Chapter 195: Chapter 195: Vytal Festival (14)
Chapter 195: Vytal Festival (14)
~Third POV~
In the Beacon Academy Gym Room Yang, and Pyrrha was busy thinking about what they have just learned about from Headmaster Ozpin of the Shadow War that spans years to generations of how long the war behind the scenes has been going on.
*Bam*
*Bam*
Yang and Pyrrha both took this time to do some minor exercise by beating up the training dummy thinking about what they learned along with the fact that Ruby and Jack both agreed to Ozpin's words.
*Bam*
As a result, the two are putting their own issues into beating up the dummy to have some clear thoughts about what they learned.
*BAM*
Punching the dummy harder Yang was the easiest to connect the dots of what happened to Summer Ozpin's words and her team leader friend confirming the facts didn't really leave Yang much to think but spur at the moment.
However, remembering where she was calming down her anger for a bit decided to give herself some fresh air to think more clearly about the events happening in her life.
When Yang was finally exhausted from punching her dummy along with Pyrrha the both of them took the chance to take a breather and sit down on the floor after giving their time to think things clearly.
Yet doubt is still in their heads venting out their stress of the latest news plaguing their minds.
When the two finally had a breather Pyrrha was the first to speak to Yang in an indifferent tone of her voice, "Yang… what do you think about being involved with… all of what Ozpin said to everyone about Salem…"
Yang takes in a deep breath before finally releasing a sigh answering Pyrrha's question about what they talked about with Headmaster Ozpin, "Sigh… I – I just don't know. Salem, the Grimm, my mom, everything just seemed so simple to me when I started to attend Beacon Academy with adventures galore along with searching for my biological mother but…"
The silence was what remained for the two for awhile while some people began to gather making the two feel pressured.
Pyrrha sent them all a cold glare that made them step back responding to them, "Do me the favor and learn how my friend would say… fuck off or else."
The fans felt a shiver run down their spines as they backed away with Yang looking at Pyrrha with a shocked expression speaking out her mind, "When the hell did you get the confidence to say that to your fans?"
Pyrrha laughed lightly before finally responding to Yang happily with confidence, "Hehe. Honestly, I think a bit of Jack's influence is rubbing off on me. But still how exactly do you feel for him right now Yang? About Jack?"
Yang looked away before a few minutes passed when she was staring at the ceiling again finally having time to cool down and finally speaking a bit guilty in her voice, "You know… sigh… I just don't know how to talk to Jack after my outburst earlier… I mean despite him keeping this secret he managed to do the impossible helping people… and bringing back people close to us…"
Yang remains silent for a bit with Yang tearing up a bit with Pyrrha observing Yang's reaction feeling ungrateful recalling how Jack managed to return their mother, "Sniff… I mean after Jack managed to heal our mom when I and Ruby thought our mom Summer was gone. I was very conflicted and I'm a very short-tempered person I know that but… Sigh… I just can't get it over my head of him keeping secrets that hurt to know that those close to you know it while we remain ignorant of what's happening it's just...! Frustrating... do you think we should still stay friends with him?"
Pyrrha looked at Yang's conflicted expression before finally talking to her response in a calm voice, "I don't know Yang… evidently it's all up to you Yang. But for me after thinking for some time I can't fairly judge him after he was forced kept to secrecy. But I do know for a fact the time I spent with Jack is true of him not wanting to cause us harm. I'll place my faith in him still."
Closing her eyes not elaborating any further Pyrrha sighs at this while beginning to talk to Yang in a different tone, "Sigh… Yang, do you ever wonder why I became a Huntress in the first place?"
At this Yang blinks in surprise but remains quiet allowing Pyrrha to continue her reasoning a bit longer, "The reason I became a Huntress was of course to help people that were an obvious and noble goal to head towards. Yet that wasn't the main reason."
Yang raises her own eyebrow at this when Pyrrha finally explains the real purpose of attending Beacon Academy, "The real reason was to fit in. To be a normal girl I suppose but being a Champion didn't make it easy to socialize. None of that oh look there's Pyrrha or I can't talk to her when I'm a nobody spill. But when Weiss first called me out, I thought that kind of life having normal friends was done…"
Yang listens more with Pyrrha finally smiling recalling her interaction with Jack meeting up for the first time coming up to her flashing in her mind, "But out of everyone who had I met Jack was certainly an interesting experience. Especially since dealing with Weiss antagonizing someone with higher standing didn't seem to care in his eyes. You do remember that Yang?"
Remembering their first, time entering Beacon Yang smirks at that calming down and enjoying the good times they had, "Hehe… Yeah, I remember. I bet that was an experience that Weiss and Jack ever had with each other. In the beginning, they were so hateful or bitter with each other in the beginning."
Yang talks more about the two experiences with Pyrrha smiling recalling their own adventures of what they all go through.
With that, the two began recounting each other event they had throughout the time they had been through together or alone.
The events of Ruby fighting Roman, saving them from an Ursa Grimm, dealing with the White Fang at the docks, saving Weiss from her nightmare, day and life in Beacon Academy, the bounty mission failure, finding the cause of missing people, fighting an alien god soon becoming heroes of Remnant, the school dance and interview announcement, against the White Fang Vale Branch, and with Jack recently fighting against a crazy group called The Crown wanting to conqueror Remnant through brain control.
"Hahahaha!"
The two only laughed listing off the craziness they had to endure during the school year of becoming Huntress-in-training and the accomplishments they have received during their time together.
The two began to see up at the ceiling of the Gym Room finally letting out all the pent-up anger and discomfort they had earlier refreshing their minds of what was to come Yang was the first to respond, "Haaaa… man I didn't realize it till now but we have got to have the craziest experience we ever had being first years, right? I can't be the only one to think, that right?"
Pyrrha laughs while nodding her head in agreement with Yang's response talking to her calmly, "I agree. And yet we all managed to pull through, in the end, no matter what foe… you know now that I think about it more clearly now…"
Yang's head turned towards Pyrrha with a confident grin rising from her face finally speaking her mind happily, "So long as we are fighting as one no matter what enemy we face be it an ancient witch or God. While we remain together no challenges are too much against us united no?"
Yang hearing that couldn't help but nod in agreement with Pyrrha's assessment of the experiences they have done throughout the semester, "Yeah… Yeah, your right! As long as we fight together then no enemies are too tough to go against! Not even Salem!"
Finding their renewed confidence and vigor after calming down the two Huntresses-in-training once more remember why they become Huntresses and the goals they achieve by recalling past memories.
Emotions they felt can be useful inner strengths remembering why they fight along with who they believe in when the going gets thought.
Feeling like they had time to digest the information they got they remained in the Gym Room for a little while longer to get their heads cleared out.
/////
Elsewhere in the Beacon Academy cafeteria Ren and Nora there eating their dinner while they both had a lot on their minds about what happened in the conversation with Headmaster Ozpin revealing the existence of Salem and the Maidens.
Many things went through their heads recalling the important part of Salem controlling Grimm made the two remember the past.
A certain Grimm ruined their village life when it came along with a pack of Grimm soon following after sensing the fear from the people.
Ren was the first to speak after so long in silence when he received the info for the first time in a calm voice, "Nora… do you think Salem was the one that…"
Nora for her part flinched knowing the question relating to the monster that destroyed their home village but merely replied in a nervous tone, "Possibly… but if what the Headmaster said was true then –"
Nora stops herself when she notices Ren's fist tightening up holding the fork bending holding in his clear anger shown but his expressions remain calm when he spoke out, "Then it would be safe to assume that because of Salem's constant need to destroy people, we were unfortunate to have her ire when she sent 'that' to our village. Killing off my family and friends that we have not caused any problems."
Nora remained silent when Ren finally calms down now knowing the person responsible for destroying his home village.
While the two didn't know if the fact that Salem sent Grimm to destroy their home or not didn't matter to Ren at the moment.
It was the fact that Salem could've done something to prevent the Grimm from destroying the world if she reigned them in and yet…
She allowed such monsters of Grimm to ravage and destroy villages causing people or children to be stranded at the whims of others or the wild to die off or be saved.
Those kinds of ideas were what fueled Nora and Ren while they couldn't confirm whether Salem was the one to destroy their village home or not doesn't matter if the fact, she could control them and decided to let the Grimm be was more reason for the duo to start hating her.
Because of her actions, they were orphaned and had to fight alone while surviving the nights alone with no one to guide or help them.
Once those thoughts entered their heads Nora was the first to respond holding Ren's hand stopping himself when he listened to Nora's words, "Ren… no matter what. I'll be by your side through thick and thin remember? Like we always have before."
Pausing for a moment to consider Nora he smiled accepting the hand from her and responding to her kindly, "I… thanks, Nora. If Jack told us this earlier than I would…"
No words were needed once Ren reclaimed his calm mind finally speaking out what he would've done if he had known, "I—I would've followed my path of revenge. But… for now, I need to rethink my priorities. Maybe if we ask for our teammate's help…"
Nora places her other hand over Ren's hand stopping and smiling happily pointing out his words, "Heh! I see that despite the secret you still consider our fearless leader a friend huh!"
Listening to Nora's words Ren briefly smiled at this realizing despite the secret he kept from them Ren also had his not enough to dismiss his bond with his group, "Right. I guess despite him holding this secret we each have our own that we don't want to be known. And yet I still call him a teammate despite it all huh? Guess our bond with each other won't waver over this right?"
"Boop!"
Nora booped Ren's nose smiling happily already accepting the terms of their friendship status causing the two laughs, at this considering everything they all have gone through.
Finally having enough time to readjust themselves and having a clear mind the two finally come to an agreement of helping their friends out.
/////
"What?"
Confusion is fully expressed on Ruby and Jack's faces when their respective teammates when returned after feeling refreshed.
Weiss puffs her face at the reaction with a raised eyebrow at the two buffoon leaders, "What do you mean what? We decided to help out of course."
Blinking at this Ren next responded calmly reinstating what they had time to think about, "Exactly as Weiss said. Despite you keeping this from us it took us time to understand why you did it. We just had to process the whole information, and this won't change anything between us."
Blake nods in agreement talking to two team leaders in a calm tone, "Agree. Despite keeping Salem's existence, a secret from us we understand why you didn't say anything. We just needed to sort out some emotions of this."
Ruby and Jack both smiles at this as Yang smirked up at this responding to the two, "Yup! After everything we had gone through no way something like this could pull this motley crew apart. Maybe with a…"
"No…"
"Yang!"
"Damn it, Yang!"
Everyone groaned hearing Yang's awful pun while everyone smiled seeing despite joining this Shadow War they are still as strong and united together despite the fear they all feel but seeing each other made them confident in each other.
/////
Viewing from the cameras hidden inside Ozpin Headmaster's Office everyone turning in for the night began to question himself for letting the kids into his shadow war.
Mumbling to himself lightly speaking to himself as if he was alone Ozpin begins to speak out loud seemingly to himself, "The single quality that is common across every living creature on this planet... is fear."
Turning around taking a seat down in his own office room across from him taking another mug and placing it across himself continuing, "It's funny then, that as common as fear is... we so easily underestimate its power. Fear of growing close to someone… a subsequent fear of loss."
Ozpin soon looks at the person across from his office beginning to take a cup of mug Ozpin offered continued speaking, "Fear of failure. And as more people depend on you, those fears can take on greater power. But fear itself isn't worthy of concern. It is who we become while in its clutches. Will you be proud of that person? Will you forgive them? Will you understand why they felt the need to do the things they did? Will you even recognize them?"
Taking the moment to refresh his breath Ozpin takes a sip from his mug while the person standing across from him finished his Ozpin continues as his expression hardens on the person across from him, "Or will the person staring back at you be the very thing you should have feared from the start? I suppose we all find out... sooner or later…"
The person sitting across from Ozpin merely expressed a gentle smile simply responding back to him, "Maybe…. But perhaps victory is in the simpler things that you've long forgotten. Things that require a smaller, more honest soul."
Ozpin closes his eyes to contemplate that response before opening them again to see the person across is already gone with a smile slowly spreading across his face.
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
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stone