Yang lifts her head, arms as ready for a fight. Taiyang 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 backward 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. 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. I think I'm doing just fine."
"You're close." He stands upright, no longer nursing his arm. Walking around his daughter in a circle, he assesses her progress, "Oh, really?"
"You're still off-balance."
"What?! No, I'm not!"

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 from offscreen, 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."

He sweeps her 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 gives 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."
"Let me guess." In a mocking accent, "I was sloppy."
"No, no, you were predictable. And... stubborn. And... maybe a little boneheaded."

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? Something (Y/n) has always told you not to rely on."

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

Tossing the towel on the ground, Taiyang moves toward Yang. "Because not everyone else's is basically a temper tantrum." He laughs and crouching by her side, "I'm serious! 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. I glad that (Y/n) was there or else it would have been pretty bad."

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."

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

He turns 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, I feel bad to know that (Y/n) was the one to take care of you."
"Why?"

"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 points at Zwei, "That strength is all that matters in a fight. But if you just take a second look, then maybe you see. There is always a way around it." He walks toward her, stepping around Zwei "(Y/n) didn't have to step into our lives and watch over you, yet she did. I was always so busy that she stepped in and became the mother figure that you needed. Sometimes I see how much you mean to her, even when you mess up, she stands beside you." Tai reaches his hand to Yang, "Now enough of the sappy talk. 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, preventing him, and he lands across from her. They face off again, Taiying throwing 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-" 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.

In Atlas, inside of a 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. On the close of her twirl, Weiss holds 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 was propped up against the frame of her open door. The sword shatters and disappears, the glyph fading away after. "Ugh, leave."

"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."
"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?"

Whitley steps away from the door frame, "Hmm... no, not really. 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. Miss (Y/n) may be the only one worthy of being a huntress, yet she decides to take you with her."
"I said, leave."
"Fine, fine. I've got better things to do. Enjoy your... training, however pointless it is."

At the door, Whitley turns around, on hand on the jamb, "What is your plan, anyway? Miss (Y/n) hasn't been in contact from what General Ironwood spoke about 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 decreases 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 backward, 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. She looks out the broken window, "Klein, I need a favor." Klein nods determinedly.

The landscape is looking dreary as Ruby is breathing heavily. "Just hold on, Uncle Qrow." Ruby and Jaune carry Qrow on a makeshift stretcher. Ren is before them on the path, leading the way while Nora brings up the rear. You were clinging on Ajin, as he carried you in his arms, your body was reacting to the poison, you could have killed yourself to restart your body, yet you didn't want to expose your students to seeing their teacher die in front of them. Qrow is groaning in pain and is a touch delirious. "Tai. She's not... coming... Tai" Qrow grunts in pain, he coughs repeatedly. You sadly watch Qrow; the feeling of regret was filling you.

"He's getting worse."
"How much farther?"
"We've gotta be close."
"Without the map, there's no way of knowing. But I feel like we're close to something."
"How are you feeling?" Nora turns to you, a worried look placed in her face. "I'm fine, our focus if to get Qrow help. He took more of a hit than I did."

Ren holsters StormFlower; Ruby looks up, "What is it?"

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. To the left is Kuroyuri, its name crossed out. The path that way remains low ground, "Hey, hey! Mistral! We're on the right path! Oh..."
"Does it say how close?!"
"No. And it looks like the path takes us up the mountains."

Jaune and Ruby set Qrow down, "Guys, I don't know if all of us can make that climb."
Ruby looks at Qrow, concerned, before rushing forward to the signpost.
"Okay. Well, what about this place? Kuro... Kuroyuri? Can we get help there?"
Jaune approaches, as Ren spoke, "That village was destroyed years ago."
"But if it takes us around the mountains, it's the best bet we've got."
"It will take too long."
"The town would have had a doctor, right? Maybe we could scavenge for medicine!"
"Right!"
Ren closes his eyes, lowering his head and shaking it, "We're not going to find anything! We just have to press on!"
"That's enough!" You shout, the teens turned to you, in shock, you have never raised your voice at them, a few birds flew off to the distance. There is just a brief moment of silence. Ruby watches him, clutching her hands before her chest Jaune steps forward, "Ren, why are you acting-" Nora cut Jaune off and went up beside Ren, "We can split up."
"Huh?"

Nora placed her hand on Ren's shoulder, "Ren and I can cut through the mountains while you and Ruby take Qrow around through the village."
"No, we're supposed to stick together! We keep each other safe!"

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

Jaune looks at Ruby before turning to Nora and Ren, "OK."

Jaune steps forward, and he and Ren hug each other, "Just take care of each other."
"We always have."

On the path to Kuroyuri, Jaune, and Ruby lift Qrow. 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. Ruby confidently, offering comfort, "They're gonna be fine, Jaune."
"You don't know that."

Ruby turns forward; her expression was saddening. Moving forward, her step leaves an imprint on the ground, shortly after overlapped by Jaune's own. You looked at the ground seeing that their footsteps tread over another, more substantial mark—the same one discovered in Shion. "Why are you still wondering? I told you long ago to sleep, Nuckelavee." Ajin began to follow Jaune and Ruby.

End of Vol 4 Chapter 9

More to come!
Michaelis