"Toys?" Saphron asked. "What do you mean toys?"
"Just as I said, dear," Terra, Saphron's wife, replied.
Pyrrha, Ruby, and Lancer had arrived soon after Terra's own arrival. After some sort of exchange and condolences on the loss of Pyrrha's mother, Pyrrha herself was there in the corner, barely listening to the conversation.
Her mother was gone, killed by Assassin. There had been no resistance. No squabble nor was there any shock on her face. Thetis felt cold in her hands, yet there was contentment that marked her face. The burial had been quick and Pyrrha still felt as though it were a dream. None of that felt real.
Rider had to be the one to bury Thetis and Pyrrha couldn't believe the sight with Rider's face out there. Had he said anything, she didn't hear. Ruby probably said something but Pyrrha definitely had gone deaf that time. Lancer said nothing.
It's not fair. It's just not fair.
Pyrrha could scarcely feel Nora's own head on her shoulder nor could Pyrrha feel Ren's hand on her own. If they were looking at her, they must be seeing a sad sight of their own teammate: a hollow and broken shell of Pyrrha Nikos the Invincible Girl.
She leaned back her head. There was nothing to catch it and so it hung there as her pupils were facing the ceiling of the room.
Why? Why must anything happen this way?
Whatever discussion was being had fell deaf to her ears. The Grail War had been a decent enough distraction and her own vengeance against Cinder had kept Pyrrha occupied. Salem and the god of light were keeping her mind occupied. But now, with the loss of her mother, Pyrrha had just lost two people close to her in so quick a time.
She barely recovered with Jaune thanks in part with Rider's presence. But Salem's immortality had pushed Pyrrha's own wishes down and pursued what was best for Remnant. An immortal queen pursuing her own death through any means possible.
With the idea of this Harpe, she thought about it again. But she pushed it down again once the god of light got involved. Remnant's own creators is bent on erasing everything and starting anew. Nobody wanted that, even Pyrrha wanted to live. She still pushed it down when the thought of that black cannon thing had been mentioned.
Three different means to kill two immortals. None of them are guaranteed but they gave Remnant a fighting chance, a hopeful relief that perhaps no one else would die a needless death, that only huntsmen and huntresses would be the ones out there risking their lives. Pyrrha's eyes still lost their color.
Rider was physically absent. He couldn't keep his combat gear since the Cotta-Arcs would insist that he remove his helmet and that way led to problems of how he had come back to life, and put them in the know of the Grail War and of Salem.
Pyrrha sighed. There was that too. The secrecy that they had to keep. At least Lancer had an alibi and was unknown to them at this point.
Eventually, they all agreed to rest for the night. At least, that was what Pyrrha understood since everyone else was going upstairs.
"Actually," Pyrrha said. "If you don't mind, I want to get some fresh air. I'll be outside."
"I'll go!" Ruby volunteered.
"No, Ruby, it's… it's fine."
"Nope!" Nora said. "Not this time. Ruby you go on ahead. Team JNPR time. Come on, Ren."
Ren nodded.
"You two." Pyrrha shook her head. "You don't have to."
"You're right," Ren agreed. "We don't. We want to."
The three of them went outside after Pyrrha gave in. They all went to the roof. There Rider was already present, waiting. He was looking at the skies, observing them.
"Master?" he asked. He was in his combat gear.
"Rider," Pyrrha replied. "If it's alright, I-I want to see your face."
Rider, for a moment, hesitated. But he did change to that princely outfit.
Pyrrha neared him until they could feel each other's breath. Her hand was raised as she traced Rider's face. She felt the aged red ribbon that tied the ponytail. His hair went between her fingers. She felt his chin. Not once did her eyes leave his. There were stars as his pupils now, a reminder that it wasn't just her partner that stood before her.
She closed her eyes and got her hand off of him. That hand closed to a fist as Pyrrha bit her lip. She shook her head.
"Pyrrha?" Nora asked. "We're here too, you know?"
"I know." Pyrrha's voice was weak. It couldn't even be called a whimper. "I know."
She can't. Not on Ren and Nora when they lost their own family years ago.
"What was she like?" Ren asked. "Your mother."
Pyrrha couldn't answer immediately. It had taken a while. Even then, her voice was soft that Nora and Ren had to be on either side of her. "She was kind, caring, a lover of the sea. Sometimes I wondered if we had a fish faunus ancestry."
She was the only one who chuckled bitterly. No one else had joined on that horrid laughter.
"She only ever wanted me to be happy," Pyrrha managed to continue. "That I have my own wish."
"And what is your wish?" Ren asked. Pyrrha didn't see where he was looking at. Rather, she didn't see whom he was looking at.
"I wanted to be a huntress," Pyrrha replied.
"No," Ren said. "Right now. This is a Grail War."
"I guess… either Salem's immortality be lifted somehow or that god of light leaves us be?"
"You're not sure?"
"It's the right thing, isn't it?"
"But it isn't—" Ren was nursing a sudden strike he received from Nora. "Alright, if that is what you wish."
"What about you, Rider?" Nora asked. "Anything to add?"
Rider had been caught off-guard. "Uh… I already had mine granted."
Lancer appeared. "I call bull. We Servants also have our own desires. Why else would we answer the call?" She then addressed them all. "Sorry kiddos. Master was worried and wanted me to check on you all. It's getting late."
Lancer vanished from their sight.
"Rude." Nora looked offended. "Didn't even knock."
"Let's go," Pyrrha said. "Like Lancer said, it's getting late and we need to be ready to go tomorrow."
Ren and Nora looked at one another.
"What?" Pyrrha asked.
"Don't take it the wrong way," Nora asked. "Qrow and Lancer did the best that they could, but the Cotta-Arcs insisted that we stay awhile longer. At least, until we get a better idea on those toys that have been appearing."
Pyrrha turned to Rider.
"I couldn't comprehend the conversation from up here." Rider shook his head. "Sorry."
She sighed. "Alright. But no later than what we have to."
"Qrow and Lancer are already making their own moves," Nora added. "Rider would have gone to if it wasn't for Terra."
The three of them stood up from there and proceeded to get back down. But before Pyrrha took that step, she looked to Rider. He looked at her.
She wanted to ask something. Anything. But the most she accomplished was the opening and closing of her own mouth. Rider stood there, alone. Though this wasn't Beacon, he was still on a roof underneath a cold night and subject to the freezing winds.
"Mast—" Rider called out to her. "Pyrrha."
She paused and waited.
"I'm… I'm terribly sorry for your loss."
Pyrrha forced out a smile.
"I swear that we will win this Grail War. Both Salem and the god of light, we'll be them both. I'll give my life for it. No one else will get to lose anyone else."
The moment Rider mentioned staking his own life was the moment that Pyrrha lost her forced smile. "Yeah," she managed to reply. "No one else will lose their loved ones."
She gave one last look before descending. Seeing Rider alone there on the roof when his family is right there could only pain her. His family knew him to be dead, and he didn't want to burden them at the prospect of losing him again. It was a burden that Pyrrha, as his Master, had to carry. Only she would have to face that possibility.
Pyrrha didn't immediately step inside. Her head still faced towards where Rider would be, up there on that roof.
"Pyrrha?" Nora asked. Both her and Ren had worried expressions painted on their face.
"I'm fine," she said, almost too fast and too rehearsed.
"No." Ren shook his head. "No, you're not."
"I'm fine, really!" Pyrrha insisted.
"No, Pyrrha." Nora shook her head and approached. She wiped something from Pyrrha's eye. It was a tear. "You're not."
Pyrrha wanted to insist that she was alright. She wanted to persist that everything was alright. She wanted to lie.
Pyrrha began to tremble and nearly fell as Nora caught her. Ren was there to support Nora a second after. Pyrrha's voice was loud. Even when she had covered her mouth, she couldn't keep her own sobs to herself.
Then, her cries grew louder. She just couldn't hold it back anymore. She let herself be hideous in front of her own teammates, her still living teammates.
How late was it already? Or was it early now? She didn't know. All Pyrrha knew was that she had yet to enter the bedrooms to rest as she was there on the ground floors alongside Ren and Nora who never once left her side.
When the sobs finally stopped, it was Ren who asked first. "Could you tell us what it is that you wish for?"
"Me?" Pyrrha shook her head. "I mean, where do I even begin?"
"No Ozpin. No Salem. Just yours," Nora replied. "That's what Oz said right? That each Master had their own wish? What was yours?"
Pyrrha lost the words there. "I suppose it all began all the way back when Jaune—our Jaune—died."
She then told them of Amber and Cinder. Why she had been out of it back in the Vytal Tournament and everything that Ozpin didn't include when he told them about Salem and the Relics. He did mention her involvement in passing but never delved into details. He focused on the greater picture.
"When I used his weapon," Pyrrha continued. "I had thought that I would have gotten his ancestor. It almost didn't matter to me if Jaune's great-great-grandfather had no fame to his name. I just wanted someone who might help me get Jaune the justice that he deserves."
"Justice?" Nora asked. "Or was it something else?"
Pyrrha's shoulders sagged. "I didn't think it was possible. I mean why would I?"
"Why would any of us for that matter?" Ren nodded in agreement. "Sometimes I forget that Jaune—our Jaune—really is gone."
"I suppose I can't deny that I did hope." Pyrrha kept going. "I… I don't know much about this Grail War. I don't think even Ozpin knows fully himself. I have been thinking that maybe, just maybe, if I win the Grail War, I could wish Salem's immortality away or the god of light to not be involved anymore, and keep Rider along."
"Well, you know how Rider is," Nora tried to defend Rider. "Always… always putting himself before anyone else. Be it forged transcripts or in the line of fire." There was a moment's quiet that should have had a light chuckle. "I guess we know just where Alyx—Lewis got it from, huh?"
"What about now?" Ren asked. "What do you wish for now?"
It took a minute before Pyrrha managed to come up with an answer. "I don't want to lose Rider. He isn't our Jaune. But still, I don't—I'm not strong enough to go through it again."
She was tracing her Command Spells.
"Do you think it would work?" Nora asked.
"Huh?" Pyrrha asked.
"Do you think it would work?" Nora repeated. "Those Command Spell things? You've got three, don't you? You and Ruby?"
"I… haven't used mine yet," Pyrrha replied.
"We know," Ren said. "I guess we're just trying to figure it out as much as you do."
"Yeah." Pyrrha nodded. "I suppose I'm not the only one whose been trying to work it out in my spare time. Would have been nice if teacher Chiron was here. He'd probably tell me more if I'd ask him."
"You really look up to him, don't you?"
Pyrrha managed to bring out a genuine smile. There was nostalgia in her eyes. "He was always wise. Always knew the best ways to teach, and I'm not just talking about fighting either. He taught me a few arts too." Maybe one day, she could pick them up again. "With his being this Companion Servant, all it did for me was that he knew more than he had let on."
"But most of all." Pyrrha paused. "He let me be myself. He let me make my own mistakes and let me experience things. Not everything he ever taught ended up being used by any of his students. Most took what helped them and grew into it, evolved further past than what he himself had taught. He was always proud of it when they do."
Pyrrha then told them some stories of her own time as Chiron's students. Ren listening to her with a monk's patience was expected. Nora following in Ren's footsteps was not.
But the topics inevitably led back to her mother. Chiron had been around as well and Thetis did share some concerns for a then green Pyrrha Nikos. No name and certainly not the Invincible Girl, Thetis showed worry about the young Pyrrha, especially when she had been competitive without thinking too much. Chiron had honed that competitiveness with temperance and knowledge.
Eventually, the stories came to an end. The clock had struck midnight and they needed to rest for tomorrow. They'll have to insist on their leaving in order for them to get to Atlas.
Pyrrha's own bed was closest to the windows. Ren and Nora stayed up on their own for as long as Pyrrha stayed by the window, staring out and onto Remnant's broken moon. She looked upwards and imagined that Rider was doing the same. She could see the sole of his shoe dangling there on the edge.
A breath had got stuck in Pyrrha's chest. She managed to push it out. She shook her head and laid on her bed. She faced the window and continued to imagine that Rider was there. She bit her lip.
Her final thoughts before sleep were that of Ruby, her potential opposition.
Once Salem and the god of light are dealt with, she thought. I have to win. I must win.
Her fingers traced her command spells. She can't use it like that. How long would a Command Spell last? Would it even work that way? Too many unknowns but Ruby wouldn't know anything either. But Pyrrha needed a plan.
/-/
"We got a few hours before the sun gets up," Lancer said as she appeared on the roof.
"Less," Rider said. "Saph gets up early to prepare breakfast for the family."
"Then we got less." Lancer had her weapons ready. "So spill it."
"Spill what?"
"What it is that you and your Master want. Whether I'm going to have knock some sense into you or save you for last is up to you."
"My Master wants to win the Grail War," Rider replied. "That is all she would ask for. She'd use it to end Salem's immortality or the brother of light's involvement."
Lancer mimicked a buzzer's sound. "Wrong answer. You can't be that dense."
"I know that my Master wants me to stick around," Rider replied.
"Good. At least you can tell."
"But I also know that Pyrrha had been the kind to put others before herself. I'm just trying to help her do that."
"By making her put you before herself. Boy, some Rusted Knight you're turning out to be. Quite selfish."
Rider put on his armored form, broken sword on one hand and expanded shield on the other. He didn't have his helmet on.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Look at that. Rusted Knight actually has some pride to him. What? Got that itty wittle pride hurt?"
"What's with you today?"
"I'm saying that you've got a shot at your own wishes now, you little brat."
"Not as long as Salem is still alive, and not as long as god of light continues to threaten Remnant."
"We got an oversized gun loaded with a literal floating city and we have a scythe specifically designed to kill immortals. The latter could be used twice if needs be. Far as I'm concerned, the Grail is just for whoever is left."
"So?"
"My Master has yet to figure things out. Ruby wants to be just like her mother. Call that dream what you will. A kickass huntress. A hero of justice. Point is that she has her own wish just as your Master does. We only agreed to Saber's Master's wishes because we didn't know any other option exists. That and our Masters agreed. Ozpin may have a bleeding heart but he still has to decide the best course for himself for this Grail War."
Lancer put away her own weapons, pulled back the hood, and removed her mask.
"You and I won't be working together forever, that much we both know for certain. Once our immortal problems are sorted out; I'm taking you out. And I want to know, right here and right now, if you intend to do the same."
Rider stayed quiet but he did put away his weapon. He kept the armor on.
"That would depend on my Master's wishes should that condition be met."
"Politician's answer."
"I don't think that's the right comparison."
"Yeah, and I don't care. So what about it, Rusty? You giving me everything you got or what?"
"Horrible choice of words, I know. But you'll get what I mean when I say I intend to give up my own life to accomplish Pyrrha's wishes."
"Good." Lancer nodded. "Just good. Shame on the old man but he can try again next time. He said so himself, I think."
"Was that really all you needed? Just to know if I would still face against you in the end?"
"I'm been meaning to know if you still plan on keeping up this Rusty-isn't-Jauney shtick. You aren't doing a good job at it, let me tell you that. Part of me wonders if you changed your mind."
"There is still no guarantee that I would win."
"With me around, of course there isn't any for the rest of you."
"Wow. So confident."
"I have to be. Would make a poor showing for my Master if I didn't. Maybe you should do the same sometimes. Yours isn't exactly brimming with confidence about you."
Lancer left him there before he had any chance to answer. She did put the last words though, just to rub it in.
"And I got a better track record than you right now. What about you? Did more than a stalemate lately?"
/-/
Nora and Ren had apparently taken turns in having a look at Pyrrha when she had woken up. It was close to noon by the time she awoke and no one had bothered to wake her at all. They all let her sleep in.
Despite Saprhon and Terra's protests, the whole group did push through in pushing onward for their destination in Atlas. The surprise of Haven's new headmaster and the urgency of the mission given to them had been enough to make them back down. Still, the married couple looked at them all with worry, Pyrrha especially.
"Now are you sure you're doing fine?" Saphron asked.
"As fine as I'll ever be," Pyrrha replied. "You don't have to treat me like family."
"You're my little brother's partner and took care of him when he knew nothing about being a huntsman. Far as I'm concerned, you're already family. Even Adrian calls you family. Once your mission is over, come visit us sometime, yeah?"
Pyrrha nodded. "I will. I will."
Outside the Cotta-Arc household, military activity was at an high. Huntsmen and huntresses were few in number. All those available, even those in-training, were being called to arms in response to the new development.
"If there's one thing you can trust about Atlas," Qrow said. "It's that they take armed threats seriously."
"Are these toys really that bad?" Nora turned to Lancer.
"Do you hear anything different, kid?" Lancer replied. "Not much changed other than we got another enemy beside the Grimm now.
"But new unknown also means a threat they can't gauge," Qrow added. "I know Jimmy wouldn't react like this since he's in the know. But that just means he can't exactly tell anyone to expect this."
"If he knew that this would happen that is," Lancer said. "Chiron would have told us to prepare for these things if he did."
"He told us that the god of light would be doing something."
"And how many of us here predicted sentient toys straight out of a fairytale? Raise of hands, kids?"
"Master," said Rider suddenly. Only Pyrrha could hear him right now.
"Rider?" Pyrrha was learning to communicate this way without speaking. It was a work in progress and she still mouthed the words. "Is everything okay?"
"I've scouted ahead, if you didn't mind," Rider replied. "The oceans are something to look out for."
Pyrrha nodded in understanding. She had grown up here in Argus. Argus may be some hybridization of Atlas and Mantle, but the former's presence and influence here wasn't just for trade. Pyrrha knew of the dangers from beneath the depths of the waters.
"Is it awakening?" she asked.
"I do not know." She could feel him shaking his head. "All I know is that the toys are swimming as well, and they don't seem to be bothered at all by ocean pressure and I have yet to see any of them resurface to breathe air."
Pyrrha did her best to steel herself. They wouldn't be able to fight against that Grimm and she was certain that they would be called for it should it get to that point.
Before the military base got into sight, Lancer also vanished into air.
"Wait, really?" Ruby asked out loud. There was silence as she was conversing with Lancer. "You… you don't want to meet with the person? I thought she was—she isn't? O-okay."
Ruby then addressed them.
"Lancer knows the one in-charge. Not the best relationship."
The two soldiers halted them. Qrow did the conversation and even used the code that were given to them. As added proof, he presented them the document from Haven Academy and the authority of the headmaster.
The soldiers looked to one another and hurried them inside. There was a short, old woman there who didn't appear pleased at their sudden arrival.
"Caroline Cordovin," Rider said. "Didn't think she'd make it this far this time."
"How so?"
"Lancer's living counterpart didn't seem to make it this far. I honestly thought it'd be the same for her. Color me surprised."
Cordovin did not at all look pleased. "Do you people have any idea how poor your timing is!"
"And she's as grumpy as my time. Actually, I think she's worse right now."
"Will we?"
"We're under the authority of Haven Academy. The code is between Haven and Atlas, I would think. Caroline is, if nothing else, committed to Atlas and firmly believes in them. If Atlas thinks we're important, then we are."
Rider didn't need to present evidence. Cordovin did it herself saying, "if it wasn't for the general's use of you, I would have you all arrested for interfering with Atlas operations!" She called for a soldier. "Get these people a bullhead, make it quick."
"Ma'am," replied the soldier. "All the airships have been deployed."
"Then bring one back and have it refueled! Atlas has need of our services and these non-Atlesians are the ones to fulfill Atlas' glorious plans!"
Nora leaned closer to whisper into Pyrrha's ear. "Boy. And I thought I already heard of Atlas' propaganda machine. This is ridiculous."
"What was that?" Cordovin demanded.
"Nothing!" Nora was caught off-guard and stiffened.
"If it wasn't for Atlas' need for you simpletons, I would have had you all kicked out of this military base."
Caroline motioned them in. It was more accurate to say that she ordered them in. Still, she was a woman of protocol and had them checked. There was always that chance that they were enemies of Atlas. Argus may be a joint effort between Atlas and Mistral, but the woman in charge certainly had her biases.
"These invaders are an upfront to everything we ever knew!" Caroline made her disdain known. She took a deep breath. "No matter. Atlas, just as it has many times over, will prevail. Atlas will endure. Atlas will not fall."
She had them sit somewhere in the base.
"You are, all of you, to wait here," she demanded. "As soon as one of the airships have made their return, you are to perform your duties as was demanded of you by Haven Academy and the glorious Atlas Academy."
"Wow," Rider said. "So humble."
Pyrrha was slow but managed to think out her response without mouthing her lips. It was difficult doing that in front of the others. I thought you already knew this?
"I did," Rider replied. "Part of me kind of hoped that it was just the living Maria Calavera and her having some kind of problem that caused this. I can't prove it right and I don't think I have reason to think that. I just do."
As the oldest among them, Qrow was the one who had been given all the orders. He did his best to listen but the uptight nature of Atlas, combine with Caroline's personal admiration, was pushing Qrow to sass back; that man had to pull back his usual distrust of big game military. Was it his bandit past?
Eventually, one of the airships managed to return. In fact, it was one squadron.
"You only get one ship, huntsmen," Caroline said. "I cannot spare anymore than this. Not with these new enemies on our tail."
"Right." Qrow noddded once. "I take it that this thing could get us straight to Atlas?"
"What do you take Atlas' technology for? Of course, it can! All you other huntsmen need to learn some proper manners knowing who are responsible for everything you use! Your only freedom is in your weapons and even then, it means nothing against Atlesian made equipment!"
Pyrrha had positioned herself as close to the Bullhead's cockpit as possible. Once the doors had closed, Rider had manifested. For the sake of appearances, it was Qrow that did the speaking. He wasn't good at it nor did he have the slightest idea of any of the protocols. It was Rider that did most of the work while Qrow did all the communications.
The Bullhead avoided much of the conflict. Yet, Pyrrha's eyes were all focused on that Grimm that Rider warned about. There was no disturbance in the water yet and Pyrrha was sure that Rider was paying attention; he had a clear view of it as they were passing by the waters.
Eventually, the airship pushed on and they made their way towards Atlas. Pyrrha then stood up and entered the cockpit herself. Before she did, Qrow stepped out.
"Rider?" Pyrrha asked. "Will everything be alright in Argus?"
"I don't know." Rider shook his head. "Maybe I jumped the gun a little. Let's just hope that Chiron could take care of the Leviathan. I don't think he went ahead and dealt with it here. Well, if the Leviathan does surface, let's hope it's night."
Silence past and the Bullhead went further and further from Argus. The lingering warning of Rider remained within Pyrrha. It remained marking his face too.
Behind them, the unnatural clouds of the god of light was following them. It paused upon the open ocean.
Qrow entered back into the cockpit as he was needed there for communications.
Then, there was a sudden announcement that addressed all airships. Pyrrha couldn't keep up with the speed and urgency of the message but Rider and Qrow did.
"Spoke too soon," said Rider.
"We have to keep moving," replied Qrow. "We'll need to get to Atlas and meet with that other Companion Servant."
"Master?" Rider asked. "Your orders?"
"Me?" Pyrrha replied.
Ruby entered the room. "Guys! Do you see what's happening out there?"
Lancer had materialized. "Leviathan Grimm is on the move."
"Called it," Rider said. "Where?"
"Where do you think?"
Rider positioned the Bullhead to get a better view. True enough, the Leviathan Grimm was rising from the water depths. Pyrrha could see that Argus was already deploying its walls to prevent its approach. Toys were already starting their attack and while the Grimm were defending the Leviathan.
"We have to help!" Ruby insisted.
"But we also need to get to Atlas soon," Lancer said. Qrow voiced his agreement.
"Master?" Rider asked. "Orders?"
Pyrrha bit her nails. She looked to the unnatural clouds. Why was she the leader right now?
"Atlas can wait," Pyrrha finally said. "But that Grimm needs to go."
Out of everyone there, only Qrow was rather apprehensive. "Hope you Servants got better luck than I do."
AN: Criticism absolutely welcome here, mainly because I'm still doubtful about the whole thing with Pyrrha, even after removing the self-criticism I always give myself.
At the time of writing this, I'm not quite sure if winning Servants could stay post-Grail War. I decided to roll with it and make it so that none of the characters are sure of it either, lmao.