Chapter 7

One Year Ago

Taiyang stared at the photo as he often did. Staring back was Summer, along with Ruby and Yang, still so young, and him. Those were happier times, when his eyes were so full of joy. It was before he became a sad old man in a big empty house, crying alone. He wondered what he had done to deserve it all, to have everything and then to lose it in the blink of an eye. He had spent years trying to find some meaning, some reason, anything really, but all her ever found was pain and sadness. And it only ever got worse.

A knock at the door startled Taiyang. He placed the photo face down on the table and wiped his face, hoping to hide his pain. Another knock. "Just a minute." He said. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, steeling himself to face the world. Then he opened the door.

Qrow stood there, taking a sip from his flask. "Everything alright?" Qrow asked.

"Fine." Taiyang replied. "What brings you here?"

"I just wanted to talk." Qrow answered.

"You could have done that over the phone." Taiyang said.

"Some things are better said face-to-face." Qrow insisted.

"Fine, come in." Taiyang relented. He gestured toward the couch and Qrow dutifully sat down. Taiyang sat in a chair next to him. Qrow had always been a good friend, and Taiyang had enjoyed spending time with him, but now just the sight of him brought painful memories. Qrow no doubt shared many of them, drowning them in alcohol to stay sane. Taiyang had no such solace.

"I hear you kicked Yang out." Qrow said, cutting straight to the chase. "Ruby seemed pretty broken up about it the last time we talked."

"I did what had to be done." Taiyang said. "I told her that if she became a race car driver, she would no longer be my daughter. I still hope she might give it up and come back."

"Would you have given it up?" Qrow asked. "I don't think so. Racing was everything to you. It was your life. You were never happier than when you were behind the wheel. Is it so hard to believe that she would feel the same?"

"I had no idea what I was getting into." Taiyang countered. "She knows the dangers. She knows how it can destroy the people around you. Me, I was young and dumb."

"Now you're old and dumb." Qrow shot back. "Why do you have to be so stubborn? She's going to live her life whether you approve or not. All you've done is caused everyone involved to suffer."

"She tore this family apart!" Taiyang shouted, jumping to his feet.

"No, you tore it apart!" Qrow yelled, standing and getting in his face. "Instead of facing the past, facing your pain, you're forcing it onto her. And it's spreading. Now Ruby's caught in the middle so she's hurting to. What would Summer say if she saw you now?"

"Don't you dare use her name like that." Taiyang growled.

"She would be so disappointed in you." Qrow continued. "She would..."

"Get out of my house." Taiyang ordered through gritted teeth, his fists balled at his sides..

"Or what?" Qrow challenged. "You'll throw me out? Call the cops? Go ahead. I'm really glad Summer's not here to see what you've become." Taiyang roared and punched Qrow in the jaw. Qrow reeled, staggering back holding his face. "Fine, I'll go." He headed for the door as Taiyang glared at him. "The person I came to see isn't here anyway, just some sad old fool with my friend's face."

With that Qrow left, slamming the door behind him. Taiyang sat down and wept.

Present Day

Two thirds of the way through the race dawn broke cold and foggy. For the Nevermore team things were looking increasingly hopeless. Winter and Penny had pulled out yet another lap. It seemed they could increase their lead at will. Not that they needed any help but Yang and Weiss had both provided some. Approaching a lapped car during the night, Weiss had misjudged the pass, clipped the car and spun. Somehow she had not hit anything, but it did cost time. A little later, Yang slid off the track at Vacuo Bend and barely avoided striking the wall. They were delays the team could ill afford, but at least they were still on track, more than could be said about many of the other competitors.

Winter flew down the foggy Amity Straight, approaching a slower car from one of the other classes. She moved left to pass the car on the outside as they swung through the Amity Kink. Just as Winter was about to complete the pass she felt her car shudder as the lapper slid wide and clipped her right rear, having not seen her in the difficult conditions. The car began to over rotate to the right and Winter corrected back to the left. The wheels caught, a little too much, and the car snapped back to the left. She spun the wheel back right but it was too late and the car slapped the armco with its side. The car rolled on. The engine was still running and it could drive, but the suspension was badly bent and the body work on the left side was shredded.

Winter limped the car back to the pits, kicking herself for not giving the lapped car more room and wanting to strangle its driver. This could very well cost her the race, another late disappointment in a race she should have won easily. By the time she got the car to the attention of the crew, Yang had not only unlapped herself, she had taken the lead. Winter remained in the car, furious at herself and the other driver, who had gotten away without damage. "Is it fixable?" Winter asked the mechanic.

"We need to replace most of the left side, but yes, it's fixable." The mechanic replied.

"How long will it take?" Winter asked.

"We should be done in less than half an hour." The mechanic answered.

"We can still win this." Winter declared. "Get it done quick but make sure it's right. We're going to have to push to make up for this." Winter was up to the challenge. Penny and the mechanics were too. If the car was they might be able to claw it back and win.

The mood in the Nevermore garage was entirely different. There was a mixture of excitement and nervousness. The race was now theirs to lose. They knew Schnee Automotive was not done. Only perfection would keep Yang and Weiss out front, a big ask for a team of rookies.

Twenty minutes of repairs later and Winter was back out on track. She had lost six laps to Yang. With less than eight hours to go victory was not impossible, but it would take a Herculean effort. If anyone was going to put in that effort it was the defending F1 champion. Critically, she was not going to destroy her car the way her teammates had. She knew how to go fast without wrecking the equipment. She needed to gain twenty minutes. That amounted to about three minutes an hour, just under a lap. If they paced themselves, she and Penny could do it.

With about four hours to go, Yang took over for what she expected to be her final two hours in the car. With Weiss behind the wheel, Penny had made up two laps in addition to the one Winter had gained against Yang. It was going to be very, very close. "How hard can I push the car?" Yang asked as the crew finished fueling it and changing tires.

"Go as hard as you can." Blake said. "It should be fine but if it breaks, it breaks. We're here to win, not finish second."

The crew finished and Yang peeled out, rejoining the race. Now was not the time to hold anything back, but she could not afford to go over the limit and make mistakes. Driving on the limit was always a dangerous thing. Some drivers could do it, some could not. The ones who could not were slow or dead. Yang had walked that fine line in her F2 race at Grand Patch and the Grand Prix of Mistral, but this was a whole different order. Driving on the edge for a half hour or hour was one thing. Being perfect for two was something else entirely.

While Yang was on track doing everything in her power to keep Winter at bay, the rest of the team could only sit in the garage, watching and waiting. Weiss felt terrible. She had seen the lap times from she and Yang's previous two stints and Yang was clearly faster. In fact, if Yang had stayed in the car, they would probably still have a four lap lead instead of one that was now under three laps. She hated it but had to admit that, at least on this day, she was the inferior driver.

The mechanics had other worries. They had done all they could to prepare the car and keep it on track. Now it was in the drivers' hands. Still, they feared that a mistake had been made. It would only take the tiniest error - a loose bolt, a loose wire - to render everyone's work pointless.

With two hours left Yang returned to the pits. Winter was only a lap and a half behind. She had just pit and gone back out without the usual driver change. It looked like it would be a matchup of sister versus sister. Yang started to get out of the car but Weiss appeared at her door and pushed her back inside. "Weiss, what are you doing?" Yang asked.

"You're staying in the car." Weiss replied.

"What...why?" Yang stammered.

Weiss sighed heavily. "The only way we're going to win is if you're driving." Weiss admitted. "I'm not nearly fast enough to stay ahead of Winter. You are."

"Weiss...I...thank you." Yang said.

"Now don't…" Weiss started.

"I know, don't screw this up." Yang cut her off. "See you in the winner's circle." The pit crew finished their work and Yang roared back out onto the track. It would be Yang versus Winter, strength versus strength.

Every lap Yang looked left as she passed the pits. Ruby held a board with her previous lap's time, the time remaining in the race, and her lead over Winter. As the final two hours of the race went on, all those numbers shrunk. As time waned Yang went faster, pressured by Winter who was ever closer. Winter was going faster too. She was not there to finish second either. As far as she was concerned it was win or bust. Winter had unlapped herself with just under an hour and a half remaining. It was going to be close.

Yang flew across the line under the white flag. There was just one lap remaining. The pit board said Winter was only seven seconds behind and that information was a lap old. With worn tires, an exhausted driver and a chassis battered by 24 hours of continuous racing, it was not the ideal time to be driving on the limit. There was no other choice. Yang slid the car through the first turn then careened downhill into the second corner. She briefly locked the brakes but still hit her apexes as she swung the car left then right. After a short straight she wrestled the car through the final turn before the crucial Amity Straight. The track ahead of her was clear. Lapped cars would not be a factor. For the next six kilometers all she could do was keep checking her mirrors, hoping the onrushing white car would never appear.

Just before the Amity Kink Winter spotted Yang. She was close, but not close enough that Yang would be able to see her yet. She had to catch Yang, had to make up for the year before and her mistake in the morning. She closed as the cars slowed for the Amity Corner. Now Yang surely saw her. As the cars blasted down the fast stretch that led to Vacuo Bend Winter closed even more. She would not be able to make the pass in time to get ahead and block where her car was slower.

Yang could see Winter closing in. As the pair slowed for the right-hand sweeper before Vacuo Bend, Yang pulled away. The tires screamed in protest as she slung the car through the corner as fast as she dared. Then it was hard on the brakes for Vacuo Bend. She swung through the banked corner and blasted down the short straight to Atlas Corner. She pulled out of Atlas with a good lead on Winter.

Winter floored it out of Atlas Corner, spinning her worn-out tires as they struggled for traction. They finally gripped and the car leapt forward. She chased Yang down the straight toward White House. Yang blocked right and Winter pulled alongside her on the left. She just began to edge ahead when it was time to brake.

Yang had the inside line and braked later, surging ahead as she slid her car through the right-left combination at White House. Winter was right behind her, both struggling to find grip as they launched out onto the final run to the checkered. Yang could see Winter get a little sideways in her mirror before finding the grip she needed. Yang reached up and smacked her mirror, breaking its attachment point. She did not need the distraction now. She focused her eyes on the finish line, the throttle buried and the engine screaming. Even over the roar of her own engine she could hear Winter's car getting closer. There was nothing she could do about that now. Blocking would surely lead to a crash as neither driver was willing to given an inch.

The cars flashed across the line, taking the checkered flag side-by-side. After an entire day of racing, changing conditions, mistakes and moments of heroism, it came down to a photo finish. The cars continued on beside each other as they slowed, neither driver sure who had won. They would not find out until they got back. One car would be waved into the winner's circle, the other would be waved away, its driver forced to stand on the second step of the podium.

The scene that greeted the two drivers was chaotic. Instead of being waved on, both cars were stopped before the winner's circle. Two race officials were having a heated discussion. Ozpin stood nearby, listening with interest. Winter's father was there too. A third official was holding him back, keeping him from interfering with the decision.

"What's going on?" Yang asked Ozpin. "Did I win?"

"It's complicated." Ozpin said. "It was a tie."

"At tie!" Yang shouted. "How could it be a tie?! It can't finish in a tie!"

"It won't." Ozpin said. "That's what the officials are arguing about. Get back in your car. I have a feeling I know how this will go."

"But…" Yang started but Ozpin just waved her back to her car.

Another race official had ushered Winter back to her car. "Hell of a drive Xiao-Long." Winter shouted over the din. "Whatever they decide, you should be proud."

"Thanks." Yang said. "Right back at ya'."

The officials finished their discussion. One shrugged and went to Mr. Schnee to explain the decision. The other stopped in front of Yang's car momentarily and shook his head. Then he stepped aside and waved Yang toward the winner's circle. Yang was shocked. She stalled the car as she tried to get it moving. She refired it and rolled into victory lane.

Outside Winter had gotten out of her car and was attempting to calm her father. He was apoplectic. "I'm sorry Mr. Schnee, they started behind your car so they technically covered a longer distance." The official explained. "Therefore, they must be declared the winners."

"Those are the rules father." Winter said. "I'm disappointed too but making a scene won't fix things."

"I'll see you all in court!" Mr. Schnee shouted. "You'll all be ruined by the time I get done with you! They'll never run this race again!"

Winter was embarrassed by her father's behavior, though she could certainly sympathize with his frustration. She had just put in a heroic effort and come as close to winning as possible without succeeding. Still, she intended to take the high road. "Your whole team did a fantastic job." She said to Ozpin, shaking his hand. "It was truly an honor to share the track with them today."

"Thank you for the kind words Ms. Schnee." Ozpin said. "Your own performance was nothing short of astounding. Now, I think we have a podium to get to."

Yang sat in the car for some time, unable to believe she had won the 24 Hours of Vytal in her first attempt. Even great drivers went their whole careers without succeeding. Winter was an example. She was a Formula 1 World Champion and had tried to win the race for years, but had always come up short. It was a lot to take in.

"So, are you going to sit there or are we going to the podium?" Weiss asked, appearing at Yang's window.

"Yeah, of course...I was...I'm just exhausted." Yang stammered. She climbed out of the car and went to the stage with Weiss, waiting for their names to be called.

The Master of Ceremonies stepped in front of the podium, microphone in hand. Just below was Yang's car, a mass of cheering fans just beyond. "Finishing in third place, first in the Prototype 2.0 class, Sun Wukong and Neptune Vasilias!" He announced. The pair rushed out, jumping and cheering as they made their way to the third step on the podium. Once there they were handed a trophy. "Finishing in second, second in the Prototype 5.0 class, Winter Schnee and Penny Polendina!" The pair walked out, Penny smiling and waving, Winter impassive, and made their way to the second step where they were handed their slightly larger trophy. "And now, finishing first overall and first in the Prototype 5.0 class, Yang Xiao-Long and Weiss Schnee!" Yang ran to the front of the stage, pumping her fists in the air and shouting, playing to the crowd. Weiss walked out, unable to suppress a wide smile as she joined Yang in waving to the crowd. The pair retreated to the top step of the podium. Weiss took hold of their trophy and Yang was handed a magnum of champagne. "And now the winning team owner and manufacturer! Welcome Ozpin and Hank Nevermore!" The two old men smiled and waved politely before standing beside the winning drivers. Each got his own trophy.

"Allow me to introduce Hank Nevermore, owner of Nevermore Motors." Ozpin said to Weiss and Yang. "Without his help this wouldn't have been possible."

"Oh stop it Ozpin, your people did all the hard work." Hank said. "All I did was sign a check."

"Well, I don't know about you guys, but I'm thirsty." Yang said. With muscles cramping and tired from exertion, she struggled to open the champagne. When the cork gave way it shot out over Hank's shoulder, followed by a spray of liquid that soaked the illustrious businessman and Ozpin beside him. "Oh crap." Yang said. She had just soaked her bosses. Thinking quickly she covered the bottle's opening with her finger, shook it up, and using her finger as a nozzle, sprayed champagne over the other drivers and then out onto the fans below. Once everyone was sufficiently drenched and there was no more carbonation left, she took a big swig from the bottle before handing it to Weiss.

"Thanks for the shower." Weiss groaned. She lifted the bottle in a faux toast before taking a sip. Then she turned the bottle over and dumped the remaining contents on Yang's head. "Nice driving."

"You weren't bad yourself." Yang said. She found having champagne dumped on her head surprisingly refreshing. "Letting me stay in the car, that was big of you."

"Don't read too much into it." Weiss said. "I just wanted to win."

"Thank you." Yang said, wrapping Weiss in a brief hug. They still may not be entirely on the same page, but they had certainly made big strides. Maybe there was hope for them after all.

Winning the 24 Hours of Vytal was a thrill unlike anything Yang had ever experienced. The celebration went on for hours, even after the public show on the podium ended. She spoke to the press, celebrated with the team, and there was even a party thrown in her and Weiss' honor by the organizers. Still, once everything calmed down, she could not help but feel sad. She had dreamed of this day, but something was missing. She had always imagined that her father would be at her side, celebrating with her, but the two had not even spoken in over a year. It hurt just to think about it. Even if she was hurting she could not show it. This was Ruby's victory too and Yang was not going to allow herself to do anything to bring her sister down.

For Weiss the victory was the culmination of years of work. She had been driving race cars for a some time, and now was the winner of the world's most prestigious sports car race. It was an achievement even her sister had not earned. She was no longer in her sister's shadow, at least for today. Best of all, she had done it without her father's help. Now no one could say her success was all down to him. It also made her extremely happy that he was the one of the receiving end. His rage and frustration made victory that much sweeter.

Inspirations

- Winter's accident is based on the almost yearly trend of a lap car idiotically taking out someone fighting for the lead. And it always seems to be a GT Ferrari.

- In the event of a tie at Le Mans, the rules are as explained. It came into play in 1966 when Ford attempted to stage a one, though they got it wrong anyway.

- Hank Nevermore represents Henry Ford II. All he did was sign a check, in the case of the GT40 that check was to Carol Shelby.

- Yang's spraying champagne was inspired by Dan Gurney who invented the practice in 1967. Depending upon who you ask it was either an accident as depicted here, or intentional to soak the members of the media who predicted he would fail.

Inaccuracies and Anachronisms

- The podium ceremony is inaccurate.

- As stated above, spraying champagne in victory lane was invented in 1967, not '66.