Forever Fall

[Disclaimer, this is a RWBY AU and RWBY belongs to Roosterteeth and the dearly departed Monty Oum. This is inspired by artwork on Dishwasher1910s Deviantart Page, IE the Team PJRP, Future Ruby, Future Jaune, Penny Persephone, and Pyrrha the Fall Maiden.]

"But perhaps victory is in the simpler things that you've long forgotten… things that require a smaller, more honest soul"-Ozpin

Chapter 01: A Maiden's Life

Pyrrha

The council meeting is going as it usually does. Do they really think this will work? I watch as the next person leaves and in walks Lieutenant Colonel Spade.

"Remnant Council," Lieutenant Colonel Spade states as he bows before us. "Envoys of the Maidens and of Schnee Dust; I will now present to you the current state of the war effort. As it stands Grand General Ironwood's divisions have routed the Converted Grimm near Atlas, but Salem's new Generals, The Corrupted, have already begun massing forces here nearby Vale. We can only assume at this point that Salem has found the method by which we are transporting you about, my suggestion is to recall General Schnee and Huntsman Branwen with them at our side and with a strategic use of Teams RWBY and JNPR we could eliminate one of The Corrupted and give ourselves an advantage over Salem, and just maybe buy ourselves some time. Other than that the war as a whole is going well with each kingdom managing to hold its own against the White Fang, Grimm, or Salem. There have been a couple reports of Fang activity near Mistral, apparently they tried to destroy a good portion of the regional Dust to destabilize the government but White Tiger forces were able to stop the attack. It would seem that despite their zeal the White Fang just isn't capable of putting up much of a fight without Adam at their head. That is all council," Spade finishes bowing his head and awaiting for them to dismiss him.

"We are glad you have such good news to report, though we'd request in the future you bring more details with you, we find that such attention to detail allows us to better make decisions on how to allocate our resources," one of the members speaks up. I bristle at the comment, and a quick glance at Spade suggests he has a similar reaction, but before I can speak Weiss does it for me.

"I disagree council members… Lieutenant Colonel Spade's description is apt based upon the situation and just as well minimizes the possible leaks in information that have been known to happen in the past. If anything I believe that he has every right as a leader in the Remnant Military and as a respected Huntsman to choose what exactly we know and how much of it we know," Weiss explains a glower growing on her face. With a grumble of assent the council agrees before beginning to deliberate for a time.

"We agree with Mrs. Schnee-Rose and withdraw our earlier comment about you Lieutenant Colonel. As for your request to have access to Teams RWBY and JNPR we will withhold judgement until you have properly outlined a battle plan. This council is now adjourned," They state before standing from their chairs and taking the back exit. I shake my head as Weiss and I step down and head towards Spade.

"It was great to see you again Lieutenant Colonel," I say politely with a large smile upon my face as I continue past him. Weiss follows suit but before we reach the door I hear the sound of someone following us.

"Lady Nikos, Mrs. Schnee-Rose… If I may have a word?" Spade asks lightly. I nod and he falls in alongside us. "I was wondering how the two of you were doing, as well as Mrs. Rose-Schnee if you have any updates."

"I am just fine, I saw Jaune and our adopted son yesterday while they were in town, Jaune is still having trouble with the Dust infusions they're doing to fix more of his body but he should be back to full strength soon. I will say it was… challenging to see him again, especially in the state he is in right now," I say hoping he won't hear the hurt in my voice as I speak.

"Has he gotten any better about the Maiden situation?" Spade whispers loud enough for only the three of us to hear as we move past other Huntsman and Huntresses as well as Military Commanders. I can only shake my head in response, not trusting myself to speak lest I start crying and stuttering in public. "I'm so sorry Pyrrha…"

"It'll work out in the end Pyrrha, Jaune loves you and he understands the part you play, he'll never abandon you," Weiss states confidently. A small smile graces my lips at her words and I nod slowly.

"How's Ruby?" Spade whispers just as quietly as before. I give a quick look to Weiss as she smiles brightly.

"She's doing quite well, I'll admit I've only just gotten used to the eyepatch and the glove but at least she still smiles as brightly as she did… I just hope we can have a break sometime soon, I think all of us could use a rest. Ruby should be back tonight if the two of you would like to stop by, and I believe Penny was talking about coming over tomorrow if Winter will let her have some time off," Weiss answers. I smile at the invitation, even after all these years we still try to get together whenever we can… A glance in Spade's direction shows him to be nodding thoughtfully.

"I might be able to make that work… Sapphire is supposed to be home from her scouting mission shortly, and I have to attend my appointment with Schnee Dust in a couple of hours, maybe I'll tag along with you to work Weiss?" Spade questions with a smile on his face, Weiss puts up a grumbling front in response, but we all know she'd come to love how we'd butt into the office every once in a while and distract her, though Ruby was her favorite of course.

"How is that going by the way? That is if I may ask," I wonder to the man on my left. He shakes his head in response. Taking in his face I note the scar which slides across his left eye, thankfully not blinding it, and the metallic half-mask which is fitted with a breathing filter to help him get air into his lungs after the fumes he breathed in after the crash nearly ten years ago today.

"Sessions are some of the most painful things I've ever had to deal with… My lungs feel like they're burning from the inside out, breathing is nearly impossible and singularly the most excruciating event that just doesn't seem to end. Imagine swallowing a Burn Dust crystal and then with every breath you take you activate it ten times over causing your entire body to be wracked with incontrollable spasms of pain… That's only a fraction of what I feel for every breath of the hour long sessions… But it is having an effect, I'm capable of breathing, albeit labored, on my own without the mask so long as I'm not performing any moderate or vigorous activity. In all I'd say I'm pleased with the results if not the implementation," Spade answers. I groan thinking of what Jaune must be going through between taking care of Aaron and the hour long sessions every couple of days.

"Is that what's happening today? A session?" Weiss asks, a bit of worry in her voice.

"No, today is just a check, I'll breath for a bit and they'll test my lung capacity in different activities without my mask," Spade answers before he stops and we do so as well. "Sorry, but I'll have to catch up with you guys later, running a battalion happens to require my attention sadly, I'm glad to have seen both of you and caught up for a bit. I'll stop by with Sapphire tonight Weiss, I'd suggest you show up as well Pyrrha, you look like you could use the distraction."

I nod in response averting my eyes from him my thoughts still centered on Jaune. Maybe I should give up this power… this responsibility and go back to being a normal Huntress?

"No…" the words cause me to turn and look at Weiss, her cape hanging off her shoulder lightly and the scars on her face catching the light. "I can tell what you're thinking, you're considering giving up your power to be with Jaune aren't you?"

I shy away and move to leave but her hand wraps around my arm holding me in place as I fight back tears.

"You know when Winter offered me the company after the falling out I had with Father I actually considered turning it down and staying with Ruby and Ruby only, what changed my mind though was Ruby herself. She told me she wouldn't be able to live with herself if I didn't take the chance and learn how to do both… I was skeptical but I realized afterwards that I gained something that I hadn't had before. I'd learned how to make sure that what was important to me was something I would always have and could always have. Pyrrha if you love someone and they can't love you when you change then that isn't you they're in love with, it's the idea of you as you were that they are in love with, I hate to say this about Jaune, but if he can't accept you as you are now then you deserve someone better," Weiss tells me. I feel anger boil in my blood but it cools as I realize that Jaune and I never told everyone else the whole story and I put my head in my hands having lost my fight to keep back the tears. Weiss helps me back to my room and sits on the bed with me trying to calm me as I cry over the whole thing, the past ten years, the life Jaune and I could have had, and the sacrifices everyone had been forced to make.

"Thank you Weiss, I'll keep that in mind," I say once I get control again. "I know you have important matters to take care of at Schnee Dust, please go take care of them I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?" Weiss questions, concern once more in her voice, Dust you have no idea how much of an effect Ruby has had on you do you Weiss? Ten years ago you couldn't have sat there while I cried without having to leave… Ruby really has helped you to grow…

"Yes… I'll see you later tonight alright?" I say with a weak smile. Weiss doesn't seem convinced but leaves anyway saying she'll see me later tonight. Why do I continue to push them away…