"You know, Pyrrha, I think I'm starting to understand Nora and Jaune's passion a bit more," Ren said thoughtfully. "I used to think it was just a basic need for chaos and destruction. But when you see the attention they give to the effects of their bombs, their reflection on the best combinations of Dust, their careful observation and review of their tests... It's almost a work of art."
The last two days had been great for Pyrrha. For the first time in what seemed like an eternity, she was relaxed. No angry lawyers to deal with. No unfortunate collateral damage from experiments. Even Grimm weren't a problem. And then, Ren dropped the wordy bombshell that threatened her peace.
"Oh no, you don't!" Pyrrha yelled, gripping Ren by his collar and shaking him madly. "Resist the temptation, Ren! Don't give in to their madness. Please don't leave me alone."
Tears started to well up in her eyes. Ren, usually the stoic one, blinked in surprise but was moved by Pyrrha's dramatic outburst. He hugged her tightly, trying to calm her down.
"Pyrrha, don't worry. I'll always be here for you. We are waiting for you."
Pyrrha pulled back, confused. "Waiting for me? What are you talking about?"
Ren hesitated, then took a deep breath. "I'm not sure you're ready, Pyrrha."
The young womand felt a cold hand gripping her entrails.
"No... You can't be... Have you already joined them ? Have you abandonned reason for madness ?"
Ren didn't hutered a word but his silence was the only answer she needed.
"How could you ? You were supposed to manage them, not join them ! "
Tears were now streaming on the champion's cheeks before she wiped them away with a frustrated gesture.
"Fine. If I am to be the only sane one in this team, so be it! I'll do it myself !"
Ren chuckled softly. "I was afraid at first too. But when I finally embraced the Dust calling with Nora and Jaune, everything made sense. Through Dust and explosions, my worries were blown away! Don't you want that too, Pyrrha? I know how tough it's been to deal with Jaune and Nora. So much detention, so much paperwork... But are you a pencil pusher or a warrior defending humanity? We're destined to fight a endless war, and you want to bend the knee to civilians, the very people who resent our powers while hiding behind them?"
Pyrrha had to admit that Ren wasn't wrong. Every time she had to deal with the aftermath of Jaune and Nora's tests, there was a good reason for them to start the hostilities, whether it was Grimm or criminals. Thinking about it, the most outlandish tests were always in Beacon, a school that was used to the various experimentations of Hunters in training.
"You are a fighter, Pyrrha. Leave the papers to Ozpin and Miss Goodwitch. And come fight with us, not against us."
Pyrrha felt her last resistance crumble under Ren's silver tongue. She had attended Beacon to leave behind the weight of adoration, to step down from the pedestal her championship put her on. While she found kinship with Ren, she dreamed of a united team. It was finally within her grasp. In a brief moment of weakness, she asked softly.
"But how? How do I receive the Dust calling?"
"Like the rest of us," Ren said with a smile. "With an explosion."
Ren gently pulled her along to join Jaune and Nora.
"Is she ready?" Jaune asked gravely.
Ren nodded slowly. Nora handed a detonator to Pyrrha.
"It's nothing complicated, Pyrrha. Just don't resist the explosion. Don't shy away from the blast. Don't turn away from its light. Don't cower from the detonation. Witness it," Ren explained, pointing to a bomb not too far away.
"But it's too close! We will be..."
"It's okay, Pyrr," Jaune interrupted, reassuring her. "We're here."
Pyrrha felt three hands set down on hers. Her teammates were with her.
"When you're ready, go for it."
She pressed the detonator. Light burned her retinas. Heat scorched her skin. Cinders singed her lungs. She witnessed the explosion as if it was her first, and it was beautiful.
Jaune announced proudly, "You are now reborn, free of the chains of normality and social conventions. Through Dust and explosions, you will carve your path and be carried ever forward. Welcome, Pyrrha, my friend, to your new life."
Jaune offered a large , shiny bomb to their new member.
"We thought long and hard about what bomb would suit you best. It's a magnetic field generator with metallic shrapnel. The initial detonation sends the shrapnel flying around, then the magnetic Dust kicks in to regroup them, and a secondary detonation occurs."
Nora interjected excitedly, "And guess what? We haven't tested it, so you get to be the first to use it!"
"And since Polarity is your Semblance, we thought you'd have a unique insight to analyze it," Jaune added.
"Ooohh, that is so thoughtful of you guys! Thank you!" Pyrrha said, genuinely touched.
As Pyrrha was led to a test site full of Grimm, she noticed something. Due to their frequent exposure to explosions, Nora and Jaune's clothes were always covered in ashes, turning them black. Ren's new ballistic armor was also black. And now, after her baptism by explosion, Pyrrha's armor was charred black as well.
The team of JNPR was finally complete, in both spirit and style.