So I'm writing this literally right after the completion of the previous chapter lol. So we just hit like 2.3k views and that's actually awesome, can't thank you guys enough. If you guys have any questions feel free to ask, I'll reply as soon as possible. Enjoy the chapter.
Oh and I just found out the story has another favourite! Thanks to Xireana Prime, for the fav. I enjoy writing, I find it incredibly fun, and that's why I do it. But this actually gave me the motivation to finish this chapter after an incredibly taxing day of Paintball and studying.
"Is it alright if we don't tell the others about this?" asked Cassie as Ruby pushed her towards the cafeteria.
"You trusted me, so it's only fair if I respect your wishes. This is something you can tell them when you're ready. I know it must have been painful telling me. You deserve a whole lot better Cassie. I, still feel bad that you got hurt. I know it's not my fault, but I can't help but feel for you. Yang went through the same thing, but I left her. I didn't even try to help, but that's not happening this time," said Ruby.
"Thanks Ruby. You're doing everything you can right now anyways. It's nice actually having a person to talk to. As you can tell, I don't really trust the soldiers back at Atlas, and Winter's the only one that I'm okay with talking to. Ironwood may have sponsored my arm, but I don't trust him. Don't get me wrong I'm grateful for it, but I don't trust his judgement," said Cassie.
"Smart kiddo," said Qrow who walked up beside them, "Jimmy's an alright guy, but he's to bullheaded and you're right to not trust his judgement based off of decisions he's made about you alone. He's quick to act. That can be both a good thing and a bad thing, and in everyone of your cases, a bad thing. Good to see you, though kiddo."
"Ruby, you take good care of her okay, I gotta head out for a couple days," said Qrow before leaving the duo on their way.
After a couple minutes they arrived at the table where Jaune, Yang, Wiess, Nora and Ren were all sitting. Almost like times back in Beacon.
"Hey guys," greeted Ruby.
"'Sup," greeted Cassie.
"Morning girls," replied Yang and Ren
"Good Morning," replied Wiess.
"Hiya," replied Nora.
"Hey," replied Jaune.
"Feeling any better Cass?" asked Yang.
"Yeah, actually I'm gonna do some physio later, hopefully I'll be able to walk with crutches by the end of the week," said Cassie.
"And I'm gonna be there to make sure she does it," said Ruby.
"You're really taking this caretaker role seriously aren't you Rubes?" asked Yang.
"Yup," replied Ruby.
"Cassandra, the reasoning behind your condition is due to disconnect of your soul correct?" asked Ren.
"Yeah that's right," responded Cassie.
"I would also suggest meditation to try and connect with your soul alongside your physio," he said.
"That seems like a good idea, thanks Ren," said Cassie.
"Ren always has the best ideas," said Nora.
"Something to keep in mind, thanks Nora," responded Cassie.
"Hey Cassie, I'm gonna grab you some food, want anything in particular?" asked Ruby.
"Pancakes, and bacon please," said Cassie, and Ruby went.
"I like you even more," said Nora.
"Cassie, what's gotcha in good spirits today?" asked Yang.
"I guess Ruby's rubbing off on me," said Cassie.
"Her happiness is contagious," said Yang.
"So, Wiess. If you don't mind me asking, how did you get to Mistral, I don't think your father would've let you willingly?" asked Cassie
"I snuck out in a cargo airship," responded Wiess.
"Same way I did," said Cassie, "Hey Jaune, what's up, I know you don't like me very much, but can we at least engage in some small talk?"
"It's not that, look can we talk about this later," said Jaune.
"If that's what you want," said Cassie.
No one else knew what Jaune knew. He could've prevented all of this. Pyrrha wouldn't be in her current depressed state, and Cassie wouldn't have been injured. All because he froze. He could've done something, but he didn't. He proved himself to be ta coward once again. Last time he had the chance to save Pyrrha, at least he knew she was alive. He basically crippled someone he just met because of his inaction, yet she wondered if he disliked her. He had to go talk to Pyrrha, she might be able to help him.
"Winter! Open up, I need to speak to Pyrrha!" shouted Jaune outside the outpost.
"You don't realize how lucky you are Mr Arc. We've just deemed her fit for Human contact, and the fact that she asked for you reinforced my decision to let you in. Go now Mr Arc, I hope I have made the right decision," said Winter opening the door. She stepped out of the way and he followed her to where they were holding Pyrrha. She was in a room that had all of the necessities needed. A separate washroom, a bed, even a computer. It looked relatively comfortable, except that Pyrrha was not deemed fit for discharge, but visitors were allowed.
"I'll leave you two alone," said Winter, leaving the room.
"Pyrrha, I'm so, so sorry, this is all my fault," cried Jaune, "If-"
"Jaune stop. I did this, all of this. It was my decision to go up to the tower. Mine and mine alone. I knew I wasn't strong enough to defeat Cinder, but I had to try and be the hero that Remnant needed," stated Pyrrha.
"Pyrrha wait," said Jaune.
"I'm sorry Jaune, I don't know how you felt what happened in beacon, but I'm sorry for that, whatever pain you and everyone else went through, was caused by me. I didn't think about how you would feel or how anyone else would feel. I'm not the Invincible Girl that everyone thought I was, and I learned that the hard way," said Pyrrha.
"The Pyrrha I know would never let something keep her down, what's gotten into you?" questioned Jaune.
"You try it Jaune, I was forced to watch as my body lay waste to village after village. At least I never had to kill someone, not until the girl who sacrificed herself for Ruby. I should have been able to fight it, but that thing… It hurt so much Jaune, I was helpless and that girl had to pay with her life. If not her, the thing would have taken Ruby. It knew. It knew the girl would get in the way, so it killed her. It would not have thrown the sword at Ruby if it had no known Jaune, they want Ruby for her eyes. I don't know why but they do. And now I'm a murderer Jaune. I killed someone, a human being,"
"Pyrrha, Cassandra, the girl, she's not dead. She almost was though, but she fought hard and pulled through, look-," said Jaune before he was interrupted by said girl.
"Damn right I'm not dead, it'll take a lot more than that to kill me," said Cassie being wheeled over by Ruby.
"Pyrrha! You're okay!" exclaimed Ruby.
"Stay back! Don't come any closer, I'm dangerous," said Pyrrha.
"If you were dangerous the doctors wouldn't have let us see you, especially me or Ruby for that matter," said Cassie.
"You're really alive," said Pyrrha incredulously.
"Yup," said Cassie, "Thanks to a little rose putting me in stasis, I lived."
"But you saved me first," responded Ruby.
"True, true," said Cassie, "Now Pyrrha, I've come here to tell you one thing, and that is-,"
"That you hate me for what I did to you, that I shouldn't be alive right now?" asked Pyrrha.
"What the actual FUCK has gotten into you're head! I don't blame you in the slightest for what happened. It wasn't you in control, that was fairly obvious," said Cassie.
"But I should have been able to fight it, that shouldn't have happened in the first place," replied Pyrrha.
"Water under the bridge. If it makes you feel any better, I forgive you, even though there's nothing for you to apologize for," said Cassie.
"But you're so hurt because of me,"
"But I'm gonna get better, thanks to everyone here, they're not gonna let me sit around and mope, so that's good," said Cassie.
"How can you even stand to talk to me though?" asked Pyrrha.
"You're not a bad person, and I don't really hold grudges," responded Cassie.
"How is she okay with this Ruby?" asked Pyrrha.
"She's been through a lot and she's a total badass," said Ruby.
"Thanks. Look, Pyrrha, don't beat yourself up about this. It was out of your control and you feel bad about it, but I see no reason to. If I did die, it would've been terrible, but I didn't. I'm here now and that's all that matters. You're no murderer," said Cassie.
"Guys, I know this isn't the best time, but now you're all here, and I need to get this off my chest," interjected Jaune.
"Is this what you wanted to talk to me about?" asked Cassie.
"Yes," responded Jaune, "You know how you were the first one to react when that sword was thrown right?"
"Yeah," said Cassie.
"It should have been me there to stop it. You had no way to defend yourself, yet you charged straight in knowing the consequences. I had more time to react than you, but I froze. I could've blocked it with my shield with very few consequences, but I couldn't do it. I couldn't step up when I was needed. Cassie, Ruby, Pyrrha, again me and my cowardice caused so much pain for all of you. I understand if you wish to not have me around, I just wanted to talk to Pyrrha one last time," said Jaune.
"Jaune, we can't blame you for that. You weren't bred to be a warrior, you were never taught about necessary sacrifices that we as warriors had to take. I was trained to defend the defenseless, so I did. My mentor instilled in me when he first took me in. It's a scary thing, staring death in the face. Believe me, it is. So far only two of us have truly stared death in the eyes and lived to tell the tale, that being me and Pyrrha over there. You weren't ready, and I at least don't blame you," responded Cassie.
"She's right Jaune. You only wanted to become a hunter because of your heritage. You didn't go to a combat school. Even though I didn't get to finish my time in Signal, I knew what had to be done when it had to be," responded Ruby.
"Jaune, I can't possible blame you for any of this, I would never wish for you to leave. If you feel like you need to make it up to us, the only way you can is to train and become stronger, and learn what we had to," said Pyrrha.
"I get it, you feel bad because you could have done something. Thing is, could haves don't really matter, as long as you make sure they won't happen again. No offence, but none of us really expected you to be ready to make such a big sacrifice, the fact that you fought that Ancient Grimm is good enough in my books Jaune. Don't beat yourself up, okay?" said Cassie.
"How can you be so accepting? You almost died, and its like you don't care," said Jaune.
"Well, my life means just as much as anyone else's, the difference being I care less about self-preservation. As long as the others around me are alright, then that's good enough for me," responded Cassie.
"For a seventeen-year-old, you're pretty selfless," said Jaune
"Correction, I'm fifteen," interjected Cassie.
"Your fifteen?" asked Jaune and Pyrrha.
"Yup, Ruby's actually older than me," she stated.
"You're kidding," said Jaune.
"Nope, although my I turn sixteen next month," responded Cassie.
"So Ruby's like, what five months older than you?" asked Jaune.
"Yup," responded Cassie.
"That means I'm not the only young one here," said Ruby.
"We're only two years younger," said Cassie.
"If you don't mind me asking, what did you do before coming to Mistral?" asked Pyrrha.
"Atlas specialist. It's not fun, but it pays well, and I get more because of my… situation," said Cassie.
"What do you mean?" asked Pyrrha.
"For one, my so called brothers-in-arms, they treat me like shit because of my age, Winter's unit are the only people I get on with. Ironwood may seem like a great general, but he's really stupid sometimes, and I don't agree with the standard protocol, so I never follow it, honestly I don't know why he keeps me around," responded Cassie.
"Then why do you stay, I mean, I'm not one to talk, but why?" asked Pyrrha.
"Well, I have nothing better to do, I need the funding in order to keep my arm, and I don't really have anyone to care for. I have a house to go back to, not a home," said Cassie.
"Wouldn't your parents wish to have you back?" asked Pyrrha.
"Right, only Ruby knows this. See, I don't have parents, or none that I know of," responded Cassie.
"Oh, I'm sorry… I didn't know,"
"It's fine Pyrrha, how could you have known," reassured Cassie.
"Hey Cass, I know you've forgiven me and all, but I also need to apologise for how I treated you when we first met. I was a real dick, Hell I even asked you to take off your arm, and you did. Then I proceeded to treat you like crap because of my stupidity," said Jaune.
"You didn't do anything except try to keep your group safe, and I could be perceived as a liability, a threat. You did what you thought was best, no need to apologise," responded Cassie.
"You are literally the most forgiving person ever, you know that right?" asked Jaune.
"Well if that's that, I need to get to physio so you two love birds can talk in peace," said Cassie.
"You know?!" exclaimed Jaune and Pyrrha.
"Well Ruby said something about a kiss between you two so I only assumed. Your reactions are my proof," stated Cassie.
"At least you're okay Pyrrha. I'm sorry I wasn't able to save you back at the tower, I should have been faster," said Ruby.
"Heed Cassandra's advice Ruby, could haves don't matter if you know they won't happen again," said Pyrrha.
"Thanks Pyrrha. Now Ruby can you take me over to the infirmary?" asked Cassie.
"Sure thing," said Ruby wheeling Cassie out of the room towards Haven academy.
Thanks to everyone who's made it this far, expect a tenth chapter special in the near future
-Peace Myrillis