/==/ Chapter Six /==/
"So have you spoken to your team, yet?" Glynda asked Pyrrha as the pair walked through the halls of Beacon.
"I want to, but..."
"There are two ways you can address this whole situation, in regard to your actions." Glynda stopped and turned to face the young huntress-in-taining. "You can attempt to act like they didn't happen; which I can tell will make things worse. Or you can go speak to your team and be honest with them about your feelings."
"But what if..."
"They don't listen to you?" Pyrrha nodded in response to Glynda's question, "Then you can try harder to get your points across in a calm manner, or you can accept that the issue can't be resolved and move on."
"I kind of have a feeling, at least a small one deep inside that they will accept me back, in time."
"From what I know of your team's personalities, I can be pretty confident in that assessment."
"But Jaune."
"Out of everyone affected by the revelations about Jaune, I feel; and this is because I have know Jaune for her whole life, she would be most likely to accept you back first. It's just the way she is." Glynda, touched Pyrrha's shoulder urging her to start walking again. The pair heading towards Beacon's main doors. "But that's not all that you want to speak to Jaune about is it?"
"No it's not."
"So what else?"
"My feelings for him... her; and what the Headmasters spoke to me about. I have questions about this power."
"Ask me, and I will give you what information I can."
"I know what Headmaster Ozpin hinted at, but still it seems impossible. Is magic truly real?"
"It is. I was actually a magical ritual that Ozpin used to hide Jaune, as a male."
"Would that?"
"No, Ms Nikos. That will not happen to you. Jaune is a special case. Unlike you she has no combat training, and to be honest she is only here, because with all the combat capable students, not to mention Beacon's staff she can be protected."
"So she was being hid behind a wall of students? That seems a little..."
"Manipulative?" Pyrrha just nodded, allowing Glynda to continue, "It was, but it was also the best decision possible for the situation. But understand it is the priority of the staff, Ozpin and myself in particular to be that buffer for Jaune. Not the students. They just added..."
"An additional incentive not to go after Jaune?"
"Correct."
"But these powers? If they are so strong how did she?"
"To be honest, we don't know. What we do know is Amber was ambushed, that was the main deciding factor, in our course of action with regard to Jaune."
"And if I accept, those same people would be coming for me, like they could Jaune?"
"That is correct."
"What does Jaune know about these powers?"
"Not much more than you do I'm afraid." Glynda replied as the pair strolled through beacon's ornate gardens. "There is a plan, one of my own design to start training her in these abilities, and you are included IF you accept the offer."
"What happens to Amber if I do this? The Headmasters sort of explained it as me taking her soul into my body. That it could have consequences to who I am."
"Amber's body will die, and before you react to that statement, I should point out that Amber is in a coma and barely being kept alive by some of the most advanced medical equipment Atlas has access to." Glynda stopped walking and stood still, looking up into the sky, "It is an Aura transfer machine, and as you have been taught; Aura is an extension of one's soul, that can manifested outside of the body to power semblances, provide limited ability to resist injury; and enhance physical attributes. So yes, in the most basic explanation, you would be taking Amber's soul into your own body."
"And that could change me?"
"It could. That is one of the unknowns. If the process will work as intended, and if you'll suffer some change in your personality. It is also theorized that you may end up in possession of Amber's memories."
"I'm not sure I can do this."
"Think on it some more. As much as the Headmasters want this to happen sooner, rather than later; in the end of the day it is YOUR decision; and it should be one you are comfortable accepting."
"Could I still speak to Jaune, or my team about this? They suggested I didn't."
"I would say yes; tell them. They all know about Jaune, and you all saw a fraction of the power hidden with in her. From what I gathered from Ms. Belladonna and Mr. Ren you and him felt a portion of that power as well. So speak with your team. Consider their input before you make a final decision." Glynda truned from looking up into the sky to focusing on Pyrrha's emerald eyes. "Take you time, but also consider that the sooner you make the decision, the more time you'll have."
"To gain control of that power, if I say yes."
"That is correct, Ms. Nikos. But also for us to approach an alternate candidate, in the situation that you choose not to consent to the procedure." Glynda gave the indecisive girl an uncharacteristically warm smile. "In the end of it all, regardless of what other people's wants, or opinions are; it comes down to what you feel is the right course of action. Remember that."
"I guess I have a lot to think about and sort out." Pyrrha sighed.
"You do, but I will excuse you from classes for the day, so you can have some freedom and time to work things out."
/=/
Lunch was starting to be served, when Jaune and Coco had finally risen from the cocoon of comfort they had been sharing. Having nothing else to wear, Coco slid her outfit from the previous day on, while Jaune slid into a Beacon uniform and began playing with her hair.
"Why do you have that on?"
"I'm going to class." Jaune replied in a matter of fact tone, like it was obvious what she was planning, all the while she worked with her waterfall of golden spun blond hair. Separating it into two equal parts.
"Aren't you supposed to stay here during this time?"
"Not going to. I'm tired, and if things are going to change then I need to start letting others see me, as I am." Jaune replied as he pulled a set of hair hair clips featuring the Arc crest.
"I don't think..."
"I don't care. I'm tired, and I want to do something; other than hide away." Jaune slapped her hands on her little make up dresser, and pouted; her face easily seen by Cocco by way of the mirror.
"Jaune."
"No." Jaune pouted, "AT least let me go to lunch with you."
"Okay, that I can handle."
Jaune's mood instantly changed, and she clapped her hands, lightly before jumping from her seat, whipping around and digging out the sandal heels. Coco shook her head as she watched Jaune slide them on, while humming cheerfully and swaying her head left and right, causing her golden twin tails to dance around her shoulders.
"Ready?" Coco asked, while resisting the urge to post a picture of Jaune's ensemble. She got a smile and nod of the head from Jaune as an answer, as the young woman rose from her bed.
/=/
Cinder hung up her scroll, and set it on the table before her. Leaning back in her chair she raised her hand and started taping a single finger against her chin. Lionheart had given her a plethora of information. She would need to wait a for a little bit of time as he transferred the associated student files for her to study further.
"Cinder, mam?" Emerald asked, as she took a seat at the table to Cinder's right.
"Things have just become much more interesting."
"How so?" Mercury asked from his place on a ratty sofa, while never looking up from his scroll.
"It seems there is a second maiden at Beacon."
"So?" Mercury responded with out much interest.
"Her presence complicates our plans, and will require us to modify our approach; somewhat."
"How so, mam?" Emerald asked.
"Well, Lionheart has confirmed that they are going to attempt to do an Aura transfer, using Pyrrha Nikos. He was however unable to gain the identity of this other maiden. Which means when we attend Beacon as planned we will have to discover her identity." Cinder paused and removed her finger from her chin, "Which complicates our plans, to a small degree."
"So how are we going to adjust?" asked Emerald.
"We are going to be more vigilant in our observations of the priority targets; but also the general student population; particularly the female demographic."
"So look for signs of someone with an overly powerful elemental semblance?" asked Mercury
"Yes, and possibly for someone who seems to be overly protected."
"And if..." Cinder gave Emerald a glare, " I mean WHEN we find her?"
"Covert her, or kill her." Cinder replied without a hint of emotion.
"Killing her would be easiest." Mercury offered.
"Yes it would, but it can not be you Mercury. Emerald will have to the deed."
"Which will make me a maiden."
"Yes, if you do it correctly. She will NEED to be thinking of you, and only you when she dies, or we will lose the power. I CANNOT lose this power."
"And converting her?" asked Mercury.
"Yes, that will be our first option. Once we know who she is, we will approach her. Offer her protection, training and power."
"And if she doesn't want power, because it is obvious Beacon is or will be already doing those other two things." asked Emerald.
"Then she dies." Cinder replied in a matter of fact tone.
/=/
Pyrrha stood in front of the door to JNPR's dorm room. She wrung her hands nervously. Butterflies twisted and fluttered in her stomach. When she had first started her tournament career; she had had similar feelings but no where as acute as she was now suffering. Scenarios ran through her mind, all of them negative, all of them ending with her being cast aside, and losing what she had gained since coming to Beacon. Hesitantly she raised her hand to knock. She could have just scanned her scroll and opened the door, but she held back. She needed them to want to listen to her, and not just barge in and expect them to give her this chance.
The door opened, and Pyrrha was greeted by the smiling face of Nora, which crashed into a scowl upon the ginger registering that it was Pyrrha standing before her, and not someone else.
"What do you want?"
"Can I talk to you and Ren?" Pyrrha asked her voice small and pained.
"I think you said enough in the Headmaster's office." Nora scoffed as she crossed her arms underneath her bust.
"Please?" Pyrrha almost begged, "Can I have the chance, and if after you never want to see me again I'll... I'll understand."
"You attacked Fearless Leader." Nora growled, "You said things and made him...er her cry. I never ever thought you could be such an unfeeling monster. You disgust me."
"I'm sorry." Pyrrha responded, her voice cracking, "I am, and... and... I want to make it right. With you guys. I really do."
"And what about Jaune?" Nora asked, obvious aggression in her voice.
"I will... and I.. want to." Pyrrha swallowed, "I was so angry, and hurt..."
"So you take it out on Jaune?" Ren asked as he moved to stand behind Nora, placing his hand upon her shoulder.
"I didn't mean to... I... I just..."
"Were a complete an utter bitch." Nora cut in. "I bitch that I don't want to listen to excuses from."
"Please." Pyrrha pleaded, as tears welled up in her emerald eyes, her knees threatening to give out "Please?"
"Nora." Ren spoke her name softly, "Maybe we should give her a chance."
"I don't want to." Nora snapped. "She doesn't deserve it."
Pyrrha fought to keep from collapsing right there in front of them. What little hope that was left in her heart at the slim chance she would be able to salvage her connections with her team, with her friends evaporating like water on the sands of Vacuo.
"Nora, just listening doesn't mean you have to forgive her. She is our teammate, and was our friend"
That final statement was the nail in the coffin that contained her last shred of dignity. She stumbled backwards, her back slamming into the far wall. She slid down it, all strength have fled her legs, tears flowing from her eyes. Sobs broke from her lips, and her breathing became hitched. That was it. She had lost everything. Because she lashed out in her hurt and anger. If Nora and Ren felt this way about her, what chance did she have with Jaune; the one person she had aimed all her anger, hurt and frustration at.
"Nora help me."
"Why bother Ren? Leave her out here."
"Nora she is still our teammate. Let's hear what she has to say." Ren commented as he slid past the usually cheerful ginger "Come Pyrrha let's get you inside."
Pyrrha just sat there, feeling fully broken. There was no strength left in her.
"Nora, help me get her to her bed."
Nora snorted, and moved out into the hall. Standing on her right side, with Ren on Pyrrha's left, they reached down and hauled the champion to her feet. Her legs were like rubber, and the pair grunted with some effort to support her almost completely limp form. After a couple of steps, Pyrrha's legs gained some strength back and she was able to walk with minimal assistance into JNPR's dorm. A room that she feared she wouldn't be allowed back into ever again; after everything was said and done.
As they moved past the door, Nora kicked it with her heel, causing it to slam closed.
/=/
Yang saw they enter first, and a mischievous smirk crossed her face. Pulling out her scroll she cracked the speakers to max, while also typing in a quick search in the CCT Net browser.
"Yang?" Blake asked noticing the look on her partner. "Yang what are you...?"
"Applause" by Lady Gaga blasted over the tiny speakers, causing the rest of team RWBY to wince at the volume, but being barely heard over the customary din that filled the cafeteria during lunch. Somehow Jaune heard it, and with a smirk that mirrored Yang's she rushed over. Her movement accentuated by the rapid staccato of her heels upon the tiled floor.
"Ja... Angel!" Yang stammer as Jaune snatched the scroll from Yang's hands, and before the rest of team RWBY or Cocco could say or do anything; Jaune leaned in an started to whisper into Yang's ear. Blake able to hear the whispered conversation that was happening right beside her, dropped her head forward in defeat.
Getting a playful swat on her ass, Yang rushed off after being given back her scroll. Cocco raised an eyebrow at the display, while Weiss and Ruby looked stunned, and Blake just continued to hang her head. The crash of a door being opened forcefully, cut through the din of the expansive room. Causing everyone to grow quiet wondering what just happened. "Damn Gurl" by Nefflex ripped over the pa system in the library as Yang came rushing back to the table.
Without pause, Jaune grabbed her and Cocco by the wrists and surprisingly dragged them into a clear spot on the floor. Weiss' face grew red, as Ruby's mouth dropped open, while Blake just refused to look up. As the music played Jaune book-ended by Yang and Cocco started to move. Tossing her head back and forth, causing her twin tails to whip and dance through the air. Second later she allowed she shoulders and then hips follow suit, and soon she was weaving and swaying around the clear section of floor.
Grinning wildly, and on the verge of laughing Yang followed suit. Soon the pair of blonds were giggling and moving about the empty section of floor, feet, legs, hips, torsos, shoulders, and hair moving about. The pair circled each other, their arms slowly rising above their heads. They moved falling in to sync with one another as "Rumours" by Nefflex replaced the first song.
Cocco backed away, shaking her head at the random display; but her eyes quickly narrowed as the pair of blonds closed upon each other. She noticed Jaune wink at Yang, who replied with a smile and a quick raise and lower of her eyebrows. Whistles and clapping at catcalls started to fill the massive room as the pair separated and grabbed a set of random girls from their seats. The the brunette and redhead additions were bashful until the energy of Yang and Jaune started to wash over them. Soon a quartet of girls was moving about; bodies swaying, and sashaying in time with the music.
As "Like a Record" by Dope ripped its way into the air, the energy in the cafeteria quickly grew, and soon the room was full of less eating and talking and much more laughing, moving bodies, and more than a smattering of scrolls openly recording the growing mass of students that were joining in to the infectiousness of the freely danging quartet.
As she watched, with an amused expression Cocco was caught unaware as Jaune appeared at her side, and with greater strength than the fashionista would have attributed to her found herself dragged into the centre of the eclectic mix of hair colours and styles as "Popstars" by KD/A. Draping her arms over the slightly shorter girl's shoulders Jaune smiled; looking directly into Cocco's eyes through her trademark sunglasses.
"AND what is the MEANING of this?" came the single most terrifying voice of Beacon.
/=/
Pyrrha was an absolute wreck as Nora sat beside her on Jaune's bed. Her hand gently rubbing her back. The champion had been reduced to an utter shell of her once invincible persona. Tears freely ran down her cheeks. Her eyes red with weeping. Her voice was a mere whisper, and often chocked on the sobs that caused her body to shake. Ren sat on Nora's bed as he regarded his teammate and friend. He could tell she was ripping herself apart over what had happened. He tried to figure out a scenario that could lead to a resolution, but no matter the pathways he chose in the end it always came back that Pyrrha and Jaune needed to met face to face. They needed to talk.
However there was something more troubling. Pyrrha through sobs and chokes; relayed in part the choice that was sitting before her. Ren met Nora's eye, and the pair had an unspoken conversation. Nora was on the side of Ren. Things were too chaotic. Pyrrha was in no shape to make any decisions in her current state. She was destroying herself with grief, and self depreciation. She freely admitted that what had happened was totally out of character for her. That she had no idea what had come over her.
Ren and Nora had another unspoken conversation, and made a silent mutual decision. As much as what she had done; Pyrrha was still a friend and teammate. She was in pain, and without their support she would never be able to do what was right for her. Ren nodded to Nora.
"Pyr-Pyr, you need some rest. Why don't you lie down. We'll be here when you wake up."
"Promise?" Pyrhaa asked her red rimmed and water filled eyes practically begging.
"Promise." Nopra replied before adding, "Get some rest, and after we'll work all this out as teammates, as friends."
Pyrrha said nothing, but just grabbed hold of Nora, pulling her close. She buried her head into the energetic ginger's shoulder, and let her body just slump. Sobs shaking her powerful form. Nora looked at Ren, and he just sighed. They knew this was going to be a long process. It was going to tax them, but in the end if they wanted to keep their team together. If they wanted their new family to be whole once again. Pyrrha would need their support and comfort; as would Jaune.
/==/
Slightly shorter chapter than average. Just over 3.5K words. Had re-read the story to get a reminder of where I was going with things. I think I'm back on track, so hopefully after such a long absence this one matches up and continues the story in a sensible manner. (I cringed seeing all the errors/missed words/typos I should go back and correct.)
So there is a POLL on my bio page. It basically allows three choice, and the ending result will be the order in which I COMPLETE some of my stories. I've looked at my collection of works, and shivered. I was becoming one of those writers that leaves things unfinished. I want to correct that, but I need to focus, and the push to do that will come from you my readers (Please).
A couple of other quick notes. I'm thinking of doing another couple of "gender-swap" stories for Jaune. One with Jaune becoming a twin-tail, and the second with his and his "female" side being a Jekyll/Hyde situation.
Anyway, as always. Critiques, comments and suggestions are always more than welcomes. (I love reading the comments when I notice that I have new ones.)
Hope you enjoyed.
