She Fights for her Friends
Iâm not sure if I can explain and articulate this point correctly, but like half of this FNDM Iâm Yang-emotional and just have a lot of thoughts so okay;
Thereâs this moment in Volume 3 Yang jumps into the fray after Adam, because she sees Blake is hurt, and she has not other options. And she just goes for it, because thatâs how much Blake matters to her, itâs indescribable just how much. And itâs heartbreaking to see her make that leap towards Adam, because we know whatâs coming next, (we know her intentions are good, itâs not stupidity or recklessness that drives her) but itâs her friend (future gf) in danger and thatâs all that matters.
Thereâs this moment in Yangâs Volume 5 short, that happens pre-series, and sheâs training Ruby. And a Grimm walks in, and Rubyâs defenseless, so Yang does what she absolutely must because itâs hardwired into her brain - she jumps in to protect Ruby. Because her sister (and sheâs already sacrificed so much for her sister trying to be both a sibling and a parent) is in danger, so she has to jump in, she must, itâs such an obvious choice for her to make it doesnât even register to her as a choice.
Thereâs this moment in Volume 6 in which Yang yeets Bumblebee into Adam when Blakeâs in danger, and it doesnât matter to her that she has to face the demon of her dreams again, it doesnât matter that she feels Blake doesnât understand her yet (Blake left, she only came back by mistake), all that matters is being there and helping Blake face her abuser. All that matters is not vengeance, itâs not killing Adam, itâs not about getting payback - itâs Blake. Itâs making her - and them - safe.
Thereâs this moment in Volume 8, chapter 2, in which a terrifying Grimm weâve never seen before breaks all of our perceptions of everything Grimm can or could be. And it manages to nab Oscar and break his Aura immediately, and terrify our heroes to inaction. And then Yang goes for it and tries to get Oscar back, because thatâs what matters - screw the scary Grimm, screw her fear, her friend is in danger and she wonât stand back doing nothing, even at those terrible odds. It doesnât matter that Oscar shares his body with Ozpin (who lied to her, who proved her mother right), Oscar is in danger and he needs help.
Then thereâs this moment in Volume 8, chapter 9, in which a terrifying evil being, who isnât even human (who crashed her world, who shattered her family) has Emerald in her clutches. And Emerald hurt Yang, Emerald made her life miserable, Emerald - can she even be trusted in that moment? Yet - yet it doesnât matter that her odds are against her, Emeraldâs there and sheâs scared and sheâs in mortal danger so what does Yang do? What does she do, if not run up to Salem and fight her?
I know Yang says she has no higher calling, I know Yang feels directionless. I know what makes Yang the way that she is today was tragedy and growing too fast. I know that she suffered for it then, I know she suffers for it now. But who needs a higher calling - who needs one truly - when you do have one so noble, so good, so true;
She fights for her friends.