Prologue

32… to many others it would just be another number, but to her it was a grim reminder of how alone she truly was in this world. The halls would be full of other students but even if she was physically there, she wasn't. Students had friends to talk to about how hard that test was, or random people to just pass you by without a second thought. But she wasn't part of that world. Students would give her a wide breath, thinking she was "too perfect, or they would distract her from her important work" as if she was some goddess sent by the heavens. 32 days…. days spent at Beacon Academy, eating her lunches alone on the roof or locker room. Days spent trying to connect to her peers, and have them never truly talking with her as if she was just another girl. Days spent trying feebly to escape the endless void of loneliness and misery that every day got closer to consuming her entirely. All it took this time was 32, 32 days of the same treatment she got to bring this "perfect, untouchable, unbeatable warrior" to her knees in despair and abjection.

The crimson haired girl sat all alone in her temporary room that Beacon had assigned her. The vast emptiness of the room and lack of any sheets on the other beds only served to remind her how small and alone she was here. Even though she had requested no special treatment, she had been given her own room to herself, no other awkward new students to connect with and make friends with. She curled up tighter and turned away, trying her best to fight back the feelings of loneliness and isolation, to not shed another tear tonight. She raised her hands to cover her face like a mask, a mask that would conceal who she was and how she truly felt. She had worn the mask of an "obedient daughter" when she learned her parents had only loved her name and not her. She had worn the mask of an "Understanding person" when every time she had tried to make a friend, they almost shunned her, with excuses of how they were not good enough to be her friend.

When she had first decided to attend Beacon Academy she had a glimmer of hope, as small and precious as a ray of light in a storm which she would protect with every fiber of her being, to protect. To her it was her last chance to finally find her own place in this ugly world. To find some semblance of a normal life, to find joy in the simple monotonous days that most of her peers took for granite. But most of all finally throw away and step off this impossibly high pedestal everyone had thrust her upon. Where everyone crushed her under the expectation to complete every challenge without a second thought, to be this untouchable Valkyrie Goddess of Victory. She couldn't do it, she was just a regular girl! She had her own hopes and dreams and fears! She felt anger rise in her chest, causing her to shake with anger. Why couldn't anyone see that?! Why couldn't she find that one person who would be able to see that she sadly thought to herself. In all her years on Remnant… did she not deserve at least that?

Chapter 1

"Oh Dust, oh Dust, oh Dust! PLEASE TELL ME THIS ISN'T HAPPENING AGAIN!"

A golden haired young man was scrambling around his temporary room, picking up various piece of clothings that were scattered about. He had finally managed to put on his hoodie, correctly this time, while doing his best to pull up his jeans. All the while his heavy hand-me-down armor slowed him down from how messily her put it on. He didn't have the time to fix it unfortunately.

Finally being at least somewhat dressed he reached the door and half jammed half tugged his shoes over the back lip of his foot. He opened the door and sadly glanced back at his untouched bowl of Pumpkin Pete's. No time for that, farewell sweet breakfast he thought to himself as he bolted out the door.

He silently cursed himself that he had overslept again, even through 3 different alarms, and today was one day he could not afford to. By some divine will he had always seemed to be late to Professor Goodwitch's class every day since he arrived at Beacon Academy. As if the snickers from the other students weren't bad enough, Professor Goodwitch seemed to have it out for him now. Then again that was nothing new, he was never the best student so he could only blame himself.

"Was today the main hall or the sparring arena?!" He said out loud, trying to jog his memory as he bolted down the empty hallways. The young warrior to be began to pick up speed, his unstrapped armor clacking loudly against him. His heart was already pumping hard has he ran, his steps echoed off the ways and his golden hair bounced over and around his eyes. He needed to get a haircut soon he mused. The hallways were thankfully empty, the normal hum and buzz of students were instead replaced by his ragged breathing and and rapid footsteps. And as the young man sharpy banked a corner he ran face first into someone.

"Oh for the love of-" was as far as he got before his world began to turn upside down and his world turned black and white. He and the other person went down in a mess of limbs and confusion.

"I'm i'm sorry! Are you ok?" Came a light worried voice below him. He dimly thought to himself that he couldn't have, that not even he would be this dumb. He opened his eyes. He did. Crystal eyes met emerald ones. He slowly became aware the he was laying down on top of her, his body pressed against hers. As fast as humanly possible he flung himself off of her, and ended up hitting his head against the wall in the process.

"Oh dust, i'm so sorry i'm late for class and wasn't look where I was going," he rambled rubbing his head wishing he could just go back to his room and hide. She giggled and got up, brushing her long crimson hair back into place. "Are you ok?" she asked, trying her best to suppress a smile, holding out her hand to help him up. He dumbly nodded and took her hand and helped him up.

He was surprised at rough and strong her hands were as he got up. She definitely was a well trained fighter, long legs clad in a bright armor. Her weapons tucked neatly under her long red sash the fell down to her high heel wore a tight dark brown corset that pushed her chest out, he quickly shook his head at that thought.

"Oh uh I see you're a fan of" she began to giggle as she held averted her gaze"X-Ray and Van."

"Oh yeah I love them they, wait how did you know that?" She just pointed at him and couldn't help and laugh. He looked down at himself confused and realized he was wearing his Van boxers today… and his belt had come loose. He didn't think it was possible today could get any worse, but as usual he was wrong. He pulled up his pants, trying to hide his face from her so she couldn't see he was almost as red as her hair.

"I uh- have to go to class now. Do you know where Goodwhich has her class today?" He quickly asked, trying to get out of there as fast as possible. She had finally controlled herself, wiping a tear away from her eye. "I-i'm sorry, just Dust that was funny."

"But yes, I believe it's being held in the sparring arena to-" she said before he quickly thanked her and ran off.

"WAIT I NEVER GOT YOUR NAME!" the crimson haired girl yelled.

"I'M JAUNE, JAUNE ARC!" he yelled back. "SORRY AGAIN FOR RUNNING INTO YOU MISS-"

"ITS PYRRHA, PYRRHA NIKOS. I HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN JAUNE!" She shouted, smiling and waving him goodbye. Pyrrha Nikos, he liked that name he thought as he raced off to class.