Jaune blocked Joanna's swing with his shield and quickly pushed her staff away and turned to block May's Attack Jaune quickly kicked her away only for her to vanish, and while he knew that was a problem. He turned back to Joanna, seeing her fire off two bolts at him, he quickly deflected the attack with his sword and then charged at her and swung his blade, only for her to block it with her staff, she then pushed it away and twirled it before swinging it again and hitting Jaune in his upper right arm, causing the young man to wince.
Among the Huntresses, Joanna Greenleaf was a powerhouse, her strength was almost on par with the likes of Nora, and her skill with her Crossbow/staff was just as fast and elegant as Ruby's moves with her scythe.
It was the reason why Jaune focused on her more, she was just as skilled as Robyn with a lot more bite to her bark, so to speak, however, she wasn't the only troublesome person Jaune had to fight...
Jaune pushed passed the pain and tried to swing at Joanna, but Joanna avoided the attack and twirled her staff to hit Jaune again, but he blocked her attack with his shield and ducked under her and slashed Joanna across her stomach, lowering her aura decently, before he got behind her, and prepared another strike but May then appeared to his left and jabbed him across the face with her staff, causing him to stagger toward his right.
May Marigold was the Huntress's assassin so to speak. May's semblance allowed her and anyone with her to be invisible, and she had mastered the art of stealth, as despite being surrounded by snow, Jaune couldn't hear her steps crunching in the snow, and the fact that she could disappear and reappear in an instant made it more difficult for him to track her.
Jaune shook his head and regained his composure and saw both female huntresses on their guard. Jaune glared at them and gripped both his sword and shield and charged at them, he quickly swing at Joanna, but she blocked it, and May swung at him, however, Jaune jumped back and saw May's staff hit the ground.
Jaune then kicked it out of her hand and then bashed her with his shield, Joanna backed away and aimed her crossbow at Jaune, Jaune then turned around to see Joanna's weapon aimed at him and she charged at her just as she fired, Jaune dodged the bolt and pulled his sword back, preparing to swing at her, however, Joanna jumped back from the attack and when Jaune's attack didn't land, she stepped forward and jabbed him in the stomach with her staff.
Jaune grunted in pain but then quickly regained himself and with his sword, he struck her staff from the bottom and caused her to lose her staff as it flew in the air, Jaune then pointed his blade at Joanna's neck.
"It's over," He declared.
"You sure blondie?"
Jaune then felt the end of May's crossbow pressed against the back of his head and he cursed to himself, he had let his guard down and allowed himself to be caught off guard.
"I think that's enough for now," Robyn said from the sidelines.
The three lowered their weapons and watched as Robyn and Fiona walked up to them.
Robyn looked at the blonde with a smile, "You've improved, Jaune, still got some ways to go, but you're a fast learner, and with that little trick I told you about, I bet you'll be able to defeat any person who gets in your way," Robyn said, "But you did let your guard down, whenever you're overpowered by numbers, don't stay more be forced into one place or sport, move and attack as much as you can, but don't get greedy, attack as much as you can then gain some distance,"
Jaune nodded with understanding, "Thanks," Jaune replied.
Robyn nodded, "Also, with dealing with people like May who can turn invisible, don't look in front of you, look to the ground, while you might not be able to hear her footsteps, you can at least see them in the snow,"
Jaune nodded once again as a shiver ran down Jaune's body, due to being out in the cold.
Fiona noticed it and looked at Jaune with a raised brow. "Jaune?" She called to him.
Jaune turned to her, "Yeah, Fiona?" Jaune asked.
"Do you have any spare clothes? You know, for the weather here?" She asked.
Jaune looked a bit bashful and shook his head, "Not really, I've been using the shirt you gave me, besides that, no," Jaune replied.
Fiona gave him a worried look, "You know you'll catch a cold if you just shrug the cold off, right?" Fiona asked.
Jaune just gave Fiona a light shrug, "I'll be fine, I'm getting used to the cold," He replied.
Fiona raised a brow in suspicion, "Oh? Then what was that shiver then I just saw?" She asked.
Jaune groaned, "Again, I'm fine," Jaune told her.
Fiona shook her head, "Nope, we're getting you some new clothes, the last thing we need you to be is sick when we're out on missions," Fiona replied.
Jaune rolled his eyes, "Fine," he replied
Fiona smiled, knowing she won. "Good, now let's go head into town and get you some warmer clothes!" Fiona said with cheer.
Jaune was a bit surprised, "Right now?" He asked.
Fiona nodded, "Yeah because if we don't go now, you'll just make an excuse to not go, like training," she told him.
Jaune gave her an annoyed look, "Training isn't an excuse, it's something I need plenty of," Jaune argued.
"Yeah, after all, we just kicked his ass!" May teased.
Jaune groaned and Joanna sighed at the girl's teasing.
Fiona nodded, "Yes, that's true, but it's all you've been doing next to helping us with missions," She told him, "You need to relax a little, ya know," She replied.
"Shopping is supposed to relax me?" Jaune asked.
"Yeah," Fiona said with a cheeky smile.
Jaune wanted to argue but he sighed in defeat. "Whatever, let's go," Jaune said, sheathing Crocea Mors and fully draping himself in his cloak.
Fiona nodded and followed after him, only to be stopped by May who turned the sheep faunus to face her and gave her a wink and a thumbs up. Fiona blushed but turned back around and followed Jaune.
May snickered as the two left, "Man, she really has it bad for him!" May said. "Makes me wonder then they're gonna hook up,"
Joanna sighed, "You really think she'll make a move before he leaves?" she asked.
May looked and Joanna with a smirk and a raised brow, "You kidding?" She asked, "She'd have to be an idiot not to make a move on a guy like that," May told Joanna.
Joanna shrugged, "Never know May, besides, seems like the guy might be going through his own things," Joanna told her.
May nodded, knowing what she meant, the young teen seemed to have gone through a lot before coming to Atlas, after all, it was Robyn to called him out about killing before getting here, and to know that someone so young killed before, it made them wonder how it affected the young man.
But if anyone of them could help the younger boy out, it was Fiona, she had gone through worse pain than most of them, yet she still smiled and moved forward and had a heart of gold.
Back with Fiona and Jaune, they had entered the city and were walking toward the shopping district of Mantle, however, the two had seemed to catch a certain figure's eye.
"So, where to after Atlas, Jaune?" Fiona asked, making small talk.
"Vacuo," Jaune quickly answered, "It's my last stop before I head back to Vale," Jaune replied.
Fiona nodded, "I hear Vacuo's a nice place, minus the scorching desert and bandit tribes, of course," Fiona chuckled.
Jaune couldn't help but let out a small chuckle, "Sounds like Mistral just with sand," He replied.
Fiona chuckled at his joke and kept walking, but another question was on the sheep girl's mind. "So, Jaune... do you have anyone special back in Vale?" Fiona asked.
Jaune knew what she was talking about and thought for a moment, and in his head, the image of Pyrrha popped into his head, however, she turned away from him and Jaune tried to reach out but he couldn't reach her.
"You're not the Jaune I know..."
That image and those words made Jaune lower his head. "I don't think so..." Jaunne replied.
Fiona's brow raised, "Really?" She asked with a bit of a smile.
Jaune nodded, "Yeah, I don't think I have anyone special waiting for me back in Vale," he repeated.
but then, a new image flashed into Jaunes mind and it was of Vernal, who was falling with him into a dark abyss, but they both seemed to create their own light.
"But... I think there's someone I'm waiting for..." Jaune muttered.
Hearing this, Fiona wondered what he meant, and began to think that Jaune may have been in love with someone who didn't love him back or who had no idea he loved them... and that made Fiona a little jealous.
Jaune then looked at her, "What about you?" Jaune asked.
Fiona smiled, "I think there may be someone who I like," She said.
Jaune was about to ask who when the two heard the fast pace crunching of snow and turned their heads to see a faunus girl running in their direction, she had deer antlers and wore a black and white outfit, it was Deery.
Deery stopped right in front of the two and looked at Fiona, with a raised brow, "E-Excuse me, but you're one of the Happy Huntresses, right?" Deery asked.
Fiona was a bit confused and a bit hesitant to answer, worried that this may be some trap, Jaune must have had the same thought because he looked around sn stepped in front of Fiona as if to protect her.
"Why do you wanna know?" Jaune asked.
Deery noticed the two quickly become on guard and looked up to Jaune with a small smile and a worried expression as to her, he looked really intimidating. "I-I wanted to know because I wanted to join you," Deery replied quickly.
Fiona was a bit surprised, "You want to join us?" Fiona asked.
Deery nodded, "I know what you guys are doing and I want to help, I don't want to stand by and do nothing, I want to help Mantle and the people here," Deery told her.
Fiona looked at her and smiled, "I can take you to Robyn and see what she says, but I have to ask, Do you know how to fight like a Huntsmen?" she asked.
Deery nodded, "A little," She replied, "I was trained a little before really moving here," Deery told her.
Fiona nodded, "Then it looks like you need just as much training as Jaune," Fiona said, looking at the blonde.
Jaune groaned as he looked at Fiona, and Derry looked at Jaune with a raised brow. "You're part of the Happy Huntresses?" Deery asked, "I thought there were only girls in the group?"
Jaune growled as Fiona chuckled and looked at the deer faunus with a smile. "Jaune here's an honorary member of the Huntresses!" Fiona replied. "And don't let him scare you, despite how he looks, he's a nice guy," Fiona said.
Deery didn't believe her as the tall blonde had a scowl on his face. "R-Right," she replied.
Fiona nodded and then turned back to Jaune, "Now, let's get you some new clothes," She said.
Jaune simply followed her and Deery did the same, hoping that she would join the Happy Huntress today.
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Meanwhile, up in Atlas, Winter Schnee was called into Ironwood's office and when she entered, she saw that Penny was in the office as well. Penny greeted her with a smile and a wave and Winter did the same before looking at the General.
"Hello, General," Winter greeted.
Ironwood gave her a smile, "Hello, Winter," Ironwood greeted, "How have you been?" Ironwood asked.
"I have been doing well sir, yourself?" Winter asked.
Ironwood kept smiling, "I have been doing good as well," Ironwood told her, "Even had a nice conversation with Qrow over a few drinks,"
While Winter could not stand the older Huntsman because of his insults toward Ironwood and the military, she couldn't deny that Qrow and Ironwood were good friends, "I suppose that is good sir," Winter said, "But you called for me, so I assume you have a mission for me?" Winter asked.
Ironwood nodded, "Yes, there are reports that the Happy Huntress have been spotted in Mantle the last few days, I want you to take Penny and head down and see if you can find them," Ironwood told her. "Once you find them, arrest them and bring them up here for questioning, understood?" Ironwood asked.
Winter nodded, "If I may sir, I also would like to bring another with us who I believe will also be a big help," Winter said.
Ironwood raised a brow, "Who?" He asked.
"Cadet Ciel Soliel," Winter replied, "I've taken a liking to her and she's at the top of her class and I believe she'd be a great apprentice to me," Winter said.
Ironwood smiled, knowing that what he was saying was true as next to Penny and another team, Ciel Soliel was one of the most promising students of her year and was a bit of a prodigy in a sense. Ironwood nodded his acceptance, "Very well, you can bring her along with the mission," Ironwood said.
Winter smiled and nodded and she then to Penny, "Are you ready, Penny?" Winter asked.
Penny nodded with a large smile, "Of course! I'm combat-ready!" Penny chirped.
Winter nodded and the two left Ironwood's office and headed to get Ciel, and once they left, Ironwood sat back in his chair and let out a sigh. He then turned his chair around and got out of his seat and looked out his large window, looking out to Atlas and couldn't help but feel terrible for having to bring in the Happy Huntresses, especially Robyn, who he knew since he himself was a student.
He didn't want to arrest her, but the council gave him orders and he was outvoted and so he was forced to do what the Council and Jacques deemed "Right".
'Why did you leave, Robyn?' Ironwood asked in his head. 'If you stayed, you could've beaten me out for General, we could've done what we promised ages ago...'
Suddenly, Ironwood was taken out of his thoughts when his door burst open and his secretary quickly walked over to his desk with a worried expression.
"General! General! This report from Specialist Marrow!" his secretary cried handing him a report.
Ironwood walked over to them and took the report and quickly read it and after a few lines, he realized that now the problem was no longer the Happy Huntresses, but now, a group far worse than them.
"Are you sure this is true?" Ironwood asked, not taking his eyes off the paper.
The secretary nodded, "Yes, it came directly from his line!" She replied.
Ironwood glared, "Inform Specialist Schnee and Cadet's Polendina and Soliel, the mission has changed," He told her.
"Should I tell them that the Happy Huntresses are no longer a priority?" She asked.
Ironwood thought for a moment before an idea came to his mind and he looked at his secretary and shook his head, "No, tell them to still bring them in, but tell them to not tell them why, this needs to be kept secret or the public will have a panic, understood?" Ironwood asked.
She nodded, "Yes Sir," She said, leaving for her desk and calling the three and Ironwood let out a long sigh, knowing that this new information was going to make things worse.
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Seems that now, Deery is about to join the Huntresses, and Ironwood, Winter, Penny, and Ciel are getting involved in tracking down the Huntresses! Who could this new threat of the story be?
So, one thing I wanna address in this chapter that will affect later chapters is Ironwood and Robyn's relationship.
This will affect both what happens in this Act and another future act that will take place in Atlas and a backstory of the two will be given late in this Act, all I can say is that the two are two sides of the same coin with the same origin.
Anyway, thanks for reading this chapter and I hope you guys are ready for the next since the "Farnese" of the story will be introduced!