A.N. I'm normally not this quick with updating, but I've really been enjoying working on this story. So another chapter for you lovely readers enjoy!

Chapter 2

Now that Pyrrha wasn't completely consumed by grief and despair. It was much easier to sneak past the multitude of Grimm gathered at the school. To both Pyrrha's and Penny's horror the monstrous Grimm dragon was frozen on top the CCT. Its presence seemed to be what was attracting all the Grimm to the area. The dragon loomed over the school like a dark guardian claiming the school as its own.

While Pyrrha wasn't completely consumed by her early feelings. She still felt horrible as they continued sneaking through the school. The ever present thought of all this being her fault shouted at the former huntress, and when it didn't shout and Pyrrha thought she might be able to focus on now. The thought would return whispering in the back of her mind, reminding her if she hadn't hurt Penny none of this would have happened.

Penny was quiet for the most part, and Pyrrha was grateful. She didn't deserve Penny's kind words right now, nor could she handle them anyway. The synthetic human seemed to sense Pyrrha's need for silence now, and only spoke whenever she was warning Pyrrha about Grimm the huntress failed to notice.

Pyrrha stayed silent until they reached the cliff that overlooked the river Beacon was placed by.

"Can Atlesian Knights swim?" The quickest way to Vale was to cross the river. Before students would take an airship and ride across, but now with Grimm claiming Beacon as their home that wasn't possible.

"They sink, but are built to withstand water. I don't think you should try swimming though, around 60% of your outer armor is compromised. It is highly likely you'll short circuit upon getting wet." Pyrrha nodded, it looks like they'll have to go around through the Emerald Forest. If they were lucky most of the Grimm that normally lived there would have already relocated to the main campus.

Without a word Pyrrha started heading off in that direction. She remembered General Ironwood and the Atlas military evacuating people to Vale. The least she should do was return Penny to them. The synthetic girl said herself she could be rebuilt, and since Pyrrha was the one who destroyed her. She should ensure Penny made it safely back into good hands.

"Pyrrha?" Penny's voice called out tentatively sounding nervous. Pyrrha hummed to show she was listening.

"Do you want to talk? I mean you don't have to if you don't want to…." Penny trailed off unsure what else to say to Pyrrha. While it was clear she was nervous Pyrrha had to admire what Penny was trying to do.

"Okay," Pyrrha's answer was soft, if it weren't for the fact that they were speaking through their auras' than it'd be impossible to hear.

"Really? Wonderful!...Ummm what would you like to talk about?" Pyrrha didn't answer for a moment then she decided there was a few things she wanted to know about the girl she supposedly killed.

"Nobody knew that you were a robot?" Pyrrha felt a twinge of apprehension echo from Penny's aura. Her non-human status must bothered her greatly Pyrrha noted.

"Ruby did, but no Mr. Ironwood wanted to keep it a secret. Not even the guards ordered to watch me knew." That made sense, many would see Penny's creation as an abomination. Many people were critical of Atlas' experiments with aura, seeing it as treading too close to playing god. Unconsciously Pyrrha clutched Penny's core tighter, it was ridiculous that someone would want to hurt Penny just for what she was. Then again Pyrrha didn't have much room to talk, she did murder her after all .

"If I take you back to them they'll fix you right?" Pyrrha wasn't sure what to do about herself, but getting Penny her body back was the least the former huntress could do for her. It was a goal to have for now if nothing else.

"Of course, no doubt my father is preparing a replacement back at the lab as soon as he saw what happened to my other construct." Though there was a note of sadness in her voice. Penny's lax attitude about this made Pyrrha feel slightly better. Only slightly, the image of Penny being ripped to pieces would forever haunt her.

"That's good, I'll get you back to General Ironwood." Pyrrha stated hoping it would please Penny to hear she would be able to have her own body again. Pyrrha felt Penny's aura restlessly shift as if Pyrrha's words bothered her though.

"What about you?" Pyrrha stopped moving for a moment, around them trees covered the area their leaves fluttering softly in the breeze. They had long since entered the forest. Like Pyrrha hoped it was mostly empty, and all the Grimm had moved onto the school grounds.

"Don't worry about me, I'll figure something out." That only seemed to further agitate Penny as her aura continued to shift around.

"I won't leave you like this while I get repaired. That isn't fair."

"Life isn't fair," Pyrrha bitterly snapped, the world was truly twisted if it allowed all this destruction to happen. As if to prove how cruel it was as Pyrrha attempted to start moving again. She collapsed her damaged leg sparking, the limb creaking demanding repair.

"I'm not leaving you like this." Penny stated determinedly, leaving little room for argument. However that didn't mean Pyrrha wasn't going to try.

"I hardly deserve anything more than this." Pyrrha said gesturing to her new metal form. Distantly Pyrrha remembered Ruby and Jaune saying how Penny's death wasn't her fault, and the only one to blame was Cinder and her minions. Their words were hollow now though, and Pyrrha couldn't bring herself to not place the blame for this on herself.

"You absolutely deserve more, and until you believe it I'll keep reminding you." Penny chirped her normal happy demeanor returning for a moment. Her voice got soft again afterwards, her aura settling back down giving Pyrrha a small warm sensation.

"That woman you fought is to blame for all of this. She wanted to be rid of us both that night. We're both still here though, wouldn't it be letting her win if you just accept the suffering she's put us through." Penny was right, Pyrrha knew she was right, but it was easier said than done to accept it. Carefully Pyrrha stood back up.

"I don't think I'm ready to jump back from this, but I'll try. Let's get you a new body first." Penny's response was a cheerful okay, and they kept moving through the forest. This time though the silence between them wasn't as tense. The forest around them was quiet, most of the animals that lived here having been scared into hiding by the Grimm.

It wasn't too long when Penny piped up again filling the silence.

"You're not in any pain are you?" Pyrrha felt Penny's aura shift again no doubt in concern. The former huntress shook her head glancing at her new metal body for a moment before turning her gaze back ahead.

"No, the only thing I feel is our auras….Was it like this for you?" There was a pause from Penny as if she didn't want to answer, and Pyrrha felt the other girl's aura shifting restlessly.

"No, I was built to simulate a human as much as possible. There was a limit of course, but I could feel basic sensations." If Pyrrha had a heart it would have clenched at that. It meant when Pyrrha had murdered her she most definitely felt that.

"More importantly though I'm wondering how your soul has come to inhabit an Atlesian Knight." Penny quickly changed the subject as if sensing Pyrrha was about to spiral into despair again. Knowing she shouldn't continue the line of thought she was on Pyrrha instead focused on what Penny just said.

"You say that like you've seen this before?" Atlas must be running all kinds of experiments with aura to have created Penny. It wouldn't be too surprising if Penny had a vast amount of knowledge about auras.

"Similar, predating my creation Atlas scientists tried putting the aura from someone else into a mechanized body in order to make them stronger." Memories of the pods, the Fall Maiden, and the pain as the machine tried to force the aura into Pyrrha flashed before the huntress. She quickly shook them away never wanting to remember that moment again.

"And what happened?" Penny paused before answering, and Pyrrha felt a bit apprehension coming from her aura. Giving Pyrrha the feeling she wasn't going to like the answer she got.

"I'm not sure, the files covering the results of their experiments are classified. I was never allowed to access them, but since the project was shut down….One can assume the results weren't good." Penny's aura was shifting again, the topic of Atlas and their experiments must be a sore one for her. After all she was one of Atlas' experiments. Pyrrha was grateful Penny was telling her these things though, perhaps there was a small hope Pyrrha could be free of this new form. It was unlikely she would ever be the same however. Pyrrha didn't have a body she could return to, and for all she knew if Atlas' scientists tried to remove her soul from this body it may kill her.

The two fell into silence again as they continued their way through the forest. As they got closer to Vale the forest began to thin out, and more animals made themselves known. A few birds rested in the trees, and Pyrrha spotted a couple of rabbits making their way to their into the brush to avoid the creaking mech walking.

Pyrrha's damaged leg was really beginning to affect her walking. She was stumbling and falling, the damaged limb sparking as it malfunctioned. Penny's worried voice would echo in Pyrrha's head confirming the former huntress was okay before Pyrrha pulled herself back up continuing to make their way to Vale.

Pyrrha started using Penny's old sword she held onto as a crutch, still clutching the core tightly in her other hand. She just had to hold out a little longer Pyrrha could see the city up ahead. Smoke was billowing from some of the buildings, but from the lights coming from the center of the city. Pyrrha would imagine the military had managed to create a safe perimeter to house the city's citizens.

Entering the city most of it was in as poor shape as Beacon, at least here there were less Grimm though. Scattered Atlas mechs were everywhere having been destroyed in order to protect the people. Cinder really had thought of everything, everyone had played right into her hands, and now she had the Fall Maiden's power and Beacon was in ruins.

Up ahead Pyrrha spotted a makeshift wall, and she saw figures patrolling in front of it. Recognizing the Atlesian military uniforms Pyrrha felt a bit of relief upon finally making it back to civilization. Her relief was cut short though, one of the men caught sight of her and he raised his rifle.

"It's another knight! Take it out!" Pyrrha heard a click and she fell back as a bullet nailed her shoulder. Falling to the ground Pyrrha remembered with a sickening feeling the state she was in, and more importantly what happened to the other Atlesian Knights. Distantly she heard Penny cry out in surprise once they were shot at, and then her frantic voice followed soon after.

"Pyrrha! Are you okay! Please answer!" Penny's voice was frantic and her aura shifted wildly around their shared body. Warmth flooding Pyrrha's shoulder where the gunshot had hit them.

"I'm okay Penny, it's okay." Pyrrha soothed staying calm hoping Penny would feel it through their linked souls. In truth Pyrrha did feel fine, despite just getting shot at. She didn't feel any pain, but craning her head looking at her shoulder it was clear damage was done. The white steel armor that once protected the mechanized joints underneath was blown clean off. It left the weaker parts of Pyrrha's shoulder exposed. Luckily Pyrrha moved her arm, and the limb still worked.

"Hold your fire!" A low stern voice called out, but Pyrrha didn't dare to get up yet. She clutched Penny's core tightly silently confirming she still had it.

"It's Mr. Ironwood," Penny told Pyrrha, but the former huntress still didn't get up. If they believed Pyrrha was destroyed it would be easier to escape to safety.

Pyrrha heard heavy footfalls approaching her prone form. The familiar face of General Ironwood towered above her. Two soldiers trailed behind him their guns resting at their hips not pointing at Pyrrha.

Ironwood must believe she was offline as he looked down at Pyrrha a frown on his face.

"This one must not have been affected by the virus, it's retrieved important equipment." Ironwood said his eyes on the core Pyrrha clutched in her hand. He reached down about to pull Penny's core from her grasp. Pyrrha jump up though rolling backwards she landed on her feet only stumbling slightly due to the damaged one. She pulled her one hand close to her chest clutching the core while the other still held Penny's sword.

The two soldiers jumped training their weapons on the mech before them. Ironwood raised a hand though stopping them from shooting. He must have noticed Pyrrha's green glowing visor, and he was studying the mech before him.

"Penny? Have you overridden this mech?" He asked folding his hands behind his back as if he was addressing a soldier. It was then Pyrrha noticed the General's state. His clothing was torn revealing massive amounts of cybernetics covering his body. Dark circles marred under his eyes, and Pyrrha had to wonder how long it has been since that night she supposedly died.

Pyrrha shook her head telling Ironwood Penny wasn't in control of this mech. Penny was silent no doubt confused why Pyrrha had jumped away, and was being so hostile right now. While she was committed to helping Penny, Pyrrha had just died recently she wasn't going to trust so easily. Ironwood's eyes narrowed and he stared Pyrrha down, he still kept a calm in control demeanor though.

"You're not infected with the virus, and you're not being controlled by Penny. You're not following commands though, and clearly you understand me. Are you a stolen AI placed into a Knight's body?" Ironwood must be running all the possible reasons an Atlesian mech would act like this. Unfortunately nothing he could come up would even be close to what the truth was. Before Pyrrha could come up with a way to respond Penny spoke up through their link.

"Pyrrha what's wrong? Mr. Ironwood won't harm us." Pyrrha wasn't sure why she was being so hostile, but she wasn't about to just hand off Penny's soul without a thought. The man before her could not even be Ironwood for all Pyrrha knew, and she would not allow any harm to come to the synthetic girl.

"Do you understand what you're holding is?" Before Pyrrha could respond to Penny's concern Ironwood spoke up again, eyeing the mech critically. Pyrrha nodded again, unconsciously holding the cylinder tighter.

"Then understand that it needs to be returned to Atlas." Ironwood's eyes locked with Pyrrha's visor staring the mech down.

"Penny, is there a way for you to talk with him? Explain what's going on." There was a pause from the synthetic girl as she thought.

"No, not without another construct for my aura to inhabit. Most mechs don't have as advance vocal capabilities as my body did." Inwardly Pyrrha cursed then sighed, it was unlikely that Ironwood would believe the mech that stood before him was actually Pyrrha Nikos anyway. Thinking Pyrrha lifted her hand that held Penny's core. Then pointing at herself before gesturing northwards where Atlas was. Ironwood's eyebrow rose no doubt wondering what Pyrrha was trying to say. It took a few moments, but what Pyrrha was trying to say eventually clicked in his mind.

"You want to return it to Atlas yourself?" The General guessed and Pyrrha nodded. She couldn't let Penny out of her sight not after what she'd done, so the only solutions was to return the core to Atlas herself.

Ironwood looked about ready to protest to this, but he stopped short. Glancing behind him at the makeshift fortifications then back at the mech before him. He sighed his flesh hand coming from behind his back and rubbing his face.

"We don't have the resources to get it back right now anyways…. All right you are to return the core to the Schnee Company Labs in Atlas. If you become too damaged to complete this task. You must get the core to a safe place, and place a beacon so we can retrieve it." Pyrrha nodded, raising Penny's core over her metal chest to show Ironwood she would keep it safe. He nodded approvingly, he gestured for his soldiers to get back to their posts.

"I don't have anyone to spare to repair you, but you're welcome inside to repair yourself if you can. There is plenty of scrap lying around." Ironwood gestured to the fortified area, and Pyrrha nodded. While she wanted to get Penny back to Atlas so the synthetic girl could have her own body back. The sparking leg reminded Pyrrha that she wouldn't be going anywhere far soon.

Following Ironwood inside the safe area, Pyrrha realized she had no idea how to repair herself. Sure like most students of Beacon she had knowledge of mechanics and machinery. She had built her own weapon after all, but the complex workings of the machine body she now possessed was a tad beyond Pyrrha. It would be too dangerous to just tinker with it until she figured it out. She could cripple her new body beyond repair. Ironwood left Pyrrha on her own, but not before ordering everyone not to attack the mech with the green visor.

"Are we going to repair your body before leaving?" A cheerful voice reminded Pyrrha she wasn't completely alone. Pyrrha's leg sparked and she stumbled catching herself before completely falling to the ground.

"I'm not sure how…." Pyrrha admitted to her companion slowly righting her posture, ignoring the looks people gave the strange mech with the green visor.

"That's okay! I'm quite familiar with most mech designs, I can walk you through it." Penny said cheerful as always, and Pyrrha remembered that of course Penny would know a lot about about machines. The synthetic girl was one after all.

"Okay what do I need to do?"

"Well the wiring in your leg is fried, and most of the metal plating protecting you has been damaged beyond repair. We'll need to find sheet metal, some new wires, and perhaps we should find a makeshift shield for you. That was one of your weapons of choice wasn't it?" A twinge of sadness at the reminder that her shield was lost somewhere in Beacon, but Pyrrha shook the feeling mostly away. She had to focus on the now, wires, metal, shield she could do that.

Pyrrha left the safe area not feeling right about taking scrap from within the only safe place for people. The soldiers gave her wary looks as she passed, but otherwise soon she was alone. Well she was mostly alone.

"Most high end electronics should have wiring we could make work. For metals I suggest something durable like steel from a vehicle, or we could find a weapon shop. They will probably have sheet metal we can use. Oh! And they'll have tools we can use to build with as well." How Penny could be so happy after what had happened Pyrrha had no idea. Though her cheerful demeanor wasn't completely unwanted. It was nice to have Penny's cheerful voice giving suggestions and trying to help the best she could.

Most of the city was abandoned almost everyone having taken cover in the safe zone the Atlas military set up. Eventually Pyrrha came across an electronics' store. The large window that showed off their best products was broken, glass covering the sidewalk and store. The door was barely hanging on its hinges leaving the store open to anything that wanted to enter.

Pyrrha entered the store, the only light illuminating the store was the dim green light from her visor. The store was a mess electronics were thrown off their shelves everywhere, and Pyrrha could see bullet marks where other mechs must have fired on the store.

"See anything we can use?" Pyrrha asked scanning the mass of devices lying about. She heard Penny hum the synthetic human looking everything over as Pyrrha did.

"Over there! The shelf on the left, those wires could work." Pyrrha moved to the shelf spotting the wires wrapped up in a plastic tie waiting for someone to purchase them. Grabbing them Pyrrha started heading towards the exit when Penny spoke up again.

"Shouldn't we pay for those?" Right, Pyrrha looked at the wires in her hand. This was technically stealing, but glancing at the cash register that was thrown to the ground money scattered all over the floor. Pyrrha would imagine one pack of missing wires would be the last of shop owner's worries, if they were even still alive.

"We'll pay them back later, I don't have any money to pay right now anyway." Or a body, but Pyrrha didn't want to continue that line of thought. Penny didn't press the issue, and the two continued to scour the city for parts. The clouds coated the sky as if the very heavens knew how bleak the world had become.

A.N. Pyrrha might seem a bit out of character at least for the beginning. But hey the girl just recently died and has been through hell, so she's not going to be doing too hot for awhile. Penny meanwhile seems to be taking all of this much better than Pyrrha, or maybe she's not and she's just very good at hiding it ;). With that I will see you guys next chapter!