When I see You Again
A RWBY AU fanfiction
AN: Just a random idea I had listening to 'When I see you Again' by Wiz Kalifa from the Furious 7 movie. Let me know what y'all think of it.
DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN RWBY
The flowers were blooming.
She thought it was odd to see such beauty sprouting this far into the mainland of Obscura. Yet, the sun shone brightly, contrasting brilliantly against the black stone of the Castle of the Eternal Queen and crystal blue sky, and the grass was a perfect emerald green. Multiple colorful flowers sprouted around the ruined fortress as the great pines, redwoods, and cedar trees, once nothing more than dead sticks in the ground, had seemingly revived and were brilliant browns, reds, and green leaves.
Pyrrha Cortana Silva Anjelica del la Vera Nikos, princess of the Jeweled Empire of Mistral took note of all of this as she stood proudly in the center of the ruined castle. It had been opened to the elements by the Grimm that had attacked her father's and his enemy, the Governor of Vale Julius Arc's armies during their latest battle for the rights of the castle. It was a typical battle for the Republic of Vale and the Jeweled Empire. The Castle of the Eternal Queen was a symbol of royal status: the home of the immortal queen who freed humanity from the tyranny of the Brother gods to lead the world soon to be known as Remnant to prosperity. Her castle had been heavily sought after for years since the Eternal Queen ended her reign to enter her centuries long slumber. However, none have ever been able to claim it.
The battle two months ago now proved why.
More people wondered around the ruined castle, waiting for their loved ones and/or fellow warriors to return from the final battle deep within Obscura's interior, at the Shrine of the Dark Brother. Most of the crowd Pyrrha was a part of feared the worst. Of course, Pyrrha couldn't blame them.
Monarchs among the Creatures of Grimm were rare, one or two in a given generation. And each time history recorded one, there were at least fifteen pages after to record the dead because of it. There was no guarantee that any would survive when facing such a monster. It was understandable that many of the families represented with her would be scared. The Grimm King that had risen because of the war was particularly vicious. It had laid waste to the north half of Sanus and completely razed Vytal Island, reducing it to a barren rock. But like most Grimm, it fled to safer grounds after its failed assault on the opposing armies, forcing Pyrrha's father and Governor Julius to call a truce in order to defeat it.
But Pyrrha was unafraid. She knew the ones she was waiting for would return. There was no shred of doubt in her mind that they would come back victorious, with the Grimm King nothing but black vapor in the winds. Her father, obviously, was not one to die by a Grimm Monarch; he had killed one before, after all.
But the one she was most excited for to return was her rival. A young recruit to Julius's forces who proved herself to be a thorn in her father's side as the war continued. Pyrrha had fought her many times, and each time was amazed at the girl's resourcefulness and improving skills. She had been interesting when Pyrrha first fought her, back when she was just a grunt guarding supplies for the army, but that was the spark.
Pyrrha had always been the strongest warrior, given her Semblance was Polarity, and her Magecraft allowed her to match the power output of anyone she fought; but that girl had used those to her advantage, allowing her convoy to escape. It had shocked the princess. No one had ever used her Semblance against her before, and despite it being her first real loss in the war, she wasn't angry.
No. She was excited. She wanted to fight that girl more and see if it was a fluke or not. And it wasn't, as she'd discovered.
The girl was a prodigy in her own right. Apparently, she had been on the fast track to join the elite Saber Guild before she was enlisted into the army. That fact alone had her attention, but she impressed Pyrrha further by being an impressive weaponsmith, who not only forged her own weapon, but also created a device that would nullify Pyrrha's Semblance for short periods of time.
Pyrrha closed her eyes as she remembered the moment she learnt her mysterious rival's identity, and it only served to excite her more. How could it not? Her rival was the daughter of late Qrow Branwen, the former chief of Mistral's own Branwen clan, the most elite warrior clan not associated with a government or the Saber Guild. Speaking of the Guild, her rival's mother was just as impressive, being the high-ranking Saber known worldwide as the Queen of the Battlefield, Summer Rose.
Her rival's lineage was practically as royal as hers! Pyrrha's blood burned learning this information.
Of course, Pyrrha was sure the feeling of comradery she felt for her rival wasn't mutual. But as their encounters increased, so did their understanding of the other. The princess had heard from older warriors that if two combatants were equal, they could communicate with merely an exchange of blows. She still wasn't sure if that was true, but over the course of her exchanges with her rival, bits of their pasts slipped out here and there.
Pyrrha learned her rival's uncle had been the one who forced her to enlist, and that she had hated having to be a soldier. She had wanted to be a Huntress, the elite warriors dedicated to hunting of Grimm, but due to her dubious citizenship due to being born upon Obscura, which didn't have a standing government since the Eternal Queen placed herself into her eternal slumber, she settled for becoming a Saber. The only solace she had was her pay for being a member of the army going to help her mother, who had been crippled by the same uncle as before when he attacked her family and killed her father.
Pyrrha had been wroth at this.
But her rival also learned about Pyrrha, as well. Learned that Pyrrha's mother was killed in the final hours of the Jeweled Empire's final battle with the Holy Kingdom of Atlas. How she had been forced to take her first life at thirteen. How fighting became her only solace after her Magecraft and Semblance were discovered.
But most importantly, Pyrrha had no friends before meeting her.
Pyrrha's attention was diverted from her memories when she heard engines humming. She looked up to see several army vehicles exiting the rugged path leading to the continent's interior. She nodded and smiled. Finally.
The remaining civilians noticed as well and began to cheer excitedly. They moved in closer to see the soldiers arrive. Pyrrha stayed stationary as the vehicles closed in before stopping just shy of the assembled group. The doors of the first vehicle opened to reveal Julius Arc and her father, Mavros Thessaly Silva Nova del la Vera Nikos, exiting it. The crowd roared in appreciation as the two leaders rounded the vehicle and shook hands, signifying the war between the Republic and the Empire was over.
More people began piling out of the transports. People rushed forward as they sought their loved ones. Pyrrha watched the crowd, hoping to see her rival. She winced when several wounded were helped out of one of the transports and absently rubbed her scarred arms, mementos of the Hydra Grimm that almost killed her, and caused her to have to sit out the final battle.
A shadow passed over her, breaking her out of her thoughts. It was her father. She smiled at him, and he held his arms out for her. Pyrrha rushed forward and hugged him tightly; he returned it with just as much intensity. "Father," she spoke.
"Daughter." They separated and stared at each other. "You've healed well," he said. She nodded.
"I did." Her eyes turned to the crowd again, making her father chuckle.
"Looking for someone in particular?" he asked.
She turned back to him and blushed. "…A friend," she told him, making him chuckle louder.
"Our little hero, I surmise?" he asked, making her tilt her head in confusion. He laughed and gestured with his head. "Try over there."
She turned to where he was motioning, and her eyes widened. Walking through the crowd aiding the wounded from the battle, was a teenage girl her age with short black-red hair wearing a red and black sleeveless body suit, red corset with a black skirt, army boots, and of course, a brilliant red cloak wound around her neck. She turned, and Pyrrha saw her eyes were the same brilliant silver as before.
Her rival, her friend, Ruby Rose.
All else vanished as Pyrrha started walking towards Ruby. She accidently bumped into a few people in path, causing her to apologize quietly as she briskly continued towards her target. Halfway to her destination, the girl turned, and her eyes widened at the sight of Pyrrha, and the princess gave her a hesitant smile. Quickly, her rival whispered something to the person before her and started walking towards Pyrrha.
The two reached each other and stopped in front of each other. "Hello again," Pyrrha said softly.
"Hey," Ruby replied softly.
The two stood there staring at each other for several more minutes before Ruby walked forward and hugged Pyrrha. The princess was shocked at this until she heard Ruby say, "It's good to see you again, my friend." Pyrrha's eyes widened before a wide, brilliant smile bloomed across her face as she returned the hug.
"Yeah, it's been a while, hasn't it friend?" she asked with a smile. The two broke the hug and chuckled at the exchange they just had. "Welcome back," Pyrrha said cheerily. Ruby nodded.
"Good to be back."
"I noticed Father called you 'our little hero.' Why's that?" she asked in interest. Ruby suddenly looked uncomfortable.
"M-Me? Hero? Oh no! I just did the right thing!" she protested. This made Pyrrha's smile grow.
"And what was the right thing?" she asked.
"Citizens of the Empire!" her father roared, gaining their attention. "People of the Republic!" Her father pointed to Ruby and shouted, "Our victory would not have been possible without this brave soul! It was she who felled the Grimm King! Her valor and spirit has ensured this latest victory over the Grimm!"
"My fellow Remnantians!" Julius shouted and pointed to Ruby as well. "I, and his Majesty the Emperor of the Jeweled Empire, present to you Remnant's own Goddess of the Hunt, RUBY ROSE!" The people roared louder than before, praises and shouts of gratitude flooded the area as Ruby blushed as red as her cloak. Pyrrha smile grew mischievous.
"'Goddess of the Hunt,' eh?" she asked teasingly.
"Shut up!" she hissed. "It's embarrassing!" Pyrrha couldn't help but laugh.
"You never cease to impress me, Ruby!" she giggled. She sighed and said, "I wish I could have been there to see it…"
Ruby sobered up a bit and smiled at her. "I know. But look on the bright side!" Pyrrha looked at her.
"And what's that?" Ruby smiled wider.
"You get to have the full exclusive before anyone else!" Ruby told her, much to her confusion. Ruby grinned at her. "I told you I'd tell you all about the battle when we see each other again, remember?"
Pyrrha's eyes widened. She had forgotten about that. Her smile returned in full force. "I'd like that!"
AN: Hope y'all enjoyed this!
For reference: This story takes place in an AU where Salem, instead of leading humanity to their deaths, inadvertently discovered the Ever After, and found a way to seal the Brother gods away. So, humans still have magic, but they still do have Aura and Semblances.