I found myself in a grocery store, it's the same one Dad shops at. It had a drink bar so I went to get a drink. "Strawberry Sunrise, oh, and could you put one of those little umbrellas in there too? Love those things." I said, "Hey miss! Have you seen this lady?!" a little girl asked as she tugged on my jacket, I looked down and found my six-year-old self looking up at me showing me her only picture of Raven, "Yang! Sorry about that, she should know her manners." Dad said, "It's alright." I said, "Why are you looking for her, kiddo?" I asked, "Cause she's my mom, I wanna meet her." Mini-me said, "I can tell you this, I do know her. Not well, but enough to know that right now, you're not ready." I said, "Where is she?" Dad asked, "Here you are." the attendant said as he handed me my drink, "Ask Qrow." I said, "Who are you?" He asked, 'Crap I can't give him my real name!' I thought as I blurted out the first lie I could think of, "Alyx, Alyx After, but you can just call me Sir." I said, "DON'T SCREW WITH ME!" he snapped, "You're scaring the kids, calm down." I said, "You're right, come on, let's go kids." he said.
I'm not sure why I decided to follow them. Maybe I knew what was coming next. But I knew exactly what was coming when I watched Mini-me leave with Ruby in a wagon. I followed the toddlers from the shadows. I noticed that Grimm were gathering and there were way more than I thought there would be. I sent a message to Qrow and ran into battle. I held the line, beating down Grimm after Grimm, I shot and killed any of the smaller ones that got past me. I didn't attempt to fool myself into thinking that I could kill them all, I just had to kill enough and hold them back long enough for Qrow to arrive. But with my strength depleting and with how many Grimm there were, I started doubting that I'd last long enough for Qrow to get here. More and more Grimm were getting past me, they were getting bigger too. "RUBY!" Mini-me cried, "NO!" I screamed as I tried to get to the kids, thankfully Qrow arrived and killed the remaining Grimm. "Guess I still have some work to do." I sighed as I fell back against a tree only for Qrow to point his blade at me, "Start talking." He ordered, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you my story." I said, "Then convince me that you're not an enemy." he said, "Aside from saving your nieces? Well then why don't I tell you my favorite fairy tale?" I said, "So you know about them." he said, "And Salem and me and my friends are gonna stop her." I said before he sheathed his sword, "I don't trust you, but you kept my nieces safe till I got here and told me where to find them, so let's call it even. Just know that this is your one, you're getting out of here alive because I owe you and this is me clearing the slate." he said as he took a swig from his flask, "You're drunk." I said, "And so what if I am." he said, "Nothing, it's just been a while since I've seen you like this. It's nostalgic I guess." I said, "Just who exactly are you?" he asked, "Oh I'm no one special, just a dragon on her way to a fight she can't possibly win." I said, "Then why fight?" he asked, "Why do you fight?" I said, "Fair point." he said, "Now I should get going, I've got a pretty girl to get back to. Have fun with the crying kids." I said as I walked away. In a bright flash, I found myself holding Blake's hand overlooking Vacuo.
