Author's Note: This is a reminder that the next upload won't be until Jan 9th. Other than that, I hope you all enjoy the holidays.

Pyrrha looked out over the campus anxiously, today was Initiation. From where she stood, looking out the window of the floor below Ozpin's office, she could see the landing docks where the students would be delivered. An Initiation was held every year and, judging by the relative calm of the professors, it was no Remnant shaking event; it was so much more significant to her however. This had been her initiation. She could see the shuttles in the distance as they departed from Vale, and she knew that her past self would be on one of them. Her team was sitting there, ready to start their training at Beacon and continue their path as Huntsmen and Huntresses; blissfully unaware of what the future held.

Jaune was on one of those shuttles, likely puking his guts out as he tried to struggle through his air sickness. Despite her mood, Pyrrha smiled softly at the memory. He would manage to grow past it in time, though it would never go away completely. By the time of the Breach he at least knew how to force himself through it.

Ruby and Yang were also there and, despite Yang's best attempts to hide it, they were equally stressed out about what was to come. Pyrrha had broken the rules somewhat and warned them what initiation would actually be, giving them some advantage over the other students. She doubted that it would make much of a difference, but if it would help them to remain just a bit more calm, then it was worth the effort.

The fact her friends were arriving should have been cause for celebration, but that celebration had been stolen from her by a simple Scroll message that morning. She wasn't going to be participating in initiation, at least not as a potential student. She would be assisting Glynda and the Headmaster watch over the students in the event anything went wrong.

While she wouldn't have usually minded helping them, it was more the implication that had soured her mood. She wasn't going to be allowed to join Beacon as a first year. That should have been obvious, and it didn't come as any surprise, but it hurt to finally know that for a fact. She had wanted nothing more than to rejoin her old team, partner up with Jaune again, and actually tell him how she felt this time around; it seemed the Headmaster had other plans however.

"I understand you must be mad at him." Glynda walked up beside her, looking out the window at the city. "But he is not wrong. You have already completed your first year at Beacon, there is nothing more for you to learn from it." Pyrrha hummed softly but said nothing. She felt a hand grasp her shoulder softly, causing her to look up at the Professor's eyes. "You can't replace her, no matter how much you wish to."

"She is me, remember?" Pyrrha smirked at the confusing statement, amused by how easily they both understood it, before looking back out the window. "I don't want my old life back… I just want my friends."

"I'm sure you can approach Mr. Arc of your own accord later." Glynda replied.

Pyrrha blushed and stammered. "I-It's not just him!"

"The bonds we make at Beacon can easily last a lifetime, something I have no doubt you will seek to prove." The Professor smiled back at her for a moment, but Pyrrha couldn't ignore the sympathetic look in her eyes. "But you must remember that, while you may have lived through it, that person is not you. It is not your life to live, not any longer."

Pyrrha sighed. "I know, it's just…"

"Young love makes us ignore rational thought." Glynda said, the amusement in her voice was thick enough that Pyrrha could have cut it with Allos were she not so busy blushing like a schoolgirl. "I'm sure you will find a way."

"Can we talk about something else please." Pyrrha begged.

Glynda chuckled softly, a surprisingly warm sound considering how cold the Professor often seemed. "Very well, how about your duties for tomorrow."

"Stand watch over the cliffside with you and Ozpin, make sure any students that get in trouble are rescued." Pyrrha replied, it was a simple task but admittedly an important one. She couldn't recall if there were any close calls during her initiation, but she'd also been distracted by the Deathstalker and Nevermore. Come to think of it, she had to wonder just how close the teachers had come to stepping in. Had they trusted them to handle it, or were they on the cusp of terminating their initiation all together?

"That is correct." Glynda nodded her head. "You may spend your time today as you see fit, but make sure that you turn in a bit earlier tonight, you'll need to be alert in the morning."

Pyrrha nodded once more. "I'll be there." Stepping back from the window, she turned to look at the older woman. "Thank you Professor, I'll try to take your words to heart."

Glynda nodded, but remained silent as Pyrrha left for the elevator.

"I don't know, that seems pretty cool to me." Fox sent. "No school work, and you get to be basically a professor. Hey, do you think you co-"

"No, she can't help you with your grades." Coco slapped her partner in the back of the head. "You'll have to try harder than that if you want to cheat."

Pyrrha smiled as her friends continued to go back and forth as they walked. The docks weren't particularly close to the dorms, but Team CFVY had wanted to accompany her to welcome Yang and Ruby to the school officially. She was grateful for that, though it did put a slight damper on her plans.

The shuttles were just landing as they arrived, the doors sliding open and allowing the new students their first look of Beacon proper. She could still remember how in awe she was when she had seen it. Pictures and videos truly didn't do the school justice, and she felt honored to call it home. As the crowds stepped off the shuttle however, Pyrrha's eyes were looking for someone specific.

There was a small commotion in the crowd as someone shoved their way through, a few cries of anger before a man clutching his stomach and mouth nearly threw himself into the closest trash can.

"Judging by the thirsty look on your face, that's the guy?" Coco teased her, causing Pyrrha to glare back at her. "Hey, whatever you like in a guy. Personally, I think she's a lot more my style." Coco nodded her head at one of the other first years, a student from Vacuo is she remembered correctly. "So I'm gonna go talk to her and see if I can get her scroll number, why don't you go talk to vomit-boy over there."

"No!" Velvet appeared next to them, causing Pyrrha to jump slightly at the sudden sound. "She can't talk to him yet."

Coco lowered her sunglasses, giving Velvet a look somewhere between a glare and disappointment. "Why not?"

Velvet turned towards Pyrrha, using Fox's semblance in order to keep their conversation private. "You said that he doesn't have his Aura unlocked yet, right?" Pyrrha nodded. "And he only survived landing in the forest because you saved him, right?" Pyrrha nodded again, not sure what point she was trying to make. "Are you planning on doing that again?"

"Crap." Coco added. "She's got a point."

"What point?" Pyrrha looked between them, waiting for an explanation.

"If you interfere, who's to say he meets you?" Coco explained. "And if he doesn't meet you and make a good impression…"

Then she wouldn't save him during the initiation, and he would be left without any kind of landing strategy as he was thrown through the air. Pyrrha swallowed heavily. "So I'll unlock his Aura and…"

"Would Goodwitch let you interfere in initiation?" Coco asked, Pyrrha's silence serving as answer enough. "I hate to say it, but Velvet is tight, maybe we should get out of here before we cause any ripple effects."

"Just like that one move." Fox helpfully added. "What was it called? Moth Effect? No. Fly Effect? It definitely had a bug of some kind."

"We hook you two up later, for now we need to go." Coco grabbed Pyrrha's wrists, pulling her along before her feet could even realize what was happening. Looking back, she caught a brief glimpse of Yang and Ruby stepping off and looking around the landing area.

Biting her lip, Pyrrha turned and followed Coco. Pulling up her scroll to type a quick apology to the two sisters and an explanation for why she wouldn't be able to make it. She had to lie of course, saying that she needed to set things up, but it was for the best. If she had learned one thing over the last few months, it was that her actions had very real consequences. This was something she wasn't willing to risk.

The fact Ruby was here at Beacon was a miracle, though she suspected Ozpin might have invited her anyway with the knowledge of what Pyrrha had told him. She refused to tempt fate when Jaune's life hung in the balance, so she would have to wait. It would only be a few more days, then she could arrange some kind of run in with him in the halls or the cafeteria. She had waited so long already, what were a few more days?

Despite trying to reason with herself, she knew it was going to be a long two days. In the end, she would have Team CFVY to keep her occupied at least. When they arrived back at the dorm room, they decided to have one last movie night before the semester started. Each of them knew what was coming, and despite her best efforts to change things for the better Pyrrha was afraid of what the future held. When she spent time with her friends though, she was able to forget about it; if only for a while.

"Fox was right, it's a pretty big deal." Coco said, crushing the presumably empty can of soda in her hand. "It's pretty cool that you'll be watching over initiation."

"I'd rather-"

"I know." Coco rolled her eyes. "You'd rather be going through it, but it's better than what we have to do."

Pyrrha tilted her head. "Aren't you guys just going to start classes tomorrow?"

Velvet groaned. "If only."

"We have to show the first years around campus after initiation. Doesn't sound bad but trust me, it's gonna be boring." Coco smirked. "If I hadn't… pulled some strings."

Pyrrha's eyes narrowed instantly. "What do you mean?"

"I might have made a deal that we get to show around whatever team your boy toy gets placed on." Coco's smile turned undeniable smug.

"W-What?" Pyrrha stared back at her friend.

"You can pay me back later."

"How is that possible?" Pyrrha smiled, despite her confusion. "They don't even have teams yet?"

"There's only a handful of teams the teachers trust to show around the newbies, I made a deal with them that whatever team he gets placed on we'll show around." Coco shrugged. "Not all that difficult, especially since they were all fighting over Nikos."

Pyrrha's smile diminished somewhat. "They were?" She hadn't known, though looking back, she could kind of tell. The team that had shown their own around had spent a fair bit more time answering her questions than the others, much to her dismay. "But wait, we-they… Jaune and the past me will be on the same team. What then?"

"Fear not, all part of the deal." Coco smiled viciously. "And no one goes back on a deal with Team CFVY." Velvet and Yatsuhashi shivered at their team leader's smile, and Pyrrha couldn't help but share in their nervousness. "You'll have your shot."

Pyrrha shook her head softly. "Thank you Coco, you're amazing."

"Hm, don't forget it." Coco's smile wavered slightly. "It'll be up to you to make a good impression though."

"I'm sure I can manage, but…" Pyrrha hesitated. "I just don't know about her."

"You mean… you?" Fox asked, understandably confused by her statement.

"I don't know, it's just weird. Seeing my past self, knowing what would happen to her-me, er, us if I did nothing." Pyrrha shuttered softly. "She's so hopeful for Beacon to be everything she wants it to be… with no idea of what's going to happen. I know because that's me." Pyrrha sighed. "It doesn't make any sense."

"I think it makes perfect sense." Velvet said, shrugging softly. "I've read that we often don't get along with or like people who are too similar to us, she's literally you, or you were her at least, so you're bound to feel off around one another."

"Just try to remember that you're different people." Yatsuhashi said. "You have changed and grown over your time, you are older and more experienced than her. It is not wrong to say you are different people. Are we necessarily the same person we were yesterday?"

"And now my head hurts." Fox groaned. "Thanks for that big guy."

Pyrrha sighed, trying to figure out exactly what she was going to do. Talking with Jaune was going to be difficult, despite how simple she said it, and dealing with her past self? She didn't have any idea where to start, or if she should even try.

Laying down on her bed, she decided to sleep on it. If nothing else, a good night's rest would help her prepare for the following day.

Pyrrha rubbed at her eyes, fighting the urge to yawn as she walked through the halls of Beacon. Initiation wasn't set to start for several more hours, and had it not been for the scroll call she got in the middle of the night she still would have been asleep. As it was she wished she could have curled back up under her blankets. Sadly, ignoring a call from General Ironwood was not something she was willing to do.

He hadn't said much on the call, only that he wanted to talk with her in private and that it would have to be as soon as possible. She had already agreed before she realized he meant at that exact moment, her still asleep brain failing to connect the dots for why else he would be calling in the middle of the night. Still, she had agreed and so she slowly made her way to the private landing pad the General's ship had occupied for the last couple weeks.

The first thing she noticed was the rather active movement of soldiers and robots around the pad. The second, was Winter, Qrow and the General standing in the middle of the path talking. She kept a respectful distance, far enough so that she couldn't hear what they were saying, until she was noticed and called over.

"Miss Nikos, It's good to see you again." The General smiled slightly, nodding his head before it all returned to the grim expression she was used to seeing on the news. "I apologize that I have been busy as of late, things have been… hectic."

"That is certainly one way to describe this mess." Winter added. "Good morning Miss Nikos, I hope the hour is not too early."

"She means she's sorry for waking you." Qrow added, tuning to look at the General as he spoke. "And wasting your time by making you come down here in the first place."

"I felt it important we tell her what's happening." Ironwood said to Qrow, before turning to regard her once more. "I will be leaving for Atlas before sunrise."

Pyrrha's sleep deprived brain began to panic instantly. "Has something happened?"

"No, at least… not yet." Ironwood looked hesitant. "I am needed in Atlas to secure our ranks." Pyrrha didn't understand, and that must have been evident as the General quickly explained what he meant. "Ever since you told us about what is to come, about how my own military was used against us, I have been trying to secure Atlas from insider threats."

"He's been plugging leaks." Qrow said. "And getting a lot of flak for it in the meantime."

"There are some back in Atlas who believe I am not giving this the seriousness it deserves." Ironwood nodded. "That is why I must return."

Pyrrha understood that, though she didn't like the idea of him leaving. With Atlas here, even in such a small capacity, it had given her a sense of security. With them gone, Beacon would have to stand alone once more. With the White Fang more active than ever thanks to her meddling, and without Atlas, things could get far worse.

"I will return, I promise you that." Ironwood must have read her face again, and came to the right conclusion. If anything, he looked more worried about leaving than she felt and she could easily believe that. The General was a man of action, but he also liked to oversee it himself. To lead form the front; something that was difficult to do half a world away. "Winter will be staying, along with Clover and a small detachment of soldiers."

"Ozpin has already agreed to house them at Beacon." Winter looked to Qrow who nodded along.

"He didn't sound too pleased with it, but the idea of you leaving for a while?" Qrow smirked. "Who could say no to that?"

Winter rolled her eyes, though Ironwood seemed pleased with the shift in tone. "When I return I will bring as many ships and men with me as I can trust. Until then, good luck." He nodded to each of them before turning and striding back to his ship.

The last of the guards on the platform itself boarded as well, leaving a few dozen mechanical troops standing beside Clover and a handful of Atlesian Soldiers; all that remained of the Generals forces as his ship finally lifted off from the landing pad.

"It will only take a few weeks." Winter said, though Pyrrha couldn't tell who exactly she was trying to convince. "The General will make short work of the bureaucrats and politicians back home."

"James is driven, I'll give him that." Qrow reached for his hip, hand resting where his flask once had. Pyrrha reached her own hand down to her belt to unattach it, taking a drink before offering it to him for once. "Let's just hope he's doing the right thing."

Pyrrha trusted he was, if anyone could route out the corrupted members of Atlas, it would be General Ironwood. She would trust his judgment because he had earned that of her. Now, they just had to hold the ground they had managed to take while he had been here.

Keep the White Fang on the back foot, and continue looking for the Maiden.

If everything went to plan, they would be able to get the Lamp and plan how to stop Salem before the year was out.

Author's Note: Not too much to say about this chapter other than the fact it's a bit shorter than usual, but I do have news. There is a new fanart commission of this story that I will be posting on my DA, so if you would like to see it head on over and look up my username. It's a good one.

With this chapter, and with me getting ready to take a break, I leave you all with one question. Would you be active if I created a community tab for my works? I think it would be a cool way to interact with the community and get some more direct feedback. Let me know what you think.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and as always, let me know what you think in the reviews. I'll see you all next year.

Sincerely, SE