Pyrrha Nikos was a goddess.

To most that kind of description might have sounded exageratted, or perhaps a sign of an unchecked ego, but it wasn't something that she used to describe herself. Rather, it was how everyone else referred to her. Personally she wasn't fond of the term, but how how else could you really describe a single person who could casually destroy kingdoms without even thinking about it?

She still remembered the day she received these powers. She was fourteen years old and in the the middle of her final match for the Mistral Regional Tournament. She'd won the championship a year prior and already there were many curious on whether she could keep up that streak. Multiple-year winners weren't uncommon, but at such young an age? She'd received stunned silence the first time she'd beaten the champion, a man almost a decade her senior and a veteran of the tournament circuit.

She'd just finished the match when it happened. It was...difficult to describe. Power, certainly, but more than that it was overwhelming in its intensity. She felt as if her body was being torn apart from the sheer amount of it. She'd screamed as the forces of nature themselves almost tore everything apart around her. Fire, ice, wind, earth...all of it under her control. All of it could've so easily destroyed the entire arena around her.

But it didn't. Whatever that power was, the thought of anyone being hurt allowed her to suppress it. One moment everyone was in a panic, perhaps thinking that the end of the world had come, and the next everything was still and all that was left was a fourteen year old girl with enough power to make even deities green with envy.

Everything after that was...difficult. Perhaps in different circumstances she would've been able to keep her new powers hidden, but the Mistral Regional Tournament was an internationally broadcasted event. Everyone knew who she was then. Pyrrha Nikos, the Invincible Girl, the Goddess of Victory. She remembered the paparazzi outside her door, the public officials and even curious citizens who wanted to understand who - what - she was. It wasn't a Semblance, or if it was then it was the most powerful one in recorded history.

It was only a few days later that she received an answer for her new gifts. The headmaster of Beacon Academy had arrived at her door and explained everything. The Maidens, magic, and how the power was supposed to be split among four women. Except now it was all part of her. He'd told her that the powers went to the last person the Maiden thought of before they passed. Of course, she'd asked why exactly all four Maidens thought of her.

The answer was...disconcerting. From what they gathered in their investigations, all of them were eating Pumpkin Pete's cereal when they died. Apparently the cereal was so unhealthy it killed all of them. At the same time. And because she was on the box - an advertisement campaign that she regretted to this day - she was the last thing they all saw before they perished.

...

Yes, she'd received godlike powers because of horrible cereal. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Everything changed after that. Headmaster Ozpin had offered to teach her to use her new abilities, which she'd gratefully accepted. Of course, that wasn't the end of it. Mistral was all too eager to snatch her up after her 'awakening'. A prodigy and tournament champion was nothing compared to the powers she wielded now, and they weren't content to let her sit on her laurels. They wanted her working for them.

She'd actually agreed. Perhaps it was naivete, or perhaps she honestly did see that she could do good. Destroying hordes of Grimm where they were thickest, retaking land rendered inhospitable, using her powers to help with agriculture, and taking down bandit groups victmizing those who lived outside the kingdoms. It was good work, even if she knew that it was at least partially being done by the Mistral government for the sake of propaganda. As long as she was doing good, what did it matter?

Pyrrha even managed to make some changes by herself. She'd gotten it in writing that the people in the independent villages didn't owe Mistral anything for the work she was doing and she'd enacted some reforms, particularly in how the Faunus were treated. While she wasn't one herself, she never liked the idea of people being legally barred entrance or discriminated against just because of their features. She'd also put her foot down that she wouldn't be used to fight any wars or conquests.

So all in all she was doing good, at least as much as she could given she was a teenager gifted with godlike abilities she never asked for.

...

And then the cults started.

Perhaps it was mean to call them that. The Church of Nikos was an officially sanctioned religion, though that wasn't saying much. Remnant had little in the way of centralized faith and people could start worshipping anyone or anything without raising an eyebrow. Of course, most cu- er, churches didn't have such...widespread influence.

It all started when she'd saved that village that was being raided by the Branwen clan. After ensuring that the bandits were (non-lethally) taken down, many of the villagers had gone on their hands and knees and proclaimed her as some kind of living deity. She didn't much like it, but in the beginning she'd assumed that relief and gratitude had clouded their judgement and simply demured at their praise.

But then the faith spread. More and more people truly believed she was a goddess come down to save Mistral and her hometown of Argus had become some sort of holy mecca. Statues were built in her honor and dozens if not hundreds of supplicants came by her house proclaiming worship and gratitude. At seventeen years of age, Pyrrha Nikos had gone from a prodigy to a deity.

And she hated every second of it.

She'd wanted to do good with her new gifts, to help people. While gratitude was appreciated, the reverent worship was something she could do without. How long had it been since she'd had a normal conversation with someone? How long had it been since she wasn't treated as deity or a figure of envy? Even her parents treated her as less their daughter and more some kind of gift from the heavens. The only one who treated her with some degree of normalcy was the headmaster, but even that was through a lens of proffesionalism.

So it was no surprise that she'd accepted his offer to attend Beacon over Haven. The kingdom of Mistral had protested, of course, claiming that she needed to stay in Anima, but they were reluctant to actually press the issue. They feared and revered her in equal measure. She'd hoped, perhaps foolishly, that going to a different country would allow her some anonymity and a degree of normalcy.

That hope died as soon as she arrived at the campus and was immediately mobbed by an excited crowd of students, many of them asking for autographs and photos. She'd taken it all with her automatic smile and measured words even as her dreams of normalcy crumbled.

So now here she was in the locker room preparing for Initiation. It was a formality at this point - she'd faced far more hardships than fighting Grimm in a forest - but she refused to get special treatment. All around her she'd heard whispers, people excited and wondering how they could group up with her. It was only small mercies that gave her some privacy. None of them wanted to be the one to go up and actually ask her about teaming up.

All except for her.

"Good morning, Ms. Nikos." The white haired girl - Weiss Schnee, she reminded herself - greeted with a smile. She'd met her a few times in the high society parties she'd been forced to attend.

"Oh...hello." She smiled, fake as always.

"Perhaps it would be presumptuous of me, but would you be interested in partnering together? I believe that with your gifts and my own, we could come to a mutually beneficial relationship." Weiss smiled in turn, her smile a mix of business and reverence, "Not only would we get top grades, but we'd also be set against any challenges that come our way."

"That is...thank you, I will consider it." She wanted to scream out 'no' so badly but the ingrained desire to be kind and polite kept her smiling placidly.

And then she saw him.

"Hey there." A tall blonde boy stepped in between her and Weiss, leaning against the locker, She couldn't see his expression because he was facing away from her, but his voice dripped with confidence, "The name's Jaune Arc. Short, sweet, rolls of the tongue. Ladies love it." Pyrrha held back a giggle at the crude flirtation. She'd been courted by a few brave people before, but it was always like Weiss. They either focused on what they brought to the table or propped themselves up. Charm and actual chemistry was hardly a factor.

"Ugh..." Weiss' face knotted in distaste.

"I heard we're teaming up in the forest, so what's say you and me go together? We'd make an awesome team!"

"I believe each team has four students, not just two."

"Oh, is that right?" Jaune turned to her and...she saw nothing in his eyes. No recognition, no reverence, no realization of who she was. The crushed hope from before began to blossom again, "Well, play your cards right and maybe you can both join the winning team!" He grinned.

"I-"

"Do you know who you're talking?!" Weiss shouted with an offended gasp. Jaune looked at her in confusion, "This is Pyrrha Nikos, you fool!"

"...Never heard of her." Pyrrha's breath caught in her throat. Could it be? Someone who wasn't aware of her status? Dare she hope once more?

"Are you...how can that be?!"

"Eh, I don't really keep up with the news." Jaune looked Pyrrha up and down. The red haired warrior fidgeted somewhat at his scrutinizing gaze, "Oh, I think I know who you are!" It took everything Pyrrha had to not let her smile drop at the words, "Weren't you in Pumpkin Pete's cereal box like a couple of years ago? My sister and I love it! We even got the prize for sending fifty boxes!"

"Is...Is that all?" Pyrrha asked slowly, daring to dream.

"Yeah. Why, is there something else?" he asked back

Weiss was quick to jump to her defense, "Of course there is! She's-"

"It's nothing!" Pyrrha said with a forced grin. Weiss' declarations of her godhood were interrupted when she was seemingly flung by an invisible force straight out of the locker room. The heiress screamed before she was dragged out of sight by the wind. She tried to struggle at first, fingers gripping at the floor, before another tendril of wind grabbed both her legs and dragged her kicking and screaming out into the halls away from them both.

"Woah, what was that?!" Jaune shouted.

"What was what?"

"She just- Weiss just got dragged outta here by some kind of ghost!"

"Oh, no, I think she's fine." She'd apologize later - and oh Gods that was an odd thought, not apologizing right away - but right now all her focus was on Jaune. The one person on campus who didn't seem to know who she was, "But speaking of, you were saying something about partners?"

"Uh, yeah, I was kinda hoping to get together with Weiss."

"Well, maybe you'll have a different partner." Pyrrha hummed.

They did end up becoming partners. Jaune, the brave boy, didn't even have his Aura unlocked. If she hadn't been there he wouldn't have survived the landing. Sadly she couldn't make things easy for him by carrying him down on a gentle wind. He didn't know who she was so she did her best to not showcase her gifts, which meant having to spear him by his hoodie against a tree. It was hardly the best first impression, but at least she'd saved him!

Initiation was honestly a blur. She was too focused on her new friend. Oh brothers, how long had it been since she'd had a conversation about nothing? He talked about everything from his hometown to his ancestors to how really bizarre the Inititiation was. And she relished it all, losing herself in the mindless conversation. Jaune treated her as if she was normal, not some deity to be worshipped or someone to curry favors with. Just another student.

They'd formed a team with two other Mistralians, Lie Ren and Nora Valkyrie. Sadly, her plans of expanding her 'normal friends' group from one to three had been dashed as soon as they arrived in the dorm room, "Oooh, we're in the same team as the Goddess!" Nora cheered.

"Indeed. This has been most fortunate." Ren nodded calmly.

"Y-You two know who I am?" Pyrrha asked weakly. Spending just a day with someone who was uanware of her reputation had gotten her hopes up. She could only hope that Jaune, who had gone to the bathroom, couldn't hear them.

"You kidding me? We're proud worshippers of the Church of Nikos!" Nora gave an enegetic salute, "You probably don't remember, but you saved me and Ren from a nasty group of Grimm a year back!"

"Oh, um..."

"It's only sensible that the Goddess of Victory wouldn't remember every life she's touched. Besides saving my life, I would like to thank you for reclaiming the village of Kuroyuri. Seeing my hometown flourishing once more brings joy to my heart." Ren smiled. Pyrrha felt more and more of her hopes of normalcy dash against the stones. She...She had to stop them from telling Jaune!

"Yes, well..." Pyrrha coughed, "I would very much appreciate it if you both called me just Pyrrha, and please, none of this goddess or church business."

"We can't do that!" Nora cried.

"Your...goddess commands it!" Oh gods, this was horrible, but she didn't have any other choice. Jaune was gonna come out any second now and she couldn't lose this connection. Not now, "We are teammates, and thus I must trust you to stand on equal ground with me," she continued stiffly, "So from now on, I am merely your teammate. Nothing more and nothing less."

"I doubt we can stand on par with the Goddess of Victory, but we shall do our best." Ren nodded again, "Should we inform Jaune as well of your decree?"

"No! Um, I mean, I already did when we partnered up at Initiation," Pyrrha babbled, "As a matter of fact, he's so accomodating that he'll act as if he has no idea of who I truly am. Please don't interrupt him."

"Woah, he must be a really big worshipper if he's going that far!" Nora said with awe. Pyrrha wanted to cry, "Alrighty, god- er, Pyrrha! You can count on us!"

And not a moment too soon as Jaune stepped out of the bathroom dressed in an adorable bunny onesie, "Hey guys, whatcha talking about?"

"Just breaking the ice." Pyrrha smiled stiffly.

"Cool. Oh, uh, I know that it's kinda weird that I'm the team leader, but I promise I'll do my best! So just come to me if you guys need anything and I'll be sure to get right on it." He tapped his chest, trying his best to look confident. Oh, it was so sweet. Perhaps her time at Beacon wouldn't be so bad.

It'd been a few weeks since she'd arrived at Beacon and Pyrrha felt better than she had in years. Nora and Ren had kept to their word and gave no indication that they were worshippers of any kind. Meanwhile their sister team, team RWBY, was...pleasant. They knew who she was. Weiss had been bitter that she didn't get the chance to be on the same team as her. Ruby was a fan of her good deeds, claiming joyously that she was one of her insipirations for becoming a huntress, and Yang, though much more casual about it, had the unmistakable look of someone who understood that she wasn't one to be messed with.

Blake was the most surprising one. While the girl was quiet and reticent, she'd had nothing but praise for the good things she did for the Faunus in Mistral. Odd, especially for a human, but she could appreciate that, at least.

Getting them to keep quiet about her status had been easier than with Ren and Nora. Well, except for Weiss, though a few vague comments about how she'd 'really appreciate' this favor had the girl blushing and saying that she would do her best. Odd, though Pyrrha supposed she would be eager to gain a guaranteed favor from someone so influential.

A problem came up when Jaune told her his transcripts were forged. Well, she said problem, but she didn't really see an issue with it. He wasn't trained? So what! Anybody could be trained, all it took was some time and effort. She'd offered to personally train him, just the two of them, and while he'd been angry at first, assuming her offer was made out of pity rather than genuine friendship, but her insistence changed his mind. Normally she might've accepted his refusal at first, but she wasn't willing to lose the one normal connection she had and so she stood her ground.

Another issue came from one Cardin Winchester. As many people revered her, so too did others despise her; and Cardin Winchester was one such man. Whether it was jealousy, a dislike of her character, or perhaps even just looking for someone to hate, there were those who wanted to 'bring her down a peg'. She'd dealt with them before, mostly by ignoring them. She couldn't please everyone and she'd long since learned to accept that.

Except this time they were targetting Jaune. They couldn't get to her directly so they wanted to hurt her by hurting her partner.

It was the last mistake they would make.

Pyrrha walked with a purpose across the Forever Fall. She'd talked with the headmaster and he was quick to reassure her that Jaune's transcripts wouldn't be an issue, but that still left Cardin and his group of thugs. While it would've been best if Jaune bested Cardin on his own, it would take far more training than what she'd already given him to do that.

Team CRDL was off on their own, likely planning some sort of scheme; which meant there would be no witnesses. The dirt crunched under her feet and they all saw her coming. Cardin tried to project an aura of confidence, but she saw the way his legs shook. The rest of his team didn't even bother with any false bravado and looked a hair's breath away from wetting their trousers. And Pyrrha...

Pyrrha smiled.

There were no words exchanged; there wasn't a need to. The weather turning from calm to apocalyptic was enough to send a message. She didn't harm them, though she would've been lying if she said that a few bolts of lightning didn't come close to singing them. The message was received along with a promise that the next time she wouldn't be so...reluctant.

She returned to her team with regal precision. Nora and Ren gave her knowing looks, understanding in their eyes, while Jaune looked up at the now calming sky, "Man, the weather around here sure's been weird recently. Don't you think so, Pyr?"

"I hadn't noticed." She giggled, "Come, let's finish our assignment."

A few more weeks passed and Pyrrha had to admit that she perhaps had a crush on their team leader. She wasn't ashamed to admit it...though embarassed was another matter entirely. She'd never had a crush before. Her teenage years were focused on training, and after that it was about using her powers for the good of others. Being an actual teenager was the farthest thing from her mind.

Asking for advice proved difficult as well. Blake had come from a bad relationship and Ruby was more interested in weaponry than interpersonal relationships. Yang had playfully scoffed and said that she should know what to do considering 'guys would've been falling to their knees for her'. And yes, while that was a bit more literal than she would've liked, it didn't help her any.

Ren and Nora had proven even less helpful.

"I don't understand why you don't simply tell him that you wish for him to be your consort," Red said, calm as always despite the words he said.

"Yeah! Any guy'd totally think he won the lottery if the Goddess of Victory said she wanted to make him her official boytoy!" Nora grinned.

"I don't want a consort or...boytoy!" Pyrrha almost shouted back, face as red as her hair, "I want to date him. Have a normal relationship. And remember, no calling me goddess or anything like that. I'm just Pyrrha."

"Right, right! Sorry!"

And Weiss...

"Hey, Snow Angel."

Weiss was an active detriment through no fault of her own. Her partner's infatutation with the Schnee heiress had been evident from their first meeting and it hadn't let up in the least despite all the time that had passed. Perhaps it would have if she'd actively rejected him, but for whatever reason Weiss had remained quiet and neutral at worst despite it being abundantly clear that she wasn't interested in a relationship. She wondered why.

Pyrrha took it all with a smile and an air of calm. She couldn't force Jaune to like her, and as much as she might've wanted Weiss to state her refusal already, it was also something she couldn't force. So in the end she remained patient and just watched the two.

From her own position where she was currently being wooed by the blonde dolt, Weiss shivered. It wasn't out of disgust, but fear. Jaune continued to wax poetic on her beautify and elegance, but she honestly couldn't hear him. Her gaze was focused past him to the sitting form of Goddess Nikos across the room. Her eyes were closed and her mouth was curled in a gentle smile.

It would've been a calming sight if not for the red flame around her eyes. Red flames that were aimed straight at her.

She would've rejected Jaune, very vehemently so, but fear kept her from speaking. Ever since the fool had started trying to court her, Goddess Nikos had given her that look. The look that promised retribution if she dared hurt her partner's feelings. She had her doubts at first, but after team CRDL's incident in the Forever Fall she'd become certain. While she felt no pity for them, watching the entire team go catatonic in unbridled terror was a sight she wouldn't forget.

And so she kept her mouth shut, silently muttering prayers that Goddess Nikos wouldn't smite her from on high.

Back in her seat, Pyrrha watched as Jaune went back to his spot next to her, a discouraged look on his face, "Man, this isn't working." He groaned, rubbing the back of his head, "She's not saying no, but she's not saying yes either! Think she's just trying to let me down gently?" He gave her the most pathetic and adorable pout that she wanted to kiss away.

"I...wouldn't know." Yes, she wanted to say, yes she's rejecting you and you should look for other fish in the sea. But of course she couldn't, "Perhaps you should..." Go on, say it! Say 'look for other people'! Maybe his very supportive partner?

"Oh, I get what you're saying." Jaune grinned. Pyrrha's eyes widened and the clouds outside parted to a warm sunny day. Had he finally gotten the hint? "I should totally bring out my guitar! Ladies love it when you serenade them, right? Right! You're the best, Pyr!"

...

Outside, the sunny day had quickly been replaced by dark stormclouds. Lightning crackled across the skies as Jaune left, ignoring the sudden weather shift as another Beacon oddity. Weiss shivered and suppressed tears of fear while the other students began muttering their own prayers, some already planning to sacrifice animals (they would've offered virgins as well, but she'd put a stop to that years ago) to the altar of Goddess Nikos in order to calm her wrath.

Beacon was a weird place.

That was a thought that Jaune often repeated as he spent more and more time at the school. He knew that Huntsmen Academies were different from regular schools, but it was even more odd than he expected. Firstly was the weather. It kept changing, going from sunny days to freezing snowstorms in no time flat. Weirdly enough it always seemed to happen whenever he was flirting with Weiss.

Second was his partner. Not Pyrrha herself, she was great, but rather how everyone treated her. Not a day went by that people didn't whisper about her and he'd caught Ren, Nora and even Weiss calling her a 'goddess' for some reason. She'd admitted later on that she'd been on a few more commercials than just the one for Pumpkin Pete's, which probably explained it. Celebrity worship wasn't really a thing back in his hometown considering how far they were in the countryside. Must've been different in the big city.

Third was how well everything went for him. Sure, maybe it was dumb of him to think good luck was weird, but it was true! He'd faked his transcripts? Pyrrha didn't care and even offered to train his ungrateful butt. Cardin found out and tried to blackmail him? Something happened in the Forever Fall and now he was too scared to even form words.

And now his partner had to leave for a trip all by herself. Something about visiting someone called Salem? She'd been pretty private on the details, only telling them that she had to do it on her own.

He'd stayed up late outside on the docks on the day she was supposed to come back. Not having Pyrrha around for a week made him realize just how used he'd gotten to her presence, so his face lit up with a bright smile when the bullhead landed and Pyrrha stumbled out. She wasn't injured, but she definitely looked tired. Despite that she beamed down at him with an equally bright smile when she saw his approach.

"Jaune..." She hugged him, which was more affectionate than she usually was. He reciprocated the gesture anyway, "It's so good to see you again."

"You too, Pyr. How was your trip?"

"It was...productive. I don't think we'll be seeing Salem again for a long time."

"And...that's a good thing?" Jaune asked. He thought they were friends.

"A very good thing." She smiled.

"If you say so. Let's head back, I gotta tell you all about what happened." He let her lean on him as they walked back to the dorm. For once the weather hadn't done any weird flips- actually, it'd been fine the whole week Pyrrha was gone. Probably just a coincidence, "Man, it's a good thing you made it back. I thought for sure that you were gonna miss the dance."

"You...planned to ask Weiss, right?" Thunder boomed above their heads.

"I was gonna, but I don't think she's into me." His shoulders sagged. She was definitely just trying to let him down easy, "I'm sure you're going to have a bunch of people asking you out, right?"

"I...not really." She shook her head, "I'm..."

"Don't worry, I know."

She jumped up, eyes wide, "Y-You do?"

"Yeah." He nodded sagely, "People in Vale are really into celebrity worship, right? I bet it must feel super awkward being asked out by fans who like you." He laughed, "Say, you never told me what kind of commercials you appeared in."

"N-Nothing important. Just some late night ones."

"Guess people really care about celebrities here." Jaune shook his head. Big city folk could be silly, "Anyway, if we're both still single by the time the dance comes up, maybe we can go together? You know, as friends?" He'd meant it to be lighthearted and casual, but he couldn't deny that his heart sped up just a bit. Pyrrha was a catch, no doubt about it. Attractive, skilled, and super nice. Any guy would've been lucky to have her.

Pyrrha froze for just a moment and everyone around them went still. Literally; even the wind stopped.

"Y-Yes!" she said, loud and eager as she held both his hands in hers. The two of them looked into each other's eyes before she realized what she'd done and stepped back with an embarassed cough, "I mean, yes, I'd love to."

"Great!" Jaune grinned. Beacon might've been weird, but at least he had one bit of normalcy in it.