A/N: Reviews are working again- yay! I did read them all through my email notifications as they came up though, so don't worry. The number is wrong I think, but whatevs. Keep the reviews coming- they've been a blast to read!

Also, I totally didn't tear up while writing this chapter. Nope. Not me. I'm a grown-ass woman who can handle sadness.

OST: Why by ayaka

OST: Too Much is Never Enough by Florence + the Machine

T-3.

Laws of Attraction

This wasn't supposed to happen.

The girl gasped in pain, and Pyrrha's eyes snapped open once more. She was in the capsule, the glow around her body fading rapidly. And, standing at the end of the hall, was Cinder.

She quickly took in the situation. Jaune and Professor Ozpin were shocked by the woman's appearance, frozen as they looked over at Amber. Pyrrha glanced over at the other pod and shuddered, panic overtaking her heart, as she saw an arrow protruding violently from the girl's chest, shot through the glass itself. She pounded her fists against the door, desperate to escape- but she couldn't move, couldn't get out.

All of the green-tinted lamps which lined the hall extinguished in that instant, leaving nothing but darkness behind the newcomer. An explosion of orange energy popped open Amber's pod, the lid flying away whilst the energy shot straight into Cinder's chest. Immediately, the girl's eyes began to glow and she rose in the air, flames of power swirling around her. Pyrrha could only watch in terror as Jaune raised his sword, racing towards the fiery woman.

"Stay back!" she heard Professor Ozpin cry out of sight from his place at the monitors. It was too late- the new Fall Maiden shot a blast of flame at Jaune, sending the boy flying back.

"Jaune!" Pyrrha screamed, voice hoarse with pure terror. Beating against the pod door with her fists, she finally gave up. Forcing her Semblance into the frame, she pushed away from her with all her might, sending the door of her cell flying back toward Cinder. The glowing girl- You're a murderer, Pyrrha roared internally- knocked the heavy lid away from herself effortlessly. How dare you hurt him!

Leaping out of the pod, she summoned Miló and Akoúo into her hands, crouching low, ready to strike. Before she could launch an attack, however, Professor Ozpin jumped before her, holding her back with an extended arm. She paused, glancing up at him furiously.

The man looked back at her with so much desperation that it shook her to her very core. "Take Jaune and get out of here!" he commanded. "Find Glynda! Ironwood! Qrow! Bring them here right away! The tower cannot fall!"

She raised her shield, hiding her face from Cinder, pleading, "But I can help."

Professor Ozpin slowly turned his head around to stare Pyrrha dead in the eyes, conviction and regret battling for dominance. "…You'll only get in the way."

She slowly dragged her eyes away from his stern gaze, dropping it to the floor. She wanted to protest, but when the nearby blond began to stumble back to his feet, she knew there was no time to argue. Jaune was here. He was in danger. First things first, she needed to rectify that.

Immediately, she jogged over to the boy, grabbing his arm and hauling him to his feet. He was clearly disoriented, but there was no time for him to recover- she simply pulled him forward, getting his feet started again, and began running out of the room. As she passed Cinder, she glared at the woman with such intensity that the Maiden could only laugh in response.

The run through the hallways was silent, save for the echoes of their footsteps, their ragged breathing, and the hushed murmurs exchanged between the headmaster and the mastermind behind the assault. The quiet between them gave Pyrrha time to think, time to digest what had just occurred.

Amber is gone. Cinder is the new Fall Maiden. She is the reason behind everything that has gone on at Beacon this year. I wasn't crazy- I wasn't overreacting. Something was wrong.

Finally arriving at the elevator, they bolted inside and jammed the button to bring them back up to the ground floor. Jaune immediately collapsed onto the ground, leaning against the wall with a groan as the elevator began to rise once more. Pyrrha, on the other hand, simply leaned forward, resting her forearm against the wall above the buttons.

I was so ready to give it all up, she thought numbly. I would have given it all away, if I could take the power of the Maidens from Cinder. She shuddered, clenching her fist tight.

"Cinder's behind the attack?"

"Yes."

"But why?"

She didn't respond. She couldn't. If only she had the answers.

At that moment, though, the entire elevator shook, sounds of clashing blades and explosions filling the shaft around them.

"That… that can't be from Cinder and Ozpin, right?" Jaune whispered, absolutely terrified.

Pyrrha grimaced. I didn't know that the Maidens were that powerful. How is Professor Ozpin supposed to stop her on his own?

She gingerly raised her head, looking at her reflection in the metal surface. Her green eyes were haggard, skin pale and clammy- the makeup had long since rubbed off, revealing horribly exhausted dark circles under her eyes. Her lips were cracked and torn, bleeding somehow from when she had bitten them amidst the pain. She swiped her tongue over the injury, watching it persist. It was strange, though- injuries that small usually never lasted-

Oh no. She pulled out her Scroll with trembling hands. Her Aura gauge was well in the red. Please, no. Not now. I need to stay strong. I can't fall apart right now.

She cast a tentative glance back at Jaune, who was massaging the lump on his forehead he'd gained after trying to take on Cinder. He still looked out of it, dizzy.

The bell signifying their arrival on ground floor is what truly broke Pyrrha out of her thoughts. The moment the doors opened up, she pulled Jaune to his feet and dragged one of his hands to cover his eyes. "Don't look, Jaune," she whispered, grabbing onto his other hand and leading him out of the elevator. "Hold your breath. I've got you."

Jaune didn't reply, but he didn't fight, either- he simply sighed, nodded, and held his breath while she bolted to the exit, finding the driest route for them to take. The bodies were still fresh, but the scent of iron and gunpowder, along with the residual rotting stench of the Grimm, was overpowering. Pyrrha bit her tongue and kept going, keeping her eyes locked onto the entrance. Everything inside was red and black and congealed- a veritable slaughterhouse.

Finally, they reached fresh air. The sounds of the underground fight continued to shake the foundations of the building behind them, echoing into the courtyard. We need to help Professor Ozpin. He's not going to be able to handle this alone.

Halting beside her at the foot of the stairs leading up to the CCT, Jaune hunched over for a moment, gasping for air. When he straightened at last, he pulled out his Scroll, muttering, "Okay, I think I have Glynda's number." He wandered around, scoffing in frustration. "Oh, where is it?" His Scroll kept beeping as he flipped through contacts, cursing under his breath quietly.

While he searched, Pyrrha simply turned on her heel, staring up at the tower. I was ready to give it up back there. Another muted explosion, another rumbling clash. I'm still ready to put it all on the line. Those were going to be my powers- but, even if they're not mine, can I still stand up to them?

Jaune's voice brought her back to the moment. He looked up at her, desperate and confused and so broken that Pyrrha wanted nothing more than to gather him in her arms. "Pyrrha? What was all of that?"

She tore her eyes away from his plaintiff face. "I-I…"

Out of nowhere, a major explosion actually caused tremors in the courtyard itself, knocking them both off balance momentarily. All was still as they spun to face the tower once more- but soon, the sound of crackling flames echoed through the tower, rising up from below, then jetting straight to the top of the CCT. It was clear that the battle was over, and that they both knew who the victor was.

Jaune is safe. I have to go.

The one remaining logical voice in her head cried, You can't! That's… that's…

Suicide, the black box whispered.

She didn't care what they said, though. She had people to protect. She had a home to save. She needed to fight. And if even the headmaster of Beacon couldn't take Cinder down, it was up to her.

Jaune breathed dejectedly, "But... Ozpin..."

"There's no time," Pyrrha said quietly, shaking her head. Shifting to face the blond, she commanded, "Go! Get to Vale, and call for help." Her voice was surprisingly steady. For that, she was grateful.

"Huh? What're you gonna do?" Jaune turned to face her fully, worry painting his brow. She could see his thoughts racing, confusion building so clearly in his eyes.

She opened her mouth to reply, but the words wouldn't come out. Instead, she stood there, taking in the image before her.

Jaune, please stop that. Please don't look like you're about to cry.

If he knew about your plan, her mind supplied, he just might.

But, she retorted silently, carving every lock of hair, every lash, every acne scar and split on his lip and awkward lilt and scuff in his armour, into her memory, if I let him stay, he'd die. And if Jaune died… then it wouldn't matter if I'm still me, if I'm not a Maiden. I would never be real a Huntress if I couldn't protect him. That's all I've ever really wanted, right?

Her eyes swept over Jaune's shoulder, settling onto an opened, rocket-propelled weapons locker sitting behind the blond, emptied of its contents. So I need to get him out of here. She then turned her head up to stare at the clock resting on top of Beacon Tower. It was almost midnight. There was an orange glow from within the highest office- Professor Ozpin's office.

Jaune followed her gaze to the tower, alarm rising in his voice. "No... no, Pyrrha, you can't." He leaned in front of her, cutting her off from the tower's entrance. "You saw how powerful she is!" He gestured wildly at the tower, frantic and pleading.

Pyrrha sighed, closing her eyes, biting her tongue. Gods, Jaune, please stop- I'll be back, I swear it-

But will you be back? the black box, and the logical part of her brain, sang in twisted unison. Will you make it back?

She looked back at Jaune, trying to keep her own emotions in check. The boy's lips wobbled, his voice cracking as he sobbed, "Pyrrha, I won't let you do-"

It was too much.

Her eyes watered. This year with you- it wasn't enough. On instinct, she reached out, grabbing Jaune's head in both hands- and, with a forceful tug, she pulled the boy towards her, angled her face, and placed her lips on his.

His lips were dry- that was her first realization. They were limp and dry and cold and chapped against her own, in equally bad condition. There was a faint taste of vomit, and she almost laughed, because she couldn't tell if it was from her, or from him. But, she pressed herself against him, and he was warm, so warm, and his face in her hands was perfect, and their heights matched just right so she didn't need to rise up on her toes or force herself into his arms- she just fit. With the barest peek through her red lashes, she could see his blue eyes so damn close to hers- at first, wide with shock and fear, then narrow, heavy lidded, relaxing as he folded himself into and around her.

And then, he began kissing back. And that- that changed everything.

Suddenly, his arms cradled her, landing around her waist and pulling her close. Suddenly, her body was flush against his, and the warmth multiplied by a thousand fold. Suddenly, she let herself raise her foot behind her, leaning upwards into him, and he held on, supporting her. Suddenly, his head was cocking to the side, angling to better fit her proud nose along his, and his lips were parting, moving against her own, and it was heady and intoxicating and perfect.

Thank you for everything, she whispered into his mouth, into the breath she passed into his lungs.

He simply kissed back for dear life, eyes closed, looking so at peace with his large hands holding her tight, that it felt like they had been doing this all their lives. Please don't go, his lips seemed to beg.

She pulled back slightly, pressing one deep, longing final kiss upon his lips before moving away. She ran a tender hand down his chest with one hand, cupping his cheek with the other. The boy's eyes, so blue and wide and sweet fluttered open, nervous and shy and lost- pleading with her to explain.

There was no time. "I'm sorry." Her voice finally cracked, and she smiled the best she could, blinking back the tears. Her thumb stroked his cheek, and the boy instinctively nuzzled against her palm, hazily looking up at her with hooded, yearning eyes.

With that, she dragged her other hand down to his chest, gathered up her Semblance in her hands, and repelled his metal breastplate as hard as she could.

Jaune's face twisted into a cry of fear as his body slammed backwards, landing squarely in the open locker she had seen moments ago. Upon impact, the locker slammed shut, automatically locking tight. "Hey! W-wait! Stop, stop!" His voice pitched up, high and terrified and confused. He curled his fingers through the ventilation slits in the metal case, watching her with growing concern.

She walked over slowly, looking down at the pinpad. She knew the coordinates to the western quadrant of Vale. They had all memorized local coordinates in one of their first classes. A tear rolled down her cheek, wry smile springing to her lips as she remember how long she and Ren had quizzed Jaune about those coordinates until he could pass Professor Oobleck's tests on the matter.

With a shaky breath, she punched in the code in question. The western point of Vale… that was the closest to the evacuation zones. As she typed in the right address, Jaune's eyes widened, understanding hitting him all at once. He sobbed, "Pyrrha, please don't do this!"

That was the last straw. Her heart shattered, listening to his voice echoing in the locker, the sobs making his cheeks and nose and eyes a bright red, tears streaming down his cheeks. He paid no regard to how tightly he gripped onto the slits in the locker, to how the metal cut into his fingers, drawing blood. And yet, she was on the other side of it, never able to stand with him in his grief.

But this is what I have to do.

How wonderful it would be if she could go with him! If she could just cancel the launch, open the locker- gather him in her arms, let them go together-

But Miló and Akoúo were still on her back, constant reminders of the legacy she needed to conquer, and the orange light at the top of Beacon Tower was growing stronger. In the distance, silhouetted darkly in the night sky, was the shape of the giant, demonic winged Grimm, circling the school from up above.

She leaned in close, gently prying his fingers off of the frame, pushing them away when he scrambled to hold onto her in the thin gaps. She pressed her forehead against the locker for a moment, letting out one sole, heaving sob. Then, she raised her face until she was standing at eye-level with him, and his mouth was blocked by the bars on the lockers from her view. She knew he probably could only see her eyes, too.

In the quietest of whispers, she said, "Tell Nora, and everyone, that I love you all."

Fresh tears spilled out of Jaune's eyes as the boy whispered back, "No, no- no, Pyrrha, please, I'm begging you, talk to me, open up-"

She slumped over slightly. I love you, she mouthed, forever. Always. Be safe. His blue eyes- the colour of the sky, of onesies and blankets and clear waters and Jaune- widened imperceptibly in shock. She barely noticed.

And then, she stepped back, and the locker flew away.

Goodbye, Jaune.

Clenching her fists, her eyes followed the locker until it disappeared off into the distance. With the silence in the air restored, she wiped her face and turned back to the tower, sprinting through it to the elevator.

Sometime during Cinder's fight with Ozpin, the elevator had become jammed on the second floor. She groaned, bolting to the staircase leading up to the next floor. As she ran, her thoughts drifted off, still transfixed upon the boy she had just lost.

Nora always joked about using my Semblance to pull him closer, she thought angrily. I never thought I'd only ever use it to push him away. Taking the stairs two at a time, she snorted, bitter. It's ironic. I did it to keep him safe. But didn't Professor Ozpin keep everything a secret to keep us safe? Didn't General Ironwood bring his armies to keep us safe? Why has it all led to this?

It's up to me now, isn't it?

She ran across the thankfully-empty second floor, no sign of carnage visible as it had been upon the ground floor. The elevator doors were jammed, sitting askew. With a combination of her polarity and her physical strength, she pried open the doors, expecting a decently-functioning cage.

Instead, all she found was a pile of sparking wires and smoke poking through matching holes in the torn-up floor and ceiling, the metal bent to show Cinder's movement upward.

There's no time.

She closed her eyes, summoning her Aura into her hands. It was so weak- the burning red in her heart was barely enough to light kindling, transforming into the wispiest ghost of black polarity around her fists. No. This isn't enough.

She concentrated, thinking of Jaune, thinking of Professor Ozpin- of Nora and Ruby and Penny and Beacon and her mother and every other person she'd met and spoken to and loved during her time at this school, and her heart swelled with anger and sorrow and scalding rage. Those feelings somehow transformed into power, and soon, she could hear the metal creaking around her, her polarity bending the walls of the elevator itself, building up potential energy in the floor as she shifted the charges of the wiring below the box to repel the elevator above. She held it there as long as she could, ignoring the protests of the structure until she couldn't hold it any longer.

I have to go.

She released the elevator, effectively catapulting the entire box up the elevator shaft like a speeding bullet. She clenched her jaw, bracing herself for the landing. Miló and Akoúo entered her hands, poised for the fight to come.

I... am Pyrrha Nikos. Child of the house of Vulcan. I will not run.