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

Vol3 / Chapter 8 : "The Twist"

---

Rei suddenly awoke, ashes surrounding him.

"What......"

Rei stood up, although his body was sore. The rubble surrounding him looked like the remains of the hospital, completely destroyed.

"Yuki!" Rei shouted before suddenly looking around.

"So.... you've finally awoken." A voice said behind him. Rei quickly turned around, his eyes widening as he did so.

"Who.... are you?" Rei asked. The man looked at him, a sober expression across his face.

"The man who failed to stop this." The man answered.

"Why does your voice.... sound so familiar?" Rei' eyes suddenly widened again.

"Dad?"

"This all happened.... because I failed to grasp Cinder's plan." Elliot said, still looking down at his feet. Rei suddenly grabbed him by his collar.

"I don't care about that. Where's Yang and Yuki?" He asked, angrily.

"I saw to it that Yuki was evacuated safely. She is with your older sister in Atlas. Weiss is there as well." Elliot said, refusing to look his own son in the eyes.

"What about Yang? And Ruby? WHERE ARE THEY!?" Rei shouted.

"Ruby...... a dragon-like Grimm appeared. It was colossal. Enormous in every aspect. Even I..... a rank 107 titled huntsman was no match for the beast and yet...." Elliot paused.

"That frail little girl defeated the dragon." Rei let his hands slip from his father's collar before turning towards Beacon.

"She is with her father now, as is Yang. However..., Yang is not the same."

"Not the same?"

"She has lost her arm, as well as her will to fight."

"Tell me everything."

---

The day you were found unconscious was the day Cinder Fall, the notorious pawn of the Queen Of Grimm, made her move. Using the abilities at hand, she quickly caused confusion and chaos amongst the people during the Vytal Festival. At this time, thousands of Grimm followed by the Dragon suddenly attacked Vale, killing nearly half of the population. The majority of Beacon students died defending the lives of the people. Ozpin and Pyrrha faced Cinder, only to lose. Ozpin was taken prisoner, however...., Pyrrha was killed.

When Beacon fell, Vale fell. Without any means of defeating the hordes of enemies, the civilians of Vale fled to the other kingdoms aboard bullheads.

---

"You're leaving something out, I know it." Rei said, grabbing his collar again.

"You didn't mention Blake."

"Blake is dead."

---

"Aunty Winter, when is Daddy coming for me?" Yuki asked innocently. She'd only woken up two days ago, filled with energy and curiosity. Winter had merely told her that she was Rei's sister and to call her aunty, leaving the important parts out.

"I'm not sure, Yuki. But he'll be here soon."

"How soon?" The girl pressed on.

"As soon as he can."

"What about Mommy?" Yuki asked.

"Mommy.... is going through a rough time right now. We can't see her." Winter said, patting the hold on her head. Winter was surprised when Yuki suddenly grabbed at her military uniform.

"I want to see Mommy. Please." She begged. Winter suddenly caved.

"Fine. I'll take you."

---

"Blake can't be dead!" Rei argued.

"But she is. Adam pierced her heart with his sword." Rei took several steps back as if he'd been hit.

"Take me to Yang." Rei said after letting the news seek in.

"Now."

---

Two days later, Winter hesitated to knock on the wooden door. She looked down at the small child who stared at the door worriedly, as if she could just see her mother through the wooden material.

Winter sighed and knocked. After several seconds, Tai Yang Xiao Long answered the door.

"Oh. Hello, Winter." Tai said, not noticing the small child next to her. Refusing to be ignored, Yuki pulled on his jeans. Tai quickly looked at her before sweeping her up in his arms, happily shouting.

"Yuki! How's my little girl been?" He asked. Yuki smiled and laughed, but suddenly stopped.

"Where's Mommy?" Tai's happy attitude suddenly disappeared, putting Yuki back on the floor.

"She's in her room. Don't bother her, Mommy needs some alone time." Tai ordered. Before he could react, Yuki had already run to the room and opened the door.

"I told you to stop coming in here Dad-" Yang's words were cut short when Yuki suddenly tackled Yang onto the bed. Yuki was crying, sobbing into Yang's shoulder.

"Yu-... Yuki.... you're... okay..." Yang breathed as she used her left arm to hug her daughter, crying as well.

"I missed you, Mommy!" The little girl wailed.

After sometime, Yuki pulled away slightly.

"Mommy, where's Daddy?" She asked. Yang suddenly felt her depression pulling at her again, pulling her back down.

"Daddy is..... dead, honey." Yang declared.

"What? But Daddy saved me!" Yuki argued.

"I know, but....." Yang suddenly felt fresh tears falling as the mere thought of Rei sent waves of depression up her spine. She suddenly felt a hand on her cheek, a touch she felt was very familiar. This was followed by an excited squeal from Yuki.

"Daddy!" The little girl shouted, jumping into Rei's arm. Rei pulled Yang into the embrace, holding her forehead against his.

"You're.... alive?" Yang asked quietly.

"I never died." Rei replied quietly.

"You disappeared.... I thought that....."

"You thought wrong." Rei suddenly noticed her bandaged right arm, anger suddenly fueling inside of him.

"Rei....." Yang started, trailing off.

"I love you too." She finished, half smiling. Rei suddenly turned around and walked towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Yang asked, confused as to why she didn't get a response.

"To kill whoever hurt you and the team." Was his only reply.