Author's Note: Warning, this story contains OC's (Summer and Phyrrus Xiao-Long-Nikos, Yang and Pyrrha's kids). They're just there to serve set the scene for interactions by canon characters.

Repeating History

Six years after Willow Schnee's death F1 was a different world. For one, her enduring legacy of improved safety had really taken hold. Drivers still suffered injuries on occasion, but there had not been another fatality. The cars were much different too. The noses were higher, the tires were skinnier and grooved, and the driver was now cocooned inside a high-edged cockpit. The tracks had changed too. There had been a concerted effort to eliminate the most dangerous sections. There were more chicanes and more tires fronting the barriers. The series had expanded to parts of the world it had never visited before, racing at new tracks designed with safety in mind. Beyond safety there was a lot more money involved. Sponsorship funding and team expenditure had exploded. The TV rights, long a major source of cash, were now worth billions.

There were personnel changes too. Ozpin had sold Beacon GP shortly after Willow's death. The team was purchased by a group composed of Pyrrha, Yang and Ruby. Even as part owner Ruby still designed the cars for Beacon GP, but it was a larger team effort. Weiss had taken control of Schnee Automotive and returned it to the top. The key was a change in philosophy. Resources were diverted from the still superb engine program and poured into making the team's chassis better. They would need a car capable of competing with Ruby's and Nora's designs and after a few years of trying they finally had one.

A new crop of drivers was coming in as well, though some of the names were quite familiar. It would be the second season for Summer Xiao-Long-Nikos. After a year with an uncompetitive team, she was hired by Weiss to drive for Schnee Automotive. Weiss saw a lot of herself in the young driver, and it helped that they were already personally acquainted. Summer had not gotten along well with Yang, a clash of personalities being the core issue, and she was determined to succeed without Yang's help. She even dropped the Xiao-Long from her name, going by Summer Nikos. Her relationship with Pyrrha was only a little better - they were on speaking terms but not much more - and her overall family relationship was very strained. After winning the International F3000 championship, she was offered a drive with Beacon GP. The last thing she wanted was to drive for her parents, so she took a much less desirable position with another team. She managed to drive well above the car's capability - including a shocking podium in Vale - and caught Weiss' eye. Now she was a championship favorite.

Beacon GP had a young driver of its own, a rookie, Pyrrhus Xiao-Long-Nikos. His relationship with his parents was much better. He got along with them and was happy to have their help. He too dropped the Xiao-Long form his name - going by Pyrrhus Nikos - but only because the full thing was too much of a mouthful. He ran a fairly successful season of F3000, winning a few races but coming up short of the title. Ruby and his parents offered him a seat at Beacon GP and he readily accepted. The chance to jump straight into a competitive F1 ride was too good to pass up, even if there would be whispers that he was only hired for who his parents were.

The opening race of the season would be in Mantle. The test sessions leading up to the race had shown Beacon GP and Schnee Automotive to be the fastest with Team Juniper a little behind. Summer was quicker than Pyrrhus, but with a little time and experience he might just close the gap. Their respective teammates were not as fast as them, so it looked as if the championship might come down to the siblings. Pyrrhus was excited to be racing against his sister at the sharp end of the grid. He idolized her. Summer was less enthused. To her Pyrrhus was still the annoying little brother who would not leave her alone. He also acted too much like Yang for Summer's taste, though he seemed entirely oblivious to her antipathy.

Qualifying went well for the brother and sister. To no one's surprise Summer qualified on pole. She had dominated testing and the practice sessions and qualifying had also been a rout. The real surprise was that Pyrrhus would be lining up second. He had been near the top but inconsistent throughout the weekend, but managed to put together a great lap when it counted. It helped that his car was probably a bit better suited to the circuit than his sister's. A win for him on debut would be incredible, a feat not achieved since his mother Pyrrha had done so at Vale all those years ago. He did not inherit all of her natural talent, Summer was a more naturally talented driver as well, but he made up for it with fearlessness and an inherent feel for the car.

The circuit hosting the Mantle GP was a public-roads temporary circuit that ran through a park, around the perimeter of a small lake. Unlike Vale and most other street circuits, the park setting meant most of the corners had copious runoff room, and the barriers were rarely butted right up against the track. Some corners even had as much or more runoff as at purpose-built tracks. The track was also very fast for a street circuit. The one downside was that it was rather difficult to pass, as most of the corners were chicanes. The first corner was one such - a tight right followed immediately by an unwinding left - and whoever got there first on the start was highly likely to finish first.

Race day was sunny and hot. The cars rounded the track behind the safety car, then lined up on the grid for the start. The safety car pulled off the track just before the grid and the drivers forced their cars through a series of burnouts and sudden stops to warm their tires as they took their positions. As the last row formed up the medical car stopped behind them. A marshal crossed the track waving a flag to indicate that everyone was lined up and ready to go. The drivers focused on the series of lights hanging from a gantry over the starting line. One red, two, three, four...the drivers revved their engines, all five red, and lights out! With the scream of V10 engines and the squeal of tortured rubber, the cars peeled off the grid.

Summer got a good start but Pyrrhus got a better one. The cars initially pulled even as they leapt off the grid but as they thundered toward the first corner Summer started to pull back in front. Pyrrhus was determined not to lose out, holding out on the inside line and braking as late as he dared. He failed to take into account his cold tires and brakes. The front wheels immediately locked up and he skidded toward the corner out of control. Summer heard a screech and turned to look just as her brother's car slammed into hers. The cars entangled and slid off the track into the gravel just beyond the first corner. Yellow flags waved as the rest of the field streamed past.

Summer was furious. Her chance to take her first win was over and through no fault of her own. She pounded on the steering wheel for a few seconds before ripping it off, throwing it away and leaping out of the car. Pyrrhus was already out of his car, the visor on his helmet tipped up as he surveyed the damage. "What the hell was that?!" Summer shouted. "Are you out of your damn mind! You moron!"

"I'm glad you're alright too sis." Pyrrhus said. "I'm really sorry. I kind of blew it, didn't I?"

"Kind of?!" Summer screamed. "You drove straight into me! What were you thinking? How is anyone stupid enough to let a maniac like you anywhere near a race car?!"

"I said I'm sorry." Pyrrhus repeated. "I didn't do it on purpose."

"I really hope Ruby sees how much of an idiot you are and fires you." Summer hissed. "I know our moms won't have the guts to do it but maybe Aunt Ruby still has some balls."

"I haven't checked but I'm pretty sure her anatomy does not include testicles." Pyrrhus laughed.

"Go to hell!" Summer yelled. She considered striking her brother but instead turned around and stomped away, pushing through the attending safety crew to get as far away as possible.

"Love you too sis!" Pyrrhus shouted after her. That just made Summer more angry.

"I am not looking forward to the next family dinner." Pyrrha groaned. From her seat on the team's pit box along the pit wall, she had seen the crash very clearly. She could almost hear Summer's shouting. "This is going to take a lot more smoothing over than usual."

"Summer will get over it or she won't." Yang shrugged. She looked at the TV monitor on the box. "At least Pyrrhus doesn't look too broken up about it. He's just the next chapter in the proud Xiao-Long family tradition of crashing out immediately on debut."

"I was hoping we could start a Nikos family tradition of winning on debut." Pyrrha sighed.

"We can't all be as great as you." Yang laughed. "It sucks for Ruby though. It looks like there's a lot to fix before the next race."

"What the hell was that!?" Weiss shouted as she stormed over. As team owner Weiss was sure to attend every race. She wanted to be there if something happened. Something had, and now she was going to make her presence felt. "How could you put that maniac behind the wheel of an F1 car?!"

"That maniac is our son." Pyrrha said. Her anger was starting to build. She was generally more emotionally stable than Yang, but she was fiercely protective of her children.

"I'll handle this." Yang said. She did not want to experience another blow-up from Pyrrha. Pyrrha rarely got very angry, but when she did it could be terrifying. "Weiss, he made a mistake. I'm sure he's really sorry."

"He'd better be." Weiss said. "That idiot cost me the race."

"Quit it with the name calling." Yang warned. "He's a rookie. Give him some slack."

"There's no room for slack in Formula 1." Weiss said. "He's a danger to himself and others."

"This is his first race." Yang said. "Everyone makes…"

"Every Xiao-Long screws up their first race." Weiss cut her off. "Haha, family tradition. Give me a damn break. I hope the stewards ban him. It'll make racing in this series a lot safer with one less lunatic on the track."

"Weiss, we're friends, and I don't want to punch you, but if you don't shut up, I'm going to punch you." Yang seethed.

"Fine, but this isn't over." Weiss said. With that she stomped off.

"I really was about to punch her." Yang sighed.

"I was about ready to choke her out." Pyrrha growled.

The pair heard a familiar laugh behind them. They turned around to see the source. Who was strolling across the pit lane but Ozpin. He was incredibly elderly and rarely got to the track anymore, but he was always welcome. At nearly 100 years old, it was hard to blame him for staying home. "Funny how history has a way of repeating itself." Ozpin laughed. He stepped up onto the platform that lined the pit wall, standing just beside Yang.

"Oh, Ozpin, what are you doing here?" Yang asked. "You usually only come to the Vale GP."

"How could I not come out to see the debut of third generation Xiao-Long, driving for my old team no less?" Ozpin replied. "I had hoped to see him atop the podium, but I see he takes after his forebears."

"Very funny." Yang said.

"So, do you think he's a maniac too?" Pyrrha asked, still seething from the confrontation with Weiss.

"A maniac?" Ozpin said. "No, of course not. He's a little inexperienced, but he's got the skills he needs to be a champion someday. That is if his sister doesn't win them all. I knew your kids would be quick but they've exceeded my expectations."

"It's nice of you to say that." Yang said. "And I hope you're not just saying that because otherwise Pyrrha would kneecap you."

"I really mean it." Ozpin said. "Your daughter reminds me a bit of Weiss..."

"I don't exactly view that as a compliment at the moment." Pyrrha warned.

"...and your son reminds me of you Yang." Ozpin continued, ignoring Pyrrha's threat. "They're both going to be great drivers, just like you were. It's good to see the future of the sport in such capable hands."

Just then Pyrrhus arrived. "That could have gone better." He sighed. Pyrrha and Yang hugged him in turn. "This is going to make the next family gathering very awkward. Even more awkward than usual."

"The important thing is you're alright." Pyrrha said. Her anger had disappeared as if she had flipped a switch and she was in loving mom mode. "There will be other races and I'm sure your sister will get over it."

"I think you have a bright future ahead of you." Ozpin said.

"Thanks Uncle Ozpin." Pyrrhus said, shaking the old man's hand. "It means a lot to hear you say that. I really blew it today though."

"I wouldn't worry about it so much." Ozpin said with a smile. "Have I ever told you about your grandparents' first races…"

Inspirations

- This story is meant to take place in 2000.

- Mantle is based on Melbourne, Australia.

Inaccuracies and Anachronisms

- This is one of those purely fictional stories.

- Pyrrhus' trip from crash site to pits is a little too quick to be realistic.