#jaune-arc

Pyrrha knew she was being silly, almost full-blown ridiculous at this point, but she had never expected her morning to go down like this.

“I’M FREE!!” Nora shouted as she bounced across the room, an apparent sugar rush in full effect. The orange-haired girl was literally blasting off the walls of the dorm. Ren had already been knocked out, an unfortunate accident with the door when Nora had announced her new state to the team. With him out it now fell to her and Jaune to wrangle the errant girl. Something that would be easier if her brain wasn’t trying to take advantage of the situation.

“Nora as your leader I would like you to calm down,” Jaune tried to reason with his teammate, as he peered over the propped-up bed the two used for cover. The light and shadows of the room perfectly capture the image of a struggling hero—

No bad Pyrrha! Pyrrha berated her subconscious as again it began to morph Jaune into some sort of fantasy. He was an actual person someone who was trying to find his destiny. The fact that he was cute, kind, and a bit of a goof—Nope she was doing it again.

“Alright Pyrrha,” Jaune started as he crouched down, his face now inches away though still craned toward the noises of Nora’s destruction, “We’re going to have to…are you alright?” he asked as he finally turned to look at his partner who was slapping her cheeks rather forcefully.

“Oh, yeah I’m good Jaune, sorry,” Pyrrha apologized, “you were saying?”

“Uh well since Nora’s officially on a power-high,” Jaune started, his statement reinforced by Nora’s shriek of excitement. “We’ve got to knock her out somehow,” he finished, as his mind tried to figure out just what Pyrrha had been doing. It was still early in the morning for the weekend, so he mostly chalked it up to her waking herself up. If he was honest with himself, he was exhausted too. He had been looking forward to a quiet morning. Nora usually spent the first morning of a weekend at the gym with Yang. Who Jaune was rapidly thinking had something to do with the current situation.

“That seems a bit…severe,” Pyrrha ventured, though she too was growing concerned at the destruction Nora was cause. Oh, what if Jaune liked it tha—NO! Pyrrha again slammed her inner thoughts down, this was not the time to be thinking about such notions. She needed to halt her focus on Jaune. Well not entirely, she just needed to get her head in the real world, not whatever fantasy she had in her dreams. He needed her help right now not her feelings.

“Yeah, I’m not looking forward to trying that either,” Jaune said as he watched Nora start to crack the walls, “but we need to do something to get her to stop before…” he trailed off. Pyrrha saw his head tilt as he suddenly thought. He just looked so cute—No bad focus Pyrrha. However, as she tried to shake her head clear, Jaune suddenly turned around. “You’re going to have to toss me.”

“Wha what? Wait WHAT!” Pyrrha’s voice went from startled to bewilderment as she processed just what Jaune had asked for.

“You’re the only one with both the aim and strength while I might just be enough to stun her for a bit…and live hopefully,” he muttered completely missing Pyrrha's dazed expression. He was too busy worrying about if his plan would work.

“But what are you—how are you?” Pyrrha continued to stammer. Oh, sure they all had thrown one another before, but in such an enclosed space with a hyped-up Nora as a target. Pyrrha wasn’t sure how it would go and was hesitant to do something that could harm both her teammates.

“I trust you Pyrrha, it will work,” Jaune responded as he noticed her worry, throwing her a smile. A smile that caused her heart to melt. Pyrrha liked when he gave that smile, both because it was nice and because he was happy to reach out. She knew there were still the shadows of his perceived faults, on what he had to do to himself to be a true man. Still, she was happy to see him take a step away from that and let his teammates help. It had started to make their team fights dangerous and— “Uh Pyrrha?” Jaune suddenly cut through her thoughts as he grew concerned over her silence.

“Ah yes, sorry,” Pyrrha scrambled as she hardened her gaze toward the bouncing Nora, her hands grasping Jaune’s shoulders. Ignoring Jaune’s audible gulp as second thoughts flooded his brain, she quickly analyzed Nora’s bounce path. It was quite an erratic pattern, but there was something, there!

“Uh Pyrrha you gooAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!” Jaune went to ask as he felt Pyrrha’s hands tighten, and in a second she executed a perfect spin throw and nailed Nora midair with him. The two slammed into the ceiling and then dropped to the floor. Jaune quickly scrambled to pin the vibrating Nora under him, as she quickly recovered from the three impacts.

“Ahhahaha! You dare challenge the Queen of the EEP!” Nora's challenge died in a shriek as Jaune pressed his fingers into her ribs. A silence fell over the room as everyone took stock of what happened.

Jaune sighed at his family’s old method of dealing with wildness appeared to be effective on Nora. However, Nora was quick to try and wriggle out of Jaune’s grip. “You think a bit of ticklahAHAHAHAH!!” she tried to threaten Jaune who just unleashed more tickle onto her, forcing laughter to drown out her words.

Pyrrha could only watch in confusion as Jaune continued to tickle Nora into exhaustion. It certainly was a unique way of dealing with a crazed Nora. Of course, her brain had again started to wander, as it tried to replace Nora with herself and turn the activity a bit steamier. With a gasp, she crouched behind the upturned bed to hide her blushing face in case Jaune saw. This was highly inappropriate, sure it was nice to imagine what she and Jaune could do—No no Pyrrha, not that, focus on something else like…Ren, Ren needed help. She quickly stood up and marched toward the prone form of Ren, doing her best to ignore Nora’s pleas toward Jaune. Instead, she focused on the unconscious form of Ren. He looked mostly alright, though a bit of a bruise on his forehead had started to form. For a brief moment, her brain superimposed Jaune in Ren’s place.

“Slap!”

Again, she whacked herself, hard this time, her focus was on Ren now. Jaune was busy handling Nora, whose laughter had reached a new crescendo at this time. Desperately shutting out Nora’s laughter, Pyrrha carefully scooped up Ren. Gently she set him down on his bed, still fighting her head as it tried to daydream about Jaune. She needed to focus, she had to make sure Ren was fine. She busied herself with her scroll, setting up a checkup for him just in case. However, as she finishes scheduling that meeting, she notes that the room has gone silent. She turned around and spots a haggard Jaune untangle himself from a thoroughly hoarse Nora.

“And next time you don’t steal Yang’s energy drink,” he stated, getting a tired thumbs up from Nora. “Ah great job Pyrrha, how’s Ren looking?” Jaune finally asked as he surveyed Pyrrha’s operation.

“He’s looking okay, might need to go to the nurse once he wakes up for a checkup,” Pyrrha stated as she turned back around to look at Ren.

“Gotcha I’ll let him know once he gets up,” Jaune remarked as he helped Nora up onto another bed. Pyrrha nodded and for the first time didn’t know just what to say next. An awkward silence descended across the room, as the two partners realized it really was just them now.

Free weekend, teammates out, sounds like the perfect opportunity, Pyrrha’s mind thought as it raced back to its latest obsession, Jaune. It wasn’t hard for her to understand why, he was adorable, driven, and kind. Not to mention even though he had been told point blank she was the famous Invincible Girl; he always seemed to make her feel like she was just a fellow person. He didn’t trust her moniker, he trusted her, Pyrrha. It made her heart warm and why shouldn’t she take this opportunity. After all, a peaceful breakfast would be a nice bonding moment. No, she thought, He might take it the wrong way. She knew he still had a soft spot about having pity taken on him. No, the best solution would be for him to make the first move, it would just be better for everyone that way.

“Soooo, you want to get some breakfast?” Jaune asked, unaware of Pyrrha’s thoughts, and mostly just trying to figure out why he felt awkward asking that question.

The Beacon’s Glory Masque, though perhaps not the grandest of court celebrations, was definitely the liveliest. It was the favor of the Protector Regent, Lord Ozpin the Unfathomable, who despite having a reputation for being distant, thoroughly enjoyed the vast swaths of color and merriment the event brought. It also provided the perfect opportunity for all of Vale’s social strata to gather tighter. Even the final part of the celebration, held within Beacon Castle itself which was often closed to only the most elite of the kingdom, found itself filled with guests invited by such individuals.

Hence why the Arcs found themselves being allowed into the castle. Once they did rank amongst those who could gain entrance to the Vale King’s keep. Their warrior ancestors helped forged the very kingdom they all now live in. Peace and abundance have reduced the need for such warrior families. Plus, the Arcs themselves have also settled for the farming life. Too much tragedy had dampened their family’s tendency to send their offspring to battle.

With such a loss they fell to relative obscurity, but their sacrifices were not to be forgotten. This is why Her Ladyship, Glynda Goodwitch the Unbowed, Supreme Magician of Vale, had extended the customary invitation to the final act of the night.

Jaune also assumed it had to do with his sister, Saffron, having recently managed to engage Lady Cotta. A minor Mistral noble that his sister had met during one of her ventures. It spoke about how Lord Ozpin had been trying to align at least parts of the Kingdom of Mistral so that Atlas, whose growing military might have worried some, would not have its old ally.

Thus, his sister’s engagement was perhaps an unexpected boon, and the Arcs' presence would help ease the Mistral delegation. Then again that could all just be speculation at this point. Greater people had tried to predict Lord Ozpin’s plans, and they have all failed to this point.

So, it was best to probably just enjoy to party, and perhaps he could see if he could again gain a recommendation to attend the capital’s knight academy. After all, even though most could guess who everyone was, it was custom to assume everyone was a mystery. It had its downsides for sure, but it allowed those in attendance to speak their thoughts without fear. Many a crisis had been adverted by the inciting individuals being able to air their issues in such a form.

Honestly, the ones he’d have to avoid would be his parents. His father would probably be the first Arc to die of old age and not of complications with wounds. A trend his mother full-heartedly agreed on starting. Which was exactly the opposite of his goal of becoming a knight of the realm. So, when the Arcs made their entrance, clad in their new cloths of yellow, with their mask simplistic depictions of the animals they now called their charges, Jaune, or Mane as his stage name was for the horse mask on his face, quickly made his way to slip into the crowd.

Sadly, as the night drew on, his quest seemed hopeless. Firstly, it turned out to be much more difficult to find those who could help him. Turns out many of the knights also preferred to dress in their civilian lives. Honestly, the only ones that stood out were Lady Goodwitch (who was friendly to his parents and posed too much of a risk) and Lord Brawen, though that was mostly due to said man’s current camping of the punch bowl at one of the tables. Which lead to his second issue, the few knights he did find often found his request hilarious. This was Vale, anyone could apply for the chance to attend the academy. Even the most helpful of the bunch a grey-clad man with a multi-eyed bird mask had asked why he didn’t simply ask his parents.

Jaune smiled ruefully at that. He didn’t need to ask his parent to gauge their reactions. He had seen it in their faces when in his youth he played knights in the fields. The looks had turned to words as he got older and his interest failed to wane. He knew his parents simply didn’t want to see him mauled on the battlefield, but over the year the steady attempts to discourage him had worn his trust in them.

So, it wasn’t surprising that after finding no help amongst the partiers Jaune decided to seclude himself on one of the private balconies outside of the hall. Here he could be out here with the stars. His ever-present companions when he needed space from his family. It was a clear night and the wind was gentle calming his racing mind.

“May I join you?” a soft voice, though their tone was far from timid. For a moment Jaune thought about saying no, but perhaps destiny had decided to smile on him.

“Sure, and you areeee,” his voice trailed as he was stuck with how beautiful the owner of the voice was. She was dressed in crimson and bronze, an outfit of silk and armor. Her mask was a decorative masterpiece of scales and feathers that formed a rainbow across her face, highlighting her bright green eyes. She giggled at his shocked expression before answering his question.

“Sir Nike, of the Kingdom of Mistral,” Nike introduced herself before asking for Jaune’s name. A moment of silence passed before Jaune realized she had asked in return, and tried to answer. Sadly, his mind was still hooked on her beauty and so his words were a jumbled mess. Nike gave him another bought of her laughter and simply pushed on to what he was doing out where.

“Ah just letting my thoughts drift,” Jaune sighed as he was brought back to his current problem.

“Oh…does it have something to do with attempting to attend Beacon’s Knight Academy?” Nike asked much to Jaune’s surprise.

“Ho—How?” he stammered; he would have remembered if he had talked to her before.

“You were rather loud with your last conversation,” Nike stated, their tone similar to when one of his sisters stated the obvious.

“Ah…well if you’re here to enjoy the story, I’m sorry to disappoint, but I will—”

“Oh, no no,” Nike cut in as she moved closer to Jaune, “I wanted to help,”

“How, no offense sir, but you’re a Mistal Knight, you don’t exactly have the authority,” Jaune pointed out, unsure just what was happening

“True, but I will be attending said academy myself, and I will need someone who is familiar with this kingdom’s ways,” Nike answered, partially confusing Jaune more.

“But you are already knighted and in Mistral your home,” he pressed, “what would you gain from attending our kingdom’s academy?”

“It is a test run,” Nike answered, her head next to Jaune’s, “my Queen has asked that a warrior of Mistral learn to see if Vale is still able to produce great warriors against the Grimm threat. So, what do you say?” Jaune had no idea what to think of this chance. Oh, sure he knows he was being used, but it’s still a chance.

“Sir Nike, I Mane of House Arc will accept your request to accompany you to the Beacon Knight Academy if you will have me,” he stated proffering a bow to his new benefactor.

Shoes slammed into the pitch as the various players chased the football as the Beacon Bells’ star player, Pyrrha Nikos, led the charge. The game had been rough, with Haven’s Hellions having constantly been pressuring the Bells’ goal much of the game. However, the Bells’ defense held, keeping the score 0 to 0, and now Pyrrha had a chance to seize the lead for her team.

It had been a running joke that Beacon Bells should really be the Beacon Bottoms due to their fall from the top team in the world to the bottom of the Remnant Academy Football rankings. However, this latest squad of players had gone on a rampage. Tearing through their opponents, they were on the run for the first undefeated season for the Bells. Almost nothing could stop them, almost nothing, except perhaps Cinder Fall.

The Hellions’ controversial powerhouse, Cinder had somehow set a fire underneath the normally mediocre team of Haven, having them win the Vytal Cup the last three years. She was not going to let some upstarts take her senior year victory lap away.

She had already dealt with the Bells’ veteran leader, Coco Adel. Double teamed by her and Emerald had caused a collision and Coco’s ankle twisted badly in the scuffle. It had stopped the Bells’ opening attack and let the Hellions begin pummeling their opponents’ goal. That is until Pyrrha stole the ball. Now it was a race as the Hellions’ defenders found themselves on the back foot. In her head, Cinder swore and knew she would have to take a yellow to get this game back under her pace.

Pyrrha was obviously unaware of Cinder’s plot. No instead she was dealing with her own issues. She knew she hadn’t been in the game mentally for long. She had been approached by the Argus Angels with an offer for a ride straight out of Beacon and into the pros. She knew it was bound to happen; her parents had mentioned that many teams would seek her out for her skills.

She had been inundated with several letters, and she had dreamed of going pro. However, things changed when she started to attend Beacon. Her roommate, Nora had shattered all of Pyrrha’s expectations for roommates. The orange-haired girl had dragged Pyrrha out of their dorm and introduced her to all her new friends, some of whom were now trusted teammates.

However, that wasn’t the main reason for her worry. No, that honor was held by her heart. Pyrrha had no idea how Jaune Arc, the so-called King of Nerds, wormed his way to her heart. Perhaps it was his kindness, as he often offered to help care with anything when someone was struggling. It might have been his goofiness as he effortlessly made her laugh, though she knew it was mostly accidental on his part. Then there was the fact that he always seemed to just want to talk to Pyrrha and not Ms. Nikos Beacon’s rising star.

In fact, she was pretty sure he didn’t even watch football, as no one had seen him at the games. Even when invited he always seemed to have an excuse for not being there. Still, he was her friend off the pitch, and well it wasn’t like he would reciprocate her feelings. It was well known that he was attempting to woo Weiss Schnee.

So Pyrrha finally made a decision, she would accept the Angels’ offer and hope she could keep in touch with them all. Granted she knew she had to help her teammates win the Vytal Cup and to do that she had to focus on this game right now.

This is why she had to focus right now as the final Hellion defender came charging at her. Pyrrha knew her opponent was going to try and bullrush threw her in an attempt to get the ball away. It was a bold attempt but Pyrrha knew the best way to counter that. Dropping her speed, a bit in preparation—

“PYRRHA!!” the voice of Jaune echoed through the throng of excitement, worry tinging his tone. Something was wrong, and she needed to react now. Immediately she but a burst of speed, juking to the side, and just watched as Cinder slid right through where she had been. Of course, now that she wasn’t there Cinder instead slammed into her own teammate’s legs. As the two became a tangled mess on the ground, Pyrrha renewed her drive to the goal. From there, one on one with a goalie it was almost too easy.

The ball hit the back of the net with ease and the stadium exploded in celebration, for Pyrrha’s drive had finished up in the final seconds of the game. Pyrrha barely had time before she was swarmed by her teammates, who tried to hoist her up. However, she needed to be somewhere else. Tearing herself from her teammates, she made her way to the stands. She caught sight of Nora and her boyfriend Ren, who also was Jaune’s roommate. The two knew exactly who she was looking for and pointed the way.

Sprinting past the stampeding students who were rushing the field, Pyrrha quickly found the retreating form of her friend.

“JAUNE!” she shouted, causing the boy to turn.

“Oh, hi Pyrrha,” the blonde said as he says who announced his name. “Ah great game, sorry I missed most of it,”

“Why?” was all Pyrrha could ask so many questions hovering in her head. Jaune ducked his head away at her pleading stare.

“Well, I mean it’s just that…it’s your world out there,” he started gesturing back to the stadium, “you don’t need me there to get people asking questions.”

“Jaune,” Pyrrha said her voice tinged with melancholy at how Jaune thought he was just a bit of grime.

“No, it’s fine really,” Jaune tried to ease her, unaware that she was moving closer, “you can tell me all about it—” his voice cut off as Pyrrha grasped his shoulders.

“Jaune you are always welcome to come to any of my games,” Pyrrha started, “and I would feel great if you hung around afterward,”

“Wh why?” Jaune now pressed, and again Pyrrha was struck with a choice. Give the basic answer or perhaps go for it.

“Because I like being around you Jaune, you are kind, funny, observant, and I just…” Pyrrha’s words died in her mouth as she saw she had gotten her face much closer to Jaune’s. Both blinked as blushes formed across each other’s faces. Yet neither moved. Something held them in place, with only their eyes talking. For a moment silence held before the two smashed their lips together.

For Jaune, he couldn’t believe that this was happening, and couldn’t stop the warmth that the kiss was giving him. The butterflies in his gut just wouldn’t stop and yet neither did he want this to end.

Pyrrha was having a miniature celebration in her head. Never in her wildest dreams did she think she would have this moment. It may have been spontaneous and in an empty walkway, but it was a moment she was going to remember forever. 

To be honest Jaune knew this was his fate in the long run. Experienced soldiers have difficulty keeping up with the various elites of the stellar kingdoms. The fact that he, a basic recruit, managed to last so long, was a miracle. The monsters known as Grimm had easily blitzed the small outpost and had torn apart the defense. He himself barely had time to find a durable spot as his platoon’s rout turned into a massacre. Soon however just as he barricaded the small office he dove into, the screams of the dying had stopped.

So here he sat, the sole member of his squad, under a cramped desk with his rifle pointed at the door. He had no idea if the monsters were still there, and no idea how long the silence stretched on. He tried to keep his nerves together, focusing on just how could he get out of this nightmare. His options were limited, disregarding the immediate threats to his survival, getting off the desolate asteroid base was almost impossible. He could make a run for the hangers, brave his space sickness and attempt to pilot a craft out of here if such craft were still functioning. His other option was to make a run to communications and attempt to send an SSO.

The issue there was that even if he managed to survive his way to the comms room, and power hadn’t been shut down, there still was the fear that any ship that arrive would simply decide to blow the base to the Brothers’ domains.

“Hangers it is then,” Jaune said, a basic attempt to hype himself up. Doing a quick check of his ammo he crept toward the door. Darkness greeted him and he nearly swore. The generators must have gone out. “It’s alright Jaune,” he muttered to himself, “most of the ships should have weapons that can blast open the hangar doors.”

He gingerly made his way through the dark, his eyes straining to see ahead in the gloom. All along were the signs of slaughter. Great rents in the walls, pools of blond, and of course the bodies of his fellow soldiers lain strewn about. Jaune did his best to hold his stomach, while also looking to see if any of the still forms were still amongst the living. So focused was he on not losing his lunch that he hardly noticed himself heading deeper and deeper into the base.

The first indication he had was when a sudden hiss behind him caused him to jump. Flicking on his gun’s light on, only to reveal a busted pipe. He sighed, his nerves finally having gotten to him, only for his worries to pick back up when he realized that he was on a flight of stairs heading downward.

“What? How?” he mumbled as he fumbled for the base map he had been given. He knew he wasn’t the best at navigating but he wasn’t that bad, right?

Turns out he was, but that wasn’t the most pressing issue for him. From the gloom behind him, a bone white skull emerged. The Grimm’s scarlet eyes bore down on the distracted meal, and opened its void-like maw, ready to devour another soul.

 “SPLICKT!!”

 “SHIT!!” Jaune cried out as he dropped down at the sudden explosion of Grimm chunks and liquid. “What the pits was that abou……” his voice trailed off as he noted his savior in his gun’s light. A seven-foot armored humanoid stood on a lower set of stairs, the T-shaped visor staring at him menacingly. However, part of Jaune’s fear was replaced with concern as he spotted a dark crystal-like spike jutting from his savior’s back. Gingerly he stood up, showing both his hands. “Hi I’m Medical Specialist Arc, I’ve got a few—SHIT!!” he yelled as the armored being suddenly collapsed forward.

 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

 Myrmidon-312 or Pyrrha awoke lying face down. Fighting the urge to spring into action, she needed more information as a lack of that had landed her in this mess in the first place. Her original mission details had said this would be a simple snatch and grab operation. Someone had failed to mention that two entire regiments had been stationed here for security, and honestly if it wasn’t for the sudden Grimm assault she might have been forced to go loud—

“I don’t care what state secrets are under there you dam ones and zeros,” a voice suddenly broke through her thoughts. “If I can’t look under that armor, I won’t be able to make sure that the wound is clean,”

“You are an unknown actor—”

“I’m a fucking medic that just dragged you and your damn operator through a Grimm-infested base to a mostly intact infirmary, not to mention I’m trying to help get them healed you blasted program!” the voice of the blonde soldier she had saved bellowed as parts of said rescue came back to her.

“Removal of the spike does not require—”

“That damn spike has some sort of toxin, like most things those Brothers damned Grimm use to attack—”

“Necessary supplements within the suit will handle—”

“I’m not risking—”

“Akoúo̱,” Pyrrha finally cut in twisting her head to get a better look at the haggard medic, “how long will the internal supplies last?” silence followed her statement as her defensive AI ran the calculations. She knew the answer though, Grimm toxins were notorious for burning a being’s body down even with a constant supplement supply. The best method was and had always been removal. When the silence stretched a second too long, she knew she had to make the call. “Akoúo̱, disengage the back locks,”

“M-312—” but before Akoúo̱ could berate her for her disregard, she had used her mag-palms, snatched her rail-spear, and aimed it at the poor medic.

“Huh, wha wait hold on,” the boy started waving his arms in a panic.

“Akoúo̱ activate Xiphos and tell him if…” she trailed off not sure how to identify the blonde.

“Arc,” Jaune replied tersely unsure who the weapon was actually for and also trying to keep from being amazed at how cool this all was, he was being threatened Brothers damn it.

“If Arc attempts anything other than removing and bandaging, they are to shoot, am I clear,”

Jaune quietly walked through the halls of the academy. The morning light trickled through the open windows and illuminated his path. A small breeze drifted in, carrying in the dry cooling air. Jaune knew he should be with his team. It had been a long journey for all, with weeks that had passed by. However, he still felt…unsure about them. Much had changed in such a short time and once again he felt like an outsider. He just needed time was all, get back into the swing of things, ready to break some legs as Nora had put it.

“She still has a way with words,” he mused as he remembered his latest discussion with her. His small grin suddenly dropped however as a flash of red caught the corner of his eyes. Increasing his pace, he quickly moved to the corner the flicker of red had disappeared around. He turned into the open archway ready to call out Ruby when he froze.

Past the archway, the corridor ballooned into a large arena. Obviously one of the academy’s dueling halls, but that wasn’t what stopped him. In the middle going through her weapon forms stood Pyrrha. Already she had worked up a sweat as she twirled herself through the air, a dazzling display of skill as she flowed into each stance. It was a performance he had almost forgotten about; they had been on the move so much that rarely anyone ran through the basics. He could only watch spellbound as she finished her warm-ups before turning to face him.

“Hello,” she said, her voice still light despite the earlier exercise.

“He-Hello,” Jaune responded absolutely stunned, he was always amazed at how Pyrrha was able to speak without any exhaustion. She must have been going at it for some time for the sweat on her brow and yet she hardly sounded tired at all.

“Got time for a bit of a spar, I know we haven’t had time but if you need the arena for yourself—”

“No no no, I can spare a duel,” Jaune interrupted as he stepped into the arena and set about preparing himself. Pyrrha’s eyes grew concerned, but before Jaune could ask about that Pyrrha charged. The opening blows between the two were fast and furious. Pyrrha’s strikes still held her unerring accuracy, as Jaune countered with his improved defensive techniques. Their fight however turned into an awkward stalemate as time passed.

“Your hesitating,” Pyrrha probed as she launched an attack at Jaune’s sword hand.

“Yeah…aggression hasn’t been working out,” Jaune replied as he sidestepped, letting Pyrrha’s strikes pass by. Pyrrha however quickly pivoted and drove at his exposed chest.

“It’s not about aggression Jaune,” Pyrrha said as her attacks landed, “one needs to take advantage of openings, and not be afraid.”

“Not all openings are good ones,” Jaune countered as he knocked aside her spear and reset his stance. “It’s hard to know which ones aren’t just traps,” he continued on as he stared her down. Pyrrha of course was already on her next attack. Throwing her shield, she charged in behind it as it sailed toward Jaune. Jaune dodged the incoming shield and parried her first strike. Again a stalemate developed between them, but this time Jaune had a better understanding of what Pyrrha wanted. He was prepared for it and he would be able to—HuRK!!

Pyrrha’s shield suddenly slammed into the back of his neck, just as Pyrrha went low. She swept his legs out from under him. Pain flooded his nerves as he slammed into the hard unfeeling ground.

“You still keep yourself too focused Jaune,” Pyrrha’s voiced, tired and somewhat sad. “You can’t let yourself be stuck only to one view,”

“But what if it’s all I got?” Jaune asked as he rolled over, “what if I’ve just reached my peak?”

“Oh Jaune,” Pyrrha smiled as she walked to his side and reached out a hand. “You’ve only reached it if you believe you have, and I don’t think you do,” she finished as he grasped her hand and helped her pull himself up.

“Yeah…there’s still much to do,” Jaune remarked, he still had to be the shield for everyone, their opponents wouldn’t let them wallow in mediocrity. He needed to push on for them he needed to—

“Yes, there is, but you need to be smart about this Jaune, you are a part of a team, and a team can only work when everyone is there for each other,” Pyrrha interrupted his thoughts as she placed her hand on his shoulder.

“A bit hypocritical coming from you,” Jaune let out, flinching as he let his anger poison his words. Pyrrha however just smiled brighter.

“True, a mistake I paid for…and one I don’t want you to go down to,” she said as she stepped away. Jaune didn’t follow, his mind filled with the painful thoughts of the past. Pyrrha could only let a sad smile form on her face. Jaune’s mind was his greatest asset in a fight, but it was also a weakness for him as well. Too many times he would file away a failure, only to replay to it as punishment. Fortunately, she did know just what to do to get his mind off such thoughts. “So, with what I’ve seen, it might be good to go over some basic forms before dinner don’t you think?”

“Huh? Ah sure,” Jaune said, as it did sound like a good idea to him. He would never complain about Pyrrha offering to do some sets with him ever again.

“Alright then well then let’s see what you’ve got subconsciously,” Pyrrha started as she began to pull her sash off of him. Jaune however quickly grabbed her hand before it could remove said sash.

“Pyrrha—”

“Jaune, you can trust me,” Pyrrha’s voice echoed in his head, but he refused to remove his hand.

“I, I can’t,” Jaune said as his mind started to understand what was going on. He knew it wasn’t fair but he just couldn’t. Pyrrha however smiled at his reluctance.

“It’s alright, I’m not going anywhere,” she stated. Jaune wanted to believe her, he really did, it’s just that…

“I know this is all in my hea—”

“Then let me help you again…we both know you can’t keep thinking of the past,” Pyrrha interrupted him grasping his arm with her other hand. “I want you to realize you have the strength within, so please?” Pyrrha pressed. Jaune knew he couldn’t keep denying her, she was right after all.

“Alright, let's do this then,” he stated as he let go. Pyrrha smiled at him a deftly wove her sash around his eyes.

Darkness closed in on Jaune, and yet he could still sense the room around him, could still feel Pyrrha’s presence.

“Now then,” Pyrrha’s voice came from his left which caused him to turn and face that way. “Let’s see what you’ve remembered,” she finished before going quiet again. A heartbeat passed, then another, and another. Jaune waited, knowing if he took off the blindfold it was over. He would hold for as long as possible. His form tensed, awaiting the cue as the pressure began to rise. Higher and higher his sense rose, until—

 “STRIKE!!”

 Pyrrha’s voice reverberated throughout the arena, and Jaune moved. He unleashed his attacks at the imaginative foe, in his mind a bizarre fusion of Salem and Cinder. Yet even with that image in his mind, he knew he was holding back. So did Pyrrha as she didn’t call for a second assault.

“That bad huh,” he stated, his voice colored with melancholy and annoyance.

“No, it actually was very good, you’ve done well,” Pyrrha cut in, her steps light as she approached him. “It’s all there, you just doubt yourself.”

“Heh, hard not to when I’ve failed so much,” Jaune responded despondently. His failures were very evident in this fight against Salem. He went to remove the blindfold when Pyrrha’s hands stopped him.

“Which do not outweigh your successes Jaune,” she remarked, “you are doing a good job.” Jaune merely stayed silent, unable to find a way to challenge her statement. Pyrrha, noting his silence quickly refocused back on training. “Let’s go again if you’re ready?”

“…Yeah, yeah, I’m good,” Jaune said as he got back into his stance. Again, he waited and waited. A prick of fear entered his heart as he felt the first two minutes pass. Had it happened had his brain finally—

Steps, light, and swift came charging at him from behind. He whirled around confused and reached toward the blindfold.

A targeted force nailed his sword hand, and he recoiled in surprise, bringing his shield up to block any follow-up attacks. However, only the soft steps of a retreating Pyrrha reached his senses. So, this was Pyrrha’s game, keeping him distracted, and less likely to think.

Again, steps came toward him, cutting his inner thoughts off. He was ready this time, his ears catching the swing of a weapon. Two blows bounced off his shield before he felt one in his back. Pyrrha must have sprung over him. Quickly he turned and stepped to the side. He needed to find a wall, and minimize her attack angles.

And so, the dance continued with Pyrrha continually probing his defenses, as he tried to get to a defensible position. Yet she wouldn’t let him. Every time he got close to a wall, Pyrrha intensified her assault and push him back to the middle. His options to counter were dwindling. All except for one. Go on the offensive. Crazy perhaps but that was quickly becoming the only thing he hadn’t tried. He knew this is what she was pushing him toward. Still, he would not commit. It wasn’t the right course, there had to be a better way.

“And what if there is no better way, Jaune?” Pyrrha’s asked, her voice distant to Jaune. He remained silent, knowing why she was doing this. “You can’t let yourself ignore an opening,” Pyrrha pressed, her voice coming closer. Jaune knew that, but he still moved toward a wall. He just had to get close and now.

He caught Pyrrha’s charge, finally pinpointing her incoming footfalls. Waiting for the thump of her jump he spun around and charged. He felt the thump of his body crashing into hers but didn’t stop until he slammed her against the wall. Time froze as their breaths became the only source of noise in the arena. Then Jaune heard the clatter of weapons hitting the floor.

“Amazing Jaune,” came Pyrrha’s voice faint again. “You’ve found the out.”

“I…I’m so sorry,” Jaune stated as he stepped back, “I’m sorry I took too long—”

“Sssh,” Pyrrha said as she placed a finger on his lips, “it was never your fault. I’m sorry I put this scar on you,” she stated her voice a whisper now. “Please believe in yourself, for yourself,” she murmured as Jaune felt her hands leave his face.

Pyrrha knew she was about to die. Her foot unable to support her weight, blood pooling in her chest, and her spine partially severed all spoke of an impending death. Yet she was resolute, even as her opponent smirked victoriously. She had done her duty as a Huntress, she had engaged the source of all the misery of this day, and though defeated, took solace that she fought. Sure, death was certain but for her destiny to be answered she needed to try.

Still, despite having hardening her heart, it ached for what had happened before this moment. She knew Jaune wouldn’t accept this, that it was the worst wound to leave him with. His safety however was paramount to her. He had just begun his journey to becoming the Huntsman she knew he could be, and it wasn’t his fate to die today.

That however only brought little comfort to her, but the time for regret was past her now. All she could do was face her destiny with dignity.

Well, that wasn’t the only thing she could do. She could hope, hope that maybe just maybe she could ask for a wish. A moment of weakness perhaps, but Pyrrha just couldn’t ignore all of the good memories her friends brought her. They had stepped past and all eventually saw her as Pyrrha for herself and not the rising legend that most others could only talk about around her. Yet as she let her mind wander all it could do was bring back Jaune, the path her selfishness almost chose, but she had been happy when they embraced for the first and now final time.

I wish there was just more time, she thought as she gave her defiant last words to the fallen Maiden.

Now Remnant is not a normal world, it's in its name after all. It is a remnant, a shadow of what it truly was. It was a husk missing the magic that once coursed through its veins. Yet not all of its true power was gone. The Maidens, bearers of the energy that once produced wonders of old, were perhaps the biggest fragments of Remnant’s old glory.

So, when Cinder touched Pyrrha, ready to remove this threat once and for all, the magic within her reacted. Unknown to most such magic is not a static entity, as it has passed from one soul to another, and thus something of a being was in it. Nothing substantial, but enough for it to react to one’s soul, and with Pyrrha’s soul blasting her wish it acted. After all, a wish is perhaps the most powerful catalyst for magic.

It knew that Cinder had stolen it, weakening the previous Maiden to take the first half of it and forcing the Wizard to freeze her existence. As such it had no chance to even attempt to escape when Cinder finished her off. Now however it had a chance and as the power of the first Fall Maiden, its choice was far more important than any will that currently held it.

Cinder, almost immediately knew something was wrong. Ozpin’s precious candidate wasn’t disappearing. Instead, the orange glow had only gotten brighter and brighter. No matter how much power she forced forward, nothing was happening. That is until she felt the power start to dim within her. Her eyes widen as she suddenly puts it all together. The Maiden’s powers were leaving her body

“NO!!” she cried as she attempted to grab one of her blades, intent on physically ending this annoyance’s life. However, she soon found herself growing weaker as the strain of losing such power left her body feeling spent.

Pyrrha meanwhile felt new life flow into her, the powers slamming into her soul and kickstarting her own aura back up. The magic blazed across her form, fixing the wounds and stress the previous fight had left on her. Then with an explosion of power, Cinder was flung off the tower, the Dragon incinerated, and now floating barely in the sky stood Pyrrha Nikos the newest Fall Maiden.  

For a moment a new star hung in the night sky as Pyrrha finally breathed again. She looked down at her glowing body, with no signs of damage where the arrow had pierced through her. She almost couldn’t believe what just happened.

“So, this is what it feels like,” as she prodded the new power that had just saved her. It felt, oddly reserved, almost like it was waiting for her to make a move first. Her worries about being absorbed into some sort of conglomerate, losing herself to whatever the Fall Maiden meant, disappeared. Now with the powers, she felt just like herself, with of course more strength— “JAUNE!” she suddenly cried out now remembering she had blasted him into the city. She immediately flew down to the city, checking for signs of her partner.

Effortlessly killing Grimm with her new powers, Pyrrha called out for her partner, now worried that she might have just sent him to his death. However, her search suddenly stopped when she heard sobbing. Unable to leave such a noise alone she quickly dove toward the source of the cries. Bracing herself for a landing, she settled down at the entrance of the alley the sounds were coming from. Lifting her head up to shout, her words quickly died in her throat as she found out who was weeping.

Jaune knew Pyrrha had assigned herself to death and had chosen to have him escape. It hurt so much that his teammate, his partner, someone who loved and believed in him was going to try and do the impossible. If only he was stronger, or hadn’t even applied for Beacon, then perhaps she would have a partner that could support her in the impossible fight. And now he had just asked Ruby and Weiss to also risk their lives to save Pyrrha. All because he knew he couldn’t do anything right…a faint glow ahead broke his spiraling thoughts as he heard steps rapidly approach. Scrambling up he tried to ready himself for a fight.

Pyrrha crashed into him hugging her partner tight, sorry already spilling out from her lips. Jaune however simply hugged her back as tight as he can. He had no idea how or why but he wasn’t going to waste such a fortune. He just wished this wasn’t a dream.