A/N: T-1. Here we are. I said it would go a bit past volume 3. Just a bit. This would've been out yesterday, but life is complicated and busy- also, I realized that in order to do it justice, it would take a lot more than the original 2000 words I thought I would need. So, enjoy a long chapter!

*Note how the 'complete' marker isn't up quite yet.

OST: Paper Boats by Darren Korb – for if you want extra feelings. I listened to this the entire time I wrote this chapter.

OST: Green by cavetown. This was my jam for editing.

Laws of Attraction

I've been here before.

It was an errant thought, truly- just a wisp of a dream that touched her heart before flying away in the wind, leaving her behind. She felt warm, and her heart beat in her chest soundly. It was oddly slow- she couldn't remember it having ever thumped so gradually before- but she didn't mind. There was a nostalgic tint to hearing that heartbeat echo through her ears, pulsing, ebbing and flowing.

Her eyes fluttered open slowly. Despite all of the blinding white light around her, she didn't need to adjust for the brightness. Her eyes just… knew. Closing her eyes again, she gingerly tensed her body from head to toe, testing sensation in each of her limbs. There was no pain, no agony. Keeping her eyes closed, she let one hand drag up her chest until it sat right above her sternum.

There was no wound. Instead, only pure, untouched skin met her careful fingertips. And, pulsing underneath her skin, flesh, bones- it was the same slow, rhythmic thumping.

I know I fought Cinder. I… I know what happened. It was strangely comforting, having the memories slowly trickle back into her mind. The battle- Beacon- Ruby and Nora and Ren, and everyone-

Kissing Jaune goodbye-

But she didn't feel sad. It was almost as if she had fully internalized the situation, letting herself reside in resignation until the end of her days. It felt alright. She wasn't angry, nor frustrated- just confused.

With that, she opened her eyes. What greeted her was not actually a bright white light- instead, it was simply white space. Nothingness.

Glancing down, she sighed, understanding dawning on her once more. This… this is where I met Amber. Pyrrha's feet weren't touching the ground. There was no ground to stand on, after all. She extended her legs, willing herself downwards. Just like her last visit to this nothingness, her heels made contact with a firm, but invisible, floor, giving her some footing in the emptiness.

The redhead wrapped her arms around herself, revelling in the warmth the action brought her. She felt safe, wrapped up in a blanket, swaddled and held tight. She finally looked down at her body, at where she could remember the arrow of the Fall Maiden protruding from only moments before. At least, it felt like it had been moments- how was she to tell?

Now that she had a place to stand, she began to walk forward. There was no point waiting here for something- she would much rather go towards whatever lay in her future. As she walked, heels clicking on the smooth unseen floor, the sound muffled in the uncanny silence, she gave herself time to think. So. Last time I was here, it was with Amber. I was connected to her thoughts- her soul- through her Aura. She looked around, still calm despite the strangeness of the situation. Am I connected to someone else again?

The farther she went, the more the white expanse seemed to continue on forever. Eventually, she slowed down her pace, crawling to a halt. She sighed, looking at her hands. Her gloves looked immaculate, bracer completely shined without a single scuff. Last time, the connection forced our Semblances to appear. Maybe… Closing her eyes, she reached down into her soul to pull out her Semblance.

That was when she realized why her heart was so slow. Looking inwards, there was no heartbeat- only the rhythmic pulsing of her Aura, burning tiny and red and bright in the center of her chest, keeping her alive. Tentatively, she tugged on her Aura, seeing the spindly fibers follow her veins out until they reached her fingertips, then exited her body, glowing a comforting, familiar black. She immediately smiled, curling her hands, her polarity, into her chest. Tears welled up on instinct as the battle against Cinder raced through her mind. "Thank you," she whispered, "for protecting me, the best you could."

There was no longer a little voice to chastise her. She was alone.

Sighing, she reached up, brushing her bangs out of her face. It was only then that she realized that her circlet was gone. Panicking on instinct, she felt around her head, glancing around her feet furtively, as if the aforementioned piece would somehow appear.

It didn't, and Pyrrha's forehead felt woefully empty.

She paused, trembling. Her fingers crawled up the side of her neck to her right earlobe, carefully pinching the area. The jade stud was gone.

Maybe it fell out, she reasoned numbly. For the first time since awakening in this plane, she felt a hint of negative emotion. The thought of losing her earring- Jaune's earring- was terrifying, even through the dampened emotions she experienced here.

However, after all of her spinning around, there was no way to tell from which end of the white expanse she had journeyed. So, she closed her eyes, brought out her polarity, and sent out feelers into the area. I can find it with this. A determined furrow creased her brow as she readied herself to concentrate on the most minute signs of a magnetic pull she could find.

What she wasn't expecting to see, however, was the blinding white light which instantly began to glow around her, blinding her in reaction to her polarity. It shimmered and shone, resplendent in its glory. She instinctively closed her eyes and shielded her face with her arm, waiting for the light to cease.

It didn't. Instead, she felt tiny strands of energy licking her skin, creeping up towards her from all around. The strands were curious, friendly- before she had realized it, she had lowered her arm, cracking her eyes open to take a peek. She could still see nothing, though. So, she simply opened up her hand, allowing her own black Semblance to come forth in her palm, opening up her personal Aura channels.

The moment she did so, the strands seized their opportunity. They entered her hands, coursing through her veins and racing through her system. Her eyes snapped open in shock, unable to release herself from the powerful draw of the white energy which cocooned her within its embrace. So, she looked inward, allowing herself to take a look at her tiny Aura, still pulsing strong.

The tendrils quickly made their way to her core. Rather than invading her Aura, they were hesitant- careful. Each strand gingerly approached the flame, drawing closer and closer, until the first strand came into contact with a breath of fire.

And Pyrrha knew. She knew. The familiarity, the sense of safety, the warmth. It was so different from when she had met Amber in that cold, empty hall.

But this hall… it was never empty, was it?

Her eyes opened wide, the bright lights be damned- she looked at the field of Jaune's Aura, filling the entire expanse with nearly limitless energy. She knew this power- she had awakened it, and it recognized her, greeting her, welcoming her home.

Using her voice for the first time here, she asked, "Where is he?"

As a collective mass, the tendrils acted in unison and entered her Aura, combining with it. Immediately, her chest felt full to bursting, and her black polarity was brightened into the softest shade of grey, the colour seeping out into the cloud of Aura surrounding her.

She understood. Closing her eyes, she let herself fall into Jaune's Aura, bringing herself to where it needed her to be.

It was dark. But this time, she wasn't afraid.

The next time her eyes opened, she felt significantly colder. The white walls surrounding her were not comforting- they were sterile, detached. Wires and tubes from various machines filled the room, curtains drawn over a small window in the corner, another one separating the bed before which she stood from the other occupants of the room. Faint cries and moans of discomfort were muffled by the cloth, presumably from other beds.

Hospital. Okay. And, lying unconscious in the bed, was Ren.

Pyrrha gasped, hand covering her mouth on instinct. "No. No! Ren can't be-" But, his vitals were steady on the monitor, and his expression was serene, if fatigued.

At his side, nearly lying on the bed beside him, was an exhausted Nora. The girl had an awful black eye and bandaged knuckles, and a cast around two of her bare toes. She... her Aura is too weak to heal her? There was not a trace of her usual cheer on her face- she looked emotionless.

And, on the other side of the bed, seated in a chair with his hands tightly holding onto one of Ren's, was the person who had summoned her here in the first place.

Jaune looked surprisingly fine. He had sustained no major injuries that his Aura wasn't able to heal, clearly. And yet, somehow, he looked like the most broken one of all.

The door to the room creaked open, a pair of crisp footsteps echoing on stark linoleum. Peering around the corner of the privacy curtain came Qrow and Professor Goodwitch. Pyrrha's heart reached out to the two- Qrow's face was haggard, drooping, hair mussed and skin grey due to exhaustion. Even the Huntress by his side looked worse for wear. The normally-immaculate woman's hair was coming undone, dark circles betraying her weariness behind her round glasses.

In Qrow's hand was a large, cloth-wrapped bundle. Pyrrha felt a strange magnetic pull from it, but focused her attention onto the Huntsman instead. The man sighed, stopping at the foot of Ren's bed, running his hands through his hair. "Glynda, should I really be here?" he muttered, grimacing. "This isn't my place."

The blonde didn't respond, instead taking the parcel from Qrow and placing it upon the empty space at the end of the bed. "We found this. It belongs to you now," she said gently, placing an uncharacteristically tender hand on Jaune's hair. Squeezing his shoulder, she stepped back, the sorrow and regret rolling off her body palpable as she turned her eyes away from the trio of students.

"Professor-" Nora squeaked, voice hoarse as if she hadn't spoken in days- but the Huntress raised a hand, stopping her.

"Know that I- we- are so, so sorry for your loss," she whispered. "...I wish we could convey to you just how much we regret not being there in time."

Qrow tucked his hands into his pockets, sighing heavily. "We found it in the… in the wreckage after the Fall. When Ruby found out about this, she begged us to hand it off to you," he explained, nodding towards the package. "We thought there may be family who'd want it, but the kiddo wouldn't stop, so here we are."

"You're her team," Professor Goodwitch added sincerely. "You deserve it."

Throughout this exchange, Jaune's eyes only grew wider and wider, eventually landing upon the parcel. With trembling fingers, he reached out, pulling on one of the strings holding it together.

Qrow stopped him with an extended hand, shaking his head. "Your buddy over there has been using his Semblance for days, kid. If you open it while he's unconscious, he'll probably automatically extend his Semblance over you two again. He doesn't need that kind of strain right now. Let him rest."

Jaune's mouth opened, closed, opened again- but no words came. It was Nora who whispered, "We'll… we'll need his Semblance?"

Professor Goodwitch crossed her arms. "Ren has been invaluable in quelling some of the panic over the last few days. Downtown Vale may never have been pushed off the radar if he hadn't masked the emotions in the evacuation zones from the Grimm during the height of the panic. And, I wish we could say we won't need him again once he recovers, but…"

They all traded somber looks. "I'll open it outside," Jaune murmured, carefully lifting up the heavy bundle and holding it close to his chest.

Nora reached out, grabbing his sleeve from across Ren's sleeping form. "I'll stay here," she said. "Just… maybe you should calm down before you come back."

"We can trade after," Jaune offered. Nora replied with a wan smile before grabbing hold of Ren's hand once more, stroking the skin on the back of the unconscious boy's hand where it was hooked up to multiple IV drips. Before the blond stepped away, however, Professor Goodwitch reached into her pocket, pulling out something small. She handed it off to the blond, who accepted the tiny package awkwardly, tucking it away. From where she stood, Pyrrha could not see what was handed off, but judging by Jaune's confusion, it seemed that he didn't know, either.

Professor Goodwitch and Qrow walked out first, with Jaune slowly following behind, clutching the parcel for dear life. Pyrrha silently followed them, praising the skies that unlike last time with Amber, her feet were able to move. Maybe it's because I'm tied to Jaune here? she wondered, trailing after the blond.

The journey through the hospital was a slow one. Jaune had clearly not been eating well- he barely had any energy to move, shuffling at a deadened crawl through bustling halls and frantic doctors. Pyrrha longed to reach out and hold him, but every time she tried, it was the same confining force pulling her back. I guess I still can't interfere.

Eventually, the blond ended up on a patch of grass, secluded from view in a shady spot. The redhead found herself physically unable to move past the doorway, an invisible wall locking her in place, stuck watching the boy from a distance. This is my boundary, huh? Pyrrha gazed mournfully at the skies- they had been so blue the morning of the attack. Now, however, they were grey, the air thick and clogged with the scent of ash and smoke blocking out the sun, distant howls and screams ringing out every once in a while.

So. The fighting's not over, not completely. It was an odd feeling, to realize that the battle was still going on, and it was she who wasn't there anymore to see it.

Laying the bundle on the ground like precious cargo, Jaune's fingers tenderly pulled apart the twine holding the cloth all together. There was an unmistakeable tremor in his fingers while he slowly unwrapped the black fabric piece by piece, until the contents were revealed at last. Jaune brought a horrified hand to his mouth, gasping when he unravelled the final layer of fabric which had protected the bulky parcel.

It was the remains of Pyrrha's armour.

Pyrrha brought a hand to her mouth, stifling the sob which erupted involuntarily. Oh my god. They… they found it all.

Laying on the blanket of black cloth was her circlet, charred and scuffed, the gold dulled slightly. Beside that lay Akoúo- the shield was slightly bent inwards, but the entire piece was whole, and seeing Akoúo persist after her brought out another plaintiff cry. The sobs only intensified when she saw red shards fragmented over the cloth, shining bright and laced with gold. Miló. They found Miló.

It was only when Jaune crumpled in on himself that Pyrrha's sobs finally stopped. The blond curled up, burying his face in his hands, shoulders shuddering. Pyrrha reached out, but the invisible strings held her back, unable to reach him. All she could do was watch as the boy held out a trembling hand towards her circlet, his fingers shaking as he brushed cold fingertips along the damaged metal. With the most cautious touch, he lifted up the golden piece, raising it in front of him until it was at eye level.

Jaune, don't cry. I'm managed to get you out of there. I'm happy with that. Don't be upset, please. She bit her lip, longing washing over her. I just want to see you happy.

His eyes widened, pupils dilating until the black nearly overtook the blue- and then, Jaune broke.

He dropped the circlet back onto the black cloth, heart-wrenching sobs ripping free from his throat. "Pyrrha- Pyrrha, no-" he gasped, lurching onto his knees. His blue, bloodshot eyes filled with tears, thick droplets rolling rivers down his gaunt, pale cheeks. Scrabbling for a hold on reality, his fingers brushed over Akoúo's once-smooth surface, now twisted painfully, before landing upon Miló's hilt. He picked up the hilt, then immediately dropped it, as if it stung- then, he picked it up once more, cradling the blade between his hands. The actual sword remaining up on the hilt was very little- so, when his desperate fingers pressed the trigger upon the hilt over and over again, only to hear utter silence, he couldn't handle it.

Pyrrha couldn't speak. All she could do was shiver, falling slowly to her knees, arms wrapping around her torso, trying to both hold herself together, and to focus on the sensation stirring in her heart. Every single time Jaune touched Miló and Akoúo, a jolt of familiarity ran through the Aura burning in her chest. How is it that I can feel his touch right now? Is it because I helped make them with my polarity? Because they've been imbued with it for so long, that they've... become part of me?

Eventually, the boy placed Miló's hilt back down and wrapped his arms around himself, leaning his head back against the wall. He let out a furious roar, his voice cracking at its apex before it fell away into agonizing pain, trailing off in a quiet whimper. He sat still for a moment, letting the shock and heartbreak sink in slowly, hiccupping every once in a while- then, he reached into his pocket, pulling out the smaller parcel.

Oh Jaune. Please tell me you'll keep smiling. Don't cry, please.

Suddenly, the world fell away into nothing, a haze covering everything. Pyrrha sighed, allowing herself to sink into the darkness once more. That was clearly all she was allowed to see of that scene- it was time to head back to the empty space, along with Jaune's Aura.

Except, when she opened her eyes once more, she wasn't in the expansive nothingness. Instead, the first thing she noticed was an intense heat. It didn't burn, like Cinder's- instead, it gave life, in the most familiar, tender way.

She stood in a smithy. She didn't recognize the blacksmith, the Faunus standing proudly in front of his forge, the flames stoked hot as he cooled the piece he worked upon. For some reason, she felt a pull towards some of the alloys with which he worked- she had come far too late in his process to see what he was using, but something about it was so nostalgic. The clanging of iron on metal, of the hammer striking against the anvil over and over as the blacksmith shaped his project, was a melody so comforting to her soul that she would have gladly stayed there forever. It's like home. Dad. But, why have I found my way here?

As the man prepared his finished works for sale after long, long hours of toiling away, the chimes above the door rang airily when four new faces flooded in. He smiled, running his gloved hands through his hair and putting on his best smile.

Pyrrha, who had been seated in a corner with her arms wrapped around her knees with her eyes closed, listening to the unknown Faunus blacksmith at work, straightened up when she saw the faces of these supposed customers.

It was her friends.

Ruby looked older and more wizened in a brand-new dress, although the skirt was rumpled and smudged, most likely from travelling. She still carried around the same sense of innocent naiveté, her trademark red cape, and Crescent Rose on her back. Pyrrha narrowed her eyes, waiting for the rest of Team RWBY to enter behind their leader.

They didn't. Pyrrha pushed the worry which crept up into her throat back down. There was no point in fretting about where the other girls were. They were strong. They must be fine. They have to be. It wasn't like she could do anything about the missing girls in her current state- all she could do now was pray that she'd see them soon within Jaune's memories. So, she turned her attention to the others.

Although his expression remained neutral, there was an air of lightness around Ren. He had let down his long hair, released it so that it spilled untamed down his back. Pyrrha felt relief course through her- the boy had grown taller, his exposed arms much more defined and powerful than she remembered, and a small smile quirked his lips. He was healthy, a far cry from the exhausted figure she had just seen in the hospital bed.

Nora was much the same- her hair had grown longer, orange locks reaching her shoulders and curling slightly. In the orange-red hue of the shop, lit by the fiery forge and the light streaming in from the late afternoon sun, her eyes seemed all the more pale in comparison. She wore a new dress, but Magnhild was hung at her waist, and that was all Pyrrha took to know the girl would be alright. However, there was a sense of maturity around the girl that she had never seen before- a set to her jaw, a shadow of a crease in her brow, than lingered despite her bubbly smile. She seemed more responsible, dependable, in a way. Pyrrha nearly giggled, although the sentiment was a little lonely. Nora. I hope you're happy. I left you with the worst babysitting job, huh?

And then, front and center of the group, was Jaune. Pyrrha's mouth fell open as she took in all the changes in the blond's appearance- he had grown taller since she had last seen him. He did look a little thinner, which instinctively worried her- but unlike during her visit to the hospital, there was a light in his eyes that seemed to shine again. His breastplate had grown far too small for him, and the redhead had to bite back a giggle when she realized just how close his Pumpkin Pete hoodie was to being exposed, with his almost comically-sized armour barely blocking the logo. Around his waist hung a red sash, bright and long, the ends hanging behind him. It looked just like the one she had always worn with her armour.

There was only one real question to ask. Everyone looks so different- just how long has it been since the battle of Beacon?

Upon seeing him, the blacksmith brought out the pieces which he had been polishing up all afternoon. It was the first time Pyrrha truly took a good look at the works. With a heavy clunk, he set the first piece down onto the customer countertop- a solid breastplate, far more suited to Jaune's new, taller frame than his ragged hand-me-downs. "There you go, son!" the man cheered, proudly propping his hands onto his hips. It's gonna be heavier than you're used to, but you'll thank me the next time you go up against a set of claws!"

Jaune awkwardly raised his hands, scratching the back of his head to distract himself. "Wow… Uh… I don't know what to say."

The man scoffed. "Don't gotta say anything! Just put it on!" Pivoting to the door leading to the back of his workshop, he added, "I'll go get the rest."

Jaune dropped his hands, making no move to pick up the chest piece. From where it lay, she could see a beautiful gold trim upon each part of the armour, with small ochre detailing on the sides. It was a beautiful, yet practical, chest plate.

Pyrrha took the time to stare at the new breastplate, a curious gleam in her eye. Why… why do I feel connected to this? She looked down at her hands, but in the vision, she couldn't pull forth her Semblance. Yet, there was an undeniable attraction to it, a familiarity.

Nora immediately picked up on his silence and sighed, asking with an antsy bounce, "So… what are you waiting for?"

That snapped him out of his stillness. "Oh! Uh… right!" He walked over to the counter and unbuckled his current armour, clumsily slipping it off. "Guess I was gonna grow out of it eventually…"

"A sign of progress," Ren commented, a proud tint to his voice. The others standing behind Jaune shared a warm, gentle smile. Pyrrha couldn't help but smile, too.

"Progress." As he turned around, Ruby immediately started laughing at the now-exposed Pumpkin Pete logo, and the redhead could only sit back and bask in the comforting glow of their presence. The younger girl giggled and giggled, and Jaune adopted a watery pout as she teased him relentlessly. Pyrrha giggled along when Jaune attempted fiercely to defend himself. I can't believe that after all this time, he still likes that cereal. Her giggles only intensified as she remembered the first day she had formally met Jaune, during initiation. The only reason Jaune recognized me was that I did that silly advertisement campaign after the Winter Mistral Regionals, huh?

Ren murmured with a shrug when Ruby finally collapsed of laughter, "Well… I supposed we don't have to grow out of everything."

And Pyrrha agreed. She didn't mind that after everything that happened, they were still as lively as ever. The fact that Jaune was still wearing silly, cute hoodies, and Ruby was still laughing, and Nora and Ren were still standing close and united proved that they were alright. Life goes on.

Their attention was finally diverted away from teasing Jaune when the blacksmith returned, holding his last piece for Jaune upright on the countertop with a bang. "Can't have a Huntsman without his weapon!" Ruby got back up to her feet, and Nora and Ren leaned in close to examine the new item. "Made all the modifications you asked for."

Pyrrha stood, walking around the side of the countertop. She groaned when the same invisible restraints appeared around her feet, preventing her from walking any closer to her friends- she was only a few feet away from them all, yet she was as isolated from them as ever. So, all she could do was lean around to look at the metalwork.

It was Jaune's familiar scabbard for a sheathed Crocea Mors, the white metal polished to a gleaming glow. The hilt and handguard were new, the blue grip longer and more suited for its taller, more experienced wielder. The guard was also much more intricate- rather than the old, rusted (although he had always called it 'vintage' as justification) handguard Pyrrha remembered, this new one was wider, with much more intricate metalwork and engravings. She felt that same, familiar pull to the golden metal used in the lacy detailing. The sheath itself was taller, too, indicative of a much longer sword.

He's really grown up.

The blacksmith grinned proudly, pushing a trigger on the back of the sheath. With the hiss of metal gliding out of its casing, the sheath transformed into a shield- yet, there was something different about this one. Pyrrha frowned- the pull was even stronger within this new shield.

And then, her eyes saw it. Unlike the previous iteration of Crocea Mors, this shield had a golden trim surrounding the entirety of the formerly all-white surface. The design upon the shield itself had shifted in light of this new addition, and at the bottom of the shield, near the tapered point, sat a horizontal, curved, ornate line of bright, familiar gold, in a pattern she recognized instantly.

Pyrrha's eyes filled with tears, her Aura burning inside her, scalding from the inside out. She gasped, leaning heavily upon the side of the counter, attempting to keep herself upright with little success. Soon, she gave up and let herself slide down the side of the counter, resting her head on the wooden top. Her eyes fixated upon the metalwork, filled with disbelief and longing and shock and love.

The golden band which ran across the lower third of the shield was that of her circlet, the one which had been her constant, everyday companion. She could close her eyes and instantly see her own reflection with that shining gold sitting upon her brow, accentuating her pale skin and fiery red hair. It was hers.

The Faunus murmured, "That was some fine metal you brought me. Accents the white nicely. Where'd you get it from?"

The question itself was innocent, but it elicited another heaving sob from Pyrrha as she watched on the sidelines. Everyone stepped forward to stand behind Jaune, the blond's eyes trained on the same spot as hers. His expression was weary, pensive- tracing the golden curves of her circlet over and over again in resignation. Finally, his eyes lifted, and the amount of sheer warmth that filled his gaze and small smile was enough to break her. "From a friend," he replied, voice tender.

Pyrrha melted. He used Akoúo… and my circlet. He took them with him. He kept them. She closed her eyes, feeling her Aura residing within the metal. I've spent so much of my life pouring my Semblance into that metal- Dad and I both, ever since we made them together. That's why I can feel that pull. Her lips wobbled, a rueful chuckle slipping out. He's keeping me- and Dad- we're by his side. Our Auras can protect him, together.

With that, the other three traded knowing looks and walked out of the store. "We'll let you get dressed in peace," Ruby snickered, but her tone was kind. "Wouldn't want you to show that little bunny to the world."

Jaune rolled his eyes, but waved the three off with a good-natured smile. "I'll be out in a few."

Once the door closed behind them, the blacksmith crossed his arms, raising a skeptical brow. "M-hm. From a friend?"

A blush instantly coloured the blond's cheeks, and he hurried to lift up the breastplate, undoing the straps along the sides which held the heavy piece together. "Um, yes."

The Faunus continued to stare blankly at the boy, humming flatly. "That's not the look you wear for a friend, son." His lips quirked in a teasing smile. "Your girl?"

Jaune immediately spluttered, one hand waving frantically back and forth, the other desperately trying to keep the plate balanced on his shoulders while he shook his head. "No, no!" Then, he froze, sighed, and clumsily went back to doing up the straps and clasps. In a mumble, he added, "No. I… I would never have been good enough. She... was perfect. I just didn't realize in time. What she felt, what I-"

The older man's eyes grew compassionate. "You… you let her go?"

Jaune smiled wanly. "She saved my life."

The truth of her fate hung in the air, heavy, unspoken. The blacksmith's eyes widened, then filled with sorrow and empathy for the young man. "I… see. That's hard, son. I'm sorry for your loss."

Pyrrha's hands covered her mouth, watching the exchange blankly. The only response she could possibly have was the shuddering sobs which wracked her body in silence, totally unknown to the two other souls in the room.

The blacksmith murmured, "Well… I guess in this way, she'll keep protecting you, eh son?"

At that, Jaune's brilliant smile re-emerged, and he nodded, eyes glittering with warm tears. "She always has."

Then, the breastplate was on, and all that remained was Crocea Mors. The boy reached out as the blacksmith continued to hold the sheath upright, allowing Jaune to trace his fingers over the design of her circlet.

The hairs on the back of her neck rose, a tingling bolt of pure sensation rushing down her spine. His touch lovingly traced over the metal, and every brush felt as if he was tracing the same patterns on her cheek, her heart.

He's not letting me go. He stayed.

With that moment done, the blacksmith closed the sheath and handed it to Jaune. The blond nodded thankfully, taking the blade and hanging it at his belt. He straightened his shoulders, took a deep breath, and smiled.

He was on his way to truly achieving what Pyrrha had always known he could. He's a Huntsman now. He'll be okay.

Rather than turning away to rejoin his friends, however, the man pulled out one final piece from the pocket of his apron. "I also finished this piece. The size should be just right, so you don't need to worry- the red was beautiful to work with-"

"No," Jaune interrupted, holding out his hand. "I think it'll be fine. I'm not planning on wearing it- I'll lose it, knowing me." He chuckled embarrassedly, pulling out a small jewelry box. "I brought a chain for it instead."

"Ah, smart." The man opened up the box, pulling out said chain. It was a thin, long necklace, plain but well-made. His eyes widened after removing it, still focused on the jewelry box. "And what's this?"

"I… I wanted to wait until I had my armour back before wearing that," Jaune explained.

Before Pyrrha could see what he was talking about, she was pulled out of the scene once more, vision fading. She let out a long, slow breath, letting her tears fade until eventually she just hiccupped in place. I'll be with him forever now. He's kept me with him. He chose to stay. The idea that Jaune would hold onto her armour- her father's armour- was enough to fill her with such joy, now that the initial overwhelming wave of emotions had died down. I'll keep him safe.

But then, the darkness faded away once more. Instead of returning to the void, to Jaune's seemingly-infinite Aura, she opened her eyes to see a night sky peeking through rustling treetops. The smell of the mossy earth, damp from a recent rain, rose up to meet her nostrils. She breathed in deep, letting her eyes adjust to the sudden darkness of her surroundings, letting a wave of familiarity wash over her. This smell was familiar. This smell…

We're in Mistral, she realized faintly. Looking up, she saw the same trees she used to leap between throughout her childhood, training in her youth. These trees, with their denser canopies and mustier air and more gnarled trunks than the smooth, thin forests of Vale, were the same ones which she had seen in her dreams all her life. Why are we in Mistral?

Straightening herself out, she glanced around. There was a fire pit in the center of the clearing in which she stood, with faintly glowing embers fizzling out slowly at its heart. Spread around the dying fire were four bedrolls- she could faintly make out the faces of her friends in the darkness. Yet, the fourth bedroll was empty, and Jaune was nowhere in sight.

As quietly as she could- although why she tiptoed, she didn't know, since no one could hear her footsteps in this dreamscape- she walked out of the clearing, following a thorny path. Small fireflies flitted through the air, their bioluminescence lighting the way. She smiled, watching them hover and frolic around the forests. It had been quite a while since she had seen the night forests of home.

Suddenly, she jumped as she heard her own voice call out nearby, tinny and muted, "But…"

She stumbled through the trees into another clearing. This time, it was occupied by the blond she had been looking for. Even in the faint light of the fireflies, she could see the sweat streaming down his brow, hair matted against his skin, breaths ragged and forming puffs of steam with every exhale in the chilly air. His sword and shield were out, and he stepped back from a lunge forward, letting his head loll back for a moment before his gaze fell onto a small tree trunk in front of him.

Pyrrha skirted around the clearing, hesitant to step forward. She didn't want to feel the barrier keeping them apart again. It was easier to keep away, and just watch. How many more times am I going to see him like this? She quickly realized what he was staring at- his Scroll was propped up onto the decayed trunk, and on the screen was her face.

He's using my training videos still. He kept them.

The redhead froze, listening to her recorded words permeate the air, understanding setting in slowly. "I want you to know that I'm proud of you," the recording said. Even at the quiet volume Jaune was playing the recording at, Pyrrha could hear the sincerity in her voice, and instantly, she was transported back to when she had recorded it. In the background of the video, she could see that the sky was lightening slightly, Beacon Tower glowing green and tall in the distance. This was the last video.

The recording continued, "I've never met someone so determined to better themself. You've grown so much since we started training. And I know this is just the beginning."

She closed her eyes, basking in the emotions which rushed back. She had meant those words back then, and still meant them, even now.

"Jaune… I… I…" the voice trailed off, and Pyrrha could only smile wistfully. If I had confessed back then, what would have happened? She closed her eyes, murmuring the words aloud in synchrony with the recording. "I want you to know that I am just happy to be a part of your life. I'll always be here for you, Jaune."

There was no point in wishing to change the past. She was content with the man Jaune was growing up to be. That was enough.

Opening her eyes once more, she saw the blond run fingers through matted hair, clearly exhausted for the night. He stepped up to the log, sending one long look at her face, still frozen onscreen. "Pyrrha…" he whispered, the longing so tangible that the redhead's eyes widened and watered again. Then he shut the screen off, tucking the Scroll away. The boy quickly brought the hilt of Crocea Mors up to his forehead, just as Pyrrha used to do. She froze, the touch on her metal sparking through her Aura, then relaxed, trailing after the blond as he wandered back to the campsite.

Soon, the boy was lying in his bedroll on his back, eyes glazed over. Pyrrha kneeled down beside him, still too scared to reach out, to try and approach him for fear of the barrier, of the constant reminder of their separation. There was a bittersweet taste in her mouth. Is this how we'll be from now on? While she didn't mind- if the rest of her existence would be spent watching over him as he journeyed through life, becoming a true Huntsman, she would be happy with that- it still hurt to think that she wouldn't be there with him for the voyage.

Then, the boy reached down into his hoodie's neck and pulled out a chain. Pyrrha recognized it in the dim light- it was the same one which he had given the blacksmith. The boy held it up above him, letting the remaining firelight catch onto the pendant hanging at its center.

It wasn't a pendant, she realized quickly. It was a ring. A ring made of red and gold metal, practically glowing even in the darkness. Engravings lined it all around, the intricate piece breathtaking without need for ostentatiousness.

The pull from it practically dragged her forward. Shaking, she reached her hand out towards it. And- maybe it was just a trick of her eye, a trick of the light- but it seemed like the red and gold swung towards her, too.

Miló.

The boy sighed, gripping the ring in his hands tight before rolling over onto his left side, facing Pyrrha. She could only silently mouth words, unable to form coherent thought.

Oh, Jaune.

Throwing aside all of her hesitation, she crawled forward. There was no barrier stopping her. She wordlessly lay down next to him on her side, facing him, close enough that she would have been able to feel his warmth, once upon a time. She reached out a tender, careful hand- then paused right above his head, his cheek.

She didn't want to try and touch him. She didn't want to see what would happen in her current state.

Yet, it was as if he felt her presence. The boy shifted, his shaggy blond hair falling to the side, exposing his normally-covered ear. And, glinting in a swollen, pink earlobe, was a familiar jade stud.

All she could do was stare at it, glittering in his ear. The small parcel Professor Goodwitch had handed him along with his armour- what the blacksmith had spoken of-

I'm with you, Jaune.

With that silent, steadfast admission, she leaned forward, curling into his shape. She leaned her forehead against his, closing her eyes, just as she had done once before- but this time, there was no uncertainty, no fear, unlike the night she had learned of the Maidens. The remnants of her circlet and Miló and Akoúo seemed to pulse with her presence, sending wave after wave of security over her heart, her Aura. And, as she felt his skin touch her spirit, his Aura reached out, infinite and blinding white, welcoming her back into its warm embrace, suspending her within the void. Pyrrha didn't fight it. Those bright strands, holding her close and protecting the flame of her Aura, would keep her safe, always. And she would protect him in turn, forever.

He would be a Huntsman. He would make her proud, she just knew it.

She smiled.

And I'll be here, every step of the way. I'm always with you, Jaune- and I always will be.

She'd make sure of it.

-end of term 2-