The True Aegis Sword And The Fall Champion
Jaune used the bastard sword mode of Crocea Mors to counter an attack from one of the shadowy enemies. But to his dismay, the thing matched him in strength. Actually, it was pushing him back now.
"Get away from milord!" Joana shouted as she stabbed the occupied shadow from the side with her Catalyst Scimitar, causing the enemy to disintegrate.
"Thanks Joana." Jaune said before aiming for more of them.
Ren was nimble enough to weave between the shadowy enemies strikes and slash them with Stormflowers. While Otohime was giving ranged back up. Although sometimes she had to fight these things herself.
"These things are kinda like Grimm." Nora commented as she smashed another one before having to block another with Magnhild. Fortunately, Electra was quick to aid her Driver.
"Yeah…glowing red eyes, shadowy, and they disintegrate when killed." Blake agreed as she ducked under a horizontal slash before using Gambol to stabbing her opponent.
"Except they're wielding giant swords." Qrow agreed as he used Kasandra's hammer's shield function to deflect an attack before striking.
"Also why aren't there fewer of them…" Ruby said as she also cut one down. Their numbers didn't seem to decrease at all.
Weiss took a step back from the fighting so she could check everyone's Aura levels briefly. And she couldn't believe her eyes. "No…that can't be." Weiss muttered as she looked a little longer to see if her eyes were playing tricks on her.
"Weiss!" Dahlia called out before throwing her bitball at a shadow that tried to attack Weiss, "You need to pay more attention."
But Weiss was not concerned about that, "Everyone! Our Auras are dropping on their own."
"What?!" Unfortunately, this made Yang distracted long enough to take a hit. "Why, you!" And she used a shot from Ember Celica out of anger. But the shadow blocked it with the flat of its giant sword.
Dragunov then charged in and punched the enemy with his talons. "How can their Auras be dropping?!" Dragunov roared as he then blocked another shadow with one hand while giving another approaching one a tail swipe.
"I don't know!" Weiss said right before getting away from another shadow before stabbing Myrtenaster through its head.
"Miss Schnee!" Aizen called out just before firing two arrows on shadows that tried to attack his Driver from behind. Only for him to get struck from behind himself right after.
"Where are these things coming from?!" Zeke complained as he used ULFS Max to get out of a group of them.
"Lady Mòrag, look." Brighid then said as she pointed to one of them being covered by some kind of dark aura.
Mòrag did look just in time to see two new ones rising from the ground, and then the newly summoned shadows repeated the process, bringing out two more each. "Everyone, these things are summoning more of their ilk." Mòrag informed everyone.
"But then, how are we gonna stop them?" Nia asked before using a Healing Halo to boost everyone. Unfortunately, it barely did its job this deep inside.
At that moment, Tora had an idea. "Poppi! Activate QT mode! Fire everything!"
"Roger roger!" Poppi said before entering QT mode and Tora throwing the shield which turned into Mech Arms halfway through. Poppi then caught them, before pointing the sides at the enemies. "Friends, get back!"
Everyone did just that, before Poppi unleashed a barrage of powerful missiles on the shadows. Even one that was about to summon more of its comrades. This is Poppi QT's special level 3, Noponic Destruction.
"Nice one Poppi!" Tora cheered.
Penny then had a questioning look, "I thought friend Tora said that Poppi doesn't have this kind of weaponry?"
"Alpha mode, no. QT mode, yes." Tora said simply. As the smoke was beginning to clear.
Only to see that one of them was still around and had just finished summoning two more.
"How did that one survive?" Rex questioned first as the three were preparing to summon more of their comrades.
"Oh, no you don't!" Ruby protested as she fired Crescent Rose on them, but it seemed like she wasn't hitting them. "What?! That's impossible! I can't miss!"
Rex then moved in and slashed one of them with Roc's scythes, but the weapons phased through harmlessly. "What the-?"
"Rex!" Roc called out as he moved to block an attack from the newly summoned shadows that tried to attack from behind.
Blake then fired Gambol on one of the shadows that had finished summoning, and now it disintegrated. "Why are my shots working and Ruby's aren't?"
"I don't think it's that." Mòrag said as she stabbed a shadow that was in the middle of summoning more. The Whipsword phased through. "I think…When they summon more, they become intangible."
"So you're saying…we can't stop them from summoning more?" Yang questioned, "Are we supposed to fight these things forever?!"
"Argh! "Jaune cried out as he was suddenly ganged up on by multiple shadows.
"Milord!" Joana tried to get in between, but several more of them cut her off.
With the beating Jaune took, his Aura broke and suddenly, all the mist nearby converged on him, covering him completely.
"What is this?!" Talos let out as it looked like Jaune was covered by a localized patch of…Cloud Sea itself. The shadows that previously ganged up on Jaune paused and seemed to look on in curiosity as Jaune was clearly struggling inside of it.
"Jaune!" Nora let out before using a grenade to propel herself to help their leader. Only for one shadow to barely catch her leg and pull her back down.
"Dammit!" Talos shouted before using Pyrrha's semblance to pull Jaune out of the localized patch of Cloud Sea by his armor. He did pull Jaune, but the converged mist seemed to be attached to the Arc Driver. "Oh no." Talos said lowly before catching Jaune and trying to pry the mist off of him, but it was like trying to grab smoke with bare hands. Suddenly, the mist dispersed, and Jaune was revealed, gasping for breath like he had been underwater.
"What just happened?" Blake had barely questioned before noticing a giant sword coming down on her, she quickly got away, using her semblance on instinct. Unfortunately, this turned out to be a mistake because Blake felt dizzy. This caused her to then feel herself get attacked by another one. Blake was vaguely aware of Nox screaming before everything went black and she felt like she couldn't breathe.
Because the moment she took the hit, her Aura ran out and she too was covered by the mist.
"Blake!" Yang cried out even as she was trying to get away from an army of these things. Even Nox reaching his Driver did nothing to ease Yang's unease. "Dammit! Get away!" Yang activated her semblance for a burst of strength to get all shadows away from her, but as soon as she sent them flying, her Aura ran out, and she too was covered by the mist.
"Yang!" Dragunov shouted out, earning Ruby's attention.
"Yaaang!" Ruby looked to be on the verge of panic as she turned into a flurry of rose petals to get to her sister. Unfortunately, she didn't even make half-way before her Aura ran out and she stumbled forward even as she was being covered by the mist.
"Ruby!" Qrow also yelled out, but he was too busy fending off more of the shadows to even try to help.
But Roze managed to break through to help. As Roze was trying to get Ruby out of the mist, the mist covering Blake soon dispersed. Followed by Yang shortly after.
Weiss was getting a little scared. Why was the mist converging on anyone who ran out of Aura? Why did it disperse not long after? But Weiss was too busy fending off more shadows to actually think.
"Everyone's in trouble!" Jaune said as he lifted Crocea Mors with great difficulty, still gasping for air.
"I know, but your Aura ran out, you can't help." Talos argued as he used his Megalance to fend shadows off of Jaune.
"Shut up!" Jaune shouted out as he charged one of the shadows and brought the bastard sword into a powerful overhead strike. The shadow countered it, actually striking the weapon out of Jaune's hand. The shadow followed it with a kick to the Arc Driver's abdomen before preparing for a finishing blow.
"NO!" Talos stabbed his Megalance into the shadow just in time to save Jaune.
"Milord!" Joana cried out in distress, desperately trying to fight her way through to her lord Driver.
"Jaune, take my weapon." Talos threw his Megalance to Jaune who barely caught it.
"Thanks." Jaune said as he started fighting with Talos' Megalance. He didn't have much practice in it, but Talos made sure to have Jaune practice with it at least somewhat back on the ship in the event he would need to use it.
(Play Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Ost: Drifting Souls Instrumental)
With Rex, Nia had collapsed and it seemed like the Gormotti girl was really out of it. Dromarch did move in to protect her, but he could only use the barrier. Seeing this, Rex fought his way through the shadows to help Nia. He did get hit a few times, but the salvager's Aura held on. "Wild Scythe!" Rex managed to get in and save Nia, but the shadows decided to then gang up on him instead. Even with Roc putting up a barrier, the shadows soon struck through and gave a barrage of slashes to Rex
"Rex!" Nia cried out as the salvager's Aura was still holding on, but it would only be a matter of time before it would break.
With Jaune, Talos was having an argument with him. "Jaune, we are not arguing about this! Get back before you get killed!"
"If I can't help them, then I deserve to die!" Jaune shouted back as he charged a group of shadows with Talos' Megalance.
"Dammit Jaune! Pyrrha didn't launch you away just so you could die here! At this rate I... I can't protect you!" Talos' eyes turned green halfway through his rant as he used his shield arm to repel a shadow trying to get Jaune from behind.
"Talos, what're you talking about?!" Jaune asked as he deflected another swing at him before countering.
"Pyrrha's last wish was for me to protect you. Something I have been neglecting up until Haven. I will not do it again!"
"Well too bad, because they're the ones that matter, not me." Jaune said as he was determined to fight through this horde and help his friends, even as Joana was desperately trying to reach her lord. The shadows seemed hell bent on not letting her through.
"No…No more." Nia said, panting as she saw Rex's Aura finally giving up.
"Rex, get back!" Azurda shouted from the salvager's helmet. Wulfric also roared as he was plowing through as many shadows as he could just to get to his Driver. Him and Dragunov seemed to be the only ones who had relatively easy time.
"I can't…I won't stand by anymore." Nia said as she rememered Jin stabbing Rex on the ship, Vandham sacrificing himself back in Uraya, and when Rex was dying again. All because she was too afraid to act. "I will not hide! No more!" After the last words a burst of light came out of Nia's body, right from her chest.
"I must…save…everyone." Jaune said as he desperately fought against the shadows. But then one of them was able to smack, the Megalance aside before going for a stab, with Jaune bringing his armored left arm to block it on instinct. It was the only chance, seeing as his Aura had run out.
"JAAAAUNE!" Talos shouted out as his Core Crystal shined with power, until his body seemingly exploded in orange-red light from all the ether lines on his body.
The two bursts of light caused all activity to cease.
When Nia's burst of light died down, the Gormotti's yellow jumpsuit was gone, replaced by a white and gold-and-red trimmed leotard that revealed her sternum and shoulders. She had matching large detached sleeves on her arms and white gloves on her hands. Both the leotard and the sleeves are adorned with red rope, with the one around her torso being decorated with golden bells. Her boots are now red with large golden spikes at the toe-caps with gold trimmed white thigh-high leggings. Her hair was also longer, down to her legs and done into low twin tails with red rope. Her ears were also longer and pointing up, but now they looked like fox ears.
"Nia." Mòrag said in slight awe.
"She's a Blade?" Zeke said in surprise as he took note of the water drop shaped Core Crystal on her chest.
"That's not all." Mòrag added, noting that the Crystal was bloodstained.
With Jaune, he heard an odd clang against his arm, but it wasn't against his vambrace... not directly. Jaune looked down to see a bronze colored buckler shield. with a circular bloodstained Core Crystal in the middle. It reminded Jaune of Pyrrha's Akouo. Then he took a look at Talos' Megalance that was still supposed to be in his other hand. It still was, but the dark leaf shaped blade on it had turned autumn red in color.
Then Jaune looked to Talos himself. Or…what looked to be a reddish-orange light in vague shape of the metallic Aura Eater. With pieces of his armor floating about, twisting and turning as the shape of the light shrank and became more... feminine in shape. When the form started to turn solid, the twisting metal was attaching itself around it. On the arms, the metal formed autumn colored gauntlets with arcane looking bronze trimming with orange ether lines. With the backs of the gauntlets having circular brown gems. The left arm lacked the shield that Talos normally had.
Then the torso shaped around the still bloodstained circular Core Crystal. Except, where it was previously right in the middle of Talos' chest, it had moved to the sternum, still looking like it was hammered in, but the bloodstains now looked autumn red. The armor itself was also autumn colored and with arcane looking bronze trimmings and there was the slightest of swells at the front of the armor. There were also shoulder guards with a brown gem in the middle of each. Below the torso, was autumn colored metal skirt in shape of autumn leaves.
The legs were covered with autumn colored bronze trimmed greaves that covered all of the legs and had brown gems on the kneecaps.
Lastly, the helmet was mostly the same as previously, still having the Y-shaped hole for eyes and mouth, but with the addition of arcane bronze trimmings with a brown gem on the forehead. Then a string of red hair shot out of the back of the helmet in a high ponytail that extended to the lower back.
"T-Talos?" Jaune questioned, wondering what happened.
Talos didn't answer, but started dashing to Jaune.
"Jaune!" The voice that came out of the helmet made Jaune freeze. That wasn't Talos' voice. Jaune barely registered the feminine shaped arcane knight moving in and punching a shadow that tried to still strike Jaune down. "Jaune, are you okay?" the voice of a young woman asked. Voice that Jaune didn't think he would hear ever again.
But his look of shock turned to an uncomprehending one, when Talos(?) turned towards him, instead of the glowing blue eyes shining from the darkness that can't be penetrated, he saw a face of a fair skinned young woman staring at him in worry, with a few strands of red hair peeking from the upper part of the eye-hole. Right above the familiar green eyes.
"P-Pyrrha?" Jaune stammered as a single tear came down his right cheek.
"Jaune? Are you okay, what's-My voice?" The Blade that now looked like Pyrrha said as she brought her hands to her throat in disbelief. "I can... talk? No! I can move?! I'm moving!"
"Is that you Pyrrha?" Jaune asked, still trying to comprehend what was happening.
Pyrrha's face in the helmet looked Jaune straight in the eyes with moisture gathering in the emerald pools. "…H-hello again, Jaune."
That was enough for Jaune who pulled Pyrrha into a hug, letting out sobs as he did.
"Wait…is that…really Pyrrha?" Nora said in shock, having heard the shout. "But…she's dead…we saw the body."
"I…don't know." Ren admitted, being in shock himself.
Pyrrha was hugging Jaune like it was the last time she could, until she saw a problem. "Jaune!" Pyrrha released the hug before putting up a barrier to block the attack of a shadow that tried to sneak up on them.
"What?" Jaune could barely say before having to lift the new shield to block another strike.
"We'll talk later. For now, focus on the enemy." Pyrrha said, still having the affinity link with Jaune who wielded the shield and spear set.
With Rex, Nia approached the surprised salvager.
"Nia?"
"I am burdened no longer." Nia said happily. "Not by my past, not by Jin. I am finally free."
"…A Blade?" It seemed like Rex wasn't entirely focused on what Nia was saying. But then he started feeling refreshed. "What the-?" Rex raised one of his hands as he also felt that his Aura was restored.
Then Nia wrapped her hands around his. "I'm no longer afraid Rex. What's the point of living if I have to hide my whole life. Thank you for helping me see that…I love you Rex."
"Wha-?!"
As Rex was processing the bomb dropped on him, the shadows decided to continue where they left off. Nia saw them coming and got in front of Rex. Then she summoned a long blue energy sword with flowers weaved around the blade. It also had a guarded hilt. Nia swung the weapon, sending three shockwaves of water that blasted the incoming shadows away.
Zeke got a determined look at the sight of this before blocking an attack from a shadow. "Well come on, then! Who wants a piece!" Zeke declared before using a Dynamic Spark Sword against one shadow that brought its sword up to block the attack. Only for Zeke's Art to actually snap the shadowy sword in half, and by proxy, the shadow.
Tora was using Poppi QT's Mech Arms to block the attacks before firing Pow-Pow Cannon. Penny was soon giving ranged back up to the Nopon inventor.
With Mòrag, she was using the Whipswords with newlyfound vigor, while Agate and Aegaeon kept any shadows their Driver wasn't facing at bay.
Ruby had a determined look as she made a decision. "Roze, switch!" And then she threw Crescent Rose to him, with Roze doing the same with his own scythe. Then the two started working in tandem with Roze still being able to maintain the affinity link, despite taking active part in fighting.
Blake had a similar idea, as she was once again wielding Nox's Dual Scythes and the ninja Blade was wielding Gambol Shroud. Although Nox got a little creative and tied the katana end's ribbon to the sheath that acted as a cleaver and swung them around with the ribbon, giving him greater reach without using the gun function. Nox was of course prioritizing Blake's surroundings, because of her lacking Aura.
Then Blake heard flames whooshing, turning to the source, she saw that several shadows that were trying to charge her. Blake couldn't help smiling at Yang who had unloaded Heatblast on the said shadows. Of course, the blonde brawler had a confident grin as she wielded Dragunov's talons.
With Jaune and Pyrrha, the two had begun working in tandem. Pyrrha used her semblance to retrieve Crocea Mors before the two switched weapons. Pyrrha using the shield and spear combo with her familiar skills to mow down incoming shadows as Jaune slashed at whatever Pyrrha didn't get.
Then, some of the shadows were destroyed by bursts of water and electricity. Turning to see the source momentarily, Jaune and Pyrrha saw Ren and Nora wielding their respective Blades' weapons as they were charging in to help.
From the other side of Pyrrha and Jaune, bolts of light hit two more of the shadows as Joana was finally able to join her lord and future lady.
With Ruby and Roze, the two were about to get jumped on by more shadows, but they were soon destroyed by a beam of light and a speeding bitball. Courtesy of Weiss and Penny. Ruby gave a confident grin as she looked to see Qrow also bashing at the shadows he was facing while keeping Oscar safe. The farmboy was blasting away with Herald's Ether Cannon.
As all of this was happening, Nia was fending off shadows with her Blade weapon, with Dromarch soon joining her with his rings in his mouth. Dagas too joined them while giving Nia an intrigued look.
"I suppose I must put in some effort as well." Dagas said as he struck down a shadow, straight through the sword it tried to block the royal Blade's Great Axe with. Although the Royal Blade was clearly as much affected by the decreased Ether in the air as much as any other Blade, considering he was panting.
But then, Nia started panting harder as her steps became more unsteady. "There really isn't much ether around here." As soon as Nia said that, she saw more shadows charging at her, Dagas and Dromarch repelled two of them, but one of them got past and was attempting to strike Nia down. But then Rex came in with Roc.
"Nia…I love you too." Rex said with a smile to the newly revealed Flesh eater.
"Huh?" Nia was not expecting Rex to actually feel the same.
"I love you…and all of you guys." Rex continued, earning a blanched look from Nia, "So let's do this together!" Unbeknownst to the salvager, Roc's palm impacted the avian Blade's face at Rex's words.
Then the girl started laughing. "That's just like you. It's all I could ask for." Nia wiped a tear that came from laughing so hard. Then she offered her sword to Rex, "Let's give them hell!"
Rex looked to Roc who seemed to be smiling despite not having a mouth capable of that. "Go ahead." Roc said as he summoned his Dual Scythes from Rex's hands.
Rex nodded to Roc before turning back to Nia. "Ready." Then Rex grabbed Nia's sword and the two returned to the fight. Alongside, Dromarch, Roc and Dagas, the two were easily taking down any shadows that dared to approach them. Their numbers seemed endless, but they were not about to stop here. One shadow almost got a hit on Rex, but found itself impaled by Wulfric's Megalance instead. The beastly Blade had also managed to come and help.
With team JNPR, they had managed to get some breathing room, until suddenly, the shadows started ignoring them and running after Rex.
It wasn't just their opponents, the ones facing team RWBY and the rest of the Alrest gang also started focusing on Rex and Nia.
Some of them were incinerated by blue flames and lightning from Mòrag and Zeke. Others were blasted by a combination of Ruby's shots with Roze's scythe, Weiss launching Dahlia's bitball and Yang unloading another Heatblast. Aizen was also doing his best firing ether arrows as fast as he could.
Despite the infinite numbers, Rex and everyone else refused to go down anymore, even when most of the Remnans Auras were running on fumes. And that's only because of Yang using her offensive healing Art.
"You fight."
"Who said that?" Rex asked as he used Nia's sword to repel a shadow.
"You fight on relentlessly. But you do not fight for yourself."
"I fight for my friends." Rex said resolutely as he struck down another shadow before locking swords with another one.
"I have been waiting so long. For one such as you." As soon as Rex heard the last part, a bright light shone down from the ceiling.
"What's happening now?" Qrow let out as he looked up to the light along with everyone else.
(Song end)
But when Rex looked into the light, he was blinded for a moment. When his vision returned, the salvager found himself on a grassy field with a small hill at the front. On top was a single tree with a man in a white hood standing near it. Back towards Rex.
"My name is Addam." The hooded man said, "I have long departed from this world."
"That voice…It was you." Rex commented on the voice he heard moments before.
"What is your name, boy?" Addam asked.
"Rex. I've been here before. This is Elysium. Pyra was standing under that tree over there." Rex pointed to the single tree beyond Addam. "She looked lonely."
"Is that so?" Addam crossed his arms, "I must offer you my gratitude."
"Eh?"
"You are the one who brought me here. I have never been to this place." Addam explained.
"Neither have I…Not yet." Rex admitted.
"It is beautiful." Addam said as he brought his hands to his hips as he took in the surroundings.
"Yeah." Rex agreed.
"Rex. What is it that you seek? Wealth? Power? Dominion?" Addam asked as he turned around to face the salvager, but the hood obscured his face from Rex's view.
"Err…None of those, really." Rex said after thinking hard, then he brightened up a little. "But power might be useful."
"Power then?"
"Power to protect." Rex clarified.
"Protect what?"
"…That's a long list. Gramps, Nia, Tora…everyone at Fonsett. And Pyra and Mythra."
"You are greedy boy." Addam sounded a little amused to hear that.
"Everyone in Argentum used to tell me that." Rex replied with a smile.
"It is not necessary to protect everything. There is a limit to what one man can do."
"That's true." Rex looked away momentarily.
"But there is something granted to you especially."
Now Rex was interested. "Please tell me what it is."
"The power to accept her." Addam said, smiling under his hood, "She is afraid. Of her own power, and her terrible destiny. I too was afraid of the true power of the Aegis. Rex, your will to fight comes from your will to protect. When you are able to take on their fears, then you will be her true Driver." As Addam finished, a bright light was emanating from him.
"Wait, Addam! Dragunov said I'm your descendant! Is that true?!" Rex called out as he was once again being blinded.
"Dragunov did? So Malos didn't destroy him. I'm sorry, but I don't know what came of my son after I passed. But if you are my descendant…It would make me happy. Regardless, I am glad that someone like you-" Rex didn't get to hear the rest as Addam's voice drowned out.
"Rex. Rex." Rex blinked at the sound of Nia's voice. The salvager was now surrounded by everyone who were looking at him with varying levels of worry. The shadows were gone.
"What happened, you haven't said anything since those shadows disappeared," Nia said.
"Yeah, you just stood there like a statue." Ruby added in.
Rex looked a little disappointed before smiling, "I'm fine. Never better."
"Well those shadow thingies are gone, so what now?" Yang then asked.
Rex turned towards the stone monolith and walked towards it. After a moment, parts of it glowed blue before the top parts slid aside and the monolith began sinking. Soon it revealed a gray sword with an emerald Cross on it.
"Is that it?" Jaune asked with a hopeful look.
"The third Aegis sword." Ruby said in slight awe.
Rex grabbed the long hilt and drew the sword out of its pedestal. And when he did, the Core Crystal on it began glowing faintly. Rex was then rushed with images of planet with something circling around it. An explosion, a pedestal of some kind. And…an old man.
Then the sword began disintegrating.
"What the-?!" Qrow exclaimed
"The Aegis sword!" Zeke also yelled at the sight of the one true Aegis sword being destroyed just like that.
"…I suppose…being down here for so long may have caused it to deteriorate." Agate theorized.
"Are you saying we came all this way for nothing?" Oscar asked in disbelief.
"Guys…It's alright." Rex said with a smile as he turned to face everyone.
"Rex, it's all well and good to be optimistic, but we just lost the third sword. The only way to beat Jin." Roc said in a very annoyed tone.
"This was never about the sword." Rex replied calmly, "We got everything we need."
Qrow let out a weary sigh, "Look kid, it's good that you're confident, but let's be real here, we can't possibly save the Aegis without that sword."
"It's okay. I know what I have to do now." Rex said with unwavering confidence that confused everyone, "Let's go. We've got rescuing to do."
Except for Mòrag who looked intrigued, "Rex…have you realized something we haven't?"
"I guess…you could say that." Rex said with a mildly embarrassed look.
"I suppose that is enough." the Special Inquisitor smiled, "I'm with you then."
"Thank you, Mòrag." Rex said before turning to Nia who still looked apprehensive, "Nia, do you trust me?"
"Well…yeah I guess." Nia said, still looking unsure.
"Great, then the first thing we should do is get out of here." Rex then said.
Roc let out a small sigh, "I suppose we could return to Fonsett for now."
"Umm…guys." Nora said uncertainly, earning everyone's attention. "Aren't we gonna talk about the Goliath in the room?"
Everyone looked momentarily confused.
Nora palmed her face, "Helloooo? How is Pyrrha alive?!" The carrot top pointed to the armored champion who now seemed to shrink as all eyes were on her.
"Is she real?" Weiss was the first to ask.
"Did Talos transform?" Yang followed it up.
"Did she possess him?" Blake added in.
"How did she split the shield from her arm?" Ruby also added in, earning looks of disbelief at that question.
"I…Uhhh." Pyrrha stammered awkwardly, clearly overwhelmed.
"Guys!" Jaune called out firmly as he got in front of their formerly dead friend, "Give her some space."
"Okay, but could someone explain what's going on with Talos turning into a girl?" Zeke then piped up.
"I…" Pyrrha tried again awkwardly, "I don't know where to start... And I'm not Talos."
"Milady, please, start from the beginning."
That seemed to calm Pyrrha down as she took a deep breath while fiddling with one brown gem on the back of her hand. "Well…I guess…"
AN: SURPRISE M******AS! Oh, I've so wanted to use that line. Anyway, yes, I planned to bring Pyrrha back this way since day one. But how is that possible? Well, I'm gonna be an A-hole and leave it on a cliffhanger.
