This is the final chapter of this story. Thanks for reading, liking, and reviewing!
Pyrrha couldn't sit still. It was late, past midnight, but she had no intention of sleeping anytime soon. Instead she sat staring into the fire that flickered at the center of the clearing, anxiously fingering the spot between her collarbones, the spot where Cinder's arrow had pierced her exposed skin.
It had been a year since then. She had been gone a whole year. So much had happened, so much had changed. She was only just beginning to grasp it all. She had spent the past several hours sorting through everything Jaune had told her and trying to make it make sense.
The White Fang had taken over Vale, and were already moving into Atlas and Vacuo. The only thing that stood between Adam's forces and the rest of Remnant were an underground group of rebels that Ruby believed she could contact from Haven. Blake was gone. Yang was hurt. Everything had fallen apart and Pyrrha had missed all of it.
Everyone had asked her what she remembered about it, about dying. And the honest answer was nothing. She remembered Ruby and the other girl-Aven, her name was Aven- warning her. She remembered her fight with Cinder, clinging to hope that she would make it out and then the moment she realized she wouldn't. Then-
Nothing. No blinding light, or Heaven or Hell. Nothing that gave her a clue as to why she was sitting here, by this fire, instead of ashes in the wind. She supposed it was some kind of miracle, something she should just accept and be glad of. But instead it scared her.
"Hey." Jaune appeared suddenly, making Pyrrha jump in surprise, reaching for a weapon that she didn't posses. "Sorry. You looked like you could use some company."
Jaune had grown up in the past year. His hair was longer, and he was least a few inches taller than he had been back then.
"It's okay. I'm just a little on edge at the moment." Pyrrha shifted over so that Jaune could sit down beside her.
"That's...understandable."Jaune stared at the ground, not looking at her.
An awkward, tense silence fell.
"Pyrrha-"
"Jaune, I-" They both began to speak at the same time.
"Go ahead."
"No, you-"
Their eyes met and Pyrrha laughed despite herself. "Okay. I'll go. Jaune, I owe you an apology."
Jaune frowned. 'What for?"
"For everything. For leaving you behind-I know you must have felt as if I betrayed you. And… for how I left things." For kissing you and then leaving you alone.
Jaune shrugged. "We can deal with that later. That is, if you want to. Whenever you're ready. And as for betraying me… I was angry about that for a long time. At you, at myself, but I understand. You were putting your team first. I know how important that is." Pyrrha smiled, full of relief. Jaune didn't hate her. There was something she hadn't ruined. Jaune smiled back. "I just wanted to see how you were doing. Are you okay?"
How could I possibly be okay? Pyrrha held back the bitter words, reminding herself that Jaune wasn't to blame for any of this. If anyone was at fault here, it was her. "I'm...adjusting. Everything has changed and I still don't understand it all." Then she shook her head and forced a smile. "But don't worry about me. I will be fine."
Jaune set his hand on her shoulder. "You sure about that? I mean… everything that happened with Cinder must have been traumatic. And coming back like you did… it's okay if you're not fine Pyrrha. You're allowed to be scared and confused. I know I would be."
He really has grown up, Pyrrha thought to herself. He was acting like a true leader, wise beyond his years. He somehow knew how to say exactly what she needed to hear. She leaned into his shoulder."Thank you, Jaune."
"Hey, any time. Do you want me to leave so you can sleep?"
Pyrrha shook her head. Sleep still seemed too close to the dark nothingness that she had been trapped in for the past year.
So Pyrrha and Jaune sat by the fire together together, remembering how things used to be.
I wish we could go back. I wish none of this had happened.
But being with Jaune again gave her hope. Hope that maybe one day they could fix what was broken, and that her true end would be a happy one.
END
