Destiny No More

Chapter 7

Pyrrha attempted to ignore the pain in her head, focusing on the calm and friendly atmosphere of her friends, but struggled to do so. Today was an important day.

Her match against Penny.

Despite her experience and skill, despite all that she had accomplished in the past, Pyrrha couldn't shake the sense of unease within her. This fight was important, incredibly important, but she couldn't tell why.

If she won she would go on to the final, winning glory and fame she cared little about. She would finally be able to use her skills for the benefit of her team, that was what mattered to her. Her friends had always been supportive, and if she lost she knew they wouldn't hate her for it, but she had been so looking forward to the chance to impress them.

To make them proud.

It was foolish, seeking approval from her friends, but she couldn't help it. This was her chance.

Or, it had been.

She truly had been looking forward to the tournament over the last months, but recently it had felt far more foreboding. The Headmasters offer still weighed heavy on her mind, and she had assumed that as the cause of her fear, but now she wasn't so sure.

Pyrrha already knew what she was going to say, despite her reluctance to do so. There was never a question in her mind that she would accept the Maiden powers if it meant protecting her friends. She had already made her choice.

She could remember being conflicted about it when she'd first been told but... those memories felt so distant and detached that she struggled to grasp them. She didn't want to forget her friends, something she had been told was a distinct possibility, but she somehow knew that wouldn't happen.

It wasn't a belief, nor was it a lie to make herself feel strong enough to do the right thing, she simply knew.

None of that bothered her. Her entire world view had been altered, a veil of secrecy ripped away, and yet she was oddly ok with it. She had adapted to it.

It no longer surprised her.

But that left the issue unsolved. What was she so worried about?

Pyrrha turned her head to look at the arena where she would fight Penny. Her stomach twisted at the thought as her mind felt clouded. There was a memory she was trying to recall, something that she had just barely forgotten.

Whenever she thought she had it the details slipped from her mind, leaving her just as confused as before. The only difference being her headache getting worse with each attempt.

All she knew was that she had to remember, whatever it was, and so she kept trying despite the pain.

She felt a hand settle on her shoulder, snapping her attention back to the group of people that surrounded her.

Her friends had noticed there was something wrong with her, though by this point Pyrrha was sure everyone at Beacon had noticed. Jaune had sought her out and offered what comfort he could without knowing the details, but the attempt had meant the world to her.

Her friends were good people, people she would die to protect.

People she had di-

"You've got this, Pyr." Jaune spoke softly, his eyes scanning her face in an attempt to figure out how to help her. She hoped he would find something, anything, to say that would make her feel better.

She hoped for too much.

"Yeah!' Nora bounced up from becied Jaune. "You're like, way better than the competition!" Nora was always filled with energy, always managing to bring a smile to someone's face no matter the situation, but Pyrrha could tell it was forced this time. An act put on for her benefit.