Chapter Text
The sun shone down on Patch, warm light lazily drifting through the windows of the Rose-Xiao-Long home. It hadn't been easy, one year later, as Yang sat on the couch. She stared at a stack of books, old schoolwork that she would have had to study. Perhaps she should still study, despite no longer being in school.
The thought did not come easily, as studying on her own never panned out. She always drifted off, preferring more direct forms of learning such as a lecture or going out and train...
Yang looked down to the tied sleeve on her shirt and frowned. Right... She couldn't train. Not anymore.
With a defeated sigh, Yang picked up the TV remote and turned it on.
"-Even after an entire year, no one yet understands the strange phenomenon at Beacon. While Grimm activity has shown no signs of letting up-"
Yang clicked from the news station, as footage showed huntsmen and huntresses fighting alongside the professors to kill more grimm.
"-and while repairs are slowly underway for the prestigious Huntsman Academy, more questions continue to arise from the aftermath-"
Yang frowned, growing more frustrated as she clicked to a different channel yet again, seeing the annoyingly familiar face of Lisa Lavender on screen. She was almost ready to turn the channel yet again when she froze, eyes wide in fear.
"-Adam Taurus, known White Fang extremist and leader, was spotted during the unfortunate attack against Vale and Beacon. Authorities have yet to release an official statement about who was truly behind the attack, or whether Beacon was the true target of Taurus' long campaign against the kingdoms."
Yang's heartbeat quickened, panic setting in.
GET AWAY FROM HER!
Her throat went dry as she gasped for shallow breaths of air. Time seemed to slow as his picture was on screen. A picture of Adam Taurus at the fall of Beacon, directing his White Fang soldiers with his blade.
Quick as light, silent as death, Yang watched as the mere seconds played out like hours. Those red eyes, so full of hatred, mimicking the crimson blade that was only in its sheathe a moment ago. Yang felt the air push her back, then the pain. The ripping pain as her arm left her body.
Yang could feel it as her hand clutched at the spot where her arm used to be, where the flesh hadn't been cut so much as removed from her body. So precise, deadly.
Cold sweat rolled down Yang's forehead when a noise caused her to flinch and look.
"I'm Home!"
Yang smiled, clicking off the news as she looked to her father. His presence always reassured her, always calmed her.
Taiyang smiled as he held three boxes and two grocery bags. "So, I know it's not Cin's but I figured you'd be in the mood for Lasagna."
Yang smiled, turning on the couch to watch her father move through the house. "Usually when you try making Lasagna, it's to butter me up for something." Yang said with a smirk. "So what is it?"
Taiyang turned to Yang, feigning an expression of pain. "I'm hurt. Hurt that my own daughter, who I love so very much, has accused me of buttering her up." His expression returned to a smile as he set down everything in the kitchen. "Honestly, I think it's two wins for you. Some pretty neat stuff if I say so."
Yang walked towards the kitchen table, where she saw a box with the Atlas symbol on it. Was it a package from Weiss? Yang was curious, as she'd neither seen nor heard from the Schnee heiress since Beacon fell. Yang popped the lid off of the box, slightly hopeful to the gift her friend could have thought of.
A letter dropped out from beneath the lid as Yang saw not a gift from her friend, but a reminder.
Her heart drooped as her eyes darkened, looking at a metal arm.
"James was impressed with how you stood your own. I couldn't agree with him more. He'd spent months with his best men making this for you, with some help from yours truly. So, wanna try it out?"
Yang looked to her father, practically beaming with pride and expectancy. Yang forced a smiled and shook her head, replacing the lid on the box. "It's ... Great dad. But I think I'm a bit too worn out to try it right now. Maybe later, yeah?" She hadn't the heart to tell him what she'd really seen.
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A week passed, then two. Despite everything, Yang had tried to overcome her situation. Sweeping had grown easier, holding the broom in the crook of her arm and twisting her hips. Folding laundry was a bit slower, but still manageable. Chores were the one thing Yang could control about herself again. Taiyang had tried to argue that she didn't need to worry, but Yang had been adamant that she needed to do this.
What she didn't tell him were the set backs.
Randoms noises, shadows in the night, even a stray noise... Yang couldn't help but be afraid. One second, she was invincible, indestructible; Then in one swift cut, she was nothing more than a burden. Everything she'd tried not to be. She'd been foolish, and lived in a hell of her own making.
Yang sat on the couch and stared at the half folded shirt, thinking before taking a shaky breath. It wouldn't help to dwell on it. Finishing with the laundry, Yang moved to take care of the dishes from lunch that she still needed to clean. She was honestly grateful that her dad hadn't gone and done the dishes ahead of her. Dishes were more of a pain, especially since she had to be more careful cleaning the knives with one hand, but not too much of a problem as Yang started rinsing the dishes and setting them to dry. Yang grabbed a glass from the clean soaking dishes to rinse it of when her grip slipped. Yang quickly tried to catch it, but the edge already shattered, sending a shard of glass against her palm.
All Yang could hear was the sharp hiss of a sword slashing from is sheathe.
Yang cried out, shooting herself backwards into the Kitchen island and staring at the cut. Ember Cecelia faded into vision, becoming more clear and in focus as her breathing quickened. She wasn't in the kitchen, she was at Beacon. She felt the warm blood on her hand, in her hand as her arm continued to pulse, trying to stave off the flow of blood. Yang's eyes twitched, trembled as she stared down only to look up and see him.
Yang screamed, clutching her head with her remaining hand as tears streamed down her eyes.
Taiyang quickly rushed inside, looking around for Yang. "YANG! YANG IS EVERYTHING OK?!"
He quickly turned to the kitchen where he heard Yang sobbing on the ground, blood still flowing from her cut and matting in her hair.
"Hey hey hey. It's Okay. It's all okay. You're safe, Yang. You're safe." Taiyang whispered to his daughter, gently but firmly holding her, squeezing her shoulder to let her know that he was there for her. Yang couldn't help but cry, her arm throbbing in phantom pains no longer there.
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The world is dark. Around her, scattered pieces of ruined homes and buildings surround her. She can hear fires in the distance, raging infernos consuming more and more of [Beacon]. She turned to see a tower, a terrible [Wyvern] roaring from its heights. She was a warrior and she knew that her duty wasn't done. She looks around but is most surprised at [Herself].
Yang saw Ember Cecelia, complete. Her arm, as though it had never [Left]. Yang rushed forward, but heard a [scream]. She turned to the inferno, the crimson flames as a man sheathed his sword. Yang raced forward, anger driving her foot steps. She raced and roared, cried and charged but the more she ran the further away they seemed. Then Yang saw [Blake] as the man turned, his baleful mask shining against the shadows. A mask to show the people, the world, what he truly was.
Yang leapt into the air, Ember Cecelia reeled back to deliver the blow. But when she landed, her balance was off. Her arm was gone, her weapon dissipating into smoke, around her arm. She heard laughter, a deep chuckle as she looked up. From thin air, [Adam] stood face to face with her. A smile of hedonistic joy curled on his lips as his hand finally rested on his sword. One swift motion-
Yang woke with a gasp, clutching her throat. Yang lifted her arm, looking at her hand before wiping the sweat from her forehead. Sitting up on the bed, she turned to the open Atlassian box with the Robot arm from Ironwood. Her expression soured, looking at the thing after having a nightmare. She rubbed her face, as these had now become a constant happening. Every time Yang went to sleep, she'd only awaken more tired than before.
She quickly shifted her focus when she'd heard laughter coming from downstairs. Walking down the steps, Yang saw her father talking with Professors Port and Oobleck. She
"-And, and, and then, in comes Qrow, wearing a skirt! I was just an assistant at the time, I-I didn't know what to do, so I just... I just left the room to laugh!"
Yang walked into the kitchen while the three men laughed together. She looked at them and smiled, dark circles under her eyes.
Taiyang couldn't help bu laugh, trying to cover his mouth and regaining his composure to speak. "We...We told him it was a kilt! He'd never worn a uniform before, so he didn't know!"
Oobleck just stared at Taiyang, jaw almost to the floor. "That is terrible! What is wrong with you!?"
"Hey! The girls all said he had nice legs! I did that jerk a favor! Besides, that's not even the best part! See, then we-"
Port, seizing his chance, slammed his right leg on the tabletop, cutting off Taiyang. "Like what you see?"
Taiyang and Oobleck laugh, howling even more as Port lost his balance and fell onto his back, winding him. Yet, despite that he too continued to laugh before sitting back up in his chair. Yang couldn't help but laugh too as the men recounted old stories and enjoyed themselves. There was an energy that had been sorely lacking that she didn't know she needed.
Port and Oobleck suddenly see Yang, standing by the refrigerator and move to correct themselves, Oobleck helping port from the floor.
Port coughed, dusted off his jacket and smiled. "Oh, uh, Miss Xiao Long! Uh, please, join us."
Yang smiled and shook her head, leaning against the counter. "You're fine, Doctor." Yang said as Oobleck began pulling out a chair for Yang to sit in. Taiyang stands up and leans against the counter alongside his daughter, his infectious smile still shining.
Yang, grabbing an apple from the nearby bowl and taking a bite, looked to the two professors. "So, what are you doing here? Surely not to just give dad a visit?"
Oobleck chuckled and shook his head. "Despite popular belief, teachers do have a life away from our professions."
Port nodded, with a slight sigh. "Professor Goodwitch is working 'round the clock to restore Beacon to its former glory! But, Mistral wasn't built in a day. And we all need rest from time to time. Even if she doesn't want to admit it."
The three men nodded in agreement, each knowing exactly how dedicated Glynda was to her work.
"Hey, let's not worry about that right now." Taiyang said, motioning his arms for everyone to return to their previous jovial stories. "So, there we were, standing in the auditorium, looking at Qrow, wearing a skirt. Then Oz tells everyone, "It's time to work on our landing strategy!"
Yang groaned, placing the back of her hand on her head, imagining Uncle Qrow wearing a skirt during the infamous Team Selection. "Thanks for that image burned into my mind, dad."
"The Branwen twins have always been... interesting, to say the least." Oobleck remarked, taking a sip of his coffee.
"Young Taiyang didn't seem to mind that much."
Oobleck nearly snorted his coffee as Taiyang frowned. "Hey now, Yang's right here!"
Port chuckled. "Oh, please! She's a mature young woman! If she can handle combat, she can handle a few jabs at her old man!"
"You know that's not the issue, Pete! And besides, she's still a teenager!"
Yang's smile turned into a scowl as her father talked as if she weren't there. "'She' is also in the room, and can be directly spoken to. And I think I've been through enough to be considered an adult at this point."
Port raised both his eyebrows and mug to that acknowledgement while Taiyang looked to his daughter and shook his head.
"Adult or not, you've still got a long way to go before you're ready for the real world."
Yang rounded on her father, throwing her arm in the air while still holding her apple. "Oh my gosh! Does every father figure have the same three condescending phrases?"
"Yeah! But we only use them when we mean it!"
As Yang and Taiyang began to argue, Port and Oobleck sat quietly and sipped their coffee. "Should we...?" "Heavens no, Pete. I rather like living." the two whispered as the Xiao-Longs duked it out.
"Really? You're seriously gonna pull that, dad?"
Taiyang was growing more impatient and upset as Yang. "As a matter of fact, I totally am! If you honestly think that you're ready to go out there on your own, ha, well I guess you lost some brain cells along with that arm."
Yang gasps and pulled back while Port and Oobleck's mouths drop open. A tense moment hangs in the air as all three stare at Taiyang for a few seconds.
Yang's cheeks get red, her arm trembling when she looks to her father again. "You... jerk!" She says with a smile and a laugh before punching him in the arm.
Taiyang's scowled broke and transformed into laughter alongside his daughter as they laughed together. Oobleck and Port simply looked at each other stunned and more confused into the family Dynamic of the Rose-Xiaolong-Branwen family.
Finally, after a few moments, Oobleck leans over to Port and in a low whisper asked "So Are we finally addressing the Goliath in the room?"
Port simply chuckles as he lets loose the breath he'd been holding in. "It would seem so."
Turning to Yang after she and her father had finished laughing, Port cleared his throat. "If you don't mind me prying, Why haven't you tried the new arm yet?"
Oobleck nodded, his movements slightly more hyperactive now. "Indeed! A piece of Atlas technology, one specifically tailored to you alongside the pain of delivering it? It appears that many wish to see you back to your old self. Myself included, naturally."
Yangs smile turned into a frown before looking down. "I-I'm... scared. Everyone's always talking about me going back to normal, but... This?" Yang said, lifting her amputated arm "This is what's normal now. It's just... Taken some time to get used to it."
Taiyang placed a hand on Yang's shoulder. "Well, normal is what you make of it."
Yang shook her head. "What's that supposed to mean? That I should pretend like nothing happened? I lost a part of me. A piece of me is gone. And it's never coming back."
"You're right."
Yang looked up to her father, surprised as he continued. "It's not coming back. But that doesn't have to stop you from becoming who you wanna be. You're Yang Xiao Long, my sunny little dragon. You can do whatever you put your mind to. So whenever you're ready to stop moping, and get back out there, I'll be there for you."
Yang looked to her father, his face smiling gently at her as he squeezed her shoulder in reassurance.
"Fear is like any other emotion. It comes and goes. It's all in how you handle it." Port affirmed, nodding to Yang as she looked at him astonished. "Why, even I find myself wrestling with that emotion from time to time."
Yang could simply stare at the bushy moustached man in a look of disbelief and confusion. "What..."
"Mice." Oobleck simply stated.
"WHERE?!" Port questioned as he hopped up from his chair. "DON'T YOU DARE TELL ME THOSE LITTLE DISEASE MONGERS ARE HERE OOBLECK!"
Yang couldn't help but laugh, laughing loudly at the antics of Oobleck and Port, as the hyperactive professor tried to assure his companion that there were, in fact, no mice near the home.
Yang waved to the men goodnight as she walked up the stairs, pausing at the top when she'd heard what was being said.
"-I hesitate to ask, but is there any word from young Miss Rose?"
Taiyang shook his head. "No, but Cinder went after her. Where ever Ruby's gone, she's got her cousin backing her up. Even then... I've still gotta keep an eye on things around here, you know?"
Oobleck and Port nodded to each other. "If professor Branwen is with her, then she's probably being lectured on proper combat as we speak. I suppose... That does alleviate my concerns."
Oobleck smiled. "Why, it only feels just yesterday that our colleague was attending Beacon as a student, then as a Professor! My how time truly flies." Port chuckled at that while Taiyang smiled, but then looked towards the stairs. "Yeah."
The next morning, Taiyang stood outside watering his flowers when he heard the door open. He looked up and smiled, seeing Yang with her new arm.
"Well. I guess we should start, yeah?"