Cardin woke up again while Ren and Nora was on watch, and when Nora went over to check it out, he had the presence of mind to keep his mouth after seeing Nora give him and evil smile. The rest of the enemy team had worked up through the night, but realized the situation they were in and hardly even tried to get out of their bindings.

Weiss had started a fire, and the hunters and huntresses who were asleep sat around it still waking up. Weiss passed around breakfast bars that she had brought for everyone for just this situation. Ren passed around a drink he had made for everyone to help them wake up. It worked well, cause most people had to react quickly to spit it out before they threw up.

"We should be pretty close to our 24 hour limit now," Ren said.

"You're right!" Nora said. "What should we do to celebrate?"

"Let's make dinner tonight," Jaune said.

Everyone cheered. That was a perfect idea.

Weiss wasn't ready to think so far a head though. "Hey, we aren't out of the woods yet. Anything can happen while we are still in the forest," she said.

"Oh, Weiss. Lighten up a little won't you." Yang said, lounging on the ground.

"I'm just saying, I don't want something to happen and we lose. We're still getting graded on this," Weiss said matter of factly.

"Hey Weiss," Blake said. "I think Yang you should listen to Yang this time. Relax, the exercise is over."

"Blake, I expected you of all people would care more about making sure we make it to the end!" She said flustered.

All Blake did was point to the sky, and as Weiss turned to look at what she was pointing at, two airships flew over the trees and started to settle on the ground.

Weiss hung her head a little in embarrassment. Together everyone cleaned up camp and went to meet who ever was in the airship. Glynda stepped out of one and Ozpin the other.

"Well done students," Ozpin praised. "That was exemplary work. I know you would work well together, but I could not have guessed how easily and smoothly it would go."

Glynda nodded at them in recognition and moved over to where team DSRT and team CRDN were bound. She released them and ushered them into an airship and took off. Ozpin held back the victors silently until they had taken off.

When the airship was finally moving away across the sky, Ozpin finally addressed them again. "So, how did you come out victorious in this exercise?" He asked.

"Well, you teamed us up against some low grade competition," Yang was the first one to respond.

"Yang Xiao Long," Ozpin said, giving her a deadpan stare. "If they were not capable hunters and huntresses, they would not be here. Now, again, how did you win?"

"We were more prepared then the other teams," Weiss said.

"Very good Miss Schnee. Yes, your team was significantly more prepared. Now, do you know why you were more prepared?"

"Well ... I can't speak for the other team, but we only had what you told us as guidelines, which was simply to win. So we prepared to use any resource that we could. In addition to that, we are very familiar with each others skills and abilities and how best to utilize them. Like I said, I can't speak for the other teams, but that is something we are prepared for," Pyrrha explained.

"Well said, Miss Nikos and again, yes. You adapted to the situations well, and your utilization of Miss Belladonna's abilities were top notch. So, going forward, what can you take with you from this experience?"

"We should make efforts to know the abilities of those we are teamed up with and their resolve. The more information we have the better our ability to adapted and react to changing situations in a battle," Said Ren.

"Yes, Mr. Lie Ren. You are correct." Ozpin praises. "Well, it seems you have accomplished and learned everything you need to from this exercise. I must say that I am impressed and proud at how well you performed."

Ozpin stepped aside and ushered them into the airship and took them back to Beacon. When they landed, and before he opened the doors for them to get out, he gave them one last bit of advice.

"I know it hardly has to be said, but I'd say it all the same. Even though it was easily won, it is a victory all the same. Celebrate and be glad for it. You'll come to learn that it is good to celebrate even the smallest of victories." After his speech he opened the doors and let them out and flew off to his next business.

Team JNPR and team RWBY took Ozpin's advice, and that night everyone crashed in team JNPR's room with pizza and drinks. Talking and laughing about the war games.

They would remember Ozpin's words though. Soon they would understand what he meant by needing to celebrate the smallest of victories, because their victories will stop. Many will die. Cities and homes will be lost, and the only victories they will know for a while will be that they're still alive.

But even through that time, they'll think back to this night, and the darkness will seem less dark, and the cold will be less cold. The memories of the good they have with each other will be part of the motivation for them to keep fighting. Fighting to win that goodness back.