"The Catalyst" : A Yang Xiao Long AU! #RWBYWATTYS

Vol.2 / Chapter 19 : "Turning Tables"

Yang was sleeping soundly, her head placed quietly at the edge of Ruby's bed. She was dreaming peacefully, or at least that was what it seemed like.

"Yang..." Whispered an echoey female voice. Yang felt like she'd heard the voice so many times before. It also invoked the emotion known as longing. And also guilt.

"Yang...." Yang couldn't quite register where she was. She could tell that she was standing on something solid, but she couldn't see anything past her body. It was like she was enveloped in shadows.

"Yang...." The voice echoed again. And suddenly Yang knew who the voice belonged to.

"Mom!?" Yang exclaimed as she whipped around.

Yang suddenly shot upwards from her spot on Ruby's bed to find a pleasant surprise calling her name quietly.

"Ruby...."

---

Rei and Thordin glared at each other, Rei's aura increasing in size with each passing second.

Blake and Weiss were in Beacon's infirmary, being tended to by the nurses and doctors that were available, which meant that Rei had nothing to worry about.

"I'm sorry, Popsin. I lied to you. I have to use my full powers. But don't worry..." Rei thought to himself.

"Carla's sacrifice will never be in vain."

Rei's aura suddenly disappeared. Thordin took a small step back, to which Rei responded by rushing forward. He extended his right arm forward, his hand already curled into a fist. Thordin caught the punch easily with his left arm, then threw the fist to his side. He quickly followed up the maneuver by landing a crushing blow to Rei's ribcage, then proceeded to knock Rei into the ground with his free hand. He then kicked Rei, sending his body flying across the cement.

Rei quickly recovered, jumping to his feet to take yet another bone-crushing punch to his face that forced him back slightly. Thordin then effortlessly picked Rei off the ground, grabbing him by placing one hand on his back and another on his chest. Thordin slammed Rei into the ground, much harder than when he had fought Weiss and Blake moments ago. Thordin wasn't finished with him, however. He held Rei by the collar of his shirt, holding him in the air well above the ground.

"Had enough?" Thordin mocked. Rei responded by taking his left hand and grabbing Thordin's arm. This action, however small, irritated Thordin who stood at a massive six-foot eight-inches. Thordin activated his semblance once again, shocking anything touching him and creating multiple lightning bolts he could use later.

Rei screamed in pain as the electricity coursed through his veins. He soon found his mind going blank, cutting off all ties with the outside. The whole stadium echoed his cries of torture, but Rei still wouldn't let loose his hold on Thordin's arm.

"You don't know when to give up, do you?" Thordin asked his victim. He was only responded to by Rei's screams of pain.

---

"Rubes, are you sure you're going to be okay without me?" Yang asked cautiously. Ruby nodded her head slowly, still maintaining her bright smile. She'd only awoken earlier, much to Yang's relief.

"I'll be okay, Yangie. Go check on Rei and the team." Ruby said slowly. She still had a large headache and a few broken bones, which meant no leaving the hospital yet.

"Stay safe, Rubes." Yang commented as she left to check on the match.

---

"You're starting to get annoying." Thordin said as he continually shocked Rei. Rei suddenly latched his other arm onto Thordin's left arm, smiling despite the immense amount of pain he felt.

"I'm just getting started." Rei said as he forcefully pulled Thordin's arms off of him, then leapt upwards and struck a very powerful blow to Thordin's face. This sent the giant reeling, backing up considerably.

Rei quickly dashed forward again, this time spinning in mid-air and landing a devastating kick to Thordin's chin. He quickly struck out with his left fist, extending his arm outward and forcing it to collide with Thordin's eye.

Thordin recovered quickly, charging forward ready to destroy his opponent. Rei quickly responded, using the same maneuver Thordin used on him previously. He quickly placed his left hand on Thordin's back while avoiding Thordin's dash and moving his right hand into place on Thordin's chest. He then quickly flipped Thordin and slammed him into the ground, a large crater being created on impact.

---

"Ozpin...." Glynda breathed, her emerald eyes wide open from shock.

"I know, Glynda. I see it as well. He really is Elliot's son. I would go as far to say that he's inherited the best qualities amongst the two of you. Elliot's undeniable spirit, his will to protect others, your powerful resolve. At the rate his training is going, he'll break the rank of 100 before he is 50." Ozpin looked at Glynda, expecting a smile.

What he saw sent chills down his spine.

Glynda was afraid. But what of? He quickly looked back down at the match, analyzing everything he'd seen. In the short time he's turned away, the match had once again flipped into Thordin's favor.

"However, Rei is a mere rank 41. Going up against any rank above 50 is going to be very difficult for him, almost impossible."

---

Yang arrived just as the tables turned yet again. Thordin effortlessly picked up Rei and slammed him into the ground three times, each time making the earth shake.

"Rei's...... Losing!?!?"