RWBY: Moon Reflection

Pyrrha sat in the quiet solace of her family's living room, the warmth of the hearth doing little to chase away the chill in her heart. Her mother sat beside her, one arm draped protectively over her shoulder, while her grandfather, Cheiron, sat in his usual armchair, his eyes fixed on the flames. The silence between them was heavy, a shared grief that words struggled to express.

Pyrrha's fingers traced the edge of her teacup, her gaze distant. "When Ruby and Yang first talked about him," she began softly, her voice tinged with a bittersweet nostalgia, "they made him sound larger than life. Their brother, genius and invincible. I was curious. I wanted to meet the person they spoke about with so much pride."

Her mother smiled faintly, brushing a strand of hair from Pyrrha's face. "And when you did?"

Pyrrha's lips curled into a small, melancholic smile. "He was... different. Not just strong or skilled—there was something about him that set him apart. When he spoke in our classes, it felt like he had this different understanding of things, like he'd lived through more than anyone else there. He carried himself with this quiet confidence, but it wasn't arrogance. It was... something else."

Cheiron nodded thoughtfully, leaning forward with his hands resting on his cane. "A wisdom beyond his years. A rare quality in someone so young."

Pyrrha nodded, her fingers tightening around the cup. "I wanted to test myself against him. I thought, maybe, if I beat him, I'd understand what made him so different. So, I challenged him to a fight."

Her mother arched an eyebrow. "And?"

Pyrrha let out a small, self-deprecating laugh. "I lost. Soundly. He didn't gloat, though. He didn't even seem to care about winning. He just... smiled, praised me and told me I fought well." Her voice softened, her smile fading. "I think that was the moment I realized there was more to him than strength or skill. He could be one of the best huntsmen, become famous but he didn't care. only his family mattered to him."

Cheiron's expression grew somber. "He was indeed a special young man. A rare combination of strength, wisdom, and compassion."

Pyrrha's eyes glistened with tears as she continued. "When I felt alone, when the weight of expectations isolated me from everyone, he was the only one I felt he could understand me. I confided in him and I was right, he understood me and made the loneliness and worry go away"

Her mother squeezed her shoulder gently. "He must have seen a kindred spirit in you."

Pyrrha's voice broke as she continued. "When Professor Ozpin told me about the Maidens, about his plan for me to inherit that power... I was terrified. I didn't know what to do. Crimson was the only one I told, and he—" Her voice caught, a tear sliding down her cheek. "He helped me calm down. He told me I didn't have to be afraid, as long as I can look back on my choices and say I did my best, everything is okay. And when I am gone, someone will tell the story of my life. He said that knowing only a few years left for him."

Her mother wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. Pyrrha leaned into the embrace, tears flowing freely now. "He saved me, Mom. At Beacon, when I was about to be killed—he was there. At Haven, when we were caught and helpless—he came for us. He was always there when we needed him. And when he needed help..." She paused, her voice breaking into a sob. "When he was in pain, in sorrow... I just sat there, making it worse."

Her mother's eyes softened with understanding. "Oh, Pyrrha, you did nothing wrong. Crimson's life, his thoughts—they were more complicated than anyone could have imagined. Even his own family didn't realize the burden he carried."

Pyrrha wiped at her tears but shook her head. "That doesn't make it any easier. Knowing what he went through, what he carried... it's unbearable. All this time, the things he said, the way he acted—it was all coming from experience. He wasn't just wise, Mom. He was suffering."

Cheiron leaned back, his expression heavy with grief. "You're right, child. That boy endured far more than anyone should. He had it harder than anyone could have expected, and yet he bore it all without a sound. That kind of strength..." He trailed off, his voice tinged with admiration and sorrow. "It's rare. And it's cruel that it was never enough to save him."

The three of them sat in silence, the crackling fire filling the void where words failed. Pyrrha closed her eyes, her tears still falling as she leaned into her mother's comforting embrace. Though the pain of Crimson's loss felt insurmountable, she found a small solace in sharing her memories of him. For as long as they remembered him, for as long as they spoke his name, his story will remain.

__________________________________

The market was bustling with activity, but to Nora and Ren, it felt distant—muted, as if they were moving through a dream they couldn't wake up from. The colorful stalls, the chatter of merchants, and the lively crowd seemed out of place compared to the unbearable gloom weighing down their hearts. Nora's arms were half-filled with bags of groceries, though she carried them absentmindedly, her usually vibrant demeanor dimmed.

"I never thought things could get this bad," Nora said quietly, her voice uncharacteristically subdued. She glanced at Ren, who walked beside her with his usual stoic expression, though even that seemed more strained than normal. "It's like this heavy cloud over everything... like nothing will ever feel right again."

Ren nodded, his silence lasting a few moments longer than usual. When he finally spoke, his voice was soft, almost as if he were speaking to himself. "What we saw... it's beyond what anyone should have to bear. What he endured..." His words trailed off, and his eyes remained fixed ahead.

Nora looked at him curiously. "Ren, what would you do? If you were in Crimson's place?"

Ren's step faltered slightly, but he recovered quickly, keeping his gaze forward. "I don't know," he admitted after a long pause. "To live knowing you're going to die... or worse, to live knowing you'll become a monster. It's... unimaginable." His brow furrowed deeply. "I don't think I could take it as well as he did."

Nora didn't respond right away, the two falling into a heavy silence as they navigated the crowded street. The sounds of the market seemed to fade, replaced by the echoes of their own thoughts. Finally, Ren broke the quiet.

"In that nightmarish place," he said, his voice low, "I still don't understand how Crimson didn't break. What he saw, what he endured... it would have destroyed anyone else. And we—" He paused, shaking his head. "We only watched from the side, and we were horrified, frozen in terror. I keep thinking back to how scared we were when he transformed in Haven. That was nothing compared to what he faced. And yet, he stood strong. He fought to the very end."

Nora stopped in her tracks for a moment, her grip tightening on the bags in her arms. She opened her mouth to reply but was interrupted by a familiar voice calling out.

"Ren! Nora!"

The two turned around to see Jaune Arc weaving through the crowd toward them. His face lit up with a friendly smile, though it faded slightly when he saw their expressions. "Hey! What are you two doing here?" he asked, coming to a stop in front of them. "You both look... tired. What's going on?"

"Jaune?" Nora blinked, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to visit my sister," Jaune said with a shrug. "I had some time, and I thought I'd check in. What about you two? You seem... off."

Ren sighed, exchanging a glance with Nora before answering. "We're staying with the others at the Nikos estate. It's been... a long journey. Some unexpected things happened."

Jaune frowned slightly. "That doesn't sound good. I'm sorry to hear that." His expression softened. "Is it okay if I stop by? I've missed everyone."

Ren hesitated, his gaze dropping to the ground. "Now might not be the best time. Everyone's... sad. Crimson—" He stopped, glancing at Nora, who looked at him but didn't say anything. Neither of them wanted to explain.

Jaune tilted his head. "Sad? Did Crimson leave on bad terms with you all? He didn't seem that way when I saw him earlier."

Both Nora and Ren froze, their eyes locking onto Jaune with identical expressions of shock. Nora was the first to break the silence. "When... when did you see Crimson?"

"About two hours ago," Jaune said, his tone confused. "He said he was heading to Atlas. Why? Did something happen?" He looked between the two of them, his confusion deepening. "He seemed... doing fine. Friendlier than I remembered, actually."

Nora grabbed Jaune by the shoulders, her voice trembling. "You a're sure? You are sure you saw Crimson walking?"

Jaune blinked, taken aback by her intensity. "Yes, I'm sure! He even had his semblance active—his face had those flame markings."

Ren's brow furrowed deeply, his mind racing. "Where was he going?"

Jaune scratched his head, clearly perplexed by their reactions. "The military base. He said he was heading there."

Nora and Ren exchanged a look, a silent understanding passing between them. Without another word, they turned and began moving quickly away from the market, leaving a bewildered Jaune behind.

"Wait!" Jaune called after them. "What's going on? What's wrong?"

Neither of them answered, their steps quickening as their thoughts swirled with confusion and urgency. They couldn't explain what they'd just heard, but one thing was clear: they needed to let the others know.