Chapter 7: The Emerald Forest Part 2

Back at the cliffs, no POV:

Professor Ozpin is 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.

"The last pair has been formed, sir," Glynda said. Glynda taps the screen to show Nora Valkry 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.

"Mmm..." Professor Ozpin mumbles.

"I don't care what his transcripts say, that Jaune fellow is not ready for this level of combat," Glynda said while deactivating the tablet. She turns around and walks away a little. "I guess we'll find out soon enough. At their current pace, they should reach the temple within just a few minutes." Glynda turns back to Professor Ozpin. "Speaking of which, what did you use as relics this year?" There is a moment of silence when Glynda asks that question. "Professor Ozpin?"

Professor Ozpin doesn't answer, watching his tablet with a contemplating interest as it shows the footage of Ruby Rose and Lana O'Hara sitting in the grass and picking stray leaves while her "Partner" Weiss Schnee walks in random directions.

Lana's POV:

I had been sitting in the middle of the forest for what felt like hours, listening to Weiss go on and on about which way we were supposed to go. It was getting quite annoying listening to her yapping. I wanted to yell at her to shut up, but I think that would make things worse. Ruby is sitting next to me, picking at the grass.

"It's definitely this way. I mean... this way! It's definitely this way." Weiss said. Weiss stops in front of me and Ruby. "Alright, it's official: We passed it."

I sighed. "You have no idea where we are going, don't you?" I said.

"Yeah Weiss, why can't you just admit that you have no idea where we're going?" Ruby said.

"Because I know exactly where we're going! We're going... to... the forest temple." Weiss said. Ruby sighs in frustration.

"Oh, stop it! You don't know where we are, either!" Weiss shouts.

"Well, at least I'm not pretending like I know everything," Ruby shouts back. I started to get stressed when Ruby and Weiss started arguing again. I don't like it when people fight.

"Can you guys please stop fighting?!" I shouted. Weiss ignored me and kept fighting with Ruby.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Weiss demanded.

"It means you're a big stupid jerk and I hate you!" Ruby yelled.

"And you're just a big meanie stupid butt-face!" I yelled at Weiss. I know I said I don't like fighting, but I wanted to throw an insult at Weiss because she was being mean. Weiss sighs to herself before spinning around and walking in another direction.

"Just keep moving!" Weiss said.

"Oh, just keep moving! Hurry up! Waaaah! Watch where you're going!" Ruby said, imitating and mocking Weiss. Ruby speaks up in her normal voice again. "Why are you so bossy?"

Weiss turns back around to face Ruby. "I'm not bossy! Don't say things like that!" Weiss yelled.

"Stop treating me like a kid!" Ruby yelled.

"Stop acting like a kid!" Weiss yelled back.

"Well, stop acting like you're perfect!" Ruby yelled.

By now, I have had enough of those two bickering. "WILL EVERYONE PLEASE SHUT THE FUCK UP!" I yelled. Weiss just glared at me while Ruby looked at me in shock.

Weiss continued speaking again. "I'm. Not. Perfect! Not yet... But I'm still leagues better than the both of you."

What Weiss said really hurt my feelings. I felt some tears forming in my eyes. I remember when my husband, Miguel used to say those things to me and emotionally put me down in a bad way.

*Mini Flashback*

I stood there helplessly while Miguel verbally abused me in front of the rest of the Spider-Verse team. We were in the middle of training practice, and I had messed up. Whenever I messed up, Miguel would verbally abuse me in front of everyone.

"You're weak, Lana! You will never be good enough! Why can't you be more like me?!" Miguel shouted.

"Miguel, that's enough!" Gwen yelled, stepping protectively in front of me.

"Stay out of this, Gwen!" Miguel yelled, pushing her to the side. Miguel walked up to me with a heavy glare. I felt tears forming in my eyes, but I tried to hold them back because crying makes him angry.

"I expect better from you. You have to be perfect if you want to be a part of the team do you understand? That means no more screw-ups and no more slacking off." Miguel said firmly.

"Yes, Miguel," I said.

"And stop crying. Crying is weakness." Miguel said before leaving the room. I wiped my tears. My parents rushed over to me and hugged me.

"I'm so sorry sweetheart..." Miles said with sympathy shown on his face.

"Don't listen to him, Lana. You're not weak. You're strong. We believe in you." Gwen said. I wiped the leftover tears in my eyes.

"Thanks, Mommy," I said.

"We've got you're back, dude," Pavitr said while placing his hand on my shoulder. I smiled at my family, feeling grateful that they were here to support me.

I just wished my husband would love me the same way they did.

*End of Mini Flashback*

I watched Weiss walking away from Ruby. Ruby had a saddened expression on her face. "You don't even know me..." Ruby muttered to herself.

I slumped on a nearby tree, burying my head in my knees. Ruby walks over to me.

"Hey. Are you okay?" Ruby asked me.

"Yeah, Ruby. I just need a break before we keep going." I said. Ruby sits down next to me. She places her hand on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry for fighting with Weiss. I can't stand her." Ruby said.

"I know. It's not your fault she is such a bitch." I said. Ruby looked shocked at my line of words. Ruby and I talked for a while. I wouldn't be surprised if Weiss was in the forest by now but honestly, I don't really care. I would rather have someone else on our team, like Yang and Pyrrha or even Blake. After a while, Ruby stood up.

"Are you ready to keep going?" Ruby asked.

"Yeah..." I said. Ruby helped me up.

"We can do this! And I have a plan." Ruby said.

"Okay, cool. What is it?" I asked. Ruby and I discussed the plan before meeting up with Weiss again.

At the Forest Temple, Yang's POV:

From the forest, me 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.

"Think this is it?" I asked.

In response, Blake gives me an incredulous look and heads down the hill, with me following. We walk across the floor and observe the items on each pedestal, now shown to be familiar shapes. They were chess pieces. Blake looks at a black king, confused.

"Chess pieces?" Blake asks.

"Some of them are missing. Looks like we weren't the first ones here." I said.

"Well, I guess we should pick one," Blake said.

With Pyrrha and Jaune, no POV:

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.

"Think this is it?" Jaune asks Pyrrha. Jaune and Pyrrha walk further inside the cave. Jaune is holding a short, burning torch to light their way.

"I'm not sure this is it," Pyrrha said.

Jaune sighs. "Pyrrha, I made the torch. Could you at least humor me for, like, five more feet?" Jaune said.

Suddenly and completely unexpectedly, Jaune trips on the ground, and the torch flies into a small puddle, extinguishing the flame so the two are cast into darkness with only their eyes visible. Jaune gets up and grumbles.

"Do you... feel that?" Pyrrha asked.

"Soul-crushing regret?" Jaune said.

"No, it's... warm," Pyrrha said.

Back at the temple, Yang's POV:

I approached one of the relics. I studied the golden knight, then picked it up and showed it to Blake. "How about a cute little pony?" I asked. Blake gives a small smirk.

"Sure," Blake said. We walk towards each other to the center of the temple floor.

"That wasn't too hard!" I said happily.

"Well, it's not like this place is very difficult to find," Blake said. Blake and I share a smile before continuing on with our mission.

Back with Pyrrha and Jaune, no POV:

Jaune and Pyrrha continue onward through the cave until they see a large glowing point of gold right in front of them, illuminating Jaune's excited features.

"That's the relic!" Jaune shouted excitedly. Jaune slowly reaches out to grab it, but it moves away from his swipe. "Hey! Bad... relic!" Jaune shouted. Jaune tries to get it again, then jumps forward and hangs onto it as the object raises him above the ground. "Gotcha!"

"Jaune?" Pyrrha said worriedly.

Jaune's catch lowers itself, so he is dangling right in front of the now-glowing red lines and eyes of a Death Stalker.

Meanwhile, Jaune's screams is heard all the way from the temple, where Yang turns towards the direction of its source.

"Some girl's in trouble! Blake, did you hear that?" Yang asked frantically. Blake doesn't answer, staring at something in the sky.

At the cave entrance, 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 for help and continuing to scream.

"Help! Whoa-ah-ah-ah-ah! Why?! Pyrrha! He-e-e-elp! Pyrrha, this is not the relic! It's not!" Jaune continues to cry and gets shaken around. "Do something!"

Pyrrha is wielding Milo 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. "...Go."

Pyrrha 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.

Back at the forest, Blake is still staring at something above them, but Yang is focused on the forest.

"Blake, did you hear that?" Yang asked. Yang turns to her partner. "What should we do?"

"Heads uuuuuuuup!" Ruby and Lana screams and falls from the sky. They presumably crash to the ground.

END OF CHAPTER 7.