(Volume 1) Chapter 8 - Forever Fall

Team JNPR Dorm

Meanwhile in Beacon Academy, where Pyrrha looks out the window sadly as Ren loads and Nora is jumping on her bed.

"How come Jaune gets home so late?" Nora wondered.

"He's become rather scarce since he started fraternizing with Cardin." Ren replied.

"That's weird... Doesn't he know we have a field trip tomorrow? We need our rest!" Nora proclaims this while twirling in midair so her back hits the covers.

"I'm sure our leader knows exactly what he's doing." Pyrrha reassured with a small smile knowing that Silver is going to help Jaune but at the same time she's still saddened by Jaune is with Cardin.

Nora and Ren exchange glances before Nora says, "Mmmm... I guess so."

(Jaune POV)

The team did not know that Jaune himself was looking in through the crack of the door.

Jaune hangs his head and closes the door, just as a voice interrupts his thoughts.

"Hey, Jaune!" This startled Jaune as he turned around to see Ruby in her pajamas along with Silver in his own. Ruby giggles at his reaction, "Long time, no see! Did you lock yourself out again?"

"Oh, uh, nope!" He raises his Scroll, attempting to laugh, "Got it!"

"So!" Ruby begins to speak, "Silver told me you've been having trouble recently." As Silver nodded. "Is that true?"

"I, uh..." Jaune stutters to come up with something, but just sighs and lowers his head.

"I messed up." He admits, "I did something I shouldn't have, and now Cardin has me on a leash, and Pyrrha won't even talk to me, and..." He breathes heavily through his nose, "I'm starting to think coming to this school was a bad idea." He presses his back to his team's door and slides down to the floor in depression. "I'm a failure."

"Nope!" Ruby said as Silver nods again.

Jaune looked at her in surprise. "'Nope?'"

"Nope! You're a leader now, Jaune. You're not allowed to be a failure." Ruby explained.

"Indeed." Silver added.

"But... what if I'm a failure at being a leader?" Jaune asked.

"Then you try again, redeem yourself." Silver speaks.

"True!" Ruby approved.

Jaune slightly chuckles, "I don't know... You guys don't seem to understand this kind of stuff..." He replied.

"Nope!" Ruby answered as Jaune leaned into the door some more.

"Listen Jaune, we all have flaws from the past, sometimes the smallest one can drag you down, there could be a moment when you..." Silver explains, which Jaune groans and sinks lower to the ground just then Ruby snuck up behind his ear.

"He's good, trust me!" Ruby whispered and went back to her previous position as Silver continued talking.

"But, this isn't about you."

"Huh?" Jaune wondered what he meant.

"It means it's not just about you anymore." Ruby explained, "You've got a team now, Jaune. We all do!" She gestured to Silver, "And if we fail, then we'll just be bringing them down with us." She places her hands on her hips.

"It's not about you but for your team, think about what action you take that will impact the team." Silver replied, "And think for yourself, why did Ozpin choose you?" He pointed to Jaune at his chest leaving him to think about it.

"Well, we hoped that this would help, see you Jaune!" Ruby replies as she walks over to her door and opens it as Jaune, now slightly inspired by their words, watches her wave, "Have a good night, Jaune!" She goes inside.

"Remember why you were chosen here for a reason." Silver's last words enter Jaune's mind as he returns back to his dorm.

With new energy, Jaune pushes himself off the ground and faces the door, ready to turn the knob and face his team, but his Scroll beeps and he pulls it off of his side to open it, seeing Cardin's contact relaying a message.

"Hey! It's your buddy Cardin! I know you're probably busy with that Dust project I gave you, buuuut I'm gonna need you to go out and get me a bag of Rapier Wasps." Cardin ordered which Jaune makes a terrified sound in response, "And make sure they've got some really big stingers! It's important, so don't screw this up!"

Jaune closes his Scroll just when it begins to beep again. Sighing, he wearily heads down the hallway and away from his room but in his mind he was still thinking about one point: 'Why did Ozpin choose him as leader?'

Forever Fall

The next day a red forest bustling with red leaves and gray trunks as Glynda is leading teams RWBY, JNPR, and CRDL through the area.

"Yes, students, the forest of Forever Fall is indeed beautiful." She announced, "But we are not here to sight-see. Professor Peach has asked all of you to collect samples from the trees deep inside this forest, and I'm here to make sure none of you die while doing so."

The group stops, Silver turns and watches Jaune, grunting and carrying a large case with six empty glass jars on top, tries to catch up with them and ends up bumping into Cardin. The bully scowls at Jaune, who attempts to feign innocence by whistling tunelessly.

Glynda instructed her group, holding up a full jar of their objective, "Each of you is to gather one jar's worth of red sap. However, this forest is full of the creatures of Grimm, so be sure to stay by your teammates. We will rendezvous back here at 4 o'clock. Have fun!"

Yang and Ruby smile at one another, Rusty smiles beside Silver while Jaune attempts to sneak away from Cardin to his team, but the blackmailer sees this and grabs Jaune by the back.

"Come on, buddy - let's go!" He said.

Jaune miserably looks up at his team, where Nora and Ren are already walking into the forest's depths and Pyrrha is staring sadly at the scene. Dropping his gaze, Jaune turns and follows CRDL.

She sighs in disappointment as Silver walked beside her.

"Don't worry." Silver said as Pyrrha turned to see him. "He knows what he is doing, let's go." Pyrrha continues to look where Jaune has gone before joining her team to collect the red sap.

(Team CRDL & Jaune POV)

Team CRDL is making themselves as comfortable as possible by leaning on stones, trees, and the ground while Jaune returns to the group with six full jars, setting them down just as he collapses face-down. The surrounding team gets up in response.

"Hey, great work, Jauney boy! Now that wasn't too hard, was it?" Cardin asked.

Jaune is still on the ground, cross-eyed and sounding dizzy, "I think I'm allergic to this stuff..." He muttered.

"Greeeeat, great, great." Cardin replied, ignoring Jaune's complaint, "So, Jaune, I bet you're asking yourself, 'Why did my buddy Cardin ask me to collect six jars of tree sap when there's only five of us?'"

Jaune nodding, still exhausted, "That is one of the many questions I have asked myself today, yes."

"Well, come with me, and you'll find out." Cardin replied as Jaune sits up.

Jaune moans and gulps in worry.

Now perched on a hilltop overlooking the other students, team CRDL - plus Jaune, squeezed between Cardin and peak their heads over the crest and watch as everyone is retrieving their samples of sap.

Nigel is collecting the sap along with Ren from the trees, as Ren passes a full jar to Nora and Nigel passes his one to Rusty.

As for Nora and Rusty, Nora tries some of the sap which she ate the entire of it resulting in herself covered in sap. Rusty was eye widened by this and tried a small amount of sap for himself which he enjoys the taste. And before Rusty could devour more, he was soon heard a clear coughing and was stared by Ren and Nigel as Nora gave an embarrassed smile.

"What?" Rusty asked, "It tastes good actually!"

Jaune turns to his left, "Cardin, wh-what's going on?" He asked.

"Payback." Cardin answered while still staring at the unsuspecting group sharply

Jaune widens his eyes in understanding, "Pyrrha... and... Silver?" He watches her gather more sap from a tree with Silver nearby collecting his sap before handing it to Albus nearby. "Wh-what are you-?"

Cardin pounds his fist on the ground which interrupts him, "Those two. Red-haired know-it-all, thinks she's so smart and that 'Silver' guy, thinks he can just mess us around. Alright, boys..." He pulls out a buzzing cardboard box with a large "W" written on its sides, "Last night, old Jaune here managed to round up an entire box of Rapier Wasps, and now, we're gonna put him to work."

Russel grabs Jaune by the shoulder, who barely laughs in nervousness.

"Now, according to one of the essays you wrote for me last week, these nasty things loooove sweets. I'm thinking it's time we teach them a thing or two." He indicates as Pyrrha is seen finishing her sap collection, Silver also finished his collection and decides to help Pyrrha for the jars as he gestured Albus to help others while he helps her.

The members of CRDL get up. Cardin offers his hand to Jaune, only to painfully yank him up on his feet and shove the jar into his grasp.

"And you're gonna do it." Cardin demands.

"Do what?" Jaune asks.

"Hit her with the sap!" Cardin threatens as he leans in close to Jaune's face, "Either that, or I'll have a chat with Goodwitch, and you'll be on the first out of Beacon."

Jaune looks down at the jar of sap in his hands and then up at the four grinning teammates waiting to see what happens. Jaune turns towards the group and aims his throw to Silver and Pyrrha, trying to steal his nerves and shaking hands to do the deed, but he hears those words from Silver and Ruby.

'It's not just about you anymore.' Ruby's voice speaks in Jaune's mind.

'Think about what action you take that will impact the team.' Silver's voice replied.

'You've got a team now, Jaune. We all do! And if we fail, then we'll just be bringing them down with us.'

'Remember why you were chosen here for a reason.'

With these final words, he ultimately steals himself for what he's about to do.

"No." Jaune refute

"What did you say?" Cardin questioned in an irritated tone.

Jaune gripping the jar tightly, "I said... NO!" He yells.

His next course of action begins as he turns and throws the jar at Cardin, instantly recoiling his hands to himself as he looks at Cardin's breastplate covered in sap. The other team leader, however, just looks at himself and laughs darkly.

"Oh, you've done it now..." Cardin said.

Jaune humorously laughs to himself once more with his hands still raised in an attempt for defense as Dove and Lark grab Jaune's shoulders and pull him in.

(Team *J*NPR, RWBY & SANR POV)

Silver and Pyrrha waited for something to happen, they knew Jaune was about to do something but they just had to wait.

"I have to go to see my team as well do you." He said.

"Right." Pyrrha nodded as the two joined their teams.

Team SANR are still collecting but only Rusty isn't there, Silver arrives to notice this.

"Where is Rusty?" He asks.

"He's trying to help Ren by stopping Nora eating more sap." Nigel replied.

"I... see." Silver slowly replied back. He looks up the cliff where Jaune and Team CRDL went, before deciding to help Niogel and Albus.

(Team CRDL & Jaune POV)

Back to Jaune getting pushed to the ground, groaning from pain as he looks up and sees a sap-covered Cardin looming over him. The bigger warrior picks Jaune up by his front and grins while punching him back to the ground.

"You know that wasn't very smart, Jauney boy." Cardin remarks as he picks up a bruised Jaune again while the rest of Team CRDL watches. "I'm gonna make sure they send you back to mommy in teeny tiny pieces."

"I don't care what you do to me..." Jauen said as his bruised face stared at Cardin with fury, "... but you are not messing with my team."

Cardin looked momentarily shocked from Jaune's words, "What? You think talking like that makes you tough? You think you're a big strong man now?" He queried.

Jaune smiles in defiance. Which enrages Cardin, raises his fist again, but just as the hit connects, a bright light shines from Jaune. Meanwhile Silver sensed something which he noticed a white glow from up there. Cardin is crying out in pain as he holds his hand. Jaune, now back on the ground but completely healed, looks confusedly at his hands as they faintly glow white. While he stares, though, Sky kicks Jaune in the back and gets him on his stomach, but he looks up and glares at the approaching Cardin.

"Let's see how much of a man you really are..." Cardin smirks.

Just as he says this, a low growl is heard, and a surprised Team CRDL turns around and sees a large paw crash onto the scene, belonging to a huge Ursa Major with dozens of jagged spikes sticking out from its wide back. It leaps forward and stands over the terrified students, lifting its head in the air to smell the sap on Cardin's breastplate. It lands back on its forelegs and roars at Cardin while his teammates heroically flee.

"That's a big Ursa!" Russel yells.

Cardin is rooted to the spot when the Grimm swings its claws and knocks him sideways, revealing Jaune cowering behind him. The Ursa continue to sniff, uninterested in Jaune and follow its nose to Cardin. He watches as it towers over Cardin, who gets his wits and pulls out only for the monster to swipe it away to Jaune's feet. He looks conflicted, wondering whether to fight or run away.

Back To Others

Meanwhile, the roar of the giant Ursa is heard by the members of the three teams, still collecting sap on the other side of the forest.

Ruby got up, concerned, "Did you guys hear that?" She asked.

"Grimm..." Albus mutters as he pulls out his staff which converts into a rifle ready to fire.

Suddenly, the remaining members of Team CRDL are seen running the other way from the roar through the other students.

"Ursa! Ursa!" Russel cries out which he runs into Yang accidentally.

"What?!" Yang exclaimed, completely unfazed by his collision, she picked him up by the front of his shirt. "Where?"

Russel struggled and still ran in the air, but points back from where they came. "Back there! It's got Cardin!"

Pyrrha realises who was with Cardin as she drops her jar of sap, "Jaune!" She said.

"Yang!" Ruby calls out her sister, "You and Blake, go get Professor Goodwitch!" Yang drops Russel, as she and Blake nod before following the orders.

"You two Rusty and Nigel." Silver ordered which these two dropped their jars and ran to join them.

Pyrrha turns to Nora and Ren as she and Ruby activate their weapons, "You two, go with them! There could be more!"

Ren and Nora nodded and joined the four. As for Silver, Albus, Weiss, Ruby and Pyrrha, they run up where the Cardin and Jaune is.

(Jaune POV)

Cardin is attempting to run from the following Ursa, but it leaps over its prey and claws him away. He tries to get up and crawl away.

"Crap! Crap, crap!" He fretted.

Just then Pyrrha and the others arrived at the scene, "Oh, no!" She said.

They watch as the Ursa leans over the helpless victim, raising its paw and swiping it down... only to be blocked by Jaune's shield Coreas Mors. He struggles to defend a stunned Cardin from its attempts to lean on him, but Weiss lifts as she prepares along with Albus aiming his rifle to assist Jaune.

"Wait!" Pyrrha gestured to them to halt their weapons as not to interfere with Jaune's moment.

"What?" Albus questioned Pyrrha;'s words.

"Just trust in him." Silver replied which they watch Jaune fight,

Jaune takes the shield out from the Ursa's paw and slashes at its stomach, causing it to lash out and try to crush him. He rolls out of the way and jumps over its swipe at his feet, but he is unprepared for when it launches a claw at him in midair. He lands far away, yet is immediately back on his feet and passing Cardin as he charges again. The Ursa knocks Jaune behind it when he tries for a leaping attack, and he looks at the Scroll in his shield to find out that his Aura level is in the red. He grows angry again and starts to run at the Ursa as it also begins to dash towards him.

As they are just about to clash in slow-motion, Pyrrha sees that Jaune has left himself completely open to the Ursa's attack, and lifts her hand out to him, gathering dark red energy in her arm. Just as the Ursa is about to hit him, the glow surrounds Jaune's shield and makes it lift up to block the swipe. Jaune uses the surprise defensive move to lean on the ground, push his shield back up, and swing his blade right through Ursa's neck. The head falls to the ground as the body slams onto the ground.

Ruby turns to Pyrrha as her hand stops glowing and she smiles. "Uhhh... What?"

Weiss was equally amazed and decided to ask Pyrrha. "How did you...?"

"Well, Ruby has her speed, you have your glyphs. My Semblance is polarity." Pyrrha answered.

"Whoa, you can control poles..." Ruby comments.

"No, you dunce! It means she has control over magnetism!" Weiss explains.

Ruby was still impressed, whispering. "Magnets are cool, too..."

Albus notices Pyrrha start to leave, "Wait, where are you going?" He asked.

"Yeah! We gotta tell them what happened!" Ruby replied.

"We could... Or perhaps we could keep it our little secret?" Pyrrha asserts as she nods to Silver which he nods back, walks away again as Ruby and Weiss smile to each other in understanding, leaving Albus confused.

"It's for gaining confidence in Jaune." Silver explains.

"Oh." Albus understood as he felt kinda proud for Jaune.

Jaune, who is now bruised, sheathes his weapon before going over to Cardin.

Cardin, still covered in sap, looks up at Jaune as his savior offers a hand. Cardin smiles as he takes it and is lifted back up on his feet.

"Holy crap, Jaune!" Cardin quavered.

"Don't ever mess with my team. My friends. Ever again." Jaune threatens as he stares Cardin dead in the eye. "Got it?"

Cardin looks intimidated, possibly even apologetic. With his order spoken, Jaune turns and walks away from a frozen Cardin.

(Pyrrha & Jaune POV)

Later that night, on top of the dorm building, a uniformed Jaune stands on the edge and looks into the distance at the green lights of Beacon.

"No Cardin tonight?" Pyrrha's voice was heard as she appeared and walked to his side. "I thought you two were best buds?"

Jaune turning to face her, "Pyrrha... I'm sorry. I was a jerk! You were only trying to be nice, and... I had all this stupid macho stuff in my head-" He tries to apoligise.

"Jaune!" Pyrrha quickly interrupted, "It's okay!" As they smile at one another, she adds, "You should thank Silver and Ruby for helping you out." Jaune smiles remembering them helping him, "Your team really misses their leader, you know." She begins to walk to the exit, "You should come down! Ren made pancakes! No syrup, though - you can thank Nora for that!"

Jaune smiles, but holds out his hand and calls out, "Wait!" Pyrrha turns around, and Jaune looks sheepish, "I know I don't deserve it after all that happened, but... would you still be willing to help me... to help me become a better fighter?" He asks.

Pyrrha turns around so a worried Jaune won't see her satisfied smile. She goes up to Jaune and suddenly pushes her leader to the ground.

"Hey!" Jaune whined.

Pyrrha: standing over him with her arms on her hips and an evaluating tone, "Your stance is all wrong. You need to be wider and lower to the ground." She advises as she offers him her hand, which he graciously accepts, and they continue to hold on to and grin at each other. "Let's try that again."

Just as the two spar, Silver and Ruby watches them practice.

"We did Silver!" Ruby whispered in an excited tone.

"Indeed." Silver nodded.

"So..." Ruby decides to talk, "Me and my team are going Vale and I was wondering if you are okay to join us with your team." She suggests.

Silver took a moment of thinking before replying, "Sure, for what interest?" He asks.

"Mostly Weiss suggestion." Ruby explains.

Silver smiles, "Hm, Okay Ruby, my team and I will join you."

"Great! We'll see you tomorrow!" Ruby gleamed as Silver walked to his dorm leaving Ruby alone.

Just for a moment of silence, Ruby quickly sighs in relief, "I can't believe he accepts it!" She shrieked in thought.

Flashback

Back at RWBY Dorm, Yang is having a conversation with an embarrassed Ruby.

"Come on Rubes!" Yang is encouraging her little sis.

"I don't know..." Ruby squeaked.

"If you really 'like' Silver, then tag him along with his team to Vale." Yang convinces.

"I..." Ruby replied.

"Even Rusty sees it between you two!" Yang smirks as Ruby's face goes red as her ears blow out steam.

"Yang!" Ruby yells out infuriating to her sister.

Yang chuckles, "Look, it's not your first time when you have your first crush on someone you like." Leaving Ruby's face pouting, "But hey! I also like Rusty as well." She pointed out.

"Well yeah, but you and Rusty are perfectly fine with this!" Ruby mentioned, "Nigel and Albus are friends with Blake and Weiss." She added.

"Yeah!" Yang replied, "So try to hang around with Silver then, I'm sure he won't mind." She smiles.

Ruby leaves a thought before deciding to go and find Silver. Weiss sees her leader leave.

"Are you sure she will bring them here?" Weiss asked.

"Yep!" Yang beamed, "After all it's going to make the trip more enjoyable with more people with us."

"Ugh." Weiss rolled her eyes.

"You wanted to bring Albus as well." Yang pointed out.

"You don't know that!" Weiss instantly refutes but Yang smirks knowing that Weiss is lying.

(Ruby POV)

After the flashback thought disappears from Ruby's mind, she turns around and watches the starry, night sky from the window and slowly smiles and mentally is excited to hang around with Silver to Vale as she returns to her dorm.

Well that's all there is, I felt the ending of Ruby liking Silver may be a bit forced. But all that I hope you guys enjoy this story, see you in the next chapter and welcome to 2021!