"Citizens of Protectorate! Brothers and sisters!" Jaune's strong baritone voice filled the room. "We gather here today to celebrate our great victory over the terrible darkness! Today was the day when countless Heroes and Heroines gave their life for the future of our world. Fifteen years ago I had the immense honor of leading those brave men and women into one last desperate battle against the accursed witch of Grimm, Salem!" He made a pause, his face twisting in anger. "On the streets of Vale and on the slopes of Beacon Academy, we fought with courage in our hearts and a sense of duty to our people! Human and Faunus together against the countless tides of Grimm!"

He was interrupted by the loud roar coming from the crowd.

"That day many of them paid the ultimate price for our freedom, for our future." His voice turned remorseful, "On that day, we lost many great and noble souls... but their sacrifices weren't in vain!" He bellowed, "Through their death, we grew stronger than we were before! We rebuilt and pushed the Grimm on the brink of extinction!"

This roar thwarted the previous one by dozens of volumes.

"On this day, we also celebrate another anniversary. Exactly ten years ago, our glorious Protectorate had been established. We united the shattered Kingdoms, and from the ashes of destruction, we created a country greater than any other Kingdom! But that wouldn't be possible without YOU! You are the strength in my arms, the pillars of my resolve! We will claim the future together!" He extended his armored arms to his sides, rising them towards the sky. "Because now is OUR TIME!" he roared, accompanied by the crowd as the banner bearers behind him started to wave the flags.

"ARC! ARC! ARC 1ARC!" The people started to chant as Jaune slowly left the stage, waving towards them.

Pyrrha was not sure how she was even standing. What she just seen was so surreal that she expected to wake up in her dorm at Beacon any moment now.

The future.

The war… Jaune.

"Apapapa, let's get you seated somewhere, Pyr." Nora said, leading the paling girl to the closest unoccupied seat. If not for the orange haired woman, Pyrrha would've surely collapsed.

The gathered looked at the girl with pity as the look of disbelief was crept on her face.

"But... how?" Pyrrha whispered, almost in denial, looking around utterly lost. The shy, bumbling, clumsy, insecure Jaune she knew, was now a charismatic and powerful leader of the whole world… she always told him that he had potential, but this?

"It's a really long story, Pyrrha." Ruby said, putting her hand on her shoulder. "A two decades long one..."

Ruby's words hit her like a hammer. Again the feeling of isolation washed over her.

"Geez sis, good job at boosting the morale as always." Yang sighed, seeing Pyrrha's crestfallen expression. "I would give you a summary of what happened, but even that would take a while and probably confuse you even more P-money, so let's give you the update on the current events." Yang crossed her arms, "After the war, everything was in ruins, we won but our very civilization was on the verge of collapse. The Kingdoms slowly turned into savage lands as the governments had no resources to bring back peace anytime soon. Then Arc decided to take things into his own hands." She spat with clear contempt on her face." At the time, he was the general of the last remaining organized Army, made by soldiers from every Kingdom. Seeing as the world deteriorated, he convinced us that action was needed. He succeeded."

"We aided him in his task of overthrowing the ineffective governments." Ren told the story now. "We defeated them one by one, starting with Atlas, as it was the strongest, but with Weiss and the Schnee company support, it was fairly easy. All in all, it took us around five years until we were done. Since what we were doing was new, we also needed a new city, free of the influence of the past."

"NIKOSIA!" Nora butted in, "After all this time of doing nothing, you got a whole city named after you! I'm jealous!"

"Me?" Pyrrha replied flabbergasted.

"You know like NIKOS-ia" Sun chuckled. "It was Arc's idea, man I don't know what you did, but he was still gobsmacked with you."

Sun's comment caused Pyrrha to turn scarlet.

"Sadly, things went south as Arc continued to consolidate his power." Glynda took the lead. "As the time passed, it became abundantly clear that he had a different idea on how the Protectorate should be governed. All of here present wanted it to be a democracy with elected leaders, yet Arc opposed the idea, saying it was too soon to hand the power to the people. He made quite a convincing argument about effectiveness, and sadly at the time, we agreed with him." She adjusted her glasses with a sigh. "Before we realized what was happening, he turned the Protectorate into an authoritarian police state, cracking down on any opposition. He made fools out of us… we went to confront him and we lost."

A grim silence filled the room.

"How..." Pyrrha spoke, feeling her throat as dry as a dessert." How could he defeat you all?"

"It was his semblance Judgment–" Ruby started.

"Reality Hack." Yang interjected, "I refuse to call it anything else!"

Pyrrha looked at them confused.

"Jaune's semblance make him immune to any attack, no matter how powerful." Ruby explained. "It also gives him an immense power boost that literally makes him invincible, the only shortcoming is that it consumes an ungodly amount of Aura..."

"...His reserves," realization dawned on Pyrrha.

"Yes, but even then, he can hold it for a full five minutes before it runs out." Ruby nodded, "He killed my Dad, uncle Qrow, Yang's mom Raven, and General Ironwood in that fight."

Pyrrha gasped in terror. "Jaune?! But... but... What about Blake?" she asked frantically.

"Blake died in the final battle taking down the monster that used to be her ex, Adam Taurus, the guy who cut off my hand." Yang told her with sadness. "To give Arc some justice, my Mother started the killing as he was hesitant to off anyone... she killed Neptune and was about to kill Weiss, but Jaune stopped her, permanently... from there, things went fast. Before we knew it, Arc went all Reality Hack on us and the battle was lost. My dad, enraged by the death of my mother, sacrificed himself to buy us some time to escape. Uncle Qrow and General Ironwood joined him... and paid the ultimate price... and here we are."

Pyrrha felt like fainting from the influx of information. She looked at the gathered with her mouth agape, to confirm if Yang was pulling a quick one on her, but everyone shared the strained looked on their faces.

"Nora, can you bring Pyrrha some water?" Ren asked, seeing the poor girl struggling with what she heard. The Valkyrie woman nodded and left the room, sparing a worried look at the Spartan woman.

"Okay, maybe we should give Pyrrha some time to proce–" Sun began.

"Why? Why did he do that?" The redhead did not allow him to finish, "He's a good person..."

Pyrrha looked at the table, not being able to stomach the looks of pity anymore.

"People change, Pyrrha... out of all of us, he was hit the most." Ren crossed his arms, "But that is a story for another day, now, how about Thor and Xi give you a tour around our base... they should be eavesdropping right now."

Upon his comment, a little commotion was heard behind the doors. Ren gently lead Pyrrha to the doors and handed her over to his sheepishly looking children. "Give her a tour and then take her to dining hall for dinner."

"Sure thing, pops!" Thor saluted, taking Pyrrha by her hand, followed by a face palming Xi. After the doors closed, the atmosphere in the room shifted dramatically.

The silence was so deafening that one could hear pin drop... or a whisper of an old man.

"This... changes everything." Ozpin wheezed.


Pyrrha had to admit that the Underground was way larger than she initially imaged. It was almost like an underground city. Whole families were here with small children running in groups. They were living in some sort of container houses piled upon one upon another, reaching almost the very ceiling.

Yet the sights did not interest her in the slightest. Her mind was currently a vortex of thoughts and emotions.

How could things turned out so badly? Everything was supposed to be fine until Jaune seemingly went mad with power and turned Remnant into a dictatorship.

Before she knew it, she was sitting at a painfully familiar long table next to Thor and with Xi at the opposite side of the table. She was handled a plate with some unknown mass of organic matter that was supposed to be the best grub around according to Thor. Yet Pyrrha wasn't hungry and was simply playing with the so called food that probably hated her guts.

"Pyr, are you listening to me?" Thor asked, seeing that his question remained unanswered.

"Oh.. sorry, I was just lost between my thoughts," Pyrrha replied, not looking at him.

"Give her a break, brother, she's has enough on her mind, so don't bother her with your ramblings." Xi berated him while sipping her tea.

"Sorry." Thor rubbed his neck sheepishly. "I just wanted to cheer her up a bit so she wouldn't be so sad and all."

"Thank you, Thor.." she offered him weak smile.

An awkward silence fell on the trio. The twins exchanged worried looks, lost on how to cheer the girl up.

"HEY GUYS!" A sudden shout startled them, almost making them jump out of their skin.

A girl carrying a tray with the similar unidentified mass was approaching them. The thing that dew most attention to her was an intense yellow coat with a hood and equally light blonde hair.

"Yo, Summer!" Thor grinned, "You won't believe who we brought here!"

The girl starred at Pyrrha with something akin to recognition.

Then she blinked.

"OMG! You look just like Pyrrha Nikos!" The girl exclaimed, running to her, looking at her from all sides. "You could like totally get a fortune in cosplay!"

Pyrrha suppressed a sigh.

Another fan.

"You think that's awesome!?" Thor grinned. "This girl doesn't just look like Pyrrha Nikos... she is THE PYRRHA NIKOS!"

"Yeah right, she's been dead for twenty years." Summer dismissed Thor words with a wave, eyeing the redhead with her silver eyes.

"He speaks the truth." Xi said calmly, making Summer pause in her ogling.

"Et tu Xi?" The girl lamented, "At least try to fool me with some quality jokes."

"I'm not joking, why do you think everyone came here today... she is the real Pyrrha Nikos." Xi told her, gravely serious. "We found her yesterday running from the Protectors."

Summer looked at them with disbelief.

"Okay guys, you got me! For a moment, I actually believe–" she began.

"They're not lying, I am Pyrrha Nikos... from the past." Pyrrha finally spoke with a small smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Summer…?"

The girl gawked like a fish.

"Oh… OH! I'm Summer Rose–Arc! Nice to meet ya!" the girl extended her hand, but was too late… for Pyrrha had fainted. Head slammed down on the table with a mighty thud as the trio watched her with wide eyes.

"Oh no!" Thor started to shake her. "What have you done, Summer!?"

"I didn't do anything!" The girl wined, tearing a bit, "She just fainted!"

"Oh boy..." Xi muttered, looking behind Summer. The two teens turned back, seeing Ruby, Yang, and Ren walking towards them.

"Hey guys!" Yang greeted them. "Why Pyrrha is unconscious?"

"I don't know, I swear! She just fainted!" Summer explained quickly. "It was Thor's fault!"

"What!? No it wasn't! It was yours! After–Oh, I'm Summer Rose-Arc! Nice to meet ya–she deiced to take a nap!"

"Oh Boy..." Ruby mumbled, feeling her cheeks redden. Yang burst out laughing while Ren face palmed.

"HAHAHAHAH! When she wakes up, you will have a really good story to tell sis." Yang pattered her arm, "I think it will be Pyryfic!"

Everyone groaned at the horrible pun, even after all that time...goddamn it Yang.

"What does aunt Yang mean?" Summer asked.

"Well... you see…" Ruby started to nervously fiddle with her fingers.

"What my sister and your mother wants to tell is that this sleeping beauty..." She pointed at Pyrrha, "Was really comfy with your asshole of a Dad at one point, even snatched a kiss. If it wasn't for a certain event, you might've had a different mom." Yang explained, "So hearing that you're his kid with Ruby as the mother was probably too much for her..."

"How bad was her crush on dad?" Summer asked.

"Bad, really bad..." Ruby said with a visible trail of sweat on her forehead.

"And what about Arc, aunt? Did he feel the same?" Xi asked.

"He wore a cute dress for her once... in front of the whole school." Yang giggled, remembering better times when everything was still alright.

"I remember! I saw the photos!" Thor exclaimed. "Damn, she looked hot in that dress!" he said with a grin.

"He's spent too much time with your kid, Yang." Ren frowned.

"Blame Sun's genes!" Yang exclaimed with fake offense. "Still, kiddo, don't get your hopes up. Unless you're the ruler of the whole world, I don't think that you're her type." she laughed again at Thor's crestfallen expression.

"Yang!" Ruby uttered.

"What?"

"Stop being weird! It's Pyrrha we're talking about!" Ruby waved her hands.

"That's exactly why I'm acting like this." Yang replied, growing serious.

Everyone except for Ren looked at her confused. He realized what she was doing the moment she said that.

"How would you feel if you were thrown out of your time into a place where everyone you knew moved on with their life's?" Yang said, folding her arms. "Like you weren't even there, like you were just a memory? It might be a little funny for us, but for her, hearing that Jaune had a child with you of all people must been a shock..." She looked at Pyrrha somberly. "We have a lot of work before us to make her feel at home, all of us," she gave the next generation a pointed look.

"You're right, sis." Ruby walked to Pyrrha and stroked her head. "So kids, be nice to her and make her feel at home."

The trio nodded.

"Totally calling, Cao," Thor said, pulling out his phone and texting his friend.

"Don't kill her with testosterone." Yang deadpanned, wondering where she made a mistake in raising her son. He could not wear a shirt even if it killed him.

Never.

"Goddamn it, Sun." she mumbled.

"You say something, Yang?" Ruby asked.

"Nope! Nothing at all." She grinned, "Okay," she walked to the table and picked Pyrrha up, then threw her over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes. "Gonna carry P-money to bed, she needs to rest a bit."

"Can I come, too?!" Summer said. "Like maybe when she wakes up and needs something, I can help!"

"Ruby, that's why you should've never told her all those stories, you made her into a fan."

"Hey, who would have guessed that she would've come back to life!" Ruby shook her head. "But let's go, we're making a scene."

The adults left the kids who sat in silence for a few seconds.

"Wow…" Summer uttered with stars in her eyes. "Pyrrha Nikos in flesh..."

"Here comes the fan girl." Xi deadpanned. "Still, we must do everything in our power to make her feel at home."

"Yeah..." Thor said little somberly. Yang's explanation really got to him. "It must be horrible for her with, you know, all of that."

Again, another uncomfortable silence fell on the trio.

"OK!" Summer whammed her hands on the table, startling the not-twins. "No more moping around! It's time to initialize a plan called... HAPPINESS!"

"What?"

"We will do everything in our power to make Pyrrha feel at home!" Summer exclaimed.

"Yes, that was what I said a few seconds ago." Xi sweat dropped, "Airhead."

"Regardless! We will begin planning as soon as Cao gets here! After all, we wouldn't be Team CLTS without our leader!"


Later

Pyrrha's eyes fluttered open for the second time this day. Looking around, she noticed that she wasn't in cafeteria anymore, but in some sort of room, in a bed.

'I must have fainted when Summer...' her eyes widened when she realized why she lost consciousness.

Jaune and Ruby... had a child.

Jaune and Ruby are... were at some point an item.

Pyrrha suddenly felt the room become suffocating. She needed some fresh air. She put on her shoes and left the room, hoping to avoid anyone familiar.

She needed some time alone.

Sticking to the shadows, she crept through the base without being noticed, albeit she had seen Summer carrying a tray with food in the direction she came from.

Feeling a little guilty, Pyrrha continued her way towards the lifts. For once luck seemed to be on her side as they weren't guarded.

She walked in and pressed the button that would take her to the highest floor. She wasn't sure why she did that or even if the lift would take her there, but she needed to go there, be it for closure or anything else, she needed to see that place one more time.

After what seemed like an eternity, the lift beeped, opening the doors to the office of the man that once stood at the top of the best hunter academy in the world. But for Pyrrha, it would be the last place she remembered of the old world.

She made a hesitant step forward, stepping on the grassy floor.

Apparently Mother Nature took its course and the place looked like a field more than a former office. But what drew her attention instantly was... an altar. She moved closer and felt that her breath get stuck in her throat.

A cascade of emotions ran through her as she read the sign on the altar that wasn't altar at all.

It was a grave... her grave.

With Akuto placed right before it.

Feeling her whole body tremble, she moved closer to read what was written.

In memory of Pyrrha Nikos, 1999-2016, a hero, a friend – We will never forget.

The Spartan girl chocked a sob as she read the line, but that wasn't all. All around it were small metal plates with personal last words from all her friends.

You were the awesomenest person I ever knew! – Nora.

May you find comfort at Monty's side; we will take care of rest – Ren.

You won't be forgotten P-money – Yang.

I'm sorry – Ruby.

You were an inspiration to us all, Pyrrha, your sacrifice wasn't in vain – Weiss.

You will live on in our hearts – Blake.

Pyrrha had do to everything in her power to not fall on her knees. Her heart was beating rapidly as she tried to calm the maelstrom of emotions within her. She was happy that she managed to make so many friends over her short time at Beacon, but at the same point, she was devastated that she couldn't fight alongside them. To share that time with them. To age with them. To love them.

When that last part crossed her mind, she realized that one plate was missing… Jaune's.

She inspected the grave through her teary eyes, but could not spot it. She wouldn't even consider the option that he hadn't left one.

'Maybe it fell off.' She looked at the thick grass. She desperately wanted to know what he felt about her passing.

She activated her semblance and gently tried to bring every metal element up the air. But, sadly, nothing that resembled a metal plate came into view.

Disappointed by the fruitless search, she picked up her rusted shield, feeling surreal. She always treated her equipment with utmost care, cleaning them after every duel to keep them in pristine condition. Her heart would break at the sight of her rusted shield if it wasn't already broken.

She turned it on the inner side, wondering if the handle was salvageable.

She did not expect to see more lines of text inside. Her eyes widened to the size of the platers when she read them.

I'm sorry that I always made you worry about me.

I'm sorry that I was too weak to protect you.

I'm sorry that I didn't die in your place.

I'm sorry that I never noticed your feelings.

I'm sorry that I never had a courage to be with you.

I'm sorry that I never told you how much I loved you.

You will always be in my heart Pyrrha.

I love you – Jaune.

This time Pyrrha fell to her knees, clutching the shield to her chest with rivers of tears flowing down her cheeks.

Ever since she met Jaune, she dreamed of hearing that last sentence. Dreamed about him holding her tight to his chest and whispering those words to her ears. She dreamed of being happy and doing all what couples were doing.

She chocked a sob when the feeling of despair hit her. With the horrible realization that such a chance would never occur again, it felt like another arrow piercing her chest. Making her lungs burn, desperately begging for air that would never come.

She was out of her time, a shadow of the past that had no place in this world. She stood up and slowly walked to the edge of the tower.

Everybody she knew and loved either moved on or were dead. A man she had feelings for turned into a tyrant that alienated even his own daughter and wife, creating a world she could not understand.

People she once laughed with were now adults with children almost her age… strangers.

She was alone in a world full of strangers.

The girl stood at the edge of the tower, looking at the abyss below. How easy it would be to just take one more step forward, to feel wind gushing over her and fall to complete her destiny.

Destiny.

She had grown to hate his word so much.

Why did it have to be her? Wasn't one death enough? Why did fate have to show her what became of the people she cared and loved? Was this some sick joke to torment her even more?

She took a shaky breath, making her decision.

There was nothing left for her here.

She needed to fall... like autumn leaves.

Pyrrha took a step forward closing her eyes.