The Epilogue Letters, featuring a daughter, her father, and a red-haired woman that may be familiar.
Dear Dad,
I never knew just how slowly time passes when on the road! After Blake came back we spent two months getting me back into shape and testing my new arm; those days felt like they lasted a much shorter time than they actually did. But now that we're gone, it's like time is moving at half speed. I've been gone for a month, but it feels like I only left days ago.
Travelling with Blake, May, and Nolan has been a pretty fun! I knew Blake already so I wasn't worried about that, but I'm glad that May and Nolan turned out to be pretty cool people. We've all been through some really hard times, but It's nice to be around friends that are supportive and understanding. Blake and May also make a really cute couple, I can tell they trust each other with their lives.
In somewhat related news, my arm is doing well! Every time I think I've got it figured out, it goes and surprises me even more. Cool stuff, Atlas tech. The phantom pain is still there sometimes, and my nightmares have only slowed down marginally, but I suppose the road to being fully healed is more than just a physical journey. Even so, I don't regret what I did, not for a second. Although I lost that part of myself, I'm proud that I've found something to fight for. Teammates aren't just teammates; they're family too.
How is everything going at Signal? If I'm remembering correctly, the new semester will have started by the time you get this letter. Are the kids nice? Any cool new classes? I wanna hear everything!
Anyway, I'll keep this brief - we're about to get moving again. We should reach a town in about three days, and from there Mistral is just a train ride away. I can't wait to see Ruby again! I'll send another letter when we arrive. I hope to hear from you soon, and maybe we can even talk on scrolls then too!
Love you!
Yang Xiao Long
Dear Yang,
Congrats on reaching Mistral! How are you? It's been two months since you left home, and the house couldn't be quieter. I'm glad I've got Zwei with me, otherwise the house would border on being too quiet. Although, I suppose occasionally hearing about you and Ruby on the news is good enough for me. That reminds me, I'm really glad that you and Ruby finally managed to meet up. This family has a tendency to drift; so I'm glad that my daughters at least are together. And since you're under Qrow's wing, I have little to worry about. Well, just make sure not to pick up his drinking habit!
I'm glad you're getting along well with May and Nolan. They were only here for a few days before you left, but they seemed like genuinely good people. Not everyone on Remnant is like that, so hold onto the good people in your life. You're doing great things out there. I know you're still hot on the trail of the people that ruined Beacon, but please, make sure to rest a little too. If her letters are anything to go by, Ruby missed you alot.
In other news, there's a new teacher at Signal Academy! Her name is Garnet, and she (coincidentally) teaches one of this semester's new classes, History of the White Fang. I actually met her for the first time in the hospital when I was with you to get your prosthetic arm fitted.
She hasn't told me, but I've picked up on the truth. She used to be a member of the White Fang herself. I'm not sure how she managed to get out (it probably had something to do with why she was in the hospital in the first place, which is another thing she prefers to stay silent about), but I think she's trying to make a change. She's good with the kids, and that's good enough for me. What's important is how she acts now, rather than her past. I think she's trying to make up for a lot of wrong she's done. Either way, it's not like she's an actual threat to anyone; she's perpetually on crutches. But to be safe, I'll be keeping a friendly eye on her. Maybe it's not true for everyone, but I think she can change.
I know I did. After I lost not only Raven but Summer too, I definitely changed. Not for the better. It was especially hard for you and Ruby, I put you two through a lot by not being a good father for those two years. They're painful memories, but I hope someday we can look back on them and smile, knowing we're so much closer. I've never apologized for that, I wasn't really sure how to, or if it would even help. But for what it's worth, I'm sorry. But more than that, I want to thank you. You took care of your sister when I didn't, and you did a damn good job of it too.
You've really grown into a woman Summer and I can be proud of. Raven would be proud too, in her own way. To have a daughter as amazing as you, well, it's every man's dream!
Anyway, I'm rambling. Take care of your sister, stay safe, and don't forget that I'm rooting for you.
Love,
Taiyang Xiao Long
Dear Dad,
It sounds like somebody has a crush! I haven't heard you go on about anyone like that in a while! But in all seriousness, I'm glad you have somebody new to talk to. There was a time where I might've gotten angry with you for thinking about anybody other than Summer, but I like to think I've. . . grown up recently. Losing my arm made me realize just how important it is to keep moving forward, to never lose momentum. Or at least to reestablish it as quickly as possible. I know mom would be happy for you too. So as far as I'm concerned, you have my blessing! I'm excited to meet her.
Ruby and I are doing well. She actually just finished writing a letter to you, can you beleive how good her penmanship has gotten? She leaves for six months and becomes an accomplished writer, what's up with that? She still makes me proofread though, so I guess some things haven't completely changed. We've got a really large group of people now! Off the top of my head, there's a total of nine of us - ten if you count Uncle Qrow. Team RWBY is back together finally, Weiss just got to Mistral and found us! She'd been having a hard time back in Atlas, and I guess she ended up running away from her family. From what I've heard about some of the Schnees, I think Weiss is better off with us anyway. She sends her regards, by the way, and hopes we can all visit soon.
But on a more serious note, you don't need to apologize. I hope you haven't been carrying that kind of guilt around since then. It's true, finding out who exactly my mother was and why she left all those years ago was something that haunted me for a long time, and I'd be lying if I said I still wasn't interested. But I never blamed you for how you reacted. Back then, I couldn't imagine how hard it must've been to lose two people you loved so dearly. I think I understand that a bit better now. I'm lucky though, Blake came back to me, and that's not something I'll ever take for granted. I suppose I owe you an apology as well, watching my healing process couldn't have been fun.
But I'm Yang Xiao Long, your little sunny dragon. There's nothing on this planet that I can't bounce back from, and that's a fact. As long as there's evil in this world, I'll be chasing after it to crush it and pave the way for sunlight to shine.
Maybe that was over the top, but you get the gist of it! I'll keep in touch, and I'll be sure to tell Blake and May hi for you. Have fun with the new semester, and make sure to tell the kids legendary tales of your kickass daughters!
Love you!
Yang Xiao Long
Ps: Does Garnet by chance have long red hair? Blake mentioned something about meeting a woman with hair like that before she came to Patch.
Dear Yang,
I'm not sure when this is getting to you since you guys are travelling, but for reference I'm writing this about three weeks after I received your last letter. Sorry it took so long, school this year has been unusually busy! You should see the kids, I don't know what it is about this group but the lot of them are incredibly sharp and driven. I've yet to see any laziness at all! Reminds me of you and Ruby.
But to talk about Garnet, I suppose I'm not only getting older, but also more predictable! Although, what's all this talk about "getting your blessing?" It's not like we're considering marriage or anything!
. . . Ah crap, I suppose I just incriminated myself there by implying that Garnet and I talk about our relationship often. Well, since I'm too lazy to grab a new piece of paper and start over, I'll just tell the truth. Garnet and I have started a relationship, so you hit the nail on the head. We spend a lot of time together. At first I was keeping a careful eye on her, but that's definitely not necessary now. In fact, she recently moved in.
I think she's still getting used to living with crutches. She helps me oversee some of the combat classes at Signal and I can tell she used to be an incredibly good fighter. Now that she needs to rely on the crutches though, she's fallen more than a few times. She's never complained or gotten angry though, not once. I'm sure it's hard suddenly having your mobility taken like that, but when we talked about it she disagreed. "I wouldn't accept anything less," is what she said. While I'm not sure exactly what she's referring to, I'm glad she's content at least, and I'm not going to pry.
Oh and to answer your question Garnet actually has pretty short hair, although she did mention once wearing it long. She said something about trying to lessen her "intenseness," whatever that means. I suppose if she weren't on crutches and had long hair she could be somewhat intense, but if so then that's something she left behind.
I'll go ahead and cut this letter short, we actually need to be heading out about now (it's 7:45am.) or we'll be late to classes. Hopefully you'll be able to come visit sometime soon, I'd be thrilled to see you. If all else fails, I'll come to Mistral during one of the breaks, I think we've got one coming up soon. If semblances are any indication, I think you'll get along well with Garnet, her semblance is pretty fiery! (You'll see what I mean soon enough)
I have the coolest daughters in the world. I love you Yang, stay safe and have fun.
Love,
Taiyang Xiao Long