Some time later at midnight in beacon academy jaunes team was waiting for him.
"How come Jaune gets home so late? Ren sighed at this and looked at the bedroom door as he gave his thoughts.
"He's become rather scarce since he started fraternizing with cardin. Nora shook her head at this and looked at her teamates.
"That's weird... Doesn't he know we have a field trip tomorrow? We need our rest!" nora then jumps in the air after saying so while twirling in midair so her back hits the bed. Pyrrha growls under breathe and angrily pounds the window a bit.
"I'm sure our leader knows exactly what he's doing. Nora and Ren exchange glances, not knowing that Jaune himself is looking in through the crack of the door and nora shrugged at this and nodded uncertainly.
"Mmmm... I guess. Jaune hangs his head and closes the door, just as the voice of ruby interrupts his thoughts.
"Hey, Jaune! startled, Jaune turns around to see ruby in her pajamas, while she giggles at his reaction.
"Long time, no see! Did you lock yourself out again. Jaune hesitates for a moment before shaking his head.
"Oh, uh, nope! jaune then raises his scroll, attempting to laugh as if he already got what he wanted.
"Got it! Ruby nods at this and looks at him curiously.
"So! Where have you been lately? jaune hesitates again and tries to come up with something, but just sighs and lowers his head.
"I messed up. I did something I shouldn't have, and now Cardin has me on a leash, and Pyrrha won't even talk to me, and... jaune then pauses for a moment as he breathes heavily through his nose.
"I'm starting to think coming to this school was a bad idea. jaune then presses his back to his team's door and slides down to the floor in depression.
"I'm a faliure. Ruby dosent even need a split second to think before she anwsers back.
"Nope!Jaune looks up at ruby in surprise at her word and repeats it.
"'Nope? Ruby nods and shakes her head with a smile.
"yes Nope! You're a leader now, Jaune. You're not allowed to be a failure. Jaune hesistates at this and he frowns.
"But... what if I'm a failure at being a leader? Ruby thinks about this for a moment, then gives her answer.
"Nope!Jaune cant help but laugh at this as she joins him on the floor.
"You know, you're not the easiest person to talk to about this kind of thing. Ruby in response once again repeats her anwser with a smile.
"Nope! as Jane leans into the door some more ruby brings up her thoughts.
"Jaune, maybe you were a failure when you were a kid... Jaune groans in the middle of her speaking and sinks lower to the ground as ruby speaks again.
"... and you might've even been a failure the first day we met! jaune groans again and goes lower still while ruby keeps going.
"But, you can't be one now. You know why?
Jaune shakes his head no and hesitates to anwser.
"Uhhh, because...? ruby smiles at this and looks at him.
"Because it's not just about you anymore. You've got a team now, Jaune. We both do! And if we fail, then we'll just be bringing them down with us. ruby then gets up and places her hands on her hips as she speaks.
"We have to put our teammates first, and ourselves second. Your team deserves a great leader, Jaune. And I think that can be you. ruby then walks over to her door and opens it as Jaune, now slightly inspired by her words, watches her wave.
"Have a good night, Jaune!" ruby then goes into her room to sleep while, 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,And make sure they've got some really big stingers! It's important, so don't screw this up! Jaune then closes his scroll just when it begins to beep again. Sighing, he wearily heads down the hallway and away from his room. meanwhile grim had awoken up at the sound of rubys door opening when she first went to talk to jaune and had heard everything.
" i still wont help you jaune but thanks to what i just heard ill intervene if your about to get hurt youve learned your lesson. grim then turns to his bed and lays back down on it planning on how to prepare for cardins plans. in the morning the feild trip had gone as planned, and Glynda was now leading teams RWBY, JNPR, and CRDL through forever fall forest.
"Yes, students, the forest of Forever Fall is indeed beautiful. 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 doingso. The group then stops, and 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 however doesn't notice this and is still instructing 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 by 4 o'clock. Have fun! While Yang and ruby smile at one another, 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!Jaune stops for a second as he 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, to the disappointment of a sighing Pyrrha before she continues on. later 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 and then smiles at jaune and pats his back.
"Hey, great work, Jauney boy! Now that wasn't too hard, was it? Jaune however is still on the ground, cross-eyed and sounding dizzy
"I think I'm allergic to this stuff... Cardin smiles at this and his eyes widen in excitement.
"Greeeeat, great, great. 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 is nodding, slowly still exhausted.
"That is one of the many questions I have asked myself today, yes. Cardin grins as Jaune sits up and chuckles before speaking.
"Well, come with me, and you'll find out. Jaune moans and gulps in worry at cardins tone as he follows. Some time later, Now perched on a hilltop overlooking the other students, team CRDL - plus Jaune, squeezed between Cardin and russel - peak their heads over the crest and watch as everyone is retrieving their samples of sap. Ren, kneeling to collect it from a tree, passes a full jar to Nora, who "Mmmm!"s at the gift as Ren trades it for the other jar in her care. He turns back to the tree and starts filling it up while several licking sounds are heard off-screen until the camera pans back to Nora, now with an embarrassed smile covered in red and an empty jar in her hands.
meanwhile Jaune begins turning to his left to look around.
"Cardin, wh-what's going on?
Cardin still staring at the unsuspecting group snarls sharply .
"Payback .Jaunes eyes widens as his face fills with understanding.
"Pyrrha...? jaune seems shocked and afraid as he watches her gather more sap from a tree.
"Wh-what are you-? Cardin chuckles as he pounds his fist on the ground
"That's the girl. Red-haired know-it-all, thinks she's so smart. Alright, boys... cardin then pauses as 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 then grabs Jaune by the shoulder, who barely laughs in nervousness as cardin steps in front of him.
"Now, according to one of the essays you wrote for me last week, these nasty things loooove sweets. meanwhile Pyrrha is seen finishing her sap collection and cardin grins down at her.
"I'm thinking it's time we teach her a thing or two. The members of CRDL then get up and, 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. jaune tilted his head at cardin and looked confused.
"Do what?cardin grinned at this and leaned into jaunes face.
"Hit her with the sap, Either that, or I'll have a chat with Goodwitch, and you'll be on the first air ship 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 at an oblivious and smiling Pyrrha, trying to steel his nerves and shaking hand to do the deed, but ultimately steels himself for what he's about to do.
"No. Cardin looked at jaune in surprise before growling.
"What did you say?
jaune growls and begins gripping the jar tightly "I said...NO!
He then 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...
Jaune humorously laughs to himself once more with his hands still raised in an attempt for defense as dove and sky grab his shoulders and pull him forward for cardin and russel to punish. after a few minutes of beating jaune up cardin grinned and chuckled.
"You know that wasn't very smart, Jauney boy. cardin then picks up a bruised Jaune again while the rest of Team CRDL watches with grins.
"I'm gonna make sure they send you back to mommy in teeny tiny peices. Jaune blinked for a second with his head hanging back.
"I don't care what you do to me...jaune then looks at Cardin with fury and growls.
"... but you are not messing with my team. cardins eyes widen at this looking momentarily shocked before growling.
"What? You think talk like that makes you tough? You think you're a big strong man now? Jaune smiles in defiance at this anf An enraged Cardin roars and raises his fist again, but just as the hit connects, a bright light shines from Jaune, and when the white fades, Cardin is seen and heard 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...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! Cardin is rooted to the spot when the Grimm starts to swing its claws and knocks him sideways, revealing Jaune cowering behind him. The Ursa continues to sniff, uninterested in Jaune and following its nose to Cardin. He watches at it towers over Cardin, who gets his wits and pulls out his mace only for the monster to swipe it away to Jaune's feet. He looks conflicted, wondering whether to fight or run away. Meanwhile, the roar of the giant Ursa is heard by the members of Teams Rwby and JNPR, still collecting sap on the other side of the forest. ruby starts getting up, concerned when she heard the noise.
"Did you guys hear that? Suddenly, the remaining members of Team CRDL are seen running the other way from the roar through the other students.
russel is the one running the fastest and shouting when he runs into yang.
"Ursa!
yang looks at him unfazed from the hit and picks russel up by his shirt.
"what Where? russel is still struggling and still running in air, but points back from where they came.
"Back there! It's got Cardin! pyrrhas face widens in shock as she drops her jar of sap and shouts in worry.
"Jaune!ruby then snaps into action going into leader mode.
"Yang! You and Blake, go get Professor Goodwitch! yang then nods dropping Russel, as Blake nods as well before the two leave following the orders. pyrrha then turns to ren and nora as she and Ruby activate their weapons
"You two, go with them! There could be more! meanwhile 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! around the same time pyrrha, Ruby, and Weiss come on to the scene.
"Oh, no! of course they were not the only ones watching this for grim had indeed been there as well and was watching from the shadows with ranma on his arm and eating popcorn with him.
" take note little one why you must not be like the vile ones of your kind or mine evil always gets punished in one way or another. the baby grimm chirped at this and dug its face into the popcorn with a nod of its head making grim chuckle and pet him.
" enough of that now i might be able to show you off now fly wait for my signal and then go for the ursa's eyes. ranma nodded at this and grim shadow traveled him to ten feet away so he could fly into the air without being spotted.
" ah it was so worth it to come watch this today. grim and the others who were there then watch as the Ursa leans over the helpless cardin raising its paw and swiping it down... only to be blocked by Jaune's shield. jaune then struggles to defend a stunned Cardin from its attempts to lean on him, but Weiss lifts Myrtenaster as she prepares to go help.
Pyrrha however turns to Weiss and holds up her hands protesting.
"Wait! weiss listens and then the group watches as 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. jaune lands far away from this, 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, causing him to look 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 however seeing this, grim whistles and a loud chirp is heard in response as ranma dives down from above the ursa and starts heading towards it. however on the ground the clash seems to go in slow-motion as, 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, not only does ranma ram into the ursas face and mess up its strike but, the glow surrounds Jaune's shield and makes it lift up to block the now sloppy and slightly missplaced swipe. Jaune then grins and uses the surprise defensive move to lean on the ground, push his shield back up, and swing his blade right through the Ursa's neck. The head falls to the ground and ranma hovers in the air for the moment as the body slams onto the ground. Ruby however is staring at pyrrha as Pyrrha's hand stops glowing and she smiles.
"Uhhh... What? Weiss to is equally amazed and stares as well.
"How did you...? Pyrrha shrugs at this and smiles.
"Well, Ruby has her speed, you have your glyphs. My Semblance is polarity ruby throws her arms up at this in excitement and looks at pyrrha in awe
"Whoa, you can control poles...Weiss rolls her eyes at this and scoffs.
"No, you dunce! It means she has control over magnetism! Ruby nods at this still impressed, and is whispering her reaction now.
"Magnets are cool, too...Weiss then noticing Pyrrha starting to leave stops her.
"Wait, where are you going?
Ruby jumps up at this and nods.
"Yeah! We gotta tell them what happened! Pyrrha nods at this with a sly smile.
"We could... Or perhaps we could keep it our little secret? pyrrha then walks over to ranma as Ruby and Weiss smile to each other in understanding and go with her to examine him with a bruised Jaune sheathing his weapon and doing the same.
" hey thanks for the assist little guy you really showed that dumb ursa. ranma chirped at this with a happy flap of his wings before weiss and ruby looked at him.
" hmm ya know ive never seen a grim help a hunter or huntress before this is amazing. ruby nodded in agreement and looked at ranma with percision.
" do you think he belongs to somebody. following rubys words, grims laugh could be heard as he came out of the shadows causing cardin to yelp and everyone else to stare at him.
" ranma is under my care and i will admit he did very well today as did you jaune you learned your lesson and got stronger well done. pyrrha and the others smiled at grims words and ranma before, pyrrha began sneaking away without anyone noticing, having a plan in mind as grim begins to talk again.
" now then i do hope you all have a safe fun rest of the day, ruby and weiss ill see you in the morning for when we go into the city. i hope you have a good night, the same goes for both teams and you jaune have a good night and your welcome . jaune and the two girls nodded at grims words and the trio smiled as grim shadow traveled with ranma and left. now, with grim gone ruby and weiss watched as jaune went over to Cardin to help him however, is still covered in sap, and is a bit stunned when he looks up at Jaune as, his savior offered him a hand. Cardin then smiles as he takes the hand offered and is lifted back up on his feet.
"Holy crap, Jaune! jaune growls at cardin and glares daggers at him as he speaks.
"Don't ever mess with my team - my friends -ever again got it. Jaune then stares at Cardin who in response looks intimidated, possibly even apologetic before nodding. now With his order spoken, Jaune turns and walks away from a frozen Cardin with the others. 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. as pyrrha walks up from behind him.
"No Cardin tonight?I thought you two were best buds?
Jaune hesitates at her words for a moment, quickly becoming nervous before turning to 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. Pyrrha however interupts jaune with a smile and holds up her arms.
"Jaune! It's okay! Your team really misses their leader, you know,You should come down! Ren made pancakes! No syrup, though - you can thank Nora for that! pyrrah then starts to head for the exit but,Jaune smiles at this for a moment before his face fills with fear, as he quickly holds out his hand and calls out to Pyrrha who turns around, and looks back at Jaune who, looks sheepish and nervous now rather then afraid.
" wait!...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?
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 whining complains at this and pouts.
"Hey!Pyrrha grins at this standing over him with her arms on her hips and about to speak in an evaluating tone.
"Your stance is all wrong. You need to be wider and lower to the ground. pyrrha then offers jaune her hand, which he graciously accepts, and they continue to hold on to and grin at each other.
"Let's try that again. meanwhile grim was perched not far away from them in the shadows and was smiling with ranma on his shoulder.
"we did good little one now thats one problem down so far two to go hmm as much as i want to stop torchwick and his boss, therist is the bigger issue here.. hmm im going to have to ask ozpin later about that now let us go to bed were going to explore tomorrow with the girls of team rwby.