Ruby sat on the ground with a helpless expression on her face, watching as her partner, Weiss, was walking back and forth, trying to figure out the correct way to get towards the Temple.

Weiss: "It's definitely this way... I mean, this way, it's definitely this way. Alright, it's official. We passed it."

Ruby: "Why can't you just admit that you have no idea where we're going?"

Weiss: "Because I know exactly where we are going. We're going... to... the Forest Temple." The argent eyed girl just deadpanned and groaned in frustration from her dumb logic.

Weiss: "Oh, stop it, you don't know where we are either."

Ruby: "Obviously, but at least I'm not pretending like I know everything."

Weiss: "What's that supposed to mean?"

Ruby: "It means you're a big, stupid jerk and I hate you!" Weiss fell silent as her expression seemed to display shock... then hurt... then frustration.

Weiss: "... Argh, just keep moving!"

Ruby: *mocking voice* "'Just keep moving. Hurry up. Wahhh, watch where we are going.' Why are you so bossy?"

Weiss: "I'm not bossy! Don't say things like that!"

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..." She grinned slightly, "But I'm still leagues better than you." She began walking away, leaving Ruby annoyed, frustrated and upset.

Ruby: "You don't even know me..." She stood there for a while looking down as her eyes began burning from tears threatening to fall until she heard Weiss call out to her.

Weiss: "I'm positive this time! It's this way. Do you mind hurrying Little Miss Riding Hood?"

Ruby: "My name is Ruby and you have no sense of direction Weiss. We're nowhere near it."

Weiss: "Don't be ridiculous. All you can do is follow me, I know where to go."

Ruby: "Hmph! I'm not much of a follower!"

Weiss: "I'm not sure about that. Mind telling me why a girl like you would attend the academy?"

Ruby: "To be a huntress of course! Like the one in the stories!"

Weiss: "Stories...? Unbelievable. I came here to learn. To grow stronger. I strive for perfection. Unlike you, I'm not here for fun and games. If all you want is to be a part of the stories, give up and go home. Your mother's waiting to read one to you."

Ruby fell deathly silent. It was almost unsettling as this girl who seemed to love talking just... stopped, all together. She felt something trigger from within her from the moment Weiss mentioned her mother. A memory.

In this memory, Ruby was kneeling in front of her mother's grave with her hood over my head. She was trying to stay strong but failed as she broke down in tears, all of the negative emotions flowing out of her. Sadness, anger, hopelessness... was what she felt at that moment...

She continued to avoid making eye contact with the heiress as she was holding her emotions back. At this moment she realized that Weiss knew nothing. She understood nothing. And she was going to make her understand.

Ruby: "You don't know anything..."

Weiss: "You're a little girl fascinated by fairy tales, am I wrong?"

Ruby: "You... think you know everything... Huh...?" She stayed quiet with a somewhat concerned look on her face... "I... lost someone important to me...That's when I realized, reality doesn't always end happily like the stories... No one's going to show up in the nick of time... No one's going to save you... So instead of being sad... and waiting for help to arrive... I decided I would be the hero... And I will... I'll turn tragedies into happy endings. That's why I'm here!"

They were interrupted by a loud squawking noise behind Ruby. She turned around to see two large black wings as a large Grimm known as a Giant Nevermore surfaced, ready to feast on its prey.

Weiss: "A Grimm!?"

With an idea brewing in her head, Ruby equipped her beloved Crescent Rose in its rifle mode and ran at the Nevermore. It opened its mouth to eat her but she shot it in the mouth, causing it to get disoriented. Then she shot it a couple more times on its underside. Afterwards, she holstered her weapon and latched onto the leg of the Nevermore as it was slightly thrashing around.

Ruby: "Gotcha!" It began to slowly hover off the ground, but she held my hand out to Weiss "Weiss!! Take my hand!!"

Weiss: "Huh!? Huh!??"

Without much of a choice, she grabbed her hand, and she pulled her up onto the Nevermore as it began to fly away. They held on tightly to the Grimm as it soared through the sky. While Ruby seemed to remain relatively calm, even joying the thrilling ride, Weiss on the other hand was utterly terrified.

Weiss: "AAAHHHH! Are you trying to take me down with you!?!?"

Ruby: "Ehehehe! It'll be faster flying instead of walking in circles!"

Weiss: "I WAS A FOOL TO FOLLOW YOOOUUUUU!!!!!"

>Chapter 3: The Emerald Forest Part 2<

Ruby: "HEADS UUUUUUP!"

Just before she made the grand landing, Jaune came flying out of nowhere and knocked into Ruby in midair, sending them both into a tree and the four on the ground in a dumbfounded state.

Setsuna: "Wha...?"

Blade: "Did your sister just fall from the sky...?"

Yang: "I..."

However, before any of them could process what they just witnessed, their attention was turned to the forest where an Ursa Grimm stumbled out, roaring before it fell over, revealing Nora and Red.

Nora: "Aww... It's broken... Ew..."

Ren: "Nora...! Please...! Don't ever do that again..." He looked back up only to see a blinking outline of the girl in question. She had run up to the temple and looked at a rook chess piece with sparkles in her eyes before she excitedly grabbed it and began singing as her emblem appeared behind her with a pink background.

Nora: "Ooooohhhhh... *singing* I'm Queen of the Castle! I'm Queen of the Castle!"

Ren: "NORA!"

Nora: "Coming Ren!"

Akito: "Did that girl just ride in on an Ursa...?"

Blake: "Maybe...?"

Yang: "I..."

Again, she was cut off by the screech of a Deathstalker, which burst out of the forest with the girl, Pyrrha Nikos fleeing from it.

Pyrrha: "Jaune!"

Jaune: "Pyrrha!"

Ruby: "Woah!" She stood up and sped out of the tree, leaving the blonde boy behind.

Jaune: "Ruby!" She grouped up next to the others, with Yang immediately opening her arms to hug her.

Yang: "Ruby!" the girl in question grinned and returned the gesture.

Ruby: "Yang!" However, the two were pulled apart by...

Nora: "Nora!"

While all the craziness was happening, Blake had noticed that Akito wasn't next to them anymore. She looked around before she looked at Pyrrha, who was just about to be knocked away by the Deathstalker, only for her to be suddenly picked up and moved out of the way as a blade crashed into the Deathstalker's face, disorienting it. Akito had dashed in and saved the red-haired Spartan by picking her up and leaping out of the way before returning to the others.

Akito: "Maybe next time, don't get chased by a fully grown Deathstalker, Cherry Blossom!" He said, gently putting her back on her feet.

Pyrrha: "Akito, thank you!" She quickly thanked him with a bow.

Blake: "Wait, you know Pyrrha Nikos, Akito?"

Pyrrha: "Hello there!"

Blake: "Um... Hi."

Akito: "Long story short, we met her when Setsuna and I were in Mistral. She's the only human she likes." He swiftly explained to her, with the amber eyed girl nodding in response. "Anyways, why the hell are you running here with a Deathstalker on your ass?" He asked as the redhead merely let out a sheepish laugh.

Pyrrha: "I-" However before she could answer, Yang cuts her off with a burst of fiery rage.

Yang: "UGH! I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE! CAN EVERYONE JUST CHILL OUT FOR TWO SECONDS BEFORE SOMETHING CRAZY HAPPENS AGAIN!?" Everyone remained quiet as Akito counted the two seconds in his head before Ruby pulled on her sister's sleeve and looked and pointed upwards.

Ruby: "Umm... Yang?" Everyone looked up only to see a certain Weiss Schnee holding onto dear life from a Giant Nevermore.

Weiss: "HOW COULD YOU LEAVE ME!?"

Ruby: "I SAID 'JUMP'!"

Blake: "She's gonna fall."

Ruby: "She'll be fine!"

Ren: "She's falling."

Setsuna: "Please die!" She exclaimed as everyone looked at her. The white-haired wolf Faunus blushed out of embarrassment and quickly hid behind Akito, who sighed and shook his head.

Jaune slowly stood up from his tree before he spotted the falling Weiss. With a confident grin, he leaped highly into the air and caught her bridal style. Akito facepalmed as Weiss looked at him, bewildered.

Jaune: "Just dropping in?" However, almost immediately after, both noticed they were still in the air. With a scream, the two fell to the ground, with Jaune face planting into the ground and Weiss landing on his back.

Weiss: "'My hero...'"

Jaune: "My back..."

Yang: "Great... Gang's all here. Now we can die together!"

Ruby: "Not if I can help it!" She yelled as she charged the Deathstalker, wielding Crescent Rose. Though Yang tried to stop her.

Yang: "Ruby, wait!" Ruby attempted to hit the Deathstalker but it just smacked her away from her. Ruby began firing off shots from Crescent Rose at the Deathstalker but it didn't affect it, only annoyed it. She attempted to run away but the Giant Nevermore swooped down and launched a bunch of its feathers at her, one of them, pinning her cloak, preventing her from moving anywhere. She tried to pull her cloak from the feather but it wouldn't budge.

Yang: "Ruby! Get out of there!"

Ruby: "I'm trying!" As Ruby was struggling to free herself, a white blur rushed toward her, and immediately froze the Deathstalker's stinger; it was Weiss. "Weiss...?"

Weiss: "You are so childish! Not only are you dim-witted, hyperactive and don't even get me started on your fighting style. And I suppose that I can be a bit... difficult, but if we're going to do this, we're going to have to do it together. So if you would quit trying to show off, I'll be... nicer..."

Ruby: "I'm not trying to show off... I just want you to know I can do this..."

Weiss: "You're fine." She said as she walked back to the others. As Yang went over to her younger sister and brought her into a tight hug. After which, they all regrouped as the Nevermore circled them and the Deathstalker struggled to free itself.

Jaune: "Guys, that thing's circling back! What are we going to do!?"

Weiss: "There's no sense in dilly dallying. Our objective is right in front of us."

Ruby: "She's right, our mission is to grab an artifact and make it back to the cliffs. There's no point in fighting these things."

Jaune: "Run and live, that's an idea I can get behind."

Ruby, Jaune and Setsuna ran over to the chess pieces, picking up a Knight, Rook and Black Queen respectively before returning to us.

Ren: "Time we left!"

Ruby: "Right. Let's go!"

However, before they could make their escape, a loud and threatening roar caught their attention. The trees to the forest shook violently as a massive Grimm with dorsal fins on its back and a massive tail. This kind of Grimm was known as a Glaivetail.

Yang: "What!?"

Jaune: "How are we supposed to fight that thing!? It's huge!"

Akito: "Just like how we fight any other Grimm!" He stated, turning Alpha into Rifle mode as he fired off a couple of shots at the Glaivetail, striking its face and causing it to roar in pain as it glared at him.

Everyone else looked at the Deathstalker as it was starting to break free from its icy prison, and along with the Giant Nevermore in the sky, they had to deal with 3 large Grimm. Seeing the situation, Ruby gave the directions.

Ruby: "Let's go everyone!"

With a collective nod, the group began to rush away from the temple together, with Ruby leading them. Yang watched with a proud smile as Blake and Akito were next to her.

Blake: "What is it?"

Yang: "Nothing." She said as she rushed after. Blake looked at Akito, only to see him also smirking slightly.

Akito: "That is the look of a proud big sibling." He said as he winked at the ravenette before rushing off after them. Blake caught on, with her smiling as she followed after them.

Making their way out of the dense forest, the group of 10 rushed through a wide open area, with each side having multiple large stone pillars as the group split up, five on each side, Weiss, Blake, Jaune, Akito and Pyrrha on the right and Ruby, Yang, Setsuna, Nora and Ren on the left. The Giant Nevermore flew overhead, causing everyone to take cover behind some pillars as it perched on a large stone tower, shrieking out dominantly.

Yang: "Wow, that's great." But as if to spite her even more, the ground began to shake as behind the group from the forest, the Deathstalker and Glavetail rushed out aggressively together.

Jaune: "Oh, man, run!" The group rushed forwards, heading towards the Nevermore as the Deathstalker and Glaivetail chased them, with the giant-bird-like Grimm starting to take to the skies.

Ren: "Nora, distract it!"

With a large excited grin on her face, Nora rushed out into the center, dodging a volley of feathers from the Nevermore as she equipped her Grenade Launcher known as Magnhild and began firing off Grenades at the Giant Nevermore. With one grenade blowing up in the Winged Grimm's face, it shook its head and began flying away as everyone else neared the stone bridge. However, Nora wasn't out of the clear as the Deathstalker and Glaivetail were rapidly approaching her. Before they could get to their target however, Blake and Ren stepped in, slashing at the Deathstalker while Setsuna kicked the Giant Scorpion Grimm in its face. Akito however, leaped in with a yell, slashing the Glaivetail in its face with Alpha, causing it to stagger back with a roar as Weiss grabbed Nora and used her Semblance of Glyphs to propel them away from the two Grimm.

As everyone got closer and closer to the bridge, the Deathstalker and Glaivetail continued on their chase, with Pyrrha and Akito stopping and aiming at the two with their weapons in ranged form.

Pyrrha: "Go, go!"

Akito: "Get to the otherside of the bridge, quickly!"

Nora and Weiss ran past them as the two, along with Ren began firing shots at the two rampaging Grimm, allowing Blake and Setsuna enough time to get away from them. Narrowly dodging a swipe of the Glaivetail's massive tail, the teens continued along the bridge, however, Akito's eyes widened as he noticed the Nevermore coming back, and diving down to the bridge.

Akito: "LOOK OUT!"

The Nevermore bashed through the bridge, separating the group from each other. Ruby, Weiss, Yang, Nora and Jaune were stuck on the side closer to the cliff, with Ruby firing at the Nevermore. As for the side with the Deathstalker and the Glaivetail, Pyrrha, Blake, Akito, Setsuna and Ren were stuck, fending off the two Grimm. Blake got knocked back with a grunt, as Akito quickly got in front of her, materializing a physical shield onto his left arm known as the GN Shield, blocking a claw strike from the Deathstalker as Pyrrha and Ren continued to fire at it. With him gritting his teeth, Akito lowered his body, allowing Setsuna to step off of his back and leap over him with her Ice Wolf Claws active.

With a loud roar from her, she slashed down on the Deathstalker, her claws bouncing off of its hard surface as the Glaivetail swung its tail around, knocking Setsuna back hard, into Pyrrha and Ren.

Akito: "Bastards!" He yelled reaching behind him as two white handles appeared in his hands, emitting short pink beam blades, turning them into Beam Daggers. He tossed them forwards, both stabbing into the Glaivetail, causing it to roar in pain and stumble back, but only allowing the Deathstalker to take the initiative again.

Jaune: "Man, we gotta get over there."

Nora: "Let's do this!" The blonde male looked at the massive gap and looked down into the abyss.

Jaune: "Yeah, but I can't make that jump..."

Nora only grinned as she knocked him back before transforming Magnhild in a massive two handed hammer. Leaping into the air, she slammed the hammer down onto her side of the bridge, sending both her and Jaune flying over to the other side with the Deathstalker and Glaivetail. Pressing a button fired a shot from Magnhild that propelled Nora faster forwards. She smashed the Deathstalker on its head, disorienting it and causing it to stumble back, its tail knocking the Glaivetail off balance and causing it to fall onto its side. Seeing this, Akito quickly fired off a shot from Alpha at the Glaivetail's underside, causing it to roar louder in pain as he noticed how it reacted. However, before he could fully act, the Deathstalker managed to knock Nora back into Blake, pushing the ravenette off the side.

Seeing this, Akito gritted his teeth before he leaped off the side after her, with the necklace around his neck starting to glow as he yelled out.

Akito: "Come on out, EXIA!"

His body began to glow a bright blue color as high-tech looking armor began to form around him. White, blue and red with a tiny bit of yellow were the colors, with the helmet having "ears", a silver V-Fin and green eyes and the chest as a glossy green orb that would shine every now and then. As the armor formed, more weapons could be seen, twin silver blades with blue guards, a long one on the right hip and a shorter one on the left hip. Then there were two white "handles" on the back, two on the rear shoulders while there were empty slots on the rear skirting armor, which looked like it could house two more. As the transformation completed itself, the armor emitted a green light of particles from its back before jetting itself down towards Blake, and catching her in its arms; this was Gundam Exia.

(Akito Zara—Gundam Exia)

Blake: "A-Akito?"

Akito (Exia): "Still me, kitty. You alright?" His voice projected from the armor as he began to fly back up to the top.

Blake: "Yeah, but our friends could use some help." The two of them looked up, seeing Yang, Weiss and Ruby doing everything they can to at least stall the Nevermore, while Jaune, Nora, Pyrrha, Ren and Setsuna were seemingly struggling with both of the Deathstalker and the Glaivetail. Seeing the situation they were in, Akito quickly formulated a plan in his head.

Akito (Exia): "You thinking what I'm thinking?" He looked down at the ravenette, who merely smiled with a nod.

Blake: "I am."

https://youtu.be/euuxPokAeIA

(Play Song)

With no further explanation needed, Akito flew up quickly into the air, with him holding Blake by the arm before with a grunt, he threw her up, allowing her to soar through the air towards the Nevermore. Transforming Gambol Shroud into its sickle mode, Blake launched it towards the overgrown bird Grimm, its sharp edge stabbing into its back and causing it to cry out in pain. Blake swung herself quickly, maneuvering her way by using her Semblance, Shadow to create a clone to boost herself up on top of the Nevermore where she ran along its back, slashing it before jumping off and landing on the side with Yang, Ruby and Weiss.

Blake: "It's tougher than it looks!"

Yang: "Then let's hit it with everything we got!"

Ruby transformed Crescent Rose to its scythe mode and Blake transformed her Gambol Shroud into its SMG mode before aiming the barrels at the Nevermore. They all began to fire off attacks at the Nevermore, with Ruby, Yang and Blake firing bullets at it with their weapons, Weiss using her Glyphs to fire off blue projectiles at it. However, the Nevermore tanked through all of it before destroying the pillars underneath the structure, causing it to collapse. The girls all parkoured their way up to a stable segment of the structure before Yang, hopped up onto the top of a pillar and began shooting at the Nevermore with her Ember Celica.

Weiss: "None of this is working!" However, Ruby had her eyes on Blake, more specifically Gambol Shroud's ribbon.

Ruby: "I have a plan! Cover me!"

On the other side of the bridge, Setsuna groaned in pain as she was knocked back by the Glaivetail's massive tail swing, knocking her off the edge as Pyrrha looked on in horror.

Pyrrha: "Setsuna!!!" However, thankfully her worries would be immediately calmed as she saw Akito, dawning the Gundam Exia fly out of the abyss with Setsuna in his arms. With a yell, he tossed the Arctic-Wolf Faunus forwards, causing her to yell as her eyes began glowing, her Semblance, Primal Fury active, boosting all of her physical capabilities greatly as she rammed into the side of the Glaivetail, tackling it into a pillar with ease.

Jaune: "Woah!"

Akito (Exia): "Don't worry, cherry blossom! We got this big bastard! You four handle the Deathstalker!"

Nora: "With pleasure~!"

Pyrrha: "Be careful, Akito!"

Akito (Exia): "Heh." He smirked underneath the Gundam's helmet, with him giving a two finger salute before he flew off towards the Glaivetail.

Pyrrha: "Idiot." She chuckled and shook her head.

Jaune: "Alright, we gotta move!" He exclaimed as the Deathstalker pulled its tail from the bridge, causing the structure to start collapsing.

The four charged forwards towards the Deathstalker. It thrusts one claw forwards, only for Pyrrha to redirect it with her shield, Akoúo and slash at it with Miló. When it tried attacking her with its other pincer, Jaune blocked it with the shield of his Cores Mors before the Spartan thrusts her javelin at it, disorienting the giant scorpion. Ren then hopped up and grabbed onto the Deathstalker's stinger before shooting at it with Stormflower causing it to shriek in pain as Nora began to fire off grenades at it before Pyrrha threw her Miló in its javelin form, piercing one of its eyes. That was enough for the Deathstalker to throw Ren off of its stinger and into a rock.

Nora: "Ren!"

Jaune: "Pyrrha!" He looked towards the redhead, who nodded.

Pyrrha: "Done!" she replied as she threw her Akoúo shield at the Deathstalker's dangling stinger, severing it and causing it to drop onto its head.

Jaune: "Nora, nail it!"

Nora hopped onto Pyrrha's Akoúo shield before being lifted into the air. With an excited giggle, she transformed Magnhild into its Hammer form and slammed down on the Deathstalker, impaling it with its own stinger and causing that part of the bridge to collapse, taking the Deathstalker with it. Jaune and Nora badly landed on the ground as Pyrrha made a superhero landing. Ren on the other hand, walked over to them, panting heavily before letting his tiredness take over, sending him to the ground face first.

With Setsuna's primal yells being heard, they looked over, a bit further back away from the bridge to see the Arctic Wolf Faunus bouncing around at rapid speeds, slashing away at the Glaivetail, moving too fast for it to counter as Akito was flying above it, firing shot after shot at it from Alpha in GN Rifle mode and the GN Vulcan on the Exia's left forearm. Having enough of this endless barrage, the Glaivetail made an attempt to knock the Exia out of the sky with its tail, only for the Gundam to fly underneath the attack.

Akito (Exia): "Setsu! Let's throw it off balance! Its underside is weak!"

Setsuna: "Got it!"

With the plan set in motion, Akito quickly backed off, with the GN Shield appearing on Exia's left arm as Setsuna leaped off of the Glaivetail and flew back towards her partner. After raising his shield, Setsuna's wolf paws firmly planted on the surface of the GN Shield, her eyes surging with that same blue energy as she pushed her Semblance further.

Akito (Exia): "GO!"

Akito launched Setsuna off of his shield, the white-haired girl roaring out aggressively, her Ice Wolf Claws fully sharpened as she flew like a bullet. Setsuna rammed into the side of the Glaivetail, causing it to roar out loudly as it felt itself being pushed onto its side, with it helplessly unable to do anything. Now that it was vulnerable, Setsuna quickly leaped away.

Setsuna: "AKITO!"

From behind her, Akito floated, with Exia's eyes glowing brightly as Alpha's blade erupted in what looked like flames as his eyes underneath the armor changed to a fiery red color.

Akito (Exia): "You're done!" With a yell and a single downwards slash, Akito cut straight through the Glaivetail's belly with ease, causing it to let out one final roar of pain before it began to disintegrate, signifying its death.

With the flames disappearing from Alpha's blade, he flipped it back up into its storage mode and instantly looked at Setsuna, finding her on the ground, her Semblance deactivated as she was groaning and moaning in pain.

Setsuna: "A-Ak-kito..." the armored-male in question landed next to her and picked her up in his arms, holding her close to his armored chest as the GN Drive on his back began glowing again and he began flying towards the others.

Akito (Exia): "Save your breath, Setsu. You've done well."

The two landed next to Pyrrha, Jaune, Nora and Ren, the other three looking at him in surprise from his new appearance while Pyrrha rushed over to him, with her checking on Setsuna.

Pyrrha: "I-Is she okay???" She questioned with a worried tone as Exia's helmet glowed and disappeared, allowing Akito's face to be revealed.

Akito: "She'll be fine, don't worry. Just after using her Semblance for too long, her muscles tend to start spazzing out. It's only a temporary side effect though."

Pyrrha: "Thank goodness... You two are so reckless."

Akito: "What can we say? We were built that way." He said, winking as Setsuna let out a weak laugh and gave a thumbs up before wincing in pain.

Jaune: "How... What is that??" He questioned, as the three looked over to him, Nora and Ren, the blonde male pointing at the suit of armor the black-haired Wolf Faunus wore. He seemed to hesitate a bit before looking towards the other side of the bridge as the rest of Exia disappeared.

Akito: "It's a long story. One better suited for another time." Everyone followed his gaze as they were now treated to the sight of Ruby, Weiss, Blake and Yang battling the Giant Nevermore.

Yang was standing on a pillar and firing explosive shots from Ember Celica at the Giant Nevermore as it circled around her. One of her shots managed to land, causing it to start flying towards her, its mouth open to gobble her up but Yang did something it never expected and actually jumped into it, but held its beak open before punching shots into its mouth.

Yang: "I *shoots* Hope *shoots* You're *shoot* HUN- *shoots* -GRY! *shoots*"

She hopped out of its mouth as the Giant Nevermore went crashing into the side of the cliff. It stood back up before squawking at them in agitation. It then saw Blake standing on one of two pillars, with Ruby standing in between them before it spotted Weiss speeding towards it and past Yang who went to join Blake and Ruby. It tried to get into the air, but Weiss used the Ice Dust in her Myrtenaster and rooted it to the ground by its tail, causing it to start struggling. Then she backed away as Blake threw Yang the sickle side of Gambol Shroud, before she stuck it into the second pillar and they both pulled, creating a slingshot. Ruby positioned herself on it as Weiss held it with a Black Gravity Glyph.

Weiss: "Of course you'd come up with this kind of idea."

Ruby: "You think you can make the shot?"

Weiss: *smirks* "Hmph, can I?" There was a brief pause before...

Ruby: "Can you-"

Weiss: "Of course I can!"

However, the struggling Nevermore raised its wings, squawking as it got ready to fire its feathers at the group of girls, with their eyes widening. Before it could have however, multiple pink beams struck it in its face, disorienting it. Looking behind them, they saw Akito aiming Alpha in GN Rifle mode at the Giant Nevermore, bombarding it with shot after shot as Pyrrha held Setsuna in her arms for him.

Akito: "THANK ME LATER!" He yelled out with a grin and a wink to the girl as he headshotted the Nevermore once more, causing its head to slam into the back of the cliff, disorienting it. Yang and Ruby both grinned at him, the latter waving at him while Blake rolled her eyes but smiled and blushed and Weiss shook her head but turned back to the Nevermore, a slight smile present on her face.

Ruby cocked Crescent Rose as she used her Semblance on the Glyph, turning it red before she was launched towards the Nevermore at high speeds. Ruby wrapped Crescent Rose around its neck and landed on the side of the cliff. Weiss created a series of white Glyphs on the side of the cliff before Ruby began to run along them, dragging the Nevermore with her with a determined yell. Upon reaching the top and with a final yell, the argent eyed girl fired Crescent Rose one more time, its momentum decapitating the Nevermore's head before she landed on the top of the cliff in a hero-styled landing as the Nevermore's body slowly disintegrated into red rose petals and fell to the ground. The others just watched in amazement as Akito smirked and crossed his arms.

Jaune: "Wow..."

Akito: "Now it makes sense why the Headmaster enrolled her in, 2 years early." Everyone watched as Ruby stood on the top of the cliff, her cloak blowing in the wind as what looked like rose petals were blowing off of her body.

Yang: "Well, that was a thing."

Akito: "Alright, let's go join her up there, before we get distracted by any more stragglers."

With a collective nod, everyone managed to make their way out of the Emerald Forest for good and back to Beacon with their relics, meaning that they successfully passed the Initiation Exam.

>>Later<<

Ozpin: "Russel Thrush. Cardin Winchester. Dove Bronzewing. Sky Lark. The four of you retrieved the black bishop pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as Team CRDL, led by... Cardin Winchester!" The crowd began to cheer for the newly formed team. Right after they stepped down, Ozpin began speaking.

Ozpin: "Jaune Arc. Lie Ren. Pyrrha Nikos. Nora Valkyrie. The four of you retrieved the white rook pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as Team JNPR, led by... Jaune Arc!"

Jaune: "Huh!? Me!?"

Ozpin: "Congratulations young man." Pyrrha gave him a playful punch on his shoulder which had a little bit more force in it, so much that he fell over as the audience laughed at the display.

Ozpin: "And finally, Blake Belladonna. Ruby Rose. Weiss Schnee. Yang Xiao Long. The four of you retrieved the white knight pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as Team RWBY. Led by... Ruby Rose!" 

Ruby and Weiss had looks of shock as Blake smiled and Yang hugged her younger sister to her death. Akito stood in the crowd, with the slightly crippled Setsuna on his back as the newly formed Team RWBY exited the stage however, the black-haired Wolf Faunus narrowed his eyes as he seemed to notice what looked like small, thin vines on the back of Weiss' neck, causing him to raise his eyebrow curiously.

Akito: "Hmm..."

Ozpin: "Now we are to have one more team, however two students forfeited at the last minute. So the two that remained are not on a team. Will Akito Zara and Setsuna please come up to the stage?" The crowd went silent as Setsuna's ears flattened. Akito sighed and walked up to the stage with his partner on his back. When he glanced into the crowd, he saw both Pyrrha and Blake with saddened expressions, the latter especially.

Ozpin: "Now normally, you two would be sent home due to the lack of students to form your team... However, after an incredible display of teamwork and charisma from the both of you, I personally decided that I cannot let your skills go to waste." He clicked a button on his scroll, causing the screen behind him to display their battle against the Glaivetail Grimm, showing Setsuna using her Semblance to out-strength the Glaivetail and Akito using Exia, not only to fight and finish off the Glaivetail, but to also save both Blake and Setsuna. Everyone looked on in awe, with Blake looking off with a blush from the footage of her being saved as the two wolves in question looked back at the professor. "Instead of being sent home like normally, you two have been placed on a two man team named, Team WOLF with Akito Zara as the leader."The students in the crowd cheered loudly for the two as they looked at the old wizard in shock.

Ozpin: "Now unfortunately, we no longer have any extra dorm rooms as the last one was taken up already by staff. So you two will have to share with another Team. Is there any team who would like to have these two?" Akito and Setsuna turned to see a couple of hands in the crowd but the ones that stood out the most were the hands of Blake, Yang and Ruby. The headmaster spotted them and nodded with a smile before hitting a button on the Scroll. "Then Team WOLF will be staying with Team RWBY for their time at Beacon. Congratulations."

Akito: "U-Um... Thank you, Professor." Setsuna just bowed her head in respect as Akito glanced over at Blake particularly, who had a smile on her face, causing him to smile back.

Ozpin: "This is shaping up to be an interesting year..." He glanced at Akito specifically, who had a smile on his face but he particularly noticed how his eyes flashed through those 4 different colors that weren't his normal golden eyes. It took him slightly by surprise, but he only smiled more. *thoughts* "So they all are here... What an interesting year indeed..."

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Next Chapter: "Leadership"

Blake: "... I never really got a chance to say this yesterday but... I missed you, you know that Wolfie...?"

Akito: "Yeah... I missed you too, Kitty... Genuinely"