Hey guys long time no see and i hope you guys enjoy the story.

Chapter 9: What More Could Have Been done?

Wiess POV

"WWHAAAATTT!?" Nora screamed and I just had to sigh as I doubt I am going to be able to concentrate on channeling my spirit energy into my sword. Right now, the group, save Brendan, is in an underground chamber that Miss. Shihōin [Yoruichi's last name] showed us so that we can train and not worry about releasing our spiritual pressures as they cannot be detected in here, but right now instead of training it is more like we are having a picnic! Sighing again at the thought I look over to see most of the group gathered around Ren, except Blake because she enjoys her personal space "YOU DID IT!? CAN I SEE!? CAN I SEE!?" Nora franticly asks and as usual I can't begin to fathom how it is that they can work as a couple let alone partners.

Ren calmly replies "Sure I don't see why not." He then stands up and walks a short distance before drawing his sword and holding it horizontally in front of him before saying "Rage forth Arashi no Koutei. (Storm Emperor)" then it looks like a small tornado engulfs his sword and hands until it splits and concentrates just around his hands. Then the wind dissipates revealing that his Zanpakuto has changed to form two knives that look very similar to the weapons he had back on Remnant.

At this point Nora is completely gushing over her boyfriend and Ruby looks like she might explode, probably from wanting to examine it, 'Still forever the weapon fanatic.' I think with a small smile before I remember the reason we are here and regain my composure. Then I begin making my way elsewhere so that maybe I can have some peace and quiet.

As I walk I pass by Blake she asks "Where you going?" I can tell she asks out of concern because even though our relationship started out bad we have since then grown closer especially after Ruby's death.

"I just need some peace and quiet, and clearly that won't be able to happen here." I state with my usual cold passive that to be honest I wish it wasn't habit for me. Still Blake knows that I don't mean anything bad by it and simply nods so I continue on my way. After walking far enough that whatever Nora is saying is just barely audible. Then I dust off a rock before I sit on it and cross my legs and put my Asauchi on my lap like Mr. Urahara showed us when we first got them. As I take a deep breath I close my eyes trying to focus my spirit energy into the blade. I sit there for quite some time simply channeling my energy, but then I notice that I can't hear Nora at all and I feel a sudden slight chill to the air. Concerned with both of these realizations I open my eyes again for a startling discovery. I was no longer in the underground training area but in what would appear to be a very old castle if the walls were anything to go by and my sword is no longer on my lap. Immensely confused by my current situation I being walking down the corridor I woke up in until I come across the only door that I have seen and open it hoping to leave and find some answers to what was going on. The room inside can only be described as something that I would have only be able to see in my dreams as I look to see that lining the walls were huge book selves that as I look up seem to extend up forever, but most amazing was that some of the books where floating off the selves toward what looks like a knight sitting in a luxurious chair that was also float a few feet above the ground with a few books open and floating in front of the knight.

The knight appears to notice my and the chair slowly turns with the open books following and once fully turns asks "I suppose I should welcome you, but to be honest I am wondering why you are here." The knight says in a surprisingly feminine voice.

I shake my head slightly to recover from the spectacle before me and dive right into the business like mode that has been drilled into me since I was to be named the successor to the family company "Hello my name is-"

"I know what your name is." She interrupts me "What I want to know is why you are here?"

I take a second to recompose myself having been a little irritated from being interrupted "I am here to ask to borrow your power so that I may defend people who-"

"Bullshit." She interrupts me again.

"Excuse you?" I question.

"What exactly do you think I am?" at this point all of the books floating about have stopped moving and the books in front of her have closed showing that this question was something that was to be taken seriously.

"Y-You are my Zanpakuto spirit and you help me fight by lending me more power." I say very sure of my answer.

"That is correct, but I don't have to lend you my power if I don't think you worthy of it."

This statement certainly is a surprise and I can't hide it on my face "What are you saying? That I'm not worthy of wielding such powers?"

"That is correct."

It takes me a moment to truly process what she just said "Based on what exactly?"

With a sigh, she begins "Tell me when you made a path for the person that you could consider your first friend in years and partner that would lead her to her death what did you do?" I was about to explain she cuts me off and continues "You did nothing. Even though you knew that she was about to go up against something big you didn't go to help her."

"I-I just thought she could handle it." I say my voice is a bit shaky now as she just stares at me.

"Did you or were you just concerned about yourself?" I stand there thinking about her question believing her to be wrong, but to be honest I was not so sure if that was the answer and before I could try to come up with a valid argument she continues "Clearly your resolve is not enough and I refuse to lend power to someone who is not even sure of themselves and their decisions."

I am about to shout out in protest, but I blink and like that I am back in the underground training area and I can once again faintly hear Nora in the distance. Though none of it even registers as I try to think about what I was just told and I try to think about that day for the first time in almost a year. Tears start to fall as I realize that she is right and if I would have done more than maybe Ruby would have lived. I cover my mouth to stifle my sobs as the grief that I have been shoving down to the bottom of my heart wells up now and over flows with the sorrow of knowing that the reason that Ruby died was because I didn't do more to help her.

Pyrrha POV

I feel happy for Ren as he reveals his Zanpakuto and maybe a little bit jealous that he has been able too before me 'Maybe it has something to do with the fact that Ren has always been quite exceptional at channeling his Aura.' I look over to Jaune and can see that he is happy too, but at the same time I can see his sorrow for not being able to do it himself yet either. If I had to guess why it is because he has always been feeling inadequate in his fighting prowess. Not that he hasn't improved in fact I would say that he is now better than most of the people back at Beacon, but at the same time everyone in our group is still by far superior fighters and because of Ruby's death everyone kept on improving themselves so the gap between our skills just got wider no matter how well he improved. However, when we came here we all had to learn new skills I think he might have thought maybe he would have had a chance to be on even footing, but now I am unsure of whether he will move forward and improve again like in the past.

Ren reseals his Zanpakuto and sits down only to be nearly knocked over by Nora and bombarded by so many questions that I can't even hope to keep track. Now while Ren tries to get Nora to calm down enough to answer the questions the rest of us have for him Jaune inquires "Does anyone know how much longer Brandon is going to stay unconscious?"

At this most of the group looks toward Ruby for an answer which clearly confuses the younger girl "What?"

Blake slightly lowers her book to answer her question be for Yang could and probably embarrass her sister to death "You are the one that goes to see him the most often."

Then as her face grows redder to almost match her name sake I give the whole scene a small smile, but as I look at her I can't help but feel little stings of guilt because things could have easily been flipped and I could have been sitting where she is, and it sickens me but I am happy that she died instead of me. Of course, it still hurt when she died because she is my friend, but now I'm not so sure if I can call her that and ever since we came here I have been conflicted about this. My train of thought is broken from a hand touching my arm and I look to see that it is Jaune "Pyrr are you okay?"

I look around to see that no one else has noticed and I slightly curse that Jaune has become quite sharp at picking up people's thoughts and emotions and is no longer that dense. I quickly hide how I feel with the usual smile I give "I fine Jaune." While I think I sounded very convincing he doesn't seem to buy it, so before he can press for more information I stand up so that I can try to rebury these feelings and thoughts, but as I completely stand Jaune grabs my hand with a concerned look on his face and while I find his concern touching I'm terrified of what he would think of me if I told him how I feel right now. So, I smile at him trying reassure him "Don't worry I just want to pour a little of my energy into my Asauchi and for that I'm gonna need to be able to focus." I say while slightly gesturing to the group that has now gotten quite loud.

He seems to think about it for a moment trying to decipher whether that is truly the case before his expression softens a bit and let's go of my hand "Okay. We will be right here and will be leaving for our next classes in a few hours."

"Okay." I say with a smile as I start to walk away to find a spot where I will be able to sort out my feelings and try to make sense of them. I find one of the many open areas in the training grounds and make my way over to the center and sit down to passively put energy into my sword while I think things over. Once I close my eyes and feel that I have a steady flow of energy I let my mind go blank trying not to think about anything, but after a while I notice that something feels slightly off about the air and when I open my eyes I see that I have somehow ended up in a brick hallway that is dimly lit by touches that line the walls behind me and in front. I slowly rise to my feet cautiously having noticed that my sword is gone and a little bit panicked, but after taking a moment to calm myself I discover that in one direction I can faintly see a light that is different from the orange light from the torches. I slow make my way over and find that it is an opening that leads to an area that is too bright for me to see clearly.

Once my eyes adjust to the light I see that I have stepped into what looks like a giant arena that is surrounded by stands and the design looks like some of the ruins of some of the first arenas that were made in Mistral back in ancient times. I continue to be cautious as I step out and look around and notice a person that is dawned in golden armor from head to toe that looks much like the kind that fighters of this arena with only a few gapes where their joints are showing dark tanned skin and torn red cloth sticking out and a cape flowing out behind the warrior of the same color. The warrior seems to notice my presence and turns to me with the only thing visible of its face are the bright orange eyes staring at me that feel like they are picking apart my very soul. Then a female voice rings out "It is unexpected to see you here so soon, but welcome."

I look around for the source but it was almost as if the voice was coming from the very arena itself and as strange as this is I respond "H-Hello. I am Pyrrha Nikos it is a pleasure to meet you." I bow toward the warrior not knowing who else to direct the conversation to.

The warrior nods slightly in response "Yes I am familiar with you. One of the greatest Huntress in training of your year, champion of Mistral's regional tournament four years in a row resulting in you obtaining the title of the untouchable queen, and a survivor of the fall of beacon."

I don't really like those praises especially that last one as it stings a bit, but I just hide it like I always do. I smile politely at the warrior "Why thank you. Your praise is appreciated, but may I ask what your name is and what is this place?"

The warriors head lowers as if in thought before it rises again and that same voice from before speaks as if the voice is coming from the warrior, but the build of the body is wrong and looks like the perfect warrior with no hint of femininity, though there is nowhere else it could be coming from. Then as if to settle my mental debate the warrior places a hand on their chest as the voice speaks "So as you may have guessed I am your Zanpakuto spirit and this is your inner world I suppose you could say." She raises her hand to stop me from speaking "Now before you ask no I cannot tell you my name because it is one of the requirements to getting me to come out and help you." She lowers her hand and head as if thinking something else over again before she raises her head, but this time her eyes look sad as she speaks again "Also it saddens me, but even if you figure out what my name is I won't help if you call for me."

I am slightly shocked by this "Why not?"

She sighs "Because I do not believe you are ready."

I think about the situation for a moment "And why is that?"

"Do you really think you deserve such power? After all you are happy that Ruby died and you got to live." I lower my head knowing that that is true "I'm sorry, but I can't help someone who-"

"I know!" I shout interrupting her "I know that I am a horrible friend even if I might not have the right to call myself that!" tears are streaming down uncontrollably "I hate myself for feeling this way! For being happy that I got to live and be with Jaune when I thought I was never going to see him again! I also still think of Ruby as my friend and yet if given the chance to exchange my life for hers back then I don't think that I could." I am almost speaking in a whisper at the end and I just stand there my mind racing with tears falling down my face to the ground. Then I clench my fists as I wipe the tears from my face as I stand firm having made up my mind "So I have just decided that I will become even stronger than before and from now on I will re-earn her friendship and even if I can't change the past I will protect her and all of those around me properly this time!"

I stand there with some tears still in my eyes staring at the weapon spirit before me that seems to be in shock judging from her eyes. Then suddenly she just explodes into laughter which completely throws me off and after a few moments she speaks "Sorry, sorry I just wasn't expecting you to have such determination right now, but then I remembered that you are you so of course you are prepared to take that step forward." Then she raises her right hand and two swords appear, one in front of me and on in front of her and she now has a serious look in her eyes. "Now show just how serious your resolve is." She states calmly as she pulls the sword out of the ground and brings it up parallel in both hands.

I wipe the last few tears I had and take a deep breath before I pull out the other sword and get into the same stance. We just simply stand there waiting for the other to make the first move, but I strongly feel the need prove myself and that leads to me breaking first and dashing toward her. She easily is able to match me and brings up her blade to block me and redirects me as I start to step past her she reangles and make a swipe at me, but I bring my blade up in time to block it and use the momentum to take a few steps back. I quickly move back in to strike, but I am easily thwarted again, but this time I don't let her redirect me and force her into a stalemate and our blades grind against each other. I look into her eyes and I could swear that if she wasn't wearing her helmet than I would be able to see her smiling and she even laughs a bit before she speaks "Very good I can feel your resolve through our blade." She then let's up on her sword which I almost stumble, but recover before a hole in my defense would have shown and prepare to continue. However, she has completely lowered her sword and it disappears in her hand before she speaks again "You have proven yourself for now," She says cheerily before her tone grows dark "but know this if your resolve weakens and you are not going to give it your all in a fight I will not come to your aid. Preventing you from being able to take part in the battle." Then she spreads her arms wide "However, for now I have excepted your current resolve so if you wish to use me simply call out to me and I will heed your call."

I blink a few times to process what it is she just told me and lower my sword and it too disappears from my hands. I take a breath to calm my nerves before I ask the next obvious question "I'm glad that I have earned your cooperation, but I am not sure how it that I am supposed to call for you?"

She sighs before slightly bowing toward me "Sorry I forgot that you don't know that yet." then she straightens up and gestures to the arena around us "My name is here and I cannot tell you or help you find it." with that she steps to my side and places a hand on my shoulder "Good luck."

I step forward and look around taking a better observation of everything having not gotten the chance earlier. I now notice that the stands seem to go on forever with a throne about five to six rows behind the edge of the wall surrounding the arena above what I think is the hall that I came out of, but there are three other similar openings in each of the four cardinal directions. I walk closer to find that above each opening are the symbols for the four kingdoms and when I am standing in front of each one I can feel a draft that feels like wind from each kingdom. After wondering around the arena for a few more minutes taking careful observation of the walls I decide to look in the stands before I go down one of the hallways.

The stands are made of stone that fits the esthetic of the arena and nothing sticks out and I finally make my way over to the throne. The throne is also made of stone however unlike the stands that are rough the throne was smooth. With space on all sides separating it from the rest of the seats I walk around it to find that it is covered in symbols, but these are far more personal. All along the sides are the symbols of each of my friends and as I make my way around to the back the two biggest symbols that will forever be reminders of my two biggest failures as a warrior and friend. One is the symbol belonging to Penny and while she was a robot I could feel the fear in her eyes as I ripped her apart and for me that is proof enough that she was alive. The other is Ruby's symbol and as I move my hands over them I can almost feel my heart break, but I clench my fists as I remind myself that these two are the reason that I need to get stronger.

I make my way to the front and find Jaune's symbol that to me represents another reason for me to become stronger. I move my hand of his symbol and I swear that I can almost feel his goofy yet strong heart and after staring at it for a moment I sit down in the throne and surprising it feels comfortable. I close my eyes and it almost feels like I am sitting with all of my friends back at Beacon and I can feel a real true smile spread across my face. I open my eyes to look over the arena and then I remember that during ancient there was similar thrones in arenas that a special judge or a king would sit and determine the fate of those that fought before them. Then something begins to click in my head and I can feel that this is what I was looking for. I turn to my right and find the warrior standing there and again even if I can only see her eyes I can tell that she is smiling "You got it?"

I smile back as I stand up and nod "Yes and it will be a pleasure working with you Shinsei Hanji (True Judge)." Then as her name comes out of my mouth wind whips and I can feel an almost familiar sensation of my polarity semblance as metal comes together on my arm and hands as a shield and spear form. Much like what I saw of Ren's Shikai mine looks very similar to my weapons from when I was alive except that my shield and the spears head is a bit larger.

Once they are fully formed I look over to Shinsei to find her one knee before me "I am glad to have my name known and I will serve to protect you at all cost so long as you call for me."

I shift my spear into my left hand that has the shield attached and reach out to her with my right hand. She looks up at it for a moment before taking it and stands up as I speak "It will be a pleasure to have another partner that I can depend upon." I say with a smile.

"Like wise!" she says very cheerily.

Once I blink though I am back in the training ground and a smile forms as I remember everything and look down to find that my sword has changed shape and looks similar to my old sword with red for most of the length of the blade and gold along the bladed part along with a red grip and gold at the hilt, with the only difference being that it has a golden hand guard that almost looks like my shield. I pick up my sheath that has also changed to match the colors and shape of the blade with my symbol in black in the middle of it. I chuckle a bit at the thought that I am going to be questioned to death by everyone especially Ruby. At the thought of the girl I feel a bit saddened and I know that I have a lot to make up for, but my smile returns knowing that I have a second chance to right one of the wrongs that I have done. So I stand up and take a deep breath readying myself for the rapid fire questions and make my way back to the group with my new partner ready for whatever more may come our way.

There you go guys hope you guys enjoyed it and let just say wasn't too sure what to write for this one for a while, but I think it turned out ok.

Also while I have a decent ability when it comes to writing I suck at drawing and i was wondering if anyone of you guys reading would want to make drawings for any of my stories and if you are interested then PM me so we can discuss the details.

Oh yeah if anyone is willing to beta read for me then please PM me for that and let me know which story you want to do.

anyways I'll get to work on the next chapter so I'll see all ya then later.