The next day, Glynda leads a group consisting of Team RWBY, Team JNPR, Team AJMK and Team CRDL through Forever Fall.

"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, and I'm here to make sure none of you die while doing so." Glynda spoke to the group.

The group stops, and 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.

"Each of you is to gather one jar's worth of red sap." Glynda said instructing her group, and holding up a full jar of their objective. "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 (noisily) sneak away from Cardin to his team, but the blackmailer sees this and grabs Jaune by the back.

"Come on, buddy - let's go!"

Jaune miserably looks up at his team, where 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.

Team CRDL is 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.

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

Jaune still on the ground, cross-eyed and sounding dizzy. "I think I'm allergic to this stuff..."

Cardin gets up and walks towards Jaune, "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 nods, but still exhausted. "That is one of the many questions I have asked myself today, yes."

"Well, come with me, and you'll find out." Cardin said as Jaune sat up.

Jaune moans and gulps in worry.

Now perched on a hilltop overlooking the other students, team CRDL - plus Jaune, squeezed between Cardin and Russel - peak their heads over the crest and watch as everyone is retrieving their samples of sap. Ren, kneeling to collect it from a tree, passes a full jar to Nora, who "Mmmm!"s 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 until we see Nora, now with an embarrassed smile covered in red and an empty jar in her hands.

Jaune turns to his left. "Cardin, wh-what's going on?"

Cardin still staring at the unsuspecting group sharply, mainly Anthony and Pyrrha. "Payback."

Jaune widens his eyes in understanding. "Pyrrha and... Anthony...?" He watches the two gather more sap from a tree. "Wh-what are you-?"

Cardin pounds his fist on the ground, "That's the girl and the Faunus-lovin' asshole. Red-haired know-it-all, thinks she's so smart. And that weird hairstyle bastard, giving me a month of detention and paranoia. He's not that midget David, but he'll do. Alright, boys..." He pulls out a buzzing cardboard box with a large "W" written on its sides. "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.

"Now, according to one of the essays you wrote for me last week, these nasty things loooove sweets." Pyrrha is seen finishing her sap collection while Anthony is seen doing another jar. "I'm thinking it's time we teach those two 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. "And you're gonna do it."

Jaune blinked, "Do what?"

"Hit them with the sap!" Cardin then leans in close to Jaune's face. "Either that, or I'll have a chat with Goodwitch, and you'll be on the first airship out of Beacon."

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, trying to steel his nerves and shaking hand to do the deed, but ultimately steels himself for what he's about to do.

"No."

Cardin blinked in surprise, "What did you say?"

Jaune grips the jar tightly, "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. "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 and Sky grab Jaune's shoulders and pull him in so his terrified eyes.

Cardin begins to been viciously beating Jaune up.

Jaune groans as he looks up and sees 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.

"You know that wasn't very smart, Jauney boy." He picks up a bruised Jaune again while the rest of Team CRDL watches. "I'm gonna make sure they send you back to mommy in teeny tiny pieces."

"I don't care what you do to me..." Jaune said while his head is hanging back as he looks at Cardin with fury. "... but you are not messing with my team."

Cardin looks momentarily shocked, "What? You think talk like that makes you tough? You think you're a big strong man now?"

Jaune smiles in defiance. An enraged Cardin roars and raises his fist again, but just as the hit connects, a bright light shines from Jaune, and 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 kicks Jaune in the back and gets him on his stomach, but he looks up and glares at the approaching 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.

"That's a big Ursa!" Russel cried out loud.

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 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, AJMK, and the rest of JNPR, still collecting sap on the other side of the forest.

Ruby gets up, concerned. "Did you guys hear that?"

Jason nodded, "Yeah, sounded like a—"

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

"Ursa! Ursa!" Russel shouted while looking back but he runs into Yang accidentally.

Weiss blinked at this, "Monty Oum Yang, what do you eat?"

Yang looked at Weiss as she was completely unfazed by the collision. "Lots of carbs. Also, what?!" "She picks up Russel by the front of his shirt. "Where?"

Russel struggles and still running in air, but points back from where they came. "Back there! It's got Cardin!"

Karma just rolls her eyes, "Oh no. Anyway..."

Mina was shocked at what Karma muttered, but then remembered it was Cardin.

Pyrrha drops her jar of sap, "Jaune!"

Karma and Mina is now shocked and now remembered that Jaune was with Cardin. "Oh shit!"

Ruby going into leader mode starts giving orders, "Yang! You and Blake, go get Professor Goodwitch!" Yang drops Russel, as she and Blake nod before following the orders.

Pyrrha does the same to Ren and Nora as she and Ruby activate their weapons. "You two, go with them! There could be more!"

Jason decided to also do the same with Karma and Mina. "You two, go—and your already doing that." Jason said as the two were already gone. "Fucking great..."

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. "Crap! Crap, crap!"

Pyrrha, Ruby, Jason, and Weiss come on to the scene. "Oh, no!" Said the former.

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 while Jason raises his baseball bat.

"Wait!" Pyrrha instructs the two and Ruby to hold off and let Jaune fight.

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 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 was about to lift her hand out to him. Anthony comes out of nowhere and drop kicks the Ursa at the last second sending it flying a couple of feet.

"Hello there Big Bitch! Ready to fight two on one?" Anthony taunted the Ursa Major while getting in a boxing stance. He glances at Jaune who stared in shock at him, "You broken?"

Jaune shook his head and got back in a fighting stance, "Nah, but thanks for the backup."

Anthony grinned, "No problem! Now let's get this asswipe."

"Yeah!"

The Ursa Major roared in fury, shaking the trees of Forever Fall. It thrashed its massive body, recovering from Anthony's sudden dropkick, before locking its blood-red eyes onto both Jaune and Anthony.

Jaune tightened his grip on Crocea Mors, his knuckles turning white. His heartbeat thundered in his ears. He had never fought anything this big before—at least, not alone. But he wasn't alone.

Anthony stood beside him, bouncing lightly on his feet, his fists raised in a loose but deadly boxer's stance. He had the kind of confidence that made Grimm hesitate. Jaune could feel the weight of that confidence pressing on him, like a silent reminder—

Stay in the fight. You can do this.

The Ursa let out a deafening snarl and lunged forward.

Jaune moved first, dashing forward with his shield raised, intercepting the beast's massive claws. The impact sent vibrations up his arm, but he gritted his teeth and pushed back. His Aura was still flickering in the red, but his body felt lighter.

Stronger.

Anthony capitalized on the moment, slipping under the Ursa's exposed belly and delivering a vicious uppercut to its gut.

BOOM!

The impact lifted the Grimm off its feet for half a second, its thick hide rippling from the force. Jaune saw his opening and slashed upward with his sword, carving a glowing white arc along the beast's underside. The Ursa howled in pain, staggering backward.

Anthony grinned. "Nice! Let's keep up the pressure!"

Jaune gave a determined nod, adrenaline taking over.

The Ursa, enraged, swiped its claws wildly at both of them. Anthony ducked under a massive swing, rolling to the side with incredible speed. Jaune, still not as fast, raised his shield and braced.

THOOM!

The impact sent him skidding backward, boots digging into the dirt. His arms burned from the sheer force, but he held firm.

"Jaune! Hit the legs!" Anthony shouted, already moving.

Jaune reacted without hesitation, rolling forward and slashing at the Ursa's hind legs with all his strength. Sparks of white Aura danced along his blade as he struck true, cutting deep into the Grimm's muscled limbs.

The Ursa roared in pain and dropped to one knee.

Anthony seized the moment.

Dashing forward at a blinding speed, he jumped onto the Ursa's massive arm, running up its shoulder like it was a damn staircase. The beast thrashed, trying to shake him off, but Anthony was already in the air—

Above its head.

His fist raised with raw power as he reeled it back.

Then—

CRACK!

A monstrous haymaker smashed into the Ursa's skull, denting its bone-plated mask. The impact sent a visible shockwave rippling through the air, leaves and debris flying outward. The Ursa let out a shrill, agonized roar before collapsing onto the ground with a massive THUD!

Silence.

Then—

The Ursa twitched once.

And its body began to disintegrate into black mist.

Jaune gasped for breath, his body aching, his arms trembling from exhaustion. He stared at the fading remains of the massive Grimm.

They won.

He won.

Anthony exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "Damn. That was a workout."

Jaune turned to him, chest still heaving. "That... was insane."

Anthony clapped a hand on his shoulder, grinning. "You held your own, Jaune. You did that."

Jaune blinked. The words hit him harder than he expected.

You did that.

Not because of Pyrrha carrying him. Not because of luck. But because he fought back. Because he stood his ground.

He looked down at his hands. The same hands that had once trembled at the thought of a fight.

Not anymore.

Jaune felt his chest tighten—not with fear, but with pride.

A slow smile spread across his face.

For the first time in a long time—

He finally felt like a true Huntsman.

The moment Pyrrha, Ruby, and the others arrived, they saw Jaune standing over the remains of the Ursa, his sword still glowing faintly with Aura.

Pyrrha's eyes widened. "Jaune?"

Weiss blinked. "You... killed it?"

Jason smirked. "With some help, yeah. But he held his own."

Cardin, still sitting on the ground, staring at the fight with wide, fear-filled eyes, could barely process what just happened. The same guy he had been bullying for weeks had just taken down a Grimm that should have killed him.

And he did it without fear.

Jaune turned toward Cardin, expression unreadable.

The bully flinched.

Jaune knew.

He knew that things were never going to be the same.

And neither did Cardin.

The forest was still. The only sound was the distant rustling of leaves and the fading remnants of Grimm essence dissolving into the air.

Jaune exhaled, his body sore, his limbs burning from exertion. But his mind was clear. His heart was steady.

He had won.

Not just against the Ursa Major.

Not just against Cardin.

But against himself.

Jaune wiped his bloody lip with the back of his hand before sheathing Crocea Mors with a satisfying click. He turned, stepping toward Cardin Winchester.

The bully was still sitting on the dirt, covered in tree sap, his face bruised, his hands trembling slightly from both adrenaline and shock.

When Jaune reached him, he extended his hand.

Cardin blinked, looking up at the blonde knight. For the first time, there was no mockery in his expression. No arrogance. No sneer.

Just raw disbelief.

Slowly, hesitantly, Cardin took Jaune's hand.

Jaune pulled him to his feet.

"Holy crap, Jaune..." Cardin muttered, shaking his head. "I—"

Jaune didn't let him finish.

He yanked Cardin forward—hard, until their faces were only inches apart.

Cardin stiffened.

Jaune's grip on his arm tightened like a vice. His voice was low, firm, and dangerous.

"Don't ever fuck with my team—my friends—ever again."

Cardin's breath hitched. His eyes darted to Jaune's—and froze.

Because this Jaune Arc?

This wasn't the same timid, awkward loser he had been bullying since day one.

This wasn't the same guy he had blackmailed and humiliated.

No.

This Jaune Arc was a different beast entirely.

Stronger. Sharper. No longer willing to take shit from anyone.

Jaune stared into Cardin's soul, his voice cold, but absolute.

"Got it?"

For the first time in his life, Cardin Winchester felt true fear.

He couldn't speak. He couldn't even move. His breath was shallow, his hands limp.

Jaune wasn't joking.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Cardin gave a stiff nod.

Jaune held his gaze for a moment longer before releasing him and turning away.

Cardin stayed frozen in place.

Not because of the pain.

Not because of the Ursa.

But because he knew—

Jaune Arc had changed.

And there was no going back.

From a distance, Team RWBY, Team JNPR, Team AJMK, and Team CRDL (minus Cardin) watched in stunned silence.

The shift in power was undeniable.

Weiss adjusted her posture, trying (and failing) to hide the small smirk forming on her lips.

Blake watched, her sharp golden eyes analyzing the situation, recognizing what true confidence looked like.

Yang chuckled. "Holy shit. Our little knight grew some fangs."

Pyrrha...

Pyrrha was proud.

Her hands were clasped together, her emerald eyes glimmering with a mix of relief and admiration. This was the moment Jaune had finally stood on his own two feet.

Mina leaned toward Anthony. "Jaune actually pulled it off."

Anthony smirked. "Told you. The dude just needed to believe in himself."

Jason exhaled. "Cardin's not gonna recover from that one."

Karma grinned. "Good. Bout time someone put that jackass in his place."

Mission Status

✅ Jaune Arc has asserted dominance over Cardin Winchester.
✅ Jaune no longer feels like an outcast.
✅ Cardin is officially broken—mentally, emotionally, and possibly spiritually.
✅ Team RWBY & JNPR have newfound respect for Jaune.
✅ Anthony is taking bets on whether Cardin drops out of Beacon.

And somewhere, in the depths of Jaune's mind, a single thought echoed—

I can do this.

And for the first time in his life...

He believed it.

Beacon Academy – Rooftop of the Dormitory – Night time

The night air was crisp and cool, the stars twinkling above as Jaune stood near the edge of the dormitory rooftop. His uniform neatly buttoned, the Boreal green glow of Beacon's central tower reflecting in his blue eyes.

He had been up here for over an hour, not to mope, not to run away, but to think.

He had changed.

The cowardly, insecure boy that had once stood here was gone.

He wasn't a knight yet.

But he would be.

A familiar voice broke the silence.

"No Cardin tonight?"

Jaune turned, seeing Pyrrha stepping onto the rooftop, her long red hair gently swaying in the wind. Her tone was teasing, but her eyes were warm.

"I thought you two were best buds?"

Jaune sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "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—"

"Jaune!" Pyrrha interrupted, a small laugh escaping her lips. "It's okay."

They stood in comfortable silence, the weight of the past few weeks melting away between them.

Then, Pyrrha tilted her head.

"Your team really misses their leader, you know."

Jaune smiled.

She wasn't wrong.

She began walking away, heading for the door. "You should come down! Ren made pancakes! No syrup, though—you can thank Nora for that."

Jaune chuckled at that, but as she reached the exit, he called out—

"Wait!"

Pyrrha stopped, turning curiously.

Jaune hesitated, scratching his cheek.

"I know I don't deserve it after all that happened, but..." He swallowed his pride, taking a deep breath. "Would you still be willing to help me? To help me become a better fighter?"

Pyrrha's lips curled into a satisfied smile, though Jaune couldn't see it.

Without a word, she turned back and walked toward him.

Before Jaune could react—

WHAM.

Jaune found himself flat on his back, staring up at the sky, a stunned whine escaping him.

"Hey!" he groaned.

Pyrrha stood over him, hands on her hips, her tone evaluating.

"Your stance is all wrong," she said simply. "You need to be wider and lower to the ground."

Jaune blinked.

Pyrrha offered her hand.

For a moment, Jaune simply stared at it.

Then, with a grin, he took it.

She pulled him up, their hands lingering for a moment before they stepped apart.

"Let's try that again," she said, her voice gentle but firm.

Jaune nodded.

This time?

He was ready.

Meanwhile... Ozpin's Office

The clock ticked ominously in Ozpin's dimly lit office.

The headmaster and Professor Goodwitch stood in complete silence, their gazes locked onto a document that had just arrived.

Glynda's sharp green eyes scanned the papers, her expression slowly darkening.

A single look between them was all it took.

Within moments, both of them were striding down the hallways of Beacon Academy—

Heading directly for Team CRDL's dorm room.

Their expressions?

Furious.

Mission Status:

✅ Jaune Arc has reconciled with Pyrrha.
✅ Jaune officially begins training with Pyrrha.
✅ Ozpin & Glynda have been informed of Team CRDL's past crimes.
✅ Beacon's punishment is imminent.

And somewhere in the distance?

Cardin Winchester felt an unexplainable chill crawl up his spine.

Beacon Academy – The Next Morning

The sun had barely risen, yet the air around Beacon Academy was already buzzing with tension.

Students gathered in clusters outside the dormitory, their hushed whispers blending together in confusion and curiosity.

The reason?

Ozpin and Glynda Goodwitch, flanked by armed Vale police officers, were escorting Team CRDL through the courtyard.

Handcuffed.

The expressions on Cardin Winchester, Russel Thrush, Dove Bronzewing, and Sky Lark ranged from shock to anger, but their struggles were futile.

Their uniforms were disheveled, their wrists bound, and their fates sealed.

"Holy shit..." Yang muttered, crossing her arms.

"They're actually getting arrested?" Blake asked, eyes narrowing.

"They deserve it," Pyrrha said coldly, her usual warmth absent.

"But why?" Jaune asked, stepping forward. "What the heck did they do?"

Ozpin, overhearing, stopped walking.

He turned, giving Team RWBY and JNPR a long, measured look.

Then, without a word, he reached into his coat, pulled out the dossier, and flipped to a specific page.

He held it out.

At first, nobody moved.

Then, Ruby stepped forward, followed by Weiss, Blake, and Jaune.

Their eyes scanned the contents.

Their faces paled.

Then—

"HURRK!"

Ruby staggered back, her hands over her mouth, her silver eyes wide in horror.

Weiss, equally pale, turned on her heel and sprinted toward the nearest trash can—

"Oh god—!!"

The sounds of retching filled the courtyard.

Blake clenched her fists, her entire body shaking.

Jaune?

Jaune looked ready to kill someone.

"What the fuck..." he whispered, his voice trembling with rage.

Ren placed a hand on Nora's shoulder as she visibly tensed.

Pyrrha, shaken but composed, took a deep breath. "They're monsters."

Ozpin said nothing.

He simply closed the dossier, his face unreadable, and continued escorting Team CRDL toward the waiting Bullhead.

Standing off to the side, Team AJMK and Team DLVR were far less surprised.

After all, they had read the dossier the night before.

Anthony leaned against a tree, arms crossed. "Good riddance."

David, standing beside him, exhaled through his nose. "I wouldn't have minded getting five minutes alone with them first."

Vincent adjusted his gloves, muttering, "Bastards got what was coming to them."

Lena? She smirked, shaking her head. "Justice takes too damn long sometimes."

Jason looked at Rose, who had an unreadable expression.

"They're lucky the cops got them," she finally said. "Because if we'd gotten to them first?"

She didn't finish.

She didn't need to.

Cardin finally snapped.

"THIS IS BULLSHIT!" he roared, thrashing against the police officers restraining him.

"YOU CAN'T DO THIS!"

"LET US GO, YOU ASSHOLES!"

"I SWEAR, I'LL—"

BAM.

A police baton struck him across the back of the knees, sending him crashing to the floor of the Bullhead.

A harsh voice followed.

"Shut up, Winchester."

The doors slammed shut.

And just like that...

Team CRDL was gone.

Mission Status:

✅ Team CRDL has been officially arrested and removed from Beacon Academy.
✅ Ozpin & Glynda now know the full extent of CRDL's crimes.
✅ Team RWBY & JNPR learn the horrifying truth.
✅ Team AJMK & Team DLVR are satisfied with the outcome.

And somewhere, far away in a high-security Vale prison, four young men were about to learn exactly what happened...

When the monsters they had once been became the prey.