Of all the members of JNPR, it was only Pyrrha who'd really needed to adjust to their shared living arrangements at Beacon. Jaune had always shared his room with siblings growing up, Ren and Nora had always been together, and any place with a roof over their heads was already a luxury for the pair.
Pyrrha, on the other hand, had always been an only child growing up. The only time she had to share sleeping space with anyone was in hotel rooms with her mother when the two traveled for Pyrrha's tournaments. Private space was something she always had taken for granted.
However, Pyrrha had quickly grown to enjoy the constant interaction that came with the dorm, and she credited it for helping her break out of her shell. Even after shutting the lights off, the team could spend hours just talking about inane, silly topics as they lay in bed.
Now, as she lay in bed in one of the two guest rooms in the Xiao-Long house, that same privacy she had had all her life except for those few precious months at Beacon was now so dreadfully quiet and lonely. She was used to falling asleep to Nora's snoring, to the soft hum Ren made as he meditated, and to Jaune's unintelligible but oh-so-adorable sleep-talking. Now, the only sounds that could be heard were the whistling wind outside and the creaking of the wooden floor under her bed as Pyrrha tried to shift into a comfortable position to fall asleep.
Eventually, she gave up, and pulled herself up and out of bed, grabbing her scroll, turning its light on so she could see, and oh so gently opening the door before creeping out into the hallway. Ruby had told them that the sizable bookshelf in the living room was open to them if they got bored and wanted to do some reading.
She quickly found her target after she descended the stairs, pulling her light up to the bookshelf so she could see the titles. Beyond the heavy amount of more practical literature focused on huntsmen's work, the assortment was wonderfully diverse. There were books she'd expected such as a very well-worn copy of 101 Fairy Tales, to the surprisingly morose like the Mantelian Saga. Her hand almost went to pick up The Colonel's Son but stopped. It was a classic but… a love story wasn't something she particularly wanted at the moment, and instead, she grabbed a copy of A Heroine of Our Time instead.
However, as she went to go back upstairs, Pyrrha noticed the slight glow from the kitchen. She swore if Nora was raiding the fridge of the house they were guests in at this hour…
What she found instead was not a ravenous Nora looking for ice cream, but instead, Yang, who was seated on the floor and eating what Pyrrha was pretty sure were slices of ham straight from their container.
"Yang?" She called out softly.
Ruby's sister yelped, dropping the container, falling onto her back, gasping for breath, her one arm desperately finding purchase on the floor while her stump tried to do the same.
Pyrrha swiftly moved over, offering a hand to her, though when Yang's breathing slowed and her eyes refocused, she ignored Pyrrha, instead desperately trying to find purchase on the ground. Pyrrha awkwardly stood there for a few seconds hand still out, until she decided to instead clean up the slight mess that resulted from Yang's fall.
"I'm sorry Yang… I didn't mean to startle you like that."
As Yang finally pulled herself off the ground she said brusquely "It's fine Pyrrha." before she quickly moved out of the kitchen and back to her room upstairs.
Pyrrha stood stock still for a few moments trying to process just what had gone on, how that scared girl in front of her had been one of the toughest and brightest women she knew. Ruby had said she'd been bad but that was… Pyrrha didn't know what to think about Yang right now.
/
"Are you sure you don't want to come with us, Pyrrha?" Ruby said, her silver eyes frowning with confusion as to why Pyrrha didn't want to head into town to shop for supplies. The four had spent the morning on the front porch discussing what they might need once they finally left for Mistral.
Nora continued "Yeah! It'll be a lot easier to get the stuff you want for our mi-"
Ren slapped a hand over her mouth before continuing. "For our move to here." He shot a glare at Nora. "Because we don't have a place to go."
"It's fine really I just… Need to train, that's all. That stay in the hospital was probably the longest stretch where I haven't done any in years. I-I have a list I made so just use that instead." She awkwardly proffered the slip of paper to the three.
Nora put her hands on her hips, eyes narrowing. She knew it was an excuse, Pyrrha knew it was an excuse, but the thought of everyone seeing her made her shudder. The girl who murdered Penny in front of the world, starting the Fall of Beacon. The girl who failed in fulfilling her destiny.
"If Pyrrha wants to stay, that's okay." Ren grabbed the list and Pyrrha gave him a thankful look, though his sad frown back told her his opinion on her hiding away like this.
"Well, maybe you can come next time then! We'll probably end up forgetting something… Be back in a few hours." Ruby gave a little wave to Pyrrha as Ruby, Ren, and Nora left, while Pyrrha stood on the porch, watching them grow more and more distant until the trail disappeared into the forest.
She heard the door crack open behind her, and Pyrrha turned around to find Yang in the doorway, her eyes wide and mouth in an "Oh" of surprise. Getting a better look at her in the daylight really heightened just… how different she seemed beyond just the loss of one arm.
Yang's striking golden mane, which she'd always taken such good care of that Pyrrha would ask her for haircare tips, was now limp and dull. Her lilac eyes which always seemed to have that spark of energy and joy, something she shared with Ruby, were tired and distant. Her skin clearly hadn't seen much sunlight in a while and the greasy look it had combined with her hair made Pyrrha wonder how long it had been since Yang even bathed herself.
The door began to close but before Yang could go back inside, Pyrrha quickly grabbed her arm.
"Yang! Are you… avoiding us?"
"What made you think that, huh?" The pure acid in Yang's voice caught Pyrrha off guard, but she pressed onwards.
"I just want to talk, okay?"
Yang looked at her arm, which Pyrrha still had a hold of, and shot her a glare. Pyrrha pulled away, mumbling a "Sorry" and the two stood awkwardly for a few seconds before Yang huffed.
"Fine."
She took a seat on the porch, and Pyrrha joined her, sitting down next to her. Yang didn't bother looking at her, instead just… staring off at the forest. Pyrrha had never moped like Yang seemed to be doing, her team wouldn't let her and she wouldn't let herself but… she could see the same listless sadness that had plagued her.
"C'mon, say your piece, and let's get this over with."
Pyrrha sighed. "Yang… I'm not going to tell you you shouldn't be feeling guilty, or sad, or… whatever it is you're feeling. I've gotten enough of that advice myself to know how... I just… I presume Ruby told you about our plans? We'd love to have you along. I know having a goal, having the chance to maybe make up for my mistakes and do something. To avenge Jaune. It helps make me feel… worthwhile."
"If you haven't noticed yet Pyrrha, I'm not in much of a state to do anything right now." Yang moved her stump for emphasis and Pyrrha winced.
"That doesn't mean you can't. Even your company would be valuable and that doesn't mean you can't fight anymore! Me and Nora could help and I know some trainers in Mistral who also still fight despite similar…injuries. We could get you back to normal and you-"
"Jaune was lucky," Yang said, finally looking her right in the eyes.
Pyrrha stopped at the non-sequitur, unsure of where this was going. Plenty of people had told Jaune he was lucky for having Pyrrha as a partner but how-
"I gave it all up for a partner who paid me back by running away! From me and my sister! Meanwhile, after he's gone you still care about him, you stuck around. And now I'm stuck here just… worthless, knowing it was for nothing. Jaune at least got to go out in a blaze of glory. So yeah, he was lucky."
Ice gripped Pyrrha's heart, her arms were shaking, and Pyrrha could feel a twinge in pain from where her gloved hands were clamped around her own thighs, trying to keep herself from…. How could… How could she say that?
"Thank you for your input, Yang. I won't bother you anymore." Her tone tried but failed at remaining level, and Pyrrha quickly got up, and stormed off into the yard for training, only to realize in her… emotion that she'd left her weapons on the porch. She turned around, seeing Yang must have already fled back into the house. That was more than fine by her.
/
Pyrrha carefully looked down the scope on Miló, aiming at one of the now many empty water bottles from rehydrating after her earlier workout. It was now perched on an old stump in the forest that, based on the various old craters and gouges, was what Ruby had probably trained on Crescent Rose when she was younger.
BANG!
The bottle toppled over as the shot nicked the neck of it and Pyrrha grimaced. Damn! Her marksmanship was sloppy today, though she didn't know whether it was just her lack of recent practice or the faint tremble in her arms. Training usually helped burn off steam but now…
She pulled her face away from the scope and went to reload her weapon when a gruff voice called out to her.
"Hey, you have a minute?"
Pyrrha whirled around to find Ruby's uncle standing a respectable distance behind her and she frowned.
"How long were you watching me?" She asked as she folded up Miló, before wiping a bead of sweat off her forehead.
"Just long enough to wait for a good opening to talk. Spooking a huntress while she's training is a good way for someone's foot to get blown off, especially when she's keyed up."
"Things haven't exactly been the most ideal lately so I hope you can understand me being… 'keyed up.'"
Qrow just laughed "You can say that again."
"I… hope you're not here to tell me I didn't mess up like Professor Goodwitch tried to. I know she was lying." Pyrrha's eyes looked downwards
"No kid, I'd be a damn hypocrite if I tried to lecture you on that." He took a swig from his flask before continuing. "I'm here because someone sent you a letter all the way from Mistral. Probably one of the first people to be getting any mail period."
Did Mom call in some favors to contact her? She gently took it from his hands and frowned at the crisp envelope's empty return address. Definitely not Mom then.
She stood awkwardly, waiting for Qrow to give her some privacy to open the letter, but she quickly realized from the slight grin he was giving her that he probably knew a bit more than he let on. She gently opened it with her fingernail, taking care not to tear the envelope before pulling the letter out and unfurling it, reading the fine cursive out loud.
"Dear Miss Nikos. With the tragic attack on the Vytal Festival, we imagine you are likely wanting to see family and return to your home kingdom of Mistral as soon as possible. We are offering you an expedited return via airship on…" Pyrrha's jaw dropped as she saw the date. Non-essential airship travel was severely restricted, and they were offering her a flight back in two days?! "We hope you will accept this gracious offer, Mistral could use the light of its rising star" She snorted, "to shine through the confusion and chaos of the Vytal Festival attack. Signed, Headmaster Lionheart, Councilman Fir, Councilwoman Vert, and Councilwoman Topaz."
She folded the letter back up before looking Qrow in the eyes. "They want something." Left unsaid was that they wanted something and from the sound of it she'd almost certainly be right back in the public eye again.
"I know how Mistral works but," he emphasized. "Leo's one of us, and a good man at that. He'll probably be the one owing favors to the council for this rather than you. Besides, even if that isn't the case," his gaze matched hers. "When it comes to our mission, your mission now, if the only sacrifices we had to make were playing nice with petty politicians and some unwanted attention… I think the both of us would be much happier."
Pyrrha stiffened and her eyes broke away from Qrow's stare. She had her suspicions that he'd let the information 'slip' to Ruby intentionally, he didn't seem the type to be so careless, but…
"What are you doing then?"
"Helping pick up the pieces, get our side of the board back in order, look into certain contacts and leads that are a bit more ah, touchy. Things none of you can do. "
"And there is nothing else we should know?"
Qrow looked away and rubbed his stubbled chin for a few seconds, before moving in closer. "Well since you are already in the loop about it as a former Maiden candidate," Pyrrha winced "and I imagine Ruby and your little friends are as well now… The Spring Maiden is missing in Mistral. Ran off years ago and no one knows where she is, not us or our enemies… but that kind of power doesn't hide forever-"
"And they are actively hunting for them now..."
Qrow nodded in affirmation.
"I… Thank you, for telling us. Rather than just saying we should stay in Vale, and that this isn't also my responsibility." Pyrrha's fists clenched in frustration.
"No problem kid, and this won't be the last time we talk. I just hope that next time will be in Mistral rather than here in Patch when I come to say goodbye to my brother-in-law and niece next week."
Pyrrha's eyes glanced back down at the letter in her hand, but when she went to look back at Qrow he was… gone.
Guess I'm not the only one to keep my Semblance close to my chest…
/
Ruby gently knocked on the door to Pyrrha's room. Ruby, Nora, and Ren had finally gotten back from shopping, it was just before sunset hit when they'd finally gotten home. Doing team shopping with Nora was an… experience.
"You can come in."
She opened the door with her free hand and saw Pyrrha on the bed in her sleepwear with A Heroine of Our Time lying beside her. Her crimson locks were out of her ponytail and resting on and over Pyrrha's shoulders. From the slight dampness of her hair and the familiar strawberry scent of one of Yang's shampoos, Ruby figured Pyrrha must have taken a shower not too long ago.
"Oh um if I interrupted your reading I-"
"Don't worry Ruby, I just got to a good stopping point anyways." She said, shifting into a sitting position.
Ruby stammered, tapping her feet nervously "Umm well tomorrow we're gonna be shopping an-and I know you might not wanna come but we uh, took a bit longer than usual and we also need to book our sightseeing trip, things are going to be booked out if we don't."
"Ah yes, booking our sightseeing trip is rather necessary isn't it," Pyrrha responded, a knowing smile on her face. That was the code word they all had agreed on for their eventual trip all the way to Mistral.
"A-anyways I know you don't wanna be out in public b-but I thought this might help!" She laid the package her other hand was holding, which Pyrrha grabbed, curiosity written into her face. She gingerly opened it, gently unfurling the black fabric that was folded inside.
"It's… a cloak." Her voice was filled with bemusement as she ran her fingers over the soft fabric.
"Mhmm!" Ruby nodded eagerly. "I know you uh, don't want to go out now and umm…" Ruby shifted awkwardly. "When I was younger I uh, was always kinda nervous a-about meeting and seeing new people a-and-" she pulled her own red cloak over her shoulders, "it helped me feel a bit safer… I-I know it's probably stupid and stuff compared to what you're feeling but-"
"It's not stupid at all, it's really thoughtful and sweet actually. Here, let me try it on with my normal attire actually!"
Pyrrha got up and Ruby exited the room, closing the door so Pyrrha could change. It only took a few minutes, dang Pyrrha changed fast, before she opened the door for Ruby and… wow.
In the doorway stood Pyrrha, one hand on her hip in her standard combat gear, but instead of the normal bare shoulders and upper arms, there was now a cascade of soft black fabric that came down to just above her ankles, and Ruby let an internal sigh of relief that the size wasn't off. Her hair was still down, likely so she could fit it underneath the hood which was currently pooled around her shoulders, much like how Ruby normally kept hers.
"That looks… Amazing!" Ruby let out a little hop of excitement and Pyrrha smiled, like full smiled, which made Ruby smile too because… Pyrrha hadn't been doing that very much lately.
"It looks like we're`-" Ruby stopped herself. She was going to say partners but… Ruby had Weiss and Pyrrha had had… Jaune…
"It looks like we're matching now." She said much more softly.
Luckily, Pyrrha didn't notice her near faux pas. "Thank you, Ruby, it's very sweet and…" She took a deep breath, standing up a bit straighter. "I'm sure it'll help when I come with you all tomorrow. I know how Nora can be on a shopping trip."
Ruby's breath hitched. She actually helped even if it was just a little bit! She was so worried it'd just be like with Yang and-
"Though… I don't think we'll need to book any sort of sightseeing trip." Pyrrha smiled coyly as she passed Ruby a small letter, which Ruby began to read her eyes widening the further she got down it.
Ruby ran out of the room and shouted downstairs, "Ren, Nora! Come here! Pyrrha's got something to show us, well, a few things!"
The two of them had offered to help cook the sides while her dad was out working the grill, and it took a few seconds until she could hear the sounds of mostly one pair of footsteps coming up the stairs which drowned out the other pair.
"What's up, we can't stay too- oh so that's what Ruby was getting for you. Lookin good Pyrrha!" Nora whistled as she saw Pyrrha, who blushed and retreated into her cloak a bit.
"Fashion wise I think it works quite well. Good job picking it out Ruby." Ren added and Ruby couldn't help but beam.
"That's not all, look!" Ruby excitedly showed them the letter and they both read it over before handing it back to Pyrrha.
"We can talk about details later, I don't want to burn the pastries, but that's… that's really good." His voice grew softer. "If it's okay with you Pyrrha."
"Thank you, Ren, and… It's okay."
"Hey Pyrrha, can you pull your hood up and stuff?" Nora asked and Pyrrha looked confused at the sudden change of topic but complied, pulling her cloak over herself until only her face was showing from underneath the hood.
Nora's voice was gruff "I am Pyrrha Nikos! I am the Night! I am… Justice!"
"Nora." Ren chided, and Ruby frowned at the joke, not wanting Pyrrha to feel embarrassed. But Pyrrha… Pyrrha started giggling, and soon enough everyone else joined in. Everyone was laughing, they had their ticket to Haven, and for the first time since she'd woken up from the Fall of Beacon, Ruby could say things were finally looking up for once.
/
And here we have chapter two! No one's doing particularly well but the new team is getting its first inklings of forming up. I hope I did a good job showing the different ways everyone is struggling and (failing at) coping with their grief. Also, the plot begins to thicken and change with the inclusion of Pyrrha, as it means our group is already a foot in the door on some info that only sorta got revealed to everyone a good chunk into Vol 4 like Maiden stuff. Rewatching Vol 4 shocked me on how in the dark RNJR was and honestly just how quickly "go to Mistral to investigate" seemed to be... forgotten? Thoughts, criticisms, and juicy juicy speculation are always appreciated.