Author's Note: This may be the final chapter of Rekindling but the story isn't over! This story will combine with Still Running and another I haven't posted yet to lead into RWBY Redux. Ships will continue to sail but it will be more action-focused. I hope you'll stick around because there's still plenty of Greek Fire goodness yet to come.

Chapter 3

"All done." Qrow said as he started packing up the tools he had used to attach Yang's prosthetic.

"So, is there anything special I have to do to take care of this thing?" Yang asked. She moved the arm around, testing out the joints. Her motions were less-than-graceful.

"It's waterproof, so you can shower normally and all that." Qrow said. "Maybe don't smash it into stuff for no reason. It shouldn't break but that's no reason to risk it. Oh, it doesn't play well with magnets." He looked to Pyrrha.

"I'll be careful." Pyrrha said.

"Is it always going to be this clunky?" Yang asked.

"It'll take some getting used to." Qrow said. "The paperwork says the more you use it the better it'll be. It automatically runs diagnostics to better interface with your nervous system. I'm sure practice will help too. Take it easy for a few days though. I'd hate to have to redrill it."

"I'd hate for you to have to redrill it." Yang said. There was a hint of fear in her voice.

"Well Ruby, looks like we're all done here." Qrow said. "You were a fantastic assistant."

Ruby looked thrilled with the compliment. "I'm going to design so many cool attachments!" Ruby declared.

"Sounds good." Yang said without enthusiasm. "For now why don't you just figure out a way to get Ember Celica to work with it."

"Sure thing sis!" Ruby said. She helped Qrow carry the table out of the room, leaving Yang and Pyrrha alone.

"That must have hurt a lot." Pyrrha observed.

"I'm a little ashamed to admit it, but I thought I was going to pass out when he started drilling." Yang said with an uneasy laugh. "If I'd known how much it was going to hurt I probably wouldn't have gone through with it. At least not without a lot more booze."

"So how does it feel now?" Pyrrha asked.

"Well, what's left of my natural arm's still in agony." Yang said. "I'm sure that'll clear up once my aura kicks in. As for the prosthetic, it feels like I just woke up from sleeping on it all night. I hope Qrow's right about it getting better because it's not great."

"I'm sure it will." Pyrrha encouraged. "I'm glad you did it. This is the happiest I've seen you since...well...you know."

"It helps I guess." Yang said. "At least I should be able to take care of myself now."

Yang turned herself to face Pyrrha. She reached out with the prosthetic and touched Pyrrha's cheek. Pyrrha subtly recoiled from the arm's cold touch. Yang started to pull the hand away but Pyrrha grabbed it and pressed it to her face. "It's just a little cold." Pyrrha said. "How does it feel?"

"Not the same." Yang sighed. "I can tell I'm touching something smooth and warm, but...I don't know what I expected. How's the experience on your end."

"It's not unpleasant." Pyrrha said. "It's a little different but I'm sure it's something I can get used to."

"Well that's good." Yang said. She pulled her arm away more insistently and Pyrrha let her go. She started going through the full range of motion on the elbow and wrist then touching the tips of each of the fingers to the thumb. "It's so weird. It's me but it's not me."

"I bet it'll be great for hugs." Pyrrha laughed. "Your hugs were crushing before, Ruby had better look out."

"I want to try writing." Yang said, ignoring Pyrrha's joke. She just wanted to start practicing using the arm. "Can you get me a pen and paper?"

"Sure thing." Pyrrha said. She left the room and soon returned with a pad and pencil. "Is a pencil okay?"

Yang shrugged. She took the pad in her left hand and the pencil with her prosthetic. She fumbled with the pencil a bit but got it into position. As she put the pencil to the paper she squeezed too hard and the pencil snapped in half. "Damnit." Yang sighed.

"I have an idea." Pyrrha said. "I'll be right back." She rushed out of the room and returned a few minutes later with a metal pen. "One step at a time. First figure out writing, then work on your grip."

The pen was certainly sturdier. Yang wrote a few lines. The look on her face said she was trying very hard. "How does it look?" Yang asked, handing the pad to Pyrrha.

"It looks like a child wrote it but it's entirely legible." Pyrrha said. Yang had written her name followed by a few lines from a popular song. "It's excellent for a first try." Pyrrha handed the pad back. Yang started writing again, a big smile on her face. She held the pad so Pyrrha could not see it. "What are you writing?" Pyrrha asked.

"A little poem, for you." Yang said with a devious smile. She handed the pad back to Pyrrha. "Read it aloud."

"Roses are red, my name is Yang…" Pyrrha started. She blushed as she looked at the next lines. "...I think you're hot, come on let's bang."

"What do you think?" Yang laughed. "Literary gold?"

"You're no Willow Shakespeare." Pyrrha groaned. "I'm glad you're laughing though. It's been too long since you had a real smile on your face."

"I could say the same about you." Yang said. "The first time in a long time you really looked happy was when I told that stupid shocking joke."

"I was happy that you were happy." Pyrrha said.

"And now I'm happy that you're happy." Yang said. "What do you say we try to keep the cycle going?"

"That sounds like a plan." Pyrrha agreed.

Yang continued to struggle through learning how to use her new arm. Picking up objects without alternately crushing them or letting them slip was probably the toughest part. The first time Yang picked up a glass to take a drink she ended up soaked, picking shards of glass out of her clothes. After a switch to plastic cups it still took a few tries before she got the water to her mouth. It was slow going, but it was progress.

There were some things the arm was simply not capable of. Using a scroll was one. The device's screen did not pick up the artificial fingers. She would have to hold it with her right and type with her left hand.

Eating was going to be another challenge. Yang decided she wanted to attack it head on, not that anyone was surprised. At her request Taiyang grilled up some steak, accompanied with rice. Cutting the meat was challenge one. Her first attempt went spectacularly wrong. Holding the knife with her prosthetic she went way too hard, cutting through the meat, shattering the ceramic plate beneath, and cutting a trench into the wooden tray beneath that. And she bent the knife in half. Attempt two was a success at least. Increasing the pressure gradually she managed to cut her steak without issue. It took time, but she finally got a feel for it. Before long she was effortlessly trimming away fat with precision.

Yang's success was vital because a bigger challenge lay ahead. After a few sets of chopsticks were annihilated she was finally able to hold them without snapping them. But then she kept dropping food and in her frustration snapped a few more sets. By the time she finished her meal, which took far longer than normal, she was at least as good at using them with the prosthetic as she had been with her left hand.

However slowly, Yang was getting there. Pyrrha was thrilled to see her progress and there to provide encouragement at every step. Yang's confidence soared. It would take time and there would be setbacks, but she might just get back to normal after all.

After dinner Yang and Pyrrha rested side-by-side in Yang's bed. Yang held her prosthetic up, moving it around. "It's still strange, but it's starting to feel like a part of me already." She said. "Maybe I should give it a name. It's at least as important to me as my weapon."

"That sounds like a good idea." Pyrrha agreed. "Did you have anything in mind?"

"I don't really know." Yang replied. "For my weapon the name came to me instantly. For this, I can't really think of anything."

"I'm sure you'll come up with something appropriate." Pyrrha said.

"How about puss…" Yang started.

"And non-sexual." Pyrrha cut her off.

"Yeah, I got nothing." Yang laughed.

"It's so great to see you happy and joking around like this." Pyrrha said. "It feels like old times."

"Old times?" Yang said. "You're talking about the way things were like a week ago."

"It's crazy how things can change so quickly." Pyrrha sighed. "I wonder if things can ever really go back to the way they were."

"Probably not, but that's okay." Yang said, trying to be encouraging. "Bad things happen but we move on. We never forget and we may never really get over it, but that doesn't mean we can't be happy again."

"And here I was thinking I was here to cheer you up." Pyrrha said.

"We've both been through a lot." Yang said. "My pain was just more obvious. I'm sure you could use just as much support."

"I'll be fine." Pyrrha assured her.

"You keep saying that." Yang said. "I wonder who you're trying to convince, me or you."

"It's really not a big deal." Pyrrha insisted. "It's not like I lost a limb."

"But you lost a friend." Yang countered. "You lost a home. And you still blame yourself for everything, I can tell. You promised you'd stop that."

"Would you hate me if I told you I lied?" Pyrrha asked.

"Would you hate me if I told you I lied too?" Yang asked. "The deal was that I wouldn't lose hope if you stopped blaming yourself. Well, until I got this new toy I felt pretty hopeless."

"I just can't shake the feeling." Pyrrha sighed. "Every time I think about it...I just can't convince myself that I'm not at fault. I can acknowledge that I'm not entirely at fault, but I still feel guilty about everything."

"Maybe you need a distraction." Yang suggested. "Learning to use this arm certainly distracts me from some of my darker thoughts."

"It wouldn't hurt." Pyrrha agreed. "But I'm not sure what to do. Back at Beacon, when I needed a distraction I would train. Now I think that would just bring back bad memories. I'm sure I'll be able to think of something. Until then I think I should go to sleep. I didn't sleep too well last night." Pyrrha got up and started for the door.

"You don't want to sleep here?" Yang asked.

"It was a pleasant experience but I would describe you as a violent sleeper." Pyrrha laughed. "If I'm going to get any real rest I think I need my own bed."

"Wake up sleepy head!" Yang said. "It's time for breakfast. We've got a big day ahead of us."

Pyrrha opened her eyes and rolled over to look. "What time is it?" She asked.

"Seven." Yang replied.

"What's going on?" Pyrrha asked, still half asleep. "Wait, you're out of your room."

"I sure am." Yang said. "It took a while for it to sink in but you were right when you said staying in bed all day wasn't healthy. Come on, let's eat."

"Alright, alright." Pyrrha yawned. "Give me a second." She swiveled her feet over the side of the bed and stood without bothering to use her crutches.

"So your foot's feeling better?" Yang asked.

"It was feeling pretty good yesterday." Pyrrha answered. "I just didn't want to push it too much. I don't think I'll be needing the crutches anymore."

"That's great." Yang said. "It seems like we're both on the mend." Yang headed for the dining room and Pyrrha followed. "Take a seat." Yang said as they passed the table. Pyrrha did so and Yang continued on into the kitchen.

"What's on the menu?" Pyrrha asked.

"Cereal." Yang replied. She soon entered carrying a tray that held a pair of bowls and spoons, a carton of milk and a box of Pumpkin Pete's cereal with Pyrrha's smiling face on the box.

"That isn't very healthy." Pyrrha warned.

Yang placed the tray on the table and Pyrrha reached for it. "Nope, I'm going to do the serving." Yang said. "It's good practice." She placed a bowl in front of Pyrrha and poured in cereal with her prosthetic arm. She put the box down and picked up the milk. She poured it without crushing the carton or spilling it. She then did the same for her own bowl and took a seat. "Well, what do you think?"

"That's a big improvement over yesterday." Pyrrha said. "You managed to avoid making the slightest mess."

"I was more concerned with destroying everything I touch." Yang laughed. "I think this thing is going to work out for me. I still have the motor control of a child but it hasn't even been a full day. Imagine how good I'll be a week from now."

"I'm happy if you're happy." Pyrrha said. She ate a spoonful of cereal. "You know I've never had this before. It actually tastes alright."

"That's all the sugar." Yang said. "I looked at the nutrition info and you're right when you say it isn't healthy. It sure tastes good though."

"Given the amount of money they offered, I don't care what's in it or how it tastes." Pyrrha laughed. "That was my first big endorsement deal." Pyrrha sighed. "I guess there won't be any others, not with the way the world is now. Not to mention the fact that I dismembered someone on live television."

"You go from laughing to hating yourself faster than anyone I've ever met." Yang observed. "You need to stop."

"I know." Pyrrha said. "If only it were so easy." She finished up her cereal about the same time Yang did. "You served so it's only fair that I clean up." Pyrrha collected everything and placed it back on the tray. She brought it to the kitchen and put everything in its proper place as Yang watched impatiently. "You seem eager." Pyrrha said.

"Last night we talked about distractions." Yang said. "Now that your foot's feeling better I think I've got one. Let's go for a jog. It can be as long or short as you want."

"That's a fantastic idea." Pyrrha said. "I'll need to borrow a pair of shoes though. My foot feels better but I think running in heels might be a bit much right now."

Pyrrha's shoe size turned out to be closer to Ruby's than Yang's, but Ruby had plenty of suitable shoes Pyrrha could wear. She put on one of Yang's workout outfits and the pair headed out. The autumn air was cool but refreshing and Pyrrha felt barely any pain in her foot. Yang led her down winding forest paths, the same paths Yang and Ruby had explored as children. With the leaves changing the forest was a mix of vibrant colors. It was the sort of scene you would see on a postcard. As nice as the scenery was, the most beautiful thing to Pyrrha was Yang. She was happy and enjoying life again.

"I only just realized, but where did Ruby go this morning?" Pyrrha asked as she and Yang continued along. "She wasn't in bed and I didn't see her in the house."

"Qrow took her to Signal." Yang explained. "She really wanted to get started on adapting Ember Celica to my new arm and the workshop there is perfect. I wouldn't be surprised if she came back today with it finished."

"I think I'll have to ask her to build me a weapon too." Pyrrha said. "Mine was...destroyed."

"What did I tell you about thinking of stuff like that?" Yang said. "Come one, focus on the run." Yang stopped and Pyrrha jogged in place beside her. "That path is a straight shot back to the house. I'll race you." Yang said, pointing. A race was perfect to get Pyrrha's mind off what had happened.

"You're on." Pyrrha agreed. She took up a stance beside Yang.

"On three." Yang said. "One...two...three!"

The pair charged down the path. Pyrrha was normally the faster of the two but Yang stayed right with her. They had been jogging for about an hour and before long were both winded. The path began to open up and the house came into view. Now was the time for the final sprint. Yang picked up speed just a little. Pyrrha tried to match. Her foot ached. She pushed through the pain and gave it everything she had. The two arrived at the house at pretty much the same time.

"I think you won." Pyrrha said, catching her breath.

"No, I think you did." Yang said, also winded.

"I guess we'll have to call it a tie." Pyrrha concluded.

"I guess so." Yang agreed.

"That was a great workout." Pyrrha said.

"What do you mean was?" Yang said. "We're not done."

"We're not?" Pyrrha asked. She felt done.

"Now we spar." Yang said.

"We can't do that." Pyrrha protested. "You arm isn't ready."

"My arm's fine." Yang said. "It doesn't even hurt anymore." That was a lie. "Besides, it's not like we're going to have a full-on battle. No weapons, no semblances, just like in the gym at Beacon. That's how we ended up together, remember?"

"I remember." Pyrrha replied. "How could I forget?"

"Well then, are we going to do this?" Yang asked.

"Sure, why not?" Pyrrha answered.

"Good." Yang said. She walked over to a flat patch of bare dirt beside the house. She cleared away some leaves and twigs that had fallen there until it was totally clean. "This is where Ruby and I trained when we were growing up. I think our parents trained here too." Yang took off her shoes and stepped into the impromptu ring. Pyrrha did the same and joined her. "It's been too long since we sparred like this."

"Definitely." Pyrrha agreed. "We should make this a regular thing."

"I was thinking the same thing." Yang said. "Put 'em up." She got into her stance and Pyrrha did the same. "Ready?"

"Ready." Pyrrha confirmed.

They bumped fists then jumped away from each other. Yang charged straight forward. Pyrrha unleashed a right hook but Yang ducked it and got inside Pyrrha's effective range. She grabbed Pyrrha on both sides of the head, pulled her in and kissed her on the mouth. Pyrrha was startled. After a moment Yang released her, a big smile on her face as she stepped back. Pyrrha stood there stunned.

Yang attempted a jumping, spinning kick at Pyrrha's chest. Pyrrha slid back, caught Yang's leg and flipped her over backwards. Yang did a complete backflip and landed on her feet. "That trick only works once." Pyrrha laughed.

"It was worth it." Yang smiled.

Yang attacked again, punching straight forward with her prosthetic arm. Pyrrha dodged to the side. Yang brought her left arm around in a high swing and Pyrrha ducked it. As Yang had planned Pyrrha lowered her head right into the path of her right elbow, which smashed into Pyrrha's forehead. Pyrrha staggered back and Yang pressed the advantage with a left-handed body shot. The shot landed but Pyrrha caught the arm on the way out and used it to spin Yang around. Yang went with the momentum and uncorked a wicked right hook as she came around. It landed flush and Pyrrha wobbled. Yang charged in, wrapped her left arm around Pyrrha's head, and with a twist of her hips, tossed Pyrrha onto her back.

"Looks like you win this round." Pyrrha conceded. She lie on her back with a huge smile on her face.

"You didn't go easy on me, did you?" Yang asked skeptically. She reached down with her prosthetic to help Pyrrha up.

"Of course not." Pyrrha said. She took Yang's hand and Yang yanked her to her feet. "You had the measure of me today. I've got to say, I think that arm hits harder than the original."

"I was hoping." Yang said, flexing her prosthetic. "I might actually grow to like this thing." Pyrrha suddenly wrapped Yang in a tight embrace. "Uh...what's this for?"

"Thank you." Pyrrha said. "Thank you for today. I know it wasn't easy for you to get out. I really appreciate it."

Yang reciprocated with a vice-like hug of her own. The prosthetic certainly made the hug tighter. "I'd do anything for you." She said. "This was nothing. I may have done it for you but it was just as important for me."

"It's not just today." Pyrrha continued, crying tears of joy. "Even when you were in the deepest depths of despair, you kept encouraging me. You never gave up on me, even when I gave up on myself. I don't think I could've gotten through this without you."

"You did the same for me." Yang said through her own happy tears. "I'd still be lying in my room if it wasn't for you. I'm only happy now because you didn't let me quit. I could feel how much you care about me and I couldn't let you down."

"I love you." Pyrrha said. "I love you so much."

END

Author's Note: This may be the final chapter of Rekindling but the story isn't over! This story will combine with Still Running and another I haven't posted yet to lead into RWBY Redux. Ships will continue to sail but it will be more action-focused. I hope you'll stick around because there's still plenty of Greek Fire goodness yet to come.