Jaune: Please, Cardin, please, don't tell anyone!

Cardin: Jaune, come on! I'd never rat on a friend like that!

Jaune: A....A friend?

Cardin: Of course!

Cardin traps Jaune in a headlock under his arm despite his struggling.

Cardin: We're friends now, Jauney boy! And the way I see it, as long as you're there for me when I need you, we'll be friends for a long time.

He finally releases Jaune, who gasps as he leans on the ground.

Cardin: That being said, I really don't have time to do those extra readings Dr. Oobleck gave us today. Think you could take care of that for me, buddy?

Cardin leans down to rub Jaune's hair and gets up with a grin.

Cardin: That's what I thought. Don't worry, Jaune, your secret's safe with me.

Cardin drops back down to his room as Jaune rubs his neck in pain and worry. Someone who was listening from a blindspot outside, was Blue Light, as he heard everything.

Blue: So he faked his transcripts? That's interesting because Ozpin would've definitely known if it was fake...so why let him stay?

Blue jumps down and goes back inside, he sees Pyrrha walking away with a sad look, so he decides to be a good friend and walks over to her. He pats her on the head, which got her attention, and she turns around in surprise.

Pyrrha: Blue?

Blue: Hey Pyrrha, what's up?

Pyrrha: I'm....okay, but why are you here?

Blue: Well I did say I would see you later

Pyrrha: [Giggles] Yes you did, but that doesn't clear things up

Blue: Oh right, well I saw that you weren't in a good mood, especially with what Jaune said.

Pyrrha: You heard all of that?

Blue: Yeah and all I can say is....wait on Jaune, he will come around

Pyrrha: How are you sure?

Blue: Pyrrha, I've seen many students and interacted with them as a Peacekeeper. I knew of many problems and tried to help them, there were a few students similar to Jaune who didn't believe that they belonged here.

Pyrrha: Did they fake their-?

Blue: Nope, Jaune is the first. But despite that one difference, he can still be like them and achieve great things in Beacon, he just has to stop being a....whiny idiot

Pyrrha: That's a bit harsh

Blue: But the truth, now follow me, let's talk a bit about your achievements

Pyrrha: You want to know more about me?

Blue: Why not? You're well known and I saw one of your fights in those tournaments, it was very good

Pyrrha: Hmmm...okay!

Blue wraps his arm around Pyrrha's shoulder and guides her away as they talk for a few minutes before Pyrrha went back to her dorm.
_______________________

[A Few Days Later]

Another day ends as night befalls the world of Remnant, and its academy, Beacon, was the centre of attention as always. The scene goes over to the student dorms, but it wasn't with Team RWBY like usual.

This time it was Team JNPR getting the spotlight, Pyrrha was looking out of the dorm window, in a sad mood. Ren was loading StormFlower while Nora was jumping on her, then, her mind goes over to her absent leader.

Nora: How come Jaune gets home so late?

Ren: He's become rather scarce since he started fraternising with Cardin.

Nora: That's weird.....doesn't he know we have a field trip tomorrow? We need our rest!

Pyrrha: I'm sure our leader knows exactly what he's doing.

Nora and Ren noticed the aggression in Pyrrha's voice, as they exchanged glances at her anger. The three of them had no idea that Jaune himself was looking in through the crack of the door.

Pyrrha didn't want to be angry as Blue had taught her to not hold in this rage, but she couldn't help it as Jaune was her partner and leader.

Yet he disregarded her help and shunned her away.

Nora: Mmmm... I guess so.

Jaune hangs his head and closes the door, just as a voice interrupts his thoughts.

Ruby: Hey, Jaune!

Startled, Jaune turns around to see Ruby in her pajamas, she giggles at his reaction, wondering what he was doing here.

Ruby: Long time, no see! Did you lock yourself out again?

Jaune: Oh, uh, nope! (Shows Scroll) Got it!

Ruby: So! Where have you been lately?

Jaune: I, uh....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.

Jaune presses his back to his team's door and slides down to the floor in depression.

Jaune: I'm a failure.

Ruby: Nope!

Jaune: 'Nope?'

Ruby: Nope! 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:........Nope!

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

Ruby: Nope! Jaune, maybe you were a failure when you were a kid....

Jaune groans and sinks lower to the ground.

Ruby:.....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.

She gets up and places her hands on her hips as she speaks.

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

She walks over to her door and opens it as Jaune, now slightly inspired by her words, watches her wave.

Ruby: Have a good night, Jaune!

Ruby goes inside of her dorm, and with new energy, Jaune pushes himself off the ground and faces the door, ready to turn the knob and face his team.

But then, his Scroll beeps and he pulls it off of his side to open it, seeing Cardin's scroll relaying a message.

Cardin: Hey! It's your buddy Cardin! I know you're probably busy with that Dust project I gave you, buuuut I'm gonna need you to go out and get me a bag of Rapier Wasps. And make sure they've got some really big stingers! It's important, so don't screw this up!

Jaune closes his Scroll just when it begins to beep again. Sighing, he wearily heads down the hallway and away from his room.
_______________________

An overhead shot of a forest bustling with red leaves and gray trunks is seen as the camera descends and shows Glynda and Blue leading teams RWBY, JNPR, and CRDL through the area.

Glynda: Yes, students, the forest of Forever Fall is indeed beautiful. But we are not here to sight-see. Professor Peach has asked all of you to collect samples from the trees deep inside this forest, myself and Mr Light here will make sure none of you die while doing so.

Blue: If you find yourself getting attacked, scream out "They're Jumping Me!"

This got a laugh out of everyone except for CRDL. Glynda rolls her eyes but looks at Blue with a soft smile.

Glynda: While I believe that isn't the right course of action, it is.....acceptable

Blue: Hah

The group stop walking, then Jaune, grunting and carrying a large case with six empty glass jars on top, tries to catch up with them and ends up bumping into Cardin. The bully scowls at Jaune, who attempts to feign innocence by whistling tunelessly.

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

While Yang and her sister smile at one another, Jaune attempts to sneak away from Cardin to his team, but the blackmailer sees this and grabs Jaune by the back.

Cardin: Come on, buddy, let's go!

Blue sees how Jaune miserably looked and sighs, Nora and Ren are already walking into the forest's depths and Pyrrha is staring sadly at the scene.

Dropping his gaze, Jaune turns and follows CRDL, to the disappointment of a sighing Pyrrha before she continues on.

Blue pats Pyrrha on the shoulder and gives her a reassuring smile. She smiles back and rejoins her team while Blue overlooks Team RWBY and JNPR. He would watch over CRDL, but he has a feeling that he shouldn't until things get really bad.

Speaking of Team CRDL, they were making themselves as comfortable as possible by leaning on stones, trees, and the ground while Jaune returns to the group with six full jars, setting them down just as he collapses face-down. The surrounding team gets up in response.

Cardin: Hey, great work, Jauney boy! Now that wasn't too hard, was it?

Jaune: I think I'm allergic to this stuff...

Cardin: Greeeeat, great, great. So, Jaune, I bet you're asking yourself, 'Why did my buddy Cardin ask me to collect six jars of tree sap when there's only five of us?'

Jaune: That is one of the many questions I have asked myself today, yes.

Cardin: Well, come with me, and you'll find out.

Jaune gulps in worry, he was now perched on a hilltop overlooking the other students.

Team CRDL, plus Jaune, who squeezed his way between Cardin and Russel Thrush, peaks his head over the crest and watches as everyone is retrieving their samples of sap.

Ren was kneeling to collect it from a tree, then he passes a full jar to Nora, who was delighted at the gift as Ren trades it for the other jar in her care.

He turns back to the tree and starts filling it up while several licking sounds are heard off-screen until the camera pans back to Nora.

She had an embarrassed smile covered in red and an empty jar in her hands. With RWBY, their fearless leader was doing her best to not eat her jar of sap. Weiss was making sure that she didn't and when Ruby resisted against her, she turns to Blue.

Weiss: Blue! Can you help me with this dolt?

Ruby: Hey!

Blue: Haha, Ruby, you know you can't eat it. Otherwise Glynda will shout at you

Ruby: But Nora's doing the same!

Blue: And I'll have a word with her as well

Yang: Aww come on Blue, just a bit! I already tried it and it's soooo nice

Blue: Hmmm

Blake: It is really sweet, you should try it

Weiss: Yang! Blue is a well respected boy who strives for order and-!

Blue: [Tastes Sap] Hey! This is pretty good!

Weiss: Eh?

Yang: I told you!

Blue: Alright, Ruby, you can have a taste!

Weiss: Blue!

Blue: What? You can have some as well, free bites.

Weiss: W-Well if you insist

Weiss joins her team and has a little taste of the sap, finding it to be addictive before finishing her jar completely. The others were surprised and once Weiss realised that they were staring, her face turned red in embarrassment.

Weiss: What?! I-It's good!

Blue: We know but uhh....that was quick, Weiss

Yang: That's what she said~

Weiss and Blake had massive blushes on their faces, while Blue and Ruby were left confused.

Weiss: [Blushes Harder] YANG!

Blake: [Blushes Lightly] Did you have to?

Yang: Yes!

Ruby: Who said what now?

Blue: I don't know, who is "she" and what did she say?

Yang:.....You know, I expected this from Ruby, but not you Blue

Blue: What? Was I meant to understand?

Yang: Yes, I can tell you if you want~

Weiss: Absolutely not! You aren't going to teach him something crude!

Yang: Hey! He is the same age as us! Why do you want him to be clueless anyways?

Weiss: Because it makes him cute!

Yang: Cute yeah?~

Weiss: N-Not like that!

Blake: I think you shouldn't say anything, Weiss

Ruby: I'm still confused on who "she" is.

Blue: I guess we'll never know

Back with Jaune, he was confused and slightly worried for what Cardin had planned, especially when he notices that anger in Cardin's face.

Jaune: Cardin, wh-what's going on?

Cardin: Payback.

Jaune: Pyrrha...?

Cardin was eyeing Pyrrha as both him and Jaune watch her gather more sap from a tree.

Jaune: Wh-what are you-?

Cardin: That's the girl. Red-haired know-it-all, thinks she's so smart. Alright, boys...

Cardin pulls out a buzzing cardboard box with a large "W" written on its sides.

Cardin: Last night, old Jaune here managed to round up an entire box of Rapier Wasps, and now, we're gonna put him to work.

Russel grabs Jaune by the shoulder, who barely laughs in nervousness.

Cardin: Now, according to one of the essays you wrote for me last week, these nasty things loooove sweets. I'm thinking it's time we teach her a thing or two.

The members of CRDL get up. Cardin offers his hand to Jaune, only to painfully yank him up on his feet and shove the jar into his grasp.

Cardin: And you're gonna do it.

Jaune: Do what?

Cardin: Hit her with the sap! Either that, or I'll have a chat with Goodwitch, and you'll be on the first airship out of Beacon.

Jaune: B-But what about Blue? He's not going to like this!

Cardin: Do you think I care? He is a nobody! He probably wasn't good enough to be a student! And look! He is with her right now! It's two birds with one stone!

Jaune looks down at the jar of sap in his hands and then up at the four grinning teammates waiting to see what happens.

Jaune turns towards the group and aims his throw at an oblivious and smiling Pyrrha who was talking to Blue. Jaune was trying to steel his nerves and shaking hand to do the deed, but ultimately steels himself for what he's about to do.

But then, Jaune could see that Blue was looking at Jaune out of his peripheral version. It was a stern look of "Do what you know you need to do", and Jaune understood the assignment.

Jaune: No.

Cardin: What did you say?

Jaune: I said....NO!

He turns and throws the jar at Cardin, instantly recoiling his hands to himself as he looks at Cardin's breastplate covered in sap. The other team leader, however, just looks at himself and laughs darkly.

Cardin: Oh, you've done it now...

Jaune humorously laughs to himself once more with his hands still raised in an attempt for defense as Dove Bronzewing and Sky Lark grab Jaune's shoulders and pull him in.
______________________________

Pyrrha: [Sighs]

Blue: You okay?

Pyrrha: No, I'm worried about Jaune

Blue: I know, but I trust that he will be okay and make the right decision.

Pyrrha: What makes you say that?

Blue: [Looks At Jaune] I have a feeling, that's all

Pyrrha: You know, sometimes you're never clear, are you?

Blue: It's a little thing I call....Trust The Process

Pyrrha: Trust The Process?

Blue: Yeah, people are confused by this, when they should just....let things play out. This is especially a thing when I'm doing something and I'm not trusted with it

Pyrrha: Is that why you're so successful with your actions

Blue: Most of the time, yes. I can still make mistakes, but that's normal

Pyrrha: Have you made mistakes before?

Blue:........Yeah, I have

Back with Jaune, he was getting pushed to the ground of Forever Fall right after his change of mind, he groans and looks up to see a sap-covered Cardin looming over him.

The bigger warrior picks Jaune up by his front and grins while punching him back to the ground.

Cardin: You know that wasn't very smart, Jauney boy.

He picks up a bruised Jaune again while the rest of Team CRDL watches.

Cardin: I'm gonna make sure they send you back to Mommy in teeny tiny pieces.

Jaune: I don't care what you do to me....but you are not messing with my team.

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

Jaune smiles in defiance, so an enraged Cardin roars and raises his fist again, but just as the hit connects, a bright light shines from Jaune.

When the white fades from the screen, Cardin is crying out in pain as he holds his hand. Jaune, now back on the ground but completely healed, looks confusedly at his hands as they faintly glow white.

While he stares, though, Sky Lark kicks Jaune in the back and gets him on his stomach, but he looks up and glares at the approaching Cardin.

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

Just as he says this, a low growl is heard, and a surprised Team CRDL turns around and sees a large paw crash onto the scene, belonging to a huge Ursa Major with dozens of jagged spikes sticking out from its wide back.

It leaps forward and stands over the terrified students, lifting its head in the air to smell the sap on Cardin's breastplate. It lands back on its forelegs and roars at Cardin while his teammates heroically flee.

Russel: That's a big Ursa!

Cardin is rooted to the spot when the Grimm swings its claws and knocks him sideways, revealing Jaune cowering behind him. The Ursa continues to sniff, uninterested in Jaune and following its nose to Cardin.

He watches at it towers over Cardin, who gets his wits and pulls out his weapon, the Executioner only for the monster to swipe it away to Jaune's feet. He looks conflicted, wondering whether to fight or run away.

Meanwhile, the roar of the giant Ursa is heard by the members of Teams RWBY and JNPR, still collecting sap on the other side of the forest.

Ruby: Did you guys hear that?

Blue: Yeah, sounds like an Ursa. Could even be a Major one

Blake: You think so?

Blue: Absolutely

Suddenly, the remaining members of Team CRDL are seen running the other way from the roar through the other students.

Russel: Ursa! Ursa!

Yang: What?!

Russel runs into Yang, completely unfazed by his collision as she picks him up by the front of his shirt.

Yang: Where?

Russel: Back there! It's got Cardin!

Pyrrha: Jaune!

Ruby: Yang! You and Blake, go get Professor Goodwitch!

Yang drops Russel, and with Blake, they nod before following the orders.

Pyrrha: You two, go with them! There could be more!

She looks at Nora and Ren as they listen to her command, Blue was already gone and went towards the action.

At the scene, 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 come on to the scene and realise what's going on.

Pyrrha: Oh, no!

They watch as the Ursa leans over the helpless victim, raising its paw and swiping it down....only to be blocked by Jaune's shield, Crocea Mors.

He struggles to defend a stunned Cardin from its attempts to lean on him, but Weiss lifts Myrtenaster as she prepares to go help.

Pyrrha: Wait!

Jaune takes the shield out from the Ursa's paw and allows an oncoming kick from Blue to connect with the stomach of the Ursa, knocking it back.

Blue: Alright, time to-!

Jaune: Actually Blue, I want to fight it

Blue: With me?

Jaune: No, I can do this, myself

Blue: You sure?

Jaune: Yeah, trust me on this

Blue:......Okay then, do a good job on it

Blue takes a few steps back and allows Jaune to have his moment. The Ursa is up and gets ready to smash Jaune, but the young warrior rolls out of the way and jumps over its swipe at his feet.

But then, he is unprepared for when it launches a claw at him in midair. He lands far away, yet is immediately back on his feet and passing 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.

As they are just about to clash in slow-motion, Pyrrha sees that Jaune has left himself completely open to the Ursa's attack, and lifts her hand out to him, gathering dark red energy in her arm.

Blue noticed this and remembered when Pyrrha told him about her semblance, which is why he isn't making the decision to intervene.

Just as the Ursa is about to hit him, the glow surrounds Jaune's shield and makes it lift up to block the swipe. Jaune uses the surprise defensive move to lean on the ground, push his shield back up, and swing his blade right through the Ursa's neck.

The head falls to the ground as the body slams onto the ground. Pyrrha's hand stops glowing and she smiles, while Ruby was left surprised.

Ruby: Uhhh....what?

Weiss: How did you...?

Pyrrha: Well, Ruby has her speed, Blue has time, and 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...

Weiss then notices Pyrrha about to leave, but not towards Jaune.

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?

She alks away again as Ruby and Weiss smile to each other in understanding. A bruised Jaune sheathes his weapon before going over to Cardin.

The bully was still covered in sap, he looks up at Jaune as his savior 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 looks intimidated, possibly even apologetic. With his order spoken, Jaune turns and walks away from a frozen Cardin, Blue didn't follow Jaune yet as he turned his attention to Cardin.

Blue: So, have you learnt your lesson?

Cardin: Y-Yeah, I didn't think Jaune had it in him

Blue: Of course he did, he's always had it in him, but he just didn't realise it. You always have what it takes, Cardin.

Cardin: I do? Y-You really think so?

Blue: Yeah, you just got to sort yourself out. You're a bully, and a racist. We all bleed the same, we were all born into this world for our purposes, so don't make yours a bad thing, make it a good one

Cardin: I-I will

Blue: Good, now come on before they leave us

Blue leads Cardin back to the others as they return to Beacon. Later that night, on top of the dorm building, a uniformed Jaune stands on the edge and looks into the distance at the green lights of Beacon.

He doesn't realise Pyrrha walking to his side.

Pyrrha: No Cardin tonight? I thought you two were best buds?

Jaune: Pyrrha....I'm sorry. I was a jerk! You were only trying to be nice, and...I had all this stupid macho stuff in my head-

Pyrrha: Jaune! It's okay! Your team really misses their leader, you know. You should come down! Ren made pancakes! No syrup, though, you can thank Nora for that!

Jaune: Wait!

Pyrrha turns around, and Jaune looks sheepish.

Jaune: I know I don't deserve it after all that happened, but...would you still be willing to help me....to help me become a better fighter?

Pyrrha turns around so a worried Jaune won't see her satisfied smile. She goes up to Jaune and suddenly pushes her leader to the ground.

Jaune: Hey!

Pyrrha: Your stance is all wrong. You need to be wider and lower to the ground.

She offers him her hand, which he graciously accepts, and they continue to hold on to and grin at each other.

Pyrrha: Let's try that again

The two continue to train as Blue watches from a tree, hidden from plain sight. He had a smile on his face since Jaune really changed, and he could see why Ozpin allowed him to stay.

Blue: Ozpin, you sneaky man

Blue decides to head to bed, he needed to catch some sleep and knew that Glynda would shout at him for over working himself.

But that's the job he took.