Releasing this chapter in a rougher draft.
Haven't put it through the full editing process quite yet.
Updating this from work while on break.
Will do so later.
Wanted to get it out so everyone could enjoy the ending of the Pre-Beacon Arc.
So, with that adue.
Here it is.
And anyone wondering what happened to Cinder.
Don't worry.
That is being addressed very soon.
She's not going anywhere.
"Neo… What's wrong? This isn't like you. You are acting strange."
Everything… This. I can't anymore… This no longer feels right.
"Neo! Hey, hold on just a minute. Unshackle me! Let me out of this bed!"
No.
"No? Okay, I know you have your kinks, but this is a new one…"
You. Her.
"No… Neo, I can explain. It wasn't personal! You know that!"
IT WAS FOR ME!
"What was I supposed to do? There was no choice! You know what I will do! When it comes down to it…"
You will do what it takes to survive… Even if it means abandoning your partner. Goodbye, Roman.
"Neo? No! You didn't! Sirens! Neo! Please!"
I loved you… You were everything to me…
"It wasn't… Personal… You weren't like the others… I never meant to hurt you. But a choice had to be made."
"And I chose to survive…"
"No matter how much I think about it, I can't fathom how a student that hasn't even arrived through these doors was able to push and defeat a Maiden! Even with some help at the end, he almost did it single-handedly. Just who is Fen Aryl? Where did he come from?"
"That is a mystery I aim to solve, my dear. While I saw a great potential prospect when I recognized who he was, this outcome was not something I expected to occur. We now have to not only calculate for what has happened here and her follow-up, we now must account for something quite possibly new in our mists. He didn't seem to trust me after my appearance…"
"Can't imagine why, Oz. Regardless, what he did can't be understated, but we'll take what we can get for now. We have the intruder that took Amber's powers from her. I say we use that machine ole machine head has made for the transfer and give it a whirl. See if we can give Amber all her power back."
"She wouldn't survive, Qrow. Not in the state she's in now. Whatever happened sapped her life force, and she's hanging in strong, but I fear not for much longer. We need a new Maiden candidate, but we hardly have one that fits the job. I love Ms. Adel and Scarlatina, but I feel they both don't…"
"We have a new crop of students coming in. Quite a few are very talented. In fact, several this year, I believe, may, in fact, be who we are searching for. Could even have the next team STRQ on our hands."
"I don't like how you are phrasing that, given my niece is amongst that group you are talking about."
"Both are, actually. I just invited Ms. Rose."
"You did what?!"
"Qrow, calm down…"
"Don't tell me to calm down, Glynda! Under no circumstance did I ever want to bring Ruby into this! I made a promise after Summer went missing to Tai when I started training her, and damn well am not breaking it!"
"Keep Ruby out of your plans! Find someone, anyone, else!"
"Yay! I'm going to Beacon!" Ruby emphatically raised her fist in triumph while whistling a tune only known to her. "This is gonna be so exciting! Oh, I don't even know where to start!"
"I, uh, well…" Tai muttered in surprise, seeing his daughter buzzing from place to place in their house, unsure how to handle this bundle of energy before exhaling and smiling as he reached out, patting his daughter on the head. "I'm proud of you, Ruby. It is not often someone gets to make the jump like this. But are you sure you are ready? I mean, it is a big step…"
"Oh no! I just realized!" Ruby stopped after beaming at her father's praise, eyes widening as she placed her hands on her temples and began to panic. "I'm leaving all my friends behind at Signal! I'm hardly going to know anyone at Beacon! And they're all gonna be older than me! No!"
Tai sighed, dropping his head as his daughter shed exuberant tears. "That's what you are worried about? Why am I not surprised?"
"What did you expect?" Yang retorted smugly, trying not to laugh at her sister's expense. "This is Ruby, after all. She often worries about the details others don't think about. It is what makes her special."
"There's Blake and Naruto, thankfully, but that's it! I won't know anyone else! And they're still older than me! No! My chances at a date are ruined!"
"That escalated quickly." Yang rolled her eyes before noticing her father's annoyed gaze with her. "What? What did I do this time?"
Sighing, throwing back his head, and biting back what he wanted to say, Tai simply shook his head at his eldest. "While I want to be upset, things all worked out. You got lucky this time. It won't happen again, so I have to keep imploring you…"
"I know." Yang softly smiled at her father before looking down and away. "Today was just a lucky day in general. I don't know how to describe it. But I know I need to keep working and get better. Ready have plans on doing so."
"More time with your friends, I hear." Tai frowned, seemingly unapproving of her actions at the moment after everything that had happened. "And have a fight at the end of the week before heading to Beacon. Doesn't sound very friendly."
"It isn't what you think." Yang shook her head, gazing into her father's eyes, and met his gaze. "While I am spending my time with Naruto, he's going to be helping me learn how to meditate and try and control my anger. I'm willing to try anything right now to get control of it…"
"As for the fight, it's about respect." Yang's eyes brilliantly shone as she clenched her fist. "You know I don't back down, and when someone tells me I can't do something, we have a problem. And as I'm slowly figuring things out about her, I want to prove myself to her and show her exactly who I am and that she is wrong about me."
Feeling the determination coursing through her words and the shimmer within her eyes, Tai knew that look. It was a very similar look to her mother when she was determined to get the job done. And she had his stubbornness…
This was something she needed to do.
"Oh no! What about Zwei?"
A bark was her answer as Zwei happily responded, sitting before Tai. Ruby smiled and nodded and patted the corgi as her father chuckled, and Yang rolled her eyes.
"Good boy! Stay with Dad! He'll need company!"
"Are you sure you're okay, Fen? You are looking a little rough." Ben stepped in stride with his son as they walked through the streets of their district, heading to pick up supplies with Vix. "You could have stayed back and got some rest. Your mother wouldn't have argued."
Shaking his head, smiling as he happily held Vix's hand as they walked to the store, Fen looked up at his father. "Yeah, I'm okay enough for this. Didn't really want to stick around for the house and hear what Mom wanted to address with Blake. That's a conversation…"
"Want no part of, understood." Ben nodded, grimacing as even he had noted the odd behaviors of the former head of the White Fang's daughter. "And with our hearing, no doubt you would have heard all of it. Fair enough."
"Yeah, why I'll take going to the store over staying home in this scenario." Fen scratched his head, his ears drooping. "Something really strange has been wrong with her since she's I run into her, and I can't explain it. I think I know what it is, but…"
"Got the same feeling." Ben patted his son on the back before sighing as he looked up at the sparsely cloudy above. "She's been through some things, that's for sure. There is no telling exactly what. Whatever happened, you must remember she's still the same girl you've known and around most of your life. As long as you help her through this…"
"She'll come through it and be a better version of who she used to be." Ben looked back down and beamed at his boy.
Returning with a soft smile, Fen gave a short nod and looked back up into the sky, and contently sighed. "I was thinking along the same lines, so thanks. It's good to hear I wasn't alone in my thoughts."
"Always is."
"Now," Fen rolled his eyes and gazed back down at his father. "Am I gonna have to pay for most of the supplies for my own party? That seems counter-intuitive when it was supposed to be a surprise!"
"Look! You came along, and we don't have very much lien…" Ben fired an argument right back, enjoying having a little conflict before both he and Fen were dragged to a stop, noticing Vix had stopped, glancing at someone in front of them. "Vix, honey? What is it?"
"Hi, multi-haired girl!" Vix waved enthusiastically, tilting her head and smiling brightly as she pointed at Fen. "Is this another of your friends?"
"What?" Fen snapped his attention before them, and his eyes widened seeing a familiar person.
And she grinned, twisting her parasol in her hand as she strutted gracefully over to them, offering her hand in gesture. Surprised by this, knowing who she was and who she ran with, Fen refrained from scowling. He didn't want to let his family know this was a known criminal in Vale, even though that may no longer be the case after this morning…
The headmaster has some powerful strings, it seemed if he was capable of doing what he said he was.
"Neo, a pleasure to see you again." Fen greeted the short woman that stood more than a foot shorter than him, taking the offer.
Neo only smiled and shook in return before reaching her pocket and withdrawing her scroll. And in it, a short message was delivered, leaving him baffled.
Need a place to crash for a week. Cat girl staying with you too, can I?
This question left the Fennec Faunus stumped, unsure how to proceed. He didn't want what was a former criminal to be staying in his house for an entire week, but she also helped save his life. How was he supposed to react to that?
What was he supposed to do here?
Say yes?
This was very uncomfortable.
She did not like being alone with her. Not her. If there was anyone more intimidating than her mother to be isolated within a room…
It was Ze Aryl.
And she wanted her alone in a room to talk to her.
Blake Belladonna did not feel confident about this situation.
More so, she knew his scent was still on her. And that this conversation was most likely about…
Her Naruto.
She was not ready for that. Not in the slightest.
Her ears dropped as she heard a click of a tongue coming from Ze. A disapproving gesture, most likely catching her posture and noting her demure and weak stature. Old Ze was one to take advantage of such…
Especially when it came to White Fang and her family.
"Blake, I have concerns I need to address," Ze scowled, sitting prominently before Blake, observing details of her and watching her movements carefully. "While I have not seen you these last four years, I've known you for all your life previously, child. I know something is wrong, and when you are acting out. I was your age, and I understand life's changes you are going through, but what you are doing is not normal. And I need to understand what it is you are trying to accomplish… "
"And what your intentions toward my son are."
"I…" Blake murmured, looking down and away, unable to meet the fearsome gaze of Ze as she bore down upon her.
Her intent felt like she was being stalked by a predator that wanted its prey to know it was there.
And it was helpless to do anything about it other than accept its inevitable demise.
"I don't know…" Blake's eyes shimmered as she continued to sulk, looking away from the powerful presence of her friend's mother. "I am so confused. Lost. Fearful. I don't know what I want or what to do. Ever since I helped Adam blow up those people on the train and then let him…"
Ze's eyes sharpened, and her body stiffened, knowing the incident Blake was talking about. Her heart went out of the girl, but to know she had taken part…
Suddenly there was a new side to the girl she had seen grown up for the majority of her life besides her son. And she wasn't sure it was a good thing.
"I couldn't take it anymore! The guilt, so I ran!" Blake trembled and shook as her head lifted, and finally, her golden eyes met the blue gaze of Ze's. "The guilt is swallowing me whole, and I feel so empty! I felt like ending it all! Even when I got accepted into Beacon, I didn't feel happiness! I just feel empty! So I went to find Adam! To end it all when I found… And something inside of me changed. I started to feel again…"
"And now I don't know what to do!" Blake's head depressed once more as she reached up and gripped her ears, twisting them painfully as tears spilled down her cheeks. "I just don't know anymore! I…"
"Blake…" Ze's features softened, her hand reaching outstretched the table as she offered a comforting gesture to the young Faunus. "There is no easy answer for what you are feeling. It's going to take time to sort and figure things out. And talking is the first step, my dear girl. You need to talk about what you are feeling, or it will eat you alive."
"But I…"
"I know," Ze nodded in understanding, seeing the girl's features relax and loosen, gazing upon her in her remorseful state. "Don't want to burden others. Honey, they are already burdened as they know something is wrong. They want to know what they can do to help. Telling them is better for their sake, too, trust me. We're all here for you and want to see you get better."
Timidly glancing at the woman she had known since she was a young child, slowly dropping her hands from her head, Blake stretched her arm across the table. Accepting the gesture that was offered. "Okay…"
"Good girl." Ze smiled warmly before she shifted and moved her other hand onto the table, pushing an item that widened Blake's eyes and fearful as her ears stood up straight. "Sorry that I had to do this to you, but you left me no choice… You need to talk."
"Blake, honey…"
Blake's eyes misted, and the tears grew stronger and heavier than before as she realized the object was on speaker.
"Mom… I'm so sorry!"
"How do you do this all the time? This is so frustrating!"
"Lots and lots of practice." Fen quietly responded in a peaceful lotus stance, calmly breathing and letting the world breathe through him.
Then he smirked and bit back a laugh as he could feel Yang twitch and bite back a snarl and scream as she didn't get the concept.
"Also, the original method of how I learned to meditate was quite brutal." Fen opened his eyes, tilted his eyes, and let his ears flick with a grin. "I could give that a go if you would like. Might get somewhere with you. Or set you off into a Burned filled rage that disturbs that quiet, peaceful pond."
"I will take any help I can get at the moment!" Yang snapped, her eyes darting to the calm blonde Fennec, frustrated that he was doing this so easily despite knowing he had a temper like hers.
She had seen him lose it! When they first met! And that annoyed her! How was he able to do this so easily?
"Oh?" Fen grinned maliciously, and all the color in Yang's body rushed from her seeing the look. "Is that so?"
"I don't like that look…" Ruby's eyes widened, having come as she felt this would be a good learning experience.
A pink and brown-haired short woman nodded next to her, curious at what was about to happen. She wanted to see if that look was as sadistic as it seemed…
Neo liked him!
She didn't get any of the peaceful, nature stuff, but…
To each their own!
"Shall I go fetch a staff or something equivalent to beat you every time you break concentration?" Fen wickedly smirked, his eyes gleaming at the prospect as Yang looked genuinely worried. "Then I shall place you on top of a pole while balancing on it so if you break concentration and get hit, you fall off and hit the ground every single time! Do you accept these terms and conditions?"
"Yo, what the fuck? No!" Yang screeched, shaking her head profusely with wide, fearful eyes as she stared at fox Faunus. "I'll stick with this, thank you very much! Oum, just what in the world? Who would put someone through something like that to learn meditation?"
"I question this too." Blake lifted her head from meditation, looking at Fen in confusion. "Naruto, I don't remember anyone on Kua Kuana ever training you to meditate. You just always knew how to. Which I admit is a little strange…"
"In time, I will tell you," Fen smirked at Blake, which made her frown as he rarely withheld secrets from her, and now that he was, it bothered her. "But for now, it's just something I'd like to keep private. I'm sure you understand that one, Belladonna."
"You…" Blake scowled, her eyes narrowing at the implication before huffing and turning away. "Fine, whatever. You'll tell me when you're ready to. You always have, Uzumaki."
"That is true." Fen grinned before settling back into the lotus stance and taking a deep breath. "Something you want to do, Yang, especially for us that wear our heart on our sleeve, isn't so counterintuitive as you think. People always think meditating is closing off your mind from thought and the rest of the world when it isn't. At least, not at first."
"Huh?" Yang brought her attention to Naruto, raising her eyebrow upon hearing him addressing her again. "What now? That doesn't make too much sense."
"Yeah, I didn't get either when I first started." Fen nodded as he took another breath and let the world flow through him, enjoying the sensation as he felt the pulse channel through him. "You aren't looking to clear your mind. What you are looking for is finding your center. Finding what makes you, you. What brings you balance? Makes you happy."
"And from there, you can start to clear your mind."
With that, Fen's eyes closed, and he fully began to focus on meditation once more, leaving those around him curious. But none more so than Yang as she looked at her hands, back at the faunus, and then to herself one more time as she took a deep breath and focused on meditating once again. "Balance, huh? Find what makes me happy first?"
"Huh, what makes me truly happy? …Nothing has in a long time. It's why I just seek out fun things to do."
Blake's ears twitched and frowned as she caught that comment, noticing the demeanor of the blonde shift as she focused on her meditation. The statement resonated with her, and she didn't like it. It was something she was dealing with, and she didn't like it.
No, the irresponsible loudmouth couldn't be…
She just couldn't…
"Alright, let's party!" Yang chirped happily, sitting down at a restaurant bar with her friends and their family. "Thanks, Dad, for chipping in! You're a real lifesaver!"
"Thank your Uncle when you see him." Tai shook his head and smiled, seeing the group, absently wondering how they managed to get together. "He's the one that paid for this. Said he had the lien to spare and wanted to make sure you, your sister, and your friends had a proper celebration."
"Uncle Qrow!" Ruby jumped from her seat, a burning smile radiating as she hugged her father. "Oh, I haven't seen him in ages! I'll be sure to tell him thank you! I so want to hear about his adventures too! They're always so awesome!"
"Awesome, yeah. When he's not talking about banging waitresses…" Yang muttered and groaned into her hand, hearing her uncle paid for this. "Explains the lack of booze involved too. He probably drank it all…"
"I think I know who you are talking about." Militia scowled, having an idea of who her uncle was suddenly, and did not like it. "He's banned from Juniors."
"He's very much like you." Melanie added insultingly, causing Yang's temper to flair before she took a breath to calm down. "But unfortunately drank the bar out, so we had to kick him out."
"He drank a bar out of liquor?" Fen blinked upon hearing this before suddenly grinning. "Alright, I want to meet this man and share a drink with him. Sounds like fun."
"When did you start drinking?" Ben scowled at his son upon hearing that his son drank before patting him on the back. "Well, my boy! We're gonna have to have a round together! If I had known…"
"Ben." Ze frowned at her husband, her eyes harshly gleaming into his. "Do not support our son's bad habits. Especially in front of our daughter."
"But dad drinks all the time…" Vix frowned, not understanding why drinking was a bad thing.
"And he's worse because of it, dear." Ze patted her daughter on the head, smiling as Ben shivered, knowing he would suffer later as he turned to Neo. "Drinking should only be done occasionally."
"Pink one. Hide the booze we snuck in. Save it for later…"
Neo nodded in agreement, fearing the older Fennec Faunus. She had learned that Ze was a force to behold and respected the woman. Just what she could do with her words alone…
She wished to see what she could do with that frying pan!
Blake's ears twitched. They brought alcohol. Here? Where?
She kind of needed some after the week she had been having. It would be a real confidence booster…
"Oh, what kind?" Yang grinned as she cozied up to Neo and grinned. "I think we could all have some right about now…"
"Yang!" Ruby glared at her sister, hearing her sister and pouting. "No! Don't! Can't we have one night, please?"
"What? Rubes, come on! You know why I drink! Let me live a little." Yang complained to her sister, trying to kill her buzz.
Ruby shrunk, frowning but held her ground. "I know, but still. Mom would want you to remember a night like this. Having fun with friends, not…"
"Summer isn't…" Yang scowled before she slapped her hand over her mouth, eyes widening as she saw the look of terror on her sister's face. "I'm sorry, Rubes. I won't drink tonight, okay? Don't think I need to when I'm already messed up as it is, huh?"
Blake's ears had depressed, her eyes glimmering as she took her attention from the sister's conversation. Had she heard that right? Were they, not even full sisters? And that…
Things were starting to make sense about the blonde, and she didn't like it. Her short temper and loudness were beginning to make a lot more sense, but…
"Hey," Naruto's voice snapped Blake out of her funk, drawing her attention to him to see his smile. "They have tuna tekkadon here!"
Her ears shot up, and her eyes took on a glittering glow as her mouth salivated, her hands held out like pawing cats.
"Oh! My favorite! Must have!"
"You're still gonna do this? Even after what has happened?"
"Yes," Blake's ears flattened as her voice came out as a whisper, hearing his voice as she prepared her gear.
"Despite learning that she isn't as bad as you think?" Fen sat on his bed, glowering as he watched Blake sheath Gambol Shroud.
"Yes." Blake tucked her head down and away, refusing to meet her Naruto's gaze.
Naruto scoffed but stood up to join her nonetheless. "Figured you would have concluded that this wasn't worth it…"
"It's not something I can back down from, Naruto." Blake shook her head, finally gazing up and into Naruto's gaze as her golden eyes shone. "She has shown me a side of her that I wasn't aware of. She's trying to improve herself and get better, and that's admirable. I may even let go of that silly dating clause, but…"
"If she thinks I will yield, she has another thing coming! I have stayed quiet long enough and allowed things to happen! She will learn, and I will show her!"
"Are you sure you want to do this, Yang?"
"More than you know, Rubes." Yang locked Ember Celica onto her wrist firmly, checking and making sure it was loaded and that she had enough ammunition in her pouch. "You know me well enough by now."
Ruby meekly hung her head, sitting on Yang's bed as she kicked the air absently in front of her. "I know, but…"
"Hey," Yang turned and flashed a grin at her younger sister. "You've got nothing to worry about, alright. I know some issues are going on with her too, and we're just gonna sort 'em out. Sometimes all you can do is fight, and that's all there is to it."
"I guess…"
"And, to be honest," Yang's determined expression faded, and a more crestfallen one replaced it. "I'm beginning to understand her more already. I just need to know what her problem is. And this is the only way I can think of for us to come to an understanding. So it's got to be this way."
"Yeah, I get it." Ruby forced a smile, attempting to comfort her sister before picking up her helmet from the side of the bed. "You all ready? It's about time to head out."
"Yeah, let's do this."
"The park and pond where we've been meditating, huh?" Yang took a long look at the area where they would be fighting.
A nice and quiet area. Nothing to interfere with the fight. A few trees for obstructions but a small place to keep the battle settled in.
It wasn't a place she wanted to wreck, though…
Until she stood across from Blake, her lilac eyes coming into contact with her opponent's golden gaze.
And she felt the air change, becoming far heavier. Harder to breathe.
Electricity sparked from every muscle in her body. Burning like a wildfire as the intensity of their gazes increased.
This was everything she lived for.
What she wanted.
She lived for this!
For the fight!
And she wanted to bring it to this Faunus Bitch!
…She hoped that wasn't racist. She kind of liked all the other Faunus she knew…
Ruby stood off to the side with Naruto. They were the only two here.
Good.
She didn't want anyone else here for this. This was just between her and Blake. Her sister was here for support, and Naruto was, well…
Probably trying to be as intermediate as possible, but she knew it was probably difficult for him not to side with a lifetime-long friend in comparison to someone he only knew for a week.
Taking a breath, breathing the atmosphere in, letting it fill her, Yang let out a confident grin as she stared down her opposition. "You ready to do this!"
"Ready to lose?" Was Blake's simple response as she calmly swayed in front of her, drawing forth her wakizashi from her sheath that turned and became a cleaver.
Interesting weapon she had…
Didn't deal with swords very often, but in the end, it all didn't matter to her. As long as she got in close and quickly, her aura could shield her from the blows, absorb the punishment, and…
Clenching her fists as Ember Celica engaged, trying not to remember the incident with the bull Faunus, Yang shook her head as she dropped into her stance. "Oh, that ain't happening! Let's go!"
She couldn't let her opponent take the offense. She had to strike first. Bring the fight to them. It was always what she did, and it seldom failed her before. Not until…
Her first punch had a moment's hesitation as she came in with a heavy right haymaker, swinging hard to force Blake on the defensive. But the moment's pause changed everything.
And Yang was on the back foot, deflecting her opponent's slash with her gauntlet, barely able to keep up with her speed.
What if she had a Semblance like hers too? Could she absorb damage and reflect it at her? She couldn't be sure now. Others out there existed just like hers. She couldn't be so reckless anymore!
But she couldn't fight like this! Blake was faster than her! There was no question about that! Just how fast she was swinging the sword and coming at her from different angles now! She could barely keep up!
"Ah, shit!" Yang tucked and rolled, taking a strike from Gambol Shroud directly on the chest, cutting into her shirt and jacket, revealing a small portion of her breast as her aura took the shot and kept her from taking any real damage. "Can't keep going like this."
"What's the matter?" Blake's voice arrogantly echoed around her as she attacked from every possible angle, forcing Yang to react, barely able to deflect her strikes. "Where did all that confidence go? Are you all bark and no bite? Shame. Maybe you really aren't worth my Naruto after all."
Freezing at her words, Yang stiffened and then felt a shiver down her spine. Was this all this was to her? Still, even after everything. To keep her away from her friend…
"Shut…" Yang gnashed her teeth, her lilac eyes shifting crimson as she snatched Gambol Shroud with her left hand, surprising Blake as she drew back her right fist. "The Fuck Up About That!"
With a thunderous right, the ground quaked and shattered as crimson exploded and then faded around her Yang taking a heavy breath. But her eyes shifted and searched around her as she pulled her fist back through a black misty shadow that was fading away.
"So that's your Semblance?" Yang scowled, searching for Blake. "You can escape out of a tight situation, huh? Well, ain't that something!"
Blake, however, wasn't amused. Her eyes were narrowed at the sight before her as she hid in the tree top, observing Yang's movements. She had activated her Semblance, and it didn't keep active as it had. She had used it in a small burst?
This complicated things. Her route to victory had slimmed significantly.
Yang hissed as she felt metal smashed into the back of her left calf, her aura again taking the blow, but it didn't stop her from tumbling and falling onto all fours. She hadn't heard her coming up on her! How did she…
"It's a whip too!" Yang screamed in annoyance, seeing the weapon shifting forms as Blake came in again to engage in close quarters, using her speed to her advantage. "I am getting sick of you! I want to end this here and now!"
"It's quite mutual." Blake hissed in response as Shroud clashed with Ember and Gold met Black.
Blake flipped back, feeling Yang was packing more of a punch than before and was coming in hotter and faster than before. Switching to chain mode, she knew what she needed to do.
"Oh, you bitch!" Yang roared as several rounds rang true, deflecting them before her eyes widened as she got close only to feel the cleave catch her stomach.
She had distracted her from her true intent!
And it pissed Yang off!
Blake flew back as a fiery aura enveloped Yang, burning heatedly as her eyes burned crimson as she cracked her knuckles and gazed at Blake. "This ends here. No more playing."
"Yes," Blake agreed, keeping Gambol Shroud in its whip form as she stared directly into the burning inferno of Yang's aura, standing up and preparing for this battle to end. "This will end shortly."
Coming in hot, much faster than the Faunus must have anticipated, Yang triumphantly struck. But to her annoyance, she could only feel her aura build as frustration took over as she punched through a backflipping shadow. "Again! I'm gonna get a hit on you… You!"
Feeling a blade hit the back of her neck, Yang turned and saw the weapon drawn back to her opposition, backstepping as she ran further away, firing rounds at her. This irritated Yang as she tried to close in to no avail.
Was her opponent trying to stay out of her range? Whittle her down? Keep this fight far away from a fight as possible?
"Get over here and fight me!" Yang roared, punching the air, creating shockwaves as she fired rounds of Ember toward Blake, caught off guard by the action, taking the rounds and skidding before she noted a pouncing Yang was almost upon her. "I'm not going to let you just keep this at range!"
"You don't have a choice!" Blake retorted, turning into a shadow as Yang cratered the ground with her impact.
This left Yang wildly infuriated, unsure how to handle this situation when…
Her eyes drifted to an object landing at her feet.
And the crater she was in went up in a fiery explosion, flames rupturing and setting the grass on fire.
"Seriously, Blake!" Fen roared, annoyed at seeing the weapon being used here. "I don't want to have to call the fire department because you are setting off firebombs!"
( I Burn)
The flames swept away as winds unfurled, leaving a dazzling display of embers scattering around a burnt a, disheveled Yang. Her aura furiously burned around her, her eyes vividly shining.
No words were spoken. The crater shattered, and the remaining flames dispersed as she disappeared in a blink of an eye. Her fist phased through Blake's face, managing to escape on more.
But this time, Yang could see her movements.
She could track her. Follow where she would end up.
And with a fire with her left, Blake took the shell into her gut as Yang was quickly upon her again.
"You aren't escaping me again!" Yang roared, her aura burning vibrantly as she cocked back her right. "This ends here!"
Driving her cocked fist directly onto Blake's cheek, she watched as the ground shifted as the Faunus backed and cracked against the ground. She bounced several times before coming to a stop.
She did not move after.
Yang smirked, pulling up and wiping a smudge from her lips. It was…
( From the Shadows)
Yang's eyes shimmered as surprise was etched on her face.
Blake slowly, trembling as she did, stood back to her feet. Holding firmly onto Gambol Shroud, her golden eyes were illuminated with determination.
"Not here… I will… not yield. Not until… I'm strong enough to… Defeat him!"
A faint purple aura flowed gently around Blake, even as it crackled around. She held her weapon fiercely, and she snarled, her gaze catching Yang's. "You are merely a stepping stone! A lite version of him! Once I'm finished with you… I'll be ready for him!"
Images flashed before Yang's eyes as Blake flickered toward her. In that instant before she move…
She saw that Faunus. The one that would have killed her!
Yang's attention snapped as Blake stepped below her, wakizashi sweeping low and for her hip.
It was too fast! She lost focus and let her in her guard! She couldn't avoid this. It was like last time.
But this time, she knew she could take it if she just…
Grabbing onto the ribbon, Yang yanked back as the sword connected with her stomach. Her aura crackled from the contact, but it was enough as it kept her strike from connecting fully!
And with one more hers as she held onto the ribbon tightly, yanking it again as she threw one more right to finish this fight.
A quake rocked the pond. Dust covered and slowly settled…
And Yang's aura cracked and faded as she collapsed to the ground, falling through a shadow. Blood trickled down her back as a shallow gash sliced into her neck.
Blake stood behind, holding her sheath and cleaver Gambol Shroud, having made the final strike. Yet held back, her eyes glimmering as she fell to her knees and panted. "This is over!"
"I win."
Tears spilled from Yang's eyes as she stared at the dirt before her.
She lost? She had never truly experienced defeat before. The red-haired Faunus was the first time she started defeat in the eyes…
The consequences still weighed on her. She didn't know what to do after that! And she was trying to figure out what to do about it but now…
Her new friend that was helping her…
Someone she found interesting and fun…
"Here," Blake pressed a cloth against the back of Yang's neck to help keep pressure on the wound. "Don't want that to get infected. Let's keep it clean until your aura has charged up enough to start recovering. It shouldn't leave too much of a scar."
"Yang!" She heard Ruby's voice calling for her, no doubt rushing to assist.
But Blake did not move as she whispered gently to her opponent. "Let's just forget about what we said and think about one another, shall we? I know I've made my share of mistakes, and I think I learned enough about who you are today. Start over and give this a shot. For our shared acquaintances. Shall we?"
Yang's eyes widened, the tears staining her eyes shifting as she looked up at the black-haired Faunus as she extended and offered her hand to her.
"My name is Blake Belladonna—daughter of Ghira and Kali Belladonna, former heads of the White Fang. I hope we can be friends from now on."
As tears spilled from her eyes, feeling her sister's arrival and seeing Naruto standing beside her…
Yang gingerly accepted Blake's hand.
She could accept that.
A new start sounded great.