Node1127: Private Channel with Yuri
Yuri: Hello?
Yuri: …No response?
Yuri: I'll try to keep this brief then.
Yuri: I don't have anything against the concept of…
Yuri: "Killing in self-defense."
Yuri: Even "killing for personal gain."
Yuri: But "killing to vent frustration," "killing to prove a point"...
Yuri: Unless that point is so important to you…
Yuri: It seems like a waste of your time?
Yuri: If you have the choice not to…
Yuri: I imagine your would-be victim would appreciate it if you exercised that.
Yuri: This probably isn't what Pyrrha wanted me to say.
Yuri: But it is the truth.
Yuri: So…
Yuri: If I'm not already too late, please think it over.
Yuri: …Senpai, I guess.
Node1127: Private Channel with Pyrrha
Pyrrha: Kyoko. I'm sorry if what I said upset you.
Pyrrha: But please, don't take your frustration out on someone all but innocent in all this.
Pyrrha: I understand that doing so against me is impossible at the moment.
Pyrrha: And frankly, if we could meet face-to-face, I would stop you.
Pyrrha: But…
Pyrrha: Well, please don't let it come to that.
Pyrrha: Even if you are no hero, you are, at least, a good person, yes?
Pyrrha: You have a heart.
Node1127: Private Channel with Undyne
Undyne: Hey.
Undyne: So.
Undyne: Okay.
Undyne: I honestly couldn't care less about what humans you do or don't kill.
Undyne: We're gonna kill you all anyway, when we escape from the Underground!
Undyne: Not gonna lie, though…
Undyne: I thought magical princesses…Magical Girls were better than that!
Undyne: …
Undyne: Welp.
Undyne: I've said my piece.
Undyne: Undyne, out!
Node1127: Private Channel with test
test: so
test: o hold on.
test: /name emma
emma: ok so
emma: u dont know me.
emma: obv
emma: but ya, Im Emma.
emma: ex alpha bitch & recluse.
emma: …uh
emma: was kinda expectin a 'who tf r u'.
emma: but ur rly committed to the whole silent treatment.
emma: I guess.
emma: or maybe ur asleep, idk.
emma: anyway
emma: I dont think Pyrrha knows I exist yet.
emma: hell, u girls have all done a good job accidently ignorin me.
emma: yay
emma: so this next part
emma: it comes straight from the heart.
emma: corny as that is.
emma: so
emma: murder is wrong, mk.
emma: ok jokes aside
emma: like
emma: ur powerful, right?
emma: I get that.
emma: u talk like ur strong, like u believe ur strong.
emma: n thats great
emma: strength is great
emma: dont need to rub it in tho, right?
emma: the weak r
emma: still ppl, at the end of the day.
emma: I guess
emma: …ugh, idk
emma: just think it over.
emma: hypocrite like me has no place talkin bout this shit.
The Beacon Academy Dance was a truly wonderful time.
Walking down the star-studded aisle next to Jaune, watching the crowd murmur and whoop, meeting Nora's eyes as she cheered for the pair of them… even the clammy feel of Jaune's sweaty hands didn't feel so bad. Pyrrha was sweating too. It was almost romantic, in a slightly gross and sticky sense.
The atmosphere schismed between a refined, classical ball and a hard rave. Powerful stacks of speakers that stretched to the ceiling blared out a gentle piano waltz. Doilies and lace lined the cheap folding tables. Hors d'oeuvres sat out on a plate next to a spiked red punch bowl. Yang and Weiss had collaborated to create something truly special here.
Most of all, she couldn't believe that Jaune, the densest boy alive, had finally taken her hints. That she'd wanted to go to the dance with him. Granted, she'd had to spell it out to him in extremely clear terms. Twice. And even then, it'd taken him ten minutes. If Nora had felt bad watching him puzzle things out with a barely-restrained screaming sound, she couldn't have imagined how Pyrrha herself had felt, watching him blunder around the answer to a question that hadn't even been asked.
She ought to thank Weiss. Her final announcement regarding defenestrating Jaune had been what had given her the push to move, to finally take the step in bridging the incredibly stupid gap between them. Pyrrha hadn't
intended, strictly speaking, to ask Jaune out that night. She'd honestly planned solely to communicate that the Schnee heiress was running out of patience for his courting. But, well, one thing led to another… And here they were. Dancing.
She had once been told that dancing was much like tournament combat, in that it revolved around the careful interplay between two people in constant lockstep, where a single mistake could spell disaster. And while she had not much experience in dancing, she
was quite well-versed in combat. Pyrrha concluded that that person was not so far off the mark, in the end.
Jaune, as everyone knew, was not the most experienced fighter. But he was a surprisingly competent dancer! He seemed to have a gut understanding of rhythm and melody, the appropriate movements and timings. It was not as if Pyrrha had not listened to music before, but he seemed to
get it, better than she did. During the waltz, she found herself occasionally unsure, caught off-guard by the "three-four tempo". Jaune was never unsure, though. He moved smoothly, pulled her along firmly yet kindly.
Ultimately, they didn't miss a beat.
"You're quite the dancer," Pyrrha remarked at some point, shortly after the waltz had ended. "How did you become so experienced?"
"Ah, well… seven sisters, remember?" Jaune said sheepishly. "They loved music of all kinds. And they loved to dance. Dragged me into it pretty frequently! You'll get the hang of it."
"Teach me for once, then," she replied, smiling.
A fast-paced dance number started up, base vibrating through the floor. Yang must have chosen the next song. Jaune gave her a nod, smiling just as wide.
"Of course, my lady."
Pyrrha didn't know exactly how long the two of them were on the dance floor. But she knew for a fact that she enjoyed every second of it. Ren and Nora, who had been off to the side not-flirting, even joined in when
Shine began to play. Would be a waste not to perform that choreographed dance number, after all, to a smattering of applause.
Oh, what a night. So many sights, so much fun…
Ultimately, though, she did grow slightly tired. And Jaune, despite his impressive resilience, perhaps could have used more training in the field of endurance. The pair eventually broke off for some fresh air and time alone, with intent to return to the festivities later on. Refreshed and relaxed!
Attempting to slip out to the balcony failed to pan out. A pair of visiting Haven students—Pyrrha recognized Mercury Black, the gray-haired kickboxer who'd once attempted to challenge her to a spar, but got shot down by Professor Goodwitch—blocked the way. They politely yet apologetically explained that their team leader was feeling a bit ill and wanted time alone with some fresh air, same as them.
So they substituted. Pyrrha'd had cinematic views on the mind, though, so…
"Jaune, hold on tight," she told him.
"Wait, what? What are you planning?" he squeaked, confused. "Why are you carrying meEEE—"
They landed gently on the ballroom rooftop. Pyrrha waited for Jaune to steady before settling him down on dry tiling.
"Whoa," Jaune said, breathless. "That was awesome. But a little warning, next time?"
Pyrrha chuckled, letting out a slightly insincere "I'm sorry!" She enjoyed seeing him flustered. Frankly, she enjoyed seeing him, period. For all that he was normally so lanky and awkward during his day-to-day, he cut a surprisingly nice figure in his borrowed suit.
Seeing that he seemed to have no intention of standing from where she'd put him down, Pyrrha brushed her dress a bit and sat next to him quietly, looking at Vale's nighttime skyline. There were still Bullheads active, and their lights could be seen flying above the buildings. But for the most part, it was quiet. Even with the dance going on at full power beneath them—apparently, the grand hall was well-soundproofed.
Jaune was the first to break the silence. "So… this has been fun. Thanks, Pyrrha."
"It has, hasn't it…" she said. "I should be thanking you, Jaune."
A blink of confusion. "Huh? Why?"
Seriously? He didn't… Ugh. Of course he wouldn't. But she could spell it out for him.
"You've always been there for me," Pyrrha tried. "In our time here at Beacon… I honestly don't know how many students are currently in attendance. But I don't think I would have had nearly as pleasant a time if my partner had been any one of them but you."
"Man…" Jaune groaned. "You don't need to flatter me, Pyrrha. We both know I'm nobody special. I'm not strong, not clever, not smart. I barely know where my own feet are half the time."
"But that's precisely it, Jaune!" He turned to face her, eyes wide, and Pyrrha realized she might've accidentally raised her volume a bit more than was appropriate. In more subdued tones, she continued, "At this school for Huntsmen and Huntresses, you'd be hard-pressed to find a person who hasn't heard the name 'Pyrrha Nikos'. I'd once thought that would mean that I could find peers here. people with which I could form meaningful relationships, rather than one-sided rays between idol and idolator. But it turns out, Huntsmen and Huntresses have, if it is even possible, an even
greater appreciation for my skills and power.
"If it hadn't been for someone like you, someone so impossibly far-removed from politics and Huntsmen and popular culture, I think I would've been more alone at Beacon than I was on the tournament circuit."
A moment of silence.
"Pyrrha…" Jaune started, "...when you put it that way, somehow it sounds even worse."
She couldn't help it. She laughed. A full belly-laugh that left her clutching her stomach and Jaune sputtering in dismay.
As she recovered, her eyes wandered to the CCT Tower, Beacon's Tower, and Headmaster Ozpin's office at the top. Absentmindedly, she wondered if he'd planned this, before deciding it really didn't matter.
"Wait," Jaune asked about a minute later, notes of panic and realization beginning to creep into his voice. "Does this mean we're dating?"
"Jaune," she deadpanned. "I asked you out to a dance. You accepted. We danced."
"Oh," he said, voice having crept from 'panicking' to 'panicked'. "Oh. Oh jeez…"
"Jaune," Pyrrha said.
"Oh, God, this is my first time having a girlfriend!" he almost shrieked.
"Jaune," Pyrrha said.
"I wish I'd listened to what my mother told me! I knew it would be important one day I just didn't—"
"Jaune! Someone just jumped out of a window!" Pyrrha interrupted, finally getting his attention.
She wasn't lying. Likely a coincidence, but not long after she'd started looking at the CCT Tower, a dark smudge had smashed out of one of the windows on the upper levels—the Communications Centre, if she remembered correctly—and fallen to the ground, out of sight. At best, they were responsible for entering the tower after-hours and a case of damage of public property. At worst… well, as everyone knew, the CCT was foundational to life as they knew it on Remnant. Sabotage, while unlikely, was not out of the possibility.
Pyrrha rose to her feet and pulled out her Scroll, Jaune unsteadily getting up with her.
"What are you doing? Do you need help?" he asked, fumbling for his own Scroll.
Navigating to the application that managed the rocket lockers, Pyrrha shook her head. "No. You go back down, alert Professor Ozpin. I think I saw him on the fringes of the dance floor. I'll head out and… see what's going on, I suppose."
Jaune nodded, then pushed off the side of the roof to slide straight down. Then he fell straight down, with a bit of a girlish scream. Pyrrha felt bad for his pride, somewhat, but rationalized that his embarrassment would likely draw attention, which could be helpful for chaining that into Ozpin's. Plus, when it came to pride, she doubted that Jaune Arc had much left in the eyes of the students of Beacon.
In the meantime, she took off across rooftops, heading towards the site of the yet-to-be-determined crime. A bit of calculation let her obtain her weapons, Miló and Akoúo̱, along the way, with a well-timed rocket locker landing. She'd lost track of the defenestrator's exact location, but she was fairly familiar with Beacon's campus at this point—she knew there were only so many places she could go, so many routes to take to get there. And if she was correct…
There.
A woman in a black bodysuit, with long flowing black hair. And a mask, which couldn't signify anything good. Pyrrha jumped down straight in the woman's path, landing with a
clang of her shield on pavement.
"Stop," she announced. "What were you doing at the CCT Tower?"
A wary silence was all that awaited her, an acute gaze. Pyrrha tensed her grip on her weapons. The woman wasn't obviously armed, but… that often didn't mean anything, when it came to Huntresses. Something about this woman made her skin crawl, itch.
"Explain yourself," Pyrrha tried, to no avail. Only more silence awaited her.
…She didn't want to be the aggressor. Maybe there was a good reason for what was going on here.
Pyrrha opened her mouth a third time.
That was the precise moment the woman struck. Pyrrha, not quite unprepared, tracked the distance between them, watched the woman cover it in a worryingly quick frame. Miló transitioned into its javelin form and shot out , almost catching the woman's path, but her foe contorted around it mid-jump, striking her across the face with a bladed heel and forcing her gaze away.
Instinctively, Pyrrha tucked in, brought her shield back towards her, and felt about for any metal she could control with her Semblance. Aside from some public lampposts and a signpost, there was nothing to be found. The woman's heels were made of something that Polarity couldn't touch.
The woman attempted to follow up with more strikes, but she'd lost the element of surprise. Pyrrha hunkered down, keeping her eyes on her opponent. The other woman
was faster, which was quite surprising to her, but she wasn't
so fast that she could not be reacted to, that Pyrrha couldn't respond to each of her strikes with a parry from Miló, a block with Akoúo̱. A degree beyond, but not a whole league.
Pyrrha came to the realization that, even if she were to lose this fight—a prospect that, while unlikely, was possible—she would still be at an advantage of sorts. This woman was likely a criminal of some sort. And Jaune was currently getting help. Any time she could stall was another second the woman didn't have to spare. Every second closer to reinforcements arriving was valuable.
Her opponent must've realized this as well. A well-timed palm strike, too quick to comfortably avoid, struck her leg, knocked her footing out beneath her. Launching Akoúo̱ into the ground and having it rebound back to her steadied her balance, but it gave the woman just enough time to disengage, to dive through a glass storefront window and shatter it as well.
She seems to enjoy destroying windows, Pyrrha couldn't help but note as she pursued, launching herself forward with the help of rifle recoil.
…Only to find herself in the middle of a storm of glass, a sudden whirlwind spun out of nowhere, slicing at her Aura. No, not nowhere. The window!
The attack came from everywhere at once, unblockable. She gritted her teeth, pushing through, but the scintillating razors continued to slice at her, following her. Pyrrha couldn't see past the wall of rapidly heating shards, as they rose to a fever pitch. This must've been the woman's Semblance.
It took at least another ten seconds to disengage from the whirling menace, after which the storefront ended up utterly trashed. Pyrrha made a mental note to apologize to whomever owned it, but then realized that she'd lost her opponent. The woman had left traces, though. Speckles of that same glass, which must've caught on her suit. Pyrrha quickly followed, though she had little hope that she'd actually find the culprit anymore. She could only hope that Jaune had put together a team quickly enough to catch her on the backend.
The traces of glass, even as they became fewer and fewer, led her straight towards the ballroom, where she ran into Jaune, Nora, Ren, and… huh. Blake?
"Pyrrha?" Jaune gaped. "I thought you said—"
"Yes, I did!" She quickly explained. "I've been tracking her path. She should be…"
A twinkle, on the balcony. The one where Mercury and his partner was! And their team leader!
"Up there!" she finished. Another mighty leap took her straight up, only to be greeted with a truly gruesome sight.
A dark haired woman in a ballroom dress, one that she didn't recognize—their team leader, Pyrrha deduced. Mercury, spattered in blood, cradling his green-haired partner. And his partner, that had been caught with her Aura down, gouged across the face beyond any hope of disguise or recovery. Unconscious. Broken glass glittered across the balcony.
The two remaining members of the Haven team looked up at Pyrrha's landing, eyes wide.
"Did you see… Who in the world was that woman?" Mercury's team leader muttered, tone dead and dull. Like she was in shock. Then she shook her head, as if disbelieving her own curiosity. "No, I frankly do not care. You're chasing her, yes? You're covered in glass."
"Is she alright?" Pyrrha choked out, eyes transfixed by the pooling of blood.
The woman said, "Emerald is tough. She'll be fine. But whoever that was… she hurt a member of my team. Mercury and I will look after her."
She pointed towards the shuttleport.
"She went that way. Avenge my subordinate for me."
Pyrrha was torn. Something about this almost seemed fishy to her… the woman was too calm, Mercury too quiet, the girl too specifically-wounded…
"Pyrrha! Did you see where they went!" Jaune's voice shocked her out of her theorizing, reminded her that, likely, they had no time to lose. The woman was quick. If they didn't chase her, they'd never find her again.
Pyrrha jumped down to rejoin her team.
And so they searched for hours.
But no traces of the mysterious intruder would be found.
