Flashes of colors assailed Blake's senses. Like looking through a kaleidoscope. Eventually, after an indeterminate amount of time, it settled. A blanket of darkness clouded her perception. Even as dark as it was, she could see it move somehow.
Then, flashes of Gold and White. A Dragon appeared. One which looked so very similar to Yin, but different. Where it looked holy, divine, Yin had looked unholy, infernal. Then, she too appeared. Both dragons stood across from each other, both moving in the other's direction. Blake felt a deep worry begin to gnaw at her from within. Her hand outstretched to stop the two, but there was no need.
Both of the Dragons stopped, inches from one another. Their heads arcing inward, towards each other, until the crowns of their head meet. An almost blinding light and abyssal dark emerged from the two. The light and dark twisted around each other like snakes, until they too merged.
"Ah..!" Blake gasped, feeling as if she were being drawn into the vortex of power. Her hands and feet trying to find some traction to hold onto, but everything was like sand.
She was pulled along, but just as she thought she was going to be drawn in, it stopped. Before her now, was something hard to process. Clearly a woman, but so much more. Her hair, an untamed flow of black and gold. Her eyes, a heterochromatic mix of four color gradients. The left, a red and lilac. The right, a gold and umbral purple. She looked so familiar, yet so foreign. Blake felt a strangely comforting weight in her presence. She reached out to her, without thinking, but everything was suddenly plunged back into darkness once more.
"Pf-Aah!" Blake nearly leapt out of her bedsheets. Taking a look around, she realized she was back in her room once more.
As soon as the post sleep drowsiness wore off, she inspected herself. Mostly to see if she had been given any horns, scales or tail. That wasn't the case, but she certainly felt stronger than she had been before.
Blake took a deep breath and stood up, only to see Ghislaine looking at her from her door.
"Hm.. No dragon traits. Wait, no I spoke too soon. Your eyes.. They're like hers now." Ghislaine stated with a hint of approval Blake was used to only hearing towards Yin.
"My eyes are.. Wait, where's Yin? She's.." Blake stopped herself as she noticed Ghislaine tilt her head over to her window.
"Left earlier with her attractive Mother. She has her journey, we have ours." Ghislaine said with a stoic face that didn't quite suit her early comment about Raven.
Blake was tempted to give her a look but knew Ghislaine wouldn't even get embarrassed, so she simply shook her head. Her last words were the important ones.
"Teach me to be stron-" "Okay." Blake felt the rising heat of embarrassment travel up her neck.
"Yin asked me to help guide you. But I would have done so anyway. I'll teach you what I can. Just remember to keep me in mind for later, when you reunite with her once more." Ghislaine pat her shoulder with a small smile.
"R..ight. I'll encourage her to visit..?" Blake felt this was oddly cute, for the Tiger King at least.
"Good. Now, let's start by testing the limits of your body." Ghislaine became slightly excited, which only made Blake that much more nervous.
Well, as long as it made her strong, she would push through. Her determination wouldn't falter from just this. She has around two years to grow strong enough. Under Ghislaine's tutelage, she'd do just fine.
-Later, Sanus Continent-
Raven's bullhead had landed about two days away from the city of Vale. They didn't go further due to the trip to Mistral being long enough as it is. That, and Yin wanted to travel through towns first.
"Are you SURE you don't want Renny and I to join you? We'd make a great leg breaking squad.." Nora pleaded hopefully.
"I'm sure we would. But the thing I'm starting over in Vale demands.. tact. If you joined me and my future activities expose your identity, getting into Beacon will be either impossible or come with stipulations like Ozpin keeping a close eye on you." Yin answered, stepping out of the bullhead with Shia.
"So we can only be of use to you in two years..?" Ren asked, a little dejected.
Yin pursed her lips and shook her head.
"Don't think of it like that. You're not my tools. Your help will be valuable in Beacon, yes. So it's important to train up while you can." Yin then looked to her Mother.
"I'll keep the clan running. Leave the politics to me. Oh, and don't forget to be careful. That's Ozpin's territory you're going in." Raven reminded.
"Got it. I'll see you later." Yin waved as they took off once more.
-Two hours of walking later-
The sound of the Bullhead leaving was the only thing that could be heard for a minute before they began walking. A quiet, awkward silence overcame the two. The kind Yin wasn't used to, thanks to Shia being around.
Glancing back, she noticed the rabbit girl seemed to have a lot on her mind. But every time she summoned a little courage to ask, she stamped it down. It became so awkward, that their leisurely walk through the wilds felt like a death march. It was only after the second hour of walking did she finally have enough.
*Sigh*
"Shia? You have something to say?" Yin asked, glancing at Shia behind her.
"Oh..! Um.. well.... I just wanted to ask. About the Dragon blood.." Shia replied with difficulty.
Last night, she had come into Blake's room to find Yin. Blake was writhing on the bed, with Yin comforting her through the process. It was then she learned about Dragon Blood and its effects. But one question burned within Shia's mind. Why wasn't she considered first?
"I.. Well, I've been with you longer. I'm helping you too.. So why..?" Shia looked at Yin's back with a pained expression.
Yin simply hummed in acknowledgement.
"Do you have a dream, Shia? An ambition?" Yin asked after a couple seconds of silence.
"Eh..?" Shia blurted out in confusion.
But then she connected the two questions. Did her not receiving Dragon's blood have to do with her ambitions or lack thereof?
"I.. Want to help you in your world. I want to be with you. That's why I came.." Shia admitted after a short period of silent thinking.
"Yes. You're following me. Love is as good a reason as any to pursue someone. But so far, you've only ever done things to impress me or earn my affection. That's not how love and respect works." Yin stated, stopping to look Shia in the eyes.
Shia paused. Was it true? Was she really just following Yin so far? Had she only been doing this to earn affection?
Yin turned away but Shia grabbed her shoulder and turned her back towards her.
"...No. When we fought Leviathan.. I wanted to win, not to get your love. I wanted to show you that I was strong enough to be your companion. That I deserved to be here. Maybe it escaped, sure! But..! Next time around.. I'll put it in the ground. Not for your affection.. But so I can stand proudly and know I can stand at your level." Shia declared with an uncharacteristically fierce look in her eye.
A pleasant tingle traveled up Yin's back, bringing a heat that settled around her stomach. The previous image of Shia in her head had cracked. She watched Shia start to walk in front of her, now with a purpose. It seemed she had underestimated Shia earlier.
"..I'm sorry. I didn't understand you. My assumption was rude." Yin took a deep breath and apologized, nearly making Shia stumble and fall.
"You're.. apologizing!? Woah.." Shia muttered in shock.
"Even I am capable of self reflection." Yin rolled her eyes.
"I mean-! It wasn't to criticize you.. I think talking about my goal really helped.. ehe~" Shia smiled sheepishly.
Yin nodded, then grabbed her shoulders.
"I can't pretend I know the depths of your feelings or can say I share them. But I do value you. And your answer satisfied me. Shia, do you want Dragon's blood?" Yin asked seriously.
Shia, losing her previous nervousness, replied with all the conviction she had. "I do."
Yin nodded and pat her back.
"We should be arriving in Domremy soon. Village of about five hundred. When we get to the inn there, I'll give it to you." Yin stated while rubbing her absurdly fluffy ears.
Shia, as usual, had her mind immediately go to the gutter. 'Give it to her' was interpreted in quite a few ways in her head. As a result, her face flushed pink.
"Are you thinking of something lewd again..?" Yin chastised, yet still rubbed her fingers along her ears.
"N-No... Let's go, shall we? I hope they have baths!" Shia deflected and began to quickly walk once more.
Yin raised her brow but shrugged and walked along while muttering, "I am going to rock her world in a few years.."
-Evening, Domremy-
It wasn't until the sun began to set did the two finally reach Domremy. Yin could have used the motorcycle she made with Hajime, but walking and fighting the local Grimm did wonders for burning off their energy and getting Shia some experience. From the fodder Grimm, like the Beowolves, Boarbatusks, Ursa Minor and Lancers. To the more formidable Nevermore, Ursa Major, Alpha Beowolf, Death Stalker and Goliath.
In fact, it was after killing a herd of Goliaths did they reach Domremy a half hour later, where posted guards were at the entrance.
"Er.. Excuse me, ladies?" One of the guards, a woman with wavy blonde hair and blue eyes called out.
"Did you.. -And I know this is a weird question.. But did you kill a herd of Goliaths..?" She asked, a little shocked.
"That's the elephant ones right..?" Shia whispered.
Yin nodded. "That's right. Is there a problem?"
"WHAT!? Problem!? No.. You have no idea how much stress we were under. If those things decided to ram our walls.. We would have had to evacuate. Thank you. Seriously, thank you.." She bowed her head gratefully.
"Aww it was nothin'.." Shia preened under her gratitude. After all, she was the one clearing out most of the Grimm.
"Welcome to Domremy! Home of the best bakery, hotsprings and the Arc family." The guard proudly stated, much to the other guard's amusement.
"Violet, you think Sir Nicholas will want to see them?" The other guard, a male in his early thirties with a stubble asked.
"I'll tell him after my shift. You guys are going to the Inn, right?" Violet asked with a friendly smile.
'She gives me golden retriever vibes..' Yin thought, fighting back a smirk while nodding.
"That's right."
"Awesome! You'll enjoy the hotspring there, trust. Just tell the Innkeeper Gael that Violet sent you. He'll put it on my tab. It's the least we can do for.. well, saving us a huge headache." Violet scratched the back of her head and laughed cheerfully.
"Oh!? Hotsprings... We have to go!" Shia excitedly pulled Yin along by the arm.
"Hmmm..." Violet watched the two enter the village with a thoughtful face.
"You have that face again.. The one you get before a spectacularly awful idea spawns in your head.." The other guard pointed out.
"Oh, I was just wondering. Think they'd be up for a date with Jaune? Ancestors know my sisters and I've been trying to set the guy up. Even that busty blonde and redhead we see every spring haven't been going the way I thought. Speaking of.. Aren't they coming by tomorrow?" Violet clicked her tongue, then suddenly gained a sly smile.
"I know.. Blind date!" She clapped with a sparkle in her eyes.
"Somehow.. I don't think this will go the way you plan...." The guard muttered to himself.
[AN: Give props to Rey for drawing this SICK art of Yin's Dragon form. Also lemme know if you 'spot' anything interesting in the art. ;)]