Chapter Nine: Introductions
You have performed an action that goes above and beyond expectations! You have been granted Inspiration!
Pyrrha stared at the notification. What in Remnant's name is 'Inspiration?' I've never heard it before. I don't think I even saw it in the tutorial. Though I could always double chec- Her train of thought was interrupted by a red blur.
"THAT WAS SO COOL!"
Pyrrha couldn't help but smile at her partner's enthusiasm. "It was quite grand" she admitted.
xXx
After leaving the fading corpse of the Nevermore, they had continued their trek to the abandoned temple, now with Jaune and Blake joining them. Pyrrha had been attempting to figure out what this 'inspiration' was. Checking the tutorial page, which had a glossary of terms, provided a definition; 'Allows you to change the results of an action or skill check'. That could mean anything! This is the only thing in the entirety of this whole semblance other than polarity which implies that I can actively change something with it! Yet it doesn't explain the specifics of it! Why?! How come this hasn't appeared before? I'm sure I've done some pretty amazing stuff before, like winning all those Mistral championships, was that not 'Above and beyond expectations'?!
"I think I see the temple." Blake's voice pulled Pyrrha out of her thoughts.
Pyrrha looked at where Blake had been staring, before squinting. "I can sort of see something that is grey…?"
"Well let's get going then!" Ruby grabbed Pyrrha and started running towards it, while Blake and Jaune ran behind them, struggling to keep up with pair.
As they got closer to what Pyrrha had to assume to be the temple, Pyrrha could make out two figures standing in it. As they became more recognizable Pyrrha was able to pick out features; one was a rather… curvaceous girl, with a long yellow mane, sporting a rather... flattering outfit. The other was a guy with a black hair, and a green tailcoat. I think that's Ren? Did he not get partnered with Nora? Oh n-
"YANG!" Ruby screeched as she disappeared in a trail of roses leaving Pyrrha, giving up her hold on Pyrrha. Pyrrha caught herself from landing face first in the ground as Blake and Jaune caught up to her. The girl's, Yang, head locked onto the approaching red figure.
"RUBY!" Grabbing Ruby in mid stride, into what looked to be a bone crushing hug, the blond girl spun around with Ruby enclosed in her arms. Ruby must be popular, she seems to know everyone. As Pyrrha got closer she could make out the stat blocks above their heads.
Yang Xiao Long
Dragon
Level 8 Pyromancer Brawler
000
Lie Ren
The Twice-Blooming Lotus
Level 8 Ulak Master
So it is Ren. I'm not seeing anyone else, so he must not have been partnered with Nora, but with…Yang. Nora must be devastated… Pyrrha felt bad for the pair. Nora seemed dead set on being partnered with Ren at breakfast. On that note, I wonder whose Nora's partner IS. Catching up to her partner, she could hear Ruby talk excitedly to Yang.
"-I thought I had failed and was going to get kicked out of Beacon and I was really really worried because I woke up and there was this pretty girl asking me weird questions," Ruby blushed but didn't stop as she continued, her excitement clearly over powering any embarrassment, " -but then she told me we were partners, and then we fought some beowolves, and I killed thirty of them and it was awesome!" Pyrrha swore Ruby would have kept on going had she not needed to breathe,"- and then I got to hold Miló and that was really COOL! Jaune showed up and saved Blake and we fought a Nevermore and we cut out its heart!" Ruby stopped, clearly out of breath. Yang took it as her cue to greet the others.
"Vomit boy! You made it here in one piece!" Her focus went to Blake, "And you…Blake right? From last night? You got stuck with vomit boy?"
Blake raised an eyebrow, "If by vomit boy, you mean Jaune… then yes?"
"Careful when it comes to flying, he lives up to the name"
Blake gave a glance back at Jaune, who sheepishly rubbed the back of his head, before returning a gaze with a quirked eyebrow at Yang, "I'll keep that in mind".
"So who is your new friend sis?" Yang had released Ruby from the hug, and was staring at Pyrrha, with a mixture of curiosity and assessing. It almost feels as if she is… judging me? Weird.
Ruby looked at where Yang was staring, "Sisssss" she whined, "That's my partner, the one I was just telling you about…y'know, Pyrrha."
"Hello!" Pyrrha gave a polite quick wave to Yang.
Yang titled her head as she regarded Pyrrha, still studying her before a goofy looking grin appeared, "Well, Pyrrha, I'm Yang, Ruby's older sister!"
"Hello again Pyrrha" Ren quietly greeted her. Pyrrha smiled and gave a quick wave.
Yang wheeled around, with a mock shocked look on her face, "So you do talk! Here I was thinking that you were a mute or something…"
Ren turned to Yang, his face as stony as ever, "All you did was flirt after I told you my name."
The mock shock on Yang's face had turned into mock hurt…or perhaps it was real hurt, Pyrrha could not easily tell. "And here I thought you just didn't like me." Ren just stared at her, not saying anything. "Plus you weren't speaking; I was trying to get a reaction out of you." Ren kept staring at Yang, his expression the same. "What? Can't a girl flaunt what she's got?" Adding a bit of a hip sway to accent her… figure. Ren's expression did not change, his face unreadable at Yang's teasing. I can't even tell if he is amused or annoyed… this guy must be good at poker.
GRAWH!
Pyrrha pivoted towards the forest, drawing Miló and Akoúo̱, preparing to take on what was approaching.
Ursa
CR 4 Catasterismi
The Ursa flailed about before a…pink explosion appeared behind it - killing it. What?
"YEEEEE-HAAAAAW!"
Nora Valkyrie
Bringer of the Thunder
Level 7 Berserker
Somehow Pyrrha knew she shouldn't be surprised, yet she was as the Ursa toppled over, and Nora tumbled off it. Nora poked the Ursa's head with her foot. "Aww... it's broken" Yup, that's Nora.
"Did that girl just ride in on an Ursa?" Blake asked
"I-"
Weiss Schnee
The Frozen
Level 7 Heiress
"You dunce!" came the high pitch sound of a voice from behind Nora. Out emerged Weiss Schnee from the tree line, covered in dirt and twigs, looking incredibly frazzled. "One should not ride Grimm as if…as if they are some kind of animal meant for riding!" Nora wandered off towards the temple, Weiss had not even noticed her partner leaving, continued "These are not pure-breed horses, which have the best pedigree…" Weiss stopped as she realized that Nora was no longer in front of her.
"Oooo" Instead she was in the middle of the temple staring at Rook piece on one of the pedestals, before grabbing it, "I'm Queen of the Castle!~ I'm Queen of the Cast-"
"Nora?" Ren interrupted, a small grin forming on his usually blank face.
Nora's head swiveled at him, before an even goofier grin emerged on her face. "RENNNNNNNNNNNN!" Ren found himself tackled into a hug in which there was no return for mortal men. He was slowly suffocated by Nora's embrace as she started to tell of all of her adventures. I feel like I'm seeing déjà vu… Ruby just did the same thing.
Pyrrha felt a hand on her shoulder, turning around she came face to face with a serious looking Yang. "We need to talk," grabbing Pyrrha by the arm in a tight grip; Yang pulled her off to the side.
Uncertainty was clear on Pyrrha's face, "Sorry?" What could she want to talk about? We only just met.
"You are Ruby's partner." It wasn't a question, it was a statement.
I still have no idea what she wants to talk about, "That is correct, yes" Pyrrha nodded.
Yang kept up her gaze, it almost seems like she is… angry? "Are you going to protect my sister?"
"Buh-wha?"
Yang's previously lavender eyes turned blood red as she repeated herself, "Are you going to protect my little sister?!" Both her arms came up and gripped Pyrrha's shoulders, painfully tight, hot to the touch.
Ouch ouch ouch, what is wrong with her? Why are her hands so hot, it feels like I'm being scalded, "W-why wouldn't I p-protect her?" Pyrrha replied shakily, not expecting the question, nor the death stare she was receiving from the blond. Yang continued to stare at her with red eyes.
"Good answer, cereal box" releasing Pyrrha's shoulders, her eyes turning back into their previous lavender colour. Um… what? What just happened? What did she think I was going to do?
"You protect Ruby, and we won't have any issues... okay?" A cheerful expression gracing Yang's face, in deep contrast with what Pyrrha had just seen. With that Yang walked back to the group leaving a confused Pyrrha standing behind. Did… did she just threaten me BECAUSE I'm famous?
Composing herself Pyrrha rejoined the group. Ruby and Jaune were talking about something until Yang put Ruby in a headlock. Ren was gasping for air on the temple floor. Weiss was trying to inform Blake about how Jaune was a menace to females, even as Blake tried to edge away from her. The action log updated, causing Pyrrha to look down at it suddenly.
2 + 9 Perception Skill modifier + 3 WIS modifier = 14. Partial Failure! You have failed the DC 15 check but passed the DC 10 check!
Pyrrha realized that a sound she had almost turned into background noise had stopped. Why does something feel off-
"Pyrrha!" Pyrrha found herself pulled into a bone crushing hug by a bubbly Nora. The shorter girl had somehow gotten Pyrrha into a tight embrace, "I just found Ren and now I found you! Who's your partner? It's not that blond girl, 'cause I know that's Ren's partner, but she seems pretty fun! Not that I have talked to her, but I saw you and her talking, so she can't be that bad right? I got Weissy, and she is really cool but kinda stern, but she can shoot fire and ice and it's pretty cool, I mean not as cool as Ren! But we can't all be Ren! So who's your partner?!" Nora paused, with a look of curiosity, waiting for a response from Pyrrha.
Meanwhile, Pyrrha was attempting to breathe. It was hard due to the crushing deadman's hold that Nora called a hug. "Hard..to…breathe" Pyrrha managed to strangle out as her lungs were being crushed.
2 + 9 CON skilled modifier + 2 STR modifier = 13. Partial Failure! You have failed to beat the DC 15 Check but succeeded the DC 10 check!
"Oops! Sorry!" Nora released Pyrrha, who fell to her knees sucking in gulps of air. "I keep forgetting to not hug for that long! Ren says I shouldn't hug so hard, but no one ever seems to complain, I mean everyone loves hugs right? Ho-"
"Nora." Ren's quiet voice stopped her.
"Yes Ren?" Nora's large light blue eyes focused on him
Magenta eyes stared back before Ren responded , "Let Pyrrha talk."
"Oh. Okay!"
7 + 9 CON skilled modifier + 2 STR modifier = 18. Successful Constitution check! You have made the DC 15 check! You recover!
Pyrrha would have been stifling a laugh had she enough air in her lungs to laugh. Instead Pyrrha picked herself off the ground, "Its okay, my partner is Ruby" gesturing to the short red and black themed huntress-in-training. Nora squinted at her before skipping over to her.
Looking Ruby straight in the eyes, with a un-Nora like expression of seriousness "So."
"Y-yes?" The short huntress responded nervously, curiosity in her silver eyes as to what was happening.
Nora's withering gave continued "You're my good friend Pyrrha's partner?"
Ruby dipped head down slowly, "Yup".
"I have one question for you," Nora held up one finger in front of Ruby's face. "ONE QUESTION!" her voice had raised in volume; "Do you like pancakes?" she asked, staring at Ruby with an incredibly focus.
Ruby nodded vigorously, "C-chocolate chip pancakes with strawberries syrup are the best! Yang makes these really really good pancakes, but that's only on special occasions, like when I got accepted into Beacon!" Ruby's eyes glazed over at the memory and is that drool coming out of her mouth?
Nora slowly pulled herself away from Ruby before walking towards Pyrrha. Looking up at Pyrrha with a grin, "She is worthy", before skipping off to an exasperated Weiss. Well that was…a thing.
10 + 9 Perception Skill modifier + 3 WIS modifier = 21. Successful Perception check! You have beaten the DC 15 check!
2 + 4 Nature Skill modifier + 2 INT modifier= 8. Unsuccessful Nature skill check! You have failed to beat the DC 10 check!
Pyrrha stared at the action log as she started to feel rather…uncomfortable. As if it was suddenly too quiet.
"Is it just me or is it…too quiet?" The others looked around.
"Now that you mention it…"
"Its 'cause we killed all the Grimm, silly!" Nora
Weiss' eyebrow twitched, no her whole face twitched, "You killed all the Grimm with that-that….thing!" she frantically gestured to the grenade launcher on Nora's back, "Of course there are no sounds! Everything is dead!"
"But shouldn't we hear the birds then?" Everyone looked at Blake. She has a point….I could hear birds…signs of life until only a few minutes ago…why is the ground rumbling? The ground had started to shake, a few of the more loose stones in the temple started to fall over. A quest alert popped up. I wonder what this is about…
Quest Alert!
Quest: Survive Initiation
The most deadly part of your initiation is about to commence. Until it is complete the Initiation Quest Chain will not be able to progress. Survive it to earn your spot at Beacon!
Time Limit: Five hours.
Completion Reward: 3000 Experience, Continuation of the Beacon Quest Chain, Continuation of the Initiation Quest Chain.
Completion Failure: Ejection from Beacon, Death or Injury.
Pyrrha's eyes shot wide open at the completion reward. T-three thousand? The completion reward for the entire Initiation quest chain is four thousand, and we've earned all but the last three hundred! This is not going to be good! Not good!
"Is i-it an earthquake?" Jaune's voice broke Pyrrha out of her thoughts. We need to get cover, we need to prepare!
"We need to get cover!" Pyrrha yelled, the others looking at her in varying levels of confusion, "Now! I-"
BOOM
A pillar of black erupted from the ground, throwing chunks of the ground the size of cars outwards. Pyrrha scrambled out of the way of one of the chunks, as it smashed into the abandoned temple, flattening the half wall that still stood. The trainees scattered, as the temple ruins collapsed under the weight of several tons of ground crashing into it, the pedestals being thrown from the temple.
Barely dodging the spray of debris, Pyrrha looked up…and up, trying to see what this…tower was. At least it looked like a tower. It looked nearly twenty feet wide. Looking at it up close, she realized that it was…writhing, which meant it was living. Probably. On either side of this black massive tower were uncountable moving, protrusions… legs. It was the only word Pyrrha could think to describe them as. They were moving in almost sickening wave as a shadow descended over Pyrrha. Looking up she could see a giant maw, multiple mandibles opening up, bone white pincers lining the outer edge of them, dollops of a viscous green substance dripping off the points.
Shai-Hulud
Shaitan of Gara Kulon
CR 16 Alitta Virens
Omake V:
A pillar of black erupted from the ground, throwing chunks of the ground the size of cars outwards. Pyrrha scrambled out of the way of one of the chunks, as it smashed into the abandoned temple, flattening it the half wall that still stood. Barely dodging the spray of debris, Pyrrha looked up…and up trying to see what this…tower was.
Instantly she recognizes the only being capable of such a horrendous act.
"The Guardian, I should know it was YOU!" she shouted, shaking her fist at the black pillar.
Omake VI:
Stifling a laugh had Pyrrha enough air in her lungs to laugh, Pyrrha picked herself off the ground, "Its okay, my partner is Ruby" gesturing to the short red and black themed huntress-in-training.
xXx
Nora nodded slowly at Ruby before walking towards Pyrrha. Looking up at Pyrrha with a grin, "You have my blessing, I now pronounce you wife and wife, and you may kiss the bride!"
Pyrrha turned a deep scarlet mirroring her hair, as she feared to look at the wrathful anger that was Yang Xiao Long.
Beta: Super Saiyan Cyndaquil
AU: For the few who have guessed it, ITS BIG BOSS BATTLE TIME! I have one incredibly serious note to ask you to read if you read the next author's note.
Important: How should I do the Omakes? I ask this because I've been putting them at the end of the chapters, but I'm trying to figure out a better way to organize this…should I have the Omakes after the author's note? What do you, the reader, think?
Well the shit is just about to hit the fan, ARE YOU READY FOR THIS?!
On another note, I have to say I have the weirdest want to do an OT4 of Nora/Ren/Ruby/Pyrrha. Don't judge me.
Omake V is a reference to the Ultima series if anyone knows of it and THE GUARDIAN!
VOLUME 3 CONFIRMED, I CRIED TEARS OF JOY, NO JOKE!
Next time on Shadow of the Colos- I MEAN SKYROS: Pyrrha and the gang get to deal with the living conditions of Arrakis. Except in Remnant. In the Emerald Forest. With less sand… and lacking Muad'Dib.
