I do not own RWBY, which is the property of Viz Media, or Destiny 2, which is owned by Bungie. All characters, locations, and lore from these franchises belong to their respective creators. This fanfiction is purely for entertainment purposes and not for profit.
Chapter 4: The Fire Within
Heat. Blinding, suffocating heat.
Yang's eyes fluttered open, a searing light forcing her to squint. The air was heavy and humid, tinged with the scent of sulfur and scorched earth. Her body felt like it was made of lead, every muscle aching. As her vision adjusted, she found herself lying on cracked, golden-hued ground, surrounded by towering, crystalline formations. The landscape shimmered with an eerie beauty—this was not Remnant.
A bright red and yellow orb hovered above her, its shell vibrant and warm like a miniature sun. The Ghost's single, bright eye focused on her.
"Guardian," the Ghost said, his voice a mixture of relief and urgency. "Finally, you're awake! I'm Flare, your Ghost."
Yang pushed herself up, her golden hair clinging to her forehead. Her head throbbed. "Where… am I?"
"Venus," Flare said. "But there's no time to explain everything. The Vex are here."
"Vex?" Yang's brows furrowed. "What the heck is a Vex?"
As if on cue, a mechanical whirring sound echoed around them. Yang turned to see robotic figures emerging from the shimmering air, their bodies angular and metallic, their eyes glowing with an unnatural light. The ground itself seemed to warp as more of them teleported in.
"Those," Flare said grimly. "We need to move. Now."
Yang's fists clenched instinctively. She looked around for Ember Celica, her trusty gauntlets, but they were nowhere to be found.
"Great," she muttered. "No weapons. What am I supposed to do?"
Flare's voice was urgent but encouraging. "You don't need them. You have the Light now. Trust it."
The Vex units—Goblins, Flare called them—began to advance. Yang's pulse quickened, her instincts flaring to life. She felt something deep inside her, a power coiling and ready to strike. Heat surged through her veins, familiar and fierce.
"Alright," she growled. "Let's see what this Light can do."
A Goblin lunged forward, its claw-like appendages reaching for her. Yang's body moved on its own, her fist igniting with Solar energy. She swung forward, and a fiery arc of light erupted from her knuckles, slamming into the Goblin and sending it flying backward in a burst of molten sparks.
"Whoa," Yang breathed, staring at her blazing fist.
"You've got Solar power," Flare said, his eye gleaming with pride. "Keep going!"
More Goblins closed in, their weapons crackling with energy. Yang charged, her fists glowing with Solar Light. She ducked beneath a volley of energy bolts and leaped into the fray. Her fists struck out, each blow a burst of flame and light. Vex crumpled and exploded in bursts of fire and molten metal.
A Goblin lunged from her left, but she spun and delivered a flaming uppercut, shattering its core. Another tried to flank her, but she slammed her fist into the ground, a wave of Solar energy erupting outward and incinerating everything in its path.
"You're a natural!" Flare called, darting around her, his shell glowing brightly. "But we've got a bigger problem!"
A low, mechanical rumble filled the air. The ground shook beneath Yang's feet as a towering figure teleported in front of her. It was massive—a Minotaur, its armored frame gleaming, its single red eye glowing ominously. Energy swirled around its limbs as it charged a powerful blast.
"That's the boss," Flare warned. "A Vex Minotaur. Watch out for its teleportation and those heavy blasts!"
The Minotaur roared and lunged, its arm cannon firing a searing beam of energy. Yang dove to the side, the blast scorching the ground where she'd just stood. She rolled to her feet, flames licking at her knuckles.
"No weapon, no problem," she growled.
The Minotaur teleported, appearing behind her. Yang twisted, her instincts screaming. She lashed out with a spinning backfist, flames trailing her arm. The strike connected with the Minotaur's armored torso, sending a ripple of Solar energy through it. The Minotaur staggered, its shields flickering.
"You're wearing it down!" Flare shouted. "Keep hitting it!"
The Minotaur's eye glowed fiercely, and it raised its cannon for another blast. Yang's eyes blazed with determination. She felt the Light surge within her, hotter and brighter than ever.
"Time to finish this!" she roared.
Yang launched herself forward, her body enveloped in a blazing aura. Flames erupted from her fists as she struck the Minotaur with a furious barrage of Solar-infused punches. Each hit exploded with fiery brilliance, shattering the Minotaur's armor piece by piece.
The Minotaur let out a final, metallic screech as Yang delivered a crushing blow to its core. The machine erupted in a burst of fire and molten metal, fragments raining down around her.
Yang stood amidst the wreckage, her fists still glowing, her breath coming in heavy gasps. Flare floated beside her, his light flickering with excitement.
"That… was awesome!" he exclaimed.
Yang grinned, the heat of battle still burning in her veins. "Yeah, it was."
She looked out over the strange, shimmering landscape of Venus. The fight wasn't over. This world was full of new threats, new challenges. But with the Light in her fists and fire in her heart, she was ready.
"Let's find out what's next," Yang said, determination blazing in her eyes.
Flare's light glowed warmly. "Lead the way, Guardian."