RWBY : Dance dance infiltration

Ruby Rose sits forlornly at a table before her thoughts are interrupted by Weiss Schnee. Weiss presents Ruby with two seemingly identical table cloths to choose from for the Beacon Dance. Ruby, sitting depressed is still worried about Blake Belladonna, who has not been sleeping lately due to her obsession with Roman Torchwick and the White Fang. However, Yang Xiao Long reassures Ruby and Weiss that Blake will definitely be going to the dance, which takes place on the following day.

Blake, still in her sleep-deprived state, is seen sitting in the library, working at a holographic display. However, a red laser pointer catches her attention, much to her irritation. She gets up and follows the laser pointer to its source - Yang, who quickly grabs her and tells her that they need to talk. Concurrently, Lie Ren is seen contentedly exiting the shower clad only in a towel, before being yanked away by Jaune Arc, who claims that they too need to talk.

Back at the JNPR dorm rooms, Jaune speaks with Ren, someone he considers one of his best friends and "the brother he never had", about his trouble with girls, and asks for advice in getting Weiss to return his affections. Pyrrha Nikos enters the room and tells Jaune to drop the gimmicks, pickup-lines and his whole act, and simply be honest with Weiss. Jaune, buoyed by this advice, thanks Ren and Pyrrha and rushes off to talk with Weiss.

Nora Valkyrie, who had overheard the conversation, tells a downcast Pyrrha to "practice what you preach." That night, Jaune goes to ask Weiss to the dance, but he is crestfallen when he sees Weiss already asking Neptune Vasilias to accompany her. He leaves, dejected.

Meanwhile, Yang and Blake talk alone in an empty classroom. Blake is still unwilling to stop her efforts in finding and stopping Torchwick and the White Fang, despite the protestations of her teammates. Yang tells her that she does not need to stop, merely slow down, and not let her obsession take over her life. Yang then speaks about her youth.

Yang and Ruby grew up in Patch, an island off the coast of Vale, while their father was a teacher at Signal Academy and their mother, a Huntress, would take on missions. One day, though, Summer did not return from a mission, leaving Yang, Ruby and their father utterly heartbroken. However, Yang then reveals that Ruby and Yang's father had in fact lost another lover once before: Yang's actual biological mother, who had left shortly after her birth under mysterious circumstances. Yang became obsessed with finding her mother, to the extent that it took over her life entirely. One day, as a child, intent to follow a possible lead, Yang journeyed out with Ruby to a remote area, where they are unexpectedly attacked by Grimm. Exhausted from the journey, Yang was powerless to fight back, and both sisters would have died if not for the timely intervention of their uncle Qrow Branwen, who killed the beasts and saved the pair.

Yang confides that she still continues her search, but does not recklessly let her obsession drive her life, and urges Blake to do the same and calm down for just one night. Blake still resists, causing Yang to become angered. Yang claims that in her current state, Blake would not be able to fight her, let alone Torchwick. Yang hugs Blake and asks her to slow down, not just for herself, but for the people she cares about. Yang then promises her a dance. Blake softens and agrees to slow down, following up on her partner's proposition.

On the day of the dance, Yang, Weiss and Ruby are overjoyed to see that Blake has decided to attend. Blake and Yang share a dance before she hands her over to her date, Sun Wukong. Satisfied that their mission has been accomplished, Yang and Weiss dash off to "have fun", leaving Ruby alone until Ozpin approaches her. Ruby declares to him that she does not like dancing, but Ozpin notes the similarities between dancing and fighting, before concluding that events like this help to keep the bonds between friends strong.

Just then, the last two visitors arrive - Emerald Sustrai and Mercury Black.

As the Beacon Dance continues, Ruby Rose and Jaune Arc talk about being unable to enjoy the party due to their own awkwardness; as they continue, Ruby ends up addressing Jaune's failure to invite Weiss Schnee. Jaune is shocked when Ruby reveals that Weiss went alone, despite Jaune witnessing her invite Neptune Vasilias.

Jaune moves to confront Neptune, but sees Pyrrha Nikos leaving and decides to follow her instead. After Jaune finds her on the balcony, Pyrrha reveals that she came alone because no one asked her to the dance. She explains that because of her reputation and talents, others perceive her as "too good" for them. However, she notes that Jaune is the opposite, as he is someone who sees her as she is and she appreciates him helping her to build meaningful relationships with others. She then implies that she would have liked to be at the dance with him.

As Pyrrha leaves the scene, Neptune arrives and states his dislike of the ball, while also referring to the "cute girls" present. Jaune accuses him of toying with girls' feelings, particularly Weiss, to which Neptune shamefully discloses his secret: he cannot dance, and as he wants to look cool, he denied Weiss. As Neptune offers Jaune the chance to resume his pursuit of Weiss, Jaune instead imparts Pyrrha's advice about being honest with his feelings to Neptune, who agrees to go and talk to Weiss.

As Ruby and Yang Xiao Long watch over the dance and muse over future events, Jaune delivers on his earlier promise, donning a dress and sneakers before asking Pyrrha for a dance in the middle of the event. After laughing, Pyrrha accepts, leading to Team JNPR performing a synchronized dance number - which reveals its members share that same talent. As Neptune returns to sit down beside Weiss, she asks him what changed his mind. Neptune explains that Jaune convinced him to do so, noting that Weiss is lucky to have such good friends looking out for her.

Meanwhile, Mercury Black and Emerald Sustrai continue their infiltration work at the dance, slow dancing with each other while keeping an eye on the guests for Cinder Fall, as she, dressed in a catsuit, infiltrates the Cross Continental Transmit System Tower. She makes short work of the guards with her unarmed combat techniques and Midnight. As she infects the CCTS terminal room with a computer virus, Mercury and Emerald inform her that James Ironwood has left the dance.

Meanwhile, Ruby, having left the dance earlier, begins pursuing Cinder. As she maintains the tail, she summons her weapon locker containing Crescent Rose. As she approaches the library terminals, she encounters and battles Cinder. However, their battle is cut short when Ironwood arrives, prompting Cinder to make a quick escape before he can see her, changing into her ballroom attire as soon as she is out of sight, leaving little evidence behind. When Cinder arrives, she dances with Mercury, saying that once they have completed their mission at Beacon, the authorities will still be figuring out the situation and tells him to enjoy the rest of the night. The episode ends with a view of the students enjoying themselves at the dance, juxtaposed with Ruby and Ironwood in the Cross Continental Transmit System, as well as a glimpse at the hacked computer screen, which now displays a large black queen chess piece.

Jaune watches as Pyrrha turns a corner. Neptune has appeared on the balcony, gesturing toward Jaune.

Neptune: "Hey, uh, Jaune, right?"

Jaune: sighs "Yeah."

Jaune looks back out over the balcony.

Neptune: gesturing back to the dance "Cute girls, though, huh?"

Jaune: growls as he turns back to Neptune, gesturing "Is that all you think about?"

Neptune: raising his palms to waist level "Huh?"

Jaune: "Do you even care about the girls you're hitting on? How they feel about you?"

Neptune: "throwing his palms up Whoa! Where's this coming from?"

Jaune: "opening his arms wide How could you just turn her down like that?"

Neptune: "Wait, h-who?"

Jaune: "Weiss!"

Neptune:"I, uh... it, uh... it just didn't work out, you know?"

Jaune: "What? You think that you're too cool, too many other options? Weiss Schnee asked you to the dance. What in the world could possibly keep you from go-"

Neptune: looking shamefully at the ground "I can't dance!"

Jaune: calmly "Beg your pardon?"

Neptune: "I can't dance, man!"

Jaune: "But... you're so cool!"

Neptune: "Thank you. I try really, really hard."

Jaune: "You would rather break a girl's heart and go to a dance alone than just admit to everyone that you can't move in rhythm to music?"

Neptune: "That about sums it up, yeah."

Jaune:* turning back to the balcony "Well, I certainly feel a lot better about myself."

Neptune: raising his palms "Please don't tell anybody. Look, if you want Weiss, she's all yours. I don't wanna get in your way."

Jaune turns back towards Neptune.

Jaune: placing his palms on the stone banister "Do you like her?"

Neptune?:* "Yeah, I mean I don't know her too well yet, but she seems pretty cool."

Jaune:" "Then just go talk to her. No pickup lines, no suave moves, just be yourself. I've heard that's the way to go." he crosses his arms

Neptune:: "Yeah, but then-"

Jaune: "Hey! You don't have to look cool all the time. In all honesty, if you could be a little less cool, I'd really appreciate it."

Neptune considers Jaune's advice.

Neptune: "Yeah, okay."

Jaune: "Go talk to her. I guarantee it'll make her night."

"Neptune:* "Thanks. You're a really cool guy, Jaune."

Neptune approaches Jaune, holding his fist out for a bump.

Jaune: approaching Neptune "Alright, don't lie to my face."

The two of them bump fists and Neptune walks away.

Jaune: sighs *All right, only one thing left to do."