Author's notes:Hey there boys and girls, Vex here with the next chapter of Pyrrha And The Idiot!
Okay... this is by far the longest chapter I've written for this story so far... Sorry guys! *Laughs* Hopefully it turned out well and isn't just a bunch of rambling.
So, this is the first of three/four chapters that will cover the events of the Vytal Festival and I've gotta say, I think it's shaping up to be quite interesting. I would talk longer here but I think you guys have got enough stuff ahead of you so I'll leave you to get on with it.
I had a lot of fun writing this chapter and I hope you find just as much enjoyment reading it!
- Vex out!
Pyrrah and the Idiot – Mission Four: Preliminaries
Pyrrha tossed her shield Akoúo with all her strength at the target, similar to how one would a discus. It clattered off of Jaune's shield, the force causing him to stumble. His defence broken, Pyrrha dashed forward, catching Akoúo as it fell through the air, and aimed to finish off her opponent with an overhead slash of her blade.
Not to go down so easily, Jaune raised his sword, Crocea Mors, at the last second. The two blades clanged together, neither one giving an inch. Pyrrha thrusted her shield into his abdomen, winding him, before hooking a foot behind his ankle and pulling, causing him to fall to the floor. Transforming, the barrel of Miló's carbine form now stared the defenceless blonde in the face, waiting for the order from its mistress to strike.
A few weeks ago, Jaune would have just given up at this point, but now he swung a leg at Pyrrha's feet, knocking her off-balance and took the chance to get back to his feet.
Again, they faced off on the roof of the dormitories, the light of the waning evening sun their only spectator.
This time it was Jaune who moved first, keeping his body low to the ground as instructed. Both sword and shield were prepared to block any attack from the front and then instantly retaliate, which pleases her greatly. He was learning. Pyrrha dropped her armaments and, as soon as he was close enough, flipped over him. With his back to her, it was easy to catch him in one of the holds she had learnt over the years. Applying force, she forced him to his knees and dropping his arms. She leaned in to his ear, whispered, ''Good work, Jaune,'' and released.
He collapsed onto the floor, panting as the sweat dripped off his brow, as he did after every spar they had. If she had to be honest, Pyrrha would say that these sessions were the part of the day she looked forward to the most. Seeing the incredible effort and commitment Jaune had towards getting stronger was inspiring. In the few weeks they had started this daily ritual, Juane's physical abilities had shown a vast improvement; not yet at the stage where she would like him to be, but it was definitely better than before.
''Keep it up and you might not need me before too long,'' she said, tossing him a bottle of water.
He took several deep gulps. ''This is all thanks to you, Pyrrha.''
She smiled. ''Nonsense, you're the one doing all the work here. You should take more pride in your abilities.''
While it was true she was pleased with his progress, there was one aspect that had her troubled. His Aura. No matter what they did, he just didn't seem to be able to produce that exceptional power that she knew he was capable of. Because of this, they were unable to make and headway into his Semblance – or even identify it for that matter.
Semblance – the manifestation of one's Aura – was an integral part to any Hunter's fighting style. It could be the very defining feature upon which everything else orbits. Thus, not even knowing what his Semblance was presented a very big problem indeed.
But they had time. Time that she would use to help him reach his dream.
''So, do you think I'll be ready?''
She hummed in thought. ''I think you'll do just fine if we continue as we are. Just don't go in expecting to win, that's not going to happen.''
''I know that. If anyone's going to win, it'll be you.'' The look in his eyes, fierce and honest, made her feel warm inside. Pyrrha turned as the warmth spread up to her cheeks.
''I-I'm going to go shower,'' she said, stepping away, adding over her shoulder, ''I'll do my best not to disappoint.''
''Damn right you won't.'' The hot water trickled down her body as It addressed her. ''It'll mean our head if you don't.''
''Stop overreacting, you'll give yourself a migraine.''
''Say what you want, just don't forget the mission.''
She certainly wouldn't. That little line of text she had received a few days ago from headquarters.
Continue observations. Win the Vytal Festival Tournament. For Sanctum and the glory of Mistral.
Her days were dedicated to preparing herself for the upcoming mission, while still keeping up with schoolwork and training Jaune. With such a hectic schedule, the preliminary tournament that would decide which four students would form Team Beacon and represent Vale against the three other kingdoms: Atlas, Vecchia and, of course, Mistral. To decide these representatives, every student who applied was put into one of four groups which would compete in a mini-tournament comprised of one-on-one match ups. The prize for winning their grouping was a place on the final team.
Although inefficient in comparison to Mistral, who simply selected individuals to compete like they had for the last Vytal festival held five years ago, the buzzing atmosphere among the student body in the days up to the preliminaries was infectious. A more positive collection of people you couldn't find anywhere. In the festivities, it was clear who were the favourites to win; a surprising number of first year names had cropped up among this list.
Pyrrha was pleasantly surprised at how far Jaune had made it in Group B, reaching the quarter finals thanks to a mixture of the harsh training she had been putting him through and just a pinch of luck. His luck had run its course from the looks of his next opponent.
Cracking her knuckles, Yang grinned at her next victim. ''Sorry, I'll make this quick, Vomit Boy.''
The match seemed like more of a violent game of cat and mouse and it wasn't long until the bell rang, proclaiming Yang the victor. Regardless, Pyrrha was proud that Jaune faced the challenge, rather than just forfeiting. It spoke volumes as to how much he had changed.
Pyrrha gave him a pat on the arm and praised his effort. ''Oi, Pyrrha!'' Her head turned to the arena. The assembly hall in which combat lessons were usually held had been commandeered to hold these matches, the stands packed students. Yang stood with a fist held out to the red head, her trademark grin presenting an unspoken challenge. The students whooped and cheered at the gesture, lapping up the drama like starving animals.
After giving Cardin a brutal beat down that she had no doubt wanted to bequeath him for some time, Yang's name was added to the roster, right next to Pyrrha's, who had already emerged as victor of Group A.
Group C proceeded as smoothly as the previous two, until it came to the second semi-final match up.
Weiss adjusted the position of one of her feet by a fraction, rapier held still in her hand. Ruby was crouched, a wild cat ready to pounce. The partners stared each other down. The hall was still - soundless in anticipation. Then they heard it. It came from out of nowhere. A maniacal cry. A loud crash announced the intruder's arrival to centre stage.
''NORA!''
The girl had leapt onto the arena, her hammer pounding the ground between the two combatants. Ruby stumbled to the floor at the shock. Weiss' placed her free hand on her hip with a look of fury on her face. ''What is the meaning of this?''
''You guys are taking wayyyyy too long! I'll just take you both on!'' The carefree epitome of hyper hopped between feet, Magnhild rearing to strike.
The audience roared with delight at the sudden turn of events, chanting ''Fight, fight, fight!'' Leave it to Nora to shake things up a bit. Silence fell when the proctor, one Professor Port, raised his hand.
He cleared his throat. ''Miss Valkyrie, you've got moxie! I like that. I will allow this match, provided the two of you have no complaints, of course?'' He directed this to Ruby and Weiss. They shared a look: Weiss cocked an eyebrow and Ruby smirked in response.
''Very well, we'll be glad to teach her some manners.''
Port boomed with laughter. ''That's what I like to hear!'' He turned back to Nora. ''If you win, your place on Team Beacon is assured. Should your opponents win however, they will go on to the finals and battle for the place, understood?''
''Loud and clear, Teach!'' she said, giving a joyous salute.
''And, should either of your Auras fall into the red, you will lose the match, understood?''
The electronic board above the arena that had shown an image of Ruby and Weiss with their respective Aura levels was wiped and replaced with a large picture of Nora on one side with the previous two on the other. In tournament style matches, the fight was over when one person's Aura gauge fell into the red, signifying that the protective properties are about to wear out. This was a rule put in place to ensure the safety of competitors, a clear necessity given the importance of Huntsmen and Huntresses in a world besieged by Grimm.
Although unusual occurrences, the rules of a two on one match dictated that if one of the members on the tag team had their bar reduced to red, they would both lose.
The match began with Nora firing off several shots from her grenade launcher. Ruby took aim and picked them from the air mid-flight and they exploded into a cloud of pink. Using her glyphs, Weiss danced through the makeshift smokescreen but was surprised to see no Nora waiting on the other side. The sound of childish giggles came from above.
Forming another glyph directly below her, Weiss launched herself from the ground, Myrtenaster reaching for the spinning girl and her hammer. Time slowed and Weiss realized her mistake from the smirk on Nora's face.
''Smash!'' An explosion sounded and Nora jerked, suddenly spinning in the opposite direction with Magnhild's head aimed for Weiss. The hammer smashed into the heiress and she rocketed towards the ground.
Through the pink mist formed by the dissipating smoke Ruby appeared quick as a flash, arm held out. The two clasped hands and, with the momentum provided by Nora's last strike, flung Weiss back for a second try – this time supported by her partner who had enough visibility to provide covering fire.
The crowd was stunned by the flawless fluidity with which they fought given the hectic pacing of the fight. To Pyrrha, it felt less like watching Ruby and Weiss and more like Ren and Nora who had made their outstanding cohesion clear within days of the forming of JNPR. Speaking of Nora…
''And it's a home run!'' Nora cried, smacking Weiss down again, this time right into Ruby. The pair sat in a tangled mess of limbs as Nora set down, grin still plastered on her face. ''And you're out!''
The claxon sounded to announce Nora's perfect victory, having not lost a single sliver of her bar. It took her but a few hits to completely deplete Weiss' Aura, which Pyrrha suspected was partly down to her Aura being weaker than others given that it focuses on technique over sheer force, something Nora had to an overwhelming degree. 'That'll be something I have to watch out for,' Pyrrha thought, already formulating a plan to combat her team mate should the draw be unfavourable.
With the end of the preliminaries, Team Beacon stood in a line on the before the students. ''Though your time as a team will be short, I am sure you will do great things.'' Port had probably spent hours rehearsing his grand speech, but the meaning was still there. ''Pyrrha Nikos, Yang Xiao Long, Nora Valkyrie, Blake Belladonna. I wish the four of you the best of luck.''
That night the four girls were hailed as queens at the dormitory, everyone astounded at how four first years had won. Needless to say, nobody got very much sleep that night, although for Pyrrha, it was for a completely different reason.
As a celebrity, Pyrrha was plagued by requests to pose with people in pictures, something Ren found amusing and provided him a new way to tease – or just be a nuisance, at least by her standards. After the twelfth that night, she was rescued by a message from her scroll. Pyrrha smiled, hopeful that it was Jaune who had gotten lost in the hustle and bustle.
She couldn't have been more wrong.
Excusing herself from the party, Pyrrha crossed the campus alone and entered the central facility. She leaned against the wall of the elevator on her way to the top floor. The headmaster had sent for her. 'What could Ozpin want with me at this time of night?'
The name Octavius Ozpin was known the world over. Enigmatic, master Huntsman and learned scholar were just some of the ways she had heard him referred to. This would be her first time speaking to him face to face. She was nervous as she knocked on the door to his office; who wouldn't? She was about to meet a literal living legend.
''Enter.''
He stood with his back to her, gazing out of the window upon the school below. His school. On instinct, she clicked her heels together and held her hands behind her back, feeling just as she had that night she first received the order to come to Beacon.
''Pyrrha Nikos…'' He turned and looked her over with a grim expression, then smiled. ''I apologize for not meeting with you sooner.''
''I'm sorry, Sir? Meet with me?''
''Of course,'' he said. ''I had intended to have a talk with you sooner but the opportunity never presented itself. All things have a proper time it seems.''
''I'm sorry, I'm not quite sure I follow.''
Ozpin took a sip from his mug and gave her a quizzical look. ''Really? Well, given your record I felt the courtesy to meet you personally would be required. Top of your class in Sanctum, winner of the Mistral regional four years in a row and a cereal box character; it's quite the resume for a seventeen year old.''
''I just consider it to be good luck on my part.''
''Indeed.'' He turned back to the window and added a thoughtful hum before continuing. ''Join me, will you?'' Pyrrha stepped up to his side and for the first time got a close up look at the man: eyes full of purpose gazed out of the window, his spectacles reflected the emerald glow of the building - but only just. ''Take a look.'' The campus spread out below them and in the distance you could just make out the airship docks at Beacon Cliffs hanging over the ocean that stretched far into the horizon.
If she had to pick, she would take their rooftop any day, although this came in a close second.
''What do you think?''
''It's beautiful...'' Pyrrha muttered, pressing a hand against the glass and leaning forward as she tried to pick out the aforementioned rooftop. ''I'm truly glad I got te opportunity to come here.'' Even if it was under false pretenses...
Ozpin nodded and took another sip of his drink. ''I look out of this window once every day and once every night. It helps remind me of who I am - what I'm doing here.'' He placed the mug on his desk and picked up an envelope. ''It reminds me of my mistakes. It reminds me of the people who died due to my carelessness, people who might be alive today had I been even a little different all those years ago. But who could say? It's every mistake I've ever made that has molded me into the man I am today. The mistakes I make today will make me who I am tomorrow. This is true for all humans until the day we can finally rest...''
He sighed and sat behind his desk, gesturing for Pyrrha to take a seat. She did and he continued. ''I love this academy and all its students, regardless of where they come from. They are my obligation and my atonement, and I will do my best to serve them in place of those who cannot.''
Pyrrha was lost. She had no idea how to respond to the man. She understood his words. She understood the meaning of the words. But something inside her stirred - a tiny spark that had been smothered by years of training and discipline. Hope... or perhaps, freedom? Whatever it was called, this alien feeling scared her. ''I'm sorry, Sir, but I don't understand. Is there a point to this?''
His mouth produced a small smile as his eyes locked with hers over his spectacals. He saw her. Everything. ''Don't mind me, just the ruminations of a tired old man. Now, as for why I actually called you here...'' He handed the envelope to Pyrrha. Address information on the front, and on the back...
The seal of Sanctum.
Pyrrha tore open the letter and began to read:
Professor Octavius Ozpin,
An issue has been brought to our attention of which we feel the need to address.
In light of the upcoming Vytal Festival, we of Mistral's Sanctum Academy would like to make a formal request. We would like for you to grant a temporary leave of absence for Miss Pyrrha Nikos, and allow her to participate in the upcoming tournament as a member of Team Mistral.
We understand the suddenness of our request given the short period of tile left before the event, however as a citizen of Mistral, we feel that it would be appropriate for Miss Nikos to represent her home state-
The rest of the letter was a load of political jargon stating why she should not fight for Team Beacon. ''I see.'' That was all she could manage.
She looked up to see that Ozpin hadn't moved an inch, only that his smile was now gone.
''This is your decision. Whatever you decide, Beacon will support you and, should you choose to represent Mistral, you will be welcomed back with open arms.'' Pyrrha knew that the man had a deep understanding of the situation, even without him saying it. For all she knew, he knew everything that happened in every deep, dark nook and cranny in the world - maybe even about the Special Forces and the reason why she came in the first place. But he was giving her a choice: that was something she never got back home.
''Can I have some time to think about it?''
''Of course. I will need an answer by tomorrow though.''
''Thank you...''
Pyrrha stood and left, like a whisper in the storm.
Alone, Ozpin spoke. ''Did you hear that?''
''I heard every word.''
''You know what to do.''
''Understood.'' The shadow faded and Ozpin was left to finish his drink, and plan for the coming days.
Pyrrha spent the whole night simply wandering, letting her feet guide her to destination unknown. Except, in her heart, she knew her answer before she had left Ozpin's office. It was the only option for her.
On The Day Of The Tournament...
She sat in the dark locker room, a man pacing in front of her.
''You know the aim of this mission?''
''Yes, Sir. It has been explained to me.''
''Are you prepared?''
''Yes, Sir. I'm combat ready.''
Bonus: Penny For Your Thoughts (Team RWBY)
(Vex and Penny walk down the street. Vex is carrying a plastic bag in each hand, Penny is holding a shopping list)
Penny (checking the list): I believe we have everything we came for.
Vex: Well, that's good. And we've got a new table coming from Ikea so not a bad day's shopping if I do say so myself.
Penny (stops and places hands on hips in triumphant pose): Another completed mission for Penny and Vex!
Vex (not looking back): Yeah, yeah, just keep walking, airhead. (They continue walking but stop at the corner) Wait a sec! (Vex peers around the corner) Okay, we're good.
Penny: I don't understand, you've been doing that all day since we left the apartment. Why are you doing that?
Vex: I'm making sure we don't run into Yang.
Penny (tilts head): But why?
Vex: Penny, did you see that story I put out this week? If she catches me after what I wrote in that ending, she'll murder me!
Penny: Murder you? But why? The story wasn't that appalling.
Vex (eye twitches): Penny... you... (Sighs at her blank reaction) Someone's gotta give you the Birds and the Bees talk sometime. (Turns away and slowly walks, deep in thought.)
?: Gahh! Penny, where did you come from?!
Vex (stops and eyes widen at the voice.): Oh god, that girl's going to get me killed... (Looks back and sees Penny standing with Ruby and Weiss) Or maybe not. Guess today's my lucky day.
Penny: Vex, it appears Yang is indeed looking to kill you in a variety of 'extremely painful and violent ways' as Ruby just said.
Vex: Yeah, can you try and not be so cheerful when you say that. Doesn't really fit the mood.
Weiss: It's you're own fault.
Ruby: You did go a bit far at the end there.
Weiss: What on earth were you thinking?!
Vex: Hey, like I said, it just came out that way, I didn't plan it like that. Now I'm constantly checking to make sure I don't run into her!
?: Well, well, look who I just found! (Vex turns slowly to see Blake standing next to an extremely pissed off Yang, cracking her knuckles with Ember Cecelia ready and loaded.)
Vex (holding out arms in a calming manner):Now, Yang. Just calm down. Deep breaths-
Yang: Calm down? Deep breaths?! You wrote me as some creepy fangirl. A creepy, perverted fangirl!
Vex: BLAKE, SAVE ME!
Blake (looks between the two for a few seconds. Turns to Yang): He's all yours. (Yang yells and charges, grabbing a screaming Vex by the throat and running off with him. Blake takes a picture of this) That's one for the scrapbook.
(Awkward atmosphere as the three girls are left alone with Penny, nobody speaking. Penny reaches into her pocket and pulls out a card)
Penny: Have you ever used Yang's Burning Aura to heat yourselves/something up?
Ruby: Back at Signal we would always have movie nights where Yang would use her Aura to make the popcorn for us. Besides that, when I was little I would get cold easily, so she would give me hugs to warm me up, although that was before she had Aura training so it doesn't really count. Weiss?
Weiss (scoffs): Oh please. Like I would do something as inappropriate as use a team mate's Aura for personal needs. I could understand in your case as you are sisters but not for me. What about you Blake?
Blake (blushing with a small smile on her face): You don't want to know... (Ruby and Weiss widen their eyes at the implication while Penny just smiles, not understanding)
Penny: All right! Thanks you three! (They leave) If you have any questions that you would like to have answered by the cast of RWBY, send them in by PM or leave it in the reviews. Any and all questions are welcome, so don't feel shy! Until next time, I wish you all a very good night!
Next time, Mission Five: The Vytal Tournament