The doors closed and the elevator began to rise through the upper levels. In it stands the proud Pyrrha Nikos. After having celebrated yet another victory, she can't help but reminisce the time that she had actually felt proud of her accomplishment. When one reaches the status of being considered unbeatable, it does sometimes hamper what could have been a great moment of a well-earned victory when others simply surrender before even trying or those that actually did never giving their all because they had been convinced that they would lose. She had transferred to Beacon Academy for a fresh start for one of those reasons.

Predictably though, she would end up advancing as a representative of her team and school in the final rounds which comprised of single matches. If it had been like before, she would have dreaded going to the finals since that usually opens the idea of opponents surrendering before trying. Now however, with most looking forward to beating the famed Invincible Girl, some are more eager at the chance; it certainly helps that there are those that Pyrrha could definitely say had a chance of beating her. Even during the previous doubles round, there was that student from Vacuo who kept her on her toes, Galahad Dulac.

While she, and Nora who had been her partner at the time, did eventually win, it sent a signal to other prospective participants that there is a crack in her so-called invincibility and like ravenous wolves, they wish to obtain that title of beating her for themselves. That was fine. She didn't exactly reach her status without being competitive herself. If it meant getting the thrill of actual competition again, she'll gladly accept it.

When she had been called to the headmaster's office, she was confused at first. Certainly, she wouldn't call herself a model student but she was sure that she did nothing wrong. Her team reassured that it was probably nothing, that perhaps the headmaster wanted to say some encouraging words since she would be representing Beacon. Having used that excuse to calm herself, she readied herself for whatever awaits her up in the office.

The doors opened and surprisingly, the back of the headmaster's chair was facing towards her. To the side, immediately beyond the elevator doors, an older huntsman that smelled of alcohol was leaning against the pillars. Her friends from team RWBY have informed her that this must be Qrow Branwen, Ruby and Yang's uncle. By the headmaster's table stands Glynda Goodwitch. Did Pyrrha actually do something wrong without realizing it?

"Come in, Miss Nikos," Professor Goodwitch said. "You're not in trouble, I assure you. Just please, take a seat."

Pyrrha did as she was told. Headmaster Ozpin was present as she could see the cane at his side and his clothes and hair from the gaps of his chair. Still, he didn't speak. Whatever it was that was going through his mind, it felt as though that the headmaster had forgotten that he had called for her at all.

"Ahem." Professor Goodwitch coughed into her closed fist. "Headmaster Ozpin. Miss Nikos—"

"I know, Glynda," Ozpin replied. "I know. I was just… waiting."

"Waiting for?"

"A miracle. One where this meeting would be made moot." Ozpin sighed and turned around. "Pardon an old man and his habits, Miss Nikos. We were young once and wished that we could go back to relieve some of that youth. It had been nice to fully believe in miracles."

From behind her, Qrow Branwen snickered. It felt bitter, almost.

"I'll keep this brief," the headmaster said. His eyes were unclear, hidden behind the white of his spectacles. "Tell me, Miss Nikos: do you believe in fairy tales?"

"Sir?" Pyrrha asked. "I'm afraid I don't understand."

"Then, let me rephrase that," headmaster Ozpin corrected. "Do you, Pyrrha Nikos, at this current time, consider that there is even a possibility that the fairy tales that you have read as a child had any chance of being truly real?"

"Uh." Pyrrha looked to Professor Goodwitch for answers who simply gave her a nod, as if telling her that it was indeed a real question. "I… I suppose when I was younger, I thought that they were real. Like the tale of the Girl who Fell through the World, but those are just stories we read to children, sir. They are impossible to be real."

"Well, what if I were to tell you that such tales do exist and that you, along with the rest of your classmates and even other students ever since they arrived here, have been in the presence of one such impossibility."

"Well… sir, can I be honest?" Pyrrha waited for a nod of approval from the headmaster before continuing. When she received it, she said, "I think that you would either be joking or that you might be a little stressed out from work."

From behind her, Qrow snickered again. "Stressed is definitely putting it lightly."

"Oh indeed, Miss Nikos," headmaster Ozpin said, ignoring Qrow's comment. "In any other circumstance, I might be in need of making an appointment with my therapist but this… this is not those other circumstances. Every student that has ever walked down these halls since the beginning of the school year has been the presence of one impossibility, one that you might say is from another world."

"Another world, sir?" There was a genre for that.

The old man in front of her nodded. "He has been working with us as one of our staff members. While I am uncertain if you ever needed his counsel in your academics, you most certainly are familiar with mister—no—doctor Henry Jekyll."

"Professor Jekyll?" Pyrrha tilted her head. The headmaster was correct in that she herself never really needed that man's counsel but she certainly heard about him and even learned from him when he substituted for Professor Peach. Ruby certainly has some tall tales about him that everyone, even Ruby's own sister, had a hard time believing.

She recalled that time that where she heard that Professor Jekyll managed to deal against multiple Ursa Major. Believable given that he is a professional huntsman, but Ruby's retelling made it seem like he was some kind of superhero from a comic, complete with onomatopoeia. The fact that Ruby made herself akin to some kind of cavalry to the rescue certainly hurt that credibility in that retelling. Still, it was amusing to hear the younger student think so highly of the professor.

"I see that you are confused," the headmaster said.

"It is hard not to, sir," she replied. "I mean, Professor Jekyll was rather strange in the beginning certainly, but I would not say that he is from another world. Not from Vale, perhaps." Certainly not Mistral either and she hadn't been in Atlas nor Vacuo long enough to make that assessment.

"That is because Jekyll has been in this world for less than you have been alive, Miss Nikos. He has had to catch up on his knowledge of Remnant just to keep up appearances."

This had to be some elaborate prank. Surely, the others in the room were excellent actors and actresses and that there were hidden cameras ready to document her belief. They will appear at any moment now and they'll all have a laugh.

"Oh it is most certainly true." Headmaster Ozpin nodded in confirmation. "This is no prank, Miss Nikos. His circumstance, and many other stories, are true."

Pyrrha was still having a hard time believing it. Really, the only strange, but impressive, thing about Professor Jekyll was that he had this peculiar ability of concealing his presence as a huntsman even when out in the open. Sometimes, she felt as though she should be the one careful less she hurt the obviously more experienced but young-looking huntsman. He could hide better than even Greene and she was the professor of Stealth.

Behind her, the elevator doors dinged and opened once more. From it, General James Ironwood marched out in a formation comprised entirely of one man. "Am I late?" he asked.

"No." Headmaster Ozpin shook his head. "In fact, we were just heading downward ourselves. Best that miss Nikos see it for herself."

He then stood from his seat. Pyrrha was made to follow. Still doubtful of their words, she was not one who is about to question the apparent seriousness that all four of them had. All five returned to the elevator with Pyrrha herself in the mirror. Gone was that feeling of pride that she had of winning the doubles round in the Vytal Tournament.

Instead, she found herself shifting attention among the four adults who were only either staring ahead or something else, ignoring her. Pyrrha shrunk as her feet shuffled on the floor and her fingers made circles around each other. What was going on? Weren't fairy tales just that? Fairy tales? They may have had some truth to them but most can be summed up as Don't talk to strangers without a companion of your own or Be kind to others even if they aren't to you. Stuff like that. There were also the few that were meant to scare children to teach them about the horrors of Grimm or inspiring tales that made some of them become huntsmen and huntresses.

The elevator continued its descent at a fixed pace but for Pyrrha, it felt as though the elevator was moving at a snail's pace. If it wasn't for that humming sound, she would have thought that she had frozen in place.

When the elevator past its way below the ground floor, Pyrrha took her wish of it moving faster back. She didn't even see that the elevator could go that low. Then again, she never noticed that the headmaster had pressed a hidden code that specifically leads to this lower level. The descent kept going in Pyrrha could feel her breathing quicken. The knowledge of being this far down underground only served to make her think of the worst possible outcome. The calmness of everyone else did nothing to ease her at all; it felt as though that they were statues that happen to be capable of the slightest of movements.

Finally, the elevator reached the end of its agonizing journey.

"Where are we?" Pyrrha asked. Her voice was shaking. It wasn't the only one. The Invincible Girl felt most vulnerable right now. "What is this place."

"The Vault," headmaster Ozpin replied. "Deep beneath the school."

Pyrrha was the last to step out. While the other adults were clearly accustomed to this Vault, she was not. Her eyes darted all around her. If it wasn't for the dimness of the lights, this would have been a grand hallway, greater than the ones above on Beacon Academy grounds. As it is, Pyrrha's hairs were standing as whatever imaginary creature that hid in the shadows could have leapt out of her. Even with the others present, she could hear her feet warning her of danger. There was little place to hide except in those shadows.

Darkness veiled the ceilings above and she regretted not bringing her shield with her as an umbrella. Was it too late to back out now? The elevator is right behind her. She just needed to turn around and step back into it, alone. Hopefully, nobody was using it and she didn't have to wait at all.

"Miss Nikos?" Professor Goodwitch turned back, concerned marking her face. "Is everything alright."

"Yes," she lied. "It's just that this is still really hard to believe." It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't completely true either.

"I suppose that the headmaster hasn't exactly explained everything quite well," Professor Goodwitch replied. "To make it brief, The Story of the Seasons is what is relevant here. You know of that, don't you?"

"About four Maidens who helped an old wizard who gifted them magical powers based on the seasons. They're also called the Four Maidens."

"Yes, that one. The thing is, Miss Nikos, is that those powers get to pass on to the next candidate; a young woman, obviously. Often it is whoever is their last thoughts. Otherwise, it goes to someone random. If it assures you, I would have volunteered myself but I am not as young as I had hoped." She snickered at her joke. It did little to ease Pyrrha's concerns.

"And I'm to be next in line?"

"In a sense. The last Maiden, Amber, had been attacked by enemies who have been working in secret to obtain such powers. Were it not for Qrow here, we might have lost Amber with the Fall Maiden's powers falling onto wrong hands. Well… at least, it would have been just Qrow."

"What do you mean?"

"It means," Qrow Branwen said, joining the conversation. "That I wasn't alone that time. I'll give ya one guess as to who that other helper was, kid."

Pyrrha didn't want to answer. She could already guess as to who that person was. "Professor… Jekyll?"

"Bingo," Qrow replied. "Ten points to Beacon."

"But how?"

"Magic." He waved his hand dismissively. "Amber probably got desperate when they were taking her powers away when he showed up. Hell, I thought he was some knight or something."

"That's news to me." General Ironwood turned to Ozpin. "Oz?"

The headmaster shook his head. "I'm afraid I'm not aware of this as well. Did it have anything to do with his claim of being a Servant, Qrow?"

Qrow raised his hands. "I wouldn't know myself. Maybe it was because the powers were being taken away from Amber or maybe it's my semblance getting all screwy again. What was it that the kids call it? Gacha?"

Headmaster Ozpin appeared to have been in deep thought. The revelation that apparently surprised even them was enough to make them pause. It was enough to make Pyrrha hope that they would all go back. Maybe think about this strange circumstance and come back another time. Sadly, that wasn't a luxury that she would have as the headmaster shook his head and kept going.

"Another time," he said. "That is something to ponder for another time."

From the darkness of the shadows, Pyrrha caught a glimpse of the rising shape of what must have been two kinds of containment units. One must have been for Amber while the other… was for her. Her knees shook with every step that she wanted to sit down and rest her suddenly tired bones. Her breath was caught when another figure was getting larger as they stepped closer.

She recognized that jacket draping on his shoulders anywhere. Beacon's students recognized him on sight for his civilian-like presence. His back was to them as he appeared to be taking notes of Amber's condition. Massaging his temples, Professor Henry Jekyll appeared to be checking Amber's vitals. Didn't the headmaster say that he was a doctor?

When Professor Jekyll turned, he first noticed the headmaster. "Ozpin?" he asked. "Glynda? Qrow? Ironwood? What brings you four he—"

Pyrrha was noticed last. At first, he was little confused of her presence. Then, as if a realization had struck him, the air around him changed. Pyrrha could claim with absolute confidence that she was a capable fighter, that she could best many among her peers. The key there is that she is a fantastic fighter among her peers. The same cannot be said when compared to professionals who have leagues of experience under their belts. If she had been unsure about Jekyll before, she was certain of it now.

Gone was the safe, civilian-like presence of professor Jekyll and it its place was a terrible feeling of harmful intent that Pyrrha's legs were practically screaming at her to run. He wasn't looking at her but at the headmaster. Did his eyes change color? She couldn't tell but something about his face certainly seemed to brighten the darkness a little, and not for the better; she hoped that the darkness could cover her and keep her hidden.

She was oblivious to the ring of protection that surrounded her. At the head was headmaster Ozpin who had his arm slightly raised as if to protect her. Professor Goodwitch appeared to be ready to act at a moment's notice. The general had his hand on his gun that he had kept hidden in his coat.

Only Qrow raised his arms between them, as if trying to ease the building tension, mainly coming from professor Jekyll.

"Hey, hey," he said. "Let's not get too hasty here."

Professor Jekyll was the first to deescalate. With a sigh, he still generated that dreadful air but it had been controlled for now. Instead, he spoke to the headmaster saying, "so, the time has come, then?"

Headmaster Ozpin nodded solemnly. "I'm afraid so. Truly, I am sorry."

Professor Jekyll turned to face her. Pyrrha wanted to shrink behind the headmaster, have him protect her from whatever it was that was currently standing in the usually safe professor's place. She didn't have her weapon with her. She could run right now but how long will she have to wait for the elevator to arrive? Would it even close in time? Would she even make it? She shook her head. She can't be thinking this. Surely, they wouldn't fight here, right?

"Until after the Vytal Festival?" Professor Jekyll asked.

"I don't think you are in the position to make negotiations, Je—" Ironwood said.

"Done," the headmaster interrupted. "I had thought that we agreed to this but it had been a long time now. Perhaps the thought slipped our minds."

"Perhaps." The professor agreed.

"Meet me in Glynda's combat classroom," headmaster Ozpin said. "There is still one last matter that you and I have to settle about Amber's future."

Professor Jekyll nodded and put on his jacket. It was Pyrrha's first time seeing him actually put his arms through the sleeves of his jacket rather than letting it drape over his shoulders. He walked past the five of them and gave a quick glance at her. Pyrrha's gaze lowered to avoid his and managed to catch sight of his closed fist before it loosened.

It was only after professor Jekyll had left that Pyrrha remembered to breathe.

"It is alright, Miss Nikos." Professor Goodwitch comforted her. "Everything will be okay. Jekyll will not harm you, I promise you that."

"But then why did he—"

"Despite how little Jekyll and Amber knew each other," the headmaster said, already having guessed her question. "It was still Amber who brought him here. He is a familiar of hers, so to speak, and thusly has some connection to her." He then turned to ask Qrow, "didn't he say that he was her Servant?"

"That's what he said, Oz." Qrow confirmed. The older huntsman then turned to face her. "So kid, still think that fairy tales aren't real?"

"I…" Pyrrha was unsure of how to answer. "I don't know." She was hoping that the cameras would appear at some point.

"Perhaps we should have had this another time," professor Goodwitch lamented. "Let's at least inform him to not be here when we do."

"I precisely chose this time because I know he would be here, Glynda," the headmaster retorted. "Just as Miss Nikos is being made aware of the burden that she will be made to bear, Jekyll will also be made aware of just who that burden will go to."

"That is a dangerous game, Ozpin," Ironwood replied. "If he had attacked Miss Nikos here—"

"Come now, James." Headmaster Ozpin looked rather offended at the notion. "Even if that had been the case, there are four of us here."

"Can I go back now?" Pyrrha asked weakly. "I… I think I understand what you're all trying to say here."

The headmaster looked to her and nodded. "If you want any answers, don't be afraid to come to us, even Jekyll. He may dissuade you but I am certain that he will not harm you."

"I don't think it's Jekyll we should be worried about." Ironwood crossed his arms.

"Oh it most certainly is Jekyll. He just doesn't see it himself quite yet."

/-/

Pyrrha had been late in returning to the dorm. From what she had heard thanks to professor Goodwitch, whatever it was that headmaster Ozpin and professor Jekyll had to settle would be tomorrow. She felt that it was less to do with them and more for her. Professor Goodwitch did say that she the classroom would be open should she need some last-minute training. Never mind the obvious fact that such things would be ill-advised with her moving onto the finals round.

She tossed and turned on her bed. The rest of her team were already sound asleep, having been assured that everything was simply her nerves getting the better of her now that she has a team to represent.

It can't be, she thought. It's not possible right? They were just acting, right?

She never really did see any proof. All she had were claims to the matter. The closest that she had was the fact that the Vault existed at all. Even if it had been real, she was given the choice and time to think it over. If she really wanted to, she could simply say no to this.

And burden someone else. Her thoughts betray her.

It wasn't really a choice. It was the illusion of choice. If the headmaster did win in this settlement of theirs, then it simply meant that she was destined to take this burden on herself. Pyrrha bit her lip. She will deny herself what she was feeling that night: she wanted professor Jekyll to win. It was a big burden and an even bigger history behind it.

She had already been alone once. Separated by everyone due to her talents and gifts, she wanted to keep things the way they used to be. Her eyes turned to her partner and leader of her team, Jaune Arc; the first one to have treated her as he would anyone else. Granted, said treatment was an attempt at flirtation that went poorly but he did that to others as well so that meant that she wasn't some special person in that regard though she most certainly wished that she was.

Did she really want this? No. The answer was clear. There was nothing about this that she wanted but would she be fine if someone else had been entrusted with this? Would they be capable of taking this burden? Clearly, the professors believed that she could and the fact that they went to her meant that she must have been the most trusted among the other possible candidates. She shook her head again. Surely, the candidates themselves must have earned their trust by being on that list, right?

Eventually, Pyrrha drifted to an uncomfortable slumber. She had no dreams that night and the slightest disturbance quickly wakened her, making for quite a long night.

/-/

The next morning, Pyrrha ate with the rest of her team along with their sister team, RWBY.

"You doing okay, P-money?" Yang asked. "Why the Xiao-Long face?"

"Ugh." Weiss cringed. "Must you seriously joke at a time like this?"

"What?" Yang defended. "Just saying she needs to get her head in the game if she's representing us and all."

"Like you're not doing the same," Blake replied. Her face was buried in her book.

"Exactly. Gotta make sure that first and second place are filled by Beacon!" Yang gave them all a cocky smile.

Everyone shook their heads. But Pyrrha gave at least a small hint of a smile. Maybe a distraction will help her here. "I think silver will look good on you, Yang."

"Oh, you sure about that? Not really my place to say but something tells me you wouldn't be too out of place wearing bronze."

Their laughter was subdued but it had the intended effect for her, at least. When breakfast had ended, she excused herself from the two teams again and proceeded to make her way towards professor Goodwitch's classroom.

"I just need some last minute advice," she excused. "One more tip before the finals, you know?"

It had been accepted by them. Despite her dislike of her status as the Invincible Girl, she would never regret ever pushing herself this far. One doesn't reach that status if they weren't at least a little competitive.

When she had managed to turn at a corner, Pyrrha's steps quickened to a jog. She never realized the tenseness of her muscles before now. She had never felt it since the first ever tournament she had ever fought in. For that matter, this one was greater than that and she wasn't even the combatant.

Entering the classroom, Pyrrha found that professor Jekyll had already been there waiting. He still had the same dangerous air about him that Pyrrha had to approach cautiously.

"Don't worry too much, Miss Nikos," he assured her. His voice was slow and exercised restraint on the emotions. "It is not you, but someone else."

"They told me that you didn't come from Remnant, is that true, professor?"

Her professor sighed but nodded. "Honestly, for all that preparation of having an alibi for my existence in the records…" He shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "Yes, I am not from Remnant." He snickered. "Amber did bring me here, though it was meant to be someone else."

Pyrrha would have pressed further but was cut off when the familiar sounds of a cane striking the ground was heard from behind her. Headmaster Ozpin had just arrived. With him were other professors.

"Peach?" Jekyll asked.

"Headmaster said you'll need a second and/or witness on your end." Professor Peach separated from the others. "Good luck."

Jekyll seemed to doubt that. "He didn't tell you that."

"I inferred." Professor Peach looked childishly proud of that.

"Miss Nikos," asked Professor Goodwitch. "Take a seat."

"Don't worry about it," Peach said. "No matter where you'd go, beansprout won't bite. Not you anyway."

On one side, there was Qrow Branwen, James Ironwood and Glynda Goodwitch. On the other, there was Thumbelina Peach. As headmaster Ozpin stepped up on the arena, professor Goodwitch readied the displays as though it was combat class.

"Gentlemen," she addressed them both. "The duel ends when one's aura reaches red. Ring-outs will not count and a knockout will result in the match ending immediately as per the terms of your agreement. Understood?"

Pyrrha let her feet guide her. She found herself sitting next to Professor Peach.

AN: In case anyone is wondering who Galahad Dulac is, it is more of a reference of a one-note OC I used back in "An Ideal Semblance." No reason, I just feel like giving some names to fill out the world of Remnant