Lilac eyes stared into the mirror.

Once, they were vibrant, full of life and energy. Now, they reflected sadness and anger. Yang Xiao Long, her golden hair draped over her shoulders like rays of sunlight dulled by storm clouds, continued to look at her reflection. The girl she used to be felt so distant.

She blinked, and the image faded.

One Week Earlier – During the Battle of Beacon

The sounds of chaos surrounded her—clashing weapons, screams of fear, and the unrelenting growls of Grimm. Yang's heart raced as she fought to protect her friends.

A piercing shriek snapped her attention toward the sound.

"Blake!"

Her partner, Blake Belladonna, was crumpling to the ground, a wicked red blade buried in her abdomen. The man wielding it, Adam Taurus, stood over her, smiling coldly.

"Get away from her!" Yang roared, her voice trembling with fury.

Adam's grin only widened as he slowly withdrew his sword. Blake's weak voice tried to warn Yang, but it was lost under the rush of Yang's aura flaring. Her lilac eyes burned red as her golden hair seemed to ignite. Ember Celica reloaded with a deafening click, and Yang launched herself forward, ready to strike.

Then, pain.

A flash of crimson steel and the world spun. Yang's momentum shattered, and her right arm…

It wasn't there.

The arm she had relied on her whole life was gone, severed in an instant. The sight of it, torn and lifeless, was more than her mind could handle. She collapsed into darkness.

Present Day – Patch

Yang stared into the shattered remnants of her bathroom mirror. The jagged shards scattered across the sink reflected her fractured emotions. Her red-tinted eyes softened to lilac as she looked at the bandaged stump of her right arm.

The person she used to be felt so far away.

With a bitter growl, Yang clenched her left fist and punched the mirror's frame, scattering more glass onto the floor. Pain flared in her hand, but she ignored it, staring at the blood trickling down her knuckles.

"Yang?"

She turned sharply at the voice. Ruby stood in the doorway, her silver eyes wide with concern. Her younger sister was clad in soft gray pajamas with faded red polka dots—just a kid, barely holding it together.

Ruby glanced at the broken mirror, then at Yang's bleeding hand. "Yang… what are you doing?"

"Don't ask," Yang muttered, her voice sharp and heavy.

"At least let me clean that up," Ruby said firmly, stepping into the room despite the tension.

Yang hesitated but finally sighed, holding out her injured hand. "Fine."

Ruby worked in silence, her movements careful but efficient. She cleaned the cuts, applied disinfectant, and wrapped Yang's hand with a clean bandage.

"Does it hurt?" Ruby asked softly, not meeting Yang's gaze.

Yang's expression hardened. "I can handle it."

Ruby didn't push further. Instead, she busied herself putting away the first-aid kit. But Yang's voice broke the silence.

"Have you heard from Weiss?"

Ruby paused, her back to Yang. "Actually… yeah. Weiss managed to send a letter."

Yang blinked in surprise. "A letter?"

Ruby turned to face her, holding a folded piece of paper. "It came yesterday. I was going to tell you, but you didn't seem like you wanted to talk."

Ruby handed the letter to Yang, who hesitated before unfolding it. Weiss's elegant handwriting filled the page, the tone formal yet heartfelt. She described how strict her father had been, how she missed them, and how she hoped they were okay.

"She's… doing okay," Yang said, her voice softer than before.

"Yeah," Ruby agreed. "It's nice to know she's thinking of us."

Yang nodded, folding the letter and placing it gently on her nightstand.

Winter – Moving Forward

Ruby adjusted her hood and fastened the straps of her backpack. Crescent Rose was folded and tucked neatly behind her, ready for the road ahead. Outside, Jaune, Ren, and Nora waited for her.

As she crept through the hallway, she paused at the open door to Yang's room.

"You're not sneaky, Ruby," Yang said, her voice low but tinged with dry humor.

Ruby stepped inside. "I'm heading out. Are you sure you don't want to come with us?"

Yang, lying on her bed with the blanket pulled to her chin, glanced at the window. "I'm not ready."

Ruby hesitated, her hand tightening on the doorframe. "If you change your mind—"

"Stop." Yang's voice was sharp, and Ruby froze.

Yang sat up, her lilac eyes blazing with frustration. "Ruby, do you honestly think I can go with you? Look at me!" She lifted her stump, her voice trembling. "I can't fight like this. I can't protect you, or anyone. I'm useless!"

Ruby stepped back slightly, startled by the outburst. Yang's anger melted into regret almost instantly as she saw the fear in her sister's eyes.

"Ruby…" Yang's voice cracked. "I… I'm sorry."

Ruby shook her head quickly. "No, it's okay. You're just… upset. I get it."

"No, it's not okay." Yang stood, her shoulders slumping. "I didn't mean to yell at you. I just… I feel so helpless, Ruby. I hate it."

Ruby approached cautiously, placing a hand on her sister's arm. "You're not helpless, Yang. You're still my sister. And if you're not ready to come with us, that's fine. But don't ever think you're useless. You're not."

Yang looked away, tears glistening in her eyes. "Thanks, Ruby."

Ruby smiled softly. "Take care of yourself, okay? And Zwei will keep you company."

Yang chuckled faintly as the little corgi jumped onto the bed, wagging his tail.

"Be careful out there," Yang said. "And if you find her… don't miss."

Ruby nodded solemnly. "I won't."

As she left, Yang turned back to the window, watching her sister join the others in the distance.

"I wish I could go," she whispered. "Maybe someday."

Zwei curled up beside her, and Yang gently scratched behind his ears, her thoughts swirling with both hope and uncertainty.

Hey guys. I thought is brink back my very first RWBY FanFiction that i wrote before RWBY Volume 4 even premiered. Its a remake with revised words and scenes. If you guys wanna see more, that would be awesome.