The chapter begins with an overhead view of Emerald Forest, where a black bird is flying slowly and magnificently, right up to the moment it gives a final shriek and Ruby crashes through it in a burst of feathers as she plummets downward.

Ruby: Birdie, no!

Ruby fires off a few rounds from Crescent Rose to slow her down, then turns the weapon into its scythe form to catch the branch of a tree in her blade and fall downward at a slower pace.

Weiss, armed with Myrtenaster, summons a white snowflake circle under her and leaps off of it to the forest below.

Ren descends (with Nora briefly being seen next to him at a faster speed) and spins in the air, eventually using StormFlower's blades to spiral around the trunk of a large tree and hit the ground, brushing off his clothes before looking up to see...

Yang: Woo-hoo! Yeah! Alley-oop!

Yang, soaring right over the treetops, is using her gauntlets and its fiery force to push her through the air further and further north, spinning and laughing with each blast, even when she crashes through the leaves of a tree and leaps off two trunks to tumble to the ground.

Yang: Nailed it! (runs off)

Pyrrha, her weapon in sword form and armed with a shield, crashes through several trees and rolls on a branch, immediately shifting her blade into a rifle and looking through the scope at Jaune as he continues to scream and fall helplessly.

Pyrrha coolly transforms her weapon again to its spear form, takes a moment to evaluate her throw, and rockets the javelin deep into the forest until a "THUNK!" is heard.

Jaune: (In the distance) Thank you!

Pyrrha: (Waving) I'm sorry!

In the middle of the forest, Ruby lands in a crouch, then darts off with a single mantra in her mind.

Ruby: Gotta find Yang! Gotta find Yang, gotta find Yang, gotta find... (shouting) Yang! Yaaaang! (internally, now seeing herself partnered with various people) Oh, this is bad, this is really bad... What if I can't find her? What if someone finds her first?

Time seems to slow down as Ruby skids to a halt in front of Weiss as she is turning to face her. She stops just in time for their eyes to meet, and a pregnant pause follows as the two stare at each other.

Ruby & Weiss: YES!!

The silence is broken as Weiss approached Ruby.

Weiss: (Trying to keep her cool) Looks like we will be partners from here on out

Ruby: (Also trying to keep her cool) It would appear so, yes

Weiss: I look forward to working with you

Ruby: As do I

Weiss: Shall we get moving?

Ruby: We shall

The newly formed duo now continued onward through the Emerald Forest.

Weiss: Excellent, I have Ruby om my team. All I need now is her and sister and Pyrrha, and together, we will be -

As they walked through the forest, pushing forestry out of the way, the duo stopped when they heard a voice coming from above them.

Jaune: (Apparently struggling to free himself) Come on, come on! Stupid...!

The duo see Jaune hanging a few feet in the air by the spear embedded in his hood and the tree behind him. As he gives up trying to pull it out, he looks down and sees the duo, giving an embarrassed wave.

Ruby: (To Weiss) Should we help him?

Weiss simply walked on ahead, ignoring Jaune completely.

Ruby: W-Wait for me! (To Jaune) Sorry!

She quickly followed after Weiss, leaving Jaune hanging.

Jaune: (Seeing the scene and waving his arms) Wait! Come back! Who's going to get me down from here?!

Pyrrha: (Below) Jaune? (he looks down at his saviour) do you... have any spots left on your team?

Jaune: (Crossing his arms) Very funny...

He eventually looks down at her and gives a smile, which she returns.

...

...

...

The scene changes to Ruby walking through the forest, with Weiss back a ways behind her. The heiress staring at Ruby as she thought back to what happened in the ballroom the previous night.

Weiss: Should I confront her about what I saw? I know it's none of my business, but...

She blushed, remembering the lewd things Ruby did with another girl.

Weiss: Oh gosh...

Ruby: Are you okay, Weiss?

Weiss: Huh?

Weiss stopped in her tracks, seeing that Ruby was now looking back at her, a worried expression on her face.

Ruby: You okay? You've gone really quiet, is something wrong?

Weiss: U-Uh... well...

The heiress gripped her arm and rubbed it nervously. Ruby simply tilted her head in confusion and concern.

Weiss: Y-You see, Ruby... I wanted to talk about - I know this probably a sudden question to ask out of nowhere - what I'm trying to saying is - *sighs* Ruby, I saw what happened between you and -

Weiss cut herself off when she looked back at Ruby, and saw Ruby had disappeared in a shower of rose petals, which Weiss began looking around as she hears crackling and rustling in the bushes around her.

Weiss: (Calling out to Ruby) Ruby? Where did you go?! (silence, save more noises) Ruby? This isn't funny, please stop thos at once!

The forest darkens, forcing Weiss to lean in to try and find her new partner as a pair of red eyes are seen glaring behind her.

Weiss: Ruby...?

Weiss looked around as multiple pairs of red eyes stare at her from the bushes, and a deep growl is heard.

She turns around until she spots a large, jagged Beowolf emerging from a bush and approaching her.

Weiss: Ruby!

...

...

...

In another section of the Emerald Forest, Yang was trudging through it alone. Calling out to anyone who was nearby to hear her.

Yang: (calling out) Helloooooooo? (not seeing a shadow quickly pass by) Is anyone out there? Helloooo? (stops and raises her arms) I'm getting bored here! (Hears a rustling in the bushes behind her and turns) Is someone there?

The rustling continues as Yang comes over and peaks inside.

Yang: Ruby, is that you?

A low, inhuman growl is heard, and Yang's head rises up as she stares at the creature.

Yang: Nope!

Yang quickly rolls to the side as an Ursa charges out of the green. She gets up and activates her Ember Celica, staring at the monster before another Ursa runs out behind her.

She leaps over it, and its companion runs at her again, only to get knocked back by a fiery punch. The other Ursa and Yang charge at each other, and Yang manages to get under it and deliver several punches and a kick to send the creature back.

Yang: You guys wouldn't happen to have seen a girl in a red hood, would you? (the Ursai merely growl at her) You could just say "no"

One of the Ursai stands on its legs and swipes at her twice, Yang barely dodging the attacks.

Yang: (Laughing) Geeeez, you two couldn't hit the broad side of a ba...

Before she can complete her insult, a single strand of her golden hair falls in front of her face and lands on the forest floor.

Yang: You...

She closes her violet eyes, then opens them to reveal red, making the Ursai look at each other confusedly before Yang screams.

Yang: You monster!!!

An inferno surrounds Yang for a moment, and she rockets forward, unleashing a devastating combo of flaming hits and blows on the offending Ursa, making it fly through several burning trees. The other monster runs over but stops short at Yang's gaze while a tree falls to the ground behind her.

Yang: What! You want some, too?!

The Ursa rears up and prepares to strike... right when a whirling noise is heard and the monster makes a befuddled noise, falling down a second later to reveal Blake with her Gambol Shroud in the beast's back.

Yang pants in exhaustion while Blake recalls the weapon back to her hand, sheathing it on her back and smiling to the side.

Yang, now purple-eyed again, speaks to her new partner over the smoking remains of the monster.

Yang: I could've taken him

Blake: I bet you could've

Yang: Looks like we'll be partners from now on. You're, Blake, right?

Blake: (Nods) And you're Yang, correct?

Yang: Ya got it (smirks) wanna get moving, partner?

Blake: Thought you'd never ask

With that, the two continued onward through the forest.

...

...

...

Weiss deflects a swipe from a Beowolf with her Myrtenaster and getting pushed back into the middle of the beastly circle. She holds out her sword as she goes through her duelling motions and practices.

Weiss: Remember your training, Weiss. Head up, shoulders back, right foot forward - not that forward! - slow your breathing, wait for the right time to strike, and... (brings her rapier up, the revolver spinning) Now!

Weiss dashes forward with her loaded weapon at the Beowolf in front of her, just when Ruby suddenly appears between the two in a blur of rose petals and a swipe of her Crescent Rose scythe, landing a hit on the monster.

Ruby: Gotcha!

Weiss widens her eyes and screams as she quickly has to stop, swinging the sword in a random direction and creating a line of fire that sets a nearby tree ablaze, followed quickly by the rest of the forest around the clearing.

Ruby, distracted by Weiss' mess-up, is barely defended when the same Beowolf scratches at her weapon, knocking the younger girl into the heiress.

Ruby: Hey, watch it!

Weiss: Excuse me! You attacked out of turn! I could have killed you!

Ruby: You'll have to try a lot harder than that...

The duo wield their arms as the pack of Beowolves whine and growl around them. Ruby reloads her scythe just as a flaming tree falls near them.

Weiss: (Grabbing Ruby's arm) We have to go!

She leads Ruby out of the blaze as it engulfs the grass and sets the Grimm to running back the way they came or suffering in the fire.

Ruby and Weiss stop safe ways from the smoke and flames. Weiss leans over and pants as Ruby looks behind her.

Ruby: What was that?! That should've been easy!

Weiss: Well, perhaps if you had exercised even the slightest amount of caution with the placement of your strikes, I wouldn't have set the forest on fire!

Ruby: *Scoffs* What's that supposed to mean?

Weiss: I'm just surprised someone who is the daughter of the Number One Huntsman would would communicate so little during an encounter!

Ruby: Well, I'm sorry you need my help to win a fight. I'm just fine on my own!

Weiss: Well, congratulations, I thought you would be as good as your father was... but you're not living up to the same greatness that he holds

Ruby's eyes widened when he heard this as Weiss begins to walk off on her partner yet again.

Ruby, with an agitated shriek, unfolds Crescent Rose, slices a tree down to the stump, refolds it back, and follows her partner as the tree crashes behind her.

Neither notice the large dark feather floating onto the fallen trunk behind them.

...

...

...

Meanwhile, across the forest, Pyrrha, armed with Miló and Akoúo̱, and Jaune are making their way through the bushes. Jaune hears a noise far away and turns his head.

Jaune: Did you hear that?

Pyrrha: Gunfire. It seems some of our comrades have encountered the enemy

They keep moving forward, Jaune still staring in the sound's direction as Pyrrha raises a branch to pass by and accidentally releases it right at Jaune's face, flooring him instantly.

Pyrrha: (Looking back behind her) Jaune! I'm sorry!

Jaune: (Laughs, lowering his hand from his cheek to reveal a gash from the wooden recoil) It's okay. Just a scratch! (gets back up when Pyrrha approaches him)

Pyrrha: Why didn't you activate your aura?

Jaune: Huh?

Pyrrha: Your Aura

Jaune: Gesundheit

Pyrrha: Jaune, do you... know what Aura is?

Jaune: (Waves the question off, avoiding eye contact) Psch! Of course I do! Do you know what Aura is?

Pyrrha smiles at him and gets ready to explain as the scene changes to Lie Ren's trek through the forest's tall grass.

Pyrrha (Voice-only): Aura is the manifestation of our soul. It bears our burdens and shields our hearts. Have you ever felt you were being watched without knowing that someone was there?

Jaune (Voice-only): Uh... yeah

Ren stops and narrows his eyes, looking around him while a huge black Grimm serpent rises up from the grass behind him and quickly surrounds him with its large, hissing body. Ren adopts a fighting stance as the snake coils together in front of him and attacks with its long fangs.

Pyrrha: (Back being the focus, walking around Jaune) With practice, our Aura can be our shield. Everyone has it, even animals

Jaune: What about monsters?

Pyrrha: No

Switching back to Ren as he leaps out of the way, the snake's mouth hitting the ground and instantly coming up again to hit a jumping Ren back with its snout.

Pyrrha (Voice-only): The monsters we fight lack a soul. They are creatures of Grimm, the manifestation of anonymity.

Ren lands in a crouch when the serpent encircles him again, and he unleashes his StormFlower before jumping up and firing at the creature.

Pyrrha (Voice-only): They are the darkness, and we are the light.

Jaune (Voice-only): (As Ren kicks the snake's snout and slashes at its head) Right, that's why we fight them!

Pyrrha (Voice-only): It's not about why; it's about knowing

The snake flows around Ren and tries to bite him again, but he flips over it and drives his weapons into its head, pausing a moment without sensing the serpent's white head behind him.

Pyrrha (Voice-only): Understanding dark and light helps us manifest our aura. Everyone has some of both

Ren turns and looks up at the white head as it launches itself at him, dodging it and landing just in time to see the head slither towards him. As it gets closer, he runs at it and leaps onto the black head, sliding over its body and blasting the other head.

Pyrrha (Voice-only): By baring your soul outward as a force, you can deflect harm. All of our tools and equipment are conduits for Aura. You protect yourself and your soul when fighting

Ren is unprepared for the white half to hit him with its head, knocking him off as he drops his weapons and leaving him to merely raise his arms and distantly cry. "No!" to the mouth of the black head.

Jaune: (Opens his eyes with the revelation) It's like a force field!

Pyrrha: Yes, if you want to look at it that way

Ren is now holding the front fangs of the colossal snake in his hands, glowing a faint, pulsating pink as he grips the teeth and yanks them from the monster's mouth, causing it to flail away.

It attempts to bite him again, but Ren spins to the side and stabs a fang into its eye, rotating his arm to deliver a final blow that drives the makeshift weapon into its skull, which ripples, expands, and blows apart in a dark mess as its headless body falls over its fellow creature. Wasting no time, Ren runs right at the white head.

Pyrrha: (Walking up to Jaune and touching the side of his head) Now, close your eyes and concentrate

Jaune: (Complying) Uhh... okay

Pyrrha smiles and closes her own eyes, opening them as her skin glows and her irises shrink before shutting them again. The two stand there, now with Pyrrha glowing a faint red and Jaune a bright white.

Pyrrha: (Mentally speaking) For it is in passing that we achieve immortality. Through this, we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all, infinite in distance and unbound by death. (placing a hand on his chest) I release your soul, and by my shoulder protect thee.

Pyrrha stops glowing red and hunches over in tiredness.

Jaune: (Still glowing, concerned) Pyrrha?

Pyrrha: (Getting back up) It's all right. I used my aura to unlock yours, but the energy that protects you now is your own (grins as she watches the scratch close up and vanish). You have a lot of it

Jaune: (smiling and looking at his hands as the glow stops) Wow...

At the same time, Ren stands atop of the body of his enemy, sliding the weapons into his sleeves and brushing them off before a strange, animal-like noise is heard above him twice. He looks up and meets the upside-down eyes of Nora.

Ren: *Chuckles* I still don't think that's what a sloth sounds like

In response, Nora gives her friend a "Boop!" On the nose, causing him to smile.

...

...

...

Meanwhile, Saviour is watching the students on his Scroll at the Beacon Cliff overlooking the Emerald Forest when Glynda walks up behind him, holding her own tablet.

Glynda: The last pair has been formed, sir (taps the screen to show Superior) Nora Valkyrie 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 and Jaune trek through the woods.

Superior: Mmmm...

Glynda: I don't care what his transcripts say. That Jaune fellow is not ready for this level of combat (deactivates the tablet, walking back a little). I guess we'll find out soon enough. At their current pace, they should reach the temple within just a few minutes. (turning back to Superior) Speaking of which, what did you use as relics this year? (silence) F/N...?

Superior doesn't answer, watching his tablet with a contemplating interest as it shows the footage of Ruby sitting in the grass and picking stray leaves while her "partner" Weiss walks in random directions.

Weiss: (Walking right) It's definitely this way. (stops and starts walking left) I mean... this way! It's definitely this way. (stops in front of Ruby) Alright, it's official: We passed it

Ruby: (Stands up, slightly annoyed) Weiss, why can't you just admit that you have no idea where we're going?

Weiss: Because I know exactly where we're going! We're going... to... the forest temple!

Ruby: (Sighs, frustrated)

Weiss: Oh, stop it! You don't know where we are, either!

Ruby: Well, at least I'm not pretending like I know everything!

Weiss: What is that supposed to mean?

Ruby: It means you're a big, stupid jerk, and I hate you!

Weiss: (Sighs to herself, spinning around and walking in another direction) Just keep moving!

Ruby: (In a faux imitation of Weiss' voice) Oh, just keep moving! Hurry up! Waaaah! Watch where you're going! (in her normal voice) Why are you so bossy?

Weiss: (Turning back around to face Ruby) 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... but I'm still leagues better than you (continues to walk away)

Ruby: (To herself, dejectedly) You don't even know me...

...

...

...

From the forest, Yang and Blake 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.

Yang: Think this is it?

In response, Blake gives Yang an incredulous look and heads down the hill, her partner following. They walk across the floor and observe the items on each pedestal, now shown to be familiar shapes.

Blake: (Looking at a black king, confused) Chess pieces?

Yang looked over at Blake, seeing that she had bend over to inspect the chess piece. Yang's eyes immediately locked onto Blake's fat, bubbly butt. A smirk forming on her face.

Yang: (Staring at Blakes ass) Some of them are missing. Looks like we weren't the first ones here

Blake: Well, I guess we should pick one, huh?

Blake stood back up straight and looked over at Yang, seeing the blonde bombshell quickly look away from her. Blake tilted her head in confusion.

...

...

...

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.

Jaune: Think this is it?

The scene cuts to their walk inside the cave, Jaune holding a short, burning torch to light their way.

Pyrrha: I'm not sure this is it

Jaune: *Sighs* Pyrrha, I made the torch. Could you at least humour me for, like, five more feet?

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 in darkness with only their eyes visible.

Pyrrha: (As Jaune gets up and grumbles) Do you... feel that?

Jaune: Soul-crushing regret?

Pyrrha: No, it's... warm

...

...

...

Back at the temple, Yang approaches one of the relics.

Yang: Hmmmm... (studies the golden knight, then picks it up and shows it to Blake) How about a cute little pony?

Blake: (Smirks) Sure

They walk towards each other to the centre of the temple floor.

Yang: That wasn't too hard!

Blake: Well, it's not like this place is very difficult to find

The two share a smile after that.

...

...

...

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.

Jaune: That's the relic!

He slowly reaches out to grab it, but it moves away from his swipe.

Jaune: Hey! Bad... relic!

He tries to get it again, then jumps forward and hangs onto it as the object raises him above the ground.

Jaune: Gotcha!

Pyrrha: (Worried) Jaune...?

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

...

...

...

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

Yang: Some girl's in trouble! Blake, did you hear that?

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 from help and continuing to scream.

Jaune: (Sobbing) Help! Whoa-ah-ah-ah-ah! Why?! Pyrrha! He-e-e-elp! Pyrrha, this is not the relic! It's not! (continues to cry and get shaken around) Do something!

Pyrrha: (Wielding Miló 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.

Pyrrha: ... Go

She 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.

...

...

...

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

Yang: Blake, did you hear that? (turns to her partner) What should we do?

Finally, the faint-but-growing-louder scream of "Heads uuuuuuuup!" is heard when Ruby falls from the sky.

...

...

...

Weiss and Ruby are hanging on to something very feathery and very fast, as evidenced by the loud wind and the two being blown sideways.

Weiss: (Shouting to be heard) Ruby! I told you this was a terrible idea!

Ruby: (Also raising her voice) We're fine! Stop worrying!

Weiss: I am so far beyond worrying!

Ruby: In a good way?

Weiss: In a bad way! In a very bad way!

Ruby: Well, why don't we just jump?

Weiss: What are you? Insane?!

She is met with silence; Ruby has already disappeared.

Weiss: Oh, you insufferable little red -!

...

...

...

Down on the ground in the Abandoned Temple, Blake is still staring skyward and pointing for Yang to look up.

Yang: Blake, did you hear that? What should we do?

Ruby: (Falling right towards them, finally getting Yang's attention) Heads uuuuuuuup!

Just as she's about to hit the ground panicking, Jaune Arc comes flying through the air and crashes into Ruby, knocking her off course and sending them both into a tree to the left of where Blake and Yang are standing.

Ruby is dazed by the rough landing (as evidenced by the cutesy Beowolves and stars circling her head).

Ruby: Oohhhh... what was that?

The dizziness passes when she shakes her head.

Jaune: Eh-hem!

Ruby looks up to see Jaune hanging upside-down in a tree branch above her.

Jaune: Hey, Ruby...

Blake: (Back on the ground, looking at the tree) Did your sister just fall from the sky?

Yang: I...

Before she can continue, several crashing noises are heard in the forest ahead of them, and an Ursa comes out, claws swiping, just as a pink blast of energy hits it in the back and it crashes to the ground, depositing its rider.

Nora: YEEEE-HAAAAW! (rolls off of the creature's back, then gets up and groans, saddened) Awwww... It's broken

She dashes onto its neck and observes the carcass as Ren comes up behind her.

Ren: (Panting and leaning on the monster) Nora! Please... don't ever do that again

He looks up again and notices by the pink dotted outline of where his partner should be that Nora has run off again and looks around frantically.

Nora: (Now in the Temple, staring at a golden rook relic) Oooohh...

She suddenly grabs it, an animation of stars and her hammer symbol playing in the pink background as she dances and sings with the chess piece.

Nora: I'm queen of the castle! I'm queen of the castle!

Ren (Voice-only): Nora!

Nora: (Stops dancing with the rook on her head, then salutes, dropping the relic into her hand) Coming, Ren! (skips off to her friend)

Blake: Did that girl just ride in on an Ursa?

Yang: I...

She is interrupted once more as a screech is heard from their right, and Pyrrha comes onto the scene as the scorpion creature uproots entire trees in its chase after her. Pyrrha narrowly dodges its giant claws and keeps on running.

Pyrrha: Jaune!

Jaune: Pyrrha!

Ruby: (Standing up, looking at the monster below) Whoa!

She starts running off of the branch and landing in a roll.

Jaune: (Whining) Ruby!

Yang: (Ruby stands up, back on the ground) Ruby!

Ruby: (Excited) Yang!

Ruby raises her arms as if to give her sister a hug.

Nora: Nora!

Nora comes between the two and knocking them off-balance in surprise.

The scorpion Grimm continues to follow Pyrrha as she runs.

Blake: Did she just run all the way here with a Death Stalker on her tail?

Yang: (Getting angrier until she growls and erupts in a small burst of fire, eyes flashing red) I can't take it anymore! Can everyone just chill out for two seconds before something crazy happens again?!

The tick-tock of a clock counts down the two seconds of Yang cooling down, Ren running over to a ditzy Nora, and Blake and Ruby looking up.

Ruby: Umm... Yang? (tugs on her sister's sleeve and points)

Up above, Weiss is revealed to be hanging on a talon the size of her entire body that belongs to a gigantic Nevermore.

Weiss: (Calling down to Ruby) How could you leave me?!

Ruby: (Shouting up at Weiss) I said "jump"!

Blake: She's gonna fall

Ruby: She'll be fine

Ren: She's falling

Jaune is finally out of the tree, panting until he looks up and grins at the sight of Weiss falling through the air, giving him the opportunity to jump off the branch with arms outstretched and catch her in a slowed-down moment.

Jaune: (Smiles at Weiss) Just... dropping in?

Weiss is speechless... and Jaune realizes why when they both look down.

Jaune: Oh, God

They hang on to each other wide-eyed as their moment of suspension ends, their weapons flying behind them.

Jaune: Oh, noooooooo- Oomph!

Jaune does a faceplant into the dirt, limbs splayed out, and serves as the perfect landing spot for Weiss as she falls into a seated position on his body.

Weiss: (Mockingly) My hero

Jaune: (Groaning) My back...

The Death Stalker is still hunting Pyrrha, but she manages to land on her side at the feet of the heroes.

Yang: Great! The gang's all here! Now we can die together!

Ruby: Not if I can help it! (sounds a battle cry and rushes towards the Grimm)

Yang: Ruby, wait!

Ruby, still screaming, fires Crescent Rose and charges at the oncoming Death Stalker. When the two meet, the Grimm swipes Ruby away, and she is knocked back.

Ruby: (Getting up slowly) D-Do-Don't worry! It's totally fine!

Ruby turns back to the monster and shoots it in the skull, running away from it and sheathing her scythe as the Death Stalker now goes after her.

Yang: (Running forward) Ruby!

Ruby rushes towards Yang, but the Nevermore caws above them, flapping its wings and releasing lines of sharpened feathers with points that catch on Ruby's shirt and prevent Yang from reaching her.

Yang: Ruby, get out of there!

Ruby: (Struggling with her shirt) I'm trying!

The Death Stalker approaches, raising its golden stinger above a scared Ruby and heading down on the helpless girl.

Yang: (Reaching out in vain) Ruby!

A white blur races past Yang and reaches the stinger just as it's about to pierce her, cutting the scene to black.

Weiss (Voice-only): You are so childish!

Ruby opens her eyes to the sight of the stinger encased in ice and lowers her arms from their futile position over her head as she stares at her saviour.

Ruby: Weiss...?

Weiss: (Continues to berate Ruby as she removes Myrtenaster from the ice) And dim-witted, and hyperactive, and don't even get me started on your fighting style. And I suppose I can be a bit... difficult... but if we're going to do this, we're going to have to do this together. So if you quit trying to show off, I'll be... nicer

Ruby: I'm not trying to show off. I want you to know I can do this! That I can live up to my father's name!

Weiss: You're fine (walks away)

Ruby: (Breathes a sigh of relief, then closes her eyes and clasps her hands as she gratefully whispers:) Superior...

She gets up and stares at the Death Stalker as it struggles to escape with its tail trapped in the ice.

Ruby: Whoa!

Yang rushes up to Ruby and gives her a hug, smushing her face into her chest (which Ruby grunts at upon receiving).

Yang: So happy you're okay!

The two stare at each other for a moment, then look up at the Nevermore still flying overhead and roaring.

Jaune: (Back with the group) Guys? That thing's circling back! What are we gonna do?

Weiss: Look, there's no sense in dilly-dallying. Our objective is right in front of us

The heroes stare at the relics.

Ruby: She's right. Our mission is to grab an artefact and make it back to the Cliffs (nods to Weiss) There's no point in fighting these things

Jaune: Run and live - that's an idea I can get behind!

Ruby goes over and grabs a gold knight (identical to the one Yang picked out), and Jaune takes hold of a gold rook (similar to Nora and Ren's piece), smiling at each other. The Death Stalker continues to fight its bonds, cracking the ice a little in the process.

Ren: Time we left!

Ruby: Right. (waves to the others) Let's go!

She goes forward with everyone following except for a smiling Yang and Blake as the latter approaches her partner.

Blake: What is it?

Yang: (Staring proudly at Ruby as she leaps on a boulder and motions the group onward) Nothing...

She moves on as Blake smiles in realization - possibly towards the audience - and leaves as well.

...

...

...

An overhead shot shows that the group is heading out of the forest and into another abandoned series of structures as the Nevermore follows them from the air.

They spread out when it passes above, concealing themselves behind some of the stone blocks with their allies as it perches on a high column and caws.

Yang: (Annoyed) Well, that's great!

Jaune looks behind at the Death Stalker bursting onto the scene.

Jaune: Ah, man, run!

The group emerges from their hiding spots, causing the Nevermore to rise up into the air.

Ren: Nora, distract it!

Nora obliges, running out from her block and jumping through the feather projectiles before reaching behind her and launching several heart-topped shells from her grenade launcher, bursting into pink electricity when they hit the Nevermore and causing it to retreat.

She is unaware of the Death Stalker rushing up behind her until Blake and Ren perform a cross-slash with their Gambol Shroud and StormFlower against its shell.

Weiss lands next to Nora so she can create a jumping platform beneath them and leap to safety while Blake and Ren are now being chased.

Pyrrha: Go, go!

She stops running beside Jaune and gets out Miló, firing red shots alongside Ren's green blasts for a second until it reaches them and tries to swipe, prompting the group to run again.

The eight race over the ancient stone bridge, not noticing the Nevermore closing in on them until it uses its giant wings to shatter the path right in the middle, forcing Ruby, Weiss, Yang, Nora, and Jaune closer to the central collection of columns and leaving Blake, Ren, and Pyrrha on the other side with the Death Stalker.

Ruby fires at the retreating Nevermore while Blake is beaten back by the scorpion.

Jaune: (Coming to the edge of the break in the bridge) Man, we gotta get over there! They need help!

Nora: (Running up beside him) Let's do this!

Jaune: (Looks down at the misty abyss) Yeah, but, uh... I can't make that jump

Nora smiles diabolically at him, laughing as she knocks him back, turns her weapon to its full-length hammer form, and jumps to the edge of the bridge.

Jaune: (Seeing what she's about to do) Oh, wait! (too late, she slams the hammer into the bridge and throws Jaune to the other side, yelling:) No, no, no!

Nora places one foot on the hammer and fires it off the collapsing section of the bridge, launching her to slam its face right in the centre of the Death Stalker's skull.

She fires it just as the stinger comes down to get her and blasts back again to avoid its reach, accidentally knocking into Blake and making her fall from the edge.

Blake sees the Nevermore above her and launches her whip so the gun's blade sinks into the edge of the bridge, circling around and leaping onto the aerial Grimm's back.

She dashes all over its body, slashing the entire time, before jumping off and landing on the ruined platform at the top of the columns next to Ruby, then going over to Yang and Weiss.

Blake: It's tougher than it looks!

Yang: (Readying her Ember Celica) Then let's hit it with everything we got!

The Nevermore approaching, Ruby, Blake, Weiss, and Yang set their weapons to fire a barrage of blasts at the bird, which it either dodges or takes harmlessly until it crashes through the columns and platform.

The girls leap from one section of falling stone to the next until they reach the higher bridge on top, just below the cliffs.

Weiss: None of this is working!

Ruby: (Watching Blake whip over to another section of the area and Yang firing round after flaming round at the Grimm) I have a plan! Cover me!

She blasts away as Weiss raises her blade and heads into the fray.

Down below, the Death Stalker is still battling Jaune, Ren, Nora, and Pyrrha.

Jaune: We gotta move! (they all rush towards it)

The Death Stalker aims a claw at Pyrrha, but she deflects it with her Akoúo shield and slashes it with her blade. The scorpion recoils and swipes at her with its other claw, but Jaune is there to deflect it with his shield, knocking it back so Pyrrha can leap over and attack its face.

Ren runs up firing and gets on the stinger when it tries to hit him, shooting at the base between it and the tail while Nora fires more grenades at the attacking claws. Pyrrha hurls her javelin straight into one of the monster's ten eyes, making it throw Ren to the side.

Nora: Ren!

Ren hits the side of a stone block hard and falls to the ground, not getting back up. Jaune, though, manages to stand and notice the stinger is hanging limply.

Jaune: Pyrrha!

Pyrrha: Done!

She raises the shield and hurls it like a discus, slicing the stinger off and causing it to fall into the Death Stalker's head as Pyrrha retrieves her shield.

Jaune: Nora, nail it!

Nora: Heads up!

She jumps on Akoúo, Pyrrha leaps as Nora aims her blast down to give herself a maximum lift, and she smiles the entire way up before twirling down until her hammer slams its head into the stinger, driving the point through the Death Stalker's head and crushing the bridge beneath it.

Jaune and Pyrrha bound over the monster to the land behind it, and Nora fires up and away behind them as the monster falls to its doom.

Jaune hits the ground on his back, Nora lands on her bottom, Pyrrha manages a crouched pose, and Ren simply walks over to them, panting and groaning until he just collapses.

The other three get up and watch as the Nevermore is peppered with firepower.

Yang is still burning through her ammo on the beast, landing a blow at its face and causing it to head right towards her, but she leaps for its open maw and forces the beak wide as she attacks.

Yang: (Screaming and firing a round with each syllable) I! Hope! You're! Hung-! ...-gry!

She looks behind her and jumps back from its mouth onto a ruin, causing the creature to crash into the cliffs.

Despite Yang's attempts, the Nevermore recovers quickly, and Yang smiles as she spots Ruby and Blake on the broken columns with Weiss rushing to the battle.

Yang passes her while the Nevermore starts to fly back up, but Weiss hops over to the ruin it's lifting off of and freezes the tip of its feathery tail to the ground, leaving it stuck in the same spot despite its flapping.

Weiss back-flips into a snowflake-circle jump and lands on the other side, running to the group.

Blake fires the pistol portion of Gambol Shroud over to Yang, and the two tighten it between the columns so Ruby can jump on the center with Crescent Rose and bend it back into Weiss' black sigil, right next to the caster.

Weiss: Of course you would come up with this idea

Ruby: Think you can make the shot?

Weiss: (Confident) Hmm! You're about to find out, now, aren't you?

Ruby smirks at this and nods before looking forward forward and pumps Crescent Rose as Weiss turns the circle from black to red and releases Ruby at such a speed that the ground behind her launch cracks, rose petals flying from her as With each new shot, she gets closer and closer to the trapped Grimm until her scythe catches the Nevermore's neck in its blade and causes them both to fall to the cliff wall.

Weiss raises her sword and creates a series of white circles up the wall, which Ruby dashes through by firing the entire way up.

Yang, Blake, and an exhausted Weiss watch her climb up with the bird in her grasp until, both warrior and monster crying out, Ruby reaches the top of the cliff, circles up, fires one last shot, and rends the Nevermore's head from its shoulders in a shower of petals.

She lands beside the severed head as the body of the giant Nevermore falls lifeless to the ruins and crevice below while the girls and, farther away, Jaune, Pyrrha, Nora, and Ren watch in amazement.

Jaune: Wow...

Ruby, her cape and petals flowing with the wind, looks down to her friends as they peer up.

Yang: Well... that was a thing!

Ruby continues to smile, looking up, she saw Superior and Glynda looking at her. Superior crossed his arms and smirked while Ruby smiled back at him.

Ruby: Nailed it!

_________________________________________

...

...

...

_________________________________________

Superior: Russel Thrush. Cardin Winchester. Dove Bronzewing. Sky Lark

The screen of the auditorium shows each of their profiles as the boys are lined up for the applauding audience to see as Ozpin continues.

Superior: 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 audience gives one more wave of ovation, while four students walk up to the stage to take their places in front of the Number One Huntsman as their faces fill the screen.

Superior: 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

Amid the clapping, Nora laughs and gives Ren a hug.

Superior: Led by... Jaune Arc!

Jaune: Huh? L-Led by...?

Superior: Congratulations, young man

A grinning Pyrrha offers a friendly shoulder bump to Jaune, but her "fine leader" is knocked over and falls to his butt in front of the laughing audience.

Superior: And finally: Blake Belladonna. Ruby L/N. Weiss Schnee. Yang L/N. (motions over the four as they stand before him) the four of you retrieved the white knight pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as Team RWBY. Led by... Ruby L/N!

Weiss and Blake look at each other, smiling, while Ruby is obviously in shock as Yang goes over to hug her sister.

Yang: I'm so proud of you!

Superior: (Amid the last round of cheers) It looks like things are shaping up to be an... interesting year

F/N looked over at Ruby, seeing her being smothered by Yang while Weiss and Blake patted her back. Ruby looked back at him and grinned happily, tears of joy in her eyes. F/N could only smile back, proud of her.

...

...

...

Now, in Beacon Academy's Student Dormitory, the newly formed Team RWBY were now making their way to their new room.

Yang: Phew, that was one heck of an initiation, huh?

Blake: No kidding...

Weiss: I, for one, can't wait to change and climb into bed

Ruby: Same here. I need my new bed after all that - (something gets her attention) Daddy!

WBY: Huh?

The trio watched as Ruby shot forward, seeing where she was running to. Their eyes widened when they saw Superior, now in his civilian clothing stood outside their dorm room, a book in his hand.

F/N: (Hears the shout) Huh?

Turning his attention away from his book, F/N watched as Ruby latched onto him. His super-strength stopping from being tackled to the ground from Ruby's force.

F/N: *Chuckles* Hey, Rosebud

Yang: Daddy!

Yang quickly followed soon after as F/N was now hugging both of his daughters as they snuggled up to him.

F/N: Hello to you too, Sun Dragon

All the while, Weiss and Blake could only look at F/N in awe, the greatest hunter to ever live standing before them.

Blake: I can't believe it... it's him... wait, Ruby and Yang are his daughters?!

Weiss: You didn't realise that back in the team announcements? But yes, Ruby and Yang are the daughters of Superior himself. Quite amazing, is it not?

Blake: You're telling me...

The two then approached the trio as F/N pulled out of the hug with his daughters as he smiled down at them.

F/N: Just wanted to quickly stop by and tell you personally how proud of you both I am. Especially you, Ruby. Your training as Huntresses will now begin

Both daughters smiled when hearing this.

Weiss: And I have all the faith that your daughter will make a great leader, Mr. Superior, sir

F/N looked at Weiss and Blake, smiling at them.

F/N: Then I leave my daughters in your very capable hands. And please, F/N is just fine out of school hours. Your sister has spoken very highly of you, Weiss

Weiss: Y-You know my sister...?

F/N: And your mother too, we go way back, you see. Saved her life one time, and we've been close ever since

Weiss: I see... I wonder why they never informed me of this?

Blake: Excuse me, uh, F/N...? I couldn't help but notice that book you were reading...

F/N: Hm? Oh! (Shows the book in his hand) My book? Ah, yes. I can imagine you're a "Ninjas of Love" fan, also?

Blake: Very much so!

F/N: Is that so. Well, I know the author personally, so if you wish, I could set up a meeting with him?

Blake: (Excited to hear this) R-Really?! (Calms down, embarrassed) I-I mean, I would really appreciate that...

F/N: (Smiles) Not a problem

Both girls blushed at this while Ruby and Yang giggled at their interaction with him. Already used to this since this is how most women reacted when being so close to their father and interacting with him like this.

F/N: Well, it's time for me to get going. Classes start tomorrow, so you four should get plenty of rest as possible

The four women were disappointed to hear this, not wanting him to leave, but nodded, knowing he was right.

Giving Ruby and Yang a kiss on the forehead, F/N smiled and waved Team RWBY off before walking away down the hall.

Weiss: (Once he was gone) That was quite possibly the greatest moment of my life...

Blake: He likes the same book series as me...

The two women sigh dreamily once saying this, causing Ruby and Yang to giggle.

The new team then entered their new dorm room to sleep for tomorrow.

_________________________________________

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...

...

_________________________________________

The fractured moon shined through a window, providing a view to the outside for a shadowy room filled with shelves and a desk in the back, where a masked woman was getting a call on her phone.

The muffled conversation ends, and the masked woman angrily slams the phone down, sighing. She takes her mask off to reveal Ilia Amitola just as a man in a grey mask, and black jood comes with a trolley.

Ilia: Open it

The masked man does so with a crowbar, revealing a large amount of Dust crystals of varying colours - orange, blue, white, red, green, cyan, gold, and yellow. Ilia picks up a blue gem in her hand and looks at the loot.

Ilia: We're gonna need more men...

The view zooms in on the map above the desk, showing Vale and various districts and areas of crossed-out locations, all leading into a specially-circled place - Beacon.

___________[To Be Continued]___________