The Wolf, The Lion, and The Dragon - (Vol.4)

Ch.9 Two Steps Forward, Two Steps Back

Josh's Pov

Yang lifts up her head, and arms as they are ready for a fight. Her father, Taiyang, takes a swing at her, and so their spar began.

Nearby, Zwei watches the two spar, panting happily. Beside him is a low stool with two white towels. His head changes angles, oscillating to the sounds of grunts and contact. Abruptly he holds his head straight and makes a noise of surprise.

Taiyang stands alone and moves forward, doing his own roundhouse kick. Yang joins both hands atop each other to block Tai's landing foot. With a loud cry, she pushes it up and back. Taiyang regains his footing in a flip while Yang waits for his landing. Using her robotic arm, she knocks him back with a single hit.

Holding onto his right bicep, Tai slides through the dirt, his feet flat on the ground until he comes to a stop.

Taiyang: "Whoa, that thing packs a punch!"

Yang: "We've been at this for weeks. I get it, you wanna make sure I can still fight? (bumping her own fists) I think I'm doing just fine."

Taiyang: "You're close."

He stands upright, no longer nursing his arm. Walking around his daughter in a circle, he assesses her progress.

Yang: "Oh, really?"

Taiyang: "You're still off balance."

Yang: "What?! No, I'm not!"

Taiyang chuckles.

Yang: "Honestly, I'm kind of surprised."

She lifts her robotic arm, looking down at it with a smile.

Yang: "I thought it would be just this huge weight, but it feels... natural."

Taiyang suddenly comes in, delivering a left hook right into her face. Yang's upper body rears back both from impact and surprise. She's ready to block his right hook, however, and uses the turning momentum to deliver an elbow jab. Grinning the entire time, Tai blocks it and then dodges all the kicks she follows through with. Yang switches to punches, but Tai is too on point for her. While she uses her left hand to block an elbow thrust, Tai has grasped her robotic arm and pulled it forward. The position puts Yang in the position of having her balance rely on the weight of one leg.

Taiyang: "I wasn't talking about your actual balance."

He sweeps her forward leg, sending her onto the ground on her back. He leaves her there and walks over to Zwei, who happily gets the top towel for him.

Taiyang: "Although, that could use some work too."

Taiyang takes the towel and gives Zwei a rub on the top of his head. Zwei hums happily. Arms spread on the ground, Yang takes a breath before speaking.

Yang: "Meaning?"

Taiyang: "I saw your tournament fights. During the Vytal Festival."

Yang: "Let me guess. "I was sloppy."

Taiyang: "No, no, you were predictable. And... stubborn. And... maybe a little boneheaded."

Yang sits up and spins to stare at her father.

Taiyang: "Do you realize that you used your Semblance to win every fight after the qualifiers?"

Yang: "So what? How is me using my Semblance any different than someone else using theirs?"

Tossing the towel on the ground, Taiyang moves toward Yang.

Taiyang: "Because not everyone else's is basically a temper tantrum."