*BOOM!*
The ground shook from violent impact. The dirt upheaved, little craters forming due to the explosive force being exerted above it. The cause? Yin and Yang had been encouraged to spar by Jaune and Ruby a week into their training.
Given how hard they were being pushed and (miraculously for Jaune) not giving up, they both acquiesced. As long as they didn't go too far.
Yin ducked out of the way of a right cross and struck Yang in the stomach with her palm, leaving deep grooves as Yang slid back along the dirt. The blonde grinned and punched her palm, activating her semblance.
"Why haven't we done this before!? I never knew fighting you would be this fun." Yang laughed, moving back as Yin axe kicked the ground, where she used to be. She then countered with an uppercut that actually managed to lift Yin off the ground.
Yang then leapt up and cocked her fist back. But before she could hit her airborne sister in the back, Yin turned her body and punched her in the face.
"I don't know.. Maybe I was a little too afraid I'd hurt you. But after that last fight? I learned how damn durable you are. Just-" Yin landed on her feet, her words cut off when Yang laughed and tackled her straight through a couple trees.
Yin then dug her heels into the ground and stopped Yang's momentum. She had limited her strength and speed to match Yang's. Though after a minute into their spar, Yang proved she could hit damn hard. Thus she allowed herself to use over half of her full speed.
Yin then activated her own Semblance, pushing back against Yang as the ground cracked beneath them in their clash.
"Damn.." Qrow muttered, watching as the sisters grappled each other a few dozen meters away from the Arc household. The noise alerted him and given how Tai, Summer and the Arc family, except for Jaune had left for Vale to go shopping, he was the only one to come outside, where Ruby, Shia and Jaune were watching the sisters fight.
"Hey Uncle Qrow! Did you see that!? It's like those Hero comics where every fight topples buildings! Oh man.. I can't wait until they use their swords!" Ruby looked ready to hyperventilate from the sheer excitement.
"Yeah! Like that one series with 'Omni-guy'! I didn't know Hunters were that strong.." Jaune added, wanting to closely observe as he held his scroll out.
Qrow then looked at Shia, who was proudly nodding her head at their excitement. Though she was far more relaxed compared to them.
"So.. This is just sparring, right? They're not going too hard but still.. Most lower ranked Huntsmen would get folded out there." Qrow asked Shia quietly.
"Hm? Oh, yes! They're not even close to giving it their all. They're not even hitting each other that hard."
*CRACK!!*
Several more trees were annihilated as Yin dropkicked Yang in the gut. The blonde's body plowing through the forest like a cannonball. Qrow looked at Shia again, only to see her nod.
"These kids are scary.. I'd hate to be the guy that tries to pressure them into Prom-night sex.." He huffed, already imagining some punk kid folded like a pretzel.
"Hahaha..! Oh, we're doing this!? Okay then.." Yin's voice snapped him out of his inner thoughts as a bright yellow nearly blinded him. Knowing what this was, Qrow started to panic. He had felt Yang's magic before, even though it was weak back then. This time, it felt far more focused and powerful.
"Firecracker wai-" His words died before he had a chance to finish when he felt an even stronger magical power from Yin.
The surrounding area was bathed in blue and yellow as the two let loose their fire at each other from their mouths. The blue and yellow flames met in the middle and battled for supremacy before the blue flames won and pushed through the yellow flames. Yang moved away and grinned in excitement.
Thankful his Niece was safe, Qrow released a sigh of relief. Then he realized the forest was now on fire and panicked once again.
"SHIIIIT! Stop! Stop and help put out the fla..mes.." Qrow started running over, waving his hands to get their attention when he saw them both hold their hands out, pulling all of their flames back into their hands to fight again.
"Oh yeah.. Sorry we didn't say anything earlier, Uncle Qrow. They can control.. like.. all of their fire. Cool, right?" Ruby sheepishly laughed.
Qrow threw his hands up and shook his head. "Yeah.. Cool. Guess I was worrying for nothing except excessive damage to the environment. Wait.. kid?"
Qrow looked to Jaune, who had his jaw hanging open while he held his scroll up.
"You're not recording a video.. right?" Qrow gruffly asked. They were freely using magic. He didn't want a bunch of people to see that on WeTube.
"O-Oh uh.. no." Jaune looked away, moving the camera down.
"Goo-" "I was actually streaming... Should I not have..?" Qrow felt his stomach drop. He quickly snatched up the scroll and looked at the stream.
[Blade_Eclipse: Bro focus back on the fight ffs]
[P_J_Sch: Did the cameraman get hit? Let us see the fire again!]
[StinkyFard: On GODS bro 🙏 This is what the internet was made for! Two hot girls punching the f##k outta each other and throwing fire. Cinema 🖐😩🤚]
[Jekyll_et_Hyde: Who is this old ahh man on camera now?]
[chimera_owl: Unc, respectfully gtfo of the camera. We can see all them crow feet and nose hairs 💀]
[NitroMiyazaki: Bro looks like the kinda guy you find at bars at 4am flirting with the underage waitress lmao]
[Ivy_Rouge: LET ME SEE THE FIGHT! The jiggle physics were insane 😭]
[YellowDumpyNoob: Mf talking like he's watching those Cultured Mistalian games 💀]
After reading the onslaught of comments, some of which directly mocking him, Qrow realized how many people were actually watching. Over five thousand. Which means it was very likely going to go viral.
"Fuck.." Qrow cursed, abruptly ending the stream, much to the disappointment of the viewers.
"Swear jar..!" Ruby yelled in the background.
*Ring~ Ring~*
Qrow groaned and pulled out his own scroll, seeing Ozpin's caller ID.
"Fuuuuck..." Qrow dragged his hand down his face. He had to answer, though he could already tell his vacation time was soon ending.
"SWEAR JAR!" Ruby protested louder.
"Hello Qrow. Good job cutting the stream off. I'll need you to bring Miss Yin and Yang over here to Beacon as soon as you're able. Preferably today." Ozpin stated, his voice tinged with interest, urgency and something else he couldn't identify yet. Either way, he left no room for negotiations.
"I.. uh.." Qrow cleared his throat, but Ozpin continued.
"And I won't ask why you hadn't felt the need to contact me upon finding out Raven's wayward daughter had returned to you. Nor for how long. I need you to bring her here." Qrow slumped in defeat.
"She might not agree..." Qrow replied tiredly.
The line went silent for a few moments as Ozpin considered the reason why Yin might refuse. Two main ideas came to mind.
"Do you think Raven influenced her? With how your sister feels about me, it's possible she's got it into her head that I'm not to be trusted. Or.. perhaps she made contact with her?" Ozpin thought aloud, his tone shifting into paranoia.
Qrow sighed before nipping Ozpin's thoughts in the bud, "No. She's a good kid. Loves her family. She's even been training Yang, Jaune and Ruby. Listen.. I'll tell her you want to see her. But I can't force her to go. I'll let you know what she says, okay? Talk to you in a bit."
Qrow hung up before Ozpin could raise an argument. He was very persuasive when it came to getting people to do what he wanted. Best way to win in this situation was to simply cut him off before he could try.
"So, the old man wants to see me?" Qrow turned around with a tired smirk, seeing Yin and Yang behind him with folded arms.
"Ah.. yeah. Your fight was streamed. Think it'll go viral too. Oz saw you use magic and he's been interested in you since we had Yang see him."
The last part made Yin narrow her eyes on Qrow. That Ozpin had seen Yang. Before her full awakening, yes. But there's no way he could miss her potential.
"Fine. Tomorrow then. Gives me time to warn Yang about him anyway." Yin replied, rotating her shoulders to release the sudden tension.
Qrow frowned, "He's not perfect but whatever your Mom said.."
Yin raised her finger to stop him and shook her head.
"I know he's not a 'bad guy', Uncle. But can you tell me with a straight face that he's not manipulative?" Yin asked with a half glare.
Qrow opened his mouth but he couldn't refute her claim. He'd seen it. Maybe Ozpin didn't realize he was, or had no intention to be but he truly was manipulative. Granted, it served a greater purpose but still, it didn't change that he was.
"Yeah, thought so. Alright, let's clean up. Jaune, start running. You'll be doing ten kilometers and two hundred sets of push ups, sit ups and squats."
The blond boy instantly started to groan. All he wanted to do was show off what he considered his cool and hot teachers. Nobody his age in Domremy believed he actually trained, so he figured streaming would actually show them.
"Do you need me to chase you? Start running, Noodle!" Yin's growl made him spring up and start running immediately. He really didn't want to be on the receiving end of one of her punches..
"Sis? You seem kinda miffed. What's up with Ozpin? He seems like a good guy." Yang asked, tapping Yin's shoulder in concern.
Yin ignored Qrow as he nodded along. Taking Yang's hand, she pulled her along as they moved away from Qrow. While Shia distracted Ruby with her hammer.
"Don't always trust what Ozpin will tell you in the future. His intentions are likely good- No.. Actually.. in this universe he might be a morally grey Aizen.." Yin sighed before continuing. "He's keeping things to himself. Even from Uncle Qrow. To an extent, I understand why.. But regardless, I wouldn't put it past him to consider both of us pawns."
Yang cupped her chin in thought. Ozpin didn't seem untrustworthy to her. But if her sister was telling her to be careful, she would. Above all, she trusted Yin the most.
"Well alright.. Mind telling me what his deal is though? So we're on the same page?"
Yin nodded unhesitantly.
"Sure. I was gonna let you know anyway. Just slipped my mind until now. Here's the deal.."
Yin then explained Salem, the brother Gods, the extinction of the old human race, the immortality and the shadow war between Ozpin and Salem. Yang was certainly a bit surprised, but given she's had more outlandish things happen around her, plus Hecate's little exposition, she accepted it rather easily.
They even started to joke at Ozpin's expense..
"You're for real telling me.. He messed up the wording when asking Jinn? Not 'how can Salem be stopped'? Or 'How can Salem's plan be thwarted'? Wow..! Couldn't be me." Yang snorted.
"Pff-hahahaha!!" Yin laughed before joking herself.
"So many options and he asks how to kill an immortal.. Damn, his braincells took a vacation that day huh?"
Qrow, hearing them both laugh relaxed a little. Not knowing they were both dunking on the man he looked up to the most.
-☆-♤-☆-♤-☆-♤-☆-
The next day Qrow had called in a Bullhead to Domremy. Given he couldn't leave Jaune and Ruby alone to do Gods know what, he had taken them both too. Something he came to regret when Jaune hunched over and projectile vomited on his shirt.
"Fuck! Not my shirt! Augh.. it's even inside!" Qrow complained as they walked off the Bullhead's ramp.
Yin, Yang, Ruby and Shia snickered at his misfortune.
"Just let it dry and scrape it off, Uncle. It'll be fine." Yin advised as they stepped away from the platform and entered the Vale station.
Qrow grumbled and gave a pale Jaune the evil eye before replying, "Yeah yeah.. Not the first time I've been barfed on.."
"You mean like when the rest of team STRQ found you post-coitus with a drunk girl, passed out with barf of your di-" "AH! No! Not in front of Ruby.. Psh.. Of course Rae told you that story.." Qrow grumbled in frustration.
"Gross.." Shia stated as she scrunched up her face.
"Yeah. You should hear all the other team STRQ stories I've been-.. Hm..?" Yin stopped, her hand shooting out and grabbing onto a distinctly slender hand that was reaching into her pocket.
Her eyes locked onto the dark skinned woman with green hair, who was staring back at her like she'd seen a ghost. Her ruby red eyes shaking, as if the act of catching her should have been impossible. Of course, Yin recognized her and the situation they were in after a few moments.
Emerald Sustrai, Cinder's fangirl before she left after being neglected. She was currently attempting to pickpocket her. She likely used her Semblance, not realizing Yin could see right through it.
'What to do...' A dozen thoughts ran through Yin's head, most of them deciding if she should simply kill Emerald here and now to avoid the trouble she'd cause later.
But then she saw how young she was. A teenager, maybe no older than her. So there was a chance that Cinder hadn't gotten to her yet. If that was the case..
Yin's hand released her wrist. Emerald saw it move too quickly for her to move and closed her eyes, fearing the retaliation that often came with pickpocketing.
*Pat~*
Only it never came..
She looked up and saw Yin, the girl she had tried to pickpocket earlier patting her head with a small smile.
"You've had it rough huh?"
[I desire more stones!! Feed me! So I may reach za top!]