A couple of months had passed after the fall of Beacon and Pyrrha's training had begun, after a lengthy recovery period suggested by her father. Once she had recovered her father had begun instructing her about the Thu'um, the power behind ancient magic of the dragon language as well as the philosophy within it. While also continuing combat training, as well as talking about his home world and the different schools of magic there.
"Let's start with the basics, to use the thu'um correctly you must first understand the meaning on the word."
Marius look at the ground and drew some draconic inscriptions into the dirt. They made no sense to Pyrrha but he then wrote the meaning of the word underneath of it in a language she could understand.
"All shouts are made out of three words of power, however there are a few exceptions here and there. You can shout with different power to them, one word will give you a certain result while adding more words will only increase the potential of the shout. As well as it is possible to increase or decrease in power based on ones level of passion." Marius explained. Pyrrha giving him her undivided attention.
"However, all of this is nothing if you do not know the meaning of the words of power. So that means when learning the vocabulary of the dragon language, you will in turn learn their deeper meaning. For example 'Fus'…" Marius pointed to the first inscription he drew on the ground. "It means force. The force of you pushing the world back. But as you push the world, it pushes you back as well. I want you to imagine your voice pushing anything aside in its path."
Taking a step back and moving into a relaxed stance, "Now, try shouting the word 'Fus'. I want you to move those rocks over there."
Pyrrha moved away from her father and towards to the rocks. She took a few deep breaths and stared intently at the rocks.
"Fus!" Pyrrha shouted.
Nothing happened. Marius look at the rocks they had not moved, looking back to Pyrrha.
"Fret not. Do not push the world back more than you can be pushed back. Remember picture your voice pushing them aside. Calm yourself, breath and focus." He explained calmly, "Now, try again."
"Fus!" Again nothing happened. She tried several more times a scowl now adorned her face, glaring hatefully at the rocks.
She sighed exasperatedly.
"Calm down. You know most people spend their entire lives learning this and barely even scratch the surface. I believe that you can learn more than most." He said with a smile. "Now, again."
Pyrrha took a couple deep breaths again, and glanced towards her father. He smiled encouragingly at her. He seemed so thrilled to be teaching her this. She had to make this work. Inhaling and exhaling again. Suddenly everything became clear to her. She understood what her father meant.
Fus
A small blue shockwave appeared from her mouth. The rocks were sent flying back away from her. Pyrrha stared at the rocks amazed at what she had just done.
The sound of laughing pulled her out of her stupor. Her father was laughing loudly, a smile of pure happiness adorned his face.
"You did it Pyrrha!"
"I did it?!"
"Yes you did it!"
"I did it!" Pyrrha threw an arm up in the air.
Her father came over to her and pulled her into a hug.
"You learned the first word of unrelenting force within a single afternoon, most people spend a good portion of their lives on that. I proud of you." He smiled at her, "But in order to learn the other words you must constantly practice."
"Now, let's continue. Shout at the projections as they appear." He said.
"What projections?" She inquired.
Her father simply stepped back and took a breath.
Fiik Lo Sah
In front of her, a spiritual duplicate of her father appeared. It stood there waiting patiently, unmoving.
"Now shout at it." He commanded.
Fus
The wave crashed into the projections and it stumbled around before disappearing.
"Very good Pyrrha. Now, again."
Fiik Lo Sah
Another projection appeared. Pyrrha shouted at the project causing it to disappear just as before.
"Again."
As the four members of Team RNJR continue out of Oniyuri, Ren suddenly senses something. He puts out his hand to stop the other three, eyes closing as he focuses. Ren draws his weapon. Ruby, Nora and Jaune immediately follow suit. A man in a brown tailcoat leaps high over the wall to engage them in combat.
The man immediately takes out his weapons in a seamless motion and, laughing eagerly, moves to attack Ruby. Ren intervenes, StormFlower clashing with the man's claw blades. Ren attempts to kick and shoot the man, but everything dodges. The two have a couple more attack and parries until Tyrian kicks Ren several feet away.
He turns to go after Ruby again, who was rushing forward with Crescent Rose to meet him. Using his blades to block the scythe, he then kicks Ruby backward. She easily remains upright and they clash again. Managing to land a strike on Ruby's right arm, causing her to cry out at the pain and him to laugh. She's doesn't break stride however and leaps back to take a swing at him with her scythe. He dodges and then lands a moving blow against the body of Crescent Rose, causing her aura shimmer over the area of the strike.
Jaune steps in at that moment and the man clambers onto his shield and grins at him. Nora rushes in with Magnhild, but he leaps from Jaune's shield to her hammer and up through the top story of a narrow building. Holding himself up with his feet on wooden frames to either side of him, he looks down at Team RNJR.
"We're not looking for a fight!" Jaune shouted up at him.
"Who are you?" Ren sternly asks.
Leaning forward, the man drops down from the tower. Landing on his feet before them, giggling slightly.
"Who I am matters not to you. Or you." He says as he points to Ren and Nora, "Or—" he cuts himself off and pauses and points to Jaune "Well... you do interest me."
Which causes Jaune to nervously gasp.
"No, I only matter to you." He points to Ruby. Everyone diverts their attention towards her. Tilting her head in confusion.
"Me?"
He blankly stares at her before breaking down into a fit of laughter. "You, you haven't the slightest clue, do you? Oh, how exciting this must be."
"What do you want?"
He begins acting dramatically by placing his hand on his chest in response to her tone of voice.
"Oh, the rose has thorns! My little flower, I'm here to whisk you away with me!"
Nora moves in front of Ruby.
"Well, what if she doesn't want to go with you?"
He stares for a moment before answering.
"Well, I'll take her."
Jaune walks over and stands between him and Ruby, shield raised and at the ready.
The man closes his eyes and inhales through his teeth. His eyes slowly open, and he happily growls a single word with a dark grin
"Good."
Delighted that they're willing to fight, the man dashes forward to attack Jaune from behind.
"Jaune!" Ren cried out. As he shot Jaune's shield causing the bullets to ricochet off and at the man.
Covering his eyes with his arm and then cartwheels onto Jaune's shield, using his claw blades to spin in the air against it. Ruby steps in to face him on his descent, but he just kicks her to the side. She regains her ground by using Crescent Rose to steady herself. Jaune takes a swing with his sword at him, but he simply dodges and kicks him away as well.
His next move is to run toward Nora. From across the way, Ruby grins and shoots Nora with lightning Dust. It passes just over Tyrian's left shoulder, and he turns as he senses it. Nora gets knocked down when the bolt makes contact, dropping Magnhild in the process
Breaking into another fit of laughter, he turns his attention back towards the other three.
"Well, if that isn't ironic." Wiping away a stray tear. He senses something is up and loses his mirth.
With a determined, satisfied grin, a now upright and supercharged Nora rushes him from behind, moving over his right shoulder and coming before him just in time to hit him with Magnhild. The blast from the contact has the other three covering their eyes from the backwash of dust and air, Jaune actually taking cover behind his shield.
The air clears to reveal him perfectly fine crouching, using his now unveiled scorpion tail to block Magnhild. He giggles and curls his fingers at Nora.
"Surprise." He then kicks Nora twice in the face before leaping backward and upward onto a roof, leaving his coat behind.
"He's… a faunus." Ren states.
"What is this about? The White Fang? Roman Torchwick?" Ruby shouts up at him.
"Plastic soldiers and pawns. My heart and body belong only to our goddess."
"Cinder…" Ruby growls out.
"Hmph, only in her wildest dreams." He said before leaping back into the fray. He uses his tail to knock Crescent Rose down. Though surprised, Ruby doesn't lose her grip on it. The two both attack each other and miss until he kicks Ruby backward again. Using his tail to go after Ren before finally kicking him away and then attacking Jaune.
Kicking Jaune back and then Nora, and then Ren returns for more only to leap away again. Without missing a beat, he lets Ren be and goes after Ruby again. In quick succession, he delivers a right hook to her face and a left blow to her torso, causing her Aura to shimmer on her head and chest respectively.
He turns and swings his tail to knock her back into the air. She flies back several feet and he rushes forward to meet her before she lands. While Ruby's still midair, he kicks her right in the abdomen, causing her to fly backwards.
He approaches Ruby on the ground and raises his stinger, his eyes turning dark purple. Nora, who is comforting a fallen Ren, and Jaune both look on in horror.
Laughing, he prepares to strike with his scorpion tail when Qrow bursts through a building and inserts himself between them, holding his weapon behind his back. There's a metallic noise as the stinger hits against Qrow's weapon and clips into the blade. He lets out a nervous giggle of surprise while Ruby and Qrow make eye contact and smile at each other.
"Hey." Qrow says, giving Ruby a soft smile.
As the man pulls his tail back. Qrow turns around, swinging his weapon and holding at the ready.
"As I live and breathe, Qrow Branwen. A true huntsmen has entered the fray!"
Ruby gets up and uses her scythe to help steady herself. Qrow glances back at her.
"I don't know, this guy's weird."
"Look, pal, I'm not sure who you are, but you need to leave my niece alone."
Giving a small chuckle, "Why, friend, my name is Tyrian. And I'm afraid that is not possible. My assignment from Her Grace was to retrieve this young girl. So, that is what I must do. One does not upset the Queen."
"Queen?" Ruby asks.
"Salem." Qrow growls.
"Who?"
Tyrian assumes a crouching position, "Hmm, I think we've had enough talk now, don't you?"
"Took the words right out of-"
Tyrian rushes Qrow before he can finish his sentence and the two fight. Small shockwaves are released when their weapons clash together. A roof nearby gets damaged and falls to the ground.
Qrow smirks down at Tyrian as he pushes down on his sword. Grinning Tyrian reveals his weapons secondary form as small gun barrels reveal themselves in the gloves of his wrist blades. He begins to shoot at Qrow keeping him at a distance as he circles around him, grinning.
Ren and Nora rush in to join Qrow. As they approach Tyrian, bends backwards and dodges both of their attacks. Kicking them both back to Ruby and Jaune. He rushes to follow them, but Qrow intervenes.
"Don't come closer!" Qrow shouts, before resuming the fight with Tyrian.
"Fine!"
Ruby yells as she moves towards a building. Jumping up to get the high ground and waits for an opening to shoot Tyrian. Though there was not much of an opening because Qrow and Tyrian were moving too fast for her get a clear shot.
Wrapping his tail around Qrow's arms he pulls the sword out of his grasp. Sending the sword flying into a wall and embedding itself in it. A bullet sails by Tyrian face catching his attention. More shots are fired and are all blocked by his tail.
Punching Tyrian in the face while his attention is elsewhere, followed by repeated punched to the face and finally a kick sending him flying backwards. Casually walking towards his sword embedded in the wall. As soon as his hand touches the handle, Tyrian strikes. But Qrow leaps on top of his weapons and activates one of the mechanisms, and fires a blast sending himself up the building.
Landing on the roof of the building and continue their fight. Qrow runs to one side of the roof and Tyrian jumps after him. Landing on a damaged beam and falling down into the building, Qrow leaps up but Tyrian's tail lashes out and wraps around his ankle, and drags him down as well.
No longer waiting to stay back and give support fire, Ruby jumps from her perch. Running towards the build that Tyrian and Qrow fell into. One of the walls explode, and Qrow thrown through the hole and he and his weapon bounce off the ground. Throwing his weapon behind him, it embeds itself into the ground, Qrow skillfully lands on the handle of the blade as it slides through the ground.
Tyrian rushes out of the dust filled building. Qrow and Tyrian prepare to resume their fight once again, but Ruby intercepts Tyrian's attack.
"Ruby!" Jaune calls out, and moves to advance, Ren puts his armor blocking Jaune's path.
"Do you wish to be taken?" Tyrian asks excitedly looking at Ruby.
"No! But I won't stand by watch someone get hurt!"
Ruby and Qrow both rush forward to attack Tyrian and the three of them clash. Tyrian kicks Qrow out of the way, and send s his stinger at Ruby, who blocks it with her scythe.
Tyrian tries again and almost has her, but Qrow blocks it yet again.
"Ruby! What did I say?! Get back!" He orders her.
"This is my fight, too!"
Ruby attacks Tyrian while he is in a blade lock with Qrow. She swings at Tyrian but he jumps over her attack.
"No, it's not that. It's-"
She charges again, and Tyrian disengages from Qrow. He flips over her attack and performs a two-footed kick sending her back. She slides closer to the building and gains her ground, but the wooden beams near the roof have been shaken up too much and a heavy one breaks and descends upon her. Ruby looks up and sees the beam falling towards her.
Qrow slices it in half so it falls in pieces to either side of Ruby without it touching her. She smiles at him in gratitude and affection, and he raises his head from his stance to look at her, only to gasp in pain as he is immediately cut across the abdomen by Tyrian's stinger.
Everyone looks on in shock. Tyrian chuckles gleefully. Ruby place her scythe on and opposite side of the tail and fires, severing the singer from the tail. It bounces of the ground, spurting purple liquid. Tyrian reels back and cries out from the pain. Standing, he whirls to face Ruby, infuriated.
"You bitch!" he shouts, as he takes two unsteady steps forwards. Ren, Nora and Jaune block his path towards Qrow and Ruby. He takes a few awkward steps and begins to back away.
"She'll forgive you." He says to himself.
As soon as Tyrian is gone. Qrow drops his sword and falls to his knees and clutches his wound, panting heavily.
Rushing to her uncle's side and placing a hand on his shoulder, "Uncle Qrow! Are you okay?"
"I'll be fine. He just grazed me." He reassured her. Shakily pulling his hand away from his wound, inspecting his hand that is covered with blood.
Nora, Ren and Jaune come over to the duo, and started bombarding Qrow with questions.
"Who was that guy?"
"How did you get here?"
"Why are people after Ruby?"
"Uncle Qrow? What's going on?"
Returning his hand to cover the wound, as he breaths heavily he answers, "What's your favorite fairy tale?"
Around a campfire, Ruby, Qrow, Jaune, Ren and Nora sat on four logs positioned in a square. There was an uncomfortable silence in the air. Qrow took a swig from his flask and asked.
"Really? No questions?"
"Of course we have question. This is just… a lot to take in." Jaune spoke in a frustrated tone.
"Sure, of course." He sighed.
Ruby pipped up, "So these… Maidens… They're powerful fighters that don't need Dust to use magic."
"Yeah"
"And there are four of them?" Nora asked
"Yup always."
"Which means that, whenever one of them dies, the power transfers to someone, a female that they cared about." Ren questioned.
"Whoever was in their thoughts last. Important distinction. Best option is someone we can trust. Regardless, their souls become combined, in a way" Qrow clarified.
Jaune started glaring at Qrow, "And that's what you were trying to do to Pyrrha… the night the tower fell. You were trying to turn her into one of them."
Qrow continued, "The previous Fall Maiden, Amber, had been attacked. She was young, inexperienced. And her assailant, who we now know is Cinder, somehow managed to steal some of her power, but not all of it. We were afraid that if we didn't do something, the rest would go to her as well."
"So you forced it on Pyrrha." Jaune looking angrier with each word he spoke.
"We didn't force anything. We explained the situation and gave her the choice, and she chose. You were there, you heard her."
Jaune hung his head in defeat for a brief moment before getting up and walking a small distance away from the group.
Another questioned formed in Ruby's head one that had been circulating for some time, "Um… Uncle Qrow, that man who fought Cinder at the tower. Who is he exactly?"
'This question was bound to come up eventually' Qrow mused to himself, sighing deeply he pulled out his flash against and took another swig. "Marius Nikos, hmm, the one piece on the board that both sides have been fighting over for years, and both have failed to recruit. He seems adamant on staying neutral.
Not much is known about Marius Nikos early years. It was like he just appeared out of thin air. He graduated from Haven Academy, it was there he met his wife Jade Nikos. After graduating he and Jade stuck together and went on missions. They eventually got married and had their daughter. He is a highly skilled Huntsman, when he is not on mission he is a private craftsman under an alias of Ysmir.
He known around Remnant for his beautiful pieces of art, some vary from weapons to jewelry. Ruby you will have seen some of his works in your weapons magazines." He said as he looked over to Ruby, who had gone star eyed.
"You know that rule about the maidens being the only ones able to use magic, there's only two other powerful individuals who use magic freely, as well as rival the maidens in power. One happens to be the wizard and the other who just so happens to be Marius Nikos.
The Brotherhood first learned about him when he started rising through the ranks of solo huntsmen. He had been completing missions that had claimed the lives of multiple huntsmen teams, going in alone would be considered suicide, and yet he came back every time completely unharmed.
Nearly fifteen years ago the Brotherhood approached him. At that point we had been watching him for a few years.
We came to him asking which side he was on. When he did not give us a straight answer, Ironwood decided that maybe a different approach would work better. So he threatened him and you can say that our relationship went downhill from there. Originally Marius could care less about his threats directed towards him. Realizing that threating him did nothing Ironwood went further and decided to threaten his family.
Marius almost instantly changed his tune.
Seeing that something had gotten a reaction out of him, Ironwood pressed on. While none of us truly agreed his method, it had gotten a result and we allowed it to continue. His efforts backfired on him. Faster than we could react Ironwood was up against the wall being pinned by an invisible force.
Looking towards the only possible explanation we turned to Marius, whose full attention was directed Ironwood. His right hand emanating an orange glow. Glaring hatefully at him.
Realizing what was happening Ozpin unleashed his full power to try diffuse the situation through intimidation, challenging Marius in a feat of power. Now Ozpin's aura is nothing to scoff at Glynda, James and I have experienced it before so we were only slightly affected, but any normal person would have been having trouble standing.
Ozpin succeed in getting Marius to release Ironwood, who was heavily dropped back to the floor. But Ozpin had simply managed to divert his attention to the whole group. Slowly Marius's power began to rise to the challenge, and as it rose his emerald eyes changed and glowed a brilliant gold, and his pupils had changed into slits.
It continued to rise, eventually matching Ozpin's aura, and paused for a brief moment before spiking significantly, surpassing Ozpin's aura and continued to rise stopping just above the power of the Maidens. The very air was thick with power. We eventually joined Ozpin in an attempt to force him to back down, you would think that a four on one fight would be easy, but the way he was looking at us it seemed that he almost amused.
This was no longer the calm, collected man. This was something beyond that of the power of a man. The sheer amount of power that was radiating from him was suffocating. There have not been many times where I have been truly terrified.
He asked us to leave shortly after. As we were leaving Oz turned and asked one final time, 'That remains to be seen. Time will only tell' he responded. It did not ease everyone's suspicions.
Even to this day we don't know his full capabilities. Oz believes that he only showed a fragment of his power, and if he wanted he could very well have killed us. Ironwood and Glynda think that he was a exaggerating. Myself, I believe what Oz thinks he hasn't led me astray yet. I think it would be important to stay in his good graces." Qrow finished turning his head towards Jaune.
Jaune for the most part seemed rather sheepish. If Pyrrha's father had enough power to step up to some of the most powerful huntsman in their time and intimidate them. As well as defeat a maiden in combat, what was he truly capable of.
"I mean I've managed to mend the mistakes of my association and have befriended Marius, but he still refuses to allow Ironwood anywhere near him. I can guarantee that Marius and Pyrrha have had a length full conversation about my group after the events of Beacon and has told her everything that we did and everything that he has refused to tell us." Qrow continued. "We should be thankful that he has remained neutral all this time, and that Pyrrha was only injured."
"Marius is an incredibly powerful man who cares deeply for those he loves." Ren stated.
Silence reigned over the group, before Ruby asked another question.
"So Marius is Pyrrha's father, where is her mother? I bet she just amazing. Ooh I wonder what her weapons is? Maybe when we get to Mistral we can go pay them a vis-" Ruby was cut off by Qrow.
"Ruby, Jade Nikos was killed in action during a search and rescue op thirteen years ago. One of our members, Lionheart was responsible for the mission."
Silence once again took hold of the group.
"You said his eyes turned into slits, does that make him some kind of a reptile faunus?!" Nora shouted excitedly. Diffusing the mood that come over the group.
Hey guys sorry for the long wait...that's partially my fault! I've been busy with life. But I hoping to update more frequently. Feedback is always great. I'll see you guys next time!