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"No."
"But I-"
"My answer was no yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that . It's always going to be no."
"But what if-"
"Still no! Do you know why? Because no matter how you finish that sentence, it won't make me want to go to the dance with you! What part of that don't you get? Now go ask someone else and leave… me… alone ."
Weiss shut the door firmly — she did not slam it, thank you very much — in Jaune's face and turned to stalk back over to her bed, where she sat down heavily with a frustrated humph. What nerve he had! As if she hadn't made it abundantly clear she had no interest in him whatsoever… it was bad enough that he was woefully unqualified to be there at Beacon — or even one of the junior combat academies for that matter! — bad enough that he had all the social graces of a boarbatusk, but worse by far was how terribly envious she was of him. He got to spend every night training with Pyrrha Nikos. He got to study with her, fight alongside her, eat with her, laugh with her, smile with her, sleep with her — she felt her cheeks warming — not like that; in a bed beside hers! Still… what she wouldn't give to be in his place… and if she were, then maybe…
Weiss groaned and threw herself onto the bed, then rolled over and grabbed onto her pillow tightly to scream into it, kicking her feet petulantly all the while. Why!? Why couldn't it have been her!? Why did she have to freeze up like that, to fall back on her icy persona? Sure, she'd been a little starstruck — okay fine, more than a little — but she knew Pyrrha would be there… that was half the reason she chose Beacon to begin with.
She'd been harbouring a crush for some time, and yes, celebrity crushes come and go, but she could feel how alike they were from the interviews, the look in the Invincible Girl's eyes and just… she had to try, right? But despite all the rehearsing, all that she did to shed her nervous energy, the moment the real Pyrrha Nikos was there before her, and Weiss could see the emerald depth of her eyes and the way the sunlight played off her hair and seemed to light her skin from within, she just had to freeze and revert to the haughty little princess her father expected and ruin everything . And maybe if it weren't for Jaune Arc she could've still salvaged things, could've caught up to Pyrrha in the forest once the panic of seeing her smile fade at Weiss' behaviour had subsided. Maybe if it weren't for his absolute lack of… well, of anything Pyrrha wouldn't have had to rescue him from certain death — such a kind woman she was, truly remarkable! — and taken the burden of him onto herself. But maybe didn't happen; Jaune Arc had bumbled his way here, had ruined any chance Weiss had to fix her first impression with Pyrrha, and was now not only aggravating her with his constant invitations to the dance but preventing her from inviting Pyrrha with his very presence because of course he was!!
Weiss screamed into her pillow again, as loud as she could.
I shouldn't have come…
Pyrrha sighed as she looked out across the dance floor where couples twirled and swayed, her head dipping a bit further than it already was along with her mood. She had fretted about it for awhile — long enough to arrive late, even — but in the end decided to come to the party in the hope that although no one had invited her, perhaps she could still enjoy the evening… and maybe, just maybe , there might be someone there waiting for her after all.
She'd been wrong, of course. It had only been a few minutes now but already her heart was sinking, the sight of happy couples dancing and smiling only serving as a painful reminder of that which she lacked. There were others who had come alone, naturally — Jaune, who seemed to have finally found Ruby at the punch bowl, Neptune Vasilias, Weiss Schnee oddly enough — but she suspected that, save perhaps for Ruby, in none of their cases was it for lack of offers. For Pyrrha it was different… no one had even asked, and she knew no one well enough to ask herself that wasn't already claimed or obviously infatuated with another.
Pyrrha made her way through the crowd to the staircase and up, out to the balcony to rest her hands upon the railing, gazing up to the night sky.
Is this truly my destiny? Am I to be forever alone, the Invincible, Isolated Girl? No… no, I cannot believe that. There must be someone, somewhere who-
"Pyrrha?"
Pyrrha blinked at the interruption to her thoughts and the tentative tapping of approaching steps.
"Oh, hello Weiss."
"Are you alright? You look… well, wonderful, but also very lonely."
"Thank you…" Pyrrha turned back to the balcony to cover the fall in her expression; she wished she could do the same for her voice.
"Did your date stand you up?," Weiss asked as she stepped over to lean against the railing as well.
Pyrrha sighed, hanging her head slightly. "Not exactly."
Weiss blinked. "You mean he actually brought you here and ditched you!?"
Pyrrha turned to Weiss and shook her head. "I never had a date."
Weiss' jaw dropped. "What?? How could you not have a date!?"
"Nobody asked me," Pyrrha explained with a sad shake of her head.
"But… but you're Pyrrha Nikos ! You're…! How could nobody ask you!?" Weiss looked for all the world like a robot in one of those old movies, whose head was about to explode when presented with a paradox.
Pyrrha's eyes lingered on Weiss for a long moment, as though gauging what to say, before she shook her head. "You wouldn't understand." She began to turn back toward the door.
That seemed to shake Weiss out of her shock, and she extended a hand to gently touch Pyrrha's arm. "Try me." She smiled warmly up to the taller girl. "We haven't spoken much, and I know my first impression… wasn't great, but I wouldn't be here if I was just the spoiled princess everyone thinks I am."
Pyrrha looked down to the hand at her arm, then to Weiss' eyes. What she said… it made some sense. Her first impression had been rather dreadful, but if that truly was the extent of Weiss Schnee why bother coming to Beacon? She turned back to Weiss and nodded slightly.
"I've been blessed with incredible talents and opportunities. I'm constantly surrounded by love and praise, but when you're placed on a pedestal like that for so long, you become separated from the people that put you there in the first place. Everyone assumes I'm too good for them. That I'm on a level they simply can't attain. It's become impossible to form any sort of meaningful relationship with people. No one sees me for me, they see the Champion of Mistral, the Invincible Girl, and nobody will ask her to a dance."
Weiss nodded slowly. "I do understand, sort of. I may not be the Invincible Girl, but… all anyone sees when they look at me is my name, and all they want are the connections it brings."
"I suppose you do," Pyrrha replied softly. "Is that why you came alone tonight? You believe that anyone who asked was only interested in your name?"
Weiss shook her head. "No… I know your partner isn't like that, but he does need to learn to take 'no' for an answer. He's just not my type."
"And no one else asked you? You are Weiss Schnee after all."
"Others did…" Weiss looked away a little sheepishly at the admission given Pyrrha's lack of invitations, "but not the person I wanted to."
"You didn't invite him? Forgive me, but you don't seem like someone who would stand aside as the chance slipped away."
"Yeah, about that… by the time I could've possibly asked, I kind of assumed that she already had a date?" Weiss nervously bit her lip.
"Oh." Why did Weiss just assume everyone had a date? Was that normal for Atlesian socialites?
An uncomfortable silence lingered.
"But better late than never, right? So, would you, uh… like to go to the dance with me, Pyrrha? No titles, no masks, just the real us." Weiss held her hand out in offer, her eyes hopeful.
"… Oh! " Pyrrha's cheeks flushed bright red as Weiss' question shed entirely new light on their interactions thus far, the little lingering looks she'd thought were scheming to take advantage of her talents, the envious glances toward Jaune she assumed were fuelled by Weiss' ambition. "I…" Her head reeled; she had never even considered Weiss as a date, not least of all because of their initial meeting, but… but Weiss was right, or at least she deserved the chance to prove that she was, that like Pyrrha herself there was more to her than her name and her mask. She reached to take Weiss' hand, smiling for the first time that evening, and nodded. "Yes, that would be lovely."
Over the course of the ensuing night of dancing and revelry, Pyrrha came to understand many things about Weiss, and about herself. She learnt that Weiss was indeed not simply the icy princess but quite warm and caring, that she knew all too well what it was like not to be seen, that loneliness gripped her heart as it did Pyrrha's. She discovered that Weiss was an excellent dancer — she rather enjoyed spinning and swaying and sashaying with the smaller girl, and simply holding her and being held in turn — and that she quite liked talking and smiling and laughing with her — the real Weiss had a subtly different voice than the persona she adopted, livelier to match the light in her eyes that was never there in the heiress'.
As the night wore on and the partygoers began to leave neither Pyrrha nor Weiss felt ready to retire, and so the pair found themselves atop the roof exchanging stories of childhood, sharing dreams gone by and those yet held dear. By the time the girls watched the first light of dawn creep over the horizon, a singular thought came to the forefront of Pyrrha's mind, a thought which brought with it a smile.
Perhaps solitude is not my destiny after all.
Weiss was giddy. The night had gone better than she could have possibly expected, and while she couldn't be entirely sure whether certain parts actually happened or her mind had added them in during the few hours of sleep she managed between finally returning to the RWBY dorm and being awoken by Yang — had she really kissed Pyrrha? Much as she'd like to think so, she'd better assume that part was a dream until she knew otherwise — she was certain she'd made up for her first impression, and then some. They had really connected, she felt it and she was sure Pyrrha did too; why else would she have stayed out so late? Even news of Ruby's encounter last night couldn't dampen Weiss' spirits, nothing could, and now she and her teammates were on the way to the auditorium where she would undoubtedly see Pyrrha again, and things could only get better and-
"Weiss!"
Weiss turned to see Jaune running up from behind. Alone. She looked around momentarily for the rest of his team whilst the rest of hers simply prepared for the by-now-expected failed courting attempt.
"Can, uh… can we talk?" Jaune looked to the rest of team RWBY, drawing a chorus of curious looks; this was new.
"… Sure." Weiss turned back to the others. "Go on ahead, I'll catch up."
"Are you sure?," asked Ruby.
"We don't mind waiting," Yang added with a glance to Blake, who nodded in confirmation.
"Absolutely. Besides," Weiss smiled to them, "if you don't get there soon, all the good seats will be taken." And I won't get to sit close to Pyrrha.
Ruby hesitated briefly, then nodded and turned to continue toward the auditorium, Blake and Yang following along, and Weiss turned back to Jaune, waiting for him to speak.
It took him a few nervous moments to do so. "So, uh… great party last night, huh? You looked really nice."
"… Really?" Weiss folded her arms and somehow looked down her nose at him despite being a full head shorter even in heels. " Still ? Even after you saw me dancing with Pyrrha??" She scoffed and threw her hands up in exasperation, turning to walk away.
"Wait!" Jaune rushed around in a panic to get in front of her again, holding his hands out pleadingly. "Please, just… I'm sorry, that came out all wrong. That's what I really wanted to talk to you about — Pyrrha, I mean."
Weiss stopped and gave him a look. "What about her? Is she okay?"
"Y-yeah, she's… great, actually. She's been smiling all morning, and dancing around when she doesn't think we're looking. It's, uh… kinda adorable, really." Jaune looked away, lifting a hand to rub at the back of his head.
Weiss blinked, suddenly picturing the usually-reserved Pyrrha as giddy as she herself felt, dancing through the halls, and couldn't quite suppress the giggle that rose within her though she did cover her mouth with her hand.
"I think this is the first time I've seen her genuinely happy," Jaune continued, smiling a little himself now and looking back to Weiss. "She deserves that, and you gave it to her. Thank you…"
Weiss' smile grew, and she found her eyes growing a bit misty. "She does. I'd like to make a habit of it, if she'll let me."
Jaune gave her a bigger smile in return. "I won't get in your way. I'm sorry I've been such a… well, an ass, but not anymore. Friend hug?" He spread his arms.
Weiss nodded and stepped closer to hug him.
"We should get to the auditorium; everyone'll be waiting for us. Buuut if you want, I'll make sure you can sit next to Pyr."
Weiss looked up to Jaune, her eyes widening a little. "You'd do that for me?"
"Hey, team leader's prerogative where to sit, right?"
Things were getting better already!
"… and he caught me in the air by my face and slammed me into the ground. From there things get a little blurry…" Weiss' brow furrowed a little in thought and she shook her head. "I still can't remember exactly. I woke up in another car with Blake and Yang, and we climbed up top with Ruby and Dr. Oobleck, and I had just enough Aura to put up some ice around us to take some of the impact from the crash; you know the rest, you were there."
"Oh my…" Pyrrha looked upon her with concern, wishing more than ever that she'd been with team RWBY on their mission. Weiss had nearly died… twice ! And it sounded as though Yang and Ruby had very close calls as well.
"Yeah…" Weiss looked down to her hands where they sat folded in her lap. "You know the funny thing though? I'm a huntress in training, and we were on that train racing toward the city knowing it would bring the Grimm, but when he grabbed me like that and I thought I was going to die it wasn't Vale I was thinking about." She smiled softly and glanced over to Pyrrha. "It was you. I thought about how I was going to miss our date… how I'd never see you again, never get to make you smile again, just when I finally managed to." Her eyes grew misty and she looked back down, lifting a hand to wipe at them.
Pyrrha blushed and fidgeted a little. She didn't know what to say; on the one hand that was hardly becoming for a huntress — she should always put the lives of civilians first — but on the other it set her heart aflutter to hear that what would've been Weiss' final thoughts were of her , that she held Pyrrha so dear as to value her happiness over her own life . It was just so romantic !
The girls were seated on a bench in one of Vale's numerous parks — not the date they had planned, but after Weiss' near-death experience and early return, waiting was unthinkable and something simple where they could just talk suited both.
"Thankfully, that didn't happen," Pyrrha finally replied as she reached to gently take Weiss' hand. "You came back. Here you are, and here I am, and I'm smiling." Indeed she was, though there was a tension there as well. "But… please don't do that again. When we arrived and saw the wreckage and the Grimm, I thought… I feared I'd…, " her voice broke and she shook her head a little.
"Pyrrha?" Weiss turned toward her, looking up to her eyes.
Pyrrha turned as well, to fully face Weiss, lifting her hand to Weiss' shoulder. "I told you, that night at the dance, that nobody sees me for me. I've waited my entire life to meet someone who did, someone who would treat me the same as anybody else, someone to whom I was just Pyrrha. I waited and waited, and I had begun to believe that I would never find someone like that, that I would forever be alone. And then… then I met you, the real you, and now I realise that it isn't what I was waiting for after all. That's part of it, but I was also waiting for someone who… who could understand me, who knew what it's like to be seen for what you are rather than who you are. Someone who knew what it feels like to be burdened by the expectations of everyone you meet, to never have the luxury of anonymity no matter where you may go. Someone… like you."
Pyrrha leaned forward to softly touch her brow to Weiss' and her hand drifted upward a little to cup her cheek. "And then, just when I found you, I almost lost you. I…I don't think I could bear it…" A soft sob shook her body at the thought and she wrapped her other arm around Weiss' shoulders. "So please, Weiss… promise me you won't do that again… that you won't leave me alone…"
It was Weiss' turn to blush at the tender touches and heartfelt words, her own slim arms wrapping around Pyrrha in kind. "Pyrrha, I… you know I can't promise that nothing will ever happen to me, even if I wish I could for you." She pulled back gently, raising a hand to brush hair from Pyrrha's face so she could gaze deeply into her eyes. "But I promise you, with all my heart, if there's anything I can possibly do about it I will never, ever leave you alone." She smiled softly, and after a moment so did Pyrrha.
At first she didn't notice herself being drawn slowly closer to Weiss. It was an odd feeling, not like using Polarity on her own armour — perhaps if someone were made entirely of metal, and she were using it subtly on them, they might feel thus. No, she was too mesmerised by the blue eyes into which she gazed, the warm breath upon her skin, to notice herself drawing closer until she felt the touch of her lips against Weiss'. She gave a slight start, as did Weiss; neither seemed aware of just who had initiated the contact, both blushed profusely.
So soft…
"I'm sorry," Pyrrha murmured.
"N-no, don't… apologise…" Weiss sucked her lip and fidgeted momentarily.
"But-"
Weiss turned and leaned in, pausing just long enough for Pyrrha to turn away or push her aside if she so chose — she did not — before kissing her more fully, her lips cutting off any further words and muffling the little sound of surprise that rose in Pyrrha's throat.
Later, Pyrrha would have to fend off paparazzi even more than usual. Later, rumours would circulate through the entire school that brought even more looks, even more remarks, even more jealousy and of an entirely new sort. Later, she would learn that even her and Weiss' teammates' good natured teasing could grow quite tiresome. But just then, on that bench, nothing mattered but those lips, the girl they belonged to, and the electricity they were sending through Pyrrha's body and soul.
Pyrrha sat forlornly against the wall, lost to her thoughts. How could she not be, with all that was happening? She was the sole remaining Vytal finalist for Beacon after Yang's disqualification, and the pressure and shock and sympathy alone would have been enough but right now they were the least of her concerns. Of far greater import were the secrets Professor Ozpin and the others had revealed to her… and the choice they laid before her.
Maidens? Magic? Fairy tales made real? It was all so mind-boggling, but the worst part… the worst was what they asked of her. To have the Aura of this Amber woman — her very soul — shoved into herself…what would it do to her? How much of Pyrrha would be left? At the start of the year, her decision would have been an easy one… what would it have mattered if there was nothing left of Pyrrha Nikos, when Pyrrha Nikos was nothing more than an embodiment of victory and a tool to save others? She would not have hesitated, would have simply accepted then and there as another step toward the culmination of her destiny, and if the price were herself it would have been a small one. But now… things were different. Now she had friends who cared for her, friends for whom she cared deeply. Now she had hopes and dreams beyond just her destiny. Now…now she had Weiss.
It had been over a month now since the dance, over a month that she and Weiss had officially been dating; not so long in the scheme of things and yet it felt like a whole new life, as though everything before had been a colourless, muted dream. She knew Weiss felt similarly — she'd said as much, but more importantly Pyrrha could see it in her eyes, in her smile, the smile that only came out for her. Would Weiss still smile like that if Amber's Aura changed her? If Pyrrha ceased to be, would Weiss' eyes lose their shine forever? If she rejected Professor Ozpin's request she chose possible danger for all humanity, but she was only his first choice; surely there must be another candidate? If she accepted, she made the choice not only on her own behalf but Weiss' and her friends' as well, without them even knowing. Vacuan roulette to keep terrible power out of dangerous hands… even if the gamble succeeded, could she be forgiven for taking that risk? Would she deserve to be?
So preoccupied was she that Pyrrha didn't notice she wasn't alone until she felt a soft touch upon her shoulder. She blinked several times in rapid succession, looking over to find Weiss looming over her — a rare sight indeed given how she usually towered over her dearest — worry writ large on her face.
"Are you… okay?" Weiss looked into Pyrrha's eyes, as if by looking deep enough she could see the thoughts that so troubled her.
"Weiss." Pyrrha smiled, if only a little, before the sight of her brought the turmoil surging right back, and higher than ever. "I… just have a lot on my mind."
Weiss frowned as she saw the smile fade. "I see that," she replied whilst moving to sit beside Pyrrha and gently, comfortingly taking her hand. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Pyrrha sighed and turned her gaze downward where the breeze teased a few autumn leaves along the ground nearby. "I wish I could, truly. It would make everything so much easier…"
Weiss' worry only grew at that, and she turned and leaned closer, lifting her opposite hand to urge Pyrrha's face to turn and meet her gaze. "Whatever's going on, whatever this is, you can trust me… you know that, right? You don't have to face it alone; I don't care if it's someone from your past or the evil wizard Goldemort or the brothers themselves, I'll be right there beside you." She smiled that smile that said she was trying to reassure Pyrrha, but inside was terrified — it was the same smile she'd worn when she'd first asked Pyrrha to the dance, at the dance.
"Thank you…" Pyrrha found her eyes growing wet. Oh, how she wished she could tell Weiss… she yearned so badly to tell her, to ask what she should do, but how could she? She would sound crazy, and moreover Ozpin and the others were very clear that this was not to be spread. But how could she not and still make this decision? Slowly, she leaned over to rest against Weiss, and the smaller girl wrapped an arm around her and kissed her temple just below her circlet.
"Please, Pyr…," Weiss said after a long silence, "please don't shut me out… I promised I would never leave you alone, remember? What can I do to help?"
"You're already doing it." Pyrrha's eyes drifted closed and a small smile slowly returned to her as she nestled against Weiss, simply basking in her presence. If she accepted the request, it may be one of her final memories after all…
Weiss' expression didn't lighten nearly so much — she couldn't help but enjoy the cuddling, however with whatever was bothering Pyrrha so still a mystery she was ill at ease. Still, she raised her hand to gently stroke Pyrrha's hair, to do what little she could in the circumstances to provide comfort at least. And for quite some time that was how they sat, until Weiss had lost all feeling in one arm and the other burned and she had begun to wonder if Pyrrha had fallen asleep.
"I don't know what to do, Weiss." Pyrrha's voice was barely above a whisper, and quavered with fear.
That in itself sent a chill down Weiss' spine. She had only heard Pyrrha frightened once before, when she had asked Weiss to promise not to leave her alone; what could possibly do so like this that she couldn't speak of? "What do you mean?" It took her a moment to respond, and when she did her voice was soft but betrayed her worry.
Pyrrha sat up straighter, gazing skyward in thought momentarily. "Do you believe in destiny?"
Weiss blinked, not having expected that. "You mean like… fate?" She brought her arms back and pushed herself up a little, suppressing a wince as returning feeling brought pins and needles.
Pyrrha shook her head. "When I think of destiny, I don't think of a predetermined fate you can't escape. But rather… some sort of final goal, something you work towards your entire life."
"Oh. Well, I've never heard it put that way before but yeah, I believe in that."
"Well… what would you do if something came along that you… never expected? Something that had the potential to stand between you and your destiny?" Pyrrha glanced to Weiss as she spoke, her voice growing more nervous toward the end.
"Uh… depends on the something?" Weiss looked terribly confused.
Pyrrha didn't quite wait for Weiss to answer fully before continuing. "Or what if you could suddenly fulfil your destiny in an instant, but at the cost of who you were?"
"Whoa, Pyrrha, slow down! You're really scaring me now… seriously, what's going on?" Weiss reached for her arm, to lay a calming touch there, but Pyrrha stood and stepped away, holding herself and trembling.
"I'm scared too, Weiss… this isn't how things were supposed to happen."
Weiss rose as well and took a tentative step closer, practically in tears. "Then let me help you! Tell me what's wrong, what this is all about… tell me something, please…I don't want to lose you…" She gesticulated as she spoke, her voice breaking toward the end as her hand moved to clutch at her heart.
Pyrrha took a deep, steadying breath. "I've always felt as though I was destined to become a Huntress — to protect the world…," she sighed, "and it's become increasingly clear to me that my feelings were right. But…" she turned back toward Weiss, her eyes shining with tears, "…I don't know if I can do it."
Weiss frowned, then shook her head resolutely. "No."
Pyrrha was taken aback by that, both the speed of the answer and the certainty with which it had been given. Did… Weiss not believe she had what it took to be a Huntress? "No?"
"No. That's not what's bothering you," Weiss declared, stepping closer, close enough to reach out and touch her now. "You wouldn't be here at all, acing every class, if you didn't know you wanted to be a Huntress. You were already doing that last week and you weren't feeling conflicted like this. This is something new, something in the last few days." She slowly reached out to take Pyrrha's hands lest she withdraw again. "Please, just trust me… I've been trusted with corporate and state secrets, whatever it is, I promise you it stays between us."
Pyrrha hesitated — how much could she say? She had to say something… Weiss had a right to know, as much pain as it could cause her — before finally, carefully speaking. "I've been given an offer… an offer that carries a great deal of responsibility and the potential to fulfil my destiny immediately, to protect the world from enormous danger…"
Weiss held Pyrrha's gaze, peering through emerald windows to the soul beyond in search of what she wasn't saying. "But?"
"But… it also carries significant risk. I would be targeted by great evil all my life, and…" Pyrrha hesitated, but Weiss only waited, her eyes imploring Pyrrha to continue. "And by accepting the offer… I may lose my soul…"
Weiss blinked. "Lose your soul? You mean like… it's a really sketchy deal?" Her eyes narrowed. "Wait, is this something my father is doing?"
Pyrrha shook her head. "No, Weiss… I mean my actual soul… the Pyrrha you know may cease to exist…"
Weiss' eyes widened and she paled, no small feat for someone so white already. "Cease to… N-no! No, that isn't fair! Why would you do that!?"
"If I don't, the world will be in grave danger. You will be in grave danger."
"Then we can face it together ! There must be another way, someone else that can take that responsibility! General Ironwood, o-or Professor Ozpin, or-!"
"They can't." Pyrrha stepped closer to wrap Weiss in an embrace and buried her face in the shorter girl's hair, her voice breaking with a sob.
"Someone can! There has to be someone!!" Weiss was frantic now. "Please, Pyr… don't do this… there are other ways to reach your destiny. I'll help you get there, I swear I will… I-I'll do anything, just please don't throw your life away…" She sniffled against Pyrrha's chest, clinging to her and trembling.
That was it then. She couldn't do that to Weiss, not after everything she'd done, after she'd given Pyrrha the one thing she never had: real happiness. "Alright…," she whispered, absolutely drained. She gave Weiss a gentle squeeze and nuzzled her hair. "I'll tell them tomorrow… I'll tell them… that they need to find someone else…" She couldn't help the guilt from seeping into her voice.
"Thank you…" The tension melting off Weiss was palpable — not all of it, certainly not, but the greater part; she trusted Pyrrha not to lie to her.
I'm sorry, Professor… I'm so, so sorry…
This was madness. Absolute, unthinkable madness. Grimm and White Fang attacking the festival, working together somehow? It simply wasn't possible!
She'd been in the stands with Jaune, Nora, and Ren, watching Pyrrha's match and cheering her on, as much as she could muster cheer after their earlier conversation. In all honesty she had wished Pyrrha's name hadn't been called — Pyrrha felt the same, she knew, but the matches were random and alas she had been — and they could have just gone back to the dorms to rest; the others would understand that she needed to stay with Pyrrha tonight, their relationship was no secret. Nevertheless, everything had been going well enough; even fatigued by her lack of sleep and emotional state, even with her mind in turmoil, Pyrrha was winning and then… and then someone did something to Pyrrha that made her kill that poor girl Penny — she never would've done it intentionally, not ever , of that Weiss was absolutely certain. Then Ruby was there, and General Ironwood, and before she knew it she was on a ship with everyone else headed for Beacon to join the fight. Now here she was, gliding on glyphs past Jaune as he slashed at an ursa, past Pyrrha cleaving through several beowolves, to skewer a boarbatusk with her blade.
"This is crazy!" Weiss moved to regroup with JNPR at a quick step. "Since when do Grimm work with people!?"
"Since today apparently," Sun replied, leading his team over to join them.
A roar from above drew their attention to a great wyvern passing overhead, dropping globs of a viscous black goo in the courtyard nearby. Almost as soon as they splattered upon the ground, Grimm began to rise from their inky depths.
"Oh, come on!" Jaune gestured in exasperation at the newly-formed group beginning to charge them.
"Aw, don't be like that; just think of it as team building!," Nora replied with a laugh, launching a grenade into the midst of the Grimm.
Weiss was more inclined to agree with Jaune, especially once she saw the look in Pyrrha's eyes as their gazes met. That look wasn't just worried, or stressed, or even frightened… that look was apologetic. This had something to do with the 'great evil' or 'enormous danger' Pyrrha mentioned before, or at least she thought it did.
Pyrrha looked away then and wilted a little; Weiss began to step closer when a shot whizzed past her face. She looked to see a squad of Atlesian Knights firing on the students — really!? Now their allies were turning on them too? — and launched a few ice shards at them, then turned back to Pyrrha only to find that she was no longer there.
"Pyrrha?" Fear gripped Weiss' heart and she cast her gaze around frantically.
"Where's she going?," she heard Nora say, spinning to follow her friend's gaze. There! Pyrrha was approaching Ozpin at the base of the CCT tower.
"I'll go with her!," Weiss called back over her shoulder, already at a run to catch up; she wasn't about to let Pyrrha go off on her own — and as far as she was concerned, right now, if she wasn't with Weiss or her teammates, she was on her own.
"Miss Schnee," Ozpin looked at her over his glasses, his voice serious rather than its usual friendly tone, "you will be most helpful out there with the others."
"So will Pyrrha," Weiss countered just as firmly, "or is there something you're not telling me, Professor?"
Ozpin glanced to Pyrrha, who looked away sadly. "Miss Nikos has a different role to play, I'm afraid."
"Then so do I."
"Miss Schnee-"
"Where she goes, I go." Weiss gave the professor her very best glare, just like Winter taught her.
Ozpin held her gaze impassively for a moment, then huffed. "We haven't the time for this. Very well, this way." He turned and led them to the lift.
As they walked, Weiss looked over to Pyrrha meaningfully, only for Pyrrha to turn her eyes away guiltily. Weiss frowned. "This is it, isn't it?," she whispered; Pyrrha hung her head, all the answer she needed. "Don't do this!"
"I have to," Pyrrha whispered back dejectedly. "Look at what's happening out there."
"That doesn't mean-!"
"Ahem," Ozpin gave Weiss a very disapproving look — one she gave right back — as he ushered them through the door. "Miss Schnee, I will thank you not to make this any more difficult for Miss Nikos than it already is."
Weiss' eyes widened with outrage at that, and as they began to descend she exploded. " I'm making it difficult!? What about you !? You're the one asking her to do whatever this is, risking her soul , keeping everything so secret she can't even talk to the people she loves about what's going on!!"
"Miss Sch-"
" You're the one that wants to put her in constant danger for the rest of her life !! You're the one asking a teenage girl to take the fate of the world in her hands!! But you don't even care, do you!? You don't even care what that does to her!! You don't even care if she's still Pyrrha!! You don't care what happens to her!! You don't care about her at all , you just want your protector!!"
Weiss was trembling with fury, seething; Pyrrha was shocked, her hands covering her mouth.
"Are you finished?," Ozpin asked calmly after a silent moment. When he received no response save Weiss' livid glare, he sighed. "Your accusations are not without some merit, Miss Schnee. Indeed I have asked these things of Miss Nikos," he looked to Pyrrha apologetically, "and it is my failure that has led us into the present situation. For that I am truly sorry. However," he took both girls in with his gaze, "my guilt does not change the circumstances, and the simple truth is that we have run out of time. You may hate me if you wish, you may lay your blame upon me, I will not deny its due, but the enemy is at the gate and whether or not any of us survive to see morning may well hinge upon this decision." The weight of his words hung in the air briefly before a soft ding announced the stopping of the lift.
"We are not finished!," Weiss snapped at Ozpin with a pointed finger for emphasis before turning to run alongside Pyrrha toward a pair of strange pods on the other side of the enormous vault. Why was there a massive vault here? What could a school possibly need something like this for? Why was there another girl in one of the pods!?
"No, Miss Schnee, I didn't expect we were…," Ozpin murmured mostly to himself before dashing off with the girls.
Weiss looked warily toward the pod with the unconscious girl, then to Pyrrha. "Are you sure about this? You heard him, he screws up; maybe he's wrong now!"
Pyrrha shook her head. "I can't take that chance… you saw what's going on; if it continues all of Vale will be destroyed. I'm sorry, Weiss… I have to do this."
They slowed to a stop as they reached the pods and Weiss tearfully took Pyrrha's hands in her own, gazing up into her eyes. "Pyr, please… I can't lose you…"
Pyrrha smiled down to her, her own eyes glistening wetly. "Then be my anchor… believe in me, and hold me here."
"Always." Weiss choked up, returning her smile despite the fear.
"Miss Nikos… it's time to choose." Ozpin stood at the controls for the pods, looking toward the girls. Pyrrha took a deep, steadying breath, then nodded. "Thank you." Ozpin pressed a button and the second pod opened. "Then, if you please?"
Pyrrha began to turn toward the pod, but Weiss held her arm. "Wait."
"Miss Schnee, this isn't the-"
Weiss leapt up to kiss Pyrrha deeply, catching her by surprise, then sinking back to her tiptoes as Pyrrha leaned over with her. For a long moment they stayed there, then finally Weiss pulled back. "To help anchor you." Pyrrha smiled and gave her a little nod, then turned and climbed into the pod, which closed over her.
Weiss turned to Ozpin. "If this is her last memory, it's going to be a good one," she murmured softly, moving over then. "This better work."
"I sincerely hope it does," Ozpin replied. "If you'd like to help, make sure nothing happens to the pods until the transfer is completed."
Weiss nodded, drawing her weapon and summoning a number of glyphs around the pods, gravity to turn aside any projectiles and ice to trap anyone who might try and approach — or which she could activate to create a barrier if need be.
Ozpin pressed a few more buttons, then looked to Pyrrha. "Are you ready?" She gave a small, slow nod. "I… need to hear you say it." Weiss shot him a look.
Don't act like you suddenly care. One way or another you're going to make this up to her.
Pyrrha took a deep breath. "Yes."
"Very well." Ozpin pressed a few more buttons and the other pod raised up, an orange glow suffusing the unconscious girl and her eyelids beginning to flutter. The glow travelled along the pipes connecting the pods, then surrounded Pyrrha, who begun to scream in agony.
"PYRRHA!!" Weiss' eyes were wide with panic and she stepped toward Pyrrha's pod, but was stopped by Ozpin, who looked away sadly. "I'm… so sorry."
Weiss frantically tried to push past, to no avail, then shoved herself away from him. "Sorry!? You're sorry!? What does that mean!? What-!?"
The sound of glass being pierced followed immediately by a dull thunk drew their attention to the other pod, where the shaft of a black arrow stood out from the glass. Weiss' breath caught in her throat; she was supposed to protect the pods… what would happen if something interrupted the process? Would Pyrrha be lost for certain?
Oh no… oh no, no no no please gods no!
For a few agonising heartbeats, everything felt like it was moving in slow motion. Weiss called a half-dozen glyphs to fully cover the pod as she rushed to look. The arrow had buried itself in the back of the pod, having nicked the unconscious girl's ear along the way — a small trickle of blood was just beginning to stain her neck.
Weiss released the breath she hadn't realised she held, just in time for another arrow to break through her glyph and slam into her shoulder, what would've been a heart—piercing shot adjusted for the effects of her gravity glyph. Even with her Aura it spun her around and threw her against the pod, and she saw Ozpin rushing forward, his cane held much as she would her rapier, to engage their assailant. Faintly over the sound of her own hammering heart and Pyrrha's soul-wrenching screams she heard him calling out to her to protect the pods.
Until my very last breath.
She activated the ice glyphs to form a wall between the pods and the duel, risking a glance over at Pyrrha's pod — those screams tore at her heart… oh, how she wished to never hear their like — and the control panel with all its holographic buttons and readouts.
No… no, this wasn't right. She didn't know how to operate this machine; she didn't even know what this machine was . Professor Ozpin should be here so that he could monitor its progress and make sure everything went well, so that he could respond to complications and keep Pyrrha… Pyrrha. It should be Weiss out there keeping that woman at bay.
Weiss took a deep breath, then called a glyph to propel her up and over the ice wall and another to launch herself sword-first toward the woman — Cinder? But why? — who easily evaded the attack.
"What are you doing!? I told you to protect the pods!"
"I know, but I don't know how to use that thing!" Weiss parried a strike and dodged another, but it was very clear to her that she was no match for Cinder alone, only given room to breathe by Ozpin's counterattack landing solidly. If Ozpin relented and left her to fight, the only victory she could hope to find was to hold out long enough for the transfer to finish. "Pyrrha needs you back there."
"But-"
Weiss turned a pleading look to her headmaster. "I've got this." If I don't… make it worth it. Make sure she comes out herself.
Ozpin hesitated, but nodded — whether he cared about how important this was to her or just didn't think it was worth the argument she couldn't say — and withdrew, leaping over the ice wall with the aid of a glyph.
"Is that so?"
Weiss turned back to Cinder, who circled slowly, flourishing her obsidian scimitars. "That's right. I don't care who you are, you're not getting to those pods. Not while I'm alive."
"Oh," Cinder smirked, "well I guess I'll just have to kill you then." She pounced like lightning, her blades weaving a deadly pattern through the air. Weiss desperately gave ground and parried, but even so Cinder's blades slashed at her Aura; she couldn't find time, let alone an opening, to attack.
This won't work! You can't just keep retreating, she'll have you too soon!
Weiss leapt back as far as she could, creating an ice glyph in front of her as she did so — Cinder punished her for the lapse in defence, even with Aura she felt that one — and trapped her opponent's feet; it bought her only a moment before Cinder freed herself with a cut, but enough time to call up more glyphs and rapidly launch herself from one to the next to the next, striking a blinding flurry from dizzying angles. She landed a decent hit, a pair of grazing blows… everything else was intercepted by Cinder's flashing blades, which lashed out at Weiss during her assault as well; she took as many hits as she gave.
"This is how you're going to stop me?" Cinder's tone dripped amusement. "You should just take down your little wall and leave, you're not even worth killing."
"Never." Weiss feinted a high thrust at Cinder's throat, dropping it to her abdomen at the last instant; she was rewarded with a parry and a cut to her sword arm… her Aura was getting low now, she could feel it. "I won't let you touch her!"
"'Her' is it? How sweet." Cinder chuckled, throwing a quick flurry to break Weiss' defence and nip at her Aura a bit more, then viciously kicking her in her exposed middle and sending her to the floor. "Last chance… drop it and I'll kill her quickly. If I have to kill you… I'll make her suffer ."
Weiss clenched her teeth and scrambled to her feet — Cinder let her, she knew… she was playing with her — and held her weapon at the ready once more, calling up one last glyph. This was it. This was her last stand, her last trick, her last chance to stall, to put up a fight, to hold Cinder off for a few more seconds. I hope it's enough… please be enough. "She would never forgive me if I gave up."
Cinder frowned. "Have it your way." She spun her swords once, then rushed in like lightning, no longer playing, but something was different. Every slash was met with a parry and a blindingly fast riposte, not all of which she managed to catch. "What?"
Weiss pushed herself to the limit: thrust, parry, parry, riposte, slash — she even threw in a kick here and there — but it was a pace she couldn't maintain. Her time dilation glyph was one of her best, but came with a terrible drawback… the instant it wore off, she would be slowed to a crawl, absolutely defenceless in the face of Cinder's wrath, and her Aura was nearly gone. When her speed ran out, her life ran out.
Make the most of it, make it count! This is for Pyrrha!
She pushed Cinder back, back away from the ice wall, back toward the lift, chipping at her Aura all the while. For those few glorious moments Weiss felt as though she might actually pull it off, as though she might, against all odds, defeat this demon and save her princess like some sort of storybook hero. But this was not a storybook, it was reality; she was not a hero, she was but a student; and her princess was not waiting to be saved so they could live happily ever after, she was screaming in unspeakable pain when she could draw breath at all as her soul was torn asunder and stitched back together.
The slow-motion of the world began to speed back up.
No, not yet!
Cinder's movements rapidly accelerated to match Weiss' speed…
Please, just a little more time!
…then surpass it…
No! No, they're not done yet!
And suddenly the world was a blur to Weiss, and Cinder the blurriest of all.
I'm sorry, Pyr… I'm so sorry…
Weiss couldn't even tell which blows landed first, or how many there were for that matter. Her Aura shattered like so much glass and the swords bit deeply into her, throwing her back with a cry to land in a limp heap as her own weapon skittered away.
I tried… I gave everything I had… until my… last… breath…
The ice wall crumbled and fell, and as its rumbles and the echoes of Weiss' voice faded, for a brief moment the vault was silent. No sounds of combat… no agonised screams. Cinder stalked over toward the pods, hidden in the fog left by the dissipated ice.
"You should leave."
Ozpin's voice stopped Cinder in her tracks, her blades held at guard before her. "And why would I do that?"
"Because you're too late." Ozpin stepped forward so that she could see him in the fog. "The transfer is complete. There is a new Fall Maiden, one who will not be so easily bested." His gaze darkened. "And that," he gestured to the still form of Weiss, "is the girl she loves."
Cinder tensed. Fighting a new half -Maiden was one thing… fighting one who was enraged and out for her head whilst also fighting Ozpin, with a damaged Aura, and finishing it before reinforcements could arrive was something else entirely . A growl rose in her throat. "This is not over."
"No, I don't suspect it is."
Cinder glared, then turned and ran for the lift.
Once Cinder was gone Ozpin relaxed and sighed, looking mournfully to the fallen Weiss, to the pod where Pyrrha lay unconscious. It was fortunate the ice wall's passing had left that fog… although defeated Weiss had succeeded. He went to check on her — still breathing, but barely… faint and ragged, and that was a lot of blood — then took out his scroll and called General Ironwood.
"Oz?"
"It's done."
"You mean…"
"Yes… the procedure was successful, but…"
"But?"
"We need a medical team, immediately. A very good one."
"Of course." There was a brief pause. "They're on the way now. What happened?"
"There was an… altercation. A student was gravely injured… I don't know that she'll survive."
Ironwood's countenance fell. "I'm sorry. It wasn't-"
"No, the Maiden is secure. But James…"
"Hmm?"
"Your adjutant may wish to be here as well."
Ironwood looked puzzled. "Winter? Why would she-," then it struck him and his eyes widened slightly. "You mean… oh no."
"I'm afraid so."
"… Nikos?"
Pyrrha sat in Professor Ozpin’s temporary office - his normal one had been damaged in the battle and not yet repaired — with her head hanging, a pensive look upon her face.
"Are you alright?"
With her, aside from Ozpin himself, were General Ironwood, Professor Goodwitch, and Winter Schnee, who had been admitted at the General’s insistence given the near-fatal incident with her sister; to say she was unhappy would be a great understatement.
"Miss Nikos?"
Finally Pyrrha lifted her head to meet Ozpin’s gaze and found all eyes on her, with concerned expressions.
"I was asking you how you’re feeling?"
"Oh. I’m sorry. I feel… horrible."
The others shared a glance.
"Your vitals are all excellent…," Professor Goodwitch noted.
"And your Aura is strong and shows no sign of degradation from the procedure," added the General.
Pyrrha shook her head. "No, not… physically…"
"Ah." Ozpin tented his fingers. "You’re referring to Miss Schnee."
Pyrrha nodded morosely.
"What happened… wasn’t your fault. She made a choice, as did you; she insisted on accompanying you, and when Cinder Fall presented a threat, she insisted that I monitor the procedure to give you the best chance of a positive outcome." A small, sad smile came to him. "She cares a great deal for you, Miss Nikos… though her injuries are regrettable, we were very fortunate she was there."
Winter grew visibly more upset seemingly by the word, finally losing her decorum. "Fortunate? You were fortunate !? If you had anywhere near the security you should for something so important Cinder Fall never would have seen that vault, let alone-!"
"Schnee!" Ironwood barked the name with the sternness befitting his rank, and Winter’s tirade immediately ceased with an audible click of her teeth as her jaw clenched. He gave her a disapproving look, then turned his gaze to Ozpin.
"My apologies for her outburst, Oz; it won’t happen again." He glanced back to Winter at that last before returning his attention to his fellow headmaster. "That said, she’s right. We’ve been on the back foot for too long, that’s become painfully clear. Amber, the CCT tower, Mountain Glenn ,and now this, an attack in broad daylight on the Vytal Festival?"
Ozpin frowned. "What are you saying, James?"
"I’m saying it’s time we go on the offensive."
Glynda’s eyes widened. "You want to start a war ?"
"We’re already at war!"
"A shadow war, not open combat!"
"Don’t be naïve!," Ironwood exclaimed, gesturing to the window for emphasis. "Look out there. Do you see that smoke? Those are people’s homes, people’s lives. Your people! How many died over the past two days? How many students did you lose?" He turned to Pyrrha. "How many friends?"
Her breath caught for a moment. Thankfully, none of her team had been lost, nor team RWBY, but some of the others… she’d seen faces she knew among the fallen. Faces she would never see again. A hand rose to cover her mouth at the thought.
"That isn’t fair, don’t bring her into this," Glynda protested.
"She’s already in it," Ironwood countered, and they all knew he was right. She was already in it… whether she wanted to be or not, she would be in it for the rest of her life. She was their new Fall Maiden, intrinsically linked to this conflict. He turned back to Ozpin. "I know it sounds like I’m blaming this all on you. I’m not; my ship was taken too, my Knights and Paladins killed some of those people out there. Their blood is on my hands, and I’ll never forgive myself for it. As soon as I get back to Atlas, the entire force is getting refitted; this will never happen again."
"Then how do you expect to fight your war?" Ozpin arched a brow.
" Our war. They won’t be out of commission for long. In the meantime the most promising students in the Specialist program can be fast-tracked."
" Your war. I’m afraid I cannot condone this, James; it will only bring more panic, and panic is already higher than ever after this latest attack."
Ironwood sighed. "I’m not asking permission, Oz. I’d like for you to join me in this — you know her better than anyone — but the war is here. If you want to hide and wait for her to come for you, that’s fine; Atlas is taking the fight to her." He turned to Pyrrha then. "What about you, Miss Nikos?"
Pyrrha didn’t know all of what they were talking about — who was this ‘her’ they kept referring to? — but she knew some… she knew enough.
But they talked over her anyway. "She needs to stay here," Ozpin replied firmly.
Weiss wasn’t staying here, she was being taken home to Atlas for treatment.
"Shouldn’t she have the choice?," countered Ironwood.
Professor Ozpin had told her she had a choice.
"I want to go…"
"She is the Fall Maiden, she must remain here; you know that."
Pyrrha stood up. "I’m going to Atlas." The General gave her a small smile and a nod.
Ozpin, on the other hand, looked over his glasses in that manner by which elders would explain to the youth why something they didn’t like was for their own good. "Miss Nikos…I’m sorry, but that simply isn’t possible. You must understand the pivotal role you now play in safeguarding the world, and to play that role you must stay nearby so that we can protect you."
"Except you can’t, can you?" Pyrrha felt her heartbeat quickening. "You couldn’t even protect me in the heart of Beacon when you stood beside me yourself, Weiss had to-" Her voice broke as her melancholy began to give way to the hurt and anger she’d been suppressing. Anger at Cinder Fall for nearly killing her dear Weiss, at Cinder's associates for actually killing so many others and destroying so much of this place she’d come to call home. Anger at Ozpin for his failure to protect them, for allowing this to happen, both to Beacon and to Weiss. But most of all by far, anger at herself… for allowing herself to be deceived and bringing the Grimm to Vale, for heeding the Professor’s request and bringing Weiss down to that place, for being too weak to complete the transfer sooner. Weiss had been right, she could have done more good on the surface; all that she did in that vault was scream and pass out, and the worst of the battle was over by the time she awoke. Perhaps if she’d listened and rejected Ozpin’s request, she could’ve saved some of those lost. Perhaps Weiss wouldn’t now be lying in a hospital bed fighting to stay alive.
Pyrrha took a breath to calm herself. "General Ironwood is right, no fight can be won by defence alone."
"Miss Nikos-"
"I will be far safer surrounded by the Atlesian military than I will be here."
"Pyrrha-," Glynda began.
"I am going !" The others seemed shocked, though the General less so. Not because Maidenfire had suddenly flared up around her eye, except in Winter’s case — no, that was to be expected when a newly-minted Maiden became emotional — but because soft-spoken Pyrrha, chosen in part for her malleability, was shouting her defiance.
Ozpin sighed. "There is nothing I can do to dissuade you?" Perhaps in his many lifetimes, he had grown too far detached from humanity to account for just how strongly a teenage girl’s heartstrings could bond to another.
Pyrrha shook her head. "I’m afraid not." She turned her gaze to Ironwood. "It’s as you said: we are at war, I am already involved. But to win a war you need soldiers. I don’t know who this enemy is, but I know that Cinder Fall is among them and she has the other half of this power inside me; let me be your champion and take it back." Let me make her pay for what she’s done!
Pyrrha’s understanding of what soldiers were might be a little out of date — several thousand years or so — but it still elicited a smile and a chuckle from Ironwood. "Atlas will be glad to have you."
"I’m sorry to hear that." Ozpin sighed, seeming somehow older. "Then it seems we have no more to discuss. Good luck in your new home, Miss Nikos."
Pyrrha gave him a slow nod, then turned to leave along with Ironwood and Winter.
"Oh, and Miss Nikos?"
Pyrrha stopped just before stepping past the doors, half-turning to look back to the headmaster.
"Do be careful."
His words, or rather his tone, sent a shiver down Pyrrha’s spine — she couldn’t say why — but she tried not to dwell on it as she turned back to step on with the Atlesians, making a point not to meet Ozpin’s gaze as the doors closed.