Chapter 1: Hello Again
Pyrrha Nikos watched from a distance—and she did so with envy. Not unlike how a jilted lover might watch an old flame move on with another. With jealous need, with subdued desire, for the chance to reach out and take that thing she so coveted. Who could blame her? The heart wants what it wants, after all.
She wanted to be with her friends—sort of defeated the point of her return otherwise—but no matter what she tried, her feet simply would not move.
So instead she watched the six of them, all sitting in a circle together in the corner of the amphitheatre, where everyone had agreed to meet up. They looked very much like they were in their own little world, rather than surrounded by thousands of clamoring schoolmates, both old and new. She'd heard it said once that the more things change, the more they stay the same. And that couldn't have been more true.
There were obvious differences. Upgraded armor, new clothes, even new hair as Ren now no longer bound his hair in a single long tail, but now free and falling down his back. He'd filled out a little too, certainly still on the lean side, but he wasn't the frail twig he'd used to be.
Yang had opted to keep her hair short, which was something Pyrrha didn't know if she was glad for or worried about. Nonetheless, she looked good. Great, even. Her clothes covered her up more, changed her from that raving party girl to a sort of biker girl with an edge of calm maturity. She flicked her sunglasses up and blew a kiss at Weiss, who scoffed and returned some half-hearted insult, which Yang then followed up with a half-hearted middle finger. Pyrrha had to stop herself from chuckling.
Ruby was a little taller now, and her red cape was riddled with tears and holes like she'd been in a fight just minutes ago. Gave her a bit of an older edge, and her hair was just a smidge more wild to reflect that. She'd been such a little cookie monster last year. Now, some of that was whittled away and replaced with something harder, even if she was peaking with bubbly laughter at something Nora said.
Blake had her nose in a book as always—or pretended to while she listened to everyone's antics. Swathed in a long white coat, form fitting black underneath. Most notably, her black bow was missing. The ears that used to be concealed no longer to play the tired mystery. Why she didn't wear it anymore, Pyrrha had no clue… and the desire to know was starting to creep up on her.
Weiss had perhaps changed the least besides her clothes, but the gray tones and tighter form dress certainly gave her a stronger, more regal aura. Like a princess in the slow transition into queendom. Blue blooded or otherwise, it didn't stop her from berating the others or raising a snub nose at a jab at her expense, or from allowing herself a smirk that, now, she didn't try as hard to hide. Pyrrha hadn't forgotten everything she'd done for her, not even a little.
And Nora just… Pyrrha hadn't realized how much she'd missed her until now. Of course, Nora came up in her mind all throughout her time away, and she called enough that she didn't miss her too much. But it wasn't at all the same. Nora had this thing of randomly hugging any of her friends at a whim and without warning. Gods, it had oftentimes been so annoying and inconvenient. But now Pyrrha would do anything just to have Nora hold her again. She had not abandoned her frilly, bouncy style, and her hair was longer and had that touch of curly wildness that made her seem at both times a queen and a beast. Not any taller, but still a dominant force in the conversation. Bountiful and loud and expressive, giving everyone something to laugh about.
How she'd missed them all. Pyrrha's cheeks were wet and she didn't know why. There was no one else around her. Just a long straight path with a destination she feared no longer had room for her.
She feared things couldn't be as they were before. She knew they couldn't be. The past was long behind her, but the echoes lingered yet. And who was to say how they'd affected things all these months later. Pyrrha clutched her hands together in front of her and swallowed. It was a new year, and she was a changed woman. Therapy had been the right choice, the only choice. Now she had to prove that she still belonged. One foot in front of the other, that's all she had to do.
Ren spotted her first, pink eyes brightened as he removed himself from leaning against the wall, quite as if he were welcoming royalty rather than an old friend. The others followed suit, Weiss, then Blake, Yang, then Ruby, then Nora who stumbled up, nearly losing her balance.
It was quiet, then. The clutter of the surrounding world was no longer there. It was just Pyrrha and her friends, separated by maybe a stride of distance. Easily crossed with a few more steps. Pyrrha wondered who'd break that distance first? Did it have to be her, putting herself at the mercy of their rejection? Or would it be them, readily accepting her despite all the things she'd done? All the ways she'd hurt them?
Pyrrha could not, and did not, want to stop crying. She'd missed them so much that her heart ached, and yet she just couldn't move anymore. She was terrified to the point that she desperately wanted to run away and never come back.
But then, she wouldn't be fulfilling her promise. Not to them. And not to her partner.
She put up the best smile she could. Probably made her look really stupid with tears and snot about her face, but she didn't care. She didn't have the pride anymore to care. "Hello again." she said.
Either she was too slow or Nora was too fast, either way Pyrrha's tiny redhead sister crashed into her with enough force to knock the breath right out of her. Gods, she was strong. And so very warm, too.
"Save some for me!" said Ruby as she joined.
"Aight, outta the way bitches. Let me cop a feel of P-money first!"
"Honestly, must you be so vulgar? She just arrived!"
"What's that, Weiss? You want to kiss my ass?"
Pyrrha was in the mess before she knew it. Pulled into hug after hug, hit with compliments and playful insults, how-are-you's and whatcha-been-up-to's. Precisely as if she'd only been gone on a short vacation. She was in the fold again, brought to the circle where there hadn't seemed to be room before, but there certainly was room now. And it felt good. It felt right.
"It's okay, Pyrrha. You don't need to cry." said Nora as she rubbed her back.
"I'm sorry…" Pyrrha sobbed, trying her best to wipe the tears away. But they kept coming. How could they not? After everything she put them through, after all she did to hurt them…
In the end, they were still her friends.
Never give up. That's what her granddaddy used to tell her. He didn't say it much anymore—he was at the point now where he was forgetting things.
Tawny Brown didn't think she'd forget those words though. Really, they'd been all she could think about ever since she graduated Lantern academy. All she could think about while she waited on her admission letter from Beacon, be it overwhelming acceptance or crushing rejection. Then of course, the letter arrived... and the contents were as surprising as they were foreboding.
She'd been accepted. She was going to be a student of the Beacon Academy.
They were long odds, getting accepted into a school as legendary as that, but the Natures smiled on her that day and saw fit to make her dream come true. She packed her bags, kissed her father and boyfriend goodbye, and boarded the first ship to Vale with a smile so big that she felt it might tear her face in half.
That was before he started getting further away. The higher the ship went, the more her tiny village in the middle of the Colonies vanished into little shapes dotted across the great terrain, and the further away she became from the only world she'd ever known. To pursue a career that was not guaranteed to she'd thrive in.
Now she stood there against the wall of the Beacon amphitheatre—alone, naturally—waiting for the opening ceremony to begin. The rest of her peers—those newly accepted into Beacon and those returning—were much more vocal, and indeed more social, about the whole situation.
"Let's stick together. My uncle told me which launch pads'll send us in the right direction!"
"Launch pads?"
"Oh man, I can't wait!"
"Got the new attachment for my dust swords. Telling you man, it's the best you can get. Pure Schnee grade."
"I'm gonna show off! I'll get scouted by the Swords of the Morning by next month, I swear!"
Tawny twisted her dark braid, wanting to frown in defiance at their excitement, but didn't want to draw any attention to herself. She almost rolled her eyes at that thought. She wasn't nearly important enough for her existence to be acknowledged. At least someone was happy—which by someone, very obviously meaning everyone except herself. Just wasn't fair. She'd been so excited when she got the letter, and now that she was here waiting for the ceremony for the new year to start, she was nervous and anxious and scared and above all… she was beginning to doubt..
It wouldn't be hyperbolic to say she'd barely passed her final year at Lantern. Average grades across the board, except for advanced aura classes, and it was pure luck that she managed to be good at something. Even if it was good enough to get her here. At least she assumed that's what got her here. Tawny huffed, lowering her hunched shoulders, then felt the weight on her right leave her. "Nocta?" But she could already see that her hawk-mount had flown off, toward the doors, out, and gone. He'd be back, of course, but now she truly was alone amongst these thousands of loud, happy, excited new strangers.
All she could do was watch them. Kids her age—well, officially adults now—and those older than her. All in their stupid little cliques. Precisely as if they'd been able to bring all their friends with them to the academy, and so it was like nothing had changed for them. But Tawny? Oh no, she couldn't bring her friends—thanks in part to her not having any friends. Who needed them when she had her father, boyfriend, and Nocta? That's what she used to think back in her quaint little village. Fish out of water much? Not even. This was more a freshwater fish wandering into the ocean. An ocean full of sharks.
She swallowed a heavy ball of spit, wished the fear would go down with it. She felt that sting as tears pricked at her eyes. By the Natures, what had she been thinking? She didn't belong here. This was a place for strong, confident, talented prodigies, not some upstart girl with dreams bigger than her own head. Not some freckle-faced bumpkin from the valley who didn't know anything about the city. Not a loser like Tawny Brown.
Her own father had been against the idea—saying she'd just get herself killed. He'd said so for years, even if he'd still gone through with supporting her choices. Maybe it was too much to expect one's parents to agree with everything their children wanted, but it wouldn't have hurt to hear something less than negative.
Her boyfriend was more supportive, though to be separated like this was not something either of them were used to. They grew up together. She still remembered how nervous she'd been when she asked him out, and who'd have thought they'd still be together two years later? Now she'd only see him in the summertime. Until then, she was alone. No one here was her friend.
It wasn't too late to get on a ship and leave. If there weren't any ships at the dock then she'd wait for one, however long it took. The thought was more appealing than it should have been. Yes, she could just go home. It really was that simple. Coming to Beacon? What a stupid idea. So she'd spent years training, years hearing stories about heroes and Huntsmen, dreaming about the day she have the cheers and gifts and love of the people. Bit of a selfish goal, but that's what she wanted. To be famous, and rich, and cool, and strong.
Who was she kidding? It was impossible for someone like her.
Tawny opened her scroll, ready to call her father and tell him she was coming home. Maybe ask him to make his special pasta. A few plates of that and this foolish dream of hers would be long forgotten. Then she saw it. The little icon in the middle of her screen, placed there so she could never miss it. Placed there for a very specific reason. A video.
She knew what was on it. Watched it a thousand times. Knew why she put that video there, too. With her negative way of thinking, and her low confidence, and her willingness to give up on anything that was too hard. Watch the video, a voice inside told her. She wanted to resist, but before she knew it the video was pulled up and loading.
He hadn't been her favorite fighter in the tournament. Really, she'd wanted Arslan Altan to win. Tawny liked her passion and power and resilience against all odds, and tried to be just like her. But this moment, the final fight with the Pyrrha Nikos? It was the first time in her life that she'd ever screamed at her screen.
After a brutal beating, the likes of which probably shouldn't have been shown to the public, Jaune Arc found the strength to stand up again. At the demands of the crowd's tears and cheers and roars of encouragement, that stupid looking guy got to his feet and faced the Invincible Girl. Just as he had every other time he faced her. No fear, no quarter given, somehow destined to surpass her. At that moment, Tawny had felt like she was in that stage herself. That she was facing this insurmountable enemy, that she was facing it without fear. Without giving up. She watched him stop Pyrrha Niko's attack, then land a blow Tawny herself could feel. Again. And again. Pushing her back, laying on the pressure, and breaking down her aura like a sledgehammer put to a wall. Who could have thought it? This nobody beating down the ultimate prodigy, the genius of the new generation? All the way until she screamed out to the world, "Stop! No more!"
It sent a surge of electricity up her spine, through her skin, got some tears working up again. No matter how many times she watched it, this little recording never failed to make her feel like a champion. Like she could do anything. Go home? Ridiculous! She'd become the best Huntress in her year, no, the greatest Huntress in all of Vale. Of all time! That's how this video, that's how Jaune Arc, made her feel.
Then she closed the video, and the feeling lingered for all about a minute. Back to reality, and amongst people much better than her. And all alone. Maybe it was enough that she'd made it in. No need to see the rest through. She proved she had potential and she could be happy with that.
Definitely…
Tawny couldn't help her lip trembling. Having to squeeze her eyes shut so the tears couldn't fall. So she didn't make a scene of herself. Throwing one wobbly foot in front of her, she made for the door. Pushed past a group of people and ignored their gripes, hurried past the threshold and into the sunny afternoon, and bolted for the courtyard. Never give up, her grandaddy would say.
"I can't do this. I can't." she wept.
So said Nora as she crossed her arms and puffed out her pink cheeks. "Where is he?"
Where, indeed? Pyrrha hadn't been back for very long herself, but she did know the ceremony was supposed to start soon. Professor Goodwitch was on the stage getting things in order, bossing around the other teachers who naturally bent to her command. All the while Headmaster Ozpin stood off staring wistfully into nothing with his coffee cup, while Goodwitch periodically came over to smack him over the head with a rolled up newspaper to make him get back to assisting the other teachers. There was a comfort in that some things hadn't changed. So why hadn't the ceremony started, even though everyone was here?
Because Pyrrha's partner was supposed to deliver a speech.
Blake shrugged one shoulder. "Do you think his ship got delayed?"
"I doubt it." said Ren. "I talked to him this morning as he was boarding. He didn't mention any delays. And he'd call us if something came up."
Yang hiked her thumb at the podium. "Probably already here. Waiting in the back or something?"
"If so, that's completely inconsiderate. He gave us his word to see us before the speech." Weiss huffed. "Honestly… when I see him I am going to give him a piece of my mind!"
"I didn't know you wanted to see him that badly."
"Of course I wish to see him. I need to gauge his skills so I can plan countermeasures accordingly. I'm the only one who didn't get a match against him!" Weiss none-to-subtly glared at Ruby, who raised her arms defensively.
"The very picture of friendship is indeed Weiss Schnee." Blake snickered, stirring a ripple of laughter.
Like Nora, Ruby was on the more impatient side. "Well, he'd better hurry up. We can't have the reunion party without all the reunioners!"
"Reunioners? Are you a five years old?" Weiss jabbed.
Ruby put up a snobby mocking voice. "I'm Weiss. Oh my god Ruby, I swear you're like, five years old!"
"I do not talk like that!"
"I'd think you'd take it upon yourself to help her improve, Weiss." Pyrrha decided to chip in. "You two spent the summer together, yes?"
Weiss sighed. "To my insurmountable regret."
Ruby waved Weiss off. "I was like the only good thing in your life."
Weiss considered her for a moment. "Relatively speaking, that's not incorrect. But my alternatives were my father and brother, so that's supple competition."
Ruby pointed at her as she addressed everyone else. "That's what I had to deal with for three whole months! Three Weisses! Imagine being in a house so big that you need a GPS to get anywhere. They have a literal shortbus to get around! And every time I turn around, there's a Weiss clone babbling about investments, and branding, and all that boring stuff! Why do I need to know about Atlas's tax policy!?" Ruby clutched her hair, craning backward like she might place the top of her head on the ground. "And don't get me started on dinner time! Nobody talks! I could hear the air conditioner and it was a hundred feet above us!"
"I bet you had lots of time to train, though." Pyrrha inquired.
Weiss managed a little smirk. "Oh, indeed."
"I can't wait to see you both in action."
"I can't wait for our glorious leader!" said Nora, strangely irate. But then, having spent the summer alone, Pyrrha could understand why. They'd all made plans to do some traveling on the summer break, visiting Jaune's home, her home, going to festivals… that was before the tournament changed things. Or rather, before Pyrrha had changed things.
Pyrrha was excited to see Jaune again, though that feeling came with the hefty caveat of fear and insecurity. Things would be, and had been, different between them. But they still had three years together and there was no way they'd grow as a team if there was still a mode of bitterness keeping them apart. After enough time away, and enough help from her therapist, she felt that she could finally come back and try to mend old wounds. The only question now was if Jaune was willing to let her.
"Can you believe we're in our second year?" said Blake. "Our first year seemed like it might last forever. Now it feels like it went by too quickly."
A few nods went around, and it was something Pyrrha hadn't thought about before now. Coming to the amphitheatre was no longer the exciting, interesting event it had been before. Now, for her and all returning, it was normal.
Pyrrha looked at the first years all stood out, looking much like newborn pups adjusting to a strange world from beyond the comfort of the womb. Some brimming with excitement, others nervous to trembling, some overcome with emotion. Pyrrha even saw a girl dash out of the amphitheatre, quite clearly distressed, and even that wasn't out of the ordinary. Some people couldn't handle the pressure and quit even before initiation. It was a huge step, going from prep training to the real deal. For some, it was more than they were ready for. Even Jaune had told her that many times he'd snuck out of the dorm, ready to just go home, only to convince himself against it every time.
Looking around at all her friends, all talking and laughing, a realization came to her. They were not novices anymore. Beacon Academy was home, no longer a strange and unfamiliar world. Now she had to wonder what this new year would be like. If the first year had laid the bedrock, then the pillars would come next. The body of their careers.
She had to wonder what challenges lay ahead, and more importantly, if they were strong enough to face them.
Tawny parked herself on a bench beneath a wilted tree. Seemed fitting, as it was the only pathetic looking tree among them. Just like her.
In the end she hadn't been able to call her father. She didn't want to hear him fake his disappointment when he'd no doubt be happy that she wanted to give her dream up. And while the Bullheads were right there, people boarding and unboarding, she hadn't taken a step toward it. She convinced herself there was no need to rush, that the ships would still be running for a while yet. She knew the real reason though. Why she hadn't just jumped on the first ship she saw.
There was that part of her that didn't want to leave.
This was her dream. Tawny wanted to become something, a better person than she was now. So why did she feel this way? Why did every time something went right for her did her own thoughts rip that joy away? She could never be happy like this, no matter how successful she was. Sometimes she thought the whole effort was pointless. It was easier to believe that she was a loser and would always be a loser.
She didn't know if there were people around, but didn't care. There under that tree, she just hoped no one could see her weep. She felt like a child crying over losing a toy. Could there ever be a moment where she was happy with herself? To not feel like a complete waste of life? Could she ever just believe in herself?
Tawny heard someone take a seat beside her, and just then looked the other way, wiped the tears away as best she could, sniffling all the while.
"Sorry," The stranger said. "Were you waiting on someone?"
"No." She croaked, immediately hating herself for not having her voice under control. "No, I'm… alone."
"Same. Guess we can keep each other company for a bit."
"I guess."
They sat in silence for a bit, only the distant sounds of groups of staff talking, the hum of whirring ship engines, the breeze tousling the trees. The world continued to move on, despite her problems, having no time to pity her.
"You a first year?" asked the stranger.
"No."
"It's okay to be scared."
"I'm not."
"Alright."
More silence.
"There's empty benches all over the courtyard." suggested Tawny.
"This was the closest one to me. I could move if you want?"
Tawny thought to look at the guy who'd sat next to her, but didn't want to catch him looking at her in turn. It'd just make things awkward. "You're already here. It's fine." It felt nice to have someone to sit with, even if it was a stranger in passing. "What about you? First year?"
"Second, actually."
"You should be at the ceremony then. It's gonna start soon."
The stranger gave a nervous chuckle. "I know. I've been avoiding it. My friends are probably going to kill me for that. I'm a little scared to see them again. Heck if I know why."
"At least you have friends who want to see you. I don't have anyone here." She might have chastised herself for admitting something so personal, but it wasn't like she'd see this guy ever again.
"We all have someone. Even if it's not a lot of people. And this is your first day, you still have time to meet other people."
"Me and other people don't go well together. I guess that's why I don't have any."
The guy chuckled, and she had to admit to a bit of a tickle in her own throat. That self-deprecating humor was the only way she could ever lessen the blow of her negative thoughts, even if it did sometimes make her downplay what she was going through. She hadn't found another way to cope though. "So you are a first year?" The guy said after his chuckles died down.
"No, I—" Crap. She'd admitted it. "Fine, yeah I am."
"It's nothing to be embarrassed about."
"It is!"
"Why?"
"Because I don't know anyone. I don't have anyone. I don't know what I'm doing. And… and I don't belong here."
"Well, all of those things are factually wrong. Especially the last one. Unless you faked your transcripts or something."
"Who'd be stupid enough to try that?"
The guy laughed even harder at that, so much that she saw his white combat boots stick out, as if he were utterly spasming with joy. The hell was so funny about that? Freaking weirdo.
"Forget it." Tawny huffed.
"You want to know what I did when I was a first year?"
"No."
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him point. Fingers coated in bronze-armor plates. He pointed toward a tree near a high wall, casting a shadow that put the tree in total darkness. "That's where I was. Right there."
"Fascinating."
"No doubt. I wanted to get as far away from everyone else as possible because I'd thrown up on a girl's shoes. Motion sickness."
"Good for you. Or bad for you, I guess."
"Little of both. That girl was pissed at me, but I think my charm won her over eventually."
She could tell he was being sarcastic, but couldn't help but throw a jab anyway. "Oh yes, I'm sure you've been a lady killer all your splendid life. Why tell me all of this?"
"Because even if things did get better later, those first few days were really hard. I felt like you do."
"You don't know me."
"I don't. But you haven't told me I'm wrong yet."
She pursed her lips. "It doesn't matter if you're right. You don't have the right to lecture me."
The guy didn't say anything for a moment. Tawny swallowing her guilt and choosing to say nothing else. "Sorry, if I came across that way. I don't have the best advice, but maybe just hear me out a little? Take it from someone who's been where you are?"
Tawny folded her arms and shifted so her back faced the stranger. There was no way he'd understand how she felt. He was a second year student and was already used to the place and knew people. They weren't in the same league at all. She was a nobody and always would be. All he'd do was tell her to stop complaining and not consider her feelings at all.
"It's hard, isn't it?" His voice had gotten lower, softer. "Feeling like you're lost. That you have no one to help you. That you might not be good enough."
Yes. That was exactly how she felt. How did he know that?
"I know that feeling. And maybe you already know, but it's not a feeling that you're going to get past easily. Your whole first year you're going to feel like an imposter, like you didn't earn your way here. You might feel like a loser. I sure did."
"You felt like that?"
"A lot of people do, even if it might not seem like it. Just know you aren't alone in feeling like that. It's normal."
"Then what do I do? I feel like I should just go home and give all this up. I'm not good enough. It's pointless."
The man mused as if he was an old man listening to the senseless drivel of his granddaughter, merely entertaining her ignorance. "Maybe it is."
"What do you mean?" Tawny couldn't help but ask.
"Just what you said. It's pointless. So why try? Why linger on it anymore?"
"Because I—" Because what? He was right. She should be agreeing with him. And yet his words still hurt, having been thrown right back in her face, now she realized what they really meant.
"You don't want to try?" The stranger asked.
"I'll fail."
"So?"
"If I fail, then there's nothing else for me."
"Says who?"
She couldn't answer that one. She knew the right answer, but didn't want to admit that it was her own faults holding her back. It had always been that way. Even if objectively she knew what she was capable of, it never convinced that little demon inside her otherwise.
"If you want to succeed, the risk you have to take is failing. That won't just be a first year thing either. That's going to be all throughout life. You have to push forward, even if it is pointless, even if the odds are against you, even if you are most likely to fail… because no one can make your dreams come true other than yourself."
He made it sound so simple, so obvious, and Tawny couldn't stop her voice from trembling. "I'm scared."
"So am I. But we've come this far, haven't we? Do you really want to just let it all go to waste?"
Tawny shook her head vehemently. Of course she didn't. She'd trained for this, slaving over every technique, every skill, every weakness in her abilities. Maybe she wasn't the strongest or the smartest, but the skills she'd gained were all her own, forged from blood and sweat. How could she let it all be for nothing?
She felt a hand pat her shoulder. Rough but gentle at the same time, as if a parent who'd seen their child fall, but would instead encourage them to stand up with their own strength, rather than always being helped up. "We're about to be late. I'm going on ahead. Coming?"
She didn't know. She had no clue at all what she wanted to do. She turned to face the nosy stranger. "Who are you?"
The seat was empty.
The staff were getting everyone together now, and Jaune had to let out a breath as he tried to mentally prepare himself. Professor Ozpin had approached him about this months ago, and looking back he wasn't sure why he'd agreed. He clutched his speech paper in both hands, barely able to read it with how his hands were trembling. Everything he thought was right to say was written here—all he needed to do was read from it. Simple enough. Yeah. Except for the fact that it would be really awkward looking at the paper and then looking up and trying to inflect his every feeling into what amounted to a scripted presentation. Didn't at all feel like himself.
Professor Ozpin was finishing up his portion of the ceremony, knowledge and first steps and all, but Jaune was nowhere near ready for his part. Well, he was, but he wasn't. Gods, he wasn't making any sense even to himself.
"Normally, this would be where I hand you off to the staff, but this year we have another special speech. Presented by the winner of last year's Vytal Tournament, Jaune Arc. At the end of the year, he was voted the student body representative, and serves to stand as the metric by which other academies, and indeed the rest of the world, see our future generation of Huntsmen. I bid our first years to listen well, for the lessons in success can only be passed down by the successful."
Jaune swallowed a boulder and even if he knew it was an exaggeration, it sure did feel like he swallowed a whole damn boulder. He took in a long, deep breath through his nose, then let it out. Better to do it. Don't think, just do. Jaune walked out onto the stage, tried to keep his head high, but not too high, tried to walk confidently but not strut. Tried not to look at the massive crowd despite the fact that he had to look at them. Ignored the looks of the teachers, while also not missing some of their under-the-breath praises or concerns as they stood aside. Before he knew it, he was standing in front of the soundpiece, the world was quiet, and the stage belonged to him.
He wasn't sure why he'd started counting the students—method of anxiety, perhaps—had to shake himself out of it when he realized the only number that mattered was "A whole freaking lot" First years, seconds, thirds, and fourths years, all amassed in a great sea before him. He supposed you couldn't win a tournament and not be the face everyone wants to see. By now, he'd gotten used to that, even if he still didn't prefer it. Hindsight and all that.
Still, it was far too late for regrets. It was time to do it.
He looked at the paper he'd written, how he'd slaved over it, meticulously crafting every word like a finely baked cake. Spent a lot of good time on this thing. He had to use it… or maybe not. Maybe it was enough to just try and be himself. Maybe he'd humiliate himself, but that was nothing new. Jaune let the paper drop to the floor, faced the crowd with the bravest face he could and said…
"Uh, hey everyone. We're all here again, with some new people too. A lot's happened, huh?"
There wasn't much of a response, but there were a few nods. Pyrrha even found herself nodding too. Jaune looked different now, hair just a little rougher, and that awkward blend of casual clothes and modern armor now evolved into that of a true Huntsman-in-training. Textbook fledgling warrior. He looked good. Very good.
It seemed… she hadn't stopped being in love with him.
"It's crazy looking back now," Jaune continued. "but I didn't think I could be the winner of the biggest tournament in the world. I didn't even think I'd make it past the first round. I wonder how you follow up something like that?" He rubbed the back of his head and Pyrrha found herself smiling at that. "Thing is, I'm more scared than ever. My first year was chaotic. I couldn't find my classes, and even when I found them I didn't do that well. Too busy pestering this girl to go out with me instead of, you know, learning how to kill Grimm. So yeah, I definitely had my priorities straight."
The crowd had a laugh, and Pyrrha noticed Weiss even smirk a little.
"Considering my luck, my second year is gonna be even harder. The oldest in here probably already know what I'm in for."
A round of nods and laughter amongst the third and fourth years.
"I, we, all still have so much to do, and a long way to go before we're out there as real Huntsmen." Jaune gestured to the fourth and third years. "Even if I'm the student body rep, the third and fourth years are still the conductors of this train. I'm looking up to you guys, so you know, don't let me down." He then turned to the second years, and only then did she meet his eyes.
Felt like those nights when she was lying in his bed with him, and all they did was whisper to each other, nose to nose, breathing each other's breaths. She didn't know what was beyond the eyes that looked at her now. Hard to know if it was shock or fear or joy at seeing her again. He put up a smile anyway and gestured out at everyone. "We're not kids anymore. We kinda have to be more responsible and careful about how we act. I know, I hate it too. But we've got the first years watching us—let's try to set a good example."
Yang cupped her hands at the sides of her mouth. "Quit being my dad!"
"Booo!" chirped Nora.
Jaune faced the first years, and seemed to wait on them for a long moment. "To the first years, I just want to say… you all deserve to be here. You might doubt yourself, you might be scared, it might all seem like too much. I know how it feels." Pyrrha saw Jaune brighten as he looked ahead, like he saw someone in the far back that he recognized. He put on a huge, sunny smile that seemed to put a shine to the room. "It's okay. Keep going. Keep trying. You can do it."
"I've been all over the world. At every academy. Everyone there is so skilled, so smart, and so strong. I learned a lot from all of them." Jaune put on the best challenging grin he could and raised his chin a little. "They might even be better than us."
There was a great outcry of dissent and it only made the Champion smile wider.
"Oh? That make you mad? Well, then prove me wrong, Beacon Academy." Jaune raised his fist to the sky, punched it really and roared out with all his heart. "Let's show everyone why we are still the best Huntsman Academy in the world. I'm not gonna lose. Are you?"
The world exploded into thunderous cheers, booming applause, people jumping and screaming with excitement. So loud that Jaune noticeably flinched from the suddenness of it, then tried, and failed, to cover it up.
Pyrrha looked at the paper lying on the stage at Jaune's feet. More than likely the original speech he'd no doubt slaved over writing. Turns out he didn't need it after all.
Tawny had to cover her mouth to keep from crying as people exploded into applause. Who'd have thought the guy she talked to was the Jaune Arc? He wasn't nearly as cool as people made him seem. Or maybe he was even cooler.
She felt a weight land on her shoulder, talons bite into her leather shoulder-guard. Nocta nuzzled up against her face, sharp beak grazing her cheek as she let out tiny yips like she was checking on her. "Hey there, girl. Yeah, I'm feeling better." She watched as some people hopped on stage and were already embracing Jaune Arc, a whole group toppling over like building blocks, while a stern teacher reprimanded them to act more dignified. So much for acting responsibly in front of the first years.
Tawny stroked her hawk-mount's head. She wasn't alone, she had her after all. That and thousands of other students to talk to. "Hey, what do you say we go introduce ourselves to people? Sound like a good idea?"
Her hawk blinked at her.
"Don't be so negative. Be brave, Nocta." And heeding her own advice, she took one brave step forward, then another, straightened out her back, and tried to feign confidence. A few people looked nice, but even if they weren't, all she had to do was keep trying until she found someone who was.
Never give up, her grandfather would have told her. Maybe he would forget that saying completely one day.
But Tawny Brown never would.
"Tell me you missed me," said Ruby.
"Nope." beamed Jaune.
It was probably the longest hug out of the group—so long as you didn't count Nora's refusal to let go. Pyrrha found herself smiling though, Ruby and Jaune had always had a special kind of connection, like lost siblings who'd only just discovered one another. Jaune laid his cheek atop her head and Ruby pressed her cheek into his chest as deep as she could, the whole time she demanded him to admit to missing her, and him failing to convince her otherwise.
"Alright, little sister make way." Yang said, strutting up. "I need to get a feel of our resident champion, too."
As soon as Ruby broke away, Yang broke the distance and threw her arms over Jaune's shoulder. The way Pyrrha had used to. Back then, Jaune had only ever let her hug him that way, and no one else. More than likely that was just because she was the tallest of the girls and so could do it, but she'd nonetheless gotten used to the idea that it was an embrace reserved for her and her partner. But that was back when she believed she owned him.
So despite that unexpected, yet no less familiar, pang of jealousy, Pyrrha tried to be happy for Yang too.
It was as Jaune had finished wrapping up the reunions with the others that he voiced a question that Pyrrha had been wondering herself. "Where's Vel?"
"On an extended mission in Vacuo," said Weiss. "From what I heard, they've been there since the end of the school year."
Jaune blinked. "Even through the summer? Why?"
"I'm not privy to the details. But I know the mission was serious—so much so that they graduated to third year over a video call rather than the usual ceremony."
Pyrrha remembered doing that herself. A quick chat with Professor Goodwitch and a little get together with Team ABRN to celebrate. But for mission purposes, she could only imagine how serious the mission had to be. It made her think about the fact that the second year—this year—would be prominent with their first missions. They would have to expect to sometimes be off of school grounds for months, if it came to it.
Jaune sighed. "Damn."
"She'll be back soon, I bet." said Nora, no doubt sensing his disappointment. "Till then, we need to catch up. You would not believe what Renny and I have been up to!"
"Nothing, really." quipped Ren.
"Ignore him. Ren can do all kinds of crazy stuff now. He's been training his butt off."
"Only slightly more than usual. Don't inflate me, Nora."
"He's being modest! Seriously, he—"
You know that moment where you're in the vicinity of a conversation, and you want to pitch into it, but can't find a natural opening? This was one of those for Pyrrha. Only what made it worse was that everyone was pitching something to the topic, talking over one another, cracking jokes, laughing, all in a natural haze of friendship. While she just stood there and tried to pretend to be part of it. Smiling when appropriate. Sure, Blake did the same, but that's what she liked to do. Normally Pyrrha could just contribute.
But now that Jaune was here, the dynamic had shifted considerably.
Everyone was more drawn to him than her, and while they definitely weren't doing it on purpose, it still left a feeling a little left out. Even if all she had to do was say something to get attention.
It didn't help that Jaune had hugged everyone but her. And there was no way to tell if that was an accident or not.
"—that tornado attack I did last year? I can do it without the dust!" said Ruby. "Well, it's not as strong, but I've gotta show you!"
"Maybe we should continue this somewhere else." Ren cut through the noise. "Perhaps in the dorm? Where the ice cream cake is melting?"
"Oh I forgot! We got a cake for you, Jaune!" Ruby took Jaune's hand in hers and led him off. "Come on, and on the way we can stop by the training rooms so I can show you my Petal Twister!"
"I feel like that name needs work." said Blake, following.
"I second that," added Weiss.
Sure enough, everyone headed for the exit. The amphitheatre by now mostly empty, to the point that Pyrrha could hear their footsteps recede. She watched them go, no idea why she wasn't following. But part of her wondered if they'd even miss her. Gotten a cake for Jaune, Ruby had said, not Jaune and Pyrrha. It was a petty thought, not at all true and certainly not the core issue, but a microcosm of what she feared. That things would be different. Maybe too different.
"Hey, what's the matter?"
Pyrrha looked beside her to find that Nora hadn't joined everyone. Looking up at her with a concerned smile, as trying to cheer up someone in untreatable pain. Pyrrha sighed. "I'm fine."
Nora did not look like she believed her in the slightest. "It's only the first day. You two'll be buddy-buddy gumdrops again before long, I promise."
Pyrrha tried to find some relief in that distant hope, even if there was no guarantee. Maybe it wasn't worth getting so down about. It was only the first day after all. Pyrrha felt Nora slip her arm around hers, clung to her side with a grin and a dramatic point forward. "Hey, chin up, alright? We've a long adventure ahead of us! To the cake, my trusty steed. Giddy up!"
Pyrrha grinned and allowed her teammate to lead them off. Leave it to Nora to drag anyone out of a slump. It was a real superpower of hers. Unfortunately. it wouldn't be enough to mend her relationship with her partner.
Which was good, because it wouldn't mean anything if she didn't do it herself.
I wrote these two chapters months ago in an attempt to get the spark back. Not sure if it worked, but I figured I'd share it anyway. No guarantee I'll continue or be back full-time, but I'll try. Thank you to EmperorLuffy and ZH_Steven for trying to help me with this.
