Somewhere in the Forest
We have an overhead view of the Emerald Forest as the camera pans down into the misty underbrush, where Yang Xiao Long is walking and looking around.
Yang: (calling out) Helloooooooo?
As she called out to see if anyone was there not seeing a shadow quickly pass by.
Yang: Is anyone out there? Helloooo? I'm getting bored here!
Yang then hears a rustling in the bushes behind her and turns to see who it is.
Yang: Is someone there? (the rustling continues as Yang comes over and peaks inside) Ruby, is that you?
A low, inhuman growl is heard, and Yang's head rises up as she stares at the creature.
Yang: Nope!
Yang quickly rolls to the side as an Ursa charges out of the green. She gets up and activates her Ember Celica, staring at the monster before another Ursa runs out behind her. She leaps over it, and its companion runs at her again, only to get knocked back by a fiery punch. The other Ursa and Yang charge at each other, and Yang manages to get under it and deliver several punches and a kick to send the creature back.
Yang: You guys wouldn't happen to have seen a girl in a red hood, would you? (the Ursai merely growl at her) You could just say "no".
One of the Ursai stands on its legs and swipes at her twice, Yang barely dodging the attacks.
Yang: (laughing) Geeeez, you two couldn't hit the broad side of a ba...
Before she can complete her insult, a single strand of her golden hair falls in front of her face and lands on the forest floor.
Yang: You...
She closes her violet eyes, then opens them to reveal red, making the Ursai look at each other confusedly before they receive the most brutal beating of their life.
Yang: You monster!!!
An inferno surrounds Yang for a moment, and she rockets forward, unleashing a devastating combo of flaming hits and blows on the offending Ursa, making it fly through several burning trees. The other monster runs over, but stops short at Yang's gaze while a tree falls to the ground behind her.
Yang: What! You want some, too?!
The Ursa rears up and prepares to strike... right when a whirling noise is heard and the monster makes a befuddled noise, falling down a second later to reveal Blake Belladonna with her Gambol Shroud in the beast's back.
Yang pants in exhaustion while Blake recalls the weapon back to her hand, sheathing it on her back and smiling to the side. Yang, now purple-eyed again, speaks to her new partner over the smoking remains of the monster.
Yang: I could've taken him.
Elsewhere
The scene suddenly changes to Weiss Schnee's predicament as she looks around we see a few Beowulf's being attacked by Duncan and Desmond Grimm with their respective weapons Midnight Shadow and Wolfsbane. Duncan used to cut enemies down at the lop of a leg and then head while Desmond used his axes and transformed them into Colt pistols and fire with percussion as the Girmms heads were blown up or their body full of holes and Rank her most trusted servant easily smashed as one Beowolf lunged at him only to have its head caved in by his Maul and another tried the same thing only for Ranks reflex to be surprisingly fast and easily picks up Lightning Storm and smash its back as it growls in pain before Rank put it out its misery as he raised his foot and cracked his skull open as it's body disintegrated.
While the three were fighting Weiss was thinking to herself as she prepared to fight the Grimm herself. deflecting the swipe from a Beowolf with her Myrtenaster and getting pushed back into the middle of the beastly circle. She holds out her sword as she goes through her dueling motions and practices.
Weiss: (in her head) Remember your training, Weiss. Head up, shoulders back, right foot forward — not that forward! — slow your breathing, wait for the right time to strike, and... (brings her rapier up, the revolver spinning) Now!
Weiss dashes forward with her loaded weapon at the Beowolf in front of her, just when Ruby suddenly appears between the two in a blur of rose petals and a swipe of her Crescent Rose scythe, landing a hit on the monster.
Ruby: Gotcha!
Weiss widens her eyes and screams as she quickly has to stop, swinging the sword in a random direction and creating a line of fire that sets a nearby tree ablaze, followed quickly by the rest of the forest around the clearing.
Ruby, distracted by Weiss' mess-up, is barely defended when the same Beowolf scratches at her weapon, knocking the younger girl into the heiress.
Ruby: Hey, watch it!
Weiss: Excuse me! You attacked out of turn! I could have killed you!
Ruby: You'll have to try a lot harder than that...
The five wield their arms as the pack of Beowolves whine and growl around them. Ruby reloads her scythe just as a flaming tree falls near them.
Rank: Mrs. Schnee we must go.
Weiss: Right. Weiss: (grabbing Ruby's arm) We have to go!
Rank takes the two and carries them on his shoulders quite easily as he then carries Weiss and Ruby next and runs at high speed out of the blaze as it engulfs the grass and sets the Grimm to running back the way they came or suffering in the fire.
As Rank puts them all down as they are a safe ways from the smoke and flames. Weiss leans over and pants as Ruby looks behind her.
Ruby: What was that?! That should've been easy!
Weiss: Well perhaps if you had exercised even the slightest amount of caution with the placement of your strikes, I wouldn't have set the forest on fire!
Ruby: (scoffs) What's that supposed to mean?
Weiss: I'm just surprised someone who talks so much would communicate so little during an encounter!
Ruby: Well, I'm sorry you need my help to win a fight. I'm just fine on my own!
Weiss: Well, congratulations on being the strongest child to sneak your way into Beacon. Bravo!
Weiss begins to walk off as Rank follows after her before Duncan and Desmond then follows Weiss as Ruby follows her partner yet again. Ruby, with an agitated shriek, unfolds Crescent Rose, slices a tree down to the stump, refolds it back, and follows her partner as the tree crashes behind her. Neither notice the large dark feather floating onto the fallen trunk behind them.
Meanwhile
Across the Forest, Pyrrha Nikos, armed with Miló and Akoúo̱, and Jaune Arc are making their way through the bushes. Jaune hears a noise far away and turns his head.
Jaune: Did you hear that?
Pyrrha: Gunfire. It seems some of our comrades have encountered the enemy.
???: I hope they saved some for us.
They then turn to where the voice came from as we see Alucard Harker without his hat and glasses as he grips his sword Fanged Cross as Khnurn Bek just takes his weapon Dessert Curse in both hands and looks to where the fighting is before he realizes what they were looking for and stop.
Bek: Remember we're here to get the relics and head back.
Alucard: I know. I know.
As Alucard isn't as straight forward as he is and can be tactical as they keep moving forward, Jaune still staring in the sound's direction as Pyrrha raises a branch to pass by and accidentally releases it right at Jaune's face, flooring him instantly.
Pyrrha: (looking back behind her) Jaune! I'm sorry!
Jaune: (laughs, lowering his hand from his cheek to reveal a gash from the wooden recoil) It's okay. Just a scratch! (gets back up when Pyrrha approaches him)
Pyrrha: Why didn't you activate your Aura?
Jaune: Huh?
Pyrrha: Your Aura.
Jaune: Gesundheit.
Pyrrha: Jaune, do you... know what Aura is?
Jaune: (waves the question off, avoiding eye contact) Psch! Of course I do! Do you know what Aura is?
This confused Alucard and Bek as he stares at him confused as to why he didn't have an aura. Pyrrha smiles at him and gets ready to explain.
Pyrrha: Aura is the manifestation of our soul.
Elsewhere
As Pyrrha explained to Jaune what an Aura is we see Lie Ren's trek through the forest's tall grass.
Pyrrha: It bears our burdens and shields our hearts. Have you ever felt you were being watched without knowing that someone was there?
Jaune: Uh... yeah.
Ren stops and narrows his eyes, looking around him while a huge black Grimm serpent rises up from the grass behind him and quickly surrounds him with its large, hissing body. Ren adopts a fighting stance as the snake coils together in front of him and attacks with its long fangs.
Back with the Group
As Pyrrha continued to explain Alucard looks around to see if there were any Monsters near them as did Bek as they listen intently to them.
Pyrrha: With practice, our Aura can be our shield. Everyone has it, even animals.
Jaune: What about monsters?
Pyrrha: No.
As Alucard and Bek stare back at her specifically as they knew different.
Back with Ren
We see Ren as he leaps out of the way, the snake's mouth hitting the ground and instantly coming up again to hit a jumping Ren back with its snout.
Pyrrha: The monsters we fight lack a soul. They are creatures of Grimm, the manifestation of anonymity.
Ren then lands in a crouch when the serpent encircles him again, and he unleashes his StormFlower before jumping up and firing at the creature.
Pyrrha: They are the darkness, and we are the light.
Then we see Ren kick the snake's snout and slashes at its head.
Jaune: Right, that's why we fight them!
Pyrrha: It's not about why; it's about knowing.
The then snake flows around Ren and tries to bite him again, but he flips over it and drives his weapons into its head, pausing a moment without sensing the serpent's white head behind him as it rises.
Pyrrha: Understanding dark and light helps us manifest our Aura. Everyone has some of both.
Ren turns and looks up at the white head as it launches itself at him, dodging it and landing just in time to see the head slither towards him. As it gets closer, he runs at it and leaps onto the black head, sliding over its body and blasting the other head.
Pyrrha: By baring your soul outward as a force, you can deflect harm. All of our tools and equipment are conduits for Aura. You protect yourself and your soul when fighting.
Ren is unprepared for the white half to hit him with its head, knocking him off as he drops his weapons, and leaving him to merely raise his arms and distantly cry "No!" to the mouth of the black head as everything went black.
Back to the Group
We see Jaune was closing his eyes as he immersed himself into understanding what was Aura from Pyrrha as he then opens them with the revelation in his mind.
Jaune: It's like a force field!
Then all three turns their heads at Jaune and give him a deadpan look as it was way more then that of a force field.
Pyrrha: Yes, if you want to look at it that way.
Back with Ren
We see Ren is now holding the front fangs of the colossal snake in his hands, glowing a faint, pulsating pink as he grips the teeth and yanks them from the monster's mouth, causing it to flail away. It attempts to bite him again, but Ren spins to the side and stabs a fang into its eye, rotating his arm to deliver a final blow that drives the makeshift weapon into its skull, which ripples, expands, and blows apart in a dark mess as its headless body falls over its fellow creature. Wasting no time, Ren runs right at the white head.
Back with the Group
We then see Pyrrha walking up to Jaune and touching the side of his head.
Pyrrha: Now, close your eyes and concentrate.
Jaune: (complying) Uhh... Okay.
Pyrrha smiles and closes her own eyes, opening them as her skin glows and her irises shrink before shutting them again. The two stand there, now with Pyrrha glowing a faint red and Jaune a bright white.
Pyrrha: (mentally speaking) For it is in passing that we achieve immortality. Through this, we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all, infinite in distance and unbound by death. (placing a hand on his chest) I release your soul, and by my shoulder protect thee.
Pyrrha stops glowing red and hunches over in tiredness as Alucard and Bek were concerned as well with her being tired but were also shocked to see Jaune have much more Aura then they thought possible.
Jaune: (still glowing, concerned) Pyrrha?
Pyrrha: (getting back up) It's all right. I used my Aura to unlock yours, but the energy that protects you now is your own. (grins as she watches the scratch close up and vanish) You have a lot of it.
Jaune: (smiling and looking at his hands as the glow stops) Wow...
Back with Ren
Ren stands atop of the body of his enemy, sliding the weapons into his sleeves and brushing them off before a strange, animal-like noise is heard above him twice. He looks up and meets the upside-down eyes of Nora Valkyrie.
Ren: (chuckles) I still don't think that's what a sloth sounds like.
In response, Nora gives her friend a "Boop!" on the nose, causing him to smile.
Outside the Forest
We have a sideview of Professor Ozpin watching the students on his Scroll at the Beacon Cliff overlooking the Emerald Forest when Glynda Goodwitch walks up behind him, holding her own tablet.
Glynda: The last pair has been formed, sir. (taps the screen to show the last pair.) Nora Valkyrie and Lie Ren. Poor boy... I can't possibly imagine those two getting along. Still, he's probably better off than Miss Nikos. (the video changes to Pyrrha Nikos and Jaune Arc's trek through the woods)
Ozpin: Mmmm...
Glynda: I don't care what his transcripts say. That Jaune fellow is not ready for this level of combat. (deactivates the tablet, walking back a little) I guess we'll find out soon enough. At their current pace, they should reach the temple within just a few minutes. (turning back to Ozpin) Speaking of which, what did you use as relics this year?
Ozpin didn't respond as he continued to stare at his Scroll as Glynda tries again.
Glynda: Professor Ozpin?
Ozpin doesn't answer again as he was watching his tablet with a contemplating interest as it shows the footage of Ruby Rose sitting in the grass and picking stray leaves while her "partner" Weiss Schnee walks in random directions. While We see Duncan and Desmond Grimm arguing over staying with the Clan as Rank Stein still stands at attention waiting for his mistress orders.
At Their location
Duncan: I can't believe you snuck into Beacon! Now I have to baby sit you while taking care of them!
As Duncan points to the group in front of him
Weiss: (walking right) It's definitely this way.
Weiss stops and starts walking left
Weiss: I mean... this way! It's definitely this way.
Weiss then stops in front of Ruby and knows that they were lost.
Weiss: Alright, it's official: We passed it.
Ruby: (stands up, slightly annoyed) Weiss, why can't you just admit that you have no idea where we're going?
Weiss: Because I know exactly where we're going! We're going... to... the forest temple!
Desmond: In which direction?
Weiss: Uh... (Points in a random direction.) that direction!
Duncan, Ruby, and Desmond share a look as they moan and sigh as Weiss took it personal.
Weiss: Oh, stop it! You don't know where we are, either!
Ruby: Well, at least I'm not pretending like I know everything.
Weiss: What is that supposed to mean?
Ruby: It means you're a big, stupid jerk and I hate you!
Weiss: Why you...
Rank than puts a hand on Weiss's shoulder as she looks at him as he remains quiet as she calms down... sorta.
Weiss: (sighs to herself, spinning around and walking in another direction) Just keep moving!
Ruby: (in a faux imitation of Weiss' voice) Oh, just keep moving! Hurry up! Waaaah! Watch where you're going! (in her normal voice) Why are you so bossy?
Weiss: (turning back around to face Ruby) I'm not bossy! Don't say things like that!
Desmond: (Whispers to Duncan.) Could've fooled me...
Soon the boys there stare in awkward silence as Weiss and Ruby go at each other's throats.
Ruby: Stop treating me like a kid!
Weiss: Stop acting like a kid!
Ruby: Well, stop acting like you're perfect!
Weiss: I'm. Not. Perfect! Not yet... But I'm still leagues better than you. Come along Rank (continues to walk away as Rank soon follows her as did Duncan and Desmond.)
Ruby: (to herself, dejectedly) You don't even know me...
As Duncan and Desmond looks back at Ruby they couldn't help but feel sad for her before catching up to Weiss.
Elsewhere
From the forest, Yang Xiao Long and Blake Belladonna step out into a clearing that reveals the circular stone temple, broken and decrepit but for the platforms around its inside, holding several black and gold objects.
Yang: Think this is it?
In response, Blake gives Yang an incredulous look and heads down the hill, her partner following. They walk across the floor and observe the items on each pedestal, now shown to be familiar shapes.
Blake: (looking at a black king, confused) Chess pieces?
Yang: Some of them are missing. Looks like we weren't the first ones here.
Blake: Well, I guess we should pick one.
Elsewhere
We see Alucard, Bek, Jaune, and Pyrrha are standing at the mouth of a dark cave, where drawings are seen to the side involving armed men against giant beasts.
Jaune: Think this is it?
As the four walk inside the cave, Jaune holding a short, burning torch to light their way.
Pyrrha: I'm not sure this is it.
Alucard: I think we should turn back.
Jaune: (sighs) Guys, I made the torch. Could you at least humor me for, like, five more feet?
Suddenly and completely unexpectedly, Jaune trips on the ground, and the torch flies into a small puddle, extinguishing the flame so the four are cast in darkness with only their eyes visible.
Bek: (as Jaune gets up and grumbles) Do you... feel that?
Pyrrha: Yeah...
Jaune: Soul-crushing regret?
Pyrrha: No, it's... warm.
As all of them feel like something was in their as Bek, Alucard, and Pyrrha then prepared for whatever was in here.
In the Ruins
Back at the temple, Yang approaches one of the relics.
Yang: Hmmmm... (studies the golden knight, then picks it up and shows it to Blake) How about a cute little pony?
Blake: (smirking) Sure.
They then walk towards each other to the center of the temple floor.
Yang: That wasn't too hard!
Blake: Well, it's not like this place is very difficult to find.
As they share a smile unaware of what is happening with the others.
In a cave
Jaune, Pyrrha, Bek, and Alucard continue onward through the cave until they see a large glowing point of gold right in front of them, illuminating Jaune's excited features.
Jaune: That's the relic! (he slowly reaches out to grab it, but it moves away from his swipe) Hey! Bad... relic!
Jaune tries to get it again, then jumps forward and hangs onto it as the object raises him above the ground.
Jaune: Gotcha!
As the three suddenly got used to the dark look to what was behind the Relic and noticed it was connected with and immediately all three had horrified looks.
Pyrrha: (worried) Jaune...?
Jaune's catch lowers itself so he is dangling right in front of the now-glowing red lines and eyes of a Death Stalker.
At the Ruined Temple
Jaune's high pitched and girlish scream is heard all the way from the temple, where Yang turns towards the direction of its source.
Yang: Some girl's in trouble! Blake, did you hear that?
Blake doesn't answer, staring at something in the sky.
At the Cave
At the cave entrance, Bek, Alucard, and finally Pyrrha rushes out right before the monster crashes through the hole, roaring and waving its grass-encrusted claws as Jaune hangs from the stinger, calling from help and continuing to scream.
Jaune: (sobbing) Help! Whoa-ah-ah-ah-ah! Why?! Pyrrha! He-e-e-elp! Pyrrha, this is not the relic! It's not! (continues to cry and get shaken around) Do something!
Pyrrha: (wielding Miló in front of the creature) Jaune! Whatever you do, don't let-
Before she can finish, the Grimm hurls its tail back and launches a still-screaming Jaune across the forest as she watches in dismay.
Pyrrha: Go.
Suddenly Alucard attacks the Death Stalker with his sword Fanged Cross as he slashes against the claws before Bek could fight the Death Stalker then turns its body and its Tail hit the two was sending them flying away from it as Pyrrha who saw her comrades fly away turns back to the scorpion as it continues to snap its claws at her, and she smiles embarrassedly before turning and rushing away in a burst of green leaves.
At the Temple
We see Blake is still staring at something above them, but Yang is focused on the forest.
Yang: Blake, did you hear that? (turns to her partner) What should we do?
Finally, the faint-but-growing-louder scream of "Heads uuuuuuuup!" is heard when Ruby, Duncan, Desmond, and Rank while the Later didn't seem fazed by him falling from the sky as they falls from the sky and presumably crash lands to the ground.
A/N: I know it's revolved around Ruby and the others but don't worry I'm going to let them have the spotlight before I add DARK in.
