The first time Nora had seen her she was positive that she had just been seeing things. She was in a new strange world after all, she didn’t know how things worked her, she didn’t know what evils lurked in the corner, she didn’t know anything. Even if everyone told her Wonderland was a bright and happy place, she learned things weren’t always as it seemed.
The second time she saw her, she had run after her, but had quickly lost sight of her. It couldn’t be her after all, no matter what it was impossible and Nora had to drill that into her head several times before she stopped thinking about the girl and stopped that hope from rising. Pyrrha was dead, and not even this strange world could change that no matter how badly she wanted it.
That was why the third time she saw her she followed her, this time never turning away or losing sight of her. She had to find out who this person was after all, find out why she looked so much like her best friend, and put an end to the hope that always bubbled up inside of her when she saw her.
Of course she had failed at keeping a constant eye on her a few times, it wasn’t her fault that the bakery’s they passed always smelled so sweet and she’d give in to quickly get herself a nice little treat! You couldn’t do detective work on an empty stomach after all!! And she wasn’t gonna be a jerk and ignore anyone that asked her for help and what not! She was a huntress after all, helping people is what she did!! It didn’t matter how many times she got distracted anyways, she always found the girl again not long after and she was back to her mission.
It was starting to get late now though, and Nora knew she was going to have to approach the red head sooner or later to get her answer, she just wasn’t sure how. She was following her a few feet behind, using the shadows to keep herself hidden when she’d suddenly heard a small bark. Instantly her attention was drawn to the cutest puppy ever in front of her and she wouldn’t help but squeal in delight! She had been chosen by this sweet little thing and she instantly got on her knees to give the thing so much love.
“Well aren’t you just the most cutest and adorablest thing in the world!!!” She baby talked the puppy, making baby noises as she rubbed it’s belly. Her mission completely gone from her mind until she heard her name spoken just above a whisper, followed by a hand on her shoulder. Instantly her head snapped up towards the taller girl, eye’s wide in utter shock as she faced the girl who she knew shouldn’t be standing in front of her. It couldn’t be her, she knew this with all her heart, but yet here she was. She hadn’t changed at all it seemed, still looked the way she had when they were in the Vital Festival.
“Pyrrha?…..Is that really you?” Tears began to form in her eyes as she took everything in. The warmth in her hand, the smile on her face, the tears that threatened to fall from her own eyes as if she knew that this shouldn’t be possible yet here they were reuniting once again.
She didn’t wait for her reply, she knew in her heart that it was her. That whatever magic had brought them here had also brought Pyrrha back somehow. She suddenly tackled her into the ground, hugging her with all her strength as her tears finally fell. “Oh Pyrrha!!! I can’t believe this!! I can’t- You’re here!! I missed you so much!!”
When Nora’s bright eyes shot up with her head to meet hers, Pyrrha’s heart jumped into her throat. The tears that welled in the blue hues caused the old familiar pain to flare in her chest - Nora was crying, she had hurt her. Immediately, her other hand reached out as if to wipe the tears from beneath her eyes. “It’s me... I don’t know-” Her voice came shakily, not nearly as strong as it once was, and her speech was knocked out of her once more by the other girl’s body thrown against hers.
She crumbled in response, but not because she was weak or Nora had overpowered her. No, Pyrrha sank to the ground with the other huntress because the weight that had been crushing her body was lifted at the contact. She had never felt such immense relief, such complete fullness in her heart, and the redhead decided that for just once, she didn’t need to be strong. A soft, quiet sob passed her lips as she wrapped her arms as tightly as she could around Nora, squeezing as though she was afraid she truly was dreaming.
“Nora!” She cried, echoing her name again as if to get a grip on her surroundings, to ground herself to their embrace. Her shoulders shook, but she buried her face into her teammates hair and allowed them to. She was allowed this vulnerability. She was allowed to feel this confusion, this pain, this... joy. “I don’t know how I am here,” Pyrrha final spoke after a few breaths. “But I am. It seems something called on me. Summoned, maybe. Do I sound crazy?”
The huntress pulled away slightly, hands moving to grasp Nora’s shoulders as she held her just far enough to get a good look at her. She looked different, but not immensely so. They were subtle differences - her face was just as lively as it had been, but Pyrrha could see how much she had been through deep in her gaze. Her jaw was more defined now, her eyes more focused, all of her stronger, more. It caused Pyrrha’s heart to swell and break all at once. “Nora... I am so sorry,” Her words come softly, but pointedly, each one emphasized with her meaning. “I didn’t mean for-” She halts herself. No, no excuses, Pyrrha. She knew the battle with Cinder was one she could not win. She had only wanted to do whatever she could to slow the other down, to save at least one more life if she was able to. She silently wonders if she had been successful. “I am so sorry for leaving you. And our team.”
Questions and apologizes shot off like lightning in Pyrrha’s head, but she sat for a long moment in silence. She failed to find it in herself to speak, and instead could only relish in the comfort of Nora’s closeness. Part of her was even rejoicing - perhaps this was a second chance, a new destiny, a true one. A larger part of her was terrified, not only for herself and what this meant, but for the consequences this would bring upon her team. She shoved the thoughts down. At least for now, here in this moment, that did not have to matter. It could wait. With a deep breath, Pyrrha threw her arms around her best friend once more.
