Team ARMS Volume 1

Jaune Gets His Courage On-Part 1

In the morning,

Team ARMS's Dorm

Raptor was putting on his favorite cologne, Ash was meditating on his bed, Scarlet was taking a long shower and Markus was reading information about the Vytal Festival on his long scroll.

Mark: The Vytal Festival is an international festival held every two years in one of the Kingdoms of Remnant in celebration of the end of the Great War. During the festival, the various cultures of the world are celebrated with dances, parades and a combat tournament. The host Kingdom of the festival rotates every two years, and the host opens its borders to visitors from the other kingdoms. The tournament rotates which Kingdom it is held in, using the following cycle: Vacuo, Mistral, Vale, Atlas. This year is the 40th Vytal Festival, held in Vale. The Festival has a unique symbol, fittingly consisting of a combination of all four Kingdom's emblems in order to signify unity. A major part of the Vytal Festival is the combat tournament, in which students from the Huntsman Academies compete. Symbolically, the tournament battles represent a reminder to always strive for excellence and never mediocrity. The setting for the combat tournament is Amity Colosseum, a large floating arena or stadium, surrounded by spectator stands. As the Festival grew in scope and size, the stadium was built collaboratively from the resources and contributions of the four Kingdoms, and is capable of traveling across Remnant to each of the Kingdoms, typically heading to the specific Kingdom hosting the tournament. Transport aircraft are seen bringing spectators and contestants to the floating arena.

Raptor: (bangs on the door) Scarlet! Hurry up in there, we're waiting on you dude!

Scarlet: You don't know perfection, man!

Raptor: I know when it's time to get out, all the ripping and running you do and all you care about is looking cool!

Scarlet: Yep!

Forever Fall

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

Glynda: (to the group) 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.

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.

Glynda: (still instructing her group, holding up a full jar of their objective) Each of you is together 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 once another, Jaune attempts to (noisily) 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!

Jaune miserably looks up at his team, where Nora and Ren already walking into the forest depths and Pyrrha is staring sadly at the scene. Then, he looks at Ash and thought about what he said.

Flashback

Ash: When someone acts courageously, they show themselves to be willing to confront uncertainty, danger, or even pain.

Flashback Ends

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 teen gets up in response.

Cardin: 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: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: (still exhausted) That is one of the many questions I have asked myself today, yes.

Cardin: (as Jaune sits up) Well, come with me, and you'll find out.

Jaune moans and gulps in worry

Now purged on a hilltop overlooking the other students, team CRDL-plus Jaune, squeezed between Cardin and Russel Thrush-peak their heads over the crest and watch as everyone is retrieving their. Ren trades it for the other jar in her care. He turns back to the tree and starts filling it up several licking sounds are heard off-screen until the camera pans back to Nora, dial with an embarrassed smile, covered in read an empty jar in her hands.

Jaune: (turning to his left) Cardin, wh-what's going on?

Cardin: (still staring at the unsuspecting group sharply) Payback.

Jaune: (widens his eyes in understanding) Pyrrha....and....Scarlet..? (watches them gather more sap from a tree) Wh-what are you-?

Cardin: ( pounds his fists on the ground) That's them. Red-haired know- it-all, thinks she's so smart and that brown-haired weirdo thinks he's so hot stuff. Alright, boys...(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 Wasp, and now, we're going to 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. (Pyrrha is seen finishing her sap collection and Scarlet was also finished and was following his following his teammates) I'm thinking it's time we teach them 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 them with the sap! (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 looks up at the four grinning team-mate waiting to see what happens. Jaune remebers one thing that Ash told him.

Flashback

Ash: With courage, you will dare to take risks, have the strength to be compassionate, and the wisdom to be humble.

End Flashback

Jaune turns towards the group and aims his throw at and oblivious and smiling Scarlet, trying to steel his nerves and shaking hand to do the deed, But ultimately steels himself for what he's about to do.

Jaune: No

Cardin: What did you say?

Jaune: (gripping the jar the tightly) I said...NO!

He throws the jar at Cardin, instanly recoiling his hands 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 shoulder and pull him in so his terrified eyes fill the screen.