Shadows of Destiny
Rating: T
Series: RWBY
Main Pairing: Atsura/Pyrrha (War & Peace)
Volume 3: Winter
Volume Theme: "Smile"
Chpt. Theme:
Summary: He was an orphaned Faunus. She was considered the strongest of her class. He barely survived the slums of Mistral while she was placed on a pedestal on her way to Beacon. Neither of them expected to be compatible and yet, fate had other plans for them. With secrets and agendas awaiting them, the world of Remnant will have a force to reckon with.
The alternate timeline takes place just before the start of RWBY volume 1.
OCs for Team AZRE are as follows:
Atsura Otueome (xXCrownofChaosXx)
Roxanne Rouge Octane (ArnoldStroong)
Zaffre Grey (DarkDarsi)
Earna K. Athena (zetsunaflames)
I do not own the rights to RWBY... that honor belongs to Rooster Teeth. I do own the rights to my OCs.
Chapter 18: What Drives Us?
Crimson eyes slowly opened, a slow-burning ire aimed at the kneeling forms of her targets.
The unfortunate victims of her gaze each held their own form of negativity that kept their eyes glued to the floor. Mercury felt weighed down by humiliation for having failed in their mission. Hazel felt disappointment, yet his face remains solid as he was prepared to do whatever it took to spare the two children from Salem's wrath. Lastly, there was Emerald whose fear and shock held her down like chains.
Salem could practically taste their abrogating feeling(s) at this point, yet her face never broke from the unreadable expression. The only sign of her wrath was the piercing glare she directed at the unfortunate souls. Watts and Tyrian sat on either side of the meeting table, awaiting the inevitable tearing down. The latter's wicked grin was completely absent, as was Watts normally smug grin.
There was no time for pettiness in the face of serious matters.
"I would like you to explain to me how it is you failed so spectacularly."
Disheartened, Hazel Reinhart lifted his head, still refusing to meet the dark gaze of the pale woman.
"The Faunus militia split our forces-"
"Stop..." Salem exclaimed darkly, like a mother silencing her child. She pressed her hands together, feeling her irritability beginning to take hold of her composure. What little bit of courage the burly man had instantly waned as he sighed in submission under her matriarchal glower. "Let me rephrase the question. Who is responsible for your defeat?"
Hazel cut his eyes to both Mercury & Emerald, the latter looking like she would pass out at any moment. Despite his willingness to cut down anyone necessary, he was no monster. He knew the reason for their defeat but, given her association to the teens, he surmised to do the honorable thing.
"I take full responsibility..."
"But that wouldn't be fair now, would it?!" Salem erupted, effortlessly flipping the massive table over onto a whimpering Tyrian. Her eyes glowed with a steady rage as she started toward the three. Both of the younger members stood with horror while Hazel tried to maintain his cool. "We all know who's truly to blame!"
"I don't know what-"
Having enough of his pathetic attempts to cover for the culprit, Salem extended her hand toward him. Soon the ground began to glow beneath the hulking giant. She then twisted her palm upward, summoning many Grimm arms that reached out to grab Hazel. Clenching her fist, the tendrils overpowered him, smothering her face and silencing him for the time being.
As he grunted, fighting to breathe, Salem directed her attention to none other than Emerald. The shivering girl still wouldn't even look in the matriarch's direction. She could feel those hellish eyes blazing her soul as the woman's presence drew closer. Even with the outburst now subsided, the sheer demonic force of Salem made the girl wish that she'd been captured by police back at Haven.
"Emerald?" The felt her blood freeze under the eerie calm of Salem's tone. She wanted nothing more than to come up with an excuse to give, but her mind could only a blank. She stood there petrified as the Grimm Mistress approached her. The dynamic of dominance was more evident when Salem was only an inch or two away. "I want you to tell me whose fault this was... Now!"
"C-Cinder! We failed because of Cinder!" she confessed, feeling humiliated at her immediate admission.
"That's right," Salem placed a hand on the shaky girl's shoulder, literally feeling the essence of Emerald's fear radiating off of her. "I want you to understand that failure. I want you to understand why Cinder must be left to toil in her isolation until she redeems herself."
Those within the chamber exchanged looks aside from the fading Hazel. Mercury and Emerald looked to Salem with awe at the implication made.
"She's... alive?"
"You're joking! How could you possibly know that?" Watts interrupted.
"Are you questioning our divine savior?" Tyrian challenged.
"I-" The former Atlesian scientist stammered over his words before crossing gazes with the woman. He cleared his throat, hoping to save face. "Of course not. Forgive me..."
"It's important not to lose sight of what drives us. Love. Justice. Reverence. But, the moment you put your desires before my own, they will be lost to you," Finally, Salem flexed her hand, causing the shadows to relinquish their hold on Hazel. As he wasted little time intaking sweet oxygen into his lungs, Salem continued. "This isn't a threat; this is simply the truth. The path to your desires is only found through me."
A slightly disoriented Hazel staggered back to his feet, nodding. Tyrian looked on in wonder of Salem's sovereignty. Watts dusted his jacket off, standing tall once again as their leader faced them once again. She spared a moment to stare out as a few nevermore Grimm flew around before sighing to herself.
"...And so, we must press on..."
She proceeded to push forward with the next step of their plan; the sword of Vacuo that currently resided under Shade Academy.
"Ma'am. I have more to report."
Everyone turned to Hazel, picking up the blatant trepidation in his voice. Not one to be disrupted, Salem gave a silent warning in the form of the Grimm's hands appearing once more. The husky man trembled but didn't fold under the pressure. Her glare was more of caution than outright danger.
"Qrow and the children are taking the lamp to Atlas..."
Tyrian started chuckling. "Not if I can help it!"
"...and they're being led... by Ozpin."
The room fell silent. Nobody dared to even move as all eyes flashed between each other. A worried Watts tried to explain the heavy ramifications of the development, ignoring the obvious threat mere feet away. Mercury noticed however as the windows surrounding them began to crack. Little by little, the small cracks soon grew louder, pulling everyone's attention to a furious Salem.
No longer was her gaze locked on anyone but rather, she was in contemplation. Her blood boiled as she processed the news of her former lover and enemy having reincarnated so soon. This was not only unforeseen but also unacceptable. Unknown to the others, Salem felt nothing but animosity for whatever being sought to spite her with this. She was now shrouded by dark energy as her anger increased.
"Leave..."
Tyrian tried desperately to appease the one he considered his queen only to have his explanation shut down when she eyed him, daring him to proceed. Thankfully, the demented Faunus heeded the warning, shrinking away to the only exit provided. Watts followed suit with Hazel leading the youth out. Whatever was about to happen, he knew that they didn't deserve to feel her wrath on any level.
"Let's go."
As he huddled them out, the doors slowly closed behind them all, leaving Emerald to gaze deep into the bloody orbs of Salem. When the entrance sealed fully, she backed away just before hearing a blood-curdling screech. As she shuffled away, every fiber of her beginning to crumble when Hazel rested his hand on her shoulder.
"You don't want to stick around when she comes out..." he urged. Though his voice was gruff, there was obvious concern in his tone.
Emerald picked up on the subtly veiled caring nature, rushing into him. Shocked at the sudden outburst, Hazel didn't bother to pull her away. She sobbed quietly, every ounce of her repressed emotions pouring out as she clung to Hazel's robe. He looked around, seeing that the others were no longer around. Hazel then wrapped his large arms around the distressed Emerald.
When they separated, she wiped the tears from her face.
"Thank you..." she sniffed.
"Don't worry about it," Hazel turned to walk away. He stopped short to turned his gaze back to the girl, understanding, and sympathy shining for but a moment. "She's has a point, though..."
"What do you mean?"
"Salem said not to lose sight of what drives us. The question is: What drives you, Emerald?"
"That's easy. Without Cinder-"
"No," Hazel interrupted softly. "Before Cinder came into your life? What drove you to live this life? Who drives you to fight?"
Emerald paused, uncertain of what to say. Hazel didn't press the matter, leaving Emerald Sustrai to ponder his words. While she knew Cinder to be her saving grace, she did have a life, crappy as it may have been, before her. Now with Cinder in exile, Emerald was alone, just like before.
Sure, she had Mercury, but, Emerald could tell that the former assassin was feeling more and more at home. Watts always seemed to rub her the wrong way with his arrogant nature. Tyrian? She shook off that thought; no amount of loneliness was worth being isolated with that monster. Hazel was really the only person to treat her with respect without fear being added to the mix.
He was like that big brother figure she never had; that realization wracked her mind as she walked away sticking close to Hazel.
Amber eyes fluttered open slowly as a soft groan escaped. Cinder looked around, seeing that she was no longer in her hotel room. Closer inspection revealed that she was no longer in Mistral but back in Vale. In front of her was an injured Pyrrha Nikos struggling to even kneel. She had her bow and arrow aimed at the wounded warrior yet, she couldn't fathom why she was reliving this moment.
"Do you believe in destiny?" the girl glared at her weakly.
"Yes..."
Cinder recalled those words and what would come next. Blinking, she saw the form of the Faunus boy who nearly killed her. Those burning crimson eyes peering into her soul reminded her of the sheer terror that gripped her very soul. The crazed look of delight reminded her of that monster, Tyrian as she struggled to defend herself. His shrill laughter froze her heart, giving the demon an opening to swat her down.
Moving in to kill her, Cinder could do nothing other than lifting her arm in a futile attempt to block the finishing blow.
However, the woman felt nothing but a cool breeze surround her, forcing her to open her eyes. This time, only her right eye would provide vision as she found herself falling. She then remembered this moment; losing to Raven Branwen after being tricked into believing that Vernal was the spring maiden. A lengthy battle ensued but, all that mattered was one thing.
She lost.
Darkness once again enveloped her. She felt weightless as her body became swallowed in the abyss. No matter what side Cinder looked in, there was nothing visible other than herself. Surprisingly, the void felt serene, lulling the scarred woman into a state she hadn't felt in so long.
Where am I?
"Mommy!" a child-like voice shattered Cinder's reflection. "Mommy! Help me!"
"Get that abomination out of here!"
Eyes shot open, exposing the root of the break. Cinder could once again see through both eyes clearly but, she cursed her ability to do so when she noticed the scene before her. Amber could make out the sounds of two people arguing from behind a door.
"She's our daughter! You can't just pretend that she doesn't exist!"
"I can if it means the protection and growth of this empire!" She heard a pompous voice remark. "Ever since she was born, you've done nothing but leech off of me for more money."
"It's called hush money; an agreement we came to in exchange for my silence about your 'personal exploits'. You're lucky I don't go to the Mantle Gazette about this!"
"You wouldn't!" the man's tone held a thinly veiled warning.
"One call is all it'll take." Cinder heard her mother's confident tone. "All I'm asking is for the money to send her to Atlas Academy."
Cinder sat on a bench outside of the room, staring at the ground. She learned about the truth of things early on. She was unplanned, the by-product of an affair between her poverty-stricken mother and some nobleman she'd never had the chance to meet in person. This was the first time she'd actually been even remotely close to even hear his voice.
Sitting in a dingy scarlet dress, the teenage Cinder gripped the dirty material as the argument continued. She'd peer down either side of the long corridor, grateful that there was nobody around to see her pathetic position. Hearing the blatant rejection reverberating from within the study, she wanted nothing more than to break down and cry, something that any child would be welcomed to do.
Unfortunately, she wasn't afforded such luxuries in this life.
She hated being so weak, incapable of supporting herself. Anger instead took the place of sorrow over the years for Cinder, no longer caring about whether or not her mother would successfully gain the funds necessary to gain entrance into the elite academy. In truth, it was only by the woman's desperate insistence that Cinder even agreed to this nonsense.
"Fine. I'll transfer the funds tomorrow. After that, I don't want to see or hear from either of you again. Am I clear?!"
She didn't hear a word but it appeared that the two had come to an agreement.
Good riddance... She leaned against the wall, more than ready to leave this environment of arrogance and greed. The stench of upscale bourbon was no stranger to Cinder's nose, making her stomach wrench. Was there anything good about this place?
"Ahem..." Cinder suddenly looked up to see a balding man standing in front of her. He had a gentle smile partially covered by a single digit that signaled silence. He bowed politely to the teen, holding a tray of cookies in his other hand. "Compliments of the young lady."
Raising an eyebrow, Cinder cautiously took a few of the sweet-smelling treats then looked over to see a girl around her age standing regally. Though her face held no discernable expression, there was a look in her light-blue eyes that made her relax, if only a little bit. Empathy, an understanding of the complications of one's life in conjunction with their own.
"Thank you..." she averted her gaze, hoping to hide the few seconds of vulnerability.
"My pleasure," he smiled only to blink several times. Cinder eyed the suspicious behavior only to see them turn red. "You deserve it after dealing with the sour geezer."
The sudden change from polite to blunt actually made Cinder crack a smile. His eyes shifted again this time nearly matching her own, leaving her with amazement as she ate the sweets.
"Stay strong, my dear. You're only as strong as the reason you fight for."
Uncertain of what he meant by that, the older man smile warmly before returning to the white-haired girl. Watching them leave, Cinder pondered his words only to have her thoughts broken by the abrupt opening of the study's door. Seeing her mother, Cinder found herself being drug through the many hallways by her now irate mother.
"Mom, what's going on?" she asked.
The woman said nothing.
"Mom?"
Still nothing.
"Mom!"
Suddenly the world around her grew dark again. Once more, fear crept its way around Cinder's heart as she suddenly lost vision in her left eye. She could still feel the woman's hand clutching her wrist but, it was no longer the woman who raised her. Ash-black hair slowly shifted to grew, then white. Eyes that once mirrored her own gave way to bloody orbs glaring back at her.
"Salem?"
"I thought you were the girl who wanted power?!"
Cinder suddenly woke up, a cold sweat adorning her face. In a panic, she sat up and scouted the area only to be greeted by the interior of the room she'd been staying in for the past week. It wasn't enough though. She looked to her left arm, seeing that it was still wrapped up; still that of a Grimm. She never thought that she'd feel such relief from seeing it, but it was so.
"...Just a nightmare..."
She exhaled only to jump at the sudden vibrations on the desk near her bed. When she finally settled down, Cinder found that it was her scroll lighting up. Reaching for it, she discovered a message had been delivered.
Info found. Ready when you are.
-Spider's Web.
She knew exactly what this meant, wasting little time on getting dressed. Departing the hotel, Cinder took but a moment to thank Oum for the rain letting up before setting out for the tavern. Whatever the news was, she'd take it and move onward from there. Still, she couldn't shake off the influence of the dream. Why now? She'd always known that the purpose of the unconscious illusions was to serve a purpose, yet she wasn't able to figure that out.
In fact, the main thing she remembered was the words of the portly servant; his smiling face and shifty personality bringing an amused grin. The only other thing of note was the image of Salem replacing her mother's and her taunting of Cinder's bid for power. Somewhere in her soul, she felt a connection between the two in her life.
One mentions strength.
The other warned about it.
Was she blinded by her constant thirst for power? Perhaps.
Would she stop in her hunt for it? No.
"Maybe..." she muttered to herself. "...I should evaluate what's brought me here before I take the next step?"
It seemed like a logical direction to go in; With no allies at the moment, Cinder couldn't manipulate anyone to do her bidding. However, there were far more possibilities than just using brute force. She'd learned that from the witch herself. But, before she would fully dissect her next move, there was still the matter of gaining the info she paid for.
A matter that would establish Cinder's purpose.
"Why did you come back?"
There was an awkward silence.
"Raven?"
The woman just stared at the floor, her eyes clenched shut. Little good it did; she could still feel the impatient glare of her former husband pointed at her. Her head filled with visions of past events. Her tribe was now in shambles after Salem's 'welcoming committee' arrived with their ultimatum. Vernal's death at the hands of Cinder. Losing both the relic of knowledge and the love of both her children.
That would be a lot to sort through for anyone.
None of this mattered to Tai Yang Xiao-Long at this point. All he recalled was tending to his sunflower garden when he heard something in the woods. When he turned around, a single feather fell from the treetops, causing the former STRQ member to groan at the irritant. For all he knew, his ex-wife could've used his portal just for a booty call (or as she'd call it, 'Mommas monthly dose of disappointment).
"Raven?!" she snapped out of her stupor, finally looking into the blue of her former teammate and lover. Though there was no hatred or animosity behind them, Raven Branwen could tell that he was in no mood for games. "I've tolerated the silent game long enough. You need to explain why you're here or leave."
Raven was shocked, if not impressed when she saw Tai point to the front door.
"When did you grow a backbone...?" she quipped humorlessly. When she received no reaction, Raven sighed heavily. "I came here to talk to you."
"About?" he crossed his arms. "Yang? Us? Qrow?"
"Everything..." she admitted, surprising the father of their child. "It's a long story though."
Though she maintained her poker face, the dulling hue in her eyes and the hitch in her voice let Tai Yang know that the facade was being held by a single thread. Against his better judgment, Tai softens his gaze. Zwei let out a low growl, showing he wasn't ready to forgive just yet. Red orbs disappeared behind heavy lids upon noticing this. Seeing this depressing display, he could tell that she'd been through a lot.
"I'll go make some tea."
Seeing the tiniest of grins on her face, Tai headed to the kitchen. It took only half an hour for him to prepare everything but soon, Raven was greeted with a small cup of the dark liquid, taking in the hint of raspberries. She took a sip savoring the white jade meshing well with the fruit before finally deciding to acknowledge Tai who'd taken a seat next to her on the couch. She explained everything from her time leading the tribe to the events in the vault.
As expected, the concerned Tai Yang brought up the recent event first.
"So, in a bid to gain leverage over Salem, you figured you'd take the relic only to have Yang and... your son... Stop you?"
"His name is Atsura!" she growled only to curse her sudden burst of emotion. "Atsura and Yang confronted me about the relic and... I... let my cowardice get the better of me."
"Then you came here?"
Raven nodded.
"You really stink at raising children," he chuckled only to receive a dark glare from the woman. "Too soon, huh?"
She nodded once more, blinking away a few tears that tried to surface.
"Nice to know you haven't changed much after all of these years. Your jokes are still as terrible as I remember..."
"Sorry. But you have to admit, after stabbing one of your children and flat out abandoning the other, this is small potatoes in comparison. You literally tried to kill for only Oum knows why. You kidnapped his girlfriend, held her captive for a month, threatened your daughter, set her and your brother for an ambush, using them to get a relic for your own personal gain."
"I know..."
"And yet..." Tai stopped to take a sip of his brew. "...I doubt that they'd hate you."
Raven shot him a questionable glance.
"How can you be so sure? With everything you've mentioned, I'm finding it difficult to not hate me."
"I know my sunny dragon. She may not want to see you anytime soon, but, I know that she still has a place for you in her heart."
This news made Raven want to smile. Still, the idea of her biological son made her want to retch after unpacking the details of their encounters. Tears then spilled out as she sobbed quietly. Tai tried to comfort her but she pulled away from him. In her eyes, she was no better than the beasts they would fight against.
"Raven?"
"How could I do that?" she groaned. "What kind of monster would try to kill their child?! How could I abandon them; Me, their own mother! I don't deserve them, Tai! I deserve nothing less than their hatred and ire! I left them to face Salem on their own just to save my own ass. How can I ever face them after what I've done?!"
Such an abrupt upheaval of emotion made Tai Yang jump slightly, but he allowed the woman he loved to bear her soul for however long as she needed to. Placing her head in her hands, Raven Branwen just let all of the pain and bitterness pour out. As her pain fell to the floor, Tai couldn't bear the sight of her inner turmoil anymore. Ignoring the consequences that may come, he wrapped his arms around her.
To his surprise, Raven turned to hug him back, not caring about being viewed as weak. Why bother hiding something you were truly feeling? It wasn't the first time that Tai had seen her in a vulnerable position. She clutched at his shirt as if worried that he'd disappear if she hadn't.
"Raven, I know that you feel that you can't come back from what you've done... You've lived your life by this creed, but, now it's time to stop running and face your demons."
Her grip tightened but she didn't dare look up at him; his gentle tone was already too good to be true.
"But-"
"No buts... You've done some horrible things, yet here you are today. After years of being away, you came back and told me all that you felt you needed to say. You didn't bother with whether or not I'd forgive you. You just confessed to your actions and let the chips fall where they may. That's the sign of the strong woman I've loved all of these years."
Several sniffs made the man chuckle as the sorrowful storm died down.
"I'm so sorry, Tai. I'm sorry for everything..."
"It's alright, Raven."
"Do you forgive me?" she looked up, eyes still glistening.
"Yes..." he smiled back.
"No. I need to hear you say it, dammit."
The sheer amount of desperation in her demand was enough to make the man's grin grow larger.
"Yes, Raven. I forgive you..."
Raven let out a breath neither realized she'd been holding in all of that time. When she did, the air around them both seem to lift, if only a little. It was enough for her though as the warrior felt her body relax against his own. Tai could tell that she was more at ease than before, something he'd never imagined seeing again. He didn't make a fuss about it.
For now, Tai would settle for stroking her hair, eliciting a soft purr from her as she leaned into him. Since nobody else was around, Raven didn't have to worry about appearing weak or having to show pseudo-strength.
"Tai?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you... think they'll grow to forgive me too?"
Tai Yang didn't say anything at first, still running his hand through her black hair. It was a complicated situation if he was being honest with himself and both knew that truth. He exhaled softly, causing the woman to tense up slightly. Eventually, the suspense grew to be too much and Raven lifted her head to meet the male's conflicted gaze.
"I- I can't say that they'll be as forgiving so quickly, Rae..." he finally admitted. His words cut deeper than the sharpest blade ever could. That dread soon slithered around her heart as she noticed that he wanted to say more. "It really depends on what truly matters to you. Do you want their mercy for your own emotional freedom? Do you want a relationship with your kids or are you just hoping to clear your conscience?"
Raven took in his words, trying to process his words.
"What are you truly fighting for, Raven?"
The afternoon in Argus was quiet in spite of the busy going ons of the citizens. Jaune and the others had volunteered to go check in at the Atlas military base in hopes of trying to convince their commander to escort them all to Atlas. The ornate machinations of the people mattered little to a certain Faunus as he walked alongside the cheerful Pyrrha Nikos. For some reason, the normally chipper girl had a bit more pep in her step, humming while pulling him through the northern district.
Even with the awkward stares from the many who crossed their path, the red-head maintained her positive demeanor. She'd been this way ever since they woke up earlier that morning yet, she refused to disclose her reasoning. After a late breakfast with her mother, Pyrrha practically dragged him out of the house and they made their way to Oum only knew where.
"Pyrrha?"
"Yes?" her sweet tone made his heart skip.
"Where exactly are we going?"
She shook her head, never letting her smile drop.
"It's a surprise."
Atsura suspicion only increased as she pressed forward. Of course, the hint of deviancy didn't go undetected either. Still, he thought it wise not to inquire further, choosing to turn his attention to the onlookers. He was amused by their confusion, reminding the Faunus of their first day together. He smiled inwardly as he recalled that evening; they'd just become friends and from that point, their bond only grew stronger.
His musings would abruptly end when the two suddenly stopped in front of a familiar building; one that he knew well.
"Sanctum?"
Pyrrha's smile was soft but never lost its vigor. She walked onto the campus with her friend following close behind. It didn't take long for them to enter the school and find their target, the front office. The halls were empty Within the room, an older woman with silver hair immediately recognized them both.
"Miss Nikos! Mr. Otueome! Welcome back!" she greeted excitedly. "I'll fetch the dean for you."
"There's no need for that, Ms. Falcon. Thank you." A black-haired man stepped from his office. His calm smirk turned into a look of pure shock when he noticed the pair. "Ah! I'm so elated to see you both again!"
Both bowed respectively, a sign of respect for the elder.
"It's good to see you, Professor Cormier. It's been a while," Atsura greeted before winding up in a big hug the man.
This was surprising to both Pyrrha and the secretary as the educator released his hold on the Faunus.
"I'm so relieved to know that you both are safe! After the fall of Beacon, I grew worried."
"Well, I'm alright," the fox chuckled rigidly. "It takes more than a few Grimm and White Fang to stop us."
"Of course. I shouldn't have had any doubt. After all, you were one of my strongest students."
The Dean let out a hearty laugh before acknowledging Pyrrha Nikos. He continued on with talking with the duo until the bell rang, forcing Cormier to step out, inviting the two to follow. They walked down the corridor, watching all of the students filing out to go toward their next classes. Pyrrha and Atsura pressed on until they found themselves in a rather familiar setting.
The room was massive in comparison to the ones they'd passed by. It appeared like more of a dojo, each of the walls being adorned with various forms of weaponry. This was the sparring room, a place where surprisingly, neither was granted to be in at the same time. Atsura spared a glance over to his friend, noting the look of comfort she had.
"Pyrrha? What's going on?"
"You and I never had a chance to properly spar, Atsu. So, I requested that we could use the room for a quick match."
"Neither of you had the opportunity to do so despite the two top students in your class. Plus, with your training at Beacon, I'm sure you'd both enjoy a chance to test your skills with little restraints."
Finally hearing the reason for their journey Atsura simply sighed dramatically before grabbing Nguangus from the sheath on his back. Professor Cormier was surprised to see the shift in weaponry, but he remained silent as Pyrrha removed her winter jacket revealing her own arsenal. The fox mirrored her actions, tossing the jacket behind him before separating the blade into its dual form.
"I hope you're ready," Pyrrha pointed her spear, Kratos at the boy. "I won't be holding back."
"That makes two of us," he flashed his canines, focused on the task at hand.
"Remember why you fight." Atsura pondered her choice of words but, refused to break his center.
Pyrrha took the initiative and charged forward, her shield, Deimos colliding with one of the blades. The sheer strength of her lunge was enough to push the vulpine back a few feet but he twisted his body to land on his feet. There was no time to study the act because Atsura would find himself bombarded with various strikes from the spartan.
Despite her typically kind demeanor, Pyrrha was shockingly relentless in her attacks. There was a gleam in her eyes as she kept Atsura on defense, an interesting development. It was a complete role reversal, with Pyrrha as the aggressor and Atsura on the defense.
Eventually, Atsura was able to roll out of the way when his opponent brought Kratos down, missing him completely. When she turned around, Pyrrha watched as her beau's grin fell. Seeing as he was at a disadvantage, the fox used what little space he had to combine the swords, turning Ngaungus into its bow form. Soon, he was running around shooting Dust arrows of multiple colors and elements at Pyrrha who appeared content to just block the projectiles with her shield. Eventually, the shots would increase in number, forcing Pyrrha to sidestep in order to evade the onslaught.
What are you planning? Running around is only affecting your accuracy. Unless...
It was too late. Looking around, Pyrrha finally figured out what his strategy was. He wasn't just aimlessly firing arrows; he was smarter than that. No, Atsura was laying out a
The answer came when the young woman began to notice that many of the arrows hadn't yet detonated with their respective elements. It wasn't until she saw the smug grin on Atsura's face that the goal became clear. He wasn't looking to attack without purpose but rather, he was aiming to trap her. The vulpine concluded this strategy by firing a black Dust bolt into another, that'd been planted near her feet.
This set off a chain reaction where the many projectiles suddenly exploded around Pyrrha forcing her to cover up. Still, Atsura wasn't satisfied. Learning from his final's match during the Vytal Festival tournament, he wouldn't rush in recklessly as he did then. Instead, he kept a steady grip on the aura string, patiently waiting for whatever would come next.
He's grown so much... The Professor noted the Faunus' action with pride but, he wasn't foolish to count out Pyrrha Nikos. What is your next move?
From the vanishing smoke, she hurled Deimos at the boy, forcing him to use another black bolt to launch himself in the air. This was just what Pyrrha wanted as she summoned the guard back to her. From the smoke, she launched herself at him, swiping at him. Switching Nguangus back into its buster form, Atsura matched her attacks blow for blow.
Unbeknownst to them, several students had begun to pour into the sparring room, each one more curious than the last. This caught Dean Cormier off guard as each on began filling the large room to watch the spectacle unfolding. The two were evenly matched in terms of their battling skill-sets. Even when one had an advantage over the power, the other would counter.
Pyrrha's polarity semblance was stopped by elemental projectiles.
Atsura's sheer strength was negated by Pyrrha's superior defense.
It would come down to a test of convictions.
Kratos and Nguangus clashed, weapons resonating with the wills of their wielders.
"Looks like we've attracted an audience..." Pyrrha flicked her gaze over to the younger cadets.
"Keep your eyes on me, princess. We're not done."
The suggestive tone, coupled with a competitive wink made Pyrrha blush slightly. She quickly regained her bearings before flashing a sensual glance of her own. When they were in agreement, both flared their auras, impressing the older man and the cheering children surrounding him.
"I'd like nothing more, but must you be so mischievous?" she giggled.
He charged, slamming his blade into her shield.
"Only with you..."
Red vs Amber.
Power vs Precision.
Two of Sanctum's top Alumnus swiped and slashed over and over again, each time gaining more and more speed. The 'oohs' and 'ahs' filled the room as neither were willing to lose. Professor Cormier pulled out his scroll, monitoring the pair's aura levels cautiously as the flurry continued. Steadily, the bars had dropped into the orange.
As he yelled out his concern, both nodded before pushing off of one another.
"Guess, we'll have to cut this short..."
"I too have enjoyed our tango, dance partner."
Both flashed a big smile at one another, clearly enjoying their back and forth encounter. Everyone watched as they both took their respective stances. Pyrrha crouched slightly and lifted Deimos up, positioning her spear, Kratos in the visual crevice of the shield; the hoplite style. Atsura crotched down as well, shifting his body for the BattÅjutsu stance.
Professor Cormier watched intently, though his expression never shifted. Only a bead of sweat fell down the side of his face. As the two prepared for one final attack, he reflected on something that was told to him long before he'd earned the position he held now. Pyrrha Nikos, the 'Invincible Girl', was Sanctum and Argus' pride and joy. Atsura Otuoeme (as he was known then), the 'Demon's Bane', was a warrior stripped of praise and love for his race.
The higher-ups on the city's council board had enforced a rule that would protect their 'golden goose' from the 'monster' and now, the man knew why. They were literally even against one another but, with Atsura being a Faunus, there was no way that those on the board would allow for him to even come close to ruining their 'star attraction'.
Professor Cormier couldn't have been more proud of both of his former students.
All of that culminated with the Huntsman/Huntress grinning from ear to ear, each prepared to finish their match, despite their exhaustion. Feet planted, they both rushed at the other. As the gap between them closed, Pyrrha and Atsura reflected on the girl's earlier statement.
Remember why you fight.
Atsura's mind brought him to the night when he nearly lost Pyrrha back when Beacon Academy fell. The kiss of trickery that nearly got his beloved killed at the hands of Cinder haunted him at times, though he never spoke of it. He remembered scaling the wall thanks to Ruby and Weiss' joint effort. Then he recalled the demon he'd become after he lost control.
He never wanted Pyrrha to endure that again.
For Pyrrha, she remembered the moment she was outclassed by Vernal which resulted in Atsura surrendering and being impaled by Raven Branwen. In her heart, she felt guilty for this happening. The idea of losing her closest friend and lover nearly broke her after a month of captivity as well. Thankfully, they were reunited later but, seeing the light in Atsura's eyes dulling by the second haunted the girl for a while, even after being reunited.
She couldn't put Atsura in a position like that ever again.
With every ounce of their strength, Atsura and Pyrrha unleashed their concluding blows. When they connected, both forms stood opposite one another. The room fell silent, all eyes locked on the pair to see who would fall first. Labored breaths soon broke that quiet air, the extent of their war finally rearing its head. Aching and fatigued, their aura flickered before vanishing completely.
Finally, one of them felt their strength's depletion. Atsura slowly fell backward, smiling as his lungs burned with each intake of air. He wasn't upset at all though, content with the fact that he took the 'Invincible Girl' to her limit; he could think of worse outcomes than being in second place.
"This battle is declared a draw!"
The news caused the fox's ears to twitch. Had he heard that correctly? How could it be a draw, unless...
When he looked up, the sight of a kneeling Pyrrha made his sit up immediately. Even though his head throbbed from such a thoughtless deed, he didn't care, choosing to prioritize the girl's wellbeing before his own. Before she could collapse, he reached her in enough time to lay her head in his lap.
"Pyrrha! Are you alright?!" he worriedly asked.
"I'm fine," she smiled sadly. "I'm just sorry I couldn't go any further."
Atsura wrapped Pyrrha in his arms, grateful that she was okay.
"You..."
"What?"
"You told me to remember why I fight. I don't want to lose you or anyone else I care about again."
Pyrrha was stunned. If she hadn't been so tired, she would've pushed him away, gently scolding him for playing the role of 'prince charming'. Now, she could see just how serious he was. This wasn't just some romantic rhetoric. This was a young man putting his cards on the table. They both met after leaving Argus and from there, they'd both gained friends and family during their journey.
To see the vulnerability behind his eyes, Pyrrha felt her throat hitch while resting in his arms. She reached for him, placing her hand on her cheek. Slowly, she leaned in, eager to express her gratitude properly. She'd be stopped though when the sounds of cheers filled their ears, forcing both of their faces to turn crimson. They looked out at the large gathering to find both humans and Faunus alike.
"Children, these two are the cream of the crop! They both trained here at Sanctum and now, they carry on the legacy of this combat school with pride!"
Both shuffled a few inches away as the kids approached them both, each one clamoring for a chance to engage with the two standouts. While Pyrrha was no stranger to this, Atsura was overwhelmed by the admiration of the youth, both human and Faunus alike. This went on for a few minutes until the bell rang, signaling the start of the next course.
After collecting their things and a congratulatory 'thank you' from the elated dean, Atsura & Pyrrha left Sanctum Academy. By now, the sun had begun its descent and with arms interlocked, the pair decided to head back to the Niko's family home.
"So..."
"So?" an amused Pyrrha hummed.
"Pyrrha?" Atsura playfully warned.
"Okay. I'm sorry for not telling you about my 'nefarious' plan."
Atsura rolled his eyes, only to find himself pulled into a kiss. Ears waggled and his tail stood upright at the sudden approach but, he adjusted swift enough. He wrapped his arms around her waist, deepening the caress of lips. Even more, the young man gained enough control to encircle his tail around her, a display that Pyrrha loved. As thanks, she cupped his face, showing a slightly more assertive side to her reserved for flashes like this.
Finally, they parted, still in each other's arms and staring dreamily at each other.
"Forgiven..." he whispered dumbly, drawing a melodious laugh from his girlfriend.
"That easily? I'd hoped you would put up more of a fight," she flirtatiously teased.
"What did you have in mind?"
Unfortunately, Pyrrha never got the chance to answer when a beeping ringtone interrupted them. Reluctantly, the two separated. Atsura, annoyed at this point, glared at the device. A quick peck on the cheek calmed him down thankfully.
"Hello?" he grumbled.
"Get over to the city limits!"
"Wait, what's going on, Roxie?"
"Jaune managed to connect with Ruby! They're on their way now."
Hearing this, both teens raced off to their intended destination. Along the way, Pyrrha's mind recollected the Faunus' words, searching for her own interpretation of the statement she posed to him. With a small grin, she spared a glance at her vulpine partner with fondness. Though he was a little banged up from their battle, Pyrrha knew what she found worth fighting for.
Now, all they were set for a reunion with Team RWBY and, hopefully, a plan to get to Atlas.
Author's Note:
Alright, this chapter finishes up the time frame of the 'Brunswick Farms' arc of the canon. Now, we're on our way to meet Cordova and her Atlas goons. I also wanted to work a little with Cinder's backstory and Raven's departure. I do plan on including them to a greater extent in the coming chapters as well. We still have Neo and Adam's role to play out which will differ a bit from the main story.
I'm not going to bore you all with more author's note given that the chapter is already long enough. For now, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and be on the lookout for the next one coming soon.
