(Akiri POV)

It is currently in the middle of the night and I was making my way to my dorm room when I came across Ruby and Jaune in front of their dorm rooms and I decided to approach them.

Akiri: Hey, Rubes. Jaune

Ruby: Oh, hi Akiri

She greeted with a smile while Jaune just gave a small wave.

Akiri: What are you doing staying up so late?

Ruby: That's what I was about to ask Jaune here

She said, motioning to the blond boy.

Jaune: I, uh...

Akiri: Did you get locked out of your room again?

Jaune: No. It's just...

He tries to come up with something, but just sighs and lowers his head.

Jaune: 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... I'm starting to think coming to this school was a bad idea. I'm a failure

Me and Ruby turned our heads towards each other before looking back at him.

Ruby: Nope!

Jaune: Nope?

Akiri: You're a leader now, Jaune. You're not allowed to be a failure

Jaune: But... What if I'm a failure at being a leader?

Ruby thinks about it for a moment, then gives her answer.

Ruby: Nope!

Jaune: You know, you're not the easiest person to talk to about this kind of stuff

Ruby: Nope!

I just let out a chuckle at her blunt answer.

Ruby: Jaune, maybe you were a failure when you were a kid... And you might've even been a failure the first day we met! But, you can't be one now. You know why?

Jaune: Uhhh, because...?

Ruby: 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. We have to put our teammates first, and ourselves second. Your team deserves a great leader, Jaune. And I think that can be you

Akiri: Well said, Rubes

Ruby: Thanks

Suddenly, the sound of ringing was heard and it was coming from Jaune's pocket. He pulled out his scroll and we noticed that he had a nervous and troubled expression as soon as he saw who it was.

Ruby: Why do you look so nervous?

Akiri: Yeah. Who is it?

Jaune: I-its just Ren. Yeah, Ren is calling me, gotta go!

He then sprints off and turns around the corner as we both looked at him with confused faces.

Ruby: What was that about?

Akiri: I don't know...

I then decided to follow him and I peeked around the corner to see him picking up his Scroll and opening a voice message.

Cardin: Hey! It's your buddy, Cardin. I know you're probably busy with that dust project I gave you, buuut I'm going to need you to go out and get me a bag of rapier wasps

Akiri: (thoughts) Rapier wasps? The hell do you need that for?

Cardin: And make sure they've got some really big stingers. It's important, so don't screw this up. Unless you want me to tell Ozpin about your fake transcripts

Akiri: (Thoughts) Blackmail, huh...? No wonder he's been with Cardin so much...

I then went back to Ruby, who has a worried look.

Ruby: Is he okay?

Akiri: Yeah, he was just in a call with someone. Didn't hear who it was though

I lied to her to keep her from worrying too much.

Akiri: We should probably be getting to bed right now. We have that trip to Forever Fall tomorrow

Ruby: Oh, right! I almost forgot about that

I let out a chuckle and we said goodbyes before going back to our rooms.

(Next day)

(Third person POV)

A group consisting of Team RWBY, Team JNPR and Team CRDL, has arrived at the Forest of Forever Fall. Professor Glynda then starts to speak up, getting everyone's attention as they were walking.

Glynda: Yes students, the Forest of Forever Fall is indeed beautiful. But we are not here to sightsee, Professor Peaches asked all of you to collect samples from the trees deep inside this forest. And I'm here to make sure that none of you dies while doing so. I've also employed the help of Mr. Shiranobu

She motions to Akiri who is walking next to her.

Glynda: Each of you is to gather one jar worth of red sap. However, this forest is full of creatures of Grimm, so be sure to stay by your teammates. We will rendezvous back here at 4:00. Have fun!

As everyone is going in their separate directions, Akiri noticed Jaune being dragged away by Cardin and he just sighed.

Akiri then started to walk away, but stopped when he heard Ruby calling his name.

Ruby: Akiri? Where are you going?

Akiri: I'm scouting the place out. Make sure there's no Grimm in the area

Yang: You sure you should go by yourself?

Akiri: Thanks for the concern, but I'll be fine. Catch you guys later

With that, he walked off deeper into the forest.

(Timeskip)

A few minutes later, Akiri had finished patrolling a small perimeter around the area and he makes his way back to where the others are.

When he arrived, he saw Team RWBY and JNPR collecting sap in the same area, while Team CRDL is nowhere in sight.

Ruby: Akiri! You're back

Ruby exclaimed as she was the first to notice Akiri walking towards them.

Akiri: Yup. Looks like the area is relatively clear. As long as no one wanders off too far, things should go smoothly

Pyrrha: That's good to hear

She said as she was filling up her jar.

Akiri: So. How's everyone doing? Got any trouble extracting the stuff?

Ruby: Nope! We're doing fine

Ren: No troubles here either

They all said, kneeling next to a tree, filling each of their jars.

Yang: Hey, Akiri?

She called him, closing a jar, which was full of sap.

Akiri: What's up?

Yang: I've been meaning to ask you, where is your team? I haven't seen them anywhere

Akiri: Out on a mission

Ruby: They're still out? It's been like, two months since school started

Akiri: Well, senior students get missions that takes a good amount of time to finish. And considering that my team is an elite squad, the missions we get are much more difficult

Ruby: Oooh, I can't wait to meet your team and see what kind of super cool weapons they have!

Ruby says excitedly with stars sparkling in her eyes.

Akiri: Sorry to disappoint you. But everyone in my team has pretty standard weapons

Unknown to them, as they are filling up their jars, Team CRDL and Jaune are peeking their heads on a nearby hilltop overlooking them. 

Jaune: What's going on?

Cardin: Payback

He replied as he was glaring at someone and Jaune follows his gaze to see that he is looking at Akiri.

Jaune: Akiri...

Cardin: That's the guy. He'll pay for breaking my arm...

Back with Akiri, he is still collecting tree saps while conversing with the others.

As Akiri is talking, he sees out of the corner of his eye that Jaune is holding up a jar of sap getting ready to throw it at him, and that Cardin and the rest of his team are right behind him.

Akiri: (thoughts) What will you do, Jaune...?

He thought as he just stood there, waiting for Jaune to make his decision. He then noticed that Jaune's arm is shaking and he ultimately puts down the jar much to Cardin's annoyance.

Jaune then ends up throwing the sap at Cardin and his team grabs him and pulls him deeper into the forest.

Akiri then breaks away from the group unnoticed and goes to where he saw Jaune get pulled away.

(Elsewhere)

Cardin: You know that wasn't very smart, Jauney boy. I'm gonna make sure they send you back to mommy in teeny tiny pieces

He threatens the blond boy, who is now on the ground, beaten up.

Jaune: I don't care what you do to me... But you are not messing with my friends!

Cardin: What? You think talking like that makes you tough? You think you're a big strong man now?

Jaune smiles in defiance and Cardin raises his fist again, but just as the hit connects, a bright light suddenly shines from Jaune, causing Cardin to drop him.

Jaune, now back on the ground but completely healed, looks confused at his hands as they faintly glow white.

He was then kicked in the back by Sky and he looks up and glares at Cardin.

Cardin: Let's see how much of a man you really are...

Just as he says this, a low growl is heard, and Team CRDL turns around and was shocked sees a huge Ursa Major appearing from the trees.

It leaps forward and stands over the terrified students, lifting its head to smell the sap on Cardin's chestplate. It lands back on its forelegs and roars at Cardin while his teammates ran away.

Russel: That's a big Ursa!

Cardin is frozen on the spot when the Grimm swings its claws and knocks him away.

The Ursa towers over Cardin, who gets his wits and pulls out his mace, only for the monster to swipe it away to Jaune's feet, who looks conflicted, deciding whether to fight or run away.

The loud roar of the Ursa is heard throughout the forest as Ruby and the others heard it.

Ruby: What was that?

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.

Cardin: Crap! Crap, crap!

Pyrrha, Ruby, and Weiss came to the scene to see Cardin on the ground, cowering before the large Grimm.

Pyrrha: Oh, no!

Pyrrha, Ruby and Weiss watch as the Ursa leans over the helpless victim, raising its paw and swiping it down... Only to be blocked by Jaune's shield.

Weiss then lifts her rapier as she prepares to go help.

Pyrrha: Wait!

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 swiped its claw at him in midair.

He lands far away but immediately went back on his feet and he passes by Cardin as he charges again.

The Ursa knocks Jaune behind it when he tries for a leaping attack, and he looks 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.

The two rushed at each other and as they are just about to clash, Pyrrha sees that Jaune has left himself completely open to the Ursa's attack, and she lifts her hand out towards him.

Just as the Ursa is about to hit him, a faint black aura surrounds Jaune's shield and makes it lift up to block the swipe. Jaune uses the surprise defensive move and swings his blade right through the Ursa's neck.

Ruby: Uhhh... What?

Weiss: How did you...?

The two asked as they were confused at what had transpired.

Pyrrha: Well, Ruby has her speed, you have your glyphs. My Semblance is polarity

Ruby: Whoa, you can control poles...

Weiss: No, you dunce! It means she has control over magnetism!

Ruby: Magnets are cool, too...

Without a word, Pyrrha then started to walk away.

Weiss: Wait, where are you going?

Ruby: Yeah! We gotta tell them what happened!

Pyrrha: We could... Or perhaps we could keep it our little secret

Pyrrha walks away again as Ruby and Weiss smile at each other in understanding before following Pyrrha.

A bruised Jaune sheathes his weapon and goes over to Cardin.

Cardin, still covered in sap, looks up at Jaune as he offers a hand. Cardin smiles as he takes it and is lifted back up on his feet.

Cardin: Holy crap, Jaune!

Jaune: Don't ever mess with my team, my friends, ever again. Got it?

Cardin just silently nodded.

Jaune: Good. Now get out of here

Cardin then walks off without another word. Jaune was about to do the same, until he heard a familiar voice spoke out from behind him.

???: I gotta say, that was impressive, Jaune

He turns around to see Akiri, who is walking over towards him.

Jaune: Akiri? You were watching?

Akiri: Yep

Jaune: Some help would've been nice, you know?

Akiri: Oh? I thought you said you don't want to be the damsel in distress anymore

Jaune had a surprised expression as he heard what Akiri said.

Jaune: You knew about that?

Akiri just nodded and Jaune looks down with slumped shoulders.

Jaune: I guess you're gonna tell Professor Ozpin...?

Akiri: Nope. Because he probably knows about it already

Jaune: Wh-what?!

Akiri: Jaune. If Ozpin didn't want you here, you wouldn't even make it past initiation

Jaune: Then... Why? Why did he-

Akiri: I can't tell you for sure. But I do know this. Everyone is here for a reason. Everyone has their purpose for being here. It's up to you, to find yours

Akiri then started to walk away.

Jaune: But, what if he made a mistake? What if it's just an accident?

Jaune speaks up and Akiri just stopped and turns his head towards him.

Akiri: A wise old Faunus told me this long ago. There are no accidents

With that, he walks off, leaving Jaune alone with his thoughts, thinking hard about what Akiri had said.