Hey guys, what's up? Y'all good? Good. I have another chapter for you guys. And here it is. I don't have much else to say, so let's get on with it.
RWBY © Rooster Teeth/Monty Oum
*5 months after Kogane's birth. Vremeni household*
*Yang's P.O.V*
"Is Kogane asleep?"
"Out like a light, Yang."
"Good. Then I'm going to bed, too."
"Right behind ya, Yang."
I'm so glad Kogane is the heavy sleeper type, just like his father. It really takes a lot out of me to have to get up in the middle of the night and feed him, or change him, or comfort him after a nightmare. I really should make Pov do it more often. I'll talk to him about it tomorrow. For now, I just want to sleep.
"Good night, Pov."
"Night, Yang."
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
*in the dream world. Beacon courtyard*
What? Where am I? Am I back at Beacon's courtyard? I graduated a long time ago. Why am I here?
Oh no. Not her. Not her! Anyone but her!
"Yang, it's time we talked again."
DAMMIT!
"Why can't you just leave me alone, Raven? Just leave me alone! It's too late to talk."
"On the contrary, Yang. It's very much time that we talk again. I have been trying to get in contact with you for some time now. For some reason, I have had a difficult time finding you alone so that we may talk."
"Yeah, it's called having a life, Raven. Try it sometime."
I find some amusement in seeing the look of anger in Raven's face. Small payback for all that she's done to me. Hopefully I can keep making her angry like that.
"Do not speak to me like that, Yang! You will come to me, tonight! At the old, abandoned dust building on the far side of Vale."
Tonight?! Is this woman crazy!?
"Why tonight? Can't it wait?"
"As a matter of fact, no! It cannot, Yang. Now come here, now!"
"No! I don't want just another warning about this Salem person from you. I don't want to be let down again."
"This is not a request, Yang. I do not intend to let you down. You will come to me, or else…"
*baby crying*
*Yang wakes up*
Oh, thank Monty. I always thought Kogane waking up in the middle of the night would be a pain, but for now, I'm thankful.
"Yan'? Wha' happened? It's 1:00 in the morning."
"It's nothing, Pov. I'll check on Koge."
*one diaper change later*
"Are you sure it's nothing, Yang? I could feel you tossing and turning in your sleep."
Should I really tell him about my nightmare with Raven? Might as well. I'm too tired to argue.
"It's my mother again."
"What does Raven want now?"
"She said she wants to talk with me again. I think I'm just going to ignore her again."
"No. No you're not."
What? What does he mean 'no'? Why does he think he can stop me?
"I am not in the mood for another insomniac episode from you, Yang. I know you don't want much to do with Raven. Frankly, neither do I. but you will never get her off your back unless you tell her to hit the road. Now, we're going so you can tell her. Get ready, now."
Well, when he puts it like that, it actually sounds like a good idea. Maybe I can get Raven to leave me alone, forever. I need to focus on my own life, my own family, my own child. Raven had her chance with her child, and she blew it. Wait, child…
"What about Kogane? We can't just leave him here."
"Damn, you're right, Yang. And it's too late to find a babysitter. I guess we just take him with us. Not many other options. Now, where did your mother say to meet her?"
*Abandoned dust building on the far side of Vale*
*Raven's P.O.V*
Yang had better show up tonight. And I hope she comes alone, without that, that, boy. I still cannot believe that she married him. If she does come alone, I should take her with me, make sure she never sees him again. I still remember the shock when I found out she was getting married.
*flashback. Set during Yang and Povelitel's wedding.*
Well, this is it. Today is the day. Today is finally the day. The day that I take my daughter and start training her to defeat Salem. I will also take her away from that boy she is dating. She might hate me at first, but I'm sure with time, she will see that it was for the better. Now, where is she? My sources said that she'll be at the park today. Probably taking a nice stroll. If that is the case, it shall be easy to kidnap her without anyone seeing.
Wait, what is this? It looks like some sort of ceremony. A wedding. Is that why Yang is here? Is she a guest? If so, it shall be difficult to kidnap her, but not impossible. Now let's see, is she amongst the crowd? I see a lamb Faunus. No, not Yang. I see who appears to be the high general of Vacuo, can't remember his name. Still not Yang. I see Qrow. Wait, Qrow? What is my brother doing here? Does he know who's getting married? Is it possible that the one getting married is…?
No. That's not possible.
Perhaps Yang is one of the bridesmaids. Let's see, there's a girl in a simple blue dress. A girl with white hair and a similar white dress, obviously a Schnee. A girl in a black floor length dress and a bow on her head. And a girl with a red, knee length dress. I recognize the last 3 as Yang's old teammates, but still no Yang. Is Yang really the one getting…?
NO! It can't be!
Let's see, who's the groom? Is it a friend of Yang's? If so, where is she? It looks like…
That boy she said she was dating all those years ago. No. No! Say it isn't so!
*music starts playing*
Is that Taiyang? And he's walking down the aisle with… No! I don't believe it. It is possible. It can be. It is so.
This is Yang's wedding.
How could Yang go and marry him?! I still think he only wants Yang for her body. Is this the only way he'd get her to sleep with him? By getting married? If so, he'll probably abandon her as soon as he gets what he wants. He better not, if he wants to live.
"Hello, and welcome everyone to this union. We are here to lawfully wed Yang Xiao Long and Povelitel Vremeni. Before we begin, if anyone in attendance has any good reason as to why these two should not be wed, may they speak now, or forever hold their peace."
*Raven screams really loud, but covers her mouth*
Oh, damn! I hope they didn't hear me. I don't need anyone knowing that I'm here. Hopefully they think that sound was just a bird. But still, I have many objections to this union.
"Very well, then. Povelitel Vremeni, do you take this woman, Yang Xiao Long, to be your wife? For better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and health, 'til death do you part?"
"I do."
Of course he'd say yes, that's the only way he'd get what he wants.
"And do you, Yang Xiao Long, take this man, Povelitel Vremeni, to be your husband? For better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and health, 'til death do you part?"
Please say 'I don't'. Please say 'I don't'.
"Hell yeah, I do!"
DAMMIT!
"Um, very well then. By the power granted to me by the great lord, Monty Oum, I hereby pronounce this couple to be husband and wife. Congratulations. You may now kiss your bride."
*Povelitel kisses Yang*
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
*At the reception*
I still don't believe it. Yang has married this boy. They're dancing together now. I still can't believe it. This boy will not treat Yang with the respect she greatly deserves.
Wait, what is the boy looking at? It seems as though, he's looking at…
Me.
He sees me! I must get out of here.
*End flashback*
Yang had better come alone. I don't want to deal with the boy she decided to marry. Here she comes now. Took her long enough. Damn! She has the boy with her. What is that in her arms?
*Yang's P.O.V*
This is it. It's finally time to tell my mother to go away, forever. Let me focus on my family.
"You sure took your sweet time getting here, Yang."
"Sorry, Raven. Not really, but Pov and I now have a very compelling reason to take things slow for a while."
Stay sleeping, my sweet son, I will protect you from your grandmother. She will not hurt you the same way she hurt me.
"Is that, a baby?"
"Yes, Raven. It is a baby. My baby. Mine and his. And I do not want to hear any crap from you about it. Besides, he's still sleeping."
"*angry growl* Very well, then. I called you here so that you may come with me. The time is nigh that we draw out Salem and defeat her. And I shall need your help to do that, Yang. You and your incredible power. Come with me, and I shall give you all the answers you've been seeking your entire life."
Really? She's offering me everything I've wanted nearly my entire life. Should I accept? Why do I feel as though I shouldn't? I thought I would feel more excited about getting what I wanted. But I still feel like she'll say something I won't like. Plus, I still need to take care of Kogane. She had her chance, it's too late.
"I won't go with you, Raven. It's too late. I have my own life now. My own family. A loving husband, and a beautiful child. I don't need you anymore. I've wasted too much of my life searching for answers. It's time I focused on other things."
There it is. That look of anger that I enjoy seeing on her. It's kind of fun to piss off Raven.
"I insist that you come with me, Yang. If you don't, all of Remnant may fall. Besides, what do you really know about being a mother?"
WHAT?! How dare this woman, this woman, of all people, criticize my parenting skills.
"I know more than you! At least I didn't abandon my son the instant he popped out! At least I'm trying!"
"Plus, didn't you tell me about how you played surrogate mother to your sister, Ruby, after Summer died?"
Pov always did have my back. And he's right. I think I love him even more now.
"Exactly! Thank you, Pov!"
"You shut the hell up, boy. This is between me and her. You don't get an opinion."
*Yang's eyes go red*
"You do not get to speak to Povelitel like that, Raven! He has shown me more love in one day than you ever have my entire life! You self centered, uncaring, bitch!"
"How dare you speak to me like that! Yang Xiao Long, I am your mothe…!"
"My name's Yang Vremeni, now!"
She can glare at me all she wants. Nothing will make me back down. Nothing!
*Kogane starts crying.*
Except maybe that. What happened? He looks so scared. Did I do this? Did I wake him up and scare him with my yelling? Oh Monty Oum, what have I done?!
*Yang's eyes go back to lilac, and she walks back over to Povelitel*
"Nononononono! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! Mommy didn't mean to wake you, mommy didn't mean to scare you! My little golden one! Shh!"
*keeps crying*
What do I do to get him to calm down? Think Yang, think!
"Pov, what was that song your mother sang to him last time she was here? The one she said she came up with? Uhhh…"
If I… could save time… in the bottles of… time. Then I could save all of the… time!
*Raven's P.O.V*
Jeez, if those are the kinds of lullabies this boy's mother sang to him as a baby, it's no wonder he turned out as messed up as he did. The child will never calm down with a song like that. If yang, or the boy won't give him a song, then perhaps I can calm down my… grandson.
I still can't believe that I have a grandson. He is quite adorable, I must admit. I might not have been a very good mother, but perhaps I could be a decent grandmother, if I can get Yang to come with me.
"No, Yang. Mom's song did not go like that. It went more like this:"
*Povelitel takes Kogane from Yang's arms, and starts singing*
If I could save time in a bottle,
The first thing that I'd like to do,
Is to save every day
'Til eternity passes away,
Just to spend them with you.
If I could make days last forever,
If words could make wishes come true,
I'd save every day like a treasure and then,
Again would spend them with you.
But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do,
Once you find them.
I've looked around enough to know
That you're the one I want to go
Through time with.
*Kogane stops crying, but still has tears on his face*
I have to admit, it is a soothing melody. Perfectly suited for a lullaby.
"Give him here, Pov. I think I remember the rest of the song."
*Hands Kogane to Yang*
If I had a box just for wishes,
And dreams that had never come true,
The box would be empty,
Except for the memory
Of how they were answered by you.
But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do
Once you find them.
I've looked around enough to know
That you're the one I want to go
Through time with.
*The baby falls back asleep*
It was a nice song, I will give that to the boy. Perhaps, just perhaps, there is a slight chance that maybe I've been giving him a bit of a hard time.
"Alright, can we wrap this up? The only things you're going to 'draw out' with all your shouting and negativity, are the Grimm."
Never mind. This boy is just as rude as he's always been.
"Pov's right, Raven. Are we done here? I'm not going with you."
If Yang thinks this is the end of it, she is sorely mistaken. Perhaps it would be better if I let her think this is over, and catch her off guard in a few days time.
"So be it. I shall contact you again. Farewell."
I fell like I should do more. More to get Yang to trust me. She will never fully work with me if she does not trust me. Perhaps if I show her something I haven't shown anyone in a long time. Yes, I must show her that.
I must show her my caring side.
"Wait. Before you go, may I … hold, your son?"
Why must you hold him like that, Yang? As though I just asked you to have him taken away forever? I understand wanting to protect your child, but still.
"Please Yang? I know I wasn't always there for you, and I am sorry. But I did get to hold you, once. And I want to hold my grandson. Even if it is only once."
But it won't be just once. Not that Yang needs to know that yet. No Yang, don't look to the boy for answers. He won't help.
"It's up to you, Yang. She's your mother, not mine."
I knew it.
*Yang holds out Kogane to Raven*
"Thank you, Yang."
*Kogane opens his eyes, and starts whimpering in fear*
Why is he looking at me like that? Wait, did I put my mask back on? Crap! That's what's scaring him.
*takes of mask*
"You do not need to be afraid of me, little one. I am your grandmother. I must admit, you look almost exactly the same as your mother did at that age."
He most certainly has Yang's face. The only real differences are the eyes, and that Yang had much more hair, even as a baby.
"You are adorable, I will give you that. Just like your mom was."
*Kogane closes his eyes, and Raven kisses him on the forehead*
I shall see you shortly. Until then, I wish you only pleasant dreams, little…
"Tell me, Yang. What is his name?"
"His full name is Kogane Branwen Vremeni."
It has a nice ring to it. Though, I think I prefer the sound of 'Kogane Branwen Xiao Long'. Or perhaps just 'Kogane Branwen'. Anything except this boy's last name.
*Hands him back to Yang*
"Goodbye."
*4 days later. At the park*
*Povelitel's P.O.V*
I'm happy that Yang finally stuck it to her mother. Raven will finally leave us alone. Now we can enjoy the simple stuff again, like a peaceful walk through the park.
"Hey, Pov? Could you hold Koge for a minute? I want to stretch my arms."
"Huh? Sure Yang."
*takes Kogane*
"Thanks, sweet."
"No prob, Yang. Go and stretch your arms a bit."
It feels really good being able to stretch from time to time.
"You know, Pov. I don't think I say this often enough, but I love yo… MMMMMPHPHPH!"
What?! What the hell is going on!? Where's Yang! Is she getting dragged through that portal?
*Yang's P.O.V*
Sweet Oum! What's happening to me?! What's going on? Where the hell am I? It looks like I'm in an abandoned building. Who did this to me.
"One thing you should know about me, Yang: I don't respond well to the answer 'no'."
Her again?! I thought I had seen the last of her.
"Why did you take me here, Raven?"
"The time to strike Salem is coming. And I will need your help to do it. You have incredible power, and I must teach you to harness it."
What does she mean by 'incredible power'? Why is she being so vague? Why did she take me from Pov and Koge?
"So what? You just went and took my from my friends? My family? My husband? My son?"
"Your friends and family are of little consequence. If they cannot protect themselves, they do not deserve your protection, your friendship or compassion. But, as for your son, I assure you that I shall go back for him later on tonight. Kogane will be much safer with us. Especially away from his father. I have not yet said this to you Yang, but I hate your husband. He is lazy, undisciplined, and has very little respect. He seems to be that kind of guy who sleeps with several women, and doesn't care about any of those women. He'll probably forget about you, and the baby by tonight, if he hasn't already. He was never really there for you, and he never will be."
WHAT?! How dare she say such awful things about Pov! I oughta…!
"Y'know, if you're gonna gossip about someone behind their back, you best make sure they're not behind your back."
He made it? He made it! Pov and Koge made it through! Wow, Pov is the only person I know that can strike a badass pose while holding a baby.
*Yang hugs them*
"What? How the hell did you find us, boy?"
"I used my semblance to get through the portal, of course. And I'm getting really damn sick and tired of you badmouthing me. You claim I was never there for her, like you were? If I was never there for her, who was it who protected Yang when some drunk bastard tried to rape her during our last year at Beacon? Who was it who was at her side when her pet dog, Zwei died? Who was it who gave her nothing but support when her arm was sliced off, despite the constant cold shoulder? Who was it who found a way to get said arm reattached?"
He's right. Pov was there for me throughout all those horrible times. He has always had my back. And he always will. It's time I had his back.
"Pov was always there for me, Raven. You never were. If you want me to even consider cooperating with you, you will not hurt him in any way!"
"… So be it, Yang. However, after Salem has been defeated, I cannot guarantee his safety. Especially around me. Get some rest. We have a hard few weeks ahead of us."
Time in a Bottle © Jim Croce. I own nothing having to do with the song, or the song itself. All copyrights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended. Used for entertainment purposes only.
There, now that I'm confident that I can't be sued, let's get this authors note on!
I decided to use Time in a Bottle for several reasons. 1. I'm not creative enough to think of my own lullaby. 2. I like the song. 3. It is a slight reference to my original draft. In the original draft of this story, the character who eventually became Povelitel was going to have a super speed semblance, similar to Quicksilver. That's why I used his song from the movie Days of Future Past (© Marvel/20th Century Fox). In fact, he would have been nicknamed 'Quicksilver', and he would have made Ruby look like a handicapped turtle by comparison. But the more I thought about it, the more I thought that the idea of 2 characters having a speed semblance seemed dumb. So I changed it. I think it was for the better, honestly.
Also, Yang's screwed up lyrics to the song aren't mine either. They came from a certain popular YouTube channel called 'How It Should Have Ended'. Specifically, their video: 'How X-Men: Days of Future Past Should Have Ended'. Check out the channel, it's worth your time.
I would greatly appreciate a follow, a favorite, a review, and any other feedback.
The next update will be tomorrow. So until then, stay tuned, we're almost done.