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Pyrrha then was in a deep thought as she tried to find the answer she felt was the right one. the answer she felt was what needed to be done. "The ten children leave and we remain. I want to become a huntress to protect people. And if I was the injured comrade I would be demanding the children go instead of me as well." Not only was Pyrrha's voice determined in her answer her body language betrayed the same response as well.
Aodh couldn't help but smile at Pyrrha's answer. "Then you just done the same thing Amber did. Now, you want to know who we are? We're a select group of academy leaders who are protecting this world from forces unknown to them But we are still your teachers and professors." Aodh answered.
"But with an added part time job." Qrow added
"And we are in need of your help." Ozpin finished as he looked directly at Pyrrha.
Volume 3: Chapter 6: The Vault
The downwards Elevator ride was an simple awkward for Pyrrha. She found herself surrounded by five people who called themselves protectors of the world and felt small and insignificant. But she managed to gain some courage and asked the group. "Where are we going?"
"Under the school there is a vault hidden away." Ozpin answered Pyrrha's question. It wasn't long after that they arrived at the Vault itself.
When the doors of the elevator opened Pyrrha looked out to a long barely lit room. As they walked down through the room the clear echo of the groups footsteps could be heard.
"I'm sure you must have questions." Professor Goodwitch asked Pyrrha.
"I might have one, or two... I still don't understand. You said I was next in line to receive the Maiden's power. What do you mean by that?" Pyrrha nervously asked.
"The Maidens have existed for thousands of years. But much like in nature, the seasons change. No two summers are alike. When a Maiden dies, her power leaves her body and seeks out a new host, ensuring that the seasons are never lost, and that no individual can hold on to that power forever." Professor Goodwitch informed Pyrrha.
"So, how does the power select it's hosts?" Pyrrha asked.
"Through a series of stupid and convoluted rules." Qrow answered with out hesitation.
"Qrow." Professor Goodwitch snapped back at the huntsman.
"As blunt as Qrow can be I have to agree with him." General Ironwood stated.
"See even jimmy here knows, so don't get mad 'cause I'm right." Qrow smiled back towards Glynda with a cocky grin on his face.
Glynda sighed in annoyance before turning her attention back to Pyrrha. "At first, the only thing that was certain was that the powers were specifically passed on to young women. But as time went on, it was discovered that the selection process was much more... intimate."
"Intimate?" Pyrrha had an extremely concerned and uncomfortable look on her face as she asked.
"Whoa, time out!" Aodh shouted out stopping the group. "You don't have to worry it's nothing like that at all. I promise." Aodh reassured Pyrrha. "It's just when a Maiden dies, the one who is in her final thoughts is normally the one who is next selected to gain the powers of a Maiden."
"Unless it's a dude or some old hag. Then the power goes to someone random, and our job gets a lot harder." Qrow also added to Aodh explanation.
"As was the case for the last Maiden when she got her powers. It just so happened she was here in Beacon at the time." Aodh stated.
Pyrrha was quite for a few moments as she tried to process this information. She then asked a different question. "I don't understand... Why tell me all of this now? Why not wait until I've graduated?"
"The same reason i'm in hiding. Only the people in this room know that i'm alive. You nothiced it as well. There is no crime happening in Vale, no Grimm attacking as well. It's almost like they are waiting. I faked my death so that we could be ready." Aodh explained to Pyrrha.
"You're not... talking about a war?" Pyrrha asked with a shocked tone to her voice.
"Yes, but not a war between nations." General Ironwood stated.
"We can fill you on the details once we know that you're with us. For now, all you need to know is that one of the Maidens has been attacked. And for the first time in history, part of her power was stolen." Qrow informed Pyrrha as they continue'd to walk down the long vault room.
"S... Stolen?"
As they continue'd to walk down Pyrrha began to make out something that looked like a machine near the end of the room. As she got closer she could see a large machine with two rectangular pods with a screen each and one in between. In one of pods Pyrrha could see a young girl with a burn scar over her left eye and across her face.
Pyrrha seemed stunned by her appearance as she weakly asked. "Is that..."
"The current Fall Maiden, Amber Autumn." Ozpin informed Pyrrha.
"She's... Still alive." Pyrrha noticed one of the monitors was showing a faint heart beat.
"For now. We're using state of the art Atlas technology to keep her stable. But there is a lot about this situation that is... unprecedented." General Ironwood stated to Pyrrha.
"What do you mean?" Pyrrha asked but found no answer in the room. "Won't her power just transfer to the next host?"
"We don't know that for sure. Part of her pwers have been taken from her. We can't grantee that when the original host dies that all of her powers either go to the one who stole them or to a new host entirely.
"So this power could move back to her assailant."
"And that would not bode well for any of us." Ozpin sighed in agreement.
Pyrrha touched the glass over Amber's body. Pyrrha then started to feel angry over this information. "If all of this is true, why keep it secret!? If this girl is so important... if we're truly on the brink of war, why not tell everyone?" Pyrrha shouted out demanding an answer.
"From what we understand, it used to be common knowledge." Professor Goodwitch provided an answer to Pyrrha's question.
"Excuse me?" Pyrrha asked not expecting that answer.
"How do you think legends and fairy tales get started? Even the craziest ones come from somewhere." Qrow stated to Pyrrha as he began to drink from his flask.
"Our group was founded in order to protect both mankind and the Maidens. Those hungry for power hunted them with the hope of inheriting their strength." Professor Goodwitch stated
Having finished a drink Qrow continue'd. "And as you can imagine, the ones that succeeded weren't exactly the ones you'd want to have unimaginable power." After he finished Qrow turned to look at Aodh who had remained silent. He could see his son was deep in thought as he looked at Amber's pod.
"And so our brotherhood chose to remove the Maidens from the public eye, and in Aodh's case be there partners." General Ironwood stated having not read Aodh's body language.
Pyrrha along with Ozpin and Qrow however seen the pained expression on Aodh's face. "Do you mean Amber and Aodh were?"
"No... She was my partner in my old team. We watched each others back and I help her when she first gained the Maidens power." Aodh informed Pyrrha before getting back to the subject at hand. "and another reason we can't go public over this information is simply no one would believe us. And if a few did it would only public panic and uproar."
"And we all know what that would bring to clawing at our Kingdom's walls. Which is why we would like to..." Ozpin finished Aodh's statement before he was cut off by Pyrrha.
"I'll do it." Pyrrha informed the group. "If you believe that this will help humanity... then I will become your Fall Maiden." Pyrrha resolutely stated but when she heard no response she was confused. "That's what you wanted, isn't it?"
Ozpin sighed before he answered Pyrrha. "It is, but I'm afraid it's not that simple. Given Amber's condition, you won't be able to inherit her power naturally. However, General Ironwood believes he has a solution."
"For the past few years, Atlas has been studying Aura from a more scientific standpoint. How it works, what's it made of, how it can be used. We've made significant strides. And we believe we've found a way to capture it." General Ironwood informed Pyrrha.
"Capture it and cram it into something else. Or in your case..." Qrow gestured what General Ironwood meant.
"That's..." Pyrrha spoke with a horrified look on her face.
"Classified."
"Wrong!"
"The feeling is mutual." Professor Goodwitch agreed with Pyrrha as she glared at the General. "But desperate times call for desperate measures."
"And these are indeed desperate times. We can't transfer Amber's power to you, but we can give you what those powers are bound to."
"Her Aura." Pyrrha finished the General's sentence.
"Her life would then become intertwined with yours. The question is..." Ozpin began to inform Pyrrha but he was cut off by Qrow.
"What's that going to do to you?"
Pyrrha now seemed to fully understand the dangers she could face if she agrees to take Amber's powers.
"You have an important decision before you, Miss Nikos. There's no guarantee this transfer will work. And there's no telling if you will be the same person if it does. I advise you to take time on this matter. But understand that before the Vytal Festival is over, we will need your answer." Professor Ozpin explained to his young student.
Aodh could see the emotion building along with Pyrrha's confusion as he place his hand on her shoulder. "I can't tell you what choice you must make. Only one person in this room and and that's you. But I can tell you that like Amber before you, your team is always there to help you." Aodh then rubbed the back of his head as he smiled at Pyrrha. "Oh and if you could do me a massive favor. Could you keep me being alive a secret for the time being."
"Thank you. And I promise to."
(That Evening)
Winter was waiting in General Ironwood's personal quarters inside his flagship. She was informed that both the General and Aodh wished to speak to her. After an awkward and nervous wait they both arrived. The General by normal means as Aodh teleported.
"As fun as this is I always get that little dizzy afterwards." Aodh groaned as he rubbed the side of his head of a moment.
"So what is this meeting so secret about that I have to leave my station to attend?" Winter stated in an impatient tone. Both the General and Aodh knew she was not so happy about waiting so long.
"It's about tomorrows quarter finals." General Ironwood cut to the chase.
"I will be part of your security unit during the event in the Colosseum." Aodh finished the statement.
Winter Knew that if Aodh was going to the Colosseum then the time for the Queen's attack was drawing nearer. "So you think it's about to start?"
"The Quarter finals are coming up. I feel something is about to happen."
(The next day, Amity Colosseum)
Having made an agreement with Winter last night over borrowing a uniform Aodh was currently standing guard at the Colosseum dressed as a simple Atlas security solider. He felt this would be soon when Cinder's team made her move so he wanted to be as close to the action as possible.
"Now, for the moment you've all been waiting for! The one-on-one finals! Barty, why don't you explain the rules?" Professor Port passed the mic's controls over to his co-host.
"It's quite simply really, Peter. Instead of a bracket system, each round of the finals will be randomly determined immediately before the match takes place!" Dr Oobleck stated back towards Professor Port.
"Much like any good hunt, there will be zero time to prepare!" The Professor agreed with excitement.
"Ah, yes, yes! Now, let's see who our first match will be!" Dr Oobleck then got the crowd attention towards the main screen as it shows two slots beginning to spin rapidly. As the two continue'd to spin Aodh knew that the whole world more or less at this point was watching this moment. Waiting for the quarter finals to begin.
"And it's Yang Xiao Long and Mercury Black!"
And Cut!
And this story has hit 100 reviews! YEAH! Thank you for everyone who was posted and I hope you've all enjoyed the story so far as we continue! Anyway let's get going with this chapter's Q&A!
1) if Cinder is going to be there wouldn't Aodh notice her right away? Aodh does know who cinder is and Would attack her on site but the issue is he doesn't know what her plan is or if she has a counter to anything that might happen to block her path. So Aodh jumping in to attack Cinder could make things worse.
2) You mean Gaelic, Irish isn't a language Gaelic is.
Not so much a question but this was a review of someone trying to be a smart arse and correct me. Now you might be considered correct in some aspects to that statement you made but you need to remember one thing.
Now this might sound confusing to most but Gaelic is Irish in Gaelic! Shocking isn't it!? I write the majority of this story in English. So when I say the term Irish language I am just as correct in what i'm saying as you are.
So to the guest reviewer who posted that. Congrats I find your ignorance blissful.
So that's all for this chapter folks. If you have a question do feel free to post a review or PM myself. If I don't answer your question on next chapter's Q&A I will try to reply via PM. Thank you for reading this chapter. I hope you've all enjoyed it. Till next time