White Gold: A Day in Winter

A quiet radiating inward, the soul that hadn't known peace and quiet in so long. Warmth, it was a warmth she had felt then, that she felt before, that she feels now. Not the warmth of the hearth, of a long winter's night spent bundled next to loved but a warmth of renewal. The feeling of being brought once more unto turmoil and strife. Passion, that was what Pyrrha Nikos felt as she stood bare before the only person in the room. Glynda was rummaging through several drawers, gathering undergarments and liners for the item she'd come to retrieve.

Pyrrha looked back at the gift she was being given, at the ornate carving and detailed inscriptions lining the magnificent suit. This isn't mine though, just another expectation. Still, she did feel grateful for the thought, that she was some mythical figure out of legend. Pyrrha had always wanted to live up to the stories her mother had told to her before bed, make her own story that other moms would tell. Maybe one she would tell her own son or daughter. If she was able.

"Alright Miss Nikos, if you would please try these on?" Glynda laid out a full set of garments, and Pyrrha slowly pulled on the linen. It felt good to get back to a state of dress, not that it had bothered her too much. But slowly she had been feeling quite uncomfortable alone with Glynda in her skin.

"Good, they fit well. Now on to the armor. I'm sure you are familiar with it?"

Slowly approaching the armoire, Pyrrha reached out and felt the metal and leather, caressing edges and tooling that spoke a different tale. She felt over the usual spots, the ones that always chafed a little. And they were smooth, soft as a beach pebble to the touch. Pyrrha checked other areas, and they were all pristine and soft. This isn't something that was simply made, this is a work of art. Looking back at the tall woman, she searched for any more clues. She only received a simple nod to proceed.

The breastplate fit snugly, a near perfect fit for her frame. I guess an eternity can make the measurements a bit of a guess. Tightening the piece, she felt along for the rope ends at the top before finding them at the bottom. Polished material greeted her hand as she fingered the nubs concealing the tied ends. Pyrrha found every piece, from the new pauldrons and headdress to her familiar greaves and bracer, to be of such quality. It all was comfortable, maybe a little small but certainly not tight.

"That armor is essentially the same as when it was made. Thousands of years of history, in a few pieces of metal and leather." Pyrrha looked at the teacher, and she saw a face beaming with pride. "The weapons on the other hand, those were made by an artisan just before the war. Those were the instructions, the armor is to be untouched but the weapons were to be as new as possible."

"I don't know what to say."

Glynda walked up to her, staring deeply into verdant eyes as Pyrrha stared back into her reflection. "You'll say more with what you do. At least, that's what one of the versions say."

"Versions? I thought you said that the legend was about me coming back, and being a guiding light? Are you saying that's not all?"

The reserved woman finally looked away, frowning into the ground. "We weren't sure," she spit out, the words feeling like venom on Pyrrha's ears. "It's incredibly old, and only a few things overlap, mostly about kings and peasants." She flicked her crop in frustration, looking around at the vault of treasures. "Even the whole return thing is only around in most of them."

Pyrrha felt her heart sink just a little, the truth cutting out more of her girlish fantasies with each passing word. So it wasn't going to be a glorious thing, but just a chance happening that brought her back? So be it, she would be that chance if she had to. I'm always what they want me to be, no complaints, no regrets. But that's a lie, isn't it? Pyrrha's mind ached slightly, the memories slowly but surely surfacing once more. Through the mist a familiar face shone just a little brighter.

"Now, there's just one more thing to do. Are you up to it?"

She nodded her assent, not questioning what the task could entail. Glynda walked over to the armoire and picked up the white blade and shield, hefting the old weapons and appreciating them. And they were in the air, held by unknown forces and pointed straight at Pyrrha. Lethal blade flew and protective shield followed as the fight commenced in the small space. Pyrrha side stepped the weapon to take the brunt of the shield onto her shoulder. The force proved too great and she fell to her knees, spinning her head to track the blade. It swept upward, moving in an unnatural arc as the wielder flexed her might. And it soared downward.

Pyrrha stretched out her arm, knocking the shield away with a forceful blow before rolling under the swords flight. Her hand shot up, but she missed the weapon sailing overhead. Her opponent slapped the crop on her thigh, the displeasure rife on her face as Pyrrha failed to live up to expectations. I can't do any more, what do you want? And still they fought, Glynda sending the gifted weapons toward her in swooping, deadly strikes time and again. Each time Pyrrha got a little closer, just a little swifter, a little better. And it stopped, the weapons settling on the ground before her.

"Miss Nikos, what are you doing?" Glynda snapped, the words breaking through Pyrrha's trance. "I know for a fact you should be able to wrest those from me without issue. So why aren't you?"

She knew the truth even if her mind moved lethargically toward it, cogs slowly turning as conscious thought began catching up to her. "I'm not sure what you want me to do."

"Your Semblance! Snatch the sword up, fight me as if your life depended on it."

So she did, or rather, she would have. Stretching as far as she could, the tendrils were just beyond her grasp. Pyrrha could feel the comfort, the familiar ebb and flow of her soul just beyond mental fingertips. She pushed, and pushed even further, before she pushed past it into something new, something foreign yet comfortable. It surrounded her, penetrating the very depths of Pyrrha until it could be known as Pyrrha itself. Soothing whispers replaced what had been shouting commands, tickling the ear now as she regained her senses.

"I'm not sure, but I can't... seem to use my Semblance. I don't know, it's just out of reach. I'm sorry." Her words rang hollow, emanating more from herself than around her. It made Pyrrha feel like she'd lost something.

"That... isn't possible. You can't lose a Semblance like that. You should know this, it's a manifestation of our souls. For it to be gone..." Glynda's face slowly drained of color, a pale visage turning nearly translucent with fear. "Are you sure you can't?"

Pyrrha shook her head. It wasn't for lack of trying, it just wasn't within her grasp anymore. And probing further felt like a fire trying to rush down the line to her very core, something that felt decidedly different from just a moment ago. In fact, Pyrrha was feeling more at home with herself than just a moment ago, the limbs that were hers finally feeling like actual human flesh. It was as if she had woken up once more, this time as a person and not an idea.

"It could be. But there's... Pyrrha," Glynda bit her name off, her first name, "you are you, right? Wait, of course you are. Let me rephrase that, you feel like you, right?" The woman's normally calm demeanor was quickly deteriorating.

"I'm still me, it just feels like there's... more?" She didn't know how else to explain it, it felt like the brief instant in the pod. When another life was being pressed onto her own, the unnatural smothering of emotion and thought. But it was also like a warm blanket, wrapping around and warming a cold and tired body. Pyrrha picked up the off-white weapons, hefting them and appreciating the quality in their make.

"So it might just be that. Why Ozpin, why couldn't you just tell me?" The woman paced around the small room as Pyrrha watched her slowly unravel before she turned on her with a dark look in her eyes. "You're positive it's like that? Of course you are. You never lie. So if it is just like you say then there can only really be one answer." And she fell silent, Pyrrha relieved that the tirade had died down from the once calculating and controlled teacher. Long moments passed.

"Miss Goodwitch? Is there something-"

"There is a single version that states, in no real certain terms, that the one who returns travels accompanied. That's it, and it changes depending on translation. But the best Ozpin could summarize is that 'something not on this world comes back' and he left it at that. It seemed like such a long shot, only one version mentioning it." Glynda stopped her rambling to eye Pyrrha up and down.

"You have no semblance, because you aren't entirely human anymore."

Cacophonous noise, the sounds of battle and struggle, these were Pyrrha's lullaby as she moved in the deadly dance toward her eternal sleep. Sliding to a kneeling stance, taking Thnitos in hand as a rifle, she slung deadly projectiles at her opponent. The Goliath ignored the pinpricks as it swung a mighty tusk toward her. Pyrrha leapt out of the way, letting the deadly bone protrusion sink deep into a shop front and destroying more of the humble town. So much history, gone in an instant. This is what war can do. Idle thoughts floating in the recesses of her mind. She couldn't deny Glynda's last words to her anymore.

"I will not go into this night." The whisper invigorated her, driving weariness away from her bones for another few moments. She was past her limit, the Aura that was Pyrrha gone with the passing wind. The fight with Slate had drained her, the Nevermore had drained her, and now she was empty in the face of a greater foe. Still she stood, employing the breadth of her martial prowess in a bid to stall the titanic beast for a few moments longer. You enjoy this, trying to be the hero at the cost of your life. It was true, she did find a certain poetry to it. But it wasn't a hero that fought, just a Huntress doing her job.

"Hah, so this is how we go out? Carried... to our deaths... by kids?"

Jaune stumbled along the street toward the docks, the bulk of Raudon weighing him down despite the strength he'd cultivated. I'm still not strong enough. I'm sorry Pyrrha. He ran along with Silesta and Kull carrying their own weights from Vallis, Nora and the boy who had stabbed Raudon. Ren scouted ahead, probing the various side streets and alleys for any sign of danger. So they went, a staggering mess of a team led by his dismal efforts.

"Boy... boy, please listen." Jaune tried to ignore the man, but it was becoming apparent that he was on his last legs. "You did well... I'm sure n-no one tells you this but you did."

"Save your strength, we're almost there." It was true, the boats were in sight now and Jaune could see the last people being crammed into one. The guard had kept his word, leaving one last one for the Huntsman to use. He shifted the large man along his shoulders, finding new reserves of strength to carry out the last leg of the trip.

"It was so beautiful, this place. We were only here for a month, but it felt like I really... got to know this place. These people." A slight cough cut off any more words.

Please, just hold on.

"Captain, please. You need to save what little you have left," Silesta stated, trying to calm her leader. "We'll have time to reminisce on the boat, so please, stay strong."

Horns bellowed in the distance, warning calls as ships large and small departed with their precious cargoes. Jaune let his mind wander while he drudged through the fatigue in his legs, trying to clear the last hundred yards or so. We're so close, but what then? We'll be drug through the Mistrali legal system, not to mention no one being able to account for us. It was a question they'd avoided asking when the plan was made, preferring to focus on saving the lives that were trapped before them. He'd used the full breadth of his intuition, and it had only provided a meager plan to use. It had to do, it was all that could be done.

"Boy, this is important," Raudon broke in with unexpected force, "they don't teach you what I'm about to tell you."

They'd arrived, and it was finally time to look at the final verdict on their wounded comrades. Ren stood watch, a wary eye to each of the approaches while Jaune went to check on Nora. The woman was hurt, but she wasn't visibly wounded in any way. She was a tough one, and Jaune felt she would pull through anything that had happened back in the fighting. Vallis was in much the same way. A thunk marked Silesta tossing the boy onto the pier. Jaune saw he was still breathing, a relief that they still could save someone who might be so rotten. Finally he glanced over at Raudon.

"This is... important." Raspy breaths marked the full extent of his wound. He' not going to make it. Jaune looked over at Silesta and Kull, noting the same realization on their faces.

"It's ok, we're here. Go ahead."

Raudon heaved himself upright, sputtering as he shifted to lean against a post. "They... they don't tell you what h-happpens when someone dies. On a team." Jaune watched as he looked at each person around him. "The team will try and carry on, sometimes getting a new member. But more often than not they break-up, and that's it. Their time at the academy or in the field ends."

Jaune stood there, letting the words sink in. He'd never thought about it before, all the teams at Beacon had been together before the tower fell. And what about us? He thought on the road they'd traveled, the purpose they had in common. We weren't really a team, just a bunch of kids out for vengeance.

"We were different, us four. Kull, I'm sorry to have placed all the burden on you." The squat man nodded at his leader. "But we pulled through, we were here now... to pass it on to these youngsters. Jaune."

Raudon met Jaune's gaze with a fury that would make any Grimm shrink back in fear. "But how?"

"We have to be there, as leaders, as captains, to be strong for everyone. You. You do it without even realizing it. But... you need to start believing in yourself."

Jaune tore his eyes away, feeling the shame rising. "I've never done anything-"

"Enough of that. You've got three people here following you, two more who believe in you. And you think you've failed somehow? You have something that can't be taught, you can think!" Raudon's gaze pulled Jaune back in. "Cherish that time. I didn't, I regret it every day." Kull knelt by him, taking a gnarled hand up. "We... we did the best we could. You have the chance, to do better. Just... believe in yourself..."

Slow shuddering breaths rumbled out of the big man, his eyes closing in quiet agony. His attendant knelt by him, holding a hand that was slowly going limp. Light gasps floated on the air from off behind Jaune, the same sounds that were slowly emanating from Kull in front of him. He'd only known the man for a short time, yet there was a common understanding of station between them. Raudon hadn't shied away from his duties, he embraced them to his last. Trying to cheer on his team, to let them be better than he was.

"I just... I'm not strong enough."

A firm hand grasped his shoulder, forcing him into the damp azure eyes of Silesta. "That man gave everything he had, and you aren't strong enough to honor that sacrifice?"

Jaune tried to respond, tried to find any words to validate his own failings. And they wouldn't come. Or rather, they couldn't come out. Rapid footfalls saved him from the argument as a burst of rose petals peppered the scene before him. Ruby ran at full tilt, charging down the street in a flurry of her trademark petals. Nothing followed her and Jaune felt a short relief before noticing the entirety of that observation. No one else was following her.

"Jaune! Is everyone-" She broke off her words as soon as she saw Raudon. "Oh no, but he wasn't... what about his Aura?"

"It's internal," Kull said from his place beside the ailing man. "The knife drove too deeply into his back."

Ruby's arms dropped, the scythe she carried digging deeply into cobbled stone. The sea breeze pulled on her cloak as more horns blasted in the distance, a dirge for the soon to be departed. Rising noise challenged the horns, scrabbling claws and vicious snarls erupting throughout the town as Grimm overran the once peaceful streets. Between all of this chaos, Jaune stood with the remains of two teams and a young girl desperate to fight against it all.

"Ruby, where is Pyrrha?"

The slight girl snapped out of her shock, wrenching Crescent Rose free of the hole it had made. "She stayed behind... Jaune, she's back there trying to hold off that monster."

No. But she wasn't supposed to go. She said so.

The braying calls of Beowolves mixed with the bassy roars of Ursa permeated the air now, closing in with each passing moment.

But what can I do? I'd just get in the way, maybe even get myself killed.

"Jaune, please snap out of it."

I just have to leave her again. She would want it that way.

The blast of gunfire from Ruby's weapon pulled him from his dreary thoughts. His hooded companion was bearing down the pier, unloading round after round into the quartet of Grimm barreling their direction. Ren stood by and let a light barrage of bullets join the crowded skies. Jaune watched as their targets fell one by one. I can't keep up, why should I worry Pyrrha like that? Ruby pulled a fresh magazine out, loading the massive weapon before walking up to Jaune.

"What are we going to do? I'm not sure how long this boat can stay here." Her words piled onto a mountain of worries. "I need to know what we should do. Jaune?"

He felt at the blade he'd carried with him since he left to try and realize his dream. Beacon seemed like a distant memory now, a time when he was just a simple kid trying to get through a simple life. That had been his wish anyway, before he was saddled with the responsibility and burden of leadership. Jaune had friends now, close colleagues who accepted who he was and where he came from. He had someone who believed in him.

"We need to go," he breathed out, feeling the dagger to his heart, "this boat can't stay here any longer."

Ren stepped up beside Ruby, a light mist revealing his exertion. "If that is what you think is best."

"But what about Pyrrha?" Ruby's voice held a pleading tone.

We'll trust her word. That was what he wanted to say, what Jaune Arc the leader knew he needed to say to see Ruby along her way. Instead he let the words languish on his mind while he walked toward the vessel.

"Jaune, please."

He knew what he wanted to do. And he also knew that his team and another needed to leave this place. Ruby ran up in front of him, placing a slender hand to his chest to stop him. Jaune looked down at the girl, trying to find a reason to stay there any longer. It's what she wants. He went to brush her hand away, the slow movement of signing a death warrant. For Pyrrha. For himself.

"Jaune. Someone once told me... that we only live as Huntsman to die. Please, I don't want him to be right." Ruby pulled her hand back and walked back to her position guarding the boats.

Don't let it slip by. Savor the time you have.

Jaune looked at the two mourners, Vallis dragged over to be with them as Raudon breathed out the fleeting life he had left. He looked over at Nora, breathing steadily and looking more at peace now. And the boy. Ren stood beside him, a stoic figure against the crash of tragic waves that had become their lives. Jaune couldn't fathom how he did it. He studied the man waiting for his leader's orders. And it was there, the subtle hints of concern, to do anything and everything to bring her back. But... we need to keep moving forward.

"Ruby. You'll keep going, for all of us?"

The sprightly woman looked back at him, growls rising once more in the distance. Light glinted from silvered eyes on pale skin. A curt nod, the admission of what he was about to do.

"Ren, we're going back for her. Everyone else, it's time to go." As many people as possible, that was what he hoped to achieve from the plan in the beginning. They'll live.

"And you were going to... leave me?" Jaune looked back to see Nora struggling to her feet, a grin plastered on the warrior's face three miles wide. "We're going back? Good."

Nora, no, you can barely stand. You need to leave. And he knew his thoughts wouldn't transfer to words. Ren didn't try to stop her, walking over to take the Magnhild from her so she could recover on the way. Silesta and Kull watched as they walked past, silently wishing them well as the trio began to make their way back toward the town. Jaune once again felt at the blade at his side, feeling the worn and abused weapon for possibly the last time.

I won't die with those regrets. I'll try and do better than you.

Huddled masses, the heat and stench overwhelming as he was crushed inside the hold of a large cargo vessel. They'd told him to pile in, that it was a matter of life or death and comfort was no more concern. Thankfully he had a small window to view out from, an escape from the nightmare that his life was slowly becoming. He saw his home, the town of Beggar's Moor, sitting nicely on the coast. And all through it the black veins stretched insidiously, covering what was once pristine with grime and death. Life had changed for him, but there was a hope. He'd only caught a brief glimpse of her, running away as it became clear they were no longer safe. The one in white, she'd stood shining in the sun against it all. And the man felt that he would be safe as long as she stood.

White, the color of cleansing, the purity of it all. Pyrrha could see it now as she flew through the air, sailing from another thrust of Aura. The Goliath tracked her, trunk flicking in irritation at the annoying moth pecking at it so. She couldn't harm it, the beast ignored her strongest strikes and she had only a faint grasp now on the foreign Aura she was abusing. White, she wore nothing of the sort. No purity, no cleansing of herself. It was flawed like her, it didn't reflect back the truth of her story. She would be their hope, by chance and completely devoid of fate.

And you really think this is all a chance happening. Her thoughts weren't her own, and she felt it best to ignore such musings as the flights of fancy they must be. Pyrrha had come to terms with her situation long before reuniting with her friends, how she was no longer quite one of them. I'm sorry Jaune, Ruby, I should have just told you all what was wrong. It shouldn't have bothered her so much, that she was no longer quite the person she knew. But it did, the face she'd known was gone, the person in the mornings scared her. Her Semblance was gone, a part of her she'd never been without stripped without a care.

Pyrrha slammed into a smooth tusk, using her shield as a ram to pull the beast away from its path. It budged slightly before her foe pushed back, forcing her away from it. She pulled in her arms, and the monster surged at her. Pain shot through her arm as a tusk slammed in to her shield, sending her down to the ground below. Pyrrha slammed into the stony road, feeling the fine lines of her armor roughen and scar from the impact. Searing flames erupted along her entire body as bones creaked and muscles tensed from unmitigated injury. She was at her end, the mammoth Grimm slowly trundling over to her limp body. A tear flowed down her cheek. Light dimmed as the Goliath lifted a leg above her. It fell.

Thunder shook the ground, pulling Pyrrha's eyes upwards as she expected her death. Instead, the shining light of an Aura radiated outward.

"Pyrrha, I know you wanted to look for me. But I'm going to be right by your side, so you won't have to look far."

Jaune stood above her, shield upraised with the foot of the Goliath suspended on a cushion of radiating Aura. He stood there ablaze from the energy of his soul. And his knees were buckling, the strain to great for the boy. Pyrrha admired the sentiment, but it would be to no avail. At least she could stay with him as the whispers of sleep enveloped her. Her vision clouded, a stream of tears gathering as she saw the familiar fate fast approaching.

An explosion off to her side. And the unfamiliar yelling from Ren getting closer, the green figure tackling an exposed tusk. Pyrrha watched as the man slashed and flourished at the tusk before placing his hands to it. A wave of pressure shot downward and buffeted her, the Goliath shifting slightly. He heaved himself upward into the air. And a moment later the flying form of Nora came crashing into the tusk, war hammer slamming the bone with immense force. A crack formed and the beast lifted its foot upward in pain. Jaune swung at the exposed flesh, sending the entirety of his force into the single slash. It connected. And Crocea Mors broke, the blade spinning free to clatter on the stones nearby.

Jaune stared at the jagged remnant for a moment before throwing the weapon's remains at the Goliath. A strong arm wrapped around Pyrrha as he wrestled her to safety, following in turn. The ground shook as her monstrous foe thrashed around in pain it must not have endured in years. Nora. Ren. Please don't stay here. You can't do anything. Jaune pulled her up to her feet, wrapping an arm around his shoulder as they began to stumble away from the chaos. Pyrrha had almost nothing left, the call to the grave demanding to be heard.

"Pyrrha, stay with me. We're going to get out of here, to the tower. Just hold on."

They crashed through the door to a small shop, knocking over several knick knacks as Jaune tried to carry her weight through. Light gunfire erupted outside, a bale roar rattling the windows with answering intensity. Pyrrha felt a light strength returning to aching limbs, enough to at least bear her weight. They stumbled along toward the back of the store, ground rumbling as they went. What if they found any more Grimm? Pyrrha didn't want to think of such a fate, an unarmed boy and a frail girl.

Finding a door out, they emerged on a back alley. Still nothing in sight, Jaune led her down the alleyway toward the wall. Toward the source of a scourge she couldn't eradicate. Winding through a network built up from years of existence, the pair traveled along toward a barrier collapsed. Death sounded all about them, the reminder that it was no longer the safe little town anymore. They traveled along an elaborate maze, one wrong turn and the game would be over.

"Pyrrha, please, I need to hear you. Anything, I don't care. Just... don't leave."

Her throat was dry, barren from the fight with the Goliath. "I'm... no, I knew... please, for later." Her mind didn't comprehend the meaning of the words, but she felt like it was the right thing for now.

Jaune seemed to accept it at least, and Pyrrha let her mind rest in the bumpy rhythm of their flight. They'll stay by you, just hold on. It wasn't a pleasant thought, but among the fears and worries that had invaded her mind she felt a certain comfort. That someone, or something, had some hope for the future. I don't have a choice but to hope, it's all you should have too. Flights of fancy, they had to be that or else she really was losing her mind.

"Pyrrha look, Ren and Nora made it," Jaune exclaimed, pointing at a rooftop. Pyrrha watched as two figures made their way along the edge, slowly walking along with an air of exhaustion. "They stayed longer than needed, but we're all still here."

"Jaune. The boats, are they...?"

He looked at her with a soft smile. "They're all gone by now. And it's all thanks to you."

All thanks to me?

Ruby Rose, the girl who'd been pushed ahead in her training, the girl who once lead a team of her elders. She wasn't about to let those things go to waste, she wasn't going to let a simple thing as a wall of Grimm stop her story here. Ruby laid the blade of her scythe down and took careful aim. Only the two streets to the side from their pier were spewing Grimm, the center remained clear up to the black mass of the Goliath. Pyrrha. You said you'd come back. I need to know, that we don't just die for nothing. Roman's words on the airship had been repeating as soon as she saw Raudon sitting against the pole. We have to make the world a little better, it's why we're here. Right?

"I'll be ok, you two can get the rest of them onto the boat?"

"Are you sure?" The crisp voice of the woman Silesta.

"We can stay and fight." A gruff voice, Kull's.

"I'm the only one who can make it back to the boat once it sails, no one else is staying here." It was too dangerous to let them stay, they couldn't be much better off than Raudon. Best to take the brunt of the fight herself. The sound of Grimm stalking the streets was overwhelming, slowly coming closer with each passing moment. Crescent Rose felt firm to her hands, Ruby had an absolute faith in the massive weapon. I'll stop them. I have to. A Boarbatusk came rolling around the corner, slowing up and staring at the last boat. And the Huntress guarding it. Reckless hunger won out among its emotions as it began to roll up and gain speed. Ruby looked down the sight, training the weapon on the path her target was taking. And she fired.

It was the first of many shots, Grimm pouring out from the labyrinth of the town's many streets. Ruby kept at the slaughter, dropping monster after monster with precision and accuracy. I need to thin them out, there's time to aim and think while they're so far away. More rounds, more corpses lining the streets with inky clouds rising from them. The calls from the gangplank quieted over the brief time, the people who'd been shuffling up finally making their way inside. And the Grimm were getting closer. She fired at a shambling Ursa, and turned to face the second street. An enormous Beowolf was already on top of her.

Retracting the scythe head, Ruby pulled her rifle to cheek and let off a pair of snap rounds. Her target ignored the shots and closed the gap remaining between them with a grizzly leap. Spinning the rifle back around and extending the weapon to full length once more, Ruby took the fight to the beast instead. A quick push outward and she soared through the air at her prey, letting Crescent Rose sing as she slashed at its midpoint. The Beowolf thrashed through the air as she sailed by. Letting her finger rest on the trigger, she contemplated the angle of her attack. Squeezing slightly, she rocketed back at the beast. A slight resistance and it fell in two to the ground, Ruby landing swiftly on both feet.

A wail from the boat accosted her ears, the final departure signal. She smiled to herself, feeling a smug satisfaction as she prepared to make a run for the end of the short pier. And a dull thud joined underneath the piercing cry of the boat horn. Ruby turned to see an Ursa toppling backwards just within her reach, a large hole in its chest. She pulled Crescent Rose high in preparation for any other threats. And another dull thunk sounded just behind her.

"You're getting sloppy. Didn't I teach you better than that, to always be aware of your surroundings?"

A craggy voice, one that had been forced through innumerable hardships. Ruby glanced over her shoulder at the lithe figure of her uncle Qrow holding an oversized blade. Heat rose on her face as she let the reality that he'd saved her from the Ursa sink in. Sloppy? I'm the only one here, trying to cover two streets.

Qrow chuckled a little as he looked at the scene. Grimm were still streaming outward, traversing the fallen in their path as swiftly as possible. "Hey, don't take it so badly. This isn't a spring picnic after all."

"I was doing just fine," she fibbed, trying her best to protect her pride.

"That big bear back there says otherwise. But the boat's leaving now. We should move."

Ruby agreed, and the two ran down the pier against a backdrop of blackened evil and carnage. She leapt at the end, feeling the familiar push of her Semblance send her just into the air and over the deck of the ship. Landing lightly, she turned to find Qrow missing. Panic gripped her while she searched around the entire pier, then the ship.

"Looking for something?" Ruby jumped at the words coming just behind her. "See? You've gotta keep an eye open in all directions. You'll figure it out."

A light rolling threw her balance off, and Ruby clutched the rope railing for support. She was out of her element now in more ways than one, Qrow prodding at her weak points as the boat tested her stomach. It's alright, I'll just have to adapt. Or suffer. It's a toss up. She hadn't expected her uncle to show up. She hadn't expected Pyrrha to show up, to be quite honest. But they had both arrived, and Ruby was grateful for them. Her mind was still racing from the fighting she'd endured, slowly returning to a normal pace.

So it came to this? She'd ran, and the people she'd been traveling with for nearly a month were back in that place? Ruby felt the tightening in her chest, the slight guilt at leaving them alone to face so much danger. Is this what you did Pyrrha? You went and left us all so we wouldn't have to fight? She wasn't alone this time at least. But her conscience wouldn't let her rest peacefully. Ruby walked past her uncle, toward the rear of the ship. Cresting the stairs, the town lay stretched out before her as one long mass of blackened scenery. She walked over to the rope barrier and leaned on the coarse material, letting her mind begin to churn once more. Will I ever do that? Could I, just leave it all behind me for them? Tumultuous patterns flourished through her mind, a slight pressure at the back of her eyes threatening chaos.

Given the need, you'd do the same. A whisper on the wind carried the memory away.

"You okay kiddo?"

"Yeah, I'm just thinking about them. Pyrrha, Jaune. Ren and Nora too. They're still fighting, I can feel it."

"Those four huh? They've been through a lot. But she should be fine, and that boy has a lot more to him then he knows." Qrow's words warded off Ruby's melancholy slightly. "And the woman. I'm sure they'll all be fine."

"But what if they aren't?" The question surprised Ruby, pressure slowly building up within her.

Qrow looked over at her, a frown starting to crease his face. "You shouldn't think like that. They've got a lot of heart those four. I'm sure they'll-"

"And what if they don't? What if something we can't see shows up, or someone who's too dangerous? We fought one of Cinder's lackeys, and he did something to those people. And we couldn't do anything." She was beginning to shout.

"What's the matter? This isn't like you." His frown had deepened into a worried scowl, the old Huntsman shifting to place his full attention on her diminutive frame.

"I just can't stand this. We're even doing it right now! Having a conversation just moments after our lives were in jeopardy. And their lives are still in danger." Ruby didn't know when she'd pull Crescent Rose back out. "It isn't supposed to be like this, we're supposed to fight the bad guys and enjoy the good times. Not... lose friends all of sudden. Not when we were supposed to be celebrating."

She couldn't bear to hide from it anymore. The one person who she'd lost in front of her eyes. Penny, the robot girl Ruby barely knew. No, the girl she barely knew, always kind and bubbly. Innocent until the very end. Ruby saw herself then, the happy girl that she'd come to admire in the mirror every morning. She shattered, the mirror never to return her once happy self. Ruby was forced to give it all up to keep going, to fight for what she believed in. The pressure built to an unbearable level, threatening to overwhelm her and spill out onto the unsuspecting world.

And she calmed, the hand on her head pulling her back to the reality she'd known. "It's alright. I know how tough this is. It's not a perfect world though, and we need to keep going because of it. But look around."

Ruby did, trying to suppress the urge to fly off of the ship and back toward the town. She saw the other vessels, slowly plying outward into the deep blue of a clam ocean. People were lining the edges of some of the smaller ones, all looking backward at their lost town. Some cried. Others looked out with steely eyes. Ruby wanted to scream, to shout that it would be ok, they'd get it back and it would be better than ever. And she knew it would be a lie, a fleeting dream to try and ignore her failure.

"You're thinking that you failed, that you couldn't stop this?"

"Yeah."

"And what about those people," Qrow chided, sweeping his hand outward, "do you think you failed them? They're alive now because of what you did. Even if it didn't go perfectly, you still made a difference."

Ruby kept watching, seeing the people who were on their knees being helped up by friends and family. I was there once. And Jaune too. We pulled each other out of it. And so did Pyrrha. A hatch opened on their ship, the prim dress of Silesta slowly backing out with Kull carrying the body of their fallen leader. A thin man in worn leather walked out with them carrying thick metal gauntlets. Raudon's by the look of them. They carried the limp man over to the edge of the deck, settling him against a post to look out over the sea. Ruby watched as they gathered around him, a solemn look on each face.

"We did what we could captain, we did what we could."

"If it weren't for the miss in white I'd probably not be here now, seeing you off."

"Don't worry Rau, I never minded having to do all the thinking. Just glad we had so long together."

They stood there as Raudon slowed his breathing. Ruby saw the man's face slowly soften, eyes no longer twitching in pain. And she saw his lips curve in a slight smile. Even if we're only here to die, maybe the good we do can live on past us. His life slipped away quietly, the mourners shedding tears onto the deck as someone who Ruby never knew passed alone. But she did know him, for she carried on the legacy he'd maintained. She would stand in his place, a bastion against the ills of this world like so many before. Even if Ruby had to give up all of her innocence, forget even the memory of friends gone, she would stand.

"It's a hard life we lead Ruby, I didn't want to tell you before so you could have your childhood. Maybe we'll get it back once this is over. Either way, we have to keep pushing forward." Qrow's words were soft, trying to keep her safe while letting her fly.

"I know, we still have somewhere to go. Haven is our only lead, and it's where I'm going."

Qrow chuckled, a light sound against the somber backdrop. "Of course, always a one track mind. I'll try not to get in your way too much."

I won't let anyone die in vain.

More than once Jaune had thought about what he would do if he were a hero, someone other people looked up to. This wasn't a time for that, struggling through streets lined with Grimm and overflowing with danger. Jaune Arc, team leader, clueless rube, and all around failure was trying to save someone he'd lost once before. And it was finally going right. Pyrrha was standing mostly on her own strength now, stumbling along with her arm around his neck. They'd made their way through the maze of streets and had finally reached the wall.

"We're almost there Pyrrha, just a little further." His words were as firm as he could make them.

"They're following, but only at a safe distance," Ren spoke up behind him, "I've never seen Grimm act like this."

Jaune couldn't remember reading anything like it as well. All the history books were quite clear, they attacked relentlessly at the slightest provocation. But time and again he'd turned a corner to the sight of a Beowolf or an Ursa only to watch it stumble backwards and keep away from him. It wasn't the only new sight today. But for now Jaune only thought about taking advantage of the strange situation and getting to the radio tower. Gideon had mentioned it was a direct link back to Passage and from there to Vale. Maybe he could get a hold of someone, anyone to get them out of this town.

"It's just up ahead, I can see it now," Ren exclaimed, trotting slightly ahead. Jaune could see the tip of the tower just over a building now, they were heading right for it. The street turned sharply. And there stood a single Beowolf, lurking around the entrance to the small shack that held all of the tower equipment. Nora stepped up from behind Jaune, hefting her hammer with a mirthless grin.

"No, I want to see something." He didn't expect the words to jump out, but his idea was sound. Reaching over, he carefully pulled Pyrrha's sword from her hand.

"Jaune?" she said, looking into his eyes with worry.

"Don't worry, I just want to know." Why did they run? It wasn't normal.

He walked forward, brandishing the white blade as they approached the monster. And it backed away, shying back from the two of them. Or rather, it backed away from one of them. The beasts eyes never moved from Pyrrha, red orbs showing the one emotion Jaune never thought he'd see. It's not possible. Is Pyrrha doing all of this, does she even know? A strong hand wrenched the blade from him, spinning it around into a rifle and firing on the Beowolf, dropping it in a flurry of rounds. Jaune looked at Pyrrha breathing deeply from the exertion.

"Please, let's just... get inside."

Her arm dropped, the strength she'd slowly built up gone once more. Jaune felt the weight of the woman pulling down on him again, and he stumbled forward toward the doorway. The corpse before him was starting to to disappear, a normal occurrence. It wasn't normal for it to dissipate into a white cloud. All from her? But why? Jaune felt a dread at the coming answers, but it wouldn't matter if they couldn't find safety soon.

Slamming the door inward, Jaune followed Nora and Ren as they scoured the small room for any sign of danger. All clear, and he placed his burden down next to a table containing various books collecting dust. Her breathing was still steady, and Jaune took a moment to look over her for injury. The ornate armor was bent in several places, jagged in others. But it held up, he couldn't find any places where she was bleeding. Eyes fluttered open to look back at him.

"Are you alright?"

Pyrrha nodded her answer. "Jaune, I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"I didn't tell you. All of you."

"It's alright, there was just so much going on."

Pyrrha bit her lip, avoiding his gaze. "No, it wasn't that. I was just scared, of confronting it.

"It's alright, I'm sure-"

"I'm not a normal person anymore. There's something that came back with me."

Jaune felt his throat catch at the notion. "How do you know?"

"I... can hear it. It tells me things. And I can use it. It's also why I can't use my Semblance anymore."

The thought tumbled through Jaune's mind, gathering up the other evidence he'd seen. "So the mornings? Why the Grimm wouldn't attack us? The white clouds?"

"Yes. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have kept it back. I was afraid of what everyone would think, of being alone again."

His heart fell, the train of thoughts running rampant in his head with all manner of errant ideas. Can we trust her? I just thought it was the mornings, but this? Jaune couldn't stop worrying over the idea that he wasn't speaking to Pyrrha, or it wasn't her actions, or whether she wasn't saying the things from her mind. And a single light stood out among all those thoughts, the one thing he'd promised himself since she'd returned to him.

"Pyrrha, it's ok."

Her eyes snapped up to his, misty and reddened. "No! How can-"

"I made a promise to myself. That if no else stood for you as a person, I would. I'm standing by that promise, now and always."

Verdant eyes welled up with tears before she laid her head back against a table leg. "I hope it is as easy as you think."

"Even if it isn't, I'll be right here."

Pyrrha smiled softly, and Jaune got up to take a look at the radio equipment. Looks like power is still up. Now... how do you operate a radio? Jaune had only ever used his Scroll, and he was only just getting the hang of it. The mess of dials and gauges were a foreign thing to the eyes of someone used to modern technology. Ren tapped him on the shoulder, motioning over toward the book by a large box. It read to flip the power switch, the channel was already set. Oh, I suppose it was in use recently. Jaune flipped the switch, the crackle of life surging forward. The book said to press a button on the side of the microphone. And he began to relay his message.

Qrow sat back against the rope, gazing out at a small fleet of ships. Large and small they bobbed on the waters, a lone song of engines resonating along as the lifeblood of a town rode to safety. They're still ahead of us. Why am I trying to do this? I'm not you Oz. The faces of several people were visible along his own vessel, long and somber. But there was something else, a fervent energy just underneath. One boy in particular had a look of sorrow, but his eyes told a different story. Fire, even that was too soft for the intensity Qrow saw. Could it be from that girl? And we're going to unleash this on another continent? He finally settled his gaze on the slight girl he'd come to protect on the last part of their journey.

"She's doing fine Summer, just like you. There's a little of Tai in her too, that idealist is alive and well in her. She'll be safe, I promise." Qrow didn't know if he believed his own words, or if it was just to get through the coming storm. He pulled out the old worn flask, taking a long draw at the mild alcohol. Not like I can worry about it now.

Taiyang had always been a hopeless optimist, trying to see the better aspects of people, uplifting them even at the cost of his happiness. He'd done it once before, tried to help a woman who'd only known strife and anger. Their daughter was now in the same predicament, and he didn't know what to do. Trying to reason with Raven had only led to arguments, fights, the occasional personal attack. Now Yang, the fiery girl he'd raised with his own two hands to be independent and caring, was moping in bed for the third day in a row. She'd gotten up to eat, they'd even talked a little. And then she just fell back into her rhythm.

"What should I do? I can't... she's my baby girl. I just want her to get back to normal." He spoke to no one, sitting out front of their snow covered house and watching the clouds drift on by. The familiar call of a raven pierced out from the forest.

A board, lined with pieces, familiar pieces from a bygone era. She moved one along, feeling the usual weight of tugging on a life string. The piece settled into its new spot, parallel from two others in the shape of a horse and a pawn. They don't know what to do, they are scattered to the four corners. She mused at how well her disciple had done, the chaos engulfing an entire continent and the world unable to react. All was going smoothly. Save for one thing.

On the side of the board were several pieces, some of hers, some of her opponents. Only minor pieces, things she could do without. But there was one on the other side she prized above the others for having removed it. A powerful piece, at almost no cost to herself. It was almost a stroke of luck that it was in the right place at the right time. Or arrogance. And it was back on the board, moving around as if nothing had happened.

Well, not nothing. She could see it making sloppy moves, placing itself in precarious positions. Even if you are cheating, you play so poorly. She pondered continuing in this manner. No, if you are cheating, then we'll make it an even game again. Picking up a recently lost piece, she placed it back on the board. Dark tendrils wrapped around the stubby bishop, molding it into a new piece never seen on the board before. Let us continue.

"Kings hear, queens listen, peasants remember

When our time shortens, when the last lights flicker

The time that we cherish runs short

And all that we have will fall to dust

Take into your hearts the song

The song that will endure throughout time

Let in the one who can't go yet, who won't go

For they have a task yet to do

Shield them from the years

From the calamity and tears

Hold in your hearts

The song of awakening"

-The Song of Awakening, Unknown Version, Mistral Archives

To be concluded in The Song of Awakening

A/N: A big thank you to everyone who read this piece. It was enjoyable to make, and enjoyable even to read over the multiple times to get everything right. It isn't the end though, as the idea coalesced into a much larger idea that will encompass the events all the way up until a point like the center of an hourglass. After that, I think I'll lay this beast to rest to wait for V4.