The holo-message arrived in the mail promptly at the residence of the Nikos family. Its silvery appearance came as a shock to Mr. Nikos, who had waited eagerly for an answer to arrive for his daughter, Pyrrha. The man knew how important this was for the young girl, who had spent her whole life waiting for this moment to finally come.

"E'ryone! Gather 'round! Pyrrha's got a message!" Her father's booming voice echoed through the Nikos household. Pyrrha, with one of her older brothers in tow, bolted down the steps to reach the kitchen, where her father was resting.

"We're comin'!" Pyrrha bolted through the doorway of the kitchen as soon as she could. Her simple, olive-green dress fluttered and the light armor weaved into it clanked upon her as she ran towards her father. Her relative youth and lithe frame gave her a natural edge against her older brothers in terms of quickness. The wide smile on her father's face meant, to Pyrrha, that she had gotten something truly good.

When Pyrrha saw the holo-message appear on her scroll, her eyes simply beamed. She had waited many years for this moment, and it had finally arrived. Pyrrha grabbed it from her father's hands and activated it as fast as she could press the buttons. The Beacon symbol shined on the screen, embossed on a literal paper scroll holograph. Soon, it began to unravel on the screen, to reveal a backdrop. Once the animation had ended, a person materialized on the screen. Headmaster Ozpin's stoic, yet welcoming face slowly beamed up towards Pyrrha's hopeful face.

"Ms. Nikos, I am sending you this message with the utmost gratitude in your choosing to attend Beacon Academy, and with a response of your acceptance to Beacon itself. You have shown exceptional skills in leadership and intelligence. At Beacon, your skills will be honed and refined, and your greatest potential can be reached.

You will be taught by some of the finest professors, hand-picked from all of Remnant, and will be able to create bonds with your fellow students. Friendships will be kindled and partnerships that will last a lifetime will be formed.

As a student of Beacon, you will be able to enjoy the luxury that is the nearby city of Vale. The shops; the seaside air; and a comfortable environment that resonates with home.

I trust that you will arrive fit and ready to face the challenges that we will offer you at Beacon. We will welcome you to Beacon in one week's time."

"I'm so excited for ya, dear! Ya just got accepted into Beacon!" Pyrrha's mother gleefully wrapped her entire body around her daughter. Her face characterized the ecstatic reaction that the woman had over the acceptance of her daughter into the Academy she had always wanted to attend.

"I'm so proud of ya, Pyrrha. Ya said you'd always wanted to go there. Now, go out there and make us all proud!" Her father's booming voice rose over her, as he wrapped both of them in a large bear hug and lifted them off of the ground. Her brother quickly joined into the hug, tightening it around Pyrrha and her mother.

"Thanks, Mom and Dad. Thank ya for being by my side. Do ya think you can manage without me?" Pyrrha's voice was equal measures matter-of-fact and concerned. Her parents were beginning to get on in their years, and she was rather concerned about their health and their lives.

"Ohohoho!" Pyrrha's father just looked her right in the eye, with a sure grin on his face. "Don't you worry, my little flame! Your parents'll do just fine!"

"Alright, Dad. I just want to make sure."

Pyrrha seriously could not believe her eyes. The thing that had haunted her dreams for weeks had come back as a cause for utmost joy. She had been accepted into Beacon! She was going to become a Huntress! She was going to join all of those strong, valiant warriors in fighting Grimm and protecting people.

But then, she sighed. She would leave behind her whole village again. This time, she would be away for a lot longer. She had spent so much time making friends and keeping them, but now she would start all over. She would leave Mistral for Beacon in one week's time.

Pyrrha's worries drifted to her family. Her parents already struggled as it was, but it may be harder for them without her. The farm wouldn't take care of itself, and her father complained often of back pain. Being poor had always been a major burden on the family; she could barely afford to get into Sanctum as it was. Thankfully, she was able to scrape by into the Academy, and now was attending Beacon on the back of her older brothers.

Pyrrha never worried about her brothers. She knew they would be fine. Each of her brothers knew of Pyrrha's dream to train as Huntress. They all had their ears talked off about her desire to attend academies, and each wished to help out as much as they could. Each of them had jobs far off in other parts of Mistral. The oldest, Ajax, even had a job in Vale, working as a Foreman for a Schnee Dust Mine out in the countryside. Her other brothers also worked jobs all around, from technology in Atlas to mercenaries in Vacuo to even another farmer in the town that Pyrrha lived in. Their collective resources pooled to allow their youngest sibling, their little Flame, to attend Sanctum and Beacon Academies.

Pyrrha had difficulties that she would need to take care of, especially in the arena. Her inability to channel her Aura while at the Academy became one of her biggest frustrations; whilst most of the others were able to unlock both rather simply, Pyrrha was stuck trying to unlock and channel both. Many of the attempts to channel her Semblance, which seemed to be a sort of Polarity, ended in a veritable failure.

It had taken a patient and persistent teacher to allow her to reach the heights of her abilities. Even then, she was still lagging well behind the rest of her peers. She would have some serious catching up to do when she arrived at Beacon.

She did, however, need to take some pride in her abilities. Pyrrha's lighter weaponry, her beloved Milo and Akoùo, could couple well in evasive strategies. Pyrrha, focusing on an evasive strategy to compensate for technical weakness, was a rather difficult target to even hit. The limited abilities she had with her Semblance did allow her to retrieve Milo with some semblance of accuracy, but Pyrrha was still very inexperienced with it.

Pyrrha was also a natural-born leader. As a solo fighter, she struggled in comparison to much of the rest of the Academy, but as a team fighter? Pyrrha showed true promise. At Sanctum, her leadership was off the charts. Her prowess led her team to victory time and time again; notably, when her team won a few tournaments while she was enrolled there. She had taken advantage of higher ground and an opponent's undeveloped semblance, in her favorite victory, to create discord and claim victory against an unorganized opponent.

Pyrrha thought back to her time at Sanctum. Her friends were rather wonderful people, mainly from the cities of Mistral. The culture shock the farm girl was given when she first arrived at Sanctum was rather significant. My accent was so thick back then… As the youngest, she often got the hand-me-down technology, so to get her own new school-assigned scroll was a happy experience. Making friends also helped her learn so much about the rest of Mistral, and visits to their homes allowed her to experience things a farm life wouldn't give her.

I wonder what new friends from all over the world could let me experience!

The village was completely ecstatic to see one of their own go to an Academy as illustrious as Beacon. All five of her brothers, upon finding out, dropped everything to come congratulate their little leader and sister. Despite being the youngest, Pyrrha always led the charge if something were to happen when they were kids. The brothers were fiercely supportive of her going to Sanctum, and they helped her out any way they could, including practicing with her any chance they could while they were home.

The airstrip, not too far from the village, was rather old and worn down. Nevertheless, it was up to standard for the landing of the airships. On the side running closest to the town there were a few tables set up, a few banners also swayed in the breeze. All in support of their town's champion.

Much of Pyrrha's village was there to send her off. The town as a whole stood in a congregation some distance behind her and her family. Many were crying, many were cheering… but each of them could not be prouder of Pyrrha. Her intimate friends and family stood close to her. A friend or two, and her parents and brothers. No one wished for the moment to end, all encapsulated in a state of ephemeral bliss.

Pyrrha took a moment to walk forward and turn around. Tears were streaming down her cheeks with joy to see that all of her old friends and family were here to see her off.

"I'll miss you guys." Pyrrha's voice was a little choked, but she still was able to communicate her message to her closest friends and family.

"Write often, my little flame." Pyrrha's father was often a man of simplistic want and desire, and she smiled at his request, quickly nodding.

"Don't forget where ya came from, Pyrrha. Ya got yourself a fun time comin', and you're gonna enjoy it. We'll miss ya." Her mother said what she needed to, and pulled Pyrrha into a hug.

"If any guy tries to do ya wrong, sis, just tell us. We'll come and rough him up for ya, okay?" Her oldest brother, a sturdy 26-year-old man named Ajax, spoke for the masses. He towered over Pyrrha, his 6'5 frame making him a very imposing man. His wispy red hair fluttered in the light breeze, and his green eyes shone with a reserved happiness. His beard burned as fiery red as his hair. He wore a green and white flannel shirt, khaki pants, and a beaming grin. His voice was as booming as that of their father, but time in Vale helped mellow out his accent. "I hope you enjoy what we got ya."

Ajax then pulled her in close, hands on both of his shoulders. His tight grip made Pyrrha feel rather uncomfortable, but she was anticipating what was coming next. "Pyrrha, I know you'll be so happy at Beacon. I also knew that ya would be experiencing a lot of new things at Beacon. We all thought that we would give ya some gifts to help ya transition. Ya know that you can call us anytime." He then pulled his littlest sibling into a deep hug, one that Pyrrha cherished for every moment she got.

She had packed a small bag with a few articles of clothing; her old scroll that she got at the start of her time at Signal; a small amount of money she had saved for her trip to Beacon; the wrapped gifts she got from her brothers; some essentials; and her weaponry. This was all she carried with her on the ride to Beacon.

She held her bag tightly against her chest as she tried to rest while on the ride. It would be a long way to Beacon from her little village. The buildings faded over the horizon as the craft sped up towards Vale, heading east. She'd miss her parents, and Ajax and all the rest of them, and… she shook her head with a slightly newfound resolve.

Pyrrha, for much of the ride, was left alone. Her appearance did not particularly stand out, for however beautiful her visage was - with her Mistralian red hair and sparkling green eyes - it was a plain, classical beauty from a forgotten age. Akoùo was tucked nicely into her bag, and Milo was laying on her lap. Pyrrha was lost in thought, contemplating everything that was going on to her. The magnitude of everything was finally hitting her. She'd been accepted into Beacon!

While Pyrrha was lost in thought, she thought back to where she had begun this journey. Her hands trailed towards Milo and Akòuo, her fateful companions on this arduous journey. The small imperfections and dents, results of intense training to reach the level she was currently at, served as a reminder of how far she had come and where she was going.

Her village had been attacked by Grimm, and she had been cornered. Pyrrha had believed that she was going to die, surrounded by snarling Beowolves. Instead, a small huntress in a bright white cloak had arrived and quickly dispatched all of the Grimm surrounding her, saving her life.

After that day, Pyrrha had a fire ignited in her to become a Huntress. When the Nikos siblings all played together, it now often centered around fighting Grimm or saving people instead of anything else. Her brothers, eager to protect her, often followed her orders in "attacking" whatever monster they were put up against that day or "saving" the damsel in distress. This had allowed Pyrrha to develop her skills of leadership and gain experience about what being a leader is about. This, too, allowed Pyrrha and her brothers to become the darlings of the village, which gave Pyrrha even more significant backing to follow her dreams.

When she left for Sanctum, she wrote often to the village as a whole. Pyrrha wanted to make her family proud. Despite the merits of leadership that she carried, Pyrrha felt like she was… out of place with all of these warriors and fighters she spotted on the airship with her. Some she faintly recognized from magazine pages and covers, and one or two from actual bouts. Sure, she saw a few old friends, but Pyrrha felt rather distant from them. They were people who had trained all their life to become fighters, people who could defend those in need from harm. What was she when compared to them?

She felt alone; she felt lost…

She felt out of her league.

Hours passed…

Pyrrha could not sleep. Her mind was keeping her awake, intrusive thoughts and general malaise keeping her awake.

Here she was, Pyrrha Nikos, amongst all of these great Huntsman and Huntresses who could train to become some of the best in the world, and now she was almost feeling as if she didn't deserve it. Pyrrha Nikos, the darling of a small village… weakling of Sanctum, made it into Beacon...

These overwhelming thoughts made her feel ill.

For the first time since the beginning of the ride, in the earliest part of dawn, Pyrrha arose from her seat and drew attention to herself. Her dinner came back to haunt her, and so she rushed for the nearest receptacle and threw up.

Jaune, you're going to Beacon. You've shown what you can do, and I expect your best to be all that you give. You have trained so long for this. Your sisters were some of the best that Beacon has ever produced. I expect you to match their prowess.

The words rang inside of Jaune's head. His life had been marked by a sense of duty, success and valor, like that of his family. These words, like his complex, ornate armor, weighed heavy upon Jaune.

The Arcs were an illustrious family. Full of heroes and valiant Hunters and Huntresses, they were towards the center of every war and conflict in much of the history of Remnant. The name was printed in every history book. Jaune was destined to follow in their footsteps as the one to take up arms and become a hunter.

The Arcs, illustrious as they were, were also a very traditional family. The firstborn son would take up the family sword, Crocea Mors when they became of age to wield it. No female heir had ever wielded Crocea Mors into battle to this day. It had been this way ever since his great-great grandfather had used the now-legendary weaponry in the Great War, and now it was Jaune's.

As a youth, Jaune had been eager to take on the challenge. Despite being babied by his two sisters, which he still was whenever they got the opportunity, he would train and fight against anything he could. His sisters became teachers as well as playmates. Many times when in play, even from a tender age, they helped instill ethic and strength into Jaune. In mock fighting, they would switch between fighting each other and ganging up on Jaune. Any victory one would have over the other two would warrant a celebration, especially in the times when Jaune defeated his sisters on his own.

The Arc sisters had brought their brother, Jaune, many good experiences. Sure, they dressed him up as a girl… so many times… but his sisters, powerful huntresses in their own rights, helped temper the effects of a strict upbringing. They never gave up on him. Despite the cold onlooking of their father, the two sisters had tried their best to shelter Jaune from the pressure of being the heir to the Arc legacy.

His eldest sister, Rose, was a shrewd woman. She openly defied her father's wishes for the sake of Jaune, often taking him on trips away from home to give him a taste of a life he would have had if not for the burdens he had to bear as the scion of the Arc name. His other sister, Azure, was a bit more personal. She tried her best to directly occupy his thoughts. When Rose would send them into town, Azure would take him into as many shops and arcades as she could.

Jaune's father, Nigel, was a stern, cold man. He occasionally displayed affection, but it was usually in the guise of his son's successes or on other special occasions, like a landmark for any of his children or a birthday. Jaune knew his father cared for him, but it did not often show. The boy truly loved and cared for his father, although his obsession for Jaune's success was a worrying thing for the other Arcs.

Jaune took after his father in looks. They shared the same dirty blond hair color, the same eyes, and the same face. Nigel was rather short, slightly shorter than his wife, sharing the same blue eyes with all of his children. The difference was that while Jaune's were constantly wide with happiness or fear (a trait from his mother), his father's eyes were slanted.

His mother, in contrast, was a rather loving and caring woman. Her reserved nature facilitated Jaune's father and his obsessions, but her reassurances in private often kept Jaune going. She resolved to avoid conflict, and she looked to keep her children happy and protected them from her husband's wrath when he was at his worst.

His mother, an avid supporter of Jaune's deeds and a primary teacher of his youth, was a fierce warrior. Jaune had always noted the deep contrast in his mother in the home and in the battle. At home, she was always rather timid and supportive. She had to be, so her children could grow up strong, but also happy.

On the battlefield, or even in training, there was a marked change. His mother's voice grew from a quiet whisper to a loud roar. In training, the gentle giant turned into a taskmaster. She oversaw many of these play fights, and would often join in, dictating minute problems that she noticed. The two parents worked in tandem to guide the young Arc boy to his destiny.

Jaune looked to the beautiful armor that donned his chest. It was an ornate chest piece, adorned with a gold outline. The piece was split into two to allow ultimate flexibility, with the heavier, more ornate piece resting solely on his chest and upper back. On his abdomen rested a lighter, more rudimentary piece that interlocked to the first one.

His arm pieces also lacked the sophistication of his chest armor, but it more than made up for a lack of sophistication with a great amount of stability and defense on his arms. These pieces also broke into two, with separate forearm and upper arm padding locked with chain and leather straps around the elbows.

He looked down to Crocea Mors, the only true constant in the lives of the Arcs. The sword and shield were the pride and joy of the family; it was something to aspire towards. The experiences that the sword and shield contained were numerous; of peace and war; in hunt and battle; in love and hate.

It was, regardless, a stark contrast to the rest of Jaune's image of a white knight. Its simplistic trim and design deviated from the intricate details on the rest of his armor. The sword has a gold-inlaid cross-guard and a blue handle, with the blade carrying the scars of war. The shield was white and a gold trim, and carried the Arc family symbol upon its pearly white exterior.

Now it belonged to him, Jaune Arc.

"This sword was destined for glory by those who wielded it. It has been carried for over a hundred years by the Arcs. I am now the one who wields my family's weapon and carries their legacy."

If Jaune were to stumble and fall, it would feel as if he failed not only his father but all who came before him. All aspects of him: Armor. Weapon. Past. Each internal pressure combined to create a lot of weight resting on his shoulders. It made Jaune feel restless.

Much of his evening was spent in this mood, unable to focus on anything other than worrying about his future and what was to come. Jaune looked up, out of the window, at the stars that twinkled in the sky, so free, free of any burden placed on them by those that came before.

Jaune looked into his scroll to pass the time. Such happy pictures, he mused. He looked at the pictures of him as a little child, barely standing up, with two older sisters holding his hand. His father even seemed… happy.

Other pictures showed up on his scroll. His sisters fighting him… him fighting each of his sisters… the dress-ups, and all others. His beautiful, dysfunctional life. He couldn't help but crack a smile.

At least it was something to get his mind off of the pressure. For a time.

As time passed, he still grew ever more tired. And yet could not sleep. Half-asleep and troubled by his own thoughts, he looked for a distraction- any distraction- to draw him closer to sleep.

Jaune found this distraction in the dull whirr of the ship's propellers. The rhythmic noise served as a lullaby for the distraught Arc, not unlike the soothing voice of his mother whilst rocking him to sleep as a baby.

Reminded of these images dancing in his head, Jaune finally passed to sleep.

A/N: This is my first story. I was just doing my best to portray a situation I wanted to try out for a long time.

I'll accept any criticism and critiques, or praise that you have, and do my best to reciprocate for the next chapter.

Betas: Johnathir, Hermit