Fangs of the Exiles
Rated M
Rwby
Summary:
Life is not about what happens to you, but what you make of it... At least that's what everyone says. Two faunus will answer whose way is right, carrying the will of a titanic kingdom while the other, the spirit of one who shouldn't exist. Forgotten, their paths will cross, for better or worse.
A/N:
Chapter 21: Return to Argus-2
Aganju wandered down the cobblestone street without any indication of a destination. His weary eyes pointed straight ahead as he tried to ignore the whispers of the passerby. It didn't matter much as his sensitive canine auricles picked up every hushed inquiry. This was a tall task to ask of him while his tail swayed rigidly underneath the split of his jacket.
"I didn't know they still allowed faunus to be huntsmen." One woman whispered to her companion after noticing the compact weapon on his back.
"After the attack of the White Fang, they all should be locked up." another condescendingly remarked.
"Stay away from it, sweetheart!"
Aganju's eyes flickered crimson at the last comment before taking a deep breath. He glanced at the gentleman and a young girl. The little girl looked at him with wonder while the male held contempt. It reminded him of an unfortunate truth of his past.
Hatred is taught, not birthed.
No sooner did that lesson emerge in his mind, than the awe in the child's eyes shifts into fear; another soul doomed to judge and ridicule that which they didn't understand. He pushed past the painful memories, flashing a sympathetic smile until the pair left. His chest hitched as he felt the muscles in his face twitch as if cursing him for forcing such a visual lie.
Show them how you smile...
It's only for a while.
Take what you need. Leave them to bleed.
Let them know bitter while your revenge is sweet.
He remembered hearing those words from Ilia before their departure. They were a testament to what her parents told her before they passed away in the Dust mines. Recognizing this, the forced toothy smile soon gave way to a softer, more comfortable grin.
A single bitter tear trailed down his face as he pressed onward, not stopping until he reached his destination:
Sanctum Academy.
Since leaving the combat school, almost two years had passed, but he was standing in this very spot where it all began. His eyes grew menacing as he scowled at the helpless structure that had caused the issues he was facing. There were certainly a few beneficial elements, but just like most of his life, this location had far more sad memories. Nevertheless, scorn and persecution were powerful motivators as they pushed the fox to take authority over his own life with Professor Ozpin's help.
That day...
No amount of negativity would alter the moment when the headmaster visited and offered him a position at Beacon. Despite the subsequent slump, Aganju would not regret making it because it was the right choice.
Before he showed up, we were outcasts... a voice, much like his own, commented. We became the leader of our team. We've made something of ourselves since then, made friends, and even stood toe-to-toe with a self-proclaimed god! We helped to stop an invasion!
He resisted the urge to chuckle at the experiences and journeys made during his time at the academy.
"...All because of this place."
"It is beautiful, isn't it?" he rotated his gaze, wiping away the lone trail only to find a woman approaching him. Shock filled the violet eyes of Aganju. Green eyes looked back through square glasses. Her hair fell just inches from her shoulders and there were just the faintest hints of lines that revealed she was experienced in life. "Sanctum is a magnificent school"
"In a way, it is..." Veering away, he nodded at her statement. "Thought, it's not without its faults too."
"You're correct. Sanctum does have its fair share of problems. But, I believe that even in the worst of things, there's always a light that shines through."
"I guess with Pyrrha Nikos back, you'd be right," the foxes' voice trailed. "It's only a matter of time before the entire city is abuzz with her return."
He turned to find the woman staring back at him with a puzzling gaze.
Aganju noticed her perplexity and moved around to face the structure that housed so many emotions. However, the anonymous individual kept contemplating his claim as if it was a conundrum that needed to be resolved. She looked at the vulpine in front of her after slowly lifting her mouth into a ghostly smile. Her green gemstones grew wider once acceptance settled in. When her gaze settled on a feature that was all too familiar, she paused in realization.
"So, she made it out of Beacon safely..."
"What?"
"You protected her again..."
Aganju's eyes showed intrigue as the woman approached him, gently cupping his face. He flinched but didn't pull away, surprised at himself. He remained still as the woman studied him before finally smiling, granting peace only a delighted mother could provide.
"I can't believe I didn't recognize it from the start. You! Her scarf!" by now, she was on the verge of tears.
"Excuse me?"
The woman giggled softly, drawing away from the flustered faunus.
"I don't know if you remembered before, but you helped my daughter against some bullies on her first day at the academy! Pyrrha was nervous about starting the school year, but when she returned home, she couldn't stop talking about a faunus boy who rescued her."
"Wait, did you say your daughter?"
"Yes. I'm Persophone Nikos," her warm smile grew wider, reminiscent of his girlfriend. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you!"
After nearly an hour, Pyrrha, Ren, and Nora walked down the street dejectedly. Their search yielded no fruit as there was no trace of Aganju anywhere. Of the trio, Pyrrha was the most worried. Her woes became apparent to the pair, both hating to see their friend and teammate in such a state.
"It'll be alright, Pyrrha..." Nora placed a hand on her friend's shoulders.
"In the meantime, we should check in with your mother, Pyrrha" Ren contributed in his usual measured tone. "You must be eager to see her after all this time."
While the prospect of seeing her mother again did lift her spirits a bit, it wasn't enough to lift her mood completely. Someone she cared about disappeared and she, unnecessarily, felt partially to blame.
"I know but..."
"No buts!" Nora jumped in front of her. Her hands were on her hips and she was giving the girl a challenging glare. "Aganju's tough. Wherever he's gone, I doubt he'd be in trouble. Plus... He'd probably call if something was wrong, right? Ren has moments like that as well."
Looking over at the taller male, Pyrrha watched as Ren averted his eyes, signifying the truth behind the energetic girl's statement.
"Very well. I guess we should try and see if my mother's at home now."
"Good idea."
The three turned a corner, arriving at her residence.
When they reached the house, the three saw that the lights were now on inside the home but, none made an attempt to reach the front door right away. Nora and Ren waited for Pyrrha, but she looked as if she was full of anxiety. Her chest reverberated from her heart pounding against her ribs as she just stood there.
She wanted nothing more than to cross over the steps and see her mother greet her at the door. So, why wouldn't her body progress? What was keeping her from actually doing what she sought to do?
Guilt?
Doubt?
Here, in Argus, she was known as the Invincible Girl, a moniker she detested now. It always left a bitter taste in her mouth, like tasting ash when all she wanted was a pinch of sugar. But, not her mother. Some part of Pyrrha's mind knew that the woman was her biggest supporter, yet she felt as if she failed her.
Could it be the missing sash that was given to her before she departed for Beacon?
Whatever it was, Pyrrha needn't worry about it as two hands rested on either of her shoulders, reminding her that no matter how bad things were, there was nothing she couldn't come back from. This gave Pyrrha the strength to push past her concerns and head to the door. Though the inkling of fear began to creep in, she knocked on the door repeatedly until it suddenly opened.
To her surprise, the figure standing in the doorway wasn't her mother.
"A-Agan?"
Sure enough, those familiar splayed ears confirmed that it was Aganju. Unknown to her, their heart raced at the same frequent pace while they struggled to gather the words to say, much to Nora and Ren's amusement. Before he could explain himself, two arms encircled his neck as Pyrrha rushed at him, resulting in the fox hitting the hardwood beneath them.
There would be no tears, no crying, just relief as Pyrrha buried her face into his chest. Nora and Ren couldn't contain their laughter, especially at the expense of Aganju. However, it was the shuffling behind him that would draw everyone's attention.
"Who's at the door, Aganju?"
Like a child caught in the act, the two swiftly ripped away from one another, each one blushing as an older woman turned the corner. Persephone couldn't believe her eyes! Only a few feet away stood her daughter. Aganju made the wise decision of stepping back as the pair hustled into a tearful embrace. Apologies were abundant as they drank in this fulfilling moment.
Persephone's daughter was not only alive but safe in her arms.
Pyrrha's mother was reunited with her precious child.
Both held onto one another, finally registering the warmth and presence of their homecoming. Gone was any uneasiness as Aganju, Ren, and Nora watched on with tender smiles. Seeing Pyrrha so happy was infectious as the two began to share stories from their time apart.
The feel-good moment didn't last long for the trio though as Nora turned to the vulpine, punching him in the arm, earning a silent growl from him.
"What was that for?!" he hissed lowly, rubbing his sore arm.
"That's for making us worry about you!" she pointed at him menacingly. "Next time, just bring her pancakes and syrup if you wanted to get a girl's attention."
"Nora? That only works for you..." Ren eyed his girlfriend playfully.
"Hush..."
Everyone began laughing at the ruffled hammer wielder.
Slowly opening her lids, Cinder let out a quiet whimper. The defeated woman soon found that she was no longer in her hotel room once she inspected her surroundings. She was back in Vale, not Mistral, it became clear after closer scrutiny. In front of her, an injured Pyrrha Nikos was straining to even kneel. She had her bow and arrow trained at the wounded warrior, but she couldn't figure out why she was reliving this event.
"Do you believe in destiny?" the girl glared at her weakly.
"Yes..."
Cinder recollected those words and what happened afterward. She saw the form of the faunus who had nearly killed her, despite her power. Those crimson eyes penetrated deep into the depths of her being with a dread that threatened to drown her. As she attempted to protect herself, she was reminded of that monster, Tyrian, by the frenzied expression of glee. Her heart became frozen by his harsh laughter, which allowed the monster to slap her to the ground.
Even worse, she could do nothing other than lift her arm in a futile attempt to block the finishing blow.
She was compelled to open her eyes when she just felt a cold air surround her. Only her right eye would be able to see this time as she felt herself plummeting. That's when she recounted how she had fallen short of Raven Branwen after being duped into thinking Vernal was the spring maiden. There followed a protracted conflict, but only one thing was important.
Once again, Cinder had been defeated.
Darkness surrounded her once more. As her body began to sink into the chasm, she felt weightless. No matter which direction Cinder turned to gaze, she could only see herself. The nothingness surprised her by seeming peaceful, lulling the damaged lady into a condition she hadn't experienced in a long time.
Where am I?
"Mommy!" a child-like voice shattered Cinder's reflection. "Mommy! Help me!"
"Get that worthless lot out of here!"
Eyes shot open, exposing the root of the break. Cinder could once again see through both eyes clearly but, she cursed her ability to do so when she noticed the scene before her. Amber could make out the sounds of two people arguing from behind a door.
"She's our daughter! You can't just pretend that she doesn't exist!"
"I can if it means the protection and growth of this empire!" She heard a pompous voice remark. "Ever since she was born, you've done nothing but leech off of me for more money."
"It's called hush money; an agreement we came to in exchange for my silence about your 'personal exploits'. You're lucky I don't go to the Mantle Gazette about this!"
"You wouldn't!" the man's tone held a thinly veiled warning.
"One call is all it'll take." Cinder heard her mother's confident tone. "All I'm asking is for the money to send her to Atlas Academy."
Outside the chamber, Cinder sat on a seat and regarded the ground. Early on, she became aware of the reality of events. She was an unintended result of her impoverished mother's romance with a nobleman who she had never had the opportunity to see in person. She hadn't before been near enough to his voice to truly hear it.
In a dirty scarlet dress, Cinder, now a pre-teen, sat gripping the material tightly as an argument raged on. She looked down both sides of the long corridor, relieved that no one was there to witness her vulnerable state. She could hear the sound of rejection coming from the study and felt like crying, a natural response for any child in such a situation.
Unfortunately, she wasn't afforded such luxuries in this life.
She hated being so weak, incapable of supporting herself. Anger instead took the place of sorrow over the years for Cinder, no longer caring about whether or not her mother would successfully gain the funds necessary to gain entrance into the elite academy. In truth, it was only by the woman's desperate insistence that Cinder even agreed to this nonsense.
"Fine. I'll transfer the funds tomorrow. After that, I don't want to see or hear from either of you again. Am I clear?!"
She didn't hear a word but it appeared that the two had agreed.
Good riddance... She leaned against the wall, more than ready to leave this environment of arrogance and undeserved greed. The stench of upscale bourbon was no stranger to Cinder's nose, making her stomach wrench. Was there anything good about this place?
"Ahem..." Cinder suddenly looked up to see a balding man standing in front of her. He had a gentle smile partially covered by a single digit that signaled silence. He bowed politely to the teen, holding a tray of cookies in his other hand. "Compliments of the young lady."
Cinder raised a brow and warily sampled a few of the delectable delicacies before turning to find a young woman standing regally behind the man. Even though her face was expressionless, she felt a slight sense of relaxation due to the gaze in her light-blue eyes. Empathy is the capacity to comprehend another person's difficulties in light of one's own.
"Um... Thank you," she averted her gaze, hoping to hide the few seconds of vulnerability.
"My pleasure," he smiled only to blink several times. Cinder eyed the suspicious behavior only to see them turn red. "You deserve it after dealing with the sour geezer. If you ask me, you're better off without him!"
The sudden change from polite to blunt made Cinder crack a smile. His eyes shifted again this time nearly matching her own, leaving her with amazement as she ate the sweets.
"Stay strong, my dear. You're only as strong as the reason you fight for."
Uncertain of what he meant by that, the older man smile warmly before returning to the white-haired girl. Watching them leave, Cinder pondered his words only to have her thoughts broken by the abrupt opening of the study's door. Seeing her mother, Cinder found herself being drug through the many hallways by her now irate mother.
"Mom, what's going on?" she asked.
The woman said nothing.
"Mom?"
Still nothing.
"Mom!"
Her world had grown dark, leaving the child all alone. Scared, she looked in all directions for any sign of direction only to find nothing but the abyss surrounding her. She cried out, frantic tears beginning to spill from her eyes.
"Anyone?..." she sniffled.
"Ella?"
The young Cinder spun on her heels to the voice. Her amber eyes widened in glee at the sight of a small boy with shaggy black hair and dark grey fox ears and a tail. Compared to her, he was a bit shorter than the girl as she pulled him into a tight embrace.
"Aggy! I'm so happy to see you again..." she sighed gleefully.
"I missed you too..."
"Promise you'll never leave me again!" she hiccupped. "I don't ever want to lose you again!"
"Then, why did you try to kill me, 'Cinder'?"
Her eyes suddenly opened to another horrific scene. The high-pitched ringing was gone, replaced with a chilling, deeper range. Slowly, the bitterness drew Cinder back, revealing her old acquaintance in his modern-day form. Wide, round violet eyes transitioned into narrowed, red irises. Even worse, the dark contamination that quickly encased those crimson orbs made the woman's pulse race with a state of panic.
"I... I didn't-"
"You left me to die back then!" he snapped, silencing any explanation that she may have tried to conjure. "You promised that you'd protect me, but you broke that as soon as you were given a way out! After that, it didn't matter... You let your pathetic ego come between us; all for power!"
"I did what I had to!" she tried to fire back but her voice cracked in between her defense. "It was an accident!"
And what of his beloved?
"What?"
Suddenly the world around her grew dark again, leaving Cinder alone with her thoughts.
Don't play coy... We both know why you were ready to kill the Nikos girl.
"She was a threat to my mission! I had no choice!"
Please...! You were at Beacon for weeks and you saw their interactions. They were like two peas in a pod and fit ate away at you. The sultry voice that sounded much like her old self giggled amusingly. Face it, once you realized who he was, you just couldn't accept the fact that the 'pathetic' pup had grown up and moved on, could you? Blinded by your jealousy, you tried to separate them... But, all you got for your efforts was a beatdown and a missing eye...
Cinder experienced another heart-pounding moment of fright as she abruptly lost vision in her left eye again. Although the voice of the woman was no longer holding her up, she could still feel her hand on her wrist. Ash-black hair gradually turned ghostly white. Eyes that previously reflected her own turned into glaring crimson orbs.
"Master?"
"I thought you were the girl who wanted power?!"
"I... I...!"
"We both know it was your petty jealousy that drove you to do what you did, Cinder. You had crippled her. Through sheer force of will, you broke her weapon and rendered the girl helpless to fight back," the construct softly berated. "If you truly wanted to, Beacon Tower would've fallen and you would have claimed the relic, but you chose to revel in your arrogance and pitiful need to prove your dominance to him..."
Cinder was at a loss for words. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, the truth knew no equal. Still, if the truth was firmly gripping her heart, she'd counter with her reality.
"No! I did it because I needed to!" she roared at the top of her lungs, burning her throat with a searing flame.
She felt a strong anger inside her for allowing such a betrayal to happen. She refused to tolerate such disrespect towards herself when she could rectify the situation. She was in charge of those secrets, not the other way around. She let out another scream of rage and the tormenting images in her mind started to dissolve, disappearing into darkness one by one.
Cinder suddenly woke up, a cold sweat adorning her face. In a panic, she sat up and scouted the area only to be greeted by the interior of the room she'd been staying in for the past week. It wasn't enough though. She looked at her left arm, seeing that it was still wrapped up; still that of a Grimm. She never thought that she'd feel such relief from seeing it, but it was so.
"...just a nightmare..."
She exhaled only to jump at the sudden vibrations on the desk near her bed. When she finally settled down, Cinder found that it was her scroll lighting up. Reaching for it, she discovered a message had been delivered.
Info found. Ready when you are.
-Spider's Web
She understood precisely what this meant and wasted no time in getting ready. Cinder just stopped to say "thank you" to Oum for the rain ceasing before leaving the hotel and heading to the bar. Whatever the news, she would accept it and continue. Nevertheless, she was unable to shake the dream's sway. Why right now? She had understood all along that there was a reason for the unconscious illusions, but she was unable to determine what it was.
The main thing she remembered was the words of the portly servant; his smiling face and shifty personality brought an amused grin. The only other thing of note was the image of Salem replacing her mother and her taunting of Cinder's bid for power. Somewhere in her soul, she felt a connection between the two in her life.
One mentions strength.
The other warned about it.
Was she blinded by her constant thirst for power?
Perhaps.
Would she stop in her hunt for it?
No.
"Maybe..." she muttered to herself. "...I should evaluate what's brought me here before I take the next step?"
It seemed sense to move in that manner because Cinder currently lacked companions and couldn't force anybody to do her bidding right now. However, there were a lot more options available without utilizing force. She had learned that directly from the witch. But first, she had to acquire the information she paid for before she could thoroughly analyze her next course of action.
"One step at a time..."
The afternoon air was perfect in Argus, complementing the busy streets of the naval port city. After a peaceful night's rest, Pyrrha and Aganju were going to enjoy the day, thanks to the insistence of Nora and Ren.
Jaune and the others had volunteered to go check in at the Atlas military base in hopes of trying to convince their commander to escort them all to Atlas. The ornate machinations of the people mattered little to a certain faunus as he walked alongside his cheerful girlfriend. For some reason, the normally chipper girl had a bit more pep in her step, humming while pulling him through the northern district.
She ignored the awkward stares and whispers as they weaved through various streets. Of course, the vulpine faunus noticed this right away. Every glare that fell upon him didn't go unnoticed, but for Pyrrha's sake, he wouldn't make a fuss about things.
She'd been this way ever since they woke up earlier that morning yet, she refused to disclose her reasoning. After a late breakfast with her mother, Pyrrha practically dragged him out of the house and they made their way to Oum only knew where.
"Pyrrha?"
"Yes?" her sweet tone made his heart skip.
"Where exactly are we going?"
She shook her head, never letting her smile drop.
"It's a surprise."
As she continued, Aganju's skepticism only increased. Of course, the suggestion of abnormality wasn't missed either. However, he decided it would be best to hold off on asking anymore and instead focused on the people passing by. Their uncertainty made him cringe and reminded the faunus of their first meeting. As he thought back to that day, he couldn't help but grin. They had just recently become friends, and from that moment forward, their friendship only expanded.
His musings would abruptly end when the two suddenly stopped in front of a familiar building; one that he knew well.
"Sanctum?"
Pyrrha's smile was soft but never lost its vigor. She walked onto the campus with her friend following close behind. It didn't take long for them to enter the school and find their target, the front office. The halls were empty Within the room, an older woman with silver hair immediately recognized them both.
"Miss Nikos! Aganju! Welcome back!" she greeted excitedly. "I'll fetch the dean for you."
"There's no need for that, Ms. Falcon. Thank you." A black-haired man stepped from his office. His calm smirk turned into a look of pure shock when he noticed the pair. "Ah! I'm so elated to see you both again!"
As Pyrrha greeted and thanked the educator, Aganju wasn't as keen to do so. Even though he didn't have any issue with the man himself, the faunus still showed a bit of discomfort at being in the combat school. Still, he'd put on a smile to keep things civil.
"It's good to see you, Professor Cormier. It's been a while," Aganju greeted before winding up in a big hug from the man.
This was surprising to both Pyrrha and the secretary as the educator released his hold on the faunus.
"I'm so relieved to know that you both are safe! After the fall of Beacon, I grew worried."
"Well, I'm alright," the fox chuckled rigidly. "It takes more than a few Grimm and White Fang to stop us."
"Of course. I shouldn't have had any doubt. After all, you were one of my strongest students."
The Dean let out a hearty laugh before acknowledging Pyrrha once more. He continued talking with the duo until the bell rang, forcing Cormier to step out, inviting the two to follow. They walked down the corridor, watching all of the students filing out to go toward their next classes. Pyrrha and Atsura pressed on until they found themselves in a rather familiar setting.
The room was massive in comparison to the ones they'd passed by. It appeared like more of a dojo, each of the walls being adorned with various forms of weaponry. This was the sparring room, a place where surprisingly, neither was granted to be in at the same time. Aganju spared a glance over to his friend, noting the look of comfort she had.
"Pyrrha? What's going on?"
"You and I never had a chance to properly spar, Agan. So, I requested that we could use one of the rooms for a quick match."
"Neither of you had the opportunity to do so despite the two top students in your class. Plus, with your training at Beacon, I'm sure you'd both enjoy a chance to test your skills with little restraints."
Finally hearing the reason for their journey Aganju simply sighed dramatically before grabbing Nguangus from the sheath on his back. Professor Cormier was surprised to see the shift in weaponry, but he remained silent as Pyrrha removed her winter jacket revealing her arsenal. The fox mirrored her actions, tossing the jacket behind him before separating the blade into its dual form.
"I hope you're ready," Pyrrha pointed her new spear, Kratos at the boy. "I won't be holding back."
"That makes two of us," he flashed his canines, focused on the task at hand.
"Remember why you fight."
Aganju carefully considered her words but remained steadfast. Pyrrha took charge and charged forward, using her shield, Deimos, to collide with one of the blades. Her powerful thrust pushed the vulpine back a few feet, but he quickly regained his footing. Aganju had no time to analyze the situation, as he was immediately assaulted with a barrage of strikes from the spartan.
Despite her typically kind demeanor, Pyrrha was shockingly relentless in her attacks. There was a gleam in her eyes as she kept Aganju on defense, an interesting development. It was a complete role reversal, with the Spartan girl as the aggressor and the Vulpine on the defense.
Aganju successfully dodged his opponent's attack as Kratos missed him entirely. Witnessing her partner's disadvantage, Pyrrha observed as Aganju combined his swords to transform Cerberus into a bow. He then proceeded to shoot Dust arrows of various colors and elements at Pyrrha, who simply blocked them with her shield. As the number of shots increased, Pyrrha was forced to dodge them by sidestepping.
What are you planning? Running around is only affecting your accuracy. Unless...
It was too late. Looking around, Pyrrha finally figured out what his strategy was. He wasn't just aimlessly firing arrows; he was smarter than that. No, Aganju was laying out a trap.
Her answer came when the young woman began to notice that many of the arrows hadn't yet detonated with their respective elements. It wasn't until she saw the smug grin on Aganju's face that the goal became clear. He wasn't looking to attack without purpose but rather, he was aiming to confine her.
The vulpine concluded this strategy by firing a black Dust bolt into another, that'd been planted near her feet.
This set off a chain reaction where the many projectiles exploded around Pyrrha forcing her to cover up. Still, Aganju wasn't satisfied. Learning from his final's match during the Vytal Festival tournament, he wouldn't rush in recklessly as he did then. Instead, he kept a steady grip on the aura string, patiently waiting for whatever would come next.
He's grown so much... The Professor noted the faunus' action with pride but, he wasn't foolish to count out Pyrrha Nikos. What is your next move?
From the vanishing smoke, she hurled Deimos at the boy, forcing him to use another black bolt to launch himself in the air. This was just what Pyrrha wanted as she summoned the guard back to her. From the smoke, she launched herself at him, swiping at him. Switching back into its glaive form, Aganju matched her attacks blow for blow.
Throughout their exchange, several students had made their way into the sparring room, each one more inquisitive than the last. This took Dean Cormier by surprise as they all started to fill up the spacious room to witness the event unfold. The two fighters were evenly matched in their fighting abilities. Even when one had the upper hand in power, the other would find a way to counter them.
Even without displaying a semblance, Cormier was rather impressed by the male alumni.
Pyrrha's polarity semblance was stopped by elemental projectiles.
Aganju's sheer strength was negated by Pyrrha's superior defense.
It would come down to a test of convictions.
Kratos and Cerberus clashed, weapons resonating with the wills of their wielders.
"Looks like we've attracted an audience..." Pyrrha flicked her gaze over to the younger cadets.
"Keep your eyes on me, princess. We're not done yet!"
The suggestive tone, coupled with a competitive wink made Pyrrha's cheeks flush beet red. She quickly regained her bearings before flashing a sensual glimpse of her own. When they agreed, both flared their auras, impressing the older man and the cheering children surrounding him.
"I'd like nothing more, but must you be so mischievous?" she giggled, steadying her feet.
He charged, slamming his glaive into her shield.
"Only with you..."
During the intense battle of swipes and slashes in Sanctum, two highly skilled alumni gave it their all, refusing to back down. The audience was left gasping and cheering as the exchange continued. Professor Cormier kept a close eye on their energy levels through his scroll. However, both competitors eventually dropped to the orange zone, signifying the end of the intense battle.
As he yelled out to them, both nodded before pushing off of one another.
"Guess, we'll have to cut this short..." Aganju bowed politely.
"I too have enjoyed our tango, dance partner." Pyrrha curtsied dramatically.
Both flashed a big smile at one another, clearly enjoying their back-and-forth encounter. Everyone watched as they both took their respective stances. Pyrrha crouched slightly and lifted Deimos, positioning her spear, Kratos in the visual crevice of the shield; the hoplite style. Aganju crotched down as well, shifting his body for the BattÅjutsu stance.
Professor Cormier watched with great interest, his face calm and composed. A small droplet of sweat trickled down his cheek, but he remained focused. As the two combatants prepared for their showdown, he couldn't help but reflect on something he had heard long ago. Pyrrha Nikos, known as the 'Invincible Girl', was highly regarded by Sanctum and Argus. Aganju Umbrae, also known as the 'Demon's Bane', on the other hand, was a warrior who had been stripped of recognition and love because of his race.
He knew, all too well, the higher-ups on the city's council board had enforced a rule that would protect their 'golden goose' from the 'monster' and now, the man knew why. They were even against one another but, with Aganju being a faunus, there was no way that those on the board would allow him to even come close to ruining their 'star attraction'.
Even time was against them when they were barely a year apart in status.
Professor Cormier couldn't have been more proud of both of his former students.
All of that culminated with the Huntsman/Huntress grinning from ear to ear, each prepared to finish their match, despite their exhaustion. Feet planted, they both rushed at the other. As the gap between them closed, Pyrrha and Aganju reflected on the girl's earlier statement.
Remember why you fight...
Aganju's mind brought him to the night when he nearly lost Pyrrha back when Beacon Academy fell. The kiss of trickery that nearly got his beloved killed at the hands of Cinder haunted him at times, though he never spoke of it. He remembered scaling the wall thanks to Ruby and Weiss' joint effort. Then he recalled the demon he'd become after he lost control.
He never wanted Pyrrha to endure that again.
For Pyrrha, she remembered the moment she was outclassed by Vernal which resulted in Aganju surrendering and being impaled by Raven Branwen. In her heart, she felt guilty for this happening. The idea of losing her closest friend and lover nearly broke her after a month of captivity as well. Thankfully, they were reunited later but, seeing the light in Aganju's eyes dulling by the second haunted the girl for a while, even after being reunited.
She couldn't put Aganju in a position like that ever again.
Aganju and Pyrrha delivered their final strike with all the willpower they could muster. Both forms were standing opposite one another with their backs to one another when they crossed paths. All eyes were focused on the duo as the room became hushed to watch who was going to drop first. That stillness was eventually broken by labored breathing as the magnitude of their conflict finally became apparent. Their aura flickered, aching and worn, then vanished entirely.
Finally, one of them felt their strength's depletion. Aganju slowly fell backward, smiling as his lungs burned with each intake of air. He wasn't upset at all though, content with the fact that he took the 'Invincible Girl' to her limit; he could think of worse outcomes than being in second place.
"This battle is declared a draw!"
The news caused the fox's ears to twitch.
Had he heard that correctly?
It couldn't be a draw, unless...
When he looked up, the sight of a kneeling Pyrrha made him sit up immediately. Even though his head throbbed from such a thoughtless deed, he didn't care, choosing to prioritize the girl's wellbeing before his own. Before she could collapse, he reached her in enough time to lay her head in his lap.
"Pyrrha! Are you alright?!" he worriedly asked.
"I'm fine," she smiled sadly. "I'm just sorry I couldn't go any further."
Aganju wrapped Pyrrha in his arms, grateful that she was okay.
"You..."
"What?"
"You dummy..." he chuckled weakly, cradling her closer. "As long as you're alive, that means more to me than some petty contest!"
Pyrrha's heart skipped a beat as she gazed into his eyes. Despite her exhaustion, she couldn't deny the fluttering feeling in her chest. She would have pushed him away if he had been insincere, but his words were genuine. They had both left Argus and found each other, gaining friends and family along the way. He was her prince charming, and she couldn't help but feel a rush of romantic emotions at that moment.
To see the vulnerability behind his eyes, Pyrrha felt her throat hitch while resting in his arms. She reached for him, placing her hand on her cheek. Slowly, she leaned in, eager to express her gratitude properly. She'd be stopped though when the sounds of cheers filled their ears, forcing both of their faces to turn crimson.
"Children, these two are the cream of the crop!" They looked out at the large gathering to find both humans and faunus alike. "They both trained here at Sanctum and now, they carry on the legacy of this combat school with pride!"
Both shuffled a few inches away as the kids approached them both, each one clamoring for a chance to interact with the two standouts. While Pyrrha was no stranger to this, Aganju was overwhelmed by the admiration of the youth, both human and faunus alike. Seeing the latter look up to him was a tall order, though he did his best. This went on for a few minutes until the bell rang, signaling the start of the next course.
After collecting their things and a congratulatory 'thank you' from the elated dean, Aganju & Pyrrha left Sanctum Academy. By now, the sun had begun its descent and with arms interlocked, the pair decided to return to the Nikos' homestead.
"So..."
"So?" an amused Pyrrha hummed.
"Pyrrha?" Aganju playfully warned.
"Okay. I'm sorry for not telling you about my 'nefarious' plan."
Aganju rolled his eyes, only to find himself pulled into a kiss.
His heart raced as he pulled her close, savoring the softness of her lips. The world around them faded away as they lost themselves in the moment, the only thing that mattered was the love they shared. Pyrrha smiled as he wrapped his tail around her, feeling the warmth of his embrace. She ran her fingers through his hair, lost in the passion of the moment, and knew without a doubt that he was the one for her.
Finally, they parted, still in each other's arms and staring dreamily at each other. It cared little for the onlooker and their murmurs, they were too preoccupied with one another. The only outside entity that mattered to the couple was the rapidly wagging tail of the fox who quickly grabbed the out-of-control limb, much to Pyrrha's amusement.
"Forgiven..." he whispered dumbly, drawing a melodious laugh from his girlfriend.
"That easily? I'd hoped you would put up more of a fight," she flirtatiously teased.
"What did you have in mind?"
Unfortunately, Pyrrha never got the chance to answer when a beeping ringtone interrupted them. Reluctantly, the two separated. An annoyed Aganjuglaredd at the device only to receive a peck on the cheek that calmed him down. Still, it was irritating to see Jaune being the reason for their abrupt pause, even if it was inadvertent.
"Hello?" he grumbled.
"Get over to the city limits!"
"Wait, what's going on, Roxie?"
"Jaune managed to connect with Ruby! They're on their way now."
Hearing this, both teens raced off to their intended destination.
Along the way, Pyrrha's mind recollected the faunus' words, searching for her interpretation of the statement she posed to him. With a small grin, she spared a glance at her vulpine partner with fondness. Though he was a little banged up from their battle, Pyrrha knew what she found worth fighting for.
Now, they were set for a reunion with Team RWBY and, hopefully, a plan to get to Atlas.