In the quiet hum of the locker room, Pyrrha Nikos stood before her locker, the weight of expectation settled on her shoulders. She reached for her gear, each piece a familiar extension of herself. With practiced ease, she fastened the crimson armor to her body, the cold metal a stark contrast to the warmth of her aura. She adjusted the vambraces and greaves, their weight a constant reminder of the strength she carried. Finally, she took her shield, Akoúo̱, and her javelin, Milò, and attached them to her person. The familiar feel of her weapons in her hands brought a sense of calm and focus.
Her preparations complete, Pyrrha took a deep breath, the stale air of the locker room filling her lungs one last time. She turned and headed out, the distant roar of the small crowd growing louder with every step she took down the long, empty hallway. The light at the end of the hall beckoned, and she strode toward it, ready to step out into the spotlight. Her mission was clear, her mind was focused, and her weapons were ready. She was heading for the arena.
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In a training hall at Beacon Academy, the air was thick with the scent of dust and ozone. Professor Goodwitch stood at the center of the room, her clipboard in hand, addressing the class. "For today's lesson, we will observe a demonstration of a highly skilled huntsman-in-training's ability to subdue a coordinated team," she announced, her voice firm and clear. "On the blue side, we have Team CRDL. On the red side, we have Pyrrha Nikos."
A collective murmur went through the students in the stands. Cardin Winchester and his teammates, Russel, Dove, and Sky, stepped into the arena, their faces set with arrogant smirks. Cardin's smirk widened as he looked across at Pyrrha, who stood alone, her expression calm and composed. He raised his mace, confident that four against one was an unbeatable advantage. Goodwitch simply gave the signal to begin.
Cardin and his team charged forward, a clumsy, uncoordinated mass of clashing steel and heavy footsteps. Their attack was brutish and without a hint of strategy. Pyrrha's eyes narrowed, a ripple of her aura flowing from her body. As Russel swung his daggers, a flick of Pyrrha's wrist sent a wave of Polarity through the air. The daggers ripped from his hands, flying harmlessly past her head and clattering to the floor. Pyrrha ducked under an attack from Dove, her own shield, Akoúo̱, catching his sword with a resounding clang. A simple twist of her arm was all it took for the sword to be wrenched from his grip. As Cardin brought his heavy mace down, Pyrrha moved with the grace of a dancer. She sidestepped the attack, the mace's momentum carrying it past her, before she sent a small, precise pulse of Polarity at his breastplate, enough to throw his balance off, sending him stumbling.
The four members of CRDL, disarmed and off-balance, were no match for her. Pyrrha's movements were a fluid blur. She used her javelin, Milo, to trip Sky, then spun around, striking Dove with the flat of her shield. A powerful backhand from her gauntlet sent Russel reeling backward, clutching his head. In less than a minute, the fight was over. Cardin, the last man standing, stumbled backward, weaponless and humiliated.
Goodwitch walked onto the arena floor, not to check on the defeated team, but to address the class. "As you can see," she said, her voice stern. "A hunter's greatest asset is not their weapon, but their mind. Team CRDL," she said, her tone pointed as she looked at their crumpled forms, "failed in their most basic objective. They relied on brute force and numbers, which are rendered useless against an opponent who understands the battlefield and her own abilities."
Her gaze then settled on Pyrrha, who stood, her breathing even, not a hair out of place. "Ms. Nikos's victory was not one of strength alone. It was a flawless demonstration of strategy, precision, and the masterful application of her unique semblance. Remember, students," Goodwitch said, her voice a final, decisive lesson. "A weapon is only as useful as the person wielding it. Never mistake bluster for true power."
Cardin, his face a mask of shame and fury, clutched at his head with a groan. "Lucky shot..." he muttered, his voice barely audible, before he finally collapsed onto the ground. The arena lights gleamed down on his defeated form as the crowd's roar slowly began to die down, the final remnants of the dust cloud settling on the arena floor.
Professor Goodwitch, her clipboard still in hand, walked toward Pyrrha. A rare, genuine smile touched the corner of her lips. "Well done, Ms. Nikos," she said. "Your flawless execution and mastery of your semblance were a testament to your hard work. You should have no problem qualifying for the tournament."
"Thank you, Professor," Pyrrha said humbly, a quiet smile on her face.
Goodwitch turned her attention to the rest of the students in the stands, her gaze sweeping over them. "Alright, now I know that's a tough act to follow, but we have time for one more sparring match," she announced. Her eyes stopped on a figure hunched in their seat. "Any volunteers? Ms. Belladonna? You've seemed rather... docile for the past few classes."
Blake looked away, a deep frown on her face. Before Goodwitch could say anything more, a sharp, confident voice cut through the air.
"I'll do it," Mercury said with a smirk. He pushed himself up from his seat, his arms lazily crossed behind his head, and began to walk down the aisle.
From her own seat, Ruby's eyes snapped up, her heart lurching in her chest. A cold, unsettling sensation began to stir inside her. It was a familiar feeling now, a low, rumbling awareness that awoke whenever she was near Mercury, Emerald, or even Cinder. It was the beast within her, her new power, restless and agitated. A low, guttural growl passed her lips, the sound so quiet only she could feel the vibration.
Mercury heard it. His walk to the arena stopped, and he turned his head slightly, his eyes finding Ruby's. A slow, sinister smirk spread across his face, and he gave her a knowing nod before continuing on his way.
"Mercury, is it? Very well. Let's find you an opponent," Glynda said, her tone professional, though a hint of annoyance at being interrupted was in her voice.
Mercury looked back up at the professor, his smirk now one of pure arrogance. "Actually," he said, his voice ringing with a chilling finality. "I wanna fight her."
The arena lights felt brighter, and the silence from the students in the stands was a palpable weight. Mercury, his smirk never wavering, lifted his arm and pointed a single, deliberate finger. His gaze landed, not on some random student, but on the one person in the arena who was still radiating quiet, confident power. He was pointing directly at Pyrrha.
A collective gasp went through the audience. Pyrrha herself, her hands resting calmly on her hips, blinked in genuine surprise. "Me?" she said, her voice a soft whisper that somehow carried through the quiet space.
Professor Goodwitch, her expression shifting from firm to concerned, spoke with authority. "I'm afraid Ms. Nikos has just finished a match," she said, her voice leaving no room for argument. "I would recommend you choose another partner, Mr. Black."
But Pyrrha looked at her professor and, with a subtle shake of her head, interrupted. Her tone was humble yet firm. "No! It's fine."
She turned her gaze back to Mercury, the look in her emerald eyes a mix of unwavering humility and absolute confidence. "I would be happy to oblige," she said, accepting the challenge with a quiet grace that only a true champion could possess.
A flicker of genuine amusement crossed Mercury's face. His smirk widened. "Great."
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The crowd held its breath, but no sound passed their lips. The training room lights were a single, blinding focus, and all that mattered was the space between Pyrrha Nikos and Mercury Black. The two of them stood motionless, their eyes locked, each reading the other, a silent battle of wills. Moments turned into minutes, the tension stretching taut, a palpable, humming energy filling the air.
Then, as one, they moved. Mercury exploded forward with a burst of speed, and Pyrrha met him in a blur of motion, her movements a flash of crimson and steel.
Mercury launched into a whirlwind of a spin, his first kick a powerful crescent aimed at Pyrrha's head. But before it could connect, Pyrrha raised her shield, Aura, blocking the attack with a resonant clang. She didn't stop there. Thinking lightning fast, she used her spear, Milo, to trip Mercury.
However, Mercury was a blur of motion. Mid-fall, he twisted in the air, his body a mix of grace and raw power. He flipped over the attack, landing on his feet with a soft thump, his eyes never leaving hers. A new, challenging gleam appeared in his gaze.
They stood at a distance once more, the brief clash over. Then, it was Pyrrha's turn. She charged at Mercury, her movements fluid and precise. Mercury responded with a series of quick, vicious spin kicks. Pyrrha kept her shield up, a solid, impenetrable wall. A kick to her left, blocked. A kick to her right, blocked. A third kick, harder and faster, connected with the center of her shield, the force of the blow rippling through her arm. She braced herself and held her ground, her defense proving flawless.
Sensing an opening, Pyrrha charged forward and slammed her shield into Mercury. He used both of his legs to jump off her shield, his body rocketing back a few feet before he landed on his feet with a graceful, effortless motion. His face, for the first time, held a look of genuine surprise.
"Hm," was all he said, his smirk now replaced by an expression of pure, focused determination.
Up in the stands, surrounded by the loud, cheering students, Ruby looked on, a deep frown etched on her face. Her attention was not on the cheers or the spectacle of the match, but solely on the arena floor below. She watched as Pyrrha and Mercury moved in a blur of clashing metal and furious motion.
It wasn't just concern for her friend. It was something else entirely. Every time Mercury moved, every time his cold, confident smirk flashed in her view, that dark, unsettling power deep inside her would stir. It was a low, guttural growl that no one else could hear, a phantom ache in her bones and a thrumming sensation in her veins. It wanted to lash out, to protect, to fight.
Ruby clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white. She watched as Pyrrha expertly blocked another of Mercury's kicks. This was supposed to be a simple training match, a lesson. But her gut told her it was so much more than that. This was different. This was wrong. And the beast inside her knew it, too.
Back in the fight, Mercury sprung into the air, a series of whirlwind kicks aimed at Pyrrha's head. But she, once again, was a fortress of a defense, blocking each kick with her shield, the impacts a series of sharp clangs. With a final, explosive kick, Mercury connected with her weapon, a single, precise blow that sent Milo flying out of her hand. He landed, poised to strike, but Pyrrha quickly used her semblance, a subtle magnetic ripple that pulled his gauntlets just enough to make his final blow miss.
He landed on the ground, a low hum of a sound escaping his lips, but his smirk was gone. Pyrrha, recovering, began to charge at him, her frustration clear. But before she could get to him, Mercury launched himself off her shield, creating distance between them. He landed gracefully on his feet, looked over at GlyndaGoodwitch, and with a wide grin, called out, "I forfeit!"
Pyrrha, running at full speed, gasped and skidded to a stop, her body trembling with the adrenaline of the fight. "You… you don't even want to try?" she asked, her voice laced with confusion.
Mercury's smirk returned, a chilling mask of faux humility. "What's the point? You're a world-renowned fighter, we're obviously leagues apart."
"In that case, Pyrrha Nikos is the victor of the match, again," Glynda said, her tone professional but her gaze filled with a subtle disapproval. "Next time you may want to think a little harder before choosing an opponent, Mr. Black."
"I'll be sure to do that," Mercury replied, his voice a smooth, confident purr. He turned and began to walk off the arena floor.
A loud buzzer went off, signaling the end of the class. "That is all for today," Glynda announced, her voice echoing through the hall. "And remember, the dance is this weekend, but you all have your first mission on Monday. I will not accept any excuses."
The rest of Team RWBY began to get up from their seats, a collective sigh of relief passing through them. "Are you okay?" Yang asked Blake, who gave a small, weary nod.
But Ruby didn't move. She was still staring out at the arena, a thousand thoughts running through her mind. Weiss noticed her partner's distraction and laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Hey? Ruby?" she called out softly.
Ruby was looking toward Mercury and Emerald, her eyes narrowed in thought. At the sound of Weiss's voice, her head snapped up, her expression a mix of bewilderment and fear. "Huh?" she said, and Weiss's frown deepened.
"Are you okay?" Weiss repeated. Ruby's eyes darted back to Mercury and Emerald for a brief moment before she forced a smile. "I'm good," she said, her voice a little too cheerful. "Let's get going."
As Team RWBY walked out of the classroom, Emerald watched them, her eyes following every move. Mercury stood beside her, a smug smile on his face. Emerald looked over at him, her expression a mixture of confusion and amusement.
"Learning is so much fun!" he said, the words ringing with a sinister truth, his eyes fixed on the unsuspecting Team RWBY.
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Back in Team RWBY's dorm room, the only light came from the moon, casting long, pale shadows across the floor. The soft sounds of gentle breathing filled the air. Weiss was curled in her bed, the picture of peaceful sleep. Across the room, Yang was soundly asleep as well, one arm draped over the side of her bunk. Only Blake was missing, having slipped out quietly to the library hours ago, still consumed by her worry over the White Fang.
Ruby sat on the windowsill, her knees pulled up to her chest, her mind a million miles away. The city lights of Vale twinkled in the distance, but she couldn't focus on their beauty. All she could think about was the grim truth Blake had told her after the mission with Sun. She couldn't shake the image of Dr. Merlot's cold, grinning face as he called her a "failed experiment," a piece of broken code in his sick, twisted puzzle. Even worse was the knowledge that he planned to inflict the same horrifying procedures he used on her on other people, turning the White Fang into his own personal army.
It was all such a mess. A terrifying, tangled web of lies and power and pain that seemed to find its way back into her thoughts no matter how hard she tried to push it away. She was tired of it. She was tired of the cold whispers of the "beast" inside her, a grim, unwanted power she felt stir whenever she got close to her enemies. She was tired of feeling so out of control.
After a moment, her thoughts finally drifted to something less dark: the upcoming dance. Her teammates seemed so excited about it. They had been trying to convince her to go. Maybe it was just what she needed, a night of normalcy to forget all this. Maybe...
Her eyes, in their quiet wandering, landed on a sleeping Weiss. The moonlight caught her face, softening her usual stern expression, making her look vulnerable and angelic. For a moment, Ruby's mind went completely blank. Her heart, a steady, rhythmic drum in her chest, suddenly skipped a beat, a fluttering sensation she felt all the way to her fingertips. It was a feeling that had been happening a lot lately, a quiet, confusing thrum that seemed to only appear when Weiss was near.
The city lights outside the window seemed to blur and fade away. The deep, heavy thoughts about Dr. Merlot, the White Fang, and the strange power within her were all suddenly gone, replaced by a single, overwhelming question. Ruby slowly pushed herself up from the windowsill, her mind a blank slate save for the image of one person. Her legs, almost of their own accord, carried her across the silent dorm room.
She stopped at the foot of her partner's bed. Moonlight poured through the window, bathing the sleeping figure of Weiss in a soft, ethereal glow. Ruby gently sat down on the edge of the mattress, the soft give of the bed barely a whisper in the quiet room. She looked down at Weiss, at the peaceful expression on her face, at the way her silver hair fanned out on the pillow.
A powerful, confusing wave of emotion washed over Ruby. Her heart, which had been a steady, rhythmic drumbeat in her chest, began to pound, a frantic, repeated thrum against her ribs. She couldn't breathe. The feeling was a wild mix of a thousand emotions: deep admiration, a fierce desire to protect, and a warmth that settled deep in her soul.
"Am I… in love with Weiss? Is that what this feeling is?" she whispered, the words so soft they were almost swallowed by the silence. She let out a soft, shaky breath, her brow furrowed in a confused frown. "I can't be… right?" The very idea felt impossible. She was a huntress, a leader, a...monster. This, this feeling, was an unexpected and terrifying complication.
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The sound of steel connecting against steel echoed across the rooftop. Jessica pushed her aura sword against Pyrrha's spear, which had been turned into a short sword. They were locked in a stalemate, their eyes meeting, a silent challenge passing between them.
Pyrrha was the first to break the stillness. With a lightning-quick move, she kicked out her leg, aiming at Jessica's shin, but Jessica was ready. She brought up her aura shield, blocking the strike with a soft whoosh of energy. They continued to clash blades, a flurry of strikes and parries, each fighter a master of their craft.
Then, a subtle smirk appeared on Pyrrha's face. In a fluid, graceful motion, she spun low, sweeping her leg out and tripping Jessica. The leader of Team JNPR fell with a soft thud, a groan escaping her lips as her aura sword and shield dissipated into nothing.
Pyrrha let out a soft laugh, extending a hand to her teammate. "Well done," she said, her smile warm and genuine. "Your swordplay has improved immensely."
Jessica took Pyrrha's hand, a grin spreading across her face as she was helped to her feet. "Couldn't have done it without you," she said, her voice filled with easy camaraderie.
Pyrrha's eyes sparkled playfully. "So, are you ready to go on the offense? We've gone over defense for weeks; I think it's time for strategy and attack."
Jessica scratched the back of her head, her grin turning a little sheepish. "You know, I'm actually thinking maybe we just skip Offense tonight," she said. She looked at Pyrrha, her eyes dancing with a playful glint. "I... I've got something to do."
Pyrrha's brow furrowed in playful suspicion. "Come on, what's so important that you have to do now?" she asked.
Jessica's grin widened as she put her hands behind her head. "Wouldn't you like to know?" she said.
Pyrrha rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "I would, yes," she said, emphasizing the word.
Jessica let out a soft laugh, finally relenting. She took a deep breath, the playful glint in her eyes turning into something more serious, something a little nervous. "Fine, fine, Pyrrha," she said, her voice soft. "I've been meaning to ask..."
Pyrrha looked at her with a raised eyebrow, waiting. "Yes?" she said.
Jessica's smirk returned, but this time, it was laced with vulnerability. Her eyes, filled with a mix of anticipation and hope, met Pyrrha's. "Would you go to the dance with me?" she asked.
Pyrrha's face lit up, a soft blush spreading across her cheeks. "Are you... are you asking me out?" she said, her voice a mix of surprise and utter delight.
Jessica took a deep breath, her own face now a soft shade of pink. "Yes," she said.
A pure, joyful giggle escaped Pyrrha's lips. "Yes," she said, her voice filled with happiness. "I would happily go with you."
"Yes!" Jessica cheered with a laugh, the sound of her triumph echoing across the quiet rooftop.
A comfortable silence fell between them, filled with the soft hum of the city below and the echo of Jessica's joyful cheer. Pyrrha simply stood there, a brilliant smile on her face, her cheeks still a light shade of pink. She was absolutely giddy.
"Alright, alright," Pyrrha said, her voice filled with a happy lightness. "We should probably get back downstairs. It's already pretty late."
Jessica simply nodded, a soft, contented smile on her face. She turned and headed toward the door that led back into the school. Pyrrha, a quiet happiness blooming in her chest, followed after her, each step a little lighter than the last, her heart soaring with the simple joy of the moment.
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Emerald's fingers glided across her scroll, a final name appearing on the screen. "And finally," she said, her voice cool and professional, "Pyrrha Nikos."
Cinder's lips curled into a disdainful smirk. "Ah, yes. The so-called 'invincible girl.'"
Mercury, sprawled on the ground, scoffed. "She's smart. But I wouldn't say she's invincible."
Cinder's eyes narrowed, a glint of intrigued malice in them. "Do tell."
"Her semblance is polarity," Emerald stated, her words a precise analysis. "A quiet power she never reveals. You'd never know it just by watching her fight."
Mercury sat up, his movements fluid and unbothered. "She made contact with my boots. I felt it, even if it was for a fraction of a second. She could have ripped me apart, but she only made subtle adjustments. Just enough to make me stumble, just enough to make her look untouchable."
"She doesn't broadcast her power because she doesn't need to," Emerald added. "She lets her opponents assume they're up against skill and skill alone. It puts them at a disadvantage before the fight even begins."
A slow, calculating smile spread across Cinder's face. "Hmm. They see her as a child of destiny, fated for victory. But in truth, she's simply taking fate into her own hands." She locked eyes with Emerald, her voice a cold command. "Add her to the list."
Emerald's fingers moved across her scroll, the screen clicking as Pyrrha's name was officially added.
"She's good," Mercury admitted, a brutal confidence in his voice. "But I'll tear her apart when we finally get the chance."
"It's not about overpowering the enemy, Mercury," Cinder replied, a chilling grin spreading across her face. "It's about taking away what power they have. All of it. And we will... in time."
A cold, heavy silence hung in the air after the grim conversation about Pyrrha. Mercury finally broke it, his voice a low, thoughtful hum. "Speaking of power... what about the silver-eyed girl?"
Cinder's gaze drifted away, a soft, calculating smile appearing on her lips. She let out a low, contemplative hum as she thought. "Dr. Merlot believes he is owed a return on his investment. He has been quite insistent on having his failed experiment returned to him. He's been clamoring for her ever since he lamented her departure from his project and let her enroll here. He regrets that decision." Cinder looked back at Mercury, her eyes gleaming with a fierce, cold light. "But for now... she is ours. We will learn all we can about her." Her smile widened, a truly sinister grin that held no warmth.
Mercury let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Easier said than done. She's already suspicious of us. Did you see her in class? It wasn't just a look—she was studying every move, every step. She felt our presence. She knows something is off. She's a problem we can't simply rush."
Cinder's smirk only widened at Mercury's words. She let out a soft, contemptuous laugh, a cold sound that cut through the air.
"Of course she's suspicious," Cinder replied, her voice a low purr. "That's precisely the point. The power within her is instinctive. It's an animal that fears being caged, and it lashed out when it felt us approach. Her suspicion is not an obstacle, Mercury. It is a tool."
Mercury simply shook his head, a heavy, frustrated sigh escaping his lips. "And what now? We can't just keep kicking people's friends to provoke her."
Cinder's gaze shifted to Emerald, who had been a silent observer, her eyes never leaving Ruby's image on her scroll. "We will be patient. She's a weapon, and weapons need to be studied before they can be wielded. We know her weakness: her friends. We will simply learn from a distance now. And when the time is right, we will strike where it hurts."
"So be patient. Our time will come," Cinder said, her voice a low, commanding purr. She watched Mercury with a knowing gaze, her confidence a palpable weight in the air.
Mercury let out a heavy sigh, a sound that was half frustration and half weary resignation. He ran a hand through his hair before dropping back onto the floor with a soft thump. "I hate waiting," he muttered, his voice muffled.
Cinder's soft smile didn't waver, but it twisted into something sinister, a cold, predatory grin that held no warmth. "Don't worry, Mercury," she replied, her voice a quiet, chilling promise. "We have a fun weekend ahead of us"