This is a good week, my dear readers. Not only has Volume 4 premiered, but I FINALLY set up my P/atreon account. In order to commemorate that, I am releasing an AU idea I've had in the works for a few months, which utilizes one of my favorite things ever: dragons.

I. Love. Dragons. When I was little, my first poetry book was Jack Prelutsky's "The Dragons are Singing Tonight." I could talk for days about the various dragon-based movies and books that I love. I could debate the differences between a dragon and a wyvern until I turn blue in the face. Heck, I could probably recommend something dragon-related in each chapter of this thing for a good long time.

Actually, I think I will. If you like poetry and/or amazing artwork, check out "The Dragons are Singing Tonight." It's a great first read for any kid, and the poems are just as enjoyable for adults.

Moving on, this AU takes place in Remnant, but instead of weapons and Semblances, technology was focused on improving wild dragons until they were the perfect partners for people who wish to fight Grimm. Instead of Huntsmen, Remnant is protected by Dragon Riders, who ride dragons that were infused with Dust while still in the egg. Enjoy.

"Come on, sweetie. You can do it." Summer Rose's gentle, encouraging voice was like a beacon to the little, silver-eyed girl who tottered after her on shaky legs. "Just a few more steps. Oh, you're doing so well!"

"M-Ma?" Ruby stumbled forward, letting out a squeak of surprise as she tripped on the stone ground. Just before she landed on her face, her mother's hands stopped her.

"That was wonderful, Ruby," Summer cooed. "I'll carry you the rest of the way, okay? You're going to love this. I promise."

Ruby just giggled, tugging at the white hood that shrouded her mother's face. The cloth was so soft! "Ma!" she chirped again.

Summer giggled. "You certainly have a lot to say." Holding Ruby carefully in one arm, she walked over to the large building that sat at the edge of the Xiao Long property. Loud rumbling sounded from within. The young woman paused, smiling as the familiar noise washed over her.

Ruby, on the other hand, cuddled closer to her mother, whimpering nervously.

"Don't worry, baby. There's nothing to be afraid of. You'll see." Taking a key out of her pocket, Summer unlocked the large door and pushed it open with her shoulder.

Inside, was a single expanse paved with stone tiles. Large, wooden beams the size of trees supported the structure. To the right and left were twin setups of water pumps, giant buckets, and stacks of hay that were taller than a person. The rumbling echoed off the walls.

Unable to understand the loudness, Ruby let out a cry, clutching her mother's hood tightly in her little fists.

Immediately, the rumbling stopped. There was a tense silence, then two voices called out.

"Tai?" said a deep, low voice from the left side of the building.

"Mmmer?" came a lighter, warbling voice from the right side.

Summer smiled, gently shushing Ruby before speaking. "It's me, you two. Settle."

There was a sound from the left that was similar to a sigh, followed by the heavy thud of something sitting down. To the right, however, there was an excited chirp and a leathery rustle. "Mmmer! Com!" the voice said in a commanding tone.

"I'm coming, gorgeous." Summer patted Ruby's back as she walked to the right side of the building.

Around the corner from the buckets, bales of hay, and pumps was a giant, hay-covered slab of stone. Sitting up on the enormous bed, head fins perked forward attentively, clawed feet shuffling eagerly, was a dragon.

Summer smiled as she gazed at the creature that had been her partner in battle since she was little more than a child. "Hello, Tempest."

Tempest was huge, three times as tall at the shoulder as any horse, with a long, sinuous neck and a whip-like tail. Her wings were several times larger than her body. Fully extended, they would cover more than half of the Xiao Long household. She was a pale green color with clear, sky-blue eyes. Her thin, graceful head tilted to the side as she noticed the tiny thing her partner held. "Mmmer?" she murmured, making the sound she always used when referring to Summer.

Ruby stared wide-eyed at the enormous creature, watching as it extended its long neck until its great head was mere inches away. She saw herself reflected in a blue eye that was larger than her tiny body. She blinked. The eye blinked back. A smile spread across her face and she started giggling.

Summer sighed, relief flooding her system when she saw her daughter's smile. "That's it, sweetie. I knew you'd like her."

She looked at Tempest. "Tempest, this is Ruby. She's my daughter, like Yang is." This wasn't technically true, but Summer didn't care. Yang was her daughter in everything but blood. The dragons acknowledged her as Summer's child, as did everyone else.

"Ang?" Tempest blinked again, saying the sound that meant Yang before staring at the tiny human that Summer held. This one wasn't like Yang. This one was smaller and smelled more like Summer. Yang smelled more like her father, which was why Quake liked her so much. Tempest leaned closer and inhaled deeply, memorizing the new human's scent. This one definitely belonged to her partner.

"This is Ruby," Summer repeated. "Ruby." She held out her daughter, who reached up a tiny hand to touch the cool, smooth scales on Tempest's snout.

Tempest lowered her head, a deep purr rumbling in her throat as she felt the feather-light touch to her head. "Rrroo," she growled, imprinting the image of those silver eyes, so similar to Summer's, into her mind. This child was Summer's, which meant that she was Tempest's too. "Rrroo safe."

"Yes, gorgeous," Summer said, a tear trickling down her cheek as she watched her daughter and her dragon. "She will be safe." She scratched Tempest under the chin while Ruby continued to eagerly pat the dragon's snout. "Whatever happens to me, I know you'll take good care of her."

She was glad that Taiyang had agreed to Ruby getting to meet Tempest first. Yang's introduction to dragons had been her father's earth dragon, Quake. Large, gentle, and very easygoing, Quake was the perfect candidate for a child's first experience with dragons. Tempest, on the other hand, was much more temperamental and flighty, as was a wind dragon's nature.

Still, Summer had wanted Tempest to be Ruby's first dragon. She watched the beast carefully for any sign of a change in behavior, ready to hurry to the door if things turned sour. Thankfully, she didn't need to worry. Tempest continued to purr softly and Ruby continued to pet the dragon, occasionally letting out a giggle as a warm breath blew back her hair.

"That's my girl," Summer whispered, looking at both her daughter and her dragon as she spoke. "That's my beautiful girl."

…..

Taiyang was hardly aware of the severe jostling his body went through as Quake skidded to a halt under him. His heart was pounding like war drums, but he hardly noticed that either. All that mattered was the scene taking place just a few yards away.

The sight made his blood turn to ice water. Lying on the ground motionless, her battle with the Grimm evident in the large gashes in her body, was Summer. Pacing in circles around her, a heavily-bleeding Tempest was growling and snapping at anything that came close.

Quake let out a low, deep hum, his dark green eyes flickering with worry as he watched his friend. His giant, heavy, square-shaped head was tilted to the side and his small ears flicked every time Tempest made a noise.

Taiyang took a deep breath before walking forward, hands outstretched. Though his immediate wish was to rush to his wife's side, he knew that it would do no good. She was dead. The paramedics had called him with that diagnosis. Tempest wouldn't be acting this way otherwise. His task right now was to calm down the dragon. If he didn't, more Riders would have to be called and Tempest would be killed.

The wind dragon shrieked a warning as he came close, head frills fully extended in a threat display.

"Easy, girl," Taiyang murmured, holding a hand up behind him as he heard Quake shift and growl. "Easy."

Tempest shook her head desperately, letting out a creel that sounded eerily like a human woman wailing. The sound was enough to chill anyone's bones. Her partner was gone! The others were coming to take her away! She was alone, all alone!

"I know, Tempest. I know," Taiyang said, his voice cracking. "I want her back too, but that's not going to happen. Please calm down. I can't lose you too!" Having to watch Tempest die would likely break him. He had known her just as long as he had known Summer. They had once been part of a team together, along with Raven, Qrow, and their dragons.

Angrily pushing aside thoughts of Raven, Taiyang tried making soothing noises in his throat. Behind him, he could tell that Quake was slowly relaxing.

Tempest lashed her tail and hissed. There was no calming her. The Grimm were everywhere! They had taken Summer away! "Mmmer!" she cried.

"I know, beautiful, I know," Taiyang said desperately. "I miss her too. That's why you need to calm down! You and Ruby are all I have left of her now!"

As he spoke, he noticed that Tempest's head snapped to attention when he said Ruby's name. His heartbeat sped up. "Ruby," he repeated.

Tempest blinked as the familiar word was spoken. Her partner's daughter was still alive, was she? There was no body. The Grimm hadn't taken her. "Rrroo?" She stomped a large foot.

Taiyang nodded eagerly. "Yes, Tempest. Ruby. She's at home. She'll miss you if you die. You need to calm down so we can treat you. Ruby needs a mom. She needs you. Yang needs you too."

"Ang. Rrroo." Tempest's wings drooped and she let out a long sigh that caused several nearby trees to shake. She needed to take care of Summer's children. That was her new purpose. She stared down at her partner and let out one last, loud cry that echoed through the woods. Her body felt drained as the other humans came forward to take the white-cloaked form away for the last time.

Taiyang immediately rushed over to Tempest, stroking her scales as tears streamed down his cheeks. "Thank Dust," he murmured. "Thank Dust." He felt those large wings wrapping around him and he moved back a little to look at the wind dragon's face. "We can get through this, girl. Ruby and Yang need all of us. We need to be strong."

Tempest blinked down at him, head fins drooping in resignation. "Ang safe. Rrroo safe." She barely felt it when the healers started patching up her wounds. She just closed her eyes and keened softly, wishing that her partner would magically appear and tell her that everything would be okay.

This is going to be a fun one, and a long one. Now, even though this takes place in an alternate version of Remnant, and I'll be updating and coming up with new chapters over the course of several months, that doesn't mean I'll automatically consider stuff that's revealed in canon over the course of Volume 4 and beyond. After all, I don't want this series to just mirror the canon series. That would be boring.

Another note: This will be updated every other Tuesday on FF, but every Monday on P/atreon. Other, regularly updated fics like "Once in a Shattered Moon" will be updated a day early on P/atreon and on its usual day on FF. The same goes for other fics. They'll be updated on P/atreon first, and here the following day.

I hope that those who are able will consider becoming patrons. The money will help fund my upcoming travels, and make it so I can write more, which will ultimately lead to more content for you all to enjoy. My username is Solora Goldsun, same as here. Depending on your pledge, you can request a drabble or story, be entered in raffles for free requests, or even get commission discounts. Thank you in advance if you do decide to pledge, and thank you to everyone who reads and enjoys my work.

As always, praise Monty and peace out.