[RWBY] RWBY Shorts

[Bommel]

For one reason or another Jaques needs an alliance with the Arc family. During the negotiations a deal is struck for an arranged marriage. Not wanting to waste Weiss Jaques forces Winter by taking advantage of her protective nature.



Given time of from the military to get to know him she travels to Beacon and they start to hit things off. The problem is Weiss started having feelings for Jaune after the dance and now that has to either give for him or watch her sister steal him away.

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It would be even more hilarious if Winter was secretly already married to someone else.

Alternative idea from this; Jacques and the Arcs sign an arranged marriage contract, and Jacques leaves it a bit open ended so that at least one of his daughters needs to marry Jaune, and annulling any previous marriages.
But in his eagerness to marry someone off, he messed up the wording and now Jaune is engaged to all of the Schnee women, including Willow, anulling his own marriage in the process and thus removing him the CEO ot the SDC.
The only way to fix this is if Willow signs something to cancel the terms of that contract, which she absoluely refuses to do now that she has a perfect way out of the abusive relationship with Jacques (Jaune also needs to sign, but that's not relevent as long as Willow is refusing anyway).

Willow is also more than a little exited for the wedding and the consummation of the marriage, partually because of what kind of a middle finger it would be to Jacques, and partually because she has heard rumors about the prowess of the Arcs in the bedroom.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

A few fun prompts. It's still Dragonslayer Week, get some work done!

-Yang is secretly a Gunpla fan. She shared the hobby with Ruby but stopped when puberty hit and she got popular. But she has some spare time at Beacon and she wants to go for it. So she heads into a shop... And sees Jaune looking for Gunpla to buy. They talk. Jaune is a novice at Gunpla but really wants to get into it. She asks if she can help him build it, he agrees, and they bond over nerdiness!

-Sun asks Jaune to go with him on a double date with Blake. Jaune asks Yang, reasoning it will be less awkward if Blake's partner is there and they are friends. Jaune and Yang hit it off during the date and Sun and Blake's relationship gets stronger.

-Yang's been doing more investigating into her mom. Jaune learns about it and volunteers to ask his family around and see what they can do. Yang is skeptical, but Jaune's Aunt Irene and Uncle Brand are able to track her down. And his other family members hold her down so Yang can get some catharsis. Yang appreciates all Jaune has done for her, and asks him out on a date. He accepts.

-Raven kidnaps Jaune to test him and see if he's good enough for her daughter. In this version Raven isn't a deadbeat, she's actually doing important work in secret and trying to protect her family by drawing Salem's attention away from them.

 

[Handspan]

Raven kidnaps Jaune to test him and see if he's good enough for her daughter. In this version Raven isn't a deadbeat, she's actually doing important work in secret and trying to protect her family by drawing Salem's attention away from them.

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Easiest way to explain that is she became the summer Maiden accidentally. So she doesn't visit her daughter often, but she does send her letters and call her frequently.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

The dorm room was pitch-black, save for the faint glow of moonlight slipping through the curtains, when Ruby Rose's frantic voice pierced the silence. "Jaune! Jaune!" Her small hands shook Jaune Arc's shoulders, rousing him from a deep sleep. Blinking groggily, he squinted up at her, her silver eyes wide and pleading as she loomed over his bed at 1 AM—an increasingly annoying habit.

"Hnn? What?" Jaune mumbled, rubbing his eyes. "What did Blake do now?"

"It's not Blake, it's Yang," Ruby said, her voice a mix of worry and urgency.

Jaune sighed, sitting up and running a hand through his messy blond hair. "Okay… what happened?"

"I-I just know she needs a tow… and you have a driver's license… so, um… could you go help her?" Ruby's puppy-dog eyes were dialed to maximum, her hands clasped together in a desperate plea.

Jaune stared at his best friend, his resolve crumbling under her gaze. "Wh-Why can't Weiss or Blake help?"

"We're not allowed to leave campus again because of our detention!" Ruby said, her voice rising. "Which was totally Blake's fault, by the way—!"

"Okay, okay…" Jaune sighed, swinging his legs out of bed. "I'll go help her."

"Thank you!" Ruby squeaked, bouncing on her toes before darting out.

Grumbling under his breath, Jaune made his way to Vale, his Hunter-in-Training ID smoothing the way to rent a beat-up truck. The late-night streets were quiet, the city's neon lights casting long shadows as he drove to the coordinates Ruby had texted, his annoyance simmering. When he spotted Yang Xiao Long sitting on the sidewalk, his irritation faltered. She looked listless, her lilac eyes dull as she stared at the wreckage of her beloved motorcycle, Bumblebee, its yellow frame battered and twisted. Jaune winced, pulling the truck to a stop.

"Yang? Yang, you okay?" he called, hopping out.

Yang blinked, her gaze lifting slowly. "Huh? Oh, uh, hey, VB." Her eyes widened at the truck. "You got a truck?"

"Well, Ruby said you needed a tow," Jaune said, scratching his neck.

"Yeah…" Yang sighed, her shoulders slumping as she glanced at Bumblebee.

"What happened?" Jaune asked, crouching beside her.

"…I poked a hornet's nest for some info, and, well… my baby got in the crossfire," Yang admitted, her voice heavy.

Jaune eyed the motorcycle's mangled frame and winced again. "Geez… yeah. That's pretty beat up."

They worked together to heft Bumblebee into the truck's rear bed, the silence between them thick but not uncomfortable. Jaune slid into the driver's seat, Yang settling beside him, her usual fire dimmed. He glanced at her, then fiddled with the radio, landing on a late-night soul station, its smooth melodies filling the cab.

"Uh… how about some music?" he offered.

"…Sure," Yang murmured, staring out the window.

Jaune stole another glance, her morose expression tugging at him. "You… you're gonna fix her up though, right?"

Yang's voice was soft, uncertain. "I… I'm gonna try… I've always fixed her up before, but…" She shook her head. "She was a wreck when I found her, but I put her back together. Made her run. She's my baby… but this much damage? I don't even want to imagine how much it'll cost." Her eyes glistened, her voice dropping. "I don't know if you can understand… but getting her? Making her mine? Just taking her out on the road? I felt… free."

Jaune's grip tightened on the wheel, his voice quiet but earnest. "…I spent most of my childhood in the hospital. I remember this one time my dad took me out for a ride on his motorcycle. He held me in front and drove, just flying down the roads. I felt… I felt like a bird, going so fast. It was just… a perfect moment of freedom. This feeling that… that I wasn't small or weak. When I got older, I started working on his bikes with the rest of the farm equipment. He let me take rides on his bike… I remember the first ride I took by myself. I was scared out of my mind, but that… that feeling of freedom? That came back in full. It was even better. So… so I get it, Yang. I do. She's more than a bike… she's your friend."

Yang's lips curved into a soft smile, her eyes warming as she looked at him. "Yeah. I mean… I'm not giving up. It's just… it's gonna take a while."

The sadness lingered in her gaze, and Jaune nodded slowly, a plan sparking in his mind.

- - -

A few days later, Yang trudged into the Beacon garage, her boots scuffing the concrete. Her attempts to repair Bumblebee had stalled, the spare parts she needed months out of reach. She steeled herself for another disheartening look at her bike's broken frame, but when she opened the garage door, her jaw dropped. Boxes of spare parts—painted her favorite shade of yellow—were neatly stacked around Bumblebee's hulk, ready to be installed. Jaune stood nearby, unloading one last box, his grin bright as he caught sight of her.

"Oh! Hey, Yang!" he called, wiping sweat from his brow.

Yang's voice was a stunned whisper. "Wha… what's all this, VB?"

"Well, I, uh, asked my dad if he knew anyone with the spare parts you needed, since your model of bike is similar to one of his," Jaune said, scratching his neck. "And he sent me all these parts!" He winced. "I, um, still had to pay for it, but it was at a discount!"

Yang moved through the boxes, her fingers brushing over the parts—used but in solid condition. Her lilac eyes flicked to Jaune, who stood there, a touch awkward but earnest.

"So… why?"

Jaune blinked. "Why? Why what?"

"I mean, why do this for me?" Yang asked, her voice soft but searching.

Jaune's smile was warm, his tone simple. "Because you're my friend. And she's your friend. And you help your friends out… I mean, does it have to be any more complicated than that?"

Yang's throat tightened, her voice barely above a whisper. "I… I guess not… but…" She crossed the distance in a heartbeat, pulling him into a tight hug. "Thank you."

Jaune's cheeks flushed, but he hugged her back, his arms steady. "Any time… well, um, almost any time. It was still pretty expensive."

Yang giggled, pulling back with a grin. "Yeah, I imagine… you're gonna be okay, right?"

"Yeah," Jaune said, his grin turning wry. "It's actually less than I have to pay when I take my team out to lunch."

Yang's eyebrows shot up. "Seriously?"

"Nora is an eating machine," Jaune said, a haunted look crossing his face. "My wallet will never recover."

Yang laughed, the sound bright and genuine. "Heh… so, um… you busy?"

Jaune tilted his head. "No. Why?"

"Wanna help me fix her up?" Yang asked, her grin softening. "You did get the parts, and you have some experience."

Jaune hesitated, his voice gentle. "I… are you sure? She's your baby—"

"Yeah," Yang said, her eyes warm, "and you're helping to bring her back to life. So… what do you say, Stud?"

Jaune's grin widened, a spark of confidence in his eyes. "I'd like that…"

They got to work, Jaune pausing as he began unscrewing a panel on Bumblebee's frame. "But, Stud? Why that?"

Yang's smile was playful, her voice teasing. "You've earned it."

Jaune chuckled, his tone light but bold. "Huh… works for me, Spitfire."

Yang's cheeks flushed, her voice rising in mock protest. "H-Hey! You can't just call me that!"

"Why not?" Jaune asked, his grin mischievous. "You have your nickname for me, I have one for you. Isn't that fair?"

"You have to go for the most obvious one?" Yang huffed, crossing her arms.

"How about Sunshine?" Jaune offered, his voice sincere. "Because you brighten my day!"

Yang's blush deepened, her hand covering her mouth as she muttered, "G-Geez! Take it easy, Ladykiller!"

Jaune blinked, genuinely confused. "What? I mean it sincerely!"

Yang mumbled under her breath, "Yeah, that's the problem."

"Huh?" Jaune asked, leaning closer.

"Nothing!" Yang said loudly, turning to the bike. "Let's get to work already! Time's a wasting!"

Jaune grinned, picking up a wrench. "All right, all right… as you wish, Sunshine."

Yang's pleased blush was impossible to hide, though she tried, her voice soft. "G-Geez…"

 

[ThunderBasilisk]

Nice and wholesome

 

[AndrewJTalon]

A lot of people might have been upset that they got a pickup truck for their birthday. Jaune was pumped! Sure, it was an old, rough, dented truck, but it was HIS! His baby!

A blue pickup, maybe something like this:

So, what's her name, and what misadventures happen with it?

 

[SharkCultist]

A few fun prompts. It's still Dragonslayer Week, get some work done!

-Yang is secretly a Gunpla fan. She shared the hobby with Ruby but stopped when puberty hit and she got popular. But she has some spare time at Beacon and she wants to go for it. So she heads into a shop... And sees Jaune looking for Gunpla to buy. They talk. Jaune is a novice at Gunpla but really wants to get into it. She asks if she can help him build it, he agrees, and they bond over nerdiness!

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Go the Gundam build fighters route because I can only imagine one thing.

"There's no way you're gonna win with that thing."

"Aw come on nobody is gonna expect to get rolled by a RB-79 even a custom one. I've got the element of surprise on my side!"

*Jaune pats a small bright red Ball gunpla. It's bigger than a normal one and the gun on it has been replaced with a big pointy bit*

[The qualifiers are beginning! We have Cardin Winchester with his Burning Devil Gundam and his opponent Jaune Arc with the...Rumble Ball Amazing?"

Jaune quickly runs to his point on the stage and sets his small machine on the field across from the behemoth of a craft Cardin made that is just within regulation size and weight.

It is not even a contest.

Jaunes Ball tears through Cardins Gundam like a possessed bounce ball in a hurricane. The entire time Jaune is cackling like a madman.

"Rumble and Roar my Gunpla!"

---

If I decide to do a part two to this thing I'll just say one thing.

Jaunes Gunpla has a secret to it.

 

[TheFabulousCustodes]

A lot of people might have been upset that they got a pickup truck for their birthday. Jaune was pumped! Sure, it was an old, rough, dented truck, but it was HIS! His baby!

A blue pickup, maybe something like this:

So, what's her name, and what misadventures happen with it?

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Jaune drives the truck to Beacon, and to make money along the way he does odd jobs.

 

[The Brotherhood of Steel]

"Aw come on nobody is gonna expect to get rolled by a RB-79 even a custom one. I've got the element of surprise on my side!"

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Jaune should use a bog standard ball for extra insult.

 

[SharkCultist]

Jaune should use a bog standard ball for extra insult.

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I couldn't resist the allure of anime.

Spoiler: Possible part 2 spoilers

so of course it's a transforming mobile suit for the mid battle protagonist upgrade in the finals

 

[Dragon Bob]

So, what's her name, and what misadventures happen with it?

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That truck has a higher Grimm kill count than some Huntsmen. Both before and after Jaune got it.
His parents being the over protective loving nut jobs they are got him a used truck that's basically a tank in terms of durability.
He drove it to beacon and ended up using it to kill a bunch of Grimm. It also may or may not have some level of sentience. It struggles to start sometimes, usually right when Jaune should be staying where he is, or when someone besides Jaune tries to start it. But when Jaune needs to go fast it has no troubles at all.

Actually building on that. Juniper wasn't sure about getting her baby boy a truck, he was talking about becoming a Huntsman and begging for training. Eventually she compromised with her Nick by buying an old extremely safe truck, that didn't currently run. She could hope that fixing up the car would distract Jaune from his wild dream, and if he got it working he would be safe in it, but if he didn't she could say they tried.
Jaune was super excited when he first got his truck, he cleaned it, tuned it up, and couldn't wait to drive it around. But it wouldn't start. No matter what he did, nothing seemed to fix the problem, eventually the replacement parts would have cost more than getting a new Truck. Something his Mom was constantly pushing back. Jaune eventually figures out that his mother never really wanted him to fix up the car and it's the final straw, at this point Jaune sees himself in the car, beaten and bruised, everyone else thinks it's broken and worthless, but it still can be great. He let's out all his feelings about his parents holding him back after one final try to fix the car. Finally he decides to run away and go to Beacon, saying as much. And then to his shock, the truck starts when he turns the key. What follows is Jaune quickly grabbing what he can from the house and leaving in the night.
Maybe even Nick or one of his sisters catches him as he's leaving and gives him Crocea Mors before he leaves.
Cue Jaune traveling to Vale helping people out for gas money and getting the connections needed to forge a transcript.

 

[RustedSands]

Penny is invited by Jaune, Ruby and Yang to watch their favorite old science fiction shows. In 4K. Unfortunately now it's easy to see all the imperfections in the sets, make up, carpeting, the things the crew left behind, outlets, power cords, when the doors don't close properly, bloopers, and so on.

It becomes a bit of a miserable experience since Penny can't help but point it all out. Which kind of ruins the immersion. A lot.

Yes it is inspired by this video:


View: https://youtu.be/yzJqarYU5Io

My childhood's already been destroyed so it wasn't that bad. But for hyper nerds like Jaune and Ruby, it'll be horrible.

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Dunno if somebody alread said this but i'm imagining Jaune, Nora, and either yang or Coco watching old scifi films and just pulling a mystery science theatre.

 

[The Brotherhood of Steel]

Dunno if somebody alread said this but i'm imagining Jaune, Nora, and either yang or Coco watching old scifi films and just pulling a mystery science theatre.

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Coco as a closeted nerd needs to be more of a thing.

 

[SharkCultist]

Dunno if somebody alread said this but i'm imagining Jaune, Nora, and either yang or Coco watching old scifi films and just pulling a mystery science theatre.

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Yang learned a long time ago never to watch a sci-fi movie with RWBY because she'll nitpick and theorize over every single weapon she sees.

They quickly learn Coco is a heckler and talks shit about the outfits.

So they go fuck it and are just sitting there having a running commentary on these movies. Talking shit and making jokes.

Completely unaware that one of their teammates are filming this and uploading it.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Some ideas for Jaune having a truck:

-Jaune is now the taxi driver for basically the entire Academy, as he's one of the few students with his own vehicle. He can charge for his services. You can have all sorts of misadventures where he drives characters around with lots of character development.

-Jaune was hoping to just go to the beach on his own and relax for a while. He loves his friends but he needs some me time! And... Yeah, he gets a load of tagalongs.

-Jaune tries to use old Bessy as a weapon against Grimm. It's super effective.

 

[SharkCultist]

-Jaune tries to use old Bessy as a weapon against Grimm. It's super effective.

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"Why the fuck did you retrofit your entire truck with aura reactive metal?!"

"I liked the shine!"

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Yang has learned that Jaune Arc's mother, Doctor Isabel Arc, is one of the strongest hand to hand fighters in Vale's history. So she decides to test herself against her. How hard could it be?

Yang-centric, Action/Drama, Original Character, One-Shot. For Dragonslayer Week 2025.

- - -


Yang Xiao-Long had looked up Isabel Arc, and the woman's record was nothing short of staggering. A former Huntress who had overthrown a corrupt government and battled a Grimm Hydra, Isabel was a legend in her own right. Yang, ever the martial artist, burned with curiosity to test the strength of Jaune's mother for herself. When she learned Isabel was visiting Beacon to volunteer, Yang seized her chance. She found Isabel meditating in a field of ruins just outside the academy, dressed in her usual green dress, white labcoat, and glasses, exuding a serene calm. Despite having eight children, Isabel's presence was striking—her martial prowess evident in her controlled movements, and Yang couldn't help but note, with a touch of awe, that she was still undeniably attractive.

Without opening her eyes, Isabel spoke, her voice steady. "Hello, Yang. What can I do for you?"

Yang, caught off guard but not entirely surprised—her stealth wasn't exactly top-notch—grinned and shrugged. "Heyah, Doc Arc!" she said, her carefree smile masking the thrill and slight unease of being so easily detected. "What's up?"

"Not much," Isabel said with a soft, curious smile, "Something on your mind?"

Slamming her fist into her palm, Yang's eyes gleamed with determination. "From what I heard, you're the one to beat. Figured while you're here, I could see why."

Isabel stood, stretching and rolling her shoulders, her tone measured. "It's been a very long time since I was a Huntress, Yang. Glynda Goodwitch outclasses me-"

"Yeah, but not in hand to hand. Everyone says you're still incredible," Yang insisted. "I also heard that my mom… Fears you."

Isabel raised an eyebrow.

"Does she?"

"Do you not know?" Yang asked. Maybe Qrow had been exaggerating… In which case, she needed to know. If Yang wanted answers from Raven, she'd likely have to fight for them, and what better way to gauge her own strength than by challenging the one person who made Raven back down?

"It was a long time since we last fought," Isabel mused. She shook her head. "Still… Is that a good enough reason to fight me?"

"Yes!" Yang nodded.

"You really want to see where you stand?" Isabel asked, her gaze piercing. Yang nodded eagerly.

"More than anything," Yang whispered, her voice carrying the weight of a shout in the quiet ruins.

Isabel studied her carefully, before she nodded.

"All right," she agreed, slipping on worn black-and-white fighting gloves and assuming a loose, graceful Taekwondo stance.

"I take it Taiyang taught you South Mistralian Kickboxing? That was his style," she said, cracking her neck.

Yang nodded, admitting she'd never quite mastered the kicking but excelled in other aspects. She settled into her own stance, mentally and physically bracing herself. Isabel, still perfectly calm, invited Yang to make the first move, her demeanor suggesting Yang posed no threat—an attitude that sparked a flicker of irritation in the younger fighter.

A wind swept through the ruins as Yang launched her attack, throwing an aura-infused haymaker followed by rapid jabs aimed at Isabel's midsection. She aimed to overwhelm with sheer force, testing the waters, fully expecting Isabel to dodge or block. To her shock, Isabel didn't move an inch, effortlessly slapping away each punch with one hand, as if shooing a bee.

"Well… It's a very polished style," Isabel remarked, her voice almost casual. "Extremely direct."

Without warning, Yang charged, closing the distance in a heartbeat, her fist snapping out in a quick jab at Isabel's head. Isabel's frown was subtle as she parried the punch with a fluid motion, her foot sweeping out to trip Yang, sending her stumbling past. Yang's aura flared, her hair sparking, but she spun back, undeterred, unleashing a flurry of punches, each one fueled by her Semblance's growing heat.

Isabel's face remained a mask of indifference, her movements precise as she parried every strike without shifting from her spot, her hand deflecting Yang's gauntlet-powered blows with an ease that bordered on insulting. The stalemate grated on Yang's nerves, her patience fraying as she mixed in reckless kicks and wild punches, her aura blazing brighter, hoping to land even a single hit. Isabel's frown deepened, and with a swift motion, she caught one of Yang's punches in her palm, her grip like iron. Yang growled and dashed back. Isabel raised an eyebrow.

"Are you upset I'm not putting in more effort?" She smiled wryly. "I suppose that is unfair of me."

"Honestly, a little, yeah…" Yang said, her voice sharp but teasing, "but then again, I wasn't really expecting you to take me seriously to begin with. So this is all just par for the course."

With a burst of speed, she darted to what she thought was Isabel's blind spot, her fist rocketing toward her side.

Isabel shifted, her movement a blur, catching Yang's punch in her palm. With a fluid twist, she executed a judo throw, sending Yang hurtling toward a nearby column. The impact shook the ground, Yang's breath exploding from her lungs as she crashed upside-down, her hair tangled with dirt.

Damn, Yang thought, gasping, she has to be faster than Ruby, at least! At short range!

"I do hope that wasn't your best," Isabel said gently, but with a hint of challenge in her eyes. Yes, despite her age and maturity... There was a spark in the doctor's eyes. The thrill of the fight. Yang grinned.

She scrambled up, bloodied but unbowed, her eyes locked on Isabel, who hadn't moved far, her hands now both engaged—a small victory. Yang resumed her fighting stance, her aura flaring, her voice rough.

"You want me at my best, fine then!" She slammed her foot down, her Semblance igniting fully, flames licking around her, her body ablaze with righteous fury, burning with the intensity of a small sun.

Isabel's smile was encouraging, genuine. "Good!"

Before Yang could blink, Isabel dashed forward, unleashing a barrage of jabs, punches, and kicks—each strike a hammer blow, faster and stronger than anything Yang had faced. Yang blocked what she could, each impact like stopping a truck, her aura straining. She retaliated, using the momentum to fuel her Semblance, searching for an opening. She didn't need to match Isabel's quantity—just one quality hit, one punch to make her feel it, to prove Yang was on the right path.

Isabel switched tactics, her attacks now like an avalanche of boulders—punches, kicks, knees, elbows, relentless and precise. Yang endured, her blocks faltering against the onslaught, her aura dwindling.

She pushed past the pain, the frustration, the torrent of emotions her Semblance amplified, waiting for her moment.

There! An opening!

Yang's fist surged through Isabel's guard, connecting with her jaw, snapping her head back.

But in that split second, Yang's vision filled with Isabel's fist, perfectly placed where her head was aimed. Yang's own momentum carried her into it, and blackness swallowed her.

Yang came to, birds singing faintly, the scent of Healing Dust sharp in the air. She lay at the bottom of a crater, her body aching, her hair a mess of dirt and singed strands. Isabel knelt beside her, channeling Aura through glowing Healing Dust, her blue eyes filled with worry and guilt.

"Yang? Yang, are you all right?"

Yang tried to speak, but pain seared her chest, reducing her to a pained moan. Isabel winced, channeling more Aura, the pain easing to a dull ache, then fading as Yang's Aura rallied.

"Better? Any pain anywhere?" Isabel asked, her voice soft but anxious.

Yang wanted to be mad—her hair was ruined—but she couldn't muster it. She'd forced Isabel to use her full strength, even if it was by instinct. A weak chuckle escaped her, followed by a cough.

"…Y-you really are the one to beat… hehe… Jaune wasn't kidding, and neither was anybody else."

Isabel's expression softened, but her voice was firm.

"I'm not a measuring stick, Yang." Her mask was unreadable, but her eyes held a quiet challenge. "Why do you want to think of me that way?"

Yang closed her eyes, an unapologetic smile tugging at her lips. "Because you're 'not a measuring stick'…" Her tone turned serious, her voice steady despite the ache. "…you're the top in hand to hand combat for Huntresses, and I wanna reach it someday. So if I'm ever going to, I need to see where I'm at now, and understand whether the path I'm on will lead me there."

Isabel's gaze softened, a faint smile breaking through. "…You know, my path led me to the top. And then… I retired. I raised a family. I became a doctor, to heal rather than harm." She shook her head, her voice heavy. "A civilization that has to rely on children to defend it from monsters…"

Yang's eyes opened, her curiosity piqued.

"It... Shouldn't be that way," Isabel sighed. "But it is what it is."

Yang scowled.

"My dad said the same thing about my mom," she growled. She punched her palm with her other fist. "I hate that saying. Like... There's nothing that can be done. Nothing you can do to change things!"

Isabel shook her head, her tone becoming gentler. "There are some things you can't change, Yang. No matter how strong you are. The truth is, Yang… I knew Raven. I knew her… and you're better off without her in your life. Behind all her anger and bluster and strength… was a little girl too scared to make a different decision than what her parents wanted her to."

Yang's breath caught, her heart twisting at the mention of her mother. She scowled up at her.

"I want to hear it from her."

Isabel's next words cut deeper. "You won't get a better answer than that."

"Maybe I'll find out for myself," Yang huffed. Isabel nodded.

"If that's what you want, all right. But that's not much of a goal for getting stronger. Or just to be the best-They'll both just lead to disappointment. So what do you want to get strong for?"

Yang lay silent, her lilac eyes searching the sky, the weight of Isabel's question settling in. She thought of her friends, her family...

"To protect them," she said finally, her voice firm. "To be strong enough so they don't have to be. And... Maybe to see the world. Be free."

Isabel nodded, her smile warm but tinged with sorrow.

"Good answer." She stood, offering a hand. "Come on. Let's get you cleaned up. Jaune will have my head if I break his girlfriend."

"I-I'm not his girlfriend!" Yang insisted, her cheeks bright red. Isabel raised an eyebrow, and Yang flushed. She then shrugged. "I mean… I wouldn't be opposed to it though. If he grew up a little."

"Neither am I," Isabel said warmly, which made Yang feel warmer and lighter.

Yang took her hand, her grin returning, though her body ached. "Deal… but I'm coming for you again, Isabel."

Isabel's laugh was soft, her eyes glinting. "I'd expect nothing less."