Chapter 43: Team JNPR (10)

Chapter 43: Team JNPR (10)

~Pyrrha POV~

Glancing over to Nora she shook her head as she talked to me, "No can do Pyrrha."

Turning my attention towards Ren he also gave the same result leaving me confused, "Yeah Nora and I can't get them when we contact the items on the Alter."

Blinking at this I was confused.

When I came in contact with the sword, I managed to absorb some info regarding that, but Ren and Nora can't do the same.

When Ren and Nora tried to go for the shield and wand, they couldn't make a budge but when I took the sword it was easily turned into the light along with flashes of memories.

That was when Ren began to get a hypothesis of what was going on, "Hmm… maybe I have an idea."

Hearing this I look towards Ren as did Nora as we both listen in to what Ren had a hypothesis of what is going on here, "Maybe since Pyrrha came in contact with the relic here she might be the only one to claim the rest. It's only a hypothesis of course but it's the only one that makes sense if I and Nora can't claim it."

Well, that is one idea.

Guess the only real way to figure this out is to test it.

Hmm…

Reaching over to the shield one I claimed it as the process repeated itself again I had more flashes this time enter my head as I see more memories of Jack enter in my head.

Some of him just training, another with a screen but this time hearing about something but all I hear is static this time around as the picture isn't all too clear as if something is blocking it… or Jack won't allow it.

Then the flashes blacked out on certain scenes as if it's being deleted after that I managed to regain myself again Ren and Nora looked worried as I reassured them, "No worries… I just saw some memories although this time with static."

"Static?"

Nora said that as Ren thinks for a bit as he came to his own conclusion out loud about what was happening, "Hmm… perhaps Pyrrha that you are looking at his past. But as for the reason why it becomes static it might be due to the fact that Jack can't remember or likely have forgotten because of his Semblance <Fusion>."

Hmm…

There might be true to his words as Ren says.

Perhaps I'm only getting small fragments of his memories, but only static sounds have –

That was when I was alerted by Nora as she pointed to the alters that used to hold the relics, "Ah! Guys look at the alter…! It's gone."

* Crack*

"Ahh!"

"Again!"

Suddenly the glass window below us broke apart as we began to fall further down the darkness as we began to dive down the wand at the alter was destroyed consumed by the darkness –

Oh no!

That was when Negative Jack suddenly appeared as the glass breaking was because of him as he spoke out to us, "There you are!"

That was when we saw Negative Jack as the mask of the Grimm fully formed covering his face as we were all alerted raising our firing arms at him as we began to shoot at him as he tried to follow us with a broken and static voice…

"HAnd ovEr that bOok!"

*Bang*

*Bang*

*Bang*

*Bang*

So the book is what that Negative Jack is really after as Ren held it tight close to him as the Nightmare is trying to hook its ugly thorns to Ren's location.

Narrowing my eyes at this raising my rifle at the Negative Jack we continued to release rapid fire at the enemy in front of us ensuring that he can't get anywhere near the book.

For whatever reason, we can't let Negative Jack have the book at all costs.

Holding up one of my coins in my hand it was time to distract it at least for a bit.

Throwing the coin farthest away from us I used my <Polarity> to chuck it as far as I could away from us as the light from the coin began to flicker as it began to transform into a decoy immediately getting Negative Jack's attention as he turned his head at the decoy.

*SHIII*

"You can't get us!"

"You can't get us!"

"You can't get – "

*WOOSH*

Suddenly his attention went towards the decoy version of me as Negative Jack rushed in attacking it then us buying us more time with him rushing at the decoy using <Telekinesis> to levitate his way to the decoy.

Then I see that Negative Jack managed to destroy it using thorns from the Nightmare buying us enough time.

Perhaps the book would be our key to saving him along with the relics I obtained since they have meaning to what's happening.

*Shiii*

That was when the book began to open again but the title changed as I saw Ren, Nora, and I began to get enveloped inside I saw the title change from 'EARTH' to 'GAIA' as were then sucked in.

We all each tried to call out our names trying to get ourselves together.

"Ren!"

"Nora!"

"Pyrrha!"

As I was getting sucked in, I saw Jack's face with furry written all over it but tears strangling from his face as fear began to sit in or the Grimm as the Nightmare parasite was always entrapping him but not fully.

"NOOO!"

//////

Like that we were suddenly transported inside…

"Argus?"

Speaking about my home Nora and Ren looked around as everything here seems to be Argus like I knew but…

I knew from my soul that this isn't Argus…

And not Mistral that's for sure.

Glancing around at the area I would find what I would find in my old home Kingdom of Mistral with the usual styles of Mantle and Mistrialean-style houses that are built close together.

A streetcar system.

Hilly terrain.

A very large suspension bridge.

But what I knew wasn't here was the military Atlas base at the coast but some island with an old busted down… prison would be the word right?

'First, tell me more about yourself.'

'What's more important for you?'

Hearing the voice again as we were a bit startled at the disembodied voice, we heard Nora was the first to react as she spoke to us, "So guys… do we just answer the question or… we don't? What's the decision here?"

Pausing at this we took our time to consider before Ren replied to us as we stare at him listening, "Hmm… I think Pyrrha would be the one to speak for us. With the relics, she should be able to but first Nora you want to try to see if we get a reaction?"

"Yes, King Ren!"

Haha…

They certainly have a unique dynamic no matter the situation.

Like that we both wanted to hear Nora's voice as she replied to the disembodied voice, "Ahem! What I find more important is that I would like to have pancakes made by Ren and share it with my close ones and friends!"

'….'

….

…

….?

Ren makes a calm remark about Nora answering the question with a blank expression, "Ok it seems like Jack disagrees with your idea Nora."

Nora on the other hand got easily offended by that, "Gasp! Blasphemy!"

Ok…

Looks like Ren's idea of having me speak out seems to be important since I had the relics on hand so this voice is telling me is what I consider important to me… "Friendship. I wish I never been the Champion of Mistral because I never truly get to experience my wish to be normal."

'Is Friendship such a big deal?'

'What do you want outta life?'

Ok, so far these questions have been more or less something personal for me.

If that's the case I hope to try my best.

The question asked me about what I wanted in life there could be many things I wanted in life that I never got to experienced.

Wanting friends.

Socializing more to be a part of something not to be isolated by titles.

But for that though…

Speaking out loud what I truly thought about the question as my allies listen to me, "To broaden my horizon. I wish to learn more and find what I really want in life to be a true Huntress."

'To broaden your horizon huh?'

'What are you afraid of?'

Hearing that question, I was already afraid that my title would always get in the way of what I wanted in life.

I thought I left it behind with no one able to recognize me on the first day… at least till a Schnee burst that dreams into flames finding me out making any selection of friends…

Useless.

Once they know my title and my fame people would simply want to just be with me because of the stupid title of 'Invincible Girl' as with Weiss trying to team up and even when during the Hunter Exam.

She only saw me as Pyrrha the 'Invincible Girl' of Mistral but…

Jack though?

When he first met with me he was the first genuine person to actually speak up and with others trying to dissuade him or back off because of my status what did he do?

He told them to shove off and let me decide as Pyrrha Nikos, not Pyrrha 'Invincible Girl' as he spoke throughout the conversation.

I found it… nice.

A nice change of pace after everything and then finding out my team members are oddballs of their own but treat me like a real friend.

I don't want to lose that feeling or lose any friends. So, with some courage of my very own, I replied not afraid of what others will think of me, "Being different. I always have been the 'Invincible Girl' to the masses and not Pyrrha Nikos I want to be different, but I always hide behind my persona as if I try to be different, I'm afraid my friends will only see me as the 'Invincible Girl' and not a friend."

"Pyrrha…"

That was when I heard the sad voices of Nora and Ren –

No, that was when Nora came from behind me from my right as she reassures me, "No worries Pyrrha no matter what you are we won't judge ya for it. Right Ren?"

And on my left was Ren being his calm usual self as he spoke to me in a calm tone, "Right Nora. I bet if Jack was here, he would feel the same."

Feeling the hug from Nora and pat on the shoulder from Ren I couldn't be gladder that I attended Beacon now that I have what I wanted.

'Being different? Is it really that scary?'

'You want friendship.'

'You want to broaden your horizons.'

'You're afraid of being different.'

'….'

'You're adventure begins in the dead of night.'

'Your road won't be easy, but a rising sun awaits your journey's end.'

'The day you will reach it is both far off and very near.'

'The closer you get to the light, the greater the darkness becomes.'

'Don't be afraid.'

'And don't forget…'

'So, don't forget…'

'—But don't be afraid.'

'You hold the mightiest weapon of all.'

*BOOM*

Hearing a loud booming sound from a few feet away from us as we raised our weapons again, we saw Negative Jack but this time have more Grimm Nightmares thorns around him and the Grimm mask fully covering his face now as I couldn't help but be distraught at the sight of our friend.

Still…

*Shiii*

"HISSSS…!"

That was when instead of my usual weapon it began to change to the sword and shield I had as relics as the Negative Jack seems to have a negative reaction to it as I held the relics in my hand as Negative Jack backed off.

Even wary of it as the Nightmare that formed around him squirmed in fear?

Is this what I think it is?

That was when I heard the voice again but this time instead of static it was our friend's voice becoming so clear now that I held the weapons in my hand as I couldn't help but smile in the end holding them.

'All right! You've got it!'

'You've gained the power to fight.'

'Use this power to protect yourself and others.'

Waving at the new weapons I won't deny the chance to let this Nightmare do as it pleases with my friend any longer!