Arc One: I Burn
Part Two

”So, uh...” Yang began, sitting on a couch next to Applejack who stared at the human waiting for Yang to finish her sentence. “Where exactly am I? I'm... ninety-nine percent sure that my world doesn't have, well, anything like you running around.” The human reached out a hand, grabbing the glass of water that sat on the table in front of them.

After their first official meeting by the stairs, Applejack had suggested that they speak in the living room to make it a bit more comfortable for them both; a suggestion that Yang was happy for since her legs were still not used to being used after her week-long nap. The farmer mare knew that the human did not have the energy to keep standing, so they moved to the couch as soon as possible. Then what followed was quite possibly the most awkward moments of silence in the history of forever. Neither one wanted to speak first, lest they somehow say something wrong. Luckily, that wasn’t the case. The first thing to be asked was “Can I have another glass of water?” from Yang, earning a laugh from Applejack who immediately fulfilled the request.

The mare cleared her throat as Yang finished taking her drink. “Well, yer obviously not from ‘round here,” Applejack started, rubbing a hoof under her chin. “Ah think we should start off with the basics, fer now. Hold on a sec...” She hopped down off the couch and trotted over to a bookshelf and grabbed a book from near the top before making her way back to Yang, setting the book down next to the human and flipping it open. “Alrighty then, let’s start with this.

“Yer in this country here,” The mare pointed to a map on the page- a map of the entire world, which obviously was not Remnant. The particular place she pointed to was a country dead-center in the continent, labeled ‘Equestria’. “Equestria’s where us ponies come from. This planet’s called Equus, and it’s just chock-full of all kinds o’ fancy creatures!”

Yang raised an eyebrow. “So, there’s more things on this planet than just ponies? What, like, talking dogs or something?” The human scoffed, crossing her arms, but widened her eyes when Applejack smiled knowingly. “...Suddenly I’m glad that Ru- that a certain someone’s not here.” Saying her name was just too painful right now. “She would absolutely love talking dogs.”

Applejack looked at the brawler questioningly, but continued anyway. “So, Equestria’s where we’re at. It’s ruled by Princess Celestia,” the pony turned the page, revealing a picture of two ponies... “And Princess Luna.”

“Hold up!” Yang put a hand in the air, silencing Applejack. She grabbed the book and brought it closer to her face, looking at it carefully. “These ponies have wings. And a horn.” She stated factually. She placed the book down and looked at Applejack, who looked at her oddly. “What?”

“They’re called ‘alicorns’, sugar cube.” Applejack informed Yang. “They have really strong magic-” Yang opened her mouth to interrupt, but the farmer kept talking. “-and they rule over Equestria. Now Ah know fer sure that yer not from this world. Even folk in other countries know about the princesses.”

“Yeah, well, my world doesn't have magical talking ponies.” Yang set the book back on the couch cushion next to her and sighed sadly, placing her hands on her head. “This...” What could she even say at this point? ‘This world is strange’? This world was way past strange. Talking ponies, for God’s sake! Eventually, Yang found the words. “This is a whole lot to take in...” Her voice shook, though not from the dryness of her throat. An alien world, God-knows how far away from Remnant... And Yang was completely alone.

Applejack placed a hoof on Yang’s back with a sad look in her eyes. “Ah’m sorry, Yang. Ah don’t know how different mah world is from yours... But Ah don't think they're too similar. Ah can't imagine what yer goin’ through.”

The human groaned and leaned back with a frown, her hands covering her eyes. “Stop that.” She said tersely. “Seriously. I don't know why the hell I ended up here, but from what I can tell, it isn't your fault.” Yang paused, opening her eyes and looking at the pony next to her. “Though speaking of which, how did you find me? I don't think I just popped up in your house, right? “

The farmer answered slowly. “Y’all just went and fell out of the sky. Knocked down a few of mah trees and knocked a mighty big crater in mah land.” Applejack didn't like what she was going to have to say next, but it had to be done. “Speaking of which, yer goin’ ta have ta work that off...” Big Mac and Granny Smith were adamant about that bit. If Yang refused to work off the damages, Mac would not hesitate to call the guards... And likely get Yang taken away.

The brawler’s eyes widened in shock, but they quickly shrunk back to regular size. With a harrumph Yang leaned forward and placed an elbow on her knee, resting her head on her hand. “Makes sense I suppose...” She grumbled. “Doesn't mean I have to like it...”

“Well, hey,” Applejack interjected with a happy tone. “Why don't’cha tell me about yer world? Take yer mind off of things?”

Yang simply sighed. “I don’t think that’ll work, Applejack. Thanks for trying, though. It means a lot.”

The farmer sighed. “Ah’m sorry ‘bout all of this, Yang.” Applejack’s voice took on that big-sisterly tone again as she tried to comfort the human. “Is there anythin’ Ah can do ta make ya feel better?” Yang didn't know if it was her words, her tone or what, but the human immediately perked up, still obviously distressed but less so.

“Got anything I can punch?” It was a simple question, one that Applejack understood. The pony nodded and pointed out of a window at a tree. Yang didn't look strong enough to cause any major damage, so it should be fine.

The pony jumped back as Yang’s bracelets turned into gauntlets, extending over her fists as she stood from the couch. “Be right back.” Was all Yang said as she calmly walked out of the Apple Family’s house and towards the tree Applejack had pointed at.

She briefly noted that this was her first time stepping outside on an alien world, but quickly pushed that thought away and focused on the tree. Her hands curled into fists as she approached it and her eyes turned to daggers.

Yang pulled a fist back and stared at the bark. Each piece was unique in its own way; some were big, some were small. This tree was undoubtedly old, and probably had been with the Apples for generations... It almost made her feel bad about this.

Almost.

With a snarl, her fist rocketed into the tree, splintering the bark and embedding into the trunk. Pieces of the tree went flying as her second fist also made contact, the strikes’ power intensified by the Ember Celica’s steel.

Another yell. Yang pulled her fists out of the tree and plunged them back in, each time causing further damage. Images flashed in her mind: her sister. Her teammates. Her friends. Would she ever see them again?

Tears streamed down Yang’s face as her strikes fell into rhythm. Left fist, right fist. Left fist, right fist. And with a final scream, the dual gauntlets fired, sending two blasts into the tree. The tree exploded, leaving nothing but a stump and a few apples that were burnt to a crisp.

The brawler fell to her knees with labored, painful breaths. Her yelling only served to aggravate her already sore throat even further, making it especially harder to breath.

Yang heard foot- er, hoofsteps behind her, but she didn't bother looking back. She knew what was going to happen. She’d get reprimanded, probably be held in that room she woke up in for a while, and have the cost of that tree added to her work.

Worth it.

“I know,” Yang began hoarsely. “I shouldn't have done that.” She’d probably come to regret destroying this tree later, but right now she didn't care. She had no idea how to get home, or if she could get home. What then? It didn't seem likely that the Apples would let her live with them forever...

“Eeyup.” A simple word for a simple sounding voice. A deep one, too. What was the word for a guy pony? A stallion? Yeah, that sounded right. The stallion didn't walk up to Yang, and instead kept his distance, which she was grateful for.

“And that’ll just add to my work, huh?”

“Eeyup.”

Rolling her eyes at the short response, she continued. “You don't talk a whole lot, do you?”

“Nnnope.”

Oh good. He can say more than one word. That's some progress, then. Slowly Yang pushed herself to her feet with shaky breaths, her eyes burning red... Literally. “What's your name?” She asked, still not glancing behind her, instead she looked at the remains of the tree.

“Macintosh. Big Macintosh.”

“Nice you meet ya, Macintosh. I’m Yang.” The human stretched her arms above her head, arching her back as she did so. She groaned as her shoulder popped, relief flowing through the arm. Yang then finally turned her head to look behind her.

The stallion was much bigger than Applejack- both width and height-wise. His red coat accentuated his role of an apple farmer quite well, along with the picture of a green apple on his flanks. Another apple mark. Maybe it’s a family tradition to get apple tattoos?

Yang noticed that he, like Applejack, possessed emerald green eyes. So they were related, probably siblings, considering that Applejack mentioned a ‘Big Mac’ earlier.

She cracked a smile, turning to face the stallion. “Seriously, though,” Yang began, leaning her head to the side to crack her neck. “I really am sorry about the tree. I’ll, uh, make it up to you.”

Big Macintosh nodded firmly, his eyes betraying no emotion. “Eeyup.”

The red in Yang’s eyes steadily began to fade back into lilac as her smile grew even wider. “Guess I was just barking up the wrong tree, doing that, huh?”

Macintosh’s mouth formed a straight line as his gaze hardened and his head lowered. Yang did not let his quiet groan go unnoticed.

Happy with herself, she crossed her arms. “Nailed it.”

Macintosh stared at Yang, chewing on his cheek as he thought to himself. She didn't know what he was thinking, but it was definitely something.

“Yang,” he began, slightly startling the human. “Can Ah ask ya a question?” She didn't really like how his voice went all serious, but she kept quiet and waited to see what he had to say. “Who’d ya lose?”

Of all the questions, that one was the one she least expected. Her eyes widened and her mouth hung open as she stammered, trying to form words. “Uh... Huh?” She questioned lamely.

“Ah lost mah parents when Ah was young. Got angry a lot.” Even his sentences weren't very long. His eyes hardened as he continued. “One day Ah came out here and punched trees. Somethin’ to get rid of the anger. Knocked a couple of ‘em down.” Macintosh took a deep breath, as if steeling himself before he went on.

“Ah know that kind of anger, Yang. The kind made from sadness. So... Who’d ya lose?”

Yang didn't really know how to answer that. She didn't even know this guy, and yet here he was, asking these kind of questions? Who even does that?

“I, uh... My sister.” She silently begged him not to ask for a name. Macintosh nodded slightly, blinking slowly as he looked the human over.

“Ah’m sorry ‘bout that. How?”

“How?” How she died? “I... Um... M-Murdered.” Yang crossed her arms, tilting her head down as she frowned. “Didn't go down easily. She fought ‘til the end.” Her voice dropped to just above a whisper, barely audible though a suddenly tight throat. She cast her gaze to the stallion, glaring slightly as she made herself louder. “Why do you wanna know?”

Macintosh shrugged, turning his head to look over the fields. “No reason. Ah just don't think anypony should have ta be sad all alone.” He then looked at Yang again, returning her slight glare with one of his own. “Ah am sorry ‘bout yer sister. Ah don't know what Ah’d do if Ah lost mine. So stay away from Apple Bloom. Ya got a fire in ya, Yang. And if yer not careful, you’ll burn somepony. And if you hurt mah family, Celestia help you.”

Yang knew where he was coming from. Hell, she sympathized with his sentiment. But it still made her angry. She again crossed her arms, intensifying her glare. “Okay...” She paused. “... And if I don’t?”

Probably the worst possible thing to say at that moment, but whatever. “Then Ah will personally kick ya off of mah land. Ya seem like a nice girl, Yang. You really do. But Ah ain't riskin’ mah family.” His glare hardened, digging into her own as they locked eyes.

Yang sighed. “Alright. Fine. I’ll keep away from her.” She let her arms drop to her sides, but keeping her hands balled into fists. “But don't expect me to outright avoid her. I don't wanna make it seem like I don't like her. If she comes to me, I’m not walking away.”

Macintosh nodded. “Seems fair.” His eyes went from the human to the tree behind her. “Ya start the work first thing tomorrow. Ah’ll wake y’all up.” She acknowledged him with a nod of her own.

Macintosh turned and walked away.

Ruby...

She’s dead...

Her vision was red. Red like roses. Smoke danced in the air around the crater that held whatever was left of her sister. Killed by a barrage of flares. What a way to go. Everyone expected a Huntress to die by Grimm, not another human. But Roman Torchwick killed her anyway.

With an anguished scream, she ran towards the man in the bowler hat, her Ember Celica extending into full gauntlets around her fists. She saw only red. Murderous red. Red like roses. The man killed Ruby Rose. He would pay.

But before she could punch Roman in his smug face, something impacted her. She was sent to the ground, denting the concrete. Despite her Aura blocking most of the pain, the impact still knocked the wind out of her lungs. Gasping for air, she looked up from her position on the ground, and her lilac eyes immediately sharpened into a glare.

That mute from the other day. The one who helped Roman escape after the fight with that mech. The mute stood with a cocky but elegant posture, an umbrella clutched tightly in her hands to her chest.

“Ah!” Roman exclaimed, twirling his flare-shooting cane in his hand. “So good to see you, Neo. Thanks for the save...” The man said in a teasing tone, staring at Yang who still lay on the ground, slowly catching her breath.

“Why don’t you reunite this bimbo with her sister? I’m sure it’ll be very... touching.”

With that, Torchwick walked away, leaving Neo to face against the remaining three members of RWBY.

Yang awoke with a loud shriek, sweat rolling down her face as labored breath escaped her lungs. She frantically looked around the darkened room, only slightly illuminated by the moonlight pouring in through the window. Her heart was beating a mile a minute, banging inside her chest with great force.

“The hell...?”

She knew that she had died. She knew that Ruby had died. But that... That wasn’t a dream. It was a memory. Is that how she died? Was it Neo’s sword that ended her life on Remnant? Almost instinctively: Yang brought a hand to her throat, rubbing it while she slowly blinked.

She didn’t know how she got here. She died, and then here she was in Equestria. It didn’t make sense. How would she get home? Could she get home?

Home...

She wondered how things were going back on Remnant. Team JNPR would no doubt be mourning her loss. Would Beacon suspend classes for a few days, or would they force grieving students to attend lectures? Jaune, JNPR’s leader, would undoubtedly be a wreck.

Did Weiss and Blake survive? For now, Yang decided to work on the assumption that no, they did not. With that line of thought, that meant that Team RWBY had fallen. Completely. It’s not rare for a few members of a team to die, but a whole team? Of first-year Huntresses? Almost unheard of. Beacon was supposed to have state-of-the-art protection for the students.

Then again, dying is certainly a consequence of investigating matters out of the school’s hands...

With a deep breath, Yang slowly laid back down and sighed. Home. She didn’t know when, or if, she’d get back. But damn it all if she wasn’t going to try. “I’m a Huntress.” She said, her eyes sharpening. “I protect people. I can’t do that if I’m stuck here.” She tossed herself onto her side, snuggling against the fluffy pillow.

“I’ll get back. I know I will.

“I burn.”

Arc One: I Burn
Part Two End

Author's Note

I never said they were happy farm shenanigans.

So, question. Right now, the plan is to have two or three JNPR chapters after the end of each arc. But, I'm thinking about doing one JNPR chapter for every two RWBY chapters. What do you guys think?

If we go with the second option, that would mean that the next chapter will focus on JNPR rather than Yang and the Apples.
-Dusty Old Qrow