Begin The Rescue

"Whuh…? Where…am I?" Was the first thought Pyrrha had as she woke up in a forest of some kind. Judging by what she could see of the leaves this must be somewhere in Anima. Then her vision wandered around the area, but not of her own volition. "Why can't I move my head? Wait! Why is my head moving on its own?!" Pyrrha was beginning to freak out as her vision turned to what seemed to be the edge of the forest with a town not far away from it. Then she was moving towards the village of her own accord.

When Pyrrha saw some of the townspeople looking at her, she tried to greet them, but for some reason she couldn't speak. She couldn't move of her own volition… Now that she thought of it, Pyrrha couldn't even feel her body. It was almost like she only had her vision… and hearing.

Then she entered an inn and was greeted by the pudgy man that was the innkeeper.

"Ahh, welcome back, sir. Did you find any Grimm outside?"

"Sir?" Pyrrha was confused.

"No. I didn't find any. Although I didn't venture too far." Pyrrha was shocked to hear the voice of Talos. "I trust my room has been cleaned while I was gone."

"There wasn't much to clean, sir. You are one of the cleaner customers I have." The innkeeper chuckled.

"Good to hear." Then Pyrrha's vision moved upstairs and into the room. And it was when her hand grasped the handle on the door that she was beginning to panic. Namely, that it wasn't her hand, but Talos'. Although the ether lines on the hands were red instead of the blue she was used to.

"Wait…the last time I saw Talos was…" Pyrrha managed to think before remembering how Talos' hand punctured her chest in order to take her flesh and Aura. "No…" Shortly after entering the room, Pyrrha's vision turned towards the mirror in the room. Staring at her from that mirror, was Talos, although he was wearing a tattered cloak that covered his chest, and by extension, his Core Crystal. If Pyrrha had been capable of screaming, she would have. "How did this happen?! Why am I in Talos' body?! Why can't I feel?! Why can't I talk?! WHAT IS GOING ON?!"

As Pyrrha panicked, what she assumed to be Talos had sat down and was looking at the hand with bloodstained ether lines.

"I guess now I can use Pyrrha's Aura." Talos said and shortly after, Pyrrha felt a strange…pull. This momentarily made Pyrrha's panic subside. "Should I use it?"

"Talos. Can you hear me?" Pyrrha thought attempting to focus on Talos. No answer or any kind of acknowledgement that the metallic champion had heard her. "Talos? Talos! TALOS!" No matter how 'loudly' she tried to think, Pyrrha couldn't make Talos acknowledge her presence.

"And I was trapped inside Talos since then…Or up until now anyway." Pyrrha finished as she looked at her gauntlet covered hand that had orange-red ether lines and bronze trimmings. Then she turned her palm to inspect the brown gem at the back of her hand.

"So wait, you've been with us all this time?" Ruby said in disbelief on the bench she was sitting on in Fonsett's residential area, near the fountain. The gang had fortunately decided to get out of the Spirit Crucible before Pyrrha explained how she was alive.

"…Essentially, yes." Pyrrha said with a mildly embarrassed look before feeling something attaching itself to her. "Umm…Electra, what's that for?" The electric Blade was hugging her.

"I'm just so happy you're alive." Electra said as she nuzzled her head against Pyrrha's armored waist.

Pyrrha smiled and lightly patted the little girl's head.

"Milady, if you are here now…Then what has become of Master Talos?" Joana asked with an apprehensive look.

This caused Pyrrha to look down sadly. "…I don't know…I couldn't hear his thoughts when I was stuck inside him…and I can't hear him now… Maybe he's…gone." Pyrrha choked on that, "Or maybe he's in the same situation I was." Judging by how distraught she looked, neither option sat well with Pyrrha. And quite frankly, neither did it sit well with any of the others, especially with JNR's Blades. Least of all Joana.

"I am happy for your return." But the knightess decided to smile, "Now milord can have the happiness he deserves."

"What?" Came out of anyone who wasn't Jaune.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Joana, how about asking me what my happiness is?" Jaune then gave his own opinion.

"My apologies, milord." Joana bowed deeply, "I spoke out of turn."

"That's not the problem here." Jaune sighed.

"Jaune…can I talk to you for a moment…in private?" Pyrrha then asked. Having grabbed his hand when Electra released the hug.

Jaune was surprised to hear this. "Sure." But he accepted anyway. With that, the two walked off. And once they had gone a fair distance.

"So…that's Talos' Driver?" Zeke questioned with a mildly disturbed look.

"Yeah…The one we thought dead." Weiss said, "But she still didn't tell us how she actually came back."

Aizen chuckled at this, "It is far more likely that she is just as aware of the 'how' as we are."

"Wait. She said that Talos mentioned that he can use her Aura. Maybe that's how she 'woke up'. " Ruby pointed out.

"That…actually makes sense." Blake said before adopting a thinking pose, "But that still doesn't tell us how she…replaced Talos."

Qrow looked also thoughtful before turning to Oscar. "Still no news on Oz?"

"No…Nothing new." Oscar looked a little down.

The veteran huntsman sighed before deciding to add his own words into the mix, "I know I'm gonna risk sounding crazy, but maybe the Fall Maiden's power did something."

Mòrag looked thoughtful, "If this 'magic' that this Fall Maiden is indeed that, then who knows what kinds of effects it might have."

This made Nora perk up, "Wait, does this mean that…Pyrrha is the Fall Maiden now?"

This caused the Remnans to look surprised as they didn't even think of that.

"You said that the Maidens have the power to control elements, yes?" Azurda then piped up from Rex's helmet.

"Yeah, why do you ask?" Roze replied for everyone.

"Because Pyrrha's element is definitely earth." Azurda informed everyone.

Qrow frowned at this, "I haven't seen a Maiden commanding earth."

"Talos' element was earth." Otohime pointed out, "It is very likely that Pyrrha has inherited his element."

"But does that mean, she can't use the Maiden's power?" Ren asked.

"Who can say." Otohime said with an intrigued smile.

As this conversation went on, Pyrrha had led Jaune to a slightly secluded spot. "Jaune…I'm so sorry." The revived champion looked guilty.

"For what?" And Jaune was confused.

"I caused you so much pain. But at the time, I couldn't think what else to do." Pyrrha said with tears gathering into her eyes, "If only I had known what it would do to you…"

"Pyrrha, what're you talking about?" Jaune was even more confused.

"You said that your life didn't matter." Pyrrha shot back, "I made you think-" "Pyrrha!" Jaune interrupted as he grabbed Pyrrha's shoulder pads.

"What I thought…wasn't your fault. That was me being stupid… As usual." Jaune looked away. "Dammit, all those times you helped me. Joana always seeming to want me to spend more time with you… Gods I feel so stupid."

"…I didn't want regrets." Pyrrha said with a guilty look.

"Huh?"

"I didn't want to have regrets, so I…stole that kiss." Pyrrha's cheeks had a slight dusting peeking from under the metal of her helmet.

"Yeah…I don't blame you for that." Jaune said, looking a little awkward, "Hey…If you still want to…maybe we could…give it a chance?"

"What?" Pyrrha didn't look like she computed Jaune's words.

"Us. I mean…I feel like I owe you that much."

Pyrrha frowned at this, "Jaune, I don't want you to do this out of obli-"

"It's not like I haven't thought about it." Jaune interrupted again, "I mean…what if I hadn't been stupid or…What if you had survived."

For a moment, Pyrrha didn't know what to say, but then she let out happy tears. "Yes! A thousand times yes!" The champion bounced in place while grabbing Jaune's hands.

"Great!" Jaune looked happy himself, "So uhh…what now?"

"Well…I think…we should try and figure this out as we go." Pyrrha said, having no idea what to do now.

"…Sure. I think that's reasonable." Jaune said, and with that, the two decided to walk back to their friends. Still having one of their hands in another's grip.

But as the two returned, their friends were staring at them weirdly.

Weiss and Blake looked a little freaked out about something. Dahlia was covering her mouth in amusement and Aizen was staring with cold looking eyes.

Ruby had pulled her hood over her head while Roze had a questioning look.

Nora was staring at Pyrrha with a highly suspicious look. While Electra just tilted her head.

Zeke looked at the pair like they had wronged him somehow, and Pandoria more so. The frizzy haired electric Blade was clenching her hands into fists with electricity crackling in them.

Ren looked befuddled, while Otohime had an imperious look.

Oscar's cheeks were red and Qrow looked impassive.

But the most dangerous ones felt like Nia and Yang. Nia was glaring at Pyrrha, while Yang had a very evil grin.

The only ones who didn't have weird looks were Penny, Kos-Mos, Tora, and Poppi.

"Guys…what's up?" Jaune asked awkwardly.

It was Zeke who decided to talk first, "Pyrrha…were you conscious when we were at Ardainian hot springs?"

Jaune looked confused before turning to Pyrrha. "Come on, there's no way." Is what Jaune wanted to say, but the words didn't even leave his mouth when he saw that Pyrrha's entire face was trying to turn redder than her hair.

"Pyrrha?"

"…I'm sorry." Pyrrha said in a very low voice. "I didn't want to. I wanted to turn away or close my eyes but I couldn't." The poor girl sounded like she was about to hyperventilate.

This earned a round of gasps at finding out that Pyrrha had seen the guys naked.

"Sooo. Did you enjoy the view?" Yang asked teasingly as Dragunov covered his mouth to hide his snickering. With very poor results as his chest moved rapidly in time of his silent laughter.

"YANG!" Was the universal reaction from more sane girls.

Pyrrha's face seemed to actually turn redder at hearing that. "I DIDN'T WANT TO!" Pyrrha screamed before running away faster than Ruby's semblance.

"Pyrrha, wait!" Jaune cried out but the panicking girl would not stop. So Jaune tried to run after her.

Qrow let out a sigh. "Good job, Yang."

"What? It was a legitimate question." Yang said, acting like she did nothing wrong.

"I do not appreciate being peeked on." Aizen said with an edgy tone that could cut steel.

"Off with the offender's eyes, I say." Dagas agreed with an imperial tone.

"You said it." Pandoria agreed.

"Dagas, that's too far." Nia said, even though a microscopic part of her might have liked that idea.

"Must you be so violent?" Brighid asked Pandoria.

"Oh, don't give me that. You would incinerate anyone who peeped on your Driver." The Tantalese Blade shot back.

"…I won't deny it." Brighid admitted. No one noticed how Blake looked a little more nervous while avoiding looking at the blue haired Blade.

The Faunus Driver wasn't sure if Nox only recognizing any of them by their hair colors and from feeling Blake's presence down there, while the steam obscured everything else would help either of their cases. Should they find out about it, that is.

"How come you're not disturbed by this?" Roze asked Dragunov who still snickered at Pyrrha's misfortune.

"I have nothing to be ashamed about." Draunov said cheekily.

"Yeah. If by that you mean, nothing to show." Yang said cheekily.

The dragon's smile fell, "What was that?"

"Nothing important." Yang said in a sing-song voice.

"Would you stop it, you pervert!" Weiss snapped.

"Can we all just agree to never speak of this again," Otohime spoke up with a weary tone.

"I agree." Mòrag added in, already sounding done with this non-sense, "Can we all just agree that Pyrrha was a victim of her circumstances. As she explained before, she couldn't control what she saw or heard."

"What are you talking about?" Joana asked, "Milady had the privilidge of witnessing Milord's glorious form. Although I would have preferred it to be on their wedding night." Joana somehow mixed a dreamy look with a frown.

"What?" Came out of Alrestians and most of the Remnans.

"Ignore her." Otohime said almost commandingly, "For she has…certain delusions."

"I can see that," Roc commented before turning to Nia, "On to other matters, Nia. Why didn't you ever tell us that you were a Flesh Eater."

This seemed to draw at least Rex's attention. "Oh yeah. Why didn't you tell us that?"

"I just didn't, okay." Nia said simply.

"No, it's not okay." Rex argued back.

Mòrag let out a weary sigh, "I'm surrounded by immature children."

"You're just piecing that together now?" Qrow quipped.

"…And man-children." The Special Inquisitor added, earning a frown from the second oldest adult in the team… Well, third if you count Azurda and Ozpin.

Zeke chuckled at this exchange, "You know… I just realized. Me, Rex, Nia and now Pyrrha have this really deep Blade connection. Although I wonder… how would having an Aura affect a Blade Eater."

"My prince?" Pandoria mouthed out in slight worry.

"We know it worked for Rex, but there's no guarantee it would work on you." Qrow butted in, "We don't know if there are more differences between the Aegis Crystal and normal Crystals other than the color."

"Hmm…Good point." Zeke shrugged.

"I actually feel a little envious." Mòrag then said.

"I'm sure it could be arranged for you too." Zeke said as he pulled his coat aside to reveal Pandoria's piece in his chest.

"…Would it leave a scar?" Mòrag asked apprehensively.

"That's kinda part of the bargain." Zeke said with a small grin.

"Then perhaps not." Mòrag then said before catching Brighid frowning at her. "No… I mean… that's not…"

Brighid's frown turned upside down, "Relax, I was just joking. As much as I appreciate the sentiment, I wouldn't want you to hurt yourself."

As this was happening, Ruby was looking to Roze with an intrigued look. Having come out of her hood.

"Ruby, no." Yang immediately said in a tone a mom would use on a misbehaving child.

"What?"

"Don't 'what' me. I know what you're thinking, and you're not getting a piece of Roze on you." Yang said with a scowl.

"Hey! I wasn't going to." Ruby argued back, "I mean… It's cool and all, but… I don't wanna go to a surgery."

"But you were thinking about it." Qrow said, crossing his arms.

Roze let out a small chuckle, "Ruby, we're not doing that. Not unless it's the only way to save your life."

"Besides, we don't know what kind of side effects it could have on someone with an already active Aura." Weiss added in. Not wanting any more damage on her skin herself, if she could avoid it. The scar over her eye was enough, thank you very much.

"Okay, now for the big problem." Nia then said, "What do we do now?"

"We're going to rescue Pyra, isn't that obvious." Rex said again.

At that moment Azurda peeked out of Rex's helmet, "Rex, do you perchance, know Pyra's location."

"Yes, I saw it briefly when I had the sword. Near the World Tree, a rotting Titan." Rex had a very determined look, "That's where she is."

"A rotting Titan…near the World Tree." Mòrag muttered in thought, "Could it be?"

The last part earned everyone's attention. "What is it? Mòrag know such a place?" Tora was the first to ask.

"Close to the World Tree. Against the side of the Great Void. I have heard there is a Titan called the Cliffs of Morytha." Mòrag explained.

"Morytha…" Dromarch muttered in thought, "That name sounds familiar…" Then the tiger's eyes visibly widened, "Lady Mòrag, there are tales about a land of the dead. And the cliffs that lead into its depths."

"Yes, indeed. The Land of Morytha… A place that no living soul has ever witnessed" Mòrag explained.

"Uuhh." Nora said with an eager grin, "I guess that makes us the first ones."

"Are we really going into a place like that?" Ruby asked unsurely. It was clear that she was a little spooked.

"Come on, Ruby." Weiss said, "They're just tales, there's no way a 'land of the dead' could be accessed by some cliffs."

"Weiss, after everything else we've seen, that is where you draw the line?" Blake asked with a quirked eyebrow.

"The key part being 'seen'." Weiss said, being the eternal skeptic.

"I suppose we shall see how true these tales are when we get there." Aizen piped up with a small smile, "Though the question is…how?"

"Why not ask the Tantalese that brought us here?" Penny asked.

"I doubt those guys are willing to sail to a place that sounds so spooky." Zeke shot the idea down.

"We could always charter a military vessel from Mor Ardain." Mòrag offered.

"We could?" Ruby, Nora and Electra said in unison.

"Have you forgotten lady Mòrag's position?" Aegaeon piped up.

"I guess knowing military personnel finally pays off." Qrow commented with a smile.

"I can indeed do that," Mòrag said before giving everyone a look, "But you do understand that this could be considered me abusing my position."

"Mòrag, please." Ruby said with her best puppy dog eyes.

The military woman chuckled in amusement, "None of that, I will help." Then the Special Inquisitor turned to Roc, "Roc, if you don't mind, I would like to use you as a courier"

"I will, if Rex allows it." Roc said as he turned to his Driver.

"Go on. You're the only one who can fly long distances." Rex told his Blade.

"A simple, 'Go ahead' would've been enough," Roc chuckled.

"Good, I will write a letter for you to deliver." Mòrag said with a small smile.

With Jaune, he almost lost Pyrrha, but fortunately, the champion was so distraught that she didn't notice a root that she tripped on.

"Pyrrha! Are you okay?" Jaune asked in concern as he finally reached the girl.

"I'm sorry, Jaune! I'm so sorry! Please don't hate me!" Pyrrha pleaded as she got up on her knees, but couldn't turn to look at the Arc Driver.

"Pyrrha, it's okay." Jaune said as he placed a hand on the girl's armored shoulder, "You didn't have any control in Talos' body right?"

"No." Barely a whisper.

"Then it wasn't your fault you saw something you didn't want." Jaune said, surprised that he didn't stammer. Though there was some dusting on his cheeks as he realized that Pyrrha had seen him naked. But that wasn't important. "Look, just... Ignore Yang, she's just trying to be…Yang."

"…Okay." Pyrrha then got on feet, but she still couldn't look at Jaune.

"Hey." Jaune turned Pyrrha's face to his own gently, "I don't see how I could possibly hate you."

Judging by the look of relief on her face, a very heavy stone just fell from Pyrrha's heart.


Meanwhile, in Marsanes, the last Tornan warship, Mikhail was doing some final checks. After dropping off Malos and Jin at the cliffs, they quickly moved to get the warship. Of course, they left their guests into the docked Monoceros without telling them about Malos and Jin being gone.

"Mik. You're here again." said Patroka who had entered the large room with glowing blue chambers lining the walls, "Is it passion, or idiocy?"

"Patroka, just ask me out already." Mikhail said, never taking his eyes off his work.

"Piss off, and die." Patroka did not appreciate either his words or lack of attention.

"Oh I'm sure I'll get around to it one of these days." Mikhail said as he finished the checks.

Patroka sighed at that, "What're you even doing anyway?"

"Preparing Marsanes for combat with non-mortal opponents." Mikhail replied.

"What do you mean by non-mortal?" Patroka quirked an eyebrow.

"I'm sure you don't need me to tell you that." Mikhail said with a grin.

"You don't mean…" Patroka then figured it out.

"Did you want something?" Mikhail then asked.

"Oh. Well the food's ready. Get it while it's hot." Patroka chose to reply instead of pressing the previous issue.

"You came all the way down here to tell me that? You got quite a crush." Mikhail said teasingly.

"Mikhail. I will crush your-" "Okay, okay." Mikhail put his hands in the air in the universal sign of surrender, "Guess I should go and get this delicious spread." Then the blonde member of Torna started moving out. "By the way, what about our guests?"

"Hm? Oh, Akhos is sending them some food." Patroka replied after a moment of processing.

"Well, I guess that's-"

"Salem is gone!" Suddenly ran out of the intercoms.

"What?!" Mikhail and Patroka both exclaimed.

"I repeat, Salem is gone. She's not in her room, but all the others are accounted for." Akhos' voice rang out in alarm. "No signs of forced breakout on the door."

"Dammit. Patroka, search Marsanes, I'll get to where the others are." Mikhail said before running off.

"I'm gonna rip that freakshow's head off when I see her." Patroka said as she ran out.


On the Cliffs of Morytha, on a walkway that ended above the Great Void. An area where the Cloud Sea ends and a bottomless pit begins. At the end of this walkway were Malos, Jin and the unconcious Pyra.

"I guess the kid is taking care of himself since we got here without further incidents." Malos said as he looked to the unconcious red haired Aegis that was held by two Blade bots.

"I suppose." Jin replied. He was still in the form he took back in Tantal, "Do you think it was wise not to tell Salem?"

"I don't see why it matters." Malos said with a small grin, "It's not like she could stop us."

"Maybe not, but what if she causes problems for the others?"

"I'm sure, they can handle anything she throws at them." Malos said before moving in front of Pyra's unconcious form, "In the meantime. I think it's time I recovered what I lost five centuries ago." After those words, Malos pulled a single plate off his chest, revealing his Core Crystal that had a chunk of it from the top missing. If it was complete, then whereas Pyra's was an emerald cross, Malos' is an amethyst cross. Then his right hand was encased with dark energy before he placed it on Pyra's Core Crystal.

Jin looked on impassively, until feeling something behind him. Turning around, Jin saw a breach opening some ways back. And out came Salem who looked around. "What are you two doing in a place like this?" And then her eyes fell on Malos with Pyra. "What are you doing?" No answer from Malos or Jin. "What are you doing?" Salem said more firmly before walking to the scene, only for Jin to step in front of her.

"It's fine, Jin." Malos said, "You can tell her."

Jin looked to impatient looking Salem before speaking, "You told us that you tried to open a breach straight to the Aegis when you first arrived into this world."

"Yes, what of it?" Salem had a suspicious look.

"What if I told you that you succeeded in that. Except, you were brought to a different one."

"What?" Salem questioned before looking to Malos and the realization dawned on her, "You don't mean..."

"Yes, Malos is also an Aegis. And right now, he is using the data in the other one's Core Crystal to restore his full power."

"So, during our fight, he was not even at full strength." Salem muttered with a thoughtful look, "Interesting. What happens to the other one when he's done?"

"…She will turn into an empty husk. Useless to anyone." Jin said simply.

"Is that so?" Salem frowned a little, "What would you say if I didn't want Malos to reach his full power."

"I would cut you down." Jin didn't even sound threatening, just stating a fact.

"You know that won't keep me down, no matter how you do it. Believe me I have tried." Salem said with a small smile.

This caused Jin to quirk an eyebrow, "Even if what you say is true, I can still make you hurt."

"Pain is an old friend." Salem was not impressed, "I suppose once Malos has regained his power, you will enter the World Tree next."

"You suppose correctly."

"Then as long as you're taking me with you, I have no complaints." Salem said before moving to a nearby piece of rubble. Wiped it off of some dust before taking a seat.

Jin was mildly confused on why Salem would simply accept this. But he was more curious about what she said about being cut. "You said that you have tried to cut yourself down. Why?"

"Because I wanted to die." Salem didn't smile, just spoke like she stated a grim fact.

"Why?"

"…Because the gods wanted me to suffer forever." Salem muttered with glare at the memory, "Those monsters decided to make me suffer from the moment I was born. Trapped my whole life, never knowing what it was like outside. Then I found the love of my life…only for them to take him from me. And when I pleaded them to bring him back…" Salem's hands clenched into tight fists. Then she shook her head, "The reason I'm here is because I want the power to destroy them."

"Do you know where your gods are?" Jin asked.

"No. They abandoned my world to our suffering." Salem said as she had a faraway look, "But…there is a way to bring them back. And when I have this power." The Grimm Queen chuckled, "I will make them pay for everything. Then…I can finally have my freedom."

"Once you have this freedom, what will you do with it?" Jin then asked.

"Hm? Anything, I suppose." Salem said with a shrug, "Perhaps I will become a new goddess of Remnant. Who knows?"

"…And what would make you different from the two gods you want destroyed?" Jin then asked.

"I deserve it after everything they did." Salem said with a look that dared to question her.

"I asked, what would make you different." Jin said again.

"Because I deserve it." Salem said again with more anger.

"Why do you deserve it?" Jin then asked.

"Because of what they did to me." Salem's red irises glowed faintly with her rising anger.

"…A lot of people suffer in different ways. What makes you any different from them?" Jin asked with a frown.

"Stop questioning me!" Salem got up with an angry look before charging a sphere of dark energy in her hand.

"…Do you want me to stop questioning you? Or do you not want to question your actions?" Jin asked before backing away ever so slightly, "The way I see it…You are no different from any of the scum on this world."

Salem looked furious about Jin daring to compare her to anything. But ultimately decided to calm down and take her does he know about suffering? No one's pain will ever compare to hers. "I will have what I deserve. And no one has any right to deny it." Salem muttered under her breath.


On the Tantalese ship that was now bound for Mor Ardain, Pyrrha was assisting Otohime in an experiment.

"Umm…Is there a point to this?" Pyrrha asked from her sitting position on the floor with Otohime's palm against her Core Crystal. The water Blade has been sitting like this for a while now and never said anything.

Until finally, she stopped whatever she was doing. "Your ether flow is approximately the same as any other Blade. Whatever changes you have experienced have not influenced that."

"I see?" Pyrrha said questioningly.

"And if the power of the Maiden is indeed within you, then I cannot sense it. Or at least, I do not feel anything different."

"Indeed." Joana agreed, performing a medical scan on Pyrrha, "Although, there is a slight deviation in your readings compared to master Talos. But... I cannot tell what it is."

"Hey, Pyrrha! Can you use this magic stuff?" Nora asked eagerly, "Go on, show us!"

"Ummm." Pyrrha sounded out awkwardly.

"Well, what're you waiting for?" Electra was equally eager.

"Umm…I don't know how." Pyrrha admitted, earning blanched looks at that.

"Well…I guess it would be strange if you knew right away what to do." Ren said unsurely.

"We can always practice if you want." Jaune offered.

"I know." Pyrrha said with a smile, "Still..." And then Pyrrha raised a palm and a Blade barrier formed. "I guess I got Blade barrier covered." The formerly invincible girl said with a smile.

"Blade barrier is one of the most basic abilities," Otohime spoke up, "I would be worried if you did not know how to do that.

"Can you perform an affinity link next, milady?" Joana asked.

"I'll try." Pyrrha said as she stood up and Jaune picked up the shield and spear that were laid against a wall. The affinity link was instantly formed.

"I guess that comes out normally too." Electra commented.

"Speaking of... what should we call these?" Jaune then asked, earning questioning looks. "I mean... Talos' weapon was a Megalance, but this comes with a shield."

"You know, Ruby might want to be part of this." Electra said with a grin. The reason why team JNPR was by themselves was because everyone allowed team JNPR to reconnect first. Also, Ruby seemed to be avoiding Pyrrha a little.

"Do you guys mind if I name them?" Pyrrha asked, "I mean... they are my weapons now... I guess."

"Sure." Jaune said with a smile, "Did you have something in mind?"

Pyrrha moved to take the two weapons, look at them for a moment, before lifting the spear, "Prostateva." Then she lowered the spear before lifting the shield. "And Thiarko."

Ren smiled. "As I recall, 'Prostateva' means protect. While 'Thiarko' means endure."

"You're right." Pyrrha said with a smile, "I think…I was able to come out because I wanted to protect Jaune... Hence why the spear will be called Prostateva. And Thiarko, because this time, I will endure anything if it means I can do that."

"You have not changed." Otohime said with an amused look which everyone else shared to an extent.

Except for Joana who's smile was slightly sad. "I am happy for your return, milady."

Nora gave a look to Joana, "Say…why do you call Pyrrha, 'milady'?"

Joana stared at Nora like the carrot top was an idiot, "Because milady and milord are in a loving relationship, of course."

"What?" Nora and Ren said in unison before turning to the Arkos pair.

"Joana, how did you find out about that?" Jaune all but demanded.

"What do you mean? Your relationship simply continued from where it left off in Beacon." Joana looked confused.

"But…we never officially became a couple." Pyrrha protested.

"But…you kissed milord." Joana looked more confused.

"You what?" Nora said before grinning at Pyrrha, "Oh, you sly vixen, you."

"Nora, that's not appropriate." Ren interjected as a blush was creeping on Jaune and Pyrrha.

"Are you two saying…that you are not?" Joana looked like her world was about to end.

The two gave each other a look before Pyrrha gave a small shy nod.

"Well, we are now, but…we're still kinda…unsure of things." Jaune stammered.

Despite the unsure content and tone, Joana visibly brightened up. "Marvelous! This is the happiest day of my life by far."

"By far?" Ren questioned.

"Well, there is also the wedding day, all the children they will have and-"

"Joana." Otohime interjected the knightess' listing, "I believe we should allow Jaune and Pyrrha to rekindle their feelings at their leisure. After all, up until today we have thought Pyrrha to be deceased."

Joana looked suitably chastised, "Apologies, milord, milady. I let myself get carried away."

"Th-that's alright." Pyrrha stammered as a part of her did like Joana's listing. But another part of her had some…doubts.

On the back deck of the Tantalese ship, Nia had managed to get Rex for a private talk.

"Rex…I'm sorry." Nia said.

"…For what?" The salvager looked confused.

"That's a long list." Nia frowned, "Letting Jin kill you back on the sunken ship, not saving Vandham, hesitating in saving you when you were hurt. I just…I'm sorry that I-"

"It's okay." Rex said with a smile.

"No, it's not okay!" Nia snapped, "I could have saved so many lives, but-"

"Nia." Rex interrupted firmly, "If you had saved me back on the ship, I may have not actually met Pyra, or Mythra. For Vandham… Yeah it sucks that you didn't save him, but… I'm not sure Mythra would've come out otherwise. Don't get me wrong, I still wish things had been different, but at least…something good came out in return. As for saving me, well…I was still saved, so it's okay."

Nia couldn't believe it. She was starting to get convinced that Rex is physically incapable of hate. "That doesn't make me feel better." Nia said, looking away.

"Would you do those things again?" Rex then asked, surprising Nia. "If you could get a do over, would you make those same choices.

"…No. I would do differently, if I could." Nia said, not just saying, but truly meaning it.

"Then that means you're already a better person." Rex said with a smile, "And that's good enough, isn't it?"

"I…I guess it is." Nia said with a small laugh. How does this idiot manage to make her feel better so easily? Still...

"Found you." Came the voice of Dragunov who rounded the corner.

"Who me?" Rex asked as he pointed at himself.

"No, you." Dragunov said as he faced Nia.

"What do you want?" Nia wasn't sure if this was something she should be wary of.

"You used to be with Jin, right?"

"What?" Nia questioned, "How did you know that?"

"Don't act so surprised." Dragunov crossed his arms, "Mikhail knew you. And you didn't tell any of us you were a Flesh Eater. So I guessed you must've been with them for a time. Am I right?"

"So what if I was?" Nia asked with a defiant look.

"I want to know how you came across them."

"What for?"

"There's something I need to confirm, and you're my only chance for that." Dragunov said.

Nia let out a small sigh, "Fine…I was running from Indol for a long time. Then I was captured and…Jin busted me out."

"Did he say anything to you?" Dragunov asked with a scrutinizing look.

"Why are you even asking?" Nia was getting suspicious.

"Just humor me…Please." Dragunov seemed to have a hard time saying the last part.

"…He just extended his hand to me and I took it. Said that I can come with him if I so chose." Nia looked a little down at hearing that.

Dragunov smiled at this, "…That sounds like the Jin Thauron mentioned in his journal."

"Huh?"

"The Jin that traveled with my previous Driver was stoic, and quiet. But also caring and willing to help." The dragon then chuckled, "And my former Driver's rival in love."

"What?!" Nia and Rex let out in unison.

"I'm sorry, but I can't imagine that." Nia said with a highly skeptical look.

"The journal was written from Thauron's perspective, so it's possible that it's just how he saw Jin." Dragunov shrugged, "Anyway, the first few entries mentioned how he was saved from a bandit attack by Jin and Lora, Lora being Jin's Driver at the time, then they left him at an orphanage. While she and Jin moved on. Here's the fun part, according to the journal, Lora was 12 years old at the time, while Thauron was 8."

"…I don't get what's so funny?" Rex said with a confused look.

Then Azurda peeked out of Rex's helmet, "He's saying that Thauron, who was in love with Jin's Driver, was several years younger than her."

"So Thauron was into older girls?" Nia said with a chuckle.

"Judging by the gushing I read, it sounded like he was just a Lora person." Dragunov joked.

"Uh huh." Rex and Nia were not impressed.

"It was a joke." Dragunov said, thinking that neither of them got that.

"No. Jokes are funny." Nia deadpanned, earning a furious glare.

Rex shook his head at Dragunov getting angry about something like that. Then, he moved to the ships side and looked to the direction of the World Tree. "Hold on Pyra, Mythra. We're coming." Rex thought with a determined look.


AN: There we go. Pyrrha was awakened when Talos first used her Aura. And her wanting to protect Jaune is what allowed her to take over.

Also, Salem is now waiting patiently for Malos to regain his powers after she got annoyed by Jin.

Finally, JP Blades are helping Pyrrha discover her abilities that come as a Blade.