Halo, it's time for the new chapter. Enjoy the reading.

This was a very important week at Beacon Academy as the semester exams took place this week. The entire academy was quiet as the students were constantly studying for exams or maintaining their weapons.

Team RWBY, JNPR and LLMM easily took all obstacles and passed almost every exam, some with better performance, some with poorer performance but they ended the semester with success. Except for one subject which was none other than Team Training. The worst enemy of the team LLMM.

All the teams which intended to take exam gathered in the gym where Professor Goodwitch, Professor Port, Professor Oobleck and Headmaster Ozpin were waiting for the students.

- I'm curious if you have what it takes to become real Hunters and Huntresses? - Goodwitch began.

- Of course!

- Sure!

- Yeah!

All the teams cheered excitedly.

- To become that, you must pass this exam first. - Goodwitch continued. - You have reached the last part of this year's semester exams, the Team training. The three teams that achieve the best time here will definitely represent our school at the big Vytal festival. Professor Port, please explain to the students why teamwork is so important in our profession.

- Thank you, Glynda. – Professor Port stepped forward to give another speech to the students. - My children, - He started pacing up and down and while he was talking his shaggy mustache moved back and forth. - remember one thing well as a Hunter and Huntress, in the real battle you have to fight as one, as brothers and sisters. Of course, it can happen that sometimes we mess up or argue on something but we must never forget that unity is strength, we are one in battle and we must absolutely trust our teammates and take care of each other. Which team will be first? – All the teams enthusiastically applied but Oobleck intervened.

- I recommend, - Just like every class, he drank his coffee. - the team with the best record.

- Do you think he's talking about us? - Lance joked, knowing that their performance was the worst.

- Team RWBY. – Oobleck finished and the members of team RWBY were happy that they could be the first.

- Team RWBY, position yourself on the obstacle course. - Goodwitch instructed them.

- Maybe we could learn something from them? - Mike whispered.

- Shut up, Tubby! - Lynda just barked at him.

Team RWBY entered the obstacle course, and the teachers started the practice and the mechanical Grimms already started. The team worked perfectly together, considering how much animosity there was between Ruby and Weiss in the beginning but now they seemed to find common ground and fight as one.

They stayed together, easily making it to the halfway point but the Grimm surrounded them.

- Ladybug! - Ruby called out the plan of attack before Blake threw Gumbo Shroud at her, tying the wire around her waist before Blake yanked her away and slayed down a bunch of Grimm. – Freezer-burn! – The next command was given to Yang and Weiss, Weiss froze the floor and Yang hit it with her fiery fist, causing it to vaporize immediately, reducing the Grimm's line of sight. - Bumblebee and Ice Flower! - There were two commands, one to Ruby and Weiss, Weiss summoned a glyph in front of Ruby, which then powered up her already large enough caliber rifle to instantly freeze her opponents with each hit, while hearing the second command, Yang and Blake working together, Yang grabbed one half of Blake's weapon as Blake pulled more on it, moving Yang so that she only had to focus her strength and smash the frozen Grimm. – Strawberry Sunshine and Checkmate! - At the last word of command, they changed partners without any confusion or hesitation. Blake and Weiss used their Semblances, Weiss summoning glyphes so that Blake could use her shadow clones to herd the Grimm away while Ruby and Yang used their weapons to easily wipe them out until they broke through and headed for the wall that either the using their weapons or their Semblance, they climbed and reached the target at the same time.

- Nah, - Lynda just shrugged. - we are better than them.

- One ruby prize for team RWBY. - Lance joked again but just because he was tense, he was glad they passed.

- It was great. - Professor Port couldn't nothing but praising them. - Excellent team and excellent teamwork. - This is a solid A+ performance.

- Next, - Goodwitch didn't want to waste time and called in another team. – The team LLMM.

- Wow, - Lance nervously put on his helmet and took out his sword. – it's our turn.

- Just stay behind me and I'll open the way. - Lynda was more confident.

- Mandy, you're staying with us this time, right? - Lance asked the fox faunus girl.

- Don't worry, we'll get to the finish line together. - Mandy was a little annoyed by her team's distrust.

- Let's just stay together and it won't be a problem. – Mike was very nervous but he was ready to do anything to help his team but as the members of team RWBY walked past the nervousness got to him. - They are much better than us!

- Shut up already! - Lynda snarled angrily at Mike.

The obstacle course started again and the robot Grimms went into action again but the team LLMM didn't give up easily either. Surprisingly, they managed to stay together, even Mike didn't need help and made it to the halfway point, although the teamwork was a little less than team RWBY but at least they were making progress.

- Mandy, - Lance and Mandy separated from the team. – we have to get together again! Mike and Lynda won't be able to break out!

- Don't worry! - Mandy shot back angrily but she did as Lance said, even though she didn't like having to turn back at all.

Lynda chopped the enemy hard, leaving Mike behind, surrounded by the Grimm.

- Lynda, Mandy, Mike's in trouble! - Lance yelled but Lynda spoke back.

- Let's leave him! He just slows us down!

Mandy didn't hesitate much to leave her teammate behind, although Lance had a dilemma about it, but he also chose to leave him.

- We must succeed now! - Lance, even if he felt bad about leaving Mike behind, he was glad that he and the girls had reached the wall they had to climb. - As soon as they reached the bottom, the Grimms shut down and the exercise was over. - Or not.

- Team LLMM, - Professor Goodwitch and the other two teachers also came down to the obstacle course. – this performance was horrible!

- Did you hear anything I said before the exam? - Professor Port looked disappointed.

- Deformation, - Oobleck listed the bugs, first looking at Mandy. – recklessness, - Now for Lynda. – and you left your teammate behind. – Finally, to Lance, the leader of the team, who was supposed to hold the team together.

- These are really serious mistakes. – Goodwitch submitted the results to his Scroll. – Your performance is insufficient.

This was terrible news, since anyone who fails here has to repeat the year. Lynda angrily slammed her weapons to the ground and left the gym without a word. Mandy also clenched her fists angrily and pounded the wall. Disappointed in himself, Lance went back to get Mike, whom he had left behind.

- We're sorry it didn't work out. – Ruby and her team as well as JNPR sympathized with LLMM.

- How do you do it? - Lance just sat down on a bench. - How do you work so well together? – Team RWBY just looked at each other

- Simply, we're just trusting each other. - Weiss shrugged.

- Remember what Professor Port said, - Blake reminded them. – in battle, you have to fight as one, as brothers and sisters.

- Yes, you have to put personal feelings aside and take care of each other. - Yang finished.

- Maybe I'm just a bad leader. - Lance thought about that before he stood up and left the gym with his team while the other teams continued their exams.

The loudspeaker sounded and Ozpin's voice could be heard.

- I am waiting for the LLMM team in the headmaster office.

Although they weren't happy for it, all the members of the team obeyed.

- Sh*t, - Lynda was the grumpiest. - Oz obviously wants to kick us out personally.

- We have to wait another year before we can take the final exam. - Lance was more disappointed. Mandy also looked angry but didn't say a word.

- It was fun though. - Mike tried to cheer them up but immediately changed his mind as soon as he met his team's angry stares. - Or not.

They reached the headmaster, Ozpin's office, where you could see the entire Academy, Ozpin himself was sitting behind a large black desk, typing on a computer.

- Did you call us, headmaster? - Lance was at the head of the team.

- Yes, please, - He pointed to the 4 pre-prepared chairs. - take a seat. – They did, the team LLMM sat next to each other while Ozpin finished his coffee and looked towards the students. - What's the matter with you? Individually you are excellent but as a team you are simply terrible. – That was true, they were talented in every other subject, even Mike's fighting skills and endurance have improved a lot in the past six months.

- Incompetent teammates! - Lynda spoke up, glaring at Mike. – We should get rid of the dead weight.

- Lack of communication and teamwork. - Lance added.

- Could you, - Mandy suggested. – put us into another team?

- Kids, - Ozpin's face couldn't be read. - unity and unconditional trust are essential between Hunters and Huntresses.

- Yes, Lance said. – that's why we all ask you to put us in another team!

- You want it individually and not as a unit. - Ozpin smiled. – You are where you should be but you have to put aside your short-sighted selfishness and solve problems as a team and not individually.

- What does that mean? - Lynda didn't understand a word of it.

- I allow you to take the exam again tomorrow. – At this news the LLMM team was completely relieved, except for one person.

That night the three captains met in the corridors, Ruby, Jaune and Lance. Jaune was just complaining that he messed up something which got the CRDN team captain Cardin blackmailing him and Pyrrha getting mad at him.

- At least your team passed all the tests. - Lance wasn't happier either and he sat down next to Jaune. - Ozpin allowed us to take the exam again tomorrow, so we can't go to the Forever Fall Forest with you.

- This is great new! - Ruby was more pleased at this news than Lance should have been. - Aren't you happy about it?

- I'm afraid, we're just delaying the inevitable and we'll fail again tomorrow. Jaune and I could compete to see which of us is the bigger disappointment as a leader.

- Nope. - Ruby just said.

- What? - The two boys looked up at the girl.

- Nope. Lance, Jaune, you are now leaders. You cannot afford to fail.

- But… - Jaune hesitated a bit but finally asked his question. – what if I fail as a leader?

- Yeah, I'm not the best leader either.

- Hm, - Ruby mused. - nope.

- Heh, - Jaune chuckled a bit as Ruby sat between the two boys, she's looking like a small ladybug between two large rocks. - it's not easy to talk about such things with you.

- Nope.

- Jaune, Lance, you may have failed in the past, but you cannot fail in the future. Do you know why?

- Because?

- Because it's not just about yourselves anymore. Both of you have to lead a team of people who count on you as leaders. Just like me and if we fail, our teams will follow. Our teammates should come first and ourselves only second. - Ruby stood up and helped Lance up.

- Thank you, Ruby. - Some confidence returned to Lance.

- Your team needs a good leader. For both of yours. And I'm sure you'll do just fine. - She went back to her room. - Good night, boys.

- Well then, - Lance helped Jaune up. - it's time for us to go too. Enjoy yourself in the Fall Forest.

- Good luck to you on the exam.

Lance also returned to his room where his teammates were already asleep. Ruby's words gave him hope and determination to fight to the end and do everything possible to pass the exam.

At night, when everyone in the academy was already asleep, Lynda woke up, got dressed, took her belongings, clothes, books, her bags and left her team's room. She went to her locker and took out her weapons and ammo and put them in her bag.

- Lynda, - A familiar voice called. - where are you going?

- Mike?! - The faunus girl was shocked that she hadn't even heard or smelled him. - How did you sneak up behind me?

- My bunny slippers covered all the noise and I put a box of talcum powder on myself to cover my smell. I smell like a baby. - He explained proudly but his smile immediately froze on his face when he saw Lynda empties out her closet. - But what are you doing?

- I'm leaving. - He answered angrily. This shocked Mike.

- What?! You... can't do that!

- Of course I can! - She slammed the closet door not caring if they heard it. - This is my business!

- How... - Mike shyly approached her. – could you do this with your team?

- My team?! You mean the LLMM?! The name also suggests that this team is made up of losers! With you in the lead! - She took out a leaflet with the crest of the White Fang on it. - Maybe I'll join White Fang. I would fit in with them. He laughed a little. - I could be their champion.

- Do you want to be a criminal?!

- It's not about what I want! - A tear fell from Lynda's eye and she tried very hard to hold back the rest. - It's about my little brother. - Her voice became weaker and shakier. - I wanted to be a Huntress to give him a better life. I might have better luck with the White Fang.

- You… have a brother? – Mike got surprised. – You never mentioned.

- I promised him that I'm gonna become a great Huntress and provide him a better life. And I just f*cked it.

- But... we can try tomorrow. We can still do it.

- It won't work! I won't stay here another day to make a fool of myself! Stay here with the other losers if you want! I'm leaving!

- Lynda... what right do you have to call me a loser while you throw away your last chance to win? – Lynda just picked up her bag and headed for the exit. – Lynda, I think I understand you've had to solve everything in your life and you want the same now. You want to solve everything alone and... you never think that you have friends who can help you. I didn't have friends as a child either. That's why I'm glad to be a part of this. Please Lynda, we need you as you need us. - Mike followed Lynda down the stairs. - You don't have to carry all the burden. You don't have to solve everything yourself. You can share the problems with us but you also need to help us. We are a team, Lynda. Ozpin said we're fine this way.

- Ozpin was wrong! - Lynda, after reaching the main square of the Academy, turned back and argued back angrily. - They put together our team at random, haphazardly! We were the last, so it's understandable that Ozpin just didn't want any more paperwork!

- You don't believe this yourself! Ozpin believes in us! As in you too! Please, Lynda don't go. If you leave now you will regret it for the rest of your life.

- It's just… - Lynda clenched her fists, sniffling and trying not to cry. - shut up and leave me alone. - She turned the corner with that and left.

Mike returned to his room disappointed after taking one last look at the faunus girl.

It was a sleepless night for the remaining members of the team LLMM, they're nervous that everything would depend on how they did in the exam.

They regrouped in the gym, although one person was missing.

- Where's Lynda? - Lance was nervous. – The exam starts in 2 minutes!

- If we don't have the whole team, we automatically fail! - Mandy wasn't calm either.

- Guys... - Mike was still hoping that Lynda would change her mind but seeing that she didn't come back on time for the exam, he was forced to tell the truth that Lynda was gone. - Lynda...

- I won't let it! – At the end of the corridor, a familiar, white-haired, pointy dog-eared girl walked back with a determined and serious look. – Today we will pass this f*cking test and show that we are not the lamest team!

Mike smiled in relief but Mandy and Lance just looked at each other in confusion. There was something different in Lynda.

Since Professor Goodwitch was leading a class trip to the Forest of Eternal Fall, Professor Port and Professor Oobleck took her place.

The LLMM team didn't say a word, they knew what was at stake and that this was their last chance to pass the exam. The obstacle course was turned on and the robot Grimms went on the attack. It was a pleasant surprise to the whole team that Lynda seemed to have been totally changed.

Instead of mindlessly charging into the battle so he could kill the most Grimm she stayed with Mike to protect him and give Lance and Mandy a chance to clear a path while Mike used his force field to protect the team from the from larger Grimms. They were like a spear that cut a straight path forward through the Grimm.

- It was nice! – Lance calmly acknowledged that they had reached the middle of the field and hadn't lost anyone yet. - We stay together! Mandy, from the left! - Mandy immediately shot down a Beowolf with her bow that nearly caught Mike.

- Thanks, Mandy! - Mike was grateful to the faunus girl.

- We are a team! - Mandy replied with a slight smile.

The group continued on their way but were surrounded by the Grimm. They stayed together again with Mike in the middle and able to focus all his strength on maintaining the force field while his teammates could easily slaughter the Grimm.

- Okay, we're good so far! - Lance was still happy that they were doing so well.

- Will we... this time really succeed? - Mike couldn't believe it.

- Focus on the shield! - Lynda told him and continued the fight. - We still have to get up the wall!

They moved at a fast and steady pace, together towards the wall but as they reached the wall, a little problem arose.

- Mike, use your What The Heck and get us up! - Lance instructed.

- I can't do it while I maintain the shield!

- What?!

- If he lowers the shield, they will overwhelm us! - Mandy warned them.

- We only have a few seconds. - Lance said.

- That's our luck, - Mandy said nervously. – we reach the threshold of victory at once and we are stuck.

- Not exactly! – Lynda took What The Heck out of Mike's hand. - Mike, when I sign you, lower the shield and everybody hold on to me!

- But then…

- Trust me! - Lynda pushed her buttons and aimed to the ground. - Now! Quickly!

Mike lowered the shield and the Grimm marched towards the team LLMM but they all grabbed onto Lynda and then a huge spring came out of What The Heck which shot them up to the top of the wall at the last moment, making the whole team finish.

The Grimms turned off and the obstacle course also turned off, then the teachers entered the course.

- Congratulations. - Professor Port, they couldn't see because of his mustache but he must have been smiling. - This was the level of a real Hunting Team. It got an A+. – The team LLMM members cheered

- Excellent teamwork, ingenuity and creativity at the same time! - Ooblack replied.

- See, - Ozpin also came to watch the exam. - I said that you are where you should be. I believe that you will be excellent Hunters and Huntresses from whom we can expect great things in the future. You could be proud of yourselves.

- Thank you, headmaster for giving us another chance. - Lance was grateful to Ozpin.

As they made their way out, Mike and Lynda stayed behind to talk.

- You were right, Mike. - Lynda just realized something very important. - If we share the burden, if we solve problems together, it's much easier.

- I am proud of what we have achieved. – Mike was still ecstatic and still couldn't believe that he passed the exam.

- And I am proud to have such a great friend like you. - That might have been even better for Mike than success. Mike had been called many names from day one by her, but there was one thing she had never called him before. Friend.

- What are you doing? - Mike noticed Lynda search something in one of her inside pockets.

- This... - Lynda took out a silver-colored, moon-shaped amulet sadly but still happily. – I got it from a very important person who is no longer alive. It means a lot to me and… as hotheaded and stupid as I am in battle… I'm afraid of losing it. Would you mind taking care of it?

- Oh, - Mike understood what that meant. Lynda really trusts him and considers him as her friend. – I promise that I will take good care of it!

- Thank you. Well, let's go and brag about our success!

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