Pyrrha Nikos had mourned long enough. She was still a tempest of negative emotions that, had she been alive and in possession of a physical body, would have attracted every single Grimm from the length and breadth of Remnant to her location.
'Had my entire life been some kind of lie?' Pyrrha wondered as the impossible vista of a pristine and untouched Beacon Academy drifted past her perception as if it were on a television or computer screen.
'I have mourned enough,' Pyrrha issued a command to herself.
The mantra repeated in her head. This new clarity allowed her to finally assess her situation in a rational manner. After her death at the hands of Cinder, Pyrrha Nikos had quite honestly lost her mind. Her spirit had railed against the taunting image of a pristine Beacon Academy and what appeared to be a video game menu. Eventually, she had been simply...shut down. Through it all, time had lost all meaning and Pyrrha had been adrift.
Slowly, Pyrrha was coming to her senses. The 'cursor' had been flashing over 'New Game' for so long that a single pinprick of hope had been born. New Game meant new chances. That pinprick had become larger over time. Pyrrha had finally accepted that it was time to give having a new life a chance. The thought of seeing her friends again provided a measure of excitement. The thought of seeing Jaune again created a warmth in the core of her being. There were so many steps Pyrrha could take to make sure the her loved ones got the happy ending they deserved. She knew the truth about Penny and Mercury Black. Those two details would allow her to use her Semblance to protect both Penny and Yang from the tragedy unleashed by Cinder. Pyrrha had confidence in her loved ones would not have given up. The Mistral champion wanted to use her second chance to give JNPR and RWBY every opportunity to defeat Cinder, the White Fang, and the Grimm.
How a spirit without a body could choose an option in what looked like a video game was a thought Pyrrha did not dwell on.
A sudden flash of curiosity stayed Pyrrha's hand. "I wonder," Pyrrha stated out loud, both in genuine curiosity and a desperate desire for some sound to fill the unnatural quiet. "What exactly 'settings' are?"
Scrolling down, Pyrrha entered the settings menu. It was quite unnerving to see the stark void of the menu outside of the various selectable options.
Pyrrha was well aware of her near-complete ignorance of all things video game related. She was still aware that video games were capable of being saved so that a player could come back to finish the game later, or at least keep their progress. The "Iron Man" setting seemed to disable the ability to let the game automatically save. That was...not good. She reactivated autosave quickly. The default setting for autosave was every time she went to bed. Again, Pyrrha was a video game novice, but that felt perfectly reasonable. Her attention drifted up the Difficulty section of the options. Opponent Combat speed was set to 150%?
"I never noticed..." Pyrrha mused with a bit of awe. She could not deny the swell of pride that washed through her...being at that moment. Vaguely, she imagined that had she a body the warmth would fill her chest. This single moment had done more to restore Pyrrha's self-confidence and self-worth than any amount of trying to grasp tightly on to the happy memories of others.
She had been faced with unbelievable obstacles. Pyrrha hadn't just overcome these obstacles, but for the most part Pyrrha had conquered the obstacles.
"I'm going to keep that setting!" The Mistral Champion declared. It was a point of pride that Pyrrha had been so successful against this default setting.
That didn't mean she would leave experience growth set at 50%. Once, Pyrrha had overheard Ruby and Jaune talking about "Remnant: The Game" and how valuable earning and spending Experience Points was for success. The low setting made Pyrrha realize she had been 'gimped', to borrow a term from Nora, and a change was absolutely necessary.
"One Hundred percent growth will be a huge advantage," Pyrrha decided. Again, she fell back on the sense of pride birthed from her successes against the combat difficulty. A few tweaks and perhaps even Cinder could be defeated!
The last setting was 'tutorials'. There was a moment were the Hoplite considered leaving them off, but it was but a moment. Pyrrha was at a complete loss when it came to anything video game related. Her life, as it turned out, was a video game. It couldn't hurt to get a few pointers. A flip of the cursor turned this particular setting back on.
Pyrrha, had she still possessed eyes, would have blinked in a mix of confusion and shock at the next set of options: "Immersion". The game start was set to conception. Pyrrha enjoyed her life and, for the most part, would like the chance to relive some of her happier moments and correct a few minor quibbles. However, her focus was on correcting her mistakes and eliminating her hesitation with Jaune and her nemesis the False Fall Maiden.
"Let's see what the other choices are," Pyrrha whispered. The next option was "Combat School Acceptance". Her time at Sanctum was successful from a training perspective, but very lonely. Beacon was the first time she had ever made real friends. Pyrrha moved over to the next option: "Beacon Acceptance".
"This is a grand choice!" Pyrrha announced. That would reunite her with Jaune, Nora, Ren, and Team RWBY much quicker. That option was far more agreeable than the others. Pleased with her choice, she moved to the next option. "What's a HUD?"
Fortunately, the people, entity, or deity that created this game had the courtesy to include a tooltip feature. Pyrrha held the cursor over the option for a moment and received an explanation on the Heads Up Display. The Champion of Mistral realized this feature would be very useful and turned it fully on.
"I...I was never in control of my own life," Pyrrha whispered, overwhelmed.
The game was choosing her words. She had no control over her words and many actions. There were so many points in her life that suddenly were now questionable ranging from accepting her first sponsorship (which was little more than a semi-exploitative gravure shoot), not confessing to Jaune instead of giving him advice to court Weiss, and finally blindly accepting the mandate to become the Fall Maiden. Pyrrha had screamed at the universe why she had failed to retreat into the safety of Jaune's trust and simply tell him what Ozpin had wanted her to become.
Now, she had an answer. The last of her melancholy and mournful emotions were burned away in the forge of her anger.
She selected "Full Dialogue Control" and flipped through the options. A pop-up window gave her a preview of what the various possibilities entailed. The 'List' option was the most comprehensive. After the travesty of having her free-will curtailed, Pyrrha Nikos would accept nothing less than complete control over her own actions. Her pride, anger, and soul were all soothed by the simple act of confirming that she was in full control of her interactions with others.
"I wonder what the next settings are," Pyrrha hummed to herself. "Oh."
Her previous calm was once again burnt away. In her previous life, or game as it were, she had longed to confess to Jaune and...well...Had Pyrrha still possessed blood flow, she would have blushed at the thought. Alas, the cruel force that had set up some of the other options wished to continue to toy with Pyrrha.
All sexual content was completely disabled. If Pyrrha had control of her voice, her efforts would have not been completely in vain. She would have missed out on something that she had craved as both a physical need and the ultimate expression of a bond with Jaune. This game, or the settings at the very least, had a cruel edge. Pyrrha was very curious about who had decided to indulge in such rampant sadism. She had been completely serious when she offered to break Cardin's legs for Jaune. However, she was willing to go towards a far darker place if she encountered the Grimm-like creators of this monstrosity. It was the same well of vengeful anger she had only attributed to Cinder.
Reactivating full sexual content was one of the easiest decisions she ever made.
The next option made her pause. Pyrrha had never been fond of foul language. It always seemed excessive, unnecessary, and people trying to sound mature (but failing). There were times were it was a realistic reaction.
'I guess it wouldn't hurt to have a little bit occasionally..." The Mistral Champion thought as she set the language filter to 'medium'. She was a mature young woman. She could handle a few bits of foul language here and there!
"Who is JJ Abrams?" Pyrrha asked with a humming tone as she switched lens flares to 'Sane'.
It was odd that altering a series of video game options which controlled her entire life. However, Pyrrha could not deny the incredible sense of redemption, accomplishment, and freedom such simple yet profound actions birthed.
"I'm coming back," Pyrrha declared. "We'll all be together again. Jaune...we won't have to wait this time..."
As the champion, formerly dubbed 'The Invincible Girl' by friend and foe alike, returned to the main menu; a strange urge overtook her and led to the delay of starting her life's journey over again. Pyrrha decided to uncover the agents behind the strange form of madness her reality had been revealed as.
"Team PNKE," Pyrrha shouted in shock. "That PNKE?"
The young woman decided there was a second team on her 'Break their legs' list. Pyrrha had no desire to view any of the other creators of the game. She had never been one for technical minutiae. Of all her friends, only Ruby would likely be interested in the individuals behind the engineering of this rather absurd project.
It was finally time. There was no need for further delay any longer. Pyrrha could feel her excitement and even trepidation building as the cursor finally settled on the "New Game" option. The image of Beacon Academy rotated one last time before the camera rushed through the opening chasm that was Beacon's main entrance.
The first thing Pyrrha experienced was the welcome feeling of water surrounding her body and the soreness in her muscles being relaxed away by the heat. Pyrrha sank deeper into the tub, reveling in the simple truth that she was alive again.
[Welcome to Remnant: Academy! You are about to embark on an adventure that defies your expectations. Before you begin your quest to save Beacon from the Grimm, White Fang, and the Ultimate Evil that threatens humanity and Faunus-kind, you will need to create your character's avatar!]
Pyrrha gasped as the pop-up reminded her that her existence wasn't completely under her own control. The game took control of her actions and Pyrrha felt herself being pulled from the tub. If she had remained in control, Pyrrha would have loved to remain in the hot water to enjoy the sensation of simply existing again.
Instead, she was marched to the mirror. The Mistral Champion smiled as her reflection was staring back at her.
[Now it is time to create your character's avatar. Follow the prompts to finalize your appearance!]
A pair of icons around the words 'Default Female' appeared beneath Pyrrha's reflection. "Default?"
Curiosity overcame Pyrrha. She focused on the right facing arrow and willed it to be used.
"What have I done?" Pyrrha cried out in a voice that was far too deep. The face staring back in shock wasn't her! Her hair was practically gone and existed only in a very militaristic crew cut. In fact, Pyrrha wasn't even a her anymore! The flashing icon declared that she was currently in the 'Default Male' form. Pyrrha's form was chiseled and very handsome. The eyes were harsh and piercing. Pyrrha was an arena fighter. This was the face of a soldier.
There was more, though. The Default Male form was actually quite similar to how Pyrrha pictured a hypothetical twin brother, something she had dearly wished for as a child, would have looked. Gulping, she switched back to Default Female. Her face was now inhabiting the mirror's reflection.
'I'm never messing with this again...' She thought fearfully. Pyrrha had been proud of her natural appearance. It was her. The thought of changing on a whim honestly terrified her. Pyrrha had spent so long as a disembodied spirit that being able to see her reflection was a comfort. There was also the fact that she couldn't predict how Jaune and her friends would react to a new physical appearance.
No, she was Pyrrha Nikos and a proud woman. 'I am who I am.'
[Confirm Appearance?]
"Yes," Pyrrha announced with such utter conviction and finality that she felt as if she could take down her most hated enemy right now.
[Now, you will need to finalize your character! Your default class is 'Hoplite'. Would you like to view the character sheet?]
Pyrrha assumed that she had been a 'Hoplite' in her first life. She had been successful as that 'class' of person. There was also the fact the flame-tressed warrior was terrified of altering any of the defaults after the incident with her appearance.
"Let's see," Pyrrha whispered as she activated the 'yes' icon that was hovering in her field of vision.
The first two skill sets related to her mastery of Spear-rifle and Hoplon Shield. If Pyrrha had to guess, the game likely put her 'upgrades' into her weapon skills. It would certainly explain some of the feats she had accomplished previously. A single bracketed word caught her attention.
"Why is something redacted? Wasn't Cinder in charge of everything?"
That was quite the troubling development. She would have to try to uncover the identity behind the person, group, or abomination behind [Redacted].
Her Semblance was a familiar and welcome sight. It was a reflection of her soul. The thought of not unlocking her Semblance was completely alien to her. Jaune's reluctance to investigate his Semblance had been one of the great mysteries about her love. 'Though, if Jaune was under the same restrictions in the game that I was...perhaps the game wouldn't allow him to unlock his Semblance? Maybe his settings were identical to mine?'
Mollified for the moment, Pyrrha continued to explore her options.
"Conversation..." Pyrrha hummed. That was a skill she was unlocking immediately. She was going to flirt with Jaune. She was going to investigate the situation surrounding the Maidens, that horrid bitch Cinder, and sass tag-team CRDL with Blake. Pyrrha actually smiled at the memories of playing off Blake's dry humor. They had put CRDL in their place several times and teased Yang to no end. The memories of seeing all her friends again warmed her heart. RWBY and the rest of JNPR were treasures. Each one of them was a true friend, and in some ways, more of a family to Pyrrha than anyone outside of her parents. Uncles, cousins, and even her nephews were more attached to the fame of the Invincible Girl than to Pyrrha Nikos; their own flesh and blood.
It was a sly coincidence that the next skill line was 'Creativity/Performance'. If Pyrrha was a wagering woman, she would have put money on the game maxing out this list of skills. While the 'Mastery' had caused Pyrrha's isolation, the knowledge that she was combating the Creatures of Grimm with her very presence was a something she could gladly take solace from.
Pyrrha blinked as she looked over the next skill line. It was...oddly specific. The game had assigned at least one skill point in 'By my shoulder...' as Pyrrha had unlocked Jaune's Aura. She was very intrigued by this skill line as it seemed to be based around standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Jaune in combat. Yes, the skill line simply mentioned partner or lover. Pyrrha knew that Jaune would be her partner. The Mistralian champion was going to try her damnedest to make sure Jaune became her lover as well.
"Huh, that fit," Pyrrha thought out loud. That was her second curse word ever. She was pleased with her decision to loosen the language filter.
Pyrrha scrolled down and reviewed the training skill line. The video game terms were going above her head still, but the effects were fairly obvious. As one of her goals was to help Jaune unlock his near unlimited potential, this would have to be a skill line she made progress on.
Pyrrha wasn't sure if she would invest in Driving/Piloting. The skill line wasn't exactly useless. It was just that Pyrrha had no real interest in driving or piloting. Herbalist was a curiosity. Again, Pyrrha doubted that she would pursue that line. Still, it was higher on her list than driving.
"This last skill seems quite useful," Pyrrha whispered. The ambient noise around her wasn't quite enough to fill the unnatural void her previous situation had submerged her in so deeply.
Tracking was the most practical of the final skills. A lot of her skills seemed to be based on support and aiding those closest to her in battle and on missions.
It was all quite fitting. Hoplites fought in a phalanx and supporting the shield wall was crucial. This was her.
[Do you wish to be The Hoplite? Hoplite is an advanced character class recommended only for combat experts.]
Happily, Pyrrha selected 'Confirm'. The warning had not deterred her in the least. In fact, the warning only served to fill her with pride. The previous life had been lived with the odds firmly conspiring against her, and for the most part Pyrrha had been incredibly successful!
[You are the Hoplite, a warrior who has the strength to stand on your own, but holds the line with others! As you have selected to begin your game shortly before beginning your Huntsmen career at Beacon Academy, you begin at Level 5. The game will now randomly generate your stats starting from a base of 25. The system will apply your initial stat upgrades up to Level 5. Future level ups will give you the option of allowing the computer to select three stats to upgrade or for you to manually chose which stats to upgrade. As for skills...]
Pyrrha's 'Heads up Display' flashed into existence for a moment. The game froze and the book in the corner of the screen opened. It filled Pyrrha's perception and flipped over to the 'Character Sheet' tab.
[This is your stats page. The currently highlighted section are your stats. To give you an idea, the average civilian averages a score of 15 for all stats. A Hunter averages 40. Weapon Skill determines how well you wield a melee weapon. Ballistic Skill measures your ability to aim ranged weapons. The other stats affect your physical and mental abilities. Strength also determines your physical appearance. A stronger character's appearance will be represented by the usual physical cues. Selected Skills will appear below. Now, it is time to select and generate your skills.]
Pyrrha chewed her lip as she tried to take stock of the numbers visible on her character sheet. Her physical stats were well above average. In fact, her agility was incredibly high, well over twenty points higher than average. All of her stats were above average, but she was disappointed in her will power and fellowship scores were both her lowest. That was quite the hit to her confidence.
'I will have to improve those...' Pyrrha thought. A higher will power stat would be crucial to handling the situation with Ozpin, General Ironwood and the others regarding the Fall Maiden in a more successful manner.
The game quickly reasserted control and moved to Pyrrha's skill page.
[As you can see, Hoplites begin with Milo Mastery 2, Akoúo̱ Mastery 1, and Semblance Level 1. You will earn a new skill every two levels earned. However! Before we allow you to select the two skills earned by your current level of 5, there will be a quick questionnaire. You can earn additional skills or stat increases depending on your answers! Let's begin!]
This was a great opportunity for improvement! Pyrrha eagerly awaited the first question.
[First: Battles between hoplites were traditionally fought in five stages. Ephodos, where battle hymns and war cries were used to intimidate the enemy and inspire allies. Krousis, where the phalanxes met. The strongest, both mentally and physically, were on the front lines where they could make sure their allies were protected during this phase. Next was Doratismos were vicious spear attacks were used to disrupt the enemy formation. Othismos was the next stage where spears had been broken and the two sides pushed against each other in a test of endurance. Finally, Pararrhexis saw the enemy phalanx breached and the enemy scattered. Which role would you fill in the ancient battlefields of Anima?]
Pyrrha carefully weighed each option. She would hope she could inspire her friends, but bringing out the best in people had always been Jaune's and Ruby's strength. Pyrrha had also favored quick decisive victories, but had never liked running down defeated enemies unless they were Grimm. That came down to Krousis and Doratismos as options. She nearly selected Doratismos, but started to think in terms of what would be best for her stats as a video game character. Her attacks would likely come quick and hit hard due to her very good agility and strength stats. However, the wording of Krousis implied that it may cover some of her stat weaknesses with a bonus if she chose it…
[You are a bulwark to your allies! You choose to inspire through deeds not words! Akoúo̱ Mastery 2 and +5 Willpower unlocked!]
"That is grand!" Pyrrha exclaimed.
[When you are not hunting the Creatures of Grimm, studying to succeed in Beacon's Academic classes, what would you be doing with your free time if you could choose one of the following? 1)I would be preparing first aid for my teammates! I know I can't keep them from being hurt, but I want to help them recover quickly! 2)I would be chasing everybody that catches my fancy! I mean, have you seen some of the students at Beacon! 3)I would own the dance floor. Everything is combat at Beacon, and I plan on being undefeated in Combat Class and in Dance Battles.]
Pyrrha laughed at the last option. The memory of JNPR's rather spontaneous dance routine was easily one of her most treasured moments of her previous life. She was going to pick that options, in hopes of having another chance at such a blissful memory, but there was no denying the first choice was appealing. As she had eyes for only Jaune, option two lacked any hold over her.
[You have sick moves. Your Weapon Skill and Agility increase by three and you have unlocked Creativity/Performance 1!]
Once again, Pyrrha giggled at the sense of humor the game possessed. 'Maybe I'll only break one leg each for Team PNKE over all this...'
[It is time to finalize your character, class, and skills. As mentioned previously, you gain a new skill every two Levels. However, as you are just starting your epic quest (for loot...) to save Remnant from the Dark Forces threatening Human and Faunus alike, you will receive one additional skill. Please select the skills now.]
There was absolutely no hesitation on Pyrrha's part. The first option she used a skill point on was Conversation. Hopefully, she would not have to invest much in this skill line. All she needed was the ability to be just a tad bit forward with Jaune. If she had more control, Pyrrha was confident that she and Jaune would have been 'together-together' by the Beacon Dance.
Training Jaune had been a beautiful bonding experience between the partners. Pyrrha quickly invested a point in Training. She absolutely had to invest a skill point in "By My Shoulder..." in order to unlock Jaune's Aura. Satisfied with her skill selection, Pyrrha selected "Confirm".
[Are you sure?]
"I am ready to live my life this time," Pyrrha declared to her reflection in the mirror, the game, and everyone who had sought to control and destroy her previously.
[Let's take a moment to introduce you to your HUD. In the top right, there are two gauges; your Vitality Gauge and your Aura Gauge. Vitality tracks physical health. The Aura gauge is identical to the function on a standard Scroll. The bottom right corner is your compass. If a Horde of Grimm approach, the Compass will flash red three times and a chime will play. Now, the icon in the upper left pulls up your Journal. The Journal has numerous tabs for inventory, Skill Table, Character Stats, and Active Quests. Also, when the Game is Autosaving, the Journal morph into your personal icon. In the Bottom Left corner, message pop-ups and other information may appear from time to time. There are other HUD features, but these will be unlocked as you progress in this tutorial.]
Quest Received! [Misson Start: Tutorial]
The slight pressure that had been holding Pyrrha in place as the game made its finale adjustments was finally released. Pyrrha stretched so much that she ended up standing on her toes. A hopeful smile adorned her lips as her second chance began. The fading letters in her vision reminded her that she was living quite the unconventional second life. She had always learned better by doing, and promptly opened her 'Journal' with a thought. She reviewed her character sheet once more. The dealings with her sponsors and the press had taught her to review everything. Next on her 'to do' list was review her inventory.
Which was empty…
...because she was still naked.
"I'll check that later..." Pyrrha whispered. She flipped the tab to 'Active Quests' and was pleased to see how well everything was organized. In fact, the layout of the 'Active Quests' tab had options that could adjust the view of the tab to appear like Pyrrha's favorite day planner. Pleased with the layout, additional information provided, and general handiness, Pyrrha exited, but was disappointed she couldn't put a reminder to break PNKE's legs for sexualizing her so blatantly.
Pyrrha quickly headed to the display rack where her armor and other clothes were laid out. Remembering from the 'Active Quests' tab/day planner that today was the finals of an exhibition tournament for the latest elections to the Mistral Council, Pyrrha slowly donned her armor. The familiar weight and feel of the armor was welcome. There was an issue, however. While it had certainly captured Jaune's attention when they became partners, the armor had not been adequate against Cinder.
'Perhaps I could commission an upgrade after Initiation...' Pyrrha considered.
A smile was unavoidable as Pyrrha recovered Milo. She quickly called Akoúo̱ to her hands with her Semblance. The simple familiar actions nearly caused Pyrrha to cry tears of relief and joy.
[Quest updated: Head to the training room.]
Pyrrha was wondering why she was heading to the training room after bathing, but this was a video game made by PNKE…
Pushing aside those thoughts, Pyrrha followed the game's instructions. She wandered through the halls of the arena's 'Combatant Area' with a frown forming on her face. Pyrrha was well aware of the conversation that was looming once she reached the training room. There was a wellspring of curiosity at how the game would handle everything.
'I wonder how selecting options will work in real time. I hope it doesn't make me seem indecisive, nervous, or slow...'
The door opened with a creak and Pyrrha took a step inside. Her father and mother were waiting for her.
"Ah, Pyrrha. I hope your break was relaxing!" Her father greeted warmly. Pyrrha, despite knowing the coming conversation couldn't help but smile at the care in her father's tone.
[Welcome to the Speech Tutorial. As you can see at the bottom center of your HUD, there are numerous options for dialogue. The first option, at the top of the list, is generally a neutral option. These choices tend to be short and basic responses. Next, there will be more a confrontational response. Third, is a basic inquiry. This asks for more information, but only provide information that the other character would give up freely to anyone. If you wish to leave a conversation immediately, the very bottom of your Dialogue List has a standard 'by-your-leave'. If you possess the correct Conversation skills, advanced dialog options such as Inquiry, Flirt, Coerce, Persuade, and a few other options will be displayed. Each conversation option has a set place on your Dialogue List. Select your option...and good luck.]
Time nearly stopped, but unlike the earlier character creation period, Pyrrha was still in complete control. The list of conversation options appeared at the bottom of Pyrrha's vision. The first option was a standard reaction. One was a question: 'Is it time for my match?'. There was also an option that was shockingly rude. She couldn't believe that was even a choice available to her! Pyrrha would never dream of selecting so horrid!
"Hello father. Hello mother," Pyrrha said after selecting the safest option from the list. "It was quite relaxing."
"That is fantastic," Pyrrha's mother responded with a clap of the hands. "Are you looking forward to your match?"
"Yes, I am," Pyrrha once again selected a neutral option.
Thálassa smiled. "There are so many people here to watch you. Everyone in Mistral is inspired by your skill."
"Yes," Kassíteros said with practiced diplomacy. "Headmaster Lionheart has asked to meet with you."
Quickly scrolling down the list, Pyrrha selected 'Inquiry'. "Why is he so determined to keep me at Haven? I've never met someone so adamant. I was...shocked...by how forceful he became last time."
In the previous attempt at life, Pyrrha had been less overt and far more polite in her response. Hopefully, this response would drive her concerns home a bit more obviously. If Pyrrha got some additional information, fantastic. If she did not, she still drove home her point. This was a fine course of action, Pyrrha decided.
[Partial Success.] Pyrrha frowned at the pop-up. She wasn't concerned about showing too much reaction to the game, as it would play into her ploy with her parents. The champion also noticed a bar filling slightly at the bottom of her perception.
"How forceful?" Thálassa gasped. "Did it go beyond a matter of national pride?"
Scrolling down, Pyrrha chose the "Maybe..." option. It was a single word, but it would allow her parents to make their own conclusions.
"We weren't aware..." Kassíteros said with resignation. "I believe I'm going to have to support you going to Beacon after all..."
Pyrrha smiled. "Thank you! I don't want to cause problems for you with the Ministry, but I really feel that attending Beacon will be a fresh start for me!"
"But..." Thálassa started.
Quickly selecting 'Cut-off/Persuasion', Pyrrha interjected with, "I have heard Weiss Schnee will be attending Beacon..."
"Of the SDC?" Thálassa quickly queried. "Well...I believe that would be a strong, positive connection you could establish at Beacon."
'Connection,' Pyrrha thought glumly. 'Not friendship, connection. Always about advancement...never about me...'
"Of course," Pyrrha answered.
"Well," Kassíteros said after a moment. "We should leave you to your warm-ups."
[Quest updated: Begin Combat Tutorial.]
Pyrrha's parents exited the room and Pyrrha turned her attention to the simple, and rather clumsy, training robot in the corner.
[It is now time for the Combat Tutorial. Please equip Milo and Akoúo̱ and engage the Training Robot.]
Pyrrha entered a standard guard and transformed Milo into 'her' Javelin form.
[A word of warning. If you die in the Combat Tutorial, we will delete you from existence…]
"W-What?" Pyrrha squawked.
[Combat in Beacon: Academy is real time. Certain Skills, Semblances, event rewards, and even equipment can unlock Active Abilities that can help turn the tide of battle! There are also Passive Abilities that are always active. These can be unlocked the same way as Active Abilities. You currently have no active abilities. Now, defeat the Training Robot!]
The robot lumbered forward. These contraptions had always been slow. In fact, Pyrrha had always considered them a waste of time. However, she received as many as she wanted from a Sponsor. It was always nice to have a few on hand.
Pyrrha furrowed her brow as she stepped to the outside of a clumsy vertical swing. 'Why didn't I have some of these sent to Beacon?'
Blaming the game stripping her of free will, Pyrrha decided that was going to be a change for this go-through. She quickly aimed a thrust at a chink in the robot's rather laughable armor. It struck true and Pyrrha was rewarded with a popup in her vision.
[You have achieved your first Critical Hit!]
Pyrrha grinned at the announcement.
[Congratulations! You have survived the Combat Tutorial. We won't have to delete you from existence after all! Soon, you will see your XP gauge fill slightly. The amount the XP gauge fills is based off several factors including, but not limited to, challenge, your current level, whether the encounter progresses a Main or Side Quest line, is a random encounter, or is simply an action that is taken outside of combat or a quest line. You have earned double experience because of your flawless victory.]
"That is wonderful!" Pyrrha said as she sheathed Milo and guided Akoúo̱ to her back with her Semblance.
[Quest Updated: Head to the arena locker room.]
The next stage of the 'quest' seemed simply enough. Pyrrha dutifully followed the instructions and made her way to the arena locker room. The door opened...and the world faded to black.
[Now loading…]
Pyrrha nearly yelped as the sudden transition from opening the locker room door to the roaring crowds of the arena. Still, Pyrrha was no stranger to the arenas of Mistral, Windpath, and Kuchinashi. Akoúo̱ and Milo found their way to her hands with a showy flourish that drove the crowd into a frenzy. Her opponent, Guriin Sentou-Ki, saluted Pyrrha. The defending Champion raised Milo in return. That was the signal. Combat had begun. Guriin was very aggressive against his younger opponent. His weapons, a naginata-flamethrower combination let loose with a gout of flame. Eager to test some of her new abilities, Pyrrha channeled a bit of Aura into her shield. She was pleased when the flame was turned aside far more easily than expected. Pyrrha pushed off the ground with a powerful leap and flipped over her opponent. A flurry of blows aimed at Guriin's outstretched arm, his shoulder, and his back all landed. The slashes did a bit of damage to Pyrrha's opponent and his Aura. The attack was mostly to keep him off balance and make sure she was in perfect position.
Which she was.
The game paused unexpectedly. If Pyrrha had not been frozen, the shock would have caused her to tumble.
[You have activated a weapon or ability with a "Cool Down" for the first time. Certain weapons, abilities, or effects have a "Cool Down" period. As you invest in perks, achieve quest or event chain rewards, or secure new equipment, the "Cool Down" time can be shortened or even eliminated!]
Pyrrha was grateful that her actions carried through the pause as Milo quickly switched to its rifle form and barked out a trio of shots. The crowd roared yet again as the shots hit home. The pop-up info again let Pyrrha know the 'cool down' had passed.
Milo shifted almost immediately to Javelin form and Pyrrha launched another attack as Guriin Sentou-Ki turned to face Pyrrha's next assault. Guriin jumped at Pyrrha, trying to at least land a blow. Pyrrha quickly feinted and forced Guriin to block low. The real strike was aimed high and landed true in his chest. Pyrrha recalled the benefits of Milo Mastery 2 and used the recoil of Milo's rifle form to add more damage to her strike.
Guriin was down.
Pyrrha had won. 'Is this really 150% Opponent Combat Speed?' She was now curious to see just how life would progress if the setting for Opponent Combat Speed was set to 50%. 'That is a question for another time...'
The announcer declared Pyrrha the winner. She extended a hand to help Guriin up and the slightly older Kuroyuri refugee accepted graciously.
"Excellent fight," Pyrrha quickly selected the first neutral option.
"Not quite excellent enough..." Guriin laughed. "Hey. Maybe later, we could..."
Pyrrha smiled tenderly, but it was a smile of polite refusal. She quickly scrolled by the choice that would have accepted the unspoken request for a date. Pyrrha couldn't believe the flirty answer was so blatant in implying an...encounter. Guriin seemed like a very nice young man and was actually fairly handsome.
But he wasn't Jaune.
"I'm sorry," Pyrrha quickly answered. "I'll be leaving for Beacon in the morning."
"Eh, kinda figured that would be the answer," Sentou-Ki said with a mirthless laugh. "But if I didn't ask, I didn't have a chance."
"Well said, Guriin."
The combatant nodded. "Good luck, 'Invincible Girl'."
"Thank you," Pyrrha once again chose the neutral, but polite answer. A small part of her had been tempted to choose the cross option of "That is not my name." However, that would have caused a scene and Pyrrha had no wish to alienate a nice guy like Guriin. Cinder was out there and RWBY and JNPR would need all the allies they could call to their cause. Guriin was talented and could be an asset.
[Now loading…]
Pyrrha found herself back in her locker room. Sighing, she turned to face the door. Someone was knocking and Pyrrha knew exactlywho was on the other side.
"Who is it?" Pyrrha called out.
"Miss Nikos, it is Professor Lionheart. May I come in?" The voice carried through the door. Pyrrha sighed and selected the non-confrontational choice. "Thank you, Miss."
"How may I help you, Professor?" Pyrrha asked the neutral, non-inquiry option.
Lionheart straightened his bronze and cream armored cassock uniform. "I would like to ask one last time for you to reconsider attending Beacon and enroll at Haven Academy. You would be a queen."
"Perhaps, Professor," Pyrrha selected the forceful answer. "I do not wish to be a queen. Perhaps, for the first time in my life...I simply wish to be Pyrrha Nikos. I do not wish to be anyone's poster child. I do not wish to be held up as propaganda."
Pyrrha could not believe how amazingly satisfying such a forceful answer had proven to be. This new ability to be truly assertive was incredible. Her confidence swelled and there was a stronger sense of accomplishment in her breast than her recent match victory.
"You truly cannot be dissuaded?"
"No, Professor," Pyrrha answered firmly. 'Nothing will keep me away from Jaune. Nothing will keep me away from my most cherished people.'
"So be it," Lionheart acquiesced with a bow. "Good luck at Beacon, Miss Nikos. I'm sure your time there will be...enlightening."
The last words were ominous and Pyrrha quickly wished her Quest Logs had a place to write down notes. After the head of Haven Academy stormed from the room, Pyrrha dashed over to a nearby bench and grabbed a scratch piece of paper. She jotted down the gist of the conversation...and watched the paper disappear. Panicking, Pyrrha opened her Journal and frantically tabbed to her Inventory screen. Pyrrha's sigh of relief was probably heard by Jaune in his family home. Her note was stored neatly in her Inventory.
[Quest updated: Exit the arena locker room.]
It was time to win this tournament. It was time to go to Beacon and reunite with the seven people who were so dear to Pyrrha's heart.
[Now loading…]
Pyrrha was back in the arena to the roaring of the crowd. She couldn't help but smile as she picked up her mother's near manic cheering. Pyrrha couldn't deny how happy her mother's enthusiasm for Pyrrha's success made her.
[BOSS BATTLE]
The Invincible Girl saluted Bela Svon and entered into a fighting stance. Akoúo̱ quickly found its place in front of Pyrrha's center mass as Bela's tonfa-submachinegun sang out. Pyrrha knew the strategy from the previous lifetime's match. 'Three, two, one!' Pyrrha timed the incoming slide attack near perfectly. Almost immediately, Pyrrha threw her shield down at her foe as she jumped clear.
Bela had not reached the finals through her good looks alone. She had protected her body with upraised tonfas. Pyrrha landed with a combat roll. She quickly shouldered Milo and fired a burst to keep Bela away from Akoúo̱. Reaching out with her Semblance, Pyrrha recalled her shield. Milo was already in 'her' Xiphos form. The two warriors met in the center of the arena in a flurry of strikes, parries, and evasions. Pyrrha then pulled two techniques from her friends at Beacon. From Yang's arsenal, Pyrrha incorporated feint kicks and a few elbow strikes. From Jaune's, Ruby's and Nora's arsenal...Pyrrha dropkicked Bela.
In the face.
Pyrrha's opponent landed halfway across the arena with a grunt and a bloody lip despite having over half aura.
'Just how hard did I hit her?'
Shots rang out and Pyrrha ducked behind Akoúo̱. The surprise assault form the prone girl forced Pyrrha to exploit her Semblance to push a few of the bullets out of the way. Pyrrha had not reacted fast enough and a pair of bullets grazed her shoulders. The damage was lessened by Pyrrha's Aura, but the shots still stung.
The Invincible Girl had taken her first hits in nearly nine matches. The crowd was silent for a few moments as they processed what they had just witnessed. Then everything exploded and the crowd truly got into the match.
Pyrrha wanted to end the match quickly. The prospect of going to Beacon and reuniting with the man she loved was so tantalizingly close. Javelin Milo flew through the air with authority. Bela was flipping to her feet...and directly into the path of Milo. The impact sent Bela flying...until she impacted the barrier.
The match was declared over. Pyrrha and Bela went through the most match rituals. Once again, Pyrrha found herself scandalized by the flirt option the game designers had placed in her dialogue list. As always, Pyrrha chose the polite options. The next few hours were a complete blur of the usual podium appearances, press conferences, and frantic packing. Pyrrha had no interest in paying it any real attention.
She did, however, enjoy the meal with her parents that night. There was an attempt at a conversation between Pyrrha and Thálassa, but it mostly was the two women crying and promising to keep in touch via Scroll Messages and voice calls.
Pyrrha had always been an early riser, but her elation at the looming reunion with Jaune, Nora, Ren and Team RWBY was so overwhelming she was awake a full three hours before her alarm.
[Now loading…]
Pyrrha was so grateful for the loading screen. She regained control as she waited on the airship's loading ramp to lower.
"I'm so proud of you," Thálassa wept. "My baby girl is leaving home. I know you'll be magnificent. You're my angel, but it's a mother's job and privilege to worry about her only child."
"Thank you, Mother," Pyrrha replied with a watery smile, struggling mightily to hold back a flood of tears.
"Call us at least once a week," Kassíteros ordered gently. "We need to know how you are doing. I want to hear about the friends you make, how classes are going, and if I need to have any young men disappear for getting too fresh with my precious kóri."
"I...I promise father," Pyrrha swore. She truly loved her parents and was glad the emotional moment allowed her to cry freely. The thought of how devastated her passing would have been to both Thálassa and Kassíteros finally entered her mind. 'I do promise father. I promise I will not fail this time. I will stop Cinder. I will kill Cinder."
Parting from her parents was far more difficult than Pyrrha remembered, but she quickly boarded the airship. The Invincible Girl was grateful for her private quarters on board. Her heart was racing a million miles per hour. She was almost to Beacon she was reunited with…
[Jaune Arc has entered the game! Would you like to enable co-op?]
Author's Note: Here's chapter 2! Cutting it close, but I managed to get this out on time as promised! This chapter is from Pyrrha's perspective. One of my primary objectives for this chapter was to give everyone's favorite Hoplite some character development. Next chapter is the reunion. That chapter is also complete so I'll be able to post that, barring catastrophe, next Friday. I've also started work on Chapter 4. I hope to stay ahead of this fic for a while. Once school starts back and my focus goes to my job and students, I'm not sure how updates will flow.
Now! Some fic recs. The world desperately needs more positive portrayals of Arkos. So, I have a few recommendations.
First, a fic that is fairly recent. "From Embers to Dust" by WarrenDSherman. Hugely unique take. Lots of amazing mystery, but sadly the fic isn't getting anywhere the attention Warren deserves for such a polished and unique fic.
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Hopefully Fanfic didn't eat the link. Regardless, I do hope that you give "From Embers to Dust" a look. Hugely underrated fic that deserves more love.
And the following are author suggestions: Solora Goldsun and soulfulbard create some great RWBY AUs and in keeping with the "Arkos Needs More Love" theme of this author's note, both authors have some great Arkos fics.
So, everyone needs to go check out WarrenDSherman, Solora Goldsun, and soulfulbard if you need to sate a craving for Arkos and/or positive Pyrrha and Jaune portrayals.
Hope y'all enjoy this chapter! The response blew me away! Y'all rock!