381All the students were swept with a peculiar combination of a solemn yet calm feeling after watching Blake's short. This led them to believe it was because of learning the truth about Ilia's past and her motivations. The solemn bit was obvious as they witnessed a very private and personal conversation between Blake and Ilia. The calm must have been from the fact that with this knowledge they all knew that they planned to use it to help Ilia. Or at the very least, direct her to a better path.
Their other, bigger, issue at hand was that Salem knew the location of the Spring Maiden. That was worrisome on all kinds of levels and they could properly thank Headmaster Lionheart for that. On the topic of Professor Lionheart, what was his reason for agreeing to join Salem's forces as a hidden spy? The broad answer, that they hoped, was that he was manipulated or threatened into working for her. They wanted to expect better of him that he didn't accept merely for his cowardice for himself.
The group knew they would never get the answer to their question unless they started the next episode.
(Volume 5 Intro)
Professor Lionheart sat in his office, hands covering his eyes when Watts made his presence known. He asked the professor if he was ready, though the man didn't respond.
Everyone hated how the episode was starting, but they admitted that anything involving the enemy could be used to their advantage so they all sat quietly. On another note, ready for what?
A secret entrance opened and the two walked through the hall silently. Professor Lionheart only looked back at him once with nervousness.
The students were curious if this led to the door of the Relic, but that didn't seem right so they deduced that it must have been something different. "What's with Mistral and sketchy hallways?" Yang attempted to joke. It didn't land, everyone was too tense.
Coming to the end of the hall was a single room with a seer floating in the middle.
The students shuddered at the sight of that specific Grimm. They didn't know if it was the way it looked, moved, or sounded that creeped them out the most. Maybe all three if they had to be honest.
Watts pushed him forward, gesturing him to go first. Lionheart is hesitant as he asks for Salem's connection. Her face appears in the Grimm's head and greets him, "Hello, Leonardo, do you have something to report?"
They wished the information he was giving wasn't something so important. The students felt frightened that a Grimm had the capability to transfer a message like it was a simple phone call. Raider had mentioned the name of this Grimm sometime when it first appeared back in Volume 4 and it made perfect sense; seer.
Yang felt the urge to make another joke to cover her fear, but she was coming up short of one. Her mind was too focused on the scene at hand and seeing if she could decipher something that would help all of them.
"Of course, ma'am, I would not waste your time if not," Lionheart explains. Watts comes up behind him and voices his amazement over the seer, interrupting the meeting between Salem and the professor. Watts taps on the Grimm and asks Cinder if they're coming through clearly.
"I know this doesn't seem like the time, but this is, like, every interaction of any parent being faced with technology," Nora states. With the mood effectively being made a bit lighter, a few others allowed themselves to release a couple of laughs.
Cinder'svoicewasclearas she ordered Watts to shut up.
"Oh, great, isn't that nice? She got her voice back," Yang was less than enthused. Now that Cinder is able to speak again they stuck with having to listen to it now. Shame that Salem's lessons were working.
"Oh, goody, you've recovered," Watts says sarcastically.
Good to know that he and them were all on the same page.
Back to the matter at hand, Watts steps back and Salem asks for Lionheart's report. She congratulates him when she hears that he's found where the Spring Maiden is. "Arthur, had I known how useful you'd be in expediting this process I would have sent you long, long ago."
Some of the students wondered how useful he'd been to her all those years ago when Professor Lionheart had discovered where the Maiden was just recently. They didn't plan to dwell on that for long.
"As much as I'd love to take credit ma'am, I can't say that either of us are to thank for this development. I guess you could say a little birdie told us." Salem looks towards Lionheart and asks him to explain.
"You see, ma'am, Qrow Branwen arrived at Haven Academy earlier today," Lionheart starts.
Well, that knowledge could be worth something in time. To know that this meeting occurs just hours after the introduction of Team RNJR and Qrow.
"He believes Spring has taken residence with his sister's tribe." Cinder buds in and asks if 'the girl' is with him.
Yang placed a protective arm around her sister, just daring Cinder to try and do something. The rest of her friends were right behind her as they glared daggers at the screen. They felt the strong urge to reach for their weapons for good measure but paused when they remembered that they had been taken away when they first came here.
"Yang…you can let go…too…tight…" Ruby gasped as it seemed her sister was on a mission to squeeze the life out of her. When Yang realized she quickly let go, letting Ruby intake lungfuls of air. She understands her sister's worry but at the moment they're all fine and safe in an impossible place that Cinder would never be able to reach.
Salem raises her hand for Cinder's cooperation. She stands down and Salem asks if he knows the location. "Yes ma'am, but you have to hurry, Qrow's already at odds with my–" He's abruptly cut off by a seer's tentacle wrapping around his neck.
Everyone's eyes widen in horror. Yes, they felt hurt by his betrayal of working with Salem, but they didn't believe Professor Lionheart deserved to die!
Professor Lionheart gasped as the tentacle strangled him while Salem calmly asked if he remembered how the two of them first met.
"You seriously think he's gonna be able to respond to that at the moment?!" Sun shouts.
The seer brought him to his knees as he clawed at his neck. "I remember. I remember your fear, but since that day you've been extraordinarily brave. I won't forget all that you've done for me. Do not forget everything that I can do to you." Salem punctuates her point by making the seer direct a claw in his face.
Threatened! Threatened! He was definitely threatened to follow her orders!
The seer releases its hold and Lionheart falls on his hands, gasping for air. "Cinder, you and your team will meet with Dr. Watts and together, convince Raven Brawn that the survival of her people depends on her cooperation."
The students were hit with the weight of just how much is on the line for Professor Lionheart. Some of their feelings were still conflicting as a small part of their heads were telling them that he was still on Salem's side but he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Ruby was determined, she was going to turn around and ask when exactly Professor Lionheart would meet Salem. If they knew when then maybe they could save him as well!
It was as if Raider was able to read her mind as she answered, "Two years. Salem and Professor Lionheart first met two years before Volume 1." Ruby felt something in her shatter upon hearing that news. Raider looked remorseful as everyone else looked confused as to them that information came from nowhere.
"Once you have Spring under control, escort her to the Relic and contact Hazel, the White Fang was promised the destruction of Haven and they'll have it once we have what we need." Watts believes he understands that the assignment is his when it really goes to Professor Lionheart. "Not you, Arthur, Tyrian's in need of a new tail." Watts questions what happened to his old one and Salem tells him to guess.
Ruby doesn't feel proud of what she had to do but what's done has been done. If the others were being honest the psycho had it coming. Not only did he try to kidnap their friend but they also poisoned him in the process.
Watts refers to Ruby and Cinder grunts in anger at the smallest mention of her. Watts tells her it will done before turning his attention to Lionheart when the call ends, "Seems Qrow was right, Lionheart, the students aren't pushovers."
"Yeah, we've proven and seen time and again that we won't take anything lying down!" Nora yells, standing up from her seat, and raising a fist.
"We'll take on whatever those fiends throw at us!" Jaune adds.
Salem gestures that Cinder is free to speak her mind.
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean we want to hear anything she has to say," Yang grumbles. No matter how many occasions will arise, neither she nor others will keep quiet about their disdain for the girl.
"We liked her better when she struggled to talk," Weiss states, joining Yang.
Cinder stares out the window for a quick moment before turning around. "I don't understand. Working with bandits, keeping Ruby alive? What's the point? We're strong enough to take what we want by force."
"Never underestimate the usefulness of others. Take Leonardo, he was one of Ozpin's most trusted, and yet now, hmm. You will have the power I promised you when the time is right, but remember it comes with a cost. If Ruby Rose has learned to harness her gift, then you must take care to protect yours."
How am I supposed to learn to harness my eyes if I don't even know the first thing about how to use them? It's like a gun with no ammo or a sword that's dull. Ruby wishes that she could hope to meet someone who could help her train with them. Until then, what would she make of them?
The only thing Ruby knows is they can only affect Grimm and they're a very rare trait to come by, Uncle Qrow had said it himself. They're warriors that even Grimm fear.
"There's only so much I can do to aid you." Cinder bows and plans to vacate the room when Salem goes on, "And Cinder, before you go, inform Tyrian that I wish to have a word with him." She nods once more and the sound of the door closing echoes.
They wished to know what that conversation would be about, but they guessed they would never know. Thankfully, in a happier sense, they were getting to see one of their friends!
Weiss looks out one of the cargo ship's windows when, what appears to be floating land, passes by them. She goes to the pilot and asks where they are.
Ruby was hit with an enormous wave of happiness when her partner showed up onscreen. She found it a tad bit strange as it was an abnormal amount. She was planning to think over it when Nora shouted. "That is a great question because why does it look like those pieces of Earth are flying?"
None of them had an answer to that and all attention was brought to the terrains, including thought.
"Nowhere good, passing by some of Lake Matsus floating islands. The gravity dust that forms on these things is giving us a little turbulence."
They all wanted to facepalm as it was such an obvious conclusion.
"Nothing I can't handle, but the islands sometimes hide some nasty Grimm. I'm just betting on our friends in distress–"
"Do none of you two see the crash landing airship!" Sun yells, even pointing a hand at the screen.
"Keeping them preoccupied." Weiss shouts for the pilot to look out as they narrowly avoid the ship. It crashes into an island and explodes. The two stare in terror.
The room is quiet as they take a moment for those who were on the ship. What Grimm are around that caused a crash like that?
The pilot turns on the radio. " By the Gods, we've lost Percy, help!"
If Weiss were there in that situation she would have likely demanded the pilot to turn so they could at least try to help those people. So what if the ship isn't the best for any kind of combat? If someone is in need of help, actions should be taken to help them. Even if they become injured they could still have a chance to live!
A swarm of lacers chase after the second airship.
The room rested in silence as it seemed like all of this was playing in slow motion. Pyrrha and Ruby were holding their hands over their mouths. Yang brought her sister closer and Blake's ears flattened atop her head. They hated watching this and wished they didn't have to. As bad as it sounded, they wanted it to just be gotten over with already, none of them wanted to see the whole process.
One after the other, the lancers extended their stingers, hooking the ship and breaking it apart. Weiss stands by in horror as she hears on the radio call out that they're hooked.
Ruby put her hands over her eyes and covered her ears. She didn't want to see any more.
A lancer flew up above and collided with the ship, causing it to explode. The rest of the swarm spotted the cargo ship and flew for it.
"Weiss!" They all collectively yelled. Ruby's snapped open as the Grimm went after her partner. Everyone sat terrified.
"Lancers, freaking lancers… Alright, buckle up!" The pilot orders. He only catches a glimpse of her hair as Weiss makes her way to the compartment area. "What are you doing?" Weiss retorts what they should've done in the first place, grabbing hold of Myrtenaster.
Her friends had every faith in her, just that they were scared for her life after watching another airship blow up right in front of them. They knew they'd seen worse, but it's always an unsettling and horrible feeling to witness someone else's death.
Weiss asks him that he's correctly carrying dust. "Officially, no. Actually, yes."
Doesn't matter the circumstance, the ship is carrying as much as I need. If it was a fight those lancers wanted, it was a fight they were going to get.
"Then when I tell you, open the rear door," Weiss commands, loading Myrtenaster with the dust from the storage. She's brought off balance for a moment as the pilot tells her to make it quick. The pilot tries his best to keep away from the lancers but voices his concerns when a lancer's stinger bounces off one of the wings.
Weiss's body freezes up when she feels something, or someone, grab a hold of her arm. She looks over to see Ruby grasping it with a tightening grip as she watches. Weiss doesn't have the heart to scold or tell her if the action was unintentional. A small part of her even likes it. She shook that thought away but knew she was going to think about that later when the time was more appropriate.
To Ruby, she didn't realize she'd grabbed onto something. When she looked over, she tensed when she saw what she held onto. She was about to remove herself as she must have been Weiss really uncomfortable, but a sudden hand stopped her. Weiss stopped her. The rest of the room observed this silent interaction and a couple either had deadpan or unimpressed expressions.
The pilot shouts they're cutting it close. Weiss creates a gravity glyph and yells that she's ready. The hatch is opened and one of the lancers shoots its stinger. Weiss uses wind to deflect it and push the swarm back. Weiss then creates fire glyphs to blast at the Grimm. She manages to kill a few which gets a laugh out of the pilot as he tells her to hold on.
In a line she makes five more, firing ice at the rest. She stumbles and asks what that was. A visible stinger is in the roof and the pilot shouts that they're hooked.
Weiss winces slightly as Ruby's grip grows stronger. She rests her free hand on Ruby's arm as a form of comfort. It works and Ruby's grip lessens. Weiss finds the situation a tad funny, isn't Weiss's life the one in danger on screen, and out of all her friends, she's the least scared.
More continue to grab hold and the pilot tells Weiss to hold on as he has an idea. He heads straight for one of the islands and at the final second, he dives down, causing a few lancers to crash into the rock.
Some students join the pilot, laughing triumphantly. It wasn't over yet, but they were eager to see how this would all end. Moments like these made them realize how much watching these episodes was affecting them, emotionally. Normally, before all this, they don't think they would have voiced or shown their fears that much when it came to fighting the Grimm, they just did it.
It must have been from all the traumatizing things they've seen that they've come to just expect the worst to happen. Bit of a pessimistic way to view things, but could they all really be blamed? They needed to learn to have a bit more faith when it comes to watching moments like these with Grimm. They've fought them all before.
Weiss asks the pilot if he can find a pair of islands they can fit between. The pilot comments that she's reading his mind. They maneuver their way through, avoiding their stingers and getting rid of the rest of them as well. Unfortunately, the explosion from Weiss's fire glyphs awakens a much larger lancer: the queen.
Just when they were all riding a high, something just had to go and ruin it. Weiss will know, attempt, to go for a much quieter attack if she's forced into this same event.
Rocks fall on top of the lancers one by one from the ruckus and the two of them fly safely out from between the islands. The pilot laughs joyfully and says they are in the clear, Weiss joins in and slumps in relief.
Sadly, they still have one more opponent left when they all hear the loud buzzing.
Weiss hears the noise and her eyes widen as she yells it's a queen lancer. It follows after them and its exoskeleton opens up, firing pin missiles. Weiss rebounds the ones heading towards her but some get into the thrusters. "Do something!" The pilot screams.
You don't need to tell me twice. Weiss looks behind her counterpart, eyeing all the dust at her exposal. Judging by the expression on her face, Weiss and her other self were sharing the same thoughts.
"It is just me, or does it sound like a rock version of Weiss's song back in Volume 4?" Oscar questions. Now that he's mentioned it, it does sound a lot like her song. Yang gasped in excitement. Is this a reprise? Or a part 2? Or better yet, a continuation?
"Oh hell yeah, shit's about to get real," Yang comments. If TV and movie patterns were any indication, they were about to see an epic battle between Weiss and the queen lancer.
Weiss views all the dust behind her, not wasting a second as she launches herself, breaking the strap that was keeping them all together and throwing every single one at the lancer. Exploding all of it with her semblance.
The students were hoping that was enough. They hated that they had to be wrong.
The queen lancer comes out from all the dust and Weiss gasps. The pilot screams that he can see the shoreline and that they weren't going to make it.
"Not with your way of thinking we're not!" Weiss yells.
Weiss wasn't giving up. Swinging Mystenaster she planted its blade on the ground, summoning her Arma Gigas. "Pull up! NOW!" The pilot obeys Weiss's cry and turns the airship upside down. The Arma Gigas jumps off the ship, heading straight for the Grimm. Weiss gives it a sword and wills it to disappear and reappear, slicing it repeatedly. It releases its stinger, and the Gigas redirects, making it hit the ship's side. Weiss's summon finishes off the Grimm and the two crash onto the shore. Weiss uses her semblance to lower the impact but the two still hit the ground. Everything goes dark.
The group gave themselves a moment to celebrate Weiss's victory but it wasn't a long one as following Weiss's win was her crash landing on Anima. During the celebration, Ruby released herself from Weiss, her face all red as she profusely apologized for the unwanted contact. Weiss's face was, too, red and she told Ruby that it was fine. Ruby most certainly didn't need to know Weiss's emotions responded far from dislike to her close proximity. Weiss coughed awkwardly and the two sat in silence.
The White Fang logo on a banner appears, "Adam, I'm not going to repeat myself."
They disliked the fact of having to see the logo, and it only got worse when Adam's name was spoken.
"So I want you to listen when I tell you the White FangwillnotattackHaven Academy," Sienna states, leaving no room for arguments.
"High Leader Khan I am begging you–"
Those didn't seem like the average words to come out of a mouth like his.
"You should beg for forgiveness and nothing else!" Sienna shouts at him. Adam quietly retreats.
Yang and some of the others weren't going to lie about seeing that man get shut down and put in his place. It was a very satisfying feeling to see her so angry at him, but that raises the question: what did he do that aggravated her this much?
"The assault you led on Beacon was not the great victory you clearly think it was, and you should be grateful your punishment wasn't more severe. You are a symbol for many in our organization, but that doesn't make you infallible." Adam tells her that he was only wanting to follow her example. "What example might that be?"
"Mindless violence and ruthless murder?" Jaune asks. Sadly, that sounded about right if everything that happened at the Fall of Beacon was anything to go by.
"Strength. Strength and unwavering conviction," Adam answered.
"Well if that isn't the biggest load of bull I've ever heard," Yang commented. She crossed her arms as she stared heatedly at the man. Blake rested a hand on her shoulder, effectively getting her to settle down a little. Yang sighed, shoulders relaxing but she still frowned.
"What you've done at the Fall of Beacon has nothing to do with strength!" Pyrrha yells. Others agree as all Adam wants is fear and control.
"The humans have seen that strength now," Adam adds.
"I was one of the first to suggest violence where violence was necessary," Sienna explains.
"And your choice of violence turned what once was a peaceful organization into a terrorist group!" Blake exclaimed. All Faunus wanted was to be treated as equals alongside men, not like slaves or servants.
"Peace spread complacency, an expectance of our place in the world. I will not allow humanity to push us down without pushing them back, but the destruction of the huntsman academies crosses a line! The loss of the CCT has brought global communication to a crawl and the White Fang is more of a target now than ever before! You have justified humanity's campaign against us and for what? Empty promises from a group of humans? Humans, we still know nothing about and come and go as they please."
There's a lot to those groups of humans and some very important information that's purposefully being withheld from them. Salem doesn't plan to broadcast her existence for everyone in Remnant to know. Sienna has a point in addressing Adam's blind following to that group. How would you be able to trust someone when they're deliberately keeping things from you?
"These are not examples of strength, Adam, they are examples of your talents being diminished by short-sightedness," Sienna ends by slamming a fist down on the armrest.
"If you wanna know more about the humans, then why not talk to one of them yourself? Hazel!" Adam calls, beckoning one of Salem's men.
How was he able to sneak Hazel inside the base? Or did he even have to sneak him in?
Hazel opens the door telling Adam that it took him long enough. Sienna and the guards stand on high alert, she demands Adam to tell her what this is all about.
They were once again wondering how Adam managed to get him inside the headquarters without Sienna Khan's knowledge. Surely one of the other members would have informed her of the guest, right? Apparently not. That is unless there's something darker going on behind this whole meeting.
"Apologies, I don't aim to cause any trouble," Hazel says, wanting to lower the tension.
"You brought a human to this location?!" Adam asks that she hear what Hazel has to say. "This is grounds for execution!"
"Ma'am, please, no one needs to die today," Hazel says calmly.
They all got a bad feeling after hearing that. It sounded like this was heading in a direction that someone would be meeting their end. They feared for their assumption.
"I'm just asking for a moment of your time," Hazel continues, bowing down to her. Sienna tells him that the longer he stays, the less of a chance he'll be leaving alive. "I'll take those chances if you don't mind." Sienna sits back in her seat and the guards behind her stand down. Hazel rises and continues, "You don't like me, you have no reason to like me, but you don't have to like me to get the results you want."
The group was morbidly curious about where he was going with this. They all stayed quiet and listened, figuring they could receive some kind of information out of this conversation. Unfortunately, unbeknownst to all of them, they were about to witness terrible news.
"I'm starting to doubt either of you fully comprehend what it is that I want," Sienna retorted. "I want humanity to fear the Faunus, to know that we demand respect. Idonotwantto start a war with the humans that we can not win!"
Whether or not Sienna wanted a war, one is still coming…even if it isn't started by the hands of the Faunus. That's what they all need to prepare for, why they need to push themselves harder when they get back and come up with a plan while there is still some time left. If they want to defeat an enemy like Salem, they need to be smart about it.
From the moments they've seen her, they know she's smart and will use whatever tactic she can to defeat her enemy. She isn't afraid to use pawns or let others die for her.
Adam speaks up, saying that's where she's wrong. Both Sienna and Hazel look towards him, intrigued. Adam begins walking towards Sienna, "We can win a war against the humans, not only because we have the support of Hazel's master, but because the Faunus are the dominant species of this planet."
None of them were going to comment on that matter, but they were rather wary as Adam kept getting closer to her, feeling the tension rise in the air.
"We're better than humans, we have everything humans have and more, humans shouldn't just fear the Faunus, they should serve the Faunus."
The students hated how the world could just never get along. No matter how much they wished it wasn't so, the world would never be free of unfairness, the world would never be equal, and the people of Remnant would always be at constant war with each other. One way or another, the world would always be divided.
It was the manner of thinking like Adam's, Jacque's, and even Sienna's that Remnant would never see change.
Sienna decides she's had enough of the conversation and asks the guards to take them away, but they don't obey. She repeats herself but they cease to listen.
The room felt cold and scared. Scared of what they knew was coming next.
"I will admit Sienna, you were right about my popularity. My followers in Vale have already seen me as the true High Leader and many here in Mistral feel the same." The doors behind them open and more guards rush in, weapons ready. Sienna, surprised, stands from her seat. Hazel asks what he's doing. "Doing what's right for the Faunus. From this day forward, I will be the one to lead the White Fang!"
This was turning out worse than could have ever imagined. Everyone was frozen in shock as Adam declared himself the new leader. Blake was repeatedly shaking her head, horrified at the thought of Adam in charge of the White Fang.
More guards surrounded the area. "If you think I'll just step aside and follow beneath you, you're wrong–Ugh!" Sienna's eyes widened as she looked down at the sword impaling her.
No one said a word as they stared at the screen. All they could focus on was the sword through her stomach. Some of them were even holding on to their own stomachs.
"I know, thank you, Sienna. You were there when our people needed you, but they need me now. I'm sorry you couldn't see this through to the end." With the last of her energy, Sienna raised her hand to claw him but he released his blade and she tumbled down the steps.
Her gasps would forever be stuck in their minds as Adam killed her. Blake felt emotionless, terrified of what the White Fang would now become with Adam as their leader. Ruby was sick to her stomach as she saw yet another person die. How many more was Raider and this show going to make them watch?
Raider felt horrible as Ruby and the others were going to despise Volume 8.
Hazel says nothing as he looks down at the body. "Give our former leader a proper burial. All who were here tonight will claim Sienna was murdered by a human huntsman. Sienna Khan will become a martyr for our cause! Her final act as High Leader!" Careful with her body, other members put her on a stretcher and took their leave.
"When were you planning on telling me about that?" Hazel asked.
They could he wasn't expecting it by the way he looked at her lifeless body. What else does Adam plan that he isn't telling any of his 'coworkers'?
Adam takes a cloth and cleans the blood off his sword. "This was my business, not yours."
"It's our business now and I don't appreciate you withholding things like that," Hazel grunts.
They weren't sure anyone would appreciate being left in the dark about knowledge like your plans to murder someone.
"Your master was concerned with Sienna's willingness to cooperate. Now she doesn't have to be," Adam explains, smiling, answering so casually.
So his plan was if Sienna didn't comply then his backup option was to kill her?!
Hazel didn't think anyone needed to die that day. Adam takes a seat on his new throne, smirking, "I disagree."
They wished they could say they've felt so disgusted with anyone's choices, but they've been seeing a lot worse people since they started watching their future.
Weiss is weak, and barely able to move. Two men step in front of her and she looks up at them, begging for help. One man asks the other what they thought. Raven steps forward, "We've just hit the jackpot." Weiss's eyes widen as Raven knocks her out with her boot.
Everything went black and Yang was gaping at the screen, eyes a burning red. "My mom kidnaps you!?" Weiss believed that was the least of their concerns at the moment as the old White Fang leader was dead and taken over by an even worse man.
Everyone is panicking as everything starts going wrong. Their attention is then brought away from the episode to Raider. "We still have one more thing to watch and then we can move on to the next episode. We're gonna watch another motivation short and this one is going to be based around Yang."
"Me?" Yang shouldn't have been surprised that there was a short that was specific to her, but she was still shocked nonetheless. The only thing Yang could think of was her motivation to see her sister. She figured she'd see when it's played, but she was interested to see what they'd watch because all they've seen lately were her and Bumblebee.
The screen was black, the only thing was the sound of Bumblebee and its engine until a forest opening appeared, Ruby and Yang grunting as the two sparred.
Ruby and Yang swiftly remember this, it was a little way before Yang was meant to leave for Beacon. It also hit the two, both of them feeling guilty for the events that transpired. Ruby wished she wouldn't have been so useless and Yang because she should have just let her sister bring Crescent Rose anyway.
Yang only wanted to help her sister in case she wouldn't have access to Crescent Rose. It was as she said that day, she just wanted to make sure her sister could be able to hold her own.
Ruby fell to the ground, groaning while Yang stood above her. "Come on, you totally could have dodged that," Yang tells her, giving her sister a hand.
Their friends took notice of the arm. "When was this?" Oscar asked curiously.
"This? Oh, just a bit before Beacon. I was trying to help Ruby train up a little. Without Crescent Rose," Yang's voice trailed off. The others took notice.
"You okay?" Weiss asks.
Yang nods, "Yeah, just…we ran into an ursa and wished it could have turned out differently."
"Yang…" Ruby pouted, "It wasn't your fault. If anything it was mine, I should have–"
"No, Ruby, it wasn't. If I'd just let you have Crescent Rose nearby then that ursa wouldn't have almost killed you!"
"What?!" Everyone else shouted. Raider clicked her tongue, welp, there goes the reactions.
"None of you got hurt, right?" Blake questions, her brow creasing in worry. Yang waved it off.
"Nothing we couldn't handle," She responded. Ruby crossed her arms, frowning. Her sister was the one who took down the ursa. She didn't understand why she was mentioning the 'we' business.
Ruby takes her sister's hand, getting pulled up. "Yang, I already told you, I'm just not cut out for hand-to-hand. Why can't I just use my beautiful Crescent Rose?" Crescent Rose pops up in a hexagon box, but it's popped by Ruby's annoyance when Yang states that that's exactly the reason why she didn't let her bring it.
It was as Yang had said before, based on what she told them of what will happen, it seems like it would have been a safer bet just to have it nearby. Just in case as Ruby isn't the greatest with hand-to-hand combat.
"I'm gonna be leaving for Beacon soon, I wanna make sure my little sis can hold her own while I'm gone," Yang places a hand on Ruby's shoulder, patting it. She gets back into a ready position and the moment Ruby relents Yang is already throwing a punch. Ruby dodges it and the ones that come after. Seeing that she might have an opening, Ruby goes for her own attack.
Yang smirks, moving her head away and bringing Ruby's feet out from under her.
Ruby scoffs, "Show off." Yang laughs and playfully punches her sister's arm.
"You're just too slow." It amazed, Oscar specifically, that just a few moments ago the two were trying to battle who could put the most blame on themselves and now they were laughing and playing like nothing ever happened. Oscar wondered if this was what it was truly like to have a sibling. Seemed a bit odd to him. But he supposed all families were different.
Ruby nearly avoided Yang's blow, but she used her semblance to escape, zooming into the bushes. "Haha, nice one sis, you're not always gonna be able to run away from your problems though. Sometimes, you have to stand your ground and fight, no matter what."
Blake was judging by the quality of animation that this was made after Volume 3 and the fact Yang said that line, it sounded like it was directed at her.
Yang took a moment to stretch, "Alright, enough rest, get back out here." Loud footsteps and branches breaking caught Yang's attention, "Ruby?" She squinted her eyes to get a better look. In the bushes, an ursa growled, its red marking glowing. "Ruby!"
"Where was Ruby!?" Weiss yelled.
Ruby nervously rubbed the back of her head, "In the trees, a little dazed, but I was fine."
The ursa released a roar and began to charge. Yang reloaded Ember Celica and launched for the Grimm.
It's only been playing for a few seconds, but Yang had an inkling she was going to love the music in this short.
The Grimm raised its paw but Yang easily slid under it, getting a few hits before she was swiped back.
Yang didn't like admitting it, but from a third-person point of view, those first couple of hits looked sad.
Yang went for a long-distance approach, firing two shots that exploded on its back. The Grimm lets out a cry and lunges at Yang. The girl stops its paw with her arm, gritting her teeth.
Ruby watched what she missed while she was absent and cheered on her sister. Blake couldn't deny the heat she felt in her cheeks at Yang's strength. She tried to turn her head away so no one would notice. Unfortunately for her, a certain Faunus caught the expression and smiled smugly.
"What?" Blake saw his look.
Sun put his hands behind his head, "Oh, nothing, just your face resembles a tomato. Nothing more." Blake's face only became redder as she ignored the boy, causing him to laugh.
Yang gave the Grimm an uppercut. Punching it in the face, she then slid under, firing at it. Getting more hits to the head, she stops an attack with her body.
Sun looked back and forth at Blake and the screen, then leaning over and pausing next to her ear. Not saying anything until whispering, "How are you feeling Blake, you look a little red in the face."
"Sun!" Blake froze as her shout gained the attention of everyone else in the room. Blake didn't say anything as she sat back down in her seat.
"You alright, Blake, you don't look too good," Yang asked. Blake stuttered what she hoped was an 'I'm fine'.
Yang knocked it back, then propelled herself under the Grimm, avoiding its grasp until she was hit and thrown into the trees.
"Yang!" Ruby yells. She feels horrible that wasn't able to be there to help her sister.
Ruby regains consciousness and stumbles back to the clearing. She gasps when she sees the Grimm but swiftly covers her mouth. The ursa's ear twitches and turns its head to Ruby. It digs its claws in the dirt and Yang watches in horror as the beast goes for her sister.
"Ruby!" Her friends all scream. They sit in their seats shaking and hoping nothing happens to her.
Yang plants her foot in the dirt and launches herself. Ruby weakly puts up her hands, prepared to fight, but the Grimm stops, revealing Yang in its jaws, her aura broken.
"Yang!" Everyone's pale and Blake feels her heart dropping at the sight of her partner in the Grimm's mouth.
The ursa tosses her away and Ruby screams her sister's name. Yang's eyes open, and they're scarlet red. She uses a tree to bounce back, breaking it from the force, and her fist and the ursa's paw collide, creating a massive gust of wind. The ursa's arm starts to break and finishes it off with a single bullet. It dissolves and Yang's body slams against a tree.
"I would just like to say…that was awesome!" Sun shouts. Yang playfully rolled her eyes.
"Yang!" Ruby rushes over to her sister, "Yang, are you okay? I didn't know how to help without my scythe, I'm so sorry."
"It's okay, I've always got your back, sis." The two smile at one another. Present Yang thinks back on that moment, her determination to get to her sister grows stronger and she speeds up.
"Yang's motivation," Ren begins.
"Is me…" Ruby finishes. She jumps in her sister's arms, giving her the biggest hug.
"I've said this multiple times and I'll continue to say it, I've got your back sis, always."