Two Steps Forward, Two Steps Back

Patch...

Yang Xiao Long lifts up her head, arms as the ready for a fight. Taiyang Xiao Long takes a swing at her with his left hand, but she easily blocks it with her robotic wrist, pushing his hand away from her. The interplay repeats with his right and her left, only this time Yang uses the momentum to turn and come back at her father with a roundhouse kick. Taiyang bends backwards to dodge it, his legs in a lunge. He gives his daughter a solid punch, pushing her back a few feet.

Nearby, Zwei watches the two spar, panting happily. Beside him is a low stool with two white towels. His head changes angles, oscillating to the sounds of grunts and contact. Abruptly he holds his head straight and makes a noise of surprise.

Taiyang stands alone and moves forward, doing his own roundhouse kick. Yang joins both hands atop each other to block Tai's landing foot. With a loud cry, she pushes it up and back. Taiyang regains his footing in a flip while Yang waits for his landing. Using her robotic arm, she knocks him back with a single hit.

Holding onto his right bicep, Tai slides through the dirt, his feet flat on the ground until he comes to a stop, "Whoa, that thing packs a punch!"

"We've been at this for weeks. I get it, you wanna make sure I can still fight." Yang said, bumping her own fists. "I think I'm doing just fine."

"You're close." Taiyang said, standing upright, no longer nursing his arm.

Walking around his daughter in a circle, he assesses her progress.

"Oh, really?" Yang asked.

"You're still off balance." Taiyang said.

"What?! No I'm not!" Yang said, as Taiyang chuckles. "Honestly, I'm kind of surprised." She lifts her robotic arm, looking down at it with a smile. "I thought it would be just this huge weight, but it feels...natural. They did a great job with this thing."

Taiyang comes in delivering a left hook right into her face. Yang's upper body rears back both from impact and surprise. She's ready to block his right hook, however, and uses the turning momentum to deliver an elbow jab. Grinning the entire time, Tai blocks it and then dodges all the kicks she follows through with. Yang switches to punches, but Tai is too on point for her. While she uses her left hand to block an elbow thrust, Tai has grasped her robotic arm and pulled it forward. The position puts Yang in the position of having her balance rely on the weight of one leg.

"I wasn't talking about your actual balance." Taiyang said, sweeping Yang's forward leg, sending her onto the ground on her back. He leaves her there and walks over to Zwei, who happily gets the top towel for him. "Although, that could use some work too."

Taiyang takes the towel and give Zwei a rub on the top of his head. Zwei hums happily.

Arms spread on the ground, Yang takes a breath before speaking, "Meaning?"

"I saw your tournament fights. During the Vytal Festival." Taiyang said, toweling off his sweat.

"Let me guess." Yang said, in mocking accent. "'I was sloppy.'"

"No, no, you were predictable. And...stubborn. And...maybe a little boneheaded." Taiyang said, while Yang sits up and spins to stare at her father. "Do you realize that you used your Semblance to win every fight after the qualifiers? And I bet that Jared lets you use your Semblance to save him in almost every adventure with the Doctor."

"So what? How is me using my Semblance any different than someone else using theirs?" Yang asked, spinning to have her back to him.

Tossing the towel on the ground, Taiyang moves toward Yang, "Because not everyone else's is basically a temper tantrum."

"I'm serious!" Taiyang said, laughing and crouching by Yang's side. "Once you take damage, you can dish it back twice as hard, but that doesn't make you invincible! It's great when you're in a bind, but what happens if you miss? What happens if they're stronger? What then? Now you're just weak and tired! You've always been one to burn brighter than everyone else, whether it was with your smile, or, well, I remember your first haircut." He playfully tugs the hair on the back of her head. Smiling, Yang bats him away. He chuckles and gets up, walking away a few paces with Zwei just behind him. "But you gotta keep your emotions in check. Keep a level head, and think before you act. Your Semblance is a great fallback, but you can't let yourself rely on it. It won't always save you."

Taiyang lowers his head, sadness creeping into his tone, "Obviously. You definitely have your mom's stubbornness."

Taiyang faces one of the trees, not looking at Yang. Between the two of them, Zwei moves his head back and forth as each speaks.

"Oh, so now we can talk about her?" Yang asked.

"Well, as I have been informed, you're an adult now, remember?" Taiyang asked.

"Well, sorry I remind you of her."

"Don't be. Raven was great in so many ways...her strength, her ambition, her dedication to whatever cause she thought was worth fighting for." Taiyang said, turning around. "I'm proud of how much of her I see in you. But, I'm glad I don't see all of her in you."

"Why?" Yang asked.

"Your mother was...a complicated woman. Like everybody, she had her faults, but those faults are what tore our team apart. And, it did a real number on our family. You both act like the easiest way to tackle an obstacle is through it." Taiyang said, pointing at Zwei. "That strength is all that matters in a fight. But if you just take a second look, then maybe you see…" He is walking toward Yang, stepping around Zwei. "...there's a way around as well." He extends his hand. "Come on...one more before dinner."

Yang takes his hand and he helps her up. They circle each other, arms at the ready. Taiyang makes the first move with a left hook, followed immediately by a right cross and a kick. Yang blocks and dodges, continuing to avoid being hit even when Taiyang flips in the air. She cartwheels, avoiding him and he lands across from her. They face off again, Taiying doing a single punch and kick. Veering to avoid it, Yang rolls a few feet away before turning and rushing at him. They meet in the middle, each with their left hand on the other's right elbow, pushing against each other.

"Heh. See? Alright! Now you're using your head instead of your…" Taiyang said, as Yang kicks his leg out from underneath him but catches him as he falls back.

They pause in that pose, grasping hands and smiling together.

Weiss' room...

In the makeshift practice area of her room, Weiss Schnee holds Myrtenaster at the ready. She steps back, twirls, a stream of blue-white light coming from the tip of her sword. Weiss hold it aloft before striking the tip to the floor. A Summoning glyph appears, the Arma Gigas' sword slowly but surely beginning to emerge. Weiss' eyes are shut as she concentrates, the power of her Summoning causing a small wind to blow the hair around her face. A voice interrupts.

"Hello, sister." Whitley said, as he is propped up against the frame of her open door.

The sword shatters and disappears, the glyph fading away after.

"Ugh, leave." Weiss said, annoyed.

"How hurtful. And here I am, about to offer you a favor. Father's taking me to town to introduce me to some of his business partners. I'd thought I'd see if you wanted me to pick up anything since you're...well, stuck here." Whitley said.

"Are you jealous? Is that it?"

"Whatever do you mean?"

"Is that why you hate me? Are you jealous of my abilities? Of Winter's?"

"Hmm...no, not really." Whitley said, stepping away from the doorframe. "Honestly, I find it barbaric. It's beneath people like me. Like Father. What can a single Huntsman possibly do that an army cannot? That's why we have one, even if it is run by a fool."

"I said, leave." Weiss said.

"Fine, fine. I've got better things to do." Whitley said, walking away from Weiss. "Enjoy your...training, however pointless it is."

At the door, Whitley turns around, on hand on the jamb, "What is your plan, anyway? What do you hope to accomplish while trapped in your own bedroom?"

A black glyph appears on the open door, promptly swinging it shut on Whitley's briefly surprised face.

Weiss lowers Myrtenaster with a sigh and resumes her Summoning position. The glyph appears and this time Weiss looks at the portrait of the Arma Gigas on the wall. She repeats the same twirl and stab. The glyph glows brightly and spins faster.

The books shake in the bookcase on the wall. One particular tome, decorated with floral relief, falls off the shelf and opens on the floor.

The window bursts outward as the room is consumed in a bright white light. The light abates to reveal Weiss covering her eyes with her arm.

The door to her room is pushed open by an urgent Klein Sieben, "Miss Schnee! Are you alright?!"

The butler's eyes widen and he leans backwards, looking amazed.

Weiss smiles at him and turns to face the Arma Gigas she successfully Summoned, "Yes."

The Arma Gigas goes down to one knee and bows at Weiss.

"Klein, I need a favor." Weiss said, looking out the broken window.

Klein nods determinedly.

Menagerie...

Blake Belladonna and the masked White Fang member leap from tree to tree, Blake in pursuit of the other Faunus. They both pause for a moment, gripping different trees. A noise above the spy makes her gasp and Sun Wukong appears, dropping down.

"Gotcha!" Sun said, leaping on, out of his path.

Blake pursues while Sun lands on a branch.

"Hey, wait up!" Sun said.

"Don't let her out of your sight!" Blake said.

The spy emerges from the trees and onto a roof. She continues to run across the buildings, Blake right behind her. Sliding under some arching pipes, she finally turns and stops. Using her weapon in whip form, she slices the pipe, releasing steam to block Blake. It doesn't work.

Blake moves right under the pipes through the steam, "Why are you watching me?"

The girl smiles and lowers her weapon.

Sun lands on the roof behind her, causing her to turn around, "Give it up! I'm not above hitting a girl, you…"

He gets cut off when the spy's whip comes at him in an attack, which he falls back to avoid. Blake takes advantage of the distraction to kick the Scroll out of the spy's hand. The girl is surprised, avoids Blake's next attack, responds with a kick of her own and attempts to retrieve the Scroll.

Sun tackles her instead, "Grab the Scroll! Seems someone thinks it's important!"

"Get off!" The spy said, head butting Sun, cracking off the part of the mask covering her left eye, and tries to race Blake to the Scroll.

Instead, first one and then a total of four clones tackle her.

Sun is holding his pose to control his Semblance and Blake pauses, "Quit staring and grab it!"

Blake listens, and Sun finally releases his Semblance, which he had been struggling to maintain, and falls to his knees. The clones disappear from atop the girl. She rises and aims her weapon at Blake.

"Blake, watch out!" Sun said, as Blake turns, rising with the Scroll in her hand.

She sees the broken Grimm mask crumble from the spy's face.

"Ilia." Blake said.

"Wait, you know her?! But she doesn't even look like a f...aagh!" Sun said, getting to his feet.

He gets cut off when the color-changing Ilia strikes an electric hit near his shoulder with her weapon. Sun cries out and falls.

"Sun!" Blake said.

"Give it to me." Ilia said.

"No."

Ilia changes color again, "You shouldn't have come back."

She uses her weapon to create a rush of dust, which allows her to escape.

Blake briefly acknowledges that Ilia has disappeared before rushing over to Sun.

"Sun! Sun!" Blake said, and Sun is lying on his back, bleeding from the wound Ilia caused. She covers the wound with her hands. "No, no, no, not again, please! Help! Somebody! Hold on, Sun, just hold on."

Forest...

The landscape is looking dreary as Ruby Rose is breathing heavily, "Just hold on, Uncle Qrow."

"I should have used some remedies in the TARDIS." Jared said, looking at Ruby. "But she didn't have anything that could help."

"I know." Ruby said. "But you tried."

Jared Shay and Jaune Arc carry Qrow on a makeshift stretcher. Lie Ren is before them on the path, leading the way while Nora Valkyrie brings up the rear.

Qrow is groaning in pain and is a touch delirious, "Tai. She's not...coming…" He is grunting in pain. "Tai."

"This is bad." Jared said, when Qrow coughs repeatedly. "Maybe bringing him to Midnight was a bad idea."

"It was. He's getting worse." Jaune said.

"How much farther?" Ruby asked.

"We've gotta be close." Nora said.

"Without the map, there's no way of knowing. But I feel like we're close to something." Ren said, as he holsters StormFlower.

"What is it?" Ruby asked, and directly ahead is a fork in the road with a signpost.

They are coming from the direction of Higanbana. Kuchinashi and Mistral are to the right, where the land is mountainous.

"This feels like I'm at the Four Corners Monument." Jared said, looking at Ruby Rose. "For Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah."

To the left is Kuroyuri, its name crossed out.

"You should take us there at some point." Ruby said, while the path to Kuroyuri remains low ground. "I bet it's cool."

"Hey, hey! Mistral! We're on the right path! Oh…" Nora said.

"Does it say how close?!" Ruby exclaimed.

"No. And it looks like the path takes us up the mountains." Ren said.

Jaune and Jared set Qrow down.

"Guys, I don't know if all of us can make that climb." Jaune said.

Ruby looks at Qrow, concerned, before rushing forward to the signpost.

"Okay. Well, what about this place?" Ruby asked, pointing a finger at the map. "Kuro...Kuroyuri? Can we get help there?"

"Maybe." Jared said, shrugging his shoulders. "Never been there."

Jaune and Jared approach.

"That village was destroyed years ago." Ren said.

"But if it takes us around the mountains, it's the best bet we've got." Jaune said.

"It is. And I'm not taking Qrow to Shan Shen." Jared said. "Which is another alien planet. Because after that, we'll be facing Daleks."

"It will take too long." Ren said, sternly.

"The town would have had a doctor, right? Maybe we could scavenge for medicine!" Ruby said, happily.

"Right!" Jaune said.

Ren is closing his eyes, lowering his head and shaking it, "We're not going to find anything! We just have to press on!"

There is just a brief moment of silence. Ruby watches him, clutching her hands before her chest.

"Ren, why are you acting…" Jaune said.

"We can split up." Nora said, cutting Jaune off and coming up beside Ren.

"Huh?" Ruby asked.

"Split up?" Jared asked. "Split up?! No, we're not doing it the Scooby Doo way!"

"It's not that bad." Nora said, putting her hand on Ren's shoulder. "Ren and I can cut through the mountains while you, Jaune, and Ruby take Qrow around through the village."

"No, Jared's right, we're supposed to stick together! We keep each other safe!" Jaune said, as Jared nodded his head.

"We don't have time for safe! If we make it to Mistral, we'll bring back help! If we don't, at least we'll have a better view of the land! Up there, we can see if there's somewhere else we can go!" Nora said.

Ren turns and looks at Nora. They exchange small, affectionate smiles. Still holding his gaze, Nora drops her hand from his shoulder. All five remain silent, feeling the weight of the choice before them. Qrow coughs, making them all turn in concern and giving the motive to continue.

"Yeah, I can't afford to lose Qrow. Because besides me, he knows a lot more of what's going on. Hell, even a lot more." Jared said.

Jaune looks at Ruby and Jared before turning to Nora and Ren.

"OK." Jaune said, stepping forward and he and Ren hug each other. "Just take care of each other."

"We always have." Nora said, smiling at Ren.

On the path to Kuroyuri, Jaune and Jared lift Qrow, with Ruby taking the lead. They turn to Nora and Ren, who are on the path through the mountains to Mistral. They nod and Nora waves. Ren starts to turn, looks back one more time, and then runs. Nora follows.

There is a split Team RNJR and Jared going in separate directions before Ruby looks behind at Jaune and Jared.

"They're gonna be fine, Jaune." Ruby said, confidently, offering comfort.

"You don't know that." Jaune said.

"Well, I know that we can't lose hope." Jared said, smiling. "Even so, we're halfway there."

Ruby turns forward, her expression saddening. Moving forward, Jared's step leaves an imprint on the ground, shortly after overlapped by Jaune's own. Their footsteps tread over another, larger mark—the same one discovered in Shion.