make such a difference?"

"You were the very ones, who prophesized her as Empress."

"What is a king to a god?"

"Her Aura changes and develops with such frightening speed. Only those keenly sensitive to such subjects would understand—"

"I cannot place my faith in a lone individual. Even if she could create some changes, it still hasn't diverged from what we saw. Time reverted back to its normal line in a split second. And we have more important things to worry about!"

"Hmph. All your talk about not having faith in a single person, while you are putting our whole Kingdom at risk to save a single one."

Mouse fell silent at that.

"Relax, I don't mean to admonish you. But, Knives," Temujin looked to the younger sister. "Surely, you noticed it."

Knives nodded, with an apprehensive glance to her brother.

"The moment Yang Xiao Long exchanged her Aura with Neopolitan, their souls underwent an explosive change."

"That doesn't matter!" Mouse shouted.

The outburst was met with a tense silence.

"Even if she can change the future, there still wasn't enough to even show how we can change what we saw in the next month! It didn't show us how we can save—"

Temujin suddenly braced the boy and stopped him in his tracks. She was all too aware of the painful things the siblings' futuresight granted them.

An unstoppable army that washed over Remnant like some plague, leaving only ruins in its wake. A bleak world emptied of life. A lone immortal left to play god and worldmaker. All of their loved ones, lost to oblivion without a single soul to remember. And then, there was also the fate of Vacuo preceding that. The beginning of the end to the so-called Last Fairy Tale.

Temujin heard the Rakis siblings recount their visions enough times, with such detail, she practically felt like she saw them herself.

"You must be strong, Mouse. You cannot lose yourself so completely to your emotions."

"…"

"Do not be afraid of what the future holds. Do not hide and do not run."

She could feel the boy nodding his head at her words.

"This will be the last time I embrace you this way. You must learn to brace yourself from now on."

"…"

"I know you fear the events about to take place, but what have I told you about fear?"

The small Mouse wiped his tears and recounted stoically.

"It is the poison of the heart and mind. I must not fear."

The silver in his eyes glinted sharply with defiance.

"Fear is the mind-killer."

.

.

.

NOTES

Q: More releases?

A: Yes. There will be.

Q: You somehow made a cracked ship/baked alaska sea worthy. That's really really rare.

Answer: Thanks? Thanks.

Q: How will Blake react to Yang and Neo getting married?

A: The answer is in the next chapter, I think.

Q: Isn't Temujin's Semblance overpowered?

A: It was something she developed in case she ever met the previous Spring Maiden(berserk Victoria Stein) again. So, yeah. It wrecked the crap out of Vulcan and made her look overpowered, which was the impact I wanted. But that's not to say it doesn't have its flaws.

Q: Is Masa Arum a reference to Muramasa?

A: Yes.

Q: Neo is back in canon!

A: I know! FINALLY! And Cinder and her are gonna BFF traveling buddies! *low-key assuming a new ship is being crafted*

Q: What do you think of the creation lore of Remnant (ie Salem, Ozma origins and the brother's grimm gods)?

A: Uh, I dunno. It was kind of funny to learn how the moon got broken cause the dark god peaced out too hard.

Q: Is Oscar going to show up in the story?

A: No. There are no plans for Oscar, or any character like him to show up in ENMY.

Q: Christmas special chapter?

A: Nothing planned this time. Sorry.