RWBY and APRJ: volume 4

Chapter 9: two steps forward, two steps back

Yang, Taiyang and Jotaro were having a little practice spar together. Jotaro had to admit, Penny's hand was actually really useful. It felt just like like as if it were his real one. Zwei was also watching from a distance. Jotaro punched Taiyang back quite a way with Penny's hand, making him hold his arm in a bit of pain.

"Wow, that thing packs a punch!" Taiyang gasped.

"We've been at this for weeks" Yang said. "I get it. You want to know if we can still fight. I think we're doing just fine"

"You're close" Taiyang corrected.

"Oh really?" Yang asked.

"You're a bit off balance" Taiyang added.

"What?! No we're not!" Yang replied, thinking that she and Jotaro were at peak performance.

"You know, I'm kinda surprised" Jotaro joined. "I thought that Penny's hand would be a weight, but it feels...natural"

"Ironwood wanted to make sure that my hand would feel like yours. So, he took some of the weight off" Penny informed.

"Well, he did a good job. I'll give him that" Jotaro smiled.

"Same with these arm guards" Yang said. "They feel like there's no weight at all"

They're thoughts were then interrupted when Taiyang quickly sparred with them again. Yang was then caught in a struggle with Taiyang.

"I wasn't talking about your actual balance" Taiyang smirked, tripping Yang off of her feet. "Although, that could use some work too"

"Meaning?" Yang asked.

"I saw your tournament fights. During the Vytal Festival" Taiyang began.

"Let me guess" Yang frowned. "'I was sloppy'"

"No, no, you were predictable" Taiyang laughed. "And...stubborn. And maybe a little boneheaded"

Yang then sat up, glaring at her father with an annoyed tone. Why did he said those things? She did not know.

"Do you know that you used your semblance to win every fight after the qualifiers?" Taiyang asked.

"So what" Yang shot back, turning away and looking quite angry. "How is me using my semblance any different then someone else using theirs?"

"Because, not everybody's semblance is basically a temper tantrum. Take Jotaro for instance" Taiyang explained.

"Hey!" Jotaro shouted.

"He does have a point" Penny joined. "You use precisely twenty-five percent of your aura to attack at a fast rate without even getting tired"

"And Yang, when she takes damage, she can dish it back twice as hard" Taiyang added. "But, Yang, that doesn't make you invincible. It's great when you're in a bind, but what if you miss? What if they're stronger? What then? You'll be weak and tired!"

"I...don't know what to say about this" Jotaro sighed.

"Just let him speak to Yang" Penny said.

"Look, you've always been one to burn brighter then anyone else. Whether it was with you smile, or, well, I remember your first haircut" Taiyang recalled, making Yang pout and smile in annoyance. "But you gotta keep your emotions in check. Keep a level head, and think before you act. Your semblance is a great fallback, but you can't always rely on it. It won't always save you. Obviously"

Yang looked at the scar on her right arm and Jotaro just fiddled Penny's hand.

"You definitely have your mom's stubbornness" Taiyang noted.