The Lost Memory

Taiyang Xiao Long returned home to see his daughter, Yang sitting on the sofa, after the Fall of Beacon that left Yang the scars that wouldn't be forgotten forever. "Yang, I'm home!" Yang did not respond. Rather to just mope with guilt for the big mistake that costed her her arm.

Flipping from one channel to another that shows the news in the post-Fall of Beacon.

However, one of them she caught was interesting. "We received reports that there was a mysterious man who was in sight during the Fall of Beacon. He wore a black jacket and according to witnesses, he was a cybernetics eye. And along with the jacket was a symbol on the back that represents an ancient organization called the Black Vipers."

"The Black Vipers? That's can't be true." The second reporter said next to the first. "I thought they were a myth to begin with. But whatever that guy was up to, maybe we should considered some kind of search for the figure. Any information on the man, is to call the authorities." Yang shook her head and flipped the channels once again. Taiyang then wants to cheer her up with a package that was sent to her.

"Sweetie, look! Got a package from General Ironwood. I think you should open it." Said Tai, whom others called for short. Then Taiyang saw a piece of paper after feeling like he stepped into something that was stuck between the floors. Taiyang got a bit curious about the paper, maybe from the previous owner of the house left it in storage.

As Taiyang picks it up, it was a picture of Yang as a baby. But to his shock, there was another baby who looks identical to her. Only with Raven hair and pale skin. The second baby somehow reminded him of Yang's birth mother. "What...? I don't remember seeing this photo."

Taiyang examined the photograph as he doesn't remember Raven giving birth to twins. But if so, how come he did not remember having another daughter before Ruby? Did Raven do something to make him lost that memory? Yang, noticing how long her father had been on the floor for more than a second, blinked to see what he was holding.

"Dad, what's up?" Yang asked. Looking over his shoulder and noticed the photo he was holding. Taiyang quickly hid it in his pocket to check more of it later on. "Oh, it's nothing, Yang. Did you opened the package yet?" Asked Tai.

Yang then looks back at the package and stares at a white, robotic arms that was meant for combat. "General Ironwood said you have fought well and wanted to give you this as he admired your courage to take the action in the Fall of Beacon."

"Not sure if I should take this." Yang responded. Suddenly, Taiyang felt a headache that's sends him to a memory he lost 19 years ago, the day Yang was born, but something is amiss.

-19 Years Ago-

Yin and Yang are sleeping in the same crib together while Taiyang and Raven watched as they were at awe. Both of the twins were babies at the time. "Look at them, Yang looks just like you, Taiyang." Raven said touching the cheeks of their daughters.

"I think she and Yin mostly looked like you, Raven." Taiyang remarked seeing the similar features to Raven, the outlines to say the least. It was the first and the last time that Taiyang would ever see Yin. Taiyang would then kiss the foreheads of the twins. In the Branwen family, it was rare that twins were born through each and every generation.

"I'm happy to be a dad, but I never realized that we're gonna have twins." Taiyang said, a bit nervous about fathering twins. Being a first time father. Taiyang did not notice that Raven is slipping something in his cup of water before heading to bed with her. "Tell me about it. I don't think I'm nervous at all, knowing that twins come from every generation in my family. Did you forget that Qrow and I are twins too?" Raven chuckled.

She then hands him the cup to Taiyang after she was set on her plan. "Oh, right. Sorry, I forgot you two are twins." Taiyang placed a small kiss on Raven's lips and took a sip of water, unbeknownst to him, it was drugged. But not just any drug, but a kind that would make him forget.

As soon as Taiyang took a sip, he feels a headache. Raven then makes her move in putting Taiyang to bed. As he was about to fall, vision blurring from that sip. Stumbling on the floor. Raven caught him in her arms. "You alright, Tai?" Asked Raven, with a smile on her face.

Taiyang palmed his head on pain, throbbing as it continues. And his eyelids felt heavy. "I'm fine, my head. It hurts. Ah." Feeling the heat of the fever he never felt before. "It's just a fever. It'll be wore off in the few days. Just get some rest, Tai." Raven said, her voice sounded so manipulative. Taiyang did not know what happens next will be forgetful."

-Present-

Taiyang realized that the other child in the photograph is his too. For some reason, he realized that Raven did something to his memory to make him forget about the other twin. He then turned to Yang who looked at him with curiosity. "Dad, what are you looking at?" Yang asked. Before Taiyang realized he still holds the photo and hid it away before she can see it. Yang then walks closer to her father as soon as he puts away the picture hidden beneath the floor. "N-nothing! Just some piece of paper I was missing! Yes, definitely something I dropped!" Taiyang lied, not sure if he should tell Yang about her twin.

Raven, what did you do to me? How come you made me forget about our other daughter? Where have you taken her? What did you plan to do in the first place? Did Qrow know about this too? Taiyang thought, wondering how and why would Raven do such a thing. And what she is planning with their other child. One thing is clear, he has to get answers. Yang on the other hand did not seemed to be taken aback enough to see her father's startled face to react by the fact she almost saw something.

Yang knew she had to somehow find some answers regarding her mother. And she took a peek of the photograph her father is holding. He didn't react fast enough to hide it away. Taiyang would then have to put up with a dumbfounded act to keep the photograph a secret before he can get straight for the answers, then tell her (his daughter) later on once he gets to the truth. Sitting on the coffee table was a photograph of all members of Team RWBY, Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang herself. Yang could not help but miss the days in Beacon.

Shaking her head, slightly, now wishing she had join Ruby in her mission, her own mission. But with a missing arm, what else can she do with her life? Even with the robotic arm to help benefit her combat skills, it won't bring up her self-esteem to the fullest. Yang then felt a shock. Not the fearful kind, but something more spiritual. As if something or someone was connecting to her. She then looked at the window and saw no one, but a raven bird, one that was familiar to the blonde young woman. She snapped her eyes opened and thought she was just feeling things, probably just PTSD. But wasn't sure about her intuition. Call it paranoia, or a hunch, but to Yang, something was amiss in her life. And without her biological mother, maybe her maternal uncle knows something.

"What's wrong, Yang?" Taiyang asked. Yang then would have to hold that thought for now, as she wasn't sure what was that feeling. It was as if the inner demons was growing a bit. Like half of her soul was reconnecting to her. "Nothing. The arm, it's great and all. But I am not so sure. No offense, but I need some time. I already been through hell and back. Did Ruby call or something?" Yang asked after changing the subject. Wondering how her little sister was doing, she regrets snapping at her since she left home with Jaune, Nora and Ren on a winter day since the Fall of Beacon. Taiyang was the only individual to have received some letters from Ruby, ever the worried father he was, he would call his friends, or Qrow to see if they saw her around.

But sadly, no sightings of her just yet, all Taiyang can do was wait.

There was a saying from his mother (Yang and Ruby's grandmother) that when there's a Yin, there's a Yang. Taiyang, who has forgotten about his younger twin daughter at the time, thinking back on why his oldest daughter's name is Yang. Then figures what the other child's name was; Yin. That name only came back just now. Yang also wonders about her name. Taiyang opened the letter, since Yang cannot bring herself to read it. Feeling guilty for the last words she said to Ruby. "I have a letter just now, looks like she was doing fine. She already arrived to Anima."

Taiyang then thought back at the words Qrow said to him after the night Raven announced that she was pregnant with twins. This information remained unknown to Ruby and Yang about another sister.

Be careful when it comes to Raven. Knowing her, she was always up for a game of...let's just say a game of cat and mouse. Remember, when there's light, there's also dark. That was the reason twins existed in the Branwen family.

Every time, Taiyang's mother, Kim Xiao Long, who had been a single mother to had raised him after his father left. She would also have to step in for Yang and Ruby as one of a few mother figures for his daughters' lives. And every time he would shut down his emotions, Kim would lecture her own son, even though he knew she was right. But falling into depression. But with his mother, he would feel less depressed after Yang and Ruby's mothers have left.

Yang and Ruby love having their grandmother around. She would offer them the wisdom the sisters needed. And would tell them stories about dragons from mythology when they were little. Then a door had rang from the doorbell. Taiyang went to see who it was. "Dad, who could it be?"

"I'll get the door, Yang." Taiyang then peered through the hole and saw who it was and was scared a bit. "Dah!" He spun in front of the door and panted. Then he relaxed to open the door. "Taiyang, open the door right now. I'm just here to see you." It was an old lady who has Taiyang's hair, but gray. Blue eyes like him. Despite her age, she seemed as fine as the horse. Wearing her huntress gear and a bandana on her head, having long hair. And muscular. "Mom, hey! How are things going?!" Taiyang greets nervously, knowing he would get lectured all over again. His fake smile says otherwise. Taiyang knew that if she found out Ruby went missing, that would spark a fire in her.

"Don't "Mom" me, Taiyang! I heard what happened to Ruby and Yang! And you're telling me that one of my granddaughters went missing with a couple of friends?! What is wrong with you, Taiyang?!" Taiyang is shocked to hear that his mother even heard about it and thought Qrow had told her. Knowing he would eye on his nieces.

"How did you know...?" Kim showed her son a letter addressed to her by Ruby. "Do you honestly think Ruby would keep this from me?! Thank god, I told her my address. I know Ruby is grown up, but she had been traumatized for crying out loud for what happened in Beacon. And Yang lost her arms at the hands of the White Fang?! And if it was the work of that scrawny Raven, I would personally pound her for being a deadbeat mother!" Kim met Raven before, but she did not like her one bit. And was right to suspect her of her selfishness. At her own fury, her hair glowed just like Yang's and her eyes glowed red. Taiyang was astonished for a moment. Everytime they trained together, his mother would win in a sparring match.

"Gran?" Yang spoken. Kim then turned to Yang and calmed down as her hair dispersed. And noticed the missing arm from Yang. She looked shocked to see her own granddaughter like this. She cannot bear to see her son looking like he was weak. But loves him in every way. But she cannot stand to see the state of Yang. She then walked over to Yang and examined her now missing arm. And stared blankly at it. Yang rubbed the limb of her right arm in embarrassment.

"Oh, Yang, you poor dear. Who did this to you?" Kim stroked her cheek like she always does to Ruby and Yang. Yang did not want to worry either her father and grandmother. "Gran, I'm fine. It's not that big of a deal." But Kim did not fall for those words as she noticed how pale she looks and dull on the inside.

"No, you are not alright. Where's Ruby? How I cursed your grandfather for letting this happened to you. Look at you, you look pale. Has your father been feeding you enough?" Kim interrogated. Thinking that Taiyang went to depression mode again. As she would call it. And Taiyang would once again get scolded by his own mother.

"Mom, Yang just needs time. You're being overbearing." Taiyang protested, he has been feeding her to make sure his daughter never gets hungry since bedridden. But Kim did not know that Yang paled because of the trauma she dealt with in Beacon. "Don't lecture me, son! Did you forget your father left us to starve to death! Someone here had to make sure that you and my grandchildren are well-fed!" Kim nagged again pointing fingers at Taiyang for acting the same as his father.

Taiyang did not know his father. He was only a child when he left him and his mother. Kim hoped she would raise her son to be a good huntsmen and father. Kim was also happy to become a grandmother. But ever the overbearing mother she was, Kim would come over whenever something seems wrong. Making Taiyang nervous around her. Taiyang isn't anything like his father, but the way Kim would remind him about it, made Taiyang felt like he was a terrible father. Taiyang could guess that his mother still resents his now dead father. And even at an old age, she still gets worked up over all of this. Taiyang wondered when will Kim settle down. Then Taiyang snapped back to reality after countless thoughts ran, as soon as Yang called. "Dad, Gran is looking at your scroll again."

Taiyang popped his eyes wide opened when he notice his mother checking on his scroll without his permission. And to his shock, there was an app he forgot to delete. "What?! Mom! What are you doing?! Stop snooping onto my scroll!" Kim checked to see if her son is seeing other women. Before Ruby was born, Kim was suspicious of Summer at first, but the more she spent time with her, the more she grew fond of her, like a daughter. Kim liked Summer a lot. Ever since Summer's death, however, Kim still blames her ex-boyfriend and Raven till this day. Taiyang tried to snatch the scroll off her hands, but Kim avoids his attempts, causing him to fell on the floor. Hit with a loud thud. Kim then puts down the scroll while sighing in relief. "Good, you're not seeing any other women. It's a shame there aren't any like Summer. Even she wouldn't let her own daughter off her sights."

"Mom! I am not seeing other women!" Taiyang snapped hearing those words, lecturing one's child is one thing, but to bring up some of his flaws is another. Thankfully, he already remembers that his children are his priority. Yang cannot stand to see her father being lectured, and thinks her grandmother was too harsh on him, too much to be exact. And took back her dad's scroll. "Gran! That's enough! Dad was just not in the right mood today! You're making things worse for us! Ruby is trying to out trying to find the perpetrators that done the damage in Beacon, and it was my fault for driving Ruby away! So what if Mom left me! She's dead to me anyway, not one letter, no momentum! Nothing! I already lost my arm, my friends are gone! I am not in the right mood either!" Yang stormed off into her room and harshly slammed the door shut.

Yang sat on the floor in front of her bedroom door, she was already fed up with having a mess, a mistake and looking weak, she has thoughts about writing back to her sister looking at the letter Ruby wrote to her. Her pupils roll left and right following the text written in ink. Her guess was that no matter where Ruby goes, she never forgets to give regards to her and their family. Especially their grandmother.

Hey, Yang,

I was wondering how you were doing. I know it wasn't easy for you to read this letter, but I hoped Dad reads it for you. Anyway, Jaune, Ren and Nora and I have some encounter with an unknown organization. Sage and Scarlet came along since the Fall of Beacon. Sage even brought a pet wolf with us to help track the people responsible for Beacon, and he's really friendly, maybe Zwei can get along with him. Things were going great, in case you never heard, a new group of anti-militia called themselves the Black Vipers were out stealing tech and weapons, no one knows what their goals are. You were kinda missing out on the trip. But I hope if you're feeling in the mood, maybe we can catch up. I hope you, Dad and Zwei are doing well. I am sorry to tell you this, but I sent Gran a letter to give her my regards. I know she would be mad at Dad for letting me leave on my own. But I just wanted to let her know that I'm okay the next time she wanted to visit us. But I hope she and Dad worked things out a bit first. Also, Ren recommended I sent some treats that went along with this letter. I hope you like it, see you soon.

-Ruby.

Yang opened the box that came with the letter Ruby had sent and it was a bag of vanilla bean biscuits. Zwei then walks into the room to check on his owner, who he sensed is rather distressed. Yang wanted to give some thought after bringing the robotic arm with her. Maybe instead of moping around, feeling like a weakling, or erased the part of her soul. Pyrrha, gone. Penny, gone. Her arm, gone. Yang looked at her shoulder and rubbed it like her life depends on it. Then she hears talking between her father and grandmother. She then decided to listen for what they have to say, for a settlement to say the least.

Yang then came out of her room and quietly knelt against the banister of the stairwell as she peered through and hears as Taiyang and Kim start talking. "Son, I didn't mean to say those things to you. You were so young, I was so busy trying to provide for us, I know it's not an excuse for being hard on you. I am not saying this as a huntress, but as a mother. I was used to my job, I had forgotten how alone you felt before you went to Beacon. I know I shouldn't use Yang's mother as an excuse, but I hope you and your girls would live safely. I don't want the three of you to suffer after all these years. But seeing you shutting out from your family, shutting from your friend, Qrow."

"Mom, I know. You weren't the only one who was having it rough. I know I was a shut-out, but I'm not Dad. Don't know him anyway. I can't bear the fact that the two important figures in my life were already gone. Every time I looked at Ruby, she always reminds me of her mother. And Raven, I know she is not a good person, but whatever is going one with her, it had to be something personal, like she had no other choice. Now Yang is no longer the sunny little dragon she always was, she was always there for Ruby whenever I wasn't. When Yang came back without an arm, it's like a part of her was gone. Sometimes I felt like it was all my fault that this happened. I should've save Summer, I should've save Li, I should've..."

Kim then puts her hand on his shoulder and looked at him in the eye, seriously. Knowing that her time as a mother had to kick in. Kim then sees the pain in her son's eyes. "My boy, stop blaming yourself. None of us could predicted to happen." Kim then stroked Taiyang's cheek. Understanding what he was going through. Taiyang then remembers the photograph he found on the floor. Then shows it to his mother. "Mom, do you remember this photo? Do you know that Yang has a twin?" Taiyang asked. Kim is shocked to see the photo, she only saw Yang as a baby. But never thought she had another granddaughter, other than the fact that for some reason, her son never brought it up. Then it all comes back to the one time Taiyang and Raven announced they were having twins. But then realized, Raven took the other twin and did something to make Taiyang forget. "Now that you mentioned it, Raven told me she had a miscarriage with the other twin. But how come she appeared live at the photo, breathing?"

"I don't know? Why would Raven lied to you?" Taiyang asked.

"I didn't think she would. Why would you forget you have another daughter before Ruby?"

"I think Raven slipped something to make me forget that we have twins, then took the other with her. The night she disappeared. It was as if only Yang was born. What should I tell Yang?" Taiyang asked his mother, unsure on how his daughter would react for the fact that she had a missing twin. Kim is not one to lie to her son, but thinks that he should be honest with Yang for her to know the truth. Even if the truth can be dirty for the likes of things. "Yang did not know about this? Taiyang, you can't keep this from your daughter. She has every right to know. What her mother did was awful, I knew there was something off about her, I am sorry, but it's true. Yang was shocked and gasped silently. She then turned back and leaned against the banister and was lost in her own mind. Yang did not know she had a twin. If so, why would her mother take her and left?

Twin? I have a twin? Mom, what did you do?

Author's note: Remember that Taiyang Xiao Long mentioned his mother giving him a blender in RWBY CHIBI? Well, kinda makes me think of what his mother looked like. But I can imagine her being a toughie for an old woman, but very fit for her age. But part of me wants to see what part she has in his past. One of the few reasons of Taiyang's depression. As for the previous preview when it is weird how Raven had disappeared with Yin on the night of the twins' birth, that chapter can explain why.

Kim Xiao Long- The mother of Taiyang Xiao Long and the paternal grandmother of Yang Xiao Long, Yin Xiao Long and Ruby Rose. Kim Xiao Long was a huntress, and a single mother. Having to being cynical after Taiyang's father left them. She even harbors hatred against Raven Branwen for leaving her son and granddaughter behind like they were nothing, the same way her ex-boyfriend did with her and her son. As a single mother, Kim had raised Taiyang on her own and became strict and overbearing, most extremely protective of her son, and even towards her granddaughters, but still deeply cares for her family. Kim was unaware that Yang have a twin sister, but was lied to by Raven that the second twin had died. Kim had to step in as a mother figure towards her granddaughters, following Raven's absence, and Summer's death. Her semblance is similar to Yang's, and it was called, Fury. Kim once again had to step in to get Taiyang back on track. But to also help Yang overcome her fears.