Author's Note: This chapter will finally end the first arc. Chapter one-five is called The Bonding Arc*

*No relation to Jaune.

The Heroes and The Queen

Revenge, Peace, Arrogance, and Survival

Chapter Five: Colorado Clupea

"Foo~Whee!"

As much as she regretted it; she agreed with the crass girl about the fishy smell.

It has been only twenty minutes and already Ruby noted the dense tension in the salty air.

The nonchalant attitude from Colorado was nerve wracking towards the friends that she made. They been nothing but kind and considered all the while she has been in their company; now this bully comes out nowhere just to hurt them.

What have they done to deserve this? Ruby pondered.

Every time she thinks about it, her anger would flare up more. She wouldn't even look at her. Rather to adept her eyes to get a feel for the surroundings.

The seagulls and repugnant dead fish smell obviously announce that they were in the shipping-yard: Rows and rows of uniform box warehouses line up on either side of the asphalt aisle.

Ruby felt a suspicion rise, why would they bring us here so readily? Among the loud heavy machine equipment she noted crews working in the yards looking at them and then hurrying off as if commanded. All of them looked at Colorado before they got the green light.

"So do you chicken-chicks go to Beacon? Or do you call it the Coop?" Colorado's sharp snicker echoed through out the warehouses.

After that Ruby felt and heard the worn asphalt crack. Olga and Jane were letting the girl get the best of them. Ruby couldn't blame them, she frowned.

"I'm only asking because after I'm done with you all, I'll be paying that cowardly lion friend of yours a visit. Because some people need to learn their place."

The burning amber eyes specifically looked at Olga and then drew themselves towards Jane.

One of the surging Auras cooled down while the other flared even more.

"Please don't." A murmur from Olga was heard; as if a plea to the bully. While the stoic Jane just continued to scowled.

The level-headed leader wanted to lay out her options: Fight or resolve it peacefully.

Her silver-eyes peered the place that felt more like an enclosure the deeper they traversed. Was it a trap or is it a trap? Of course it is, so now what? She thought.

The orange gleam from one of the weapons that beamed off the setting sun caught her attention, it let her to try and figure out their arms and capabilities.

There is the club weapon that Colorado has; might be a heavy hitter, she might have great strength. There also her cohorts: A bat-Faunus, a ram-Faunus, and a deer-Faunus.

She then carefully scanned each weapon, being a weapons fanatic she was filled with both glee and worry.

They included two, large-shields that completely covered the ram-Faunus arms; she noted some kind of vent at the twin-spire guarded bottom. 'Wonder what that's for?' She mused.

Next, the deer-Faunus carried a coiled metal whip wrapped and attached to the side of her waist. But the one thing about the design that caught her eye was the gun trigger; she is the sniper of the group. Ruby already had an idea in how to stop her; maybe Olga could help out?

Then the last one was the double-head battle axes that the bat-Faunus was carrying. Both battle axes were interlock together to make one formidable weapon but separated, the two, overlapping riffle barrels designed in-between the axe heads could lead for a messy mid-range trouble.

In the middle of formulating the plan she caught Olga eying her and then the battle-axes and then back at her. She must have put two and two together and figured out her intentions.

Without warning the wolf-Faunus apprehensively jogged ahead.

Within ear-shot of both parties she started talking.

"Just fight me, only me. Let Theresa go, she wasn't…come on." She slowly turn towards Jane and Ruby, "Janey, I will fight by myself. I was caught up, it's my fault. I'll show her whats for, and defend your honor as my partner and leader okay? So take Ruby and go, I'll make it my business."

The entreat from her fell on deaf ears. The red-hooded girl wanted to say something but was abruptly caught off by the blue-hooded girl's rebuttal.

"No. She hurt Theresa. She wanted this fight and I am going to give it to her."

"Tch," The smirking amber-eyed girl shook her head. "There is your answer wolf girl."

After Jane's rebuke Olga just shook it off, clearly frustrated by her partner's stubbornness.

The whole situation started to gnaw at Ruby. Olga was going as far as to repentant by taking them all on by herself. This wasn't right, whoever was this girl it was enough to make Olga do a 180 and cause her to practically grovel and Jane to act sullen.

And it was making her mad too.

After seeing the violence that accumulated from yesterday and today Ruby honestly had enough. She wanted keep strong, if not for herself but for the people around her. She closed her eyes.

'Mom and Dad, Yang's cookies, Crescent Rose, Uncle Qrow's weapons, Zwei's tummy, Weiss' puns, Blake's ears, Jaune's jokes and Penny's cool weapons; Weapons in general,' She continued to list things to inspire happy thoughts.

Ruby felt that she needed to try and push the girl on the defense. Bullies are just all ego right? There are still people right?

Thinking back months ago when Cardin had Jaune under his whim. Even though he didn't know anybody was watching him, he could have easily let the Ursa do major damage to the bully but instead he still saved him. He was still arrogant but he was grateful.

She saw Olga sigh as Jane march steadily.

'it's a long shot.'

The young leader with a determined scowl went to try to mollify the bully with a ultimatum and not a plea. Boots shuffle and the red blur fast-gaited past Olga and Jane with a surprise look from former.

"Hey!" Silver-eyes met amber, "If you say you're sorry to my friends: Theresa, Jane and Olga. And then compensate Theresa's food then we could all leave this behind us."

She wasn't stupid, it was a long shot. She didn't know how the friends would feel about this even if she accepted, but she felt like she needed to try. To avoid falling into a bad situation.

Colorado stopped and looked up with one glove finger propping up her chin; as if she was sincerely thinking deeply into this.

A smile tried to dance on the young girl's lips. 'This could work?'

But the effort was futile.

"Nahh!" The abhorrent girl childishly stuck her tongue out at her.

"Unacceptable directive." Jane spoke loud and clear, "I would never accept this. That individual needs to requite for what she has done to my friend."

Ruby stood there with a frown as the others caught up to her. She felt a tap from her shoulder by the tall girl.

Olga had a disheartened look to her that pained the young girl. "Ruby, ya should go back to Beacon. Check on Theresa and your weird but nice friend Penny." She gave her a weak smile as she continued. "Ya are a good person Ruby. Even though we only met today ya are earnest enough to be a dear friend in my book, so as a friend don't beat ya-self over this. It's our battle not yours."

"No!" Colorado suddenly shouted. "I want them all here." she crooked her head with a sinister smile.

She turned to Ruby with glint on one of her amber eyes that seem to briefly change to a different color.

"Especially little red; The prodigy girl." her words were slathered with a vicious coat.

"Ya keep your mitts off of her ya ugly mu-"

Ruby stopped Olga's protest with a silent hand-gesture.

"No, Jane is right." She pulled Crescent Rose from her back and into its current gun form.

"She needs to pay."

Warehouse C19 was the designation sign of the location Colorado was leading them to. Really it was the same as the outside as any of the other ones.

The red-hooded leader still wanted to keep note of every nook and cranny and icky shipment box of slimy sardine. The smell was horrible, she wished it smelled like strawberries.

Jane also kept a careful scan of the dreary maze of tall and brown stacks of shipping boxes as they snake there way into the center of the dark orange bathed building.

As the group made it past the exit of the stacked maze Ruby's fear grew.

On the wet puddle center of the desolate cement floor was the words (A dash of red here Please!) that was painted red in the square of a supposed arena.

Ruby hope it was just red paint as Colorado was heard cackling as she and her Faunus cronies made their way to the opposite end of the mark. The pig-tail girl rather merrily skip to the opposing side really.

A revelation then reared its ugly in her thoughts.

"We are not random are we? You were planning this weren't you?" Ruby pointed an accusing finger at the bully.

'Why else would she lead us here?'

Jane stood there with a blank face while Olga gave the expression like she was fearing for something.

Tension was rising.

"Nope!"

"huh?"

Ruby gawked her head with a quizzical stare while Olga just raise her eyebrow in tow with a scrunch up lips. Jane sighed deeply while the expression remain stonily.

"So, this wasn't done on purpose?"

"Yup!" Colorado replied cheerfully.

"What?"

"Nah! Just kidding! I was targeting all of you, what better chicken-chick blood to spread than the strongest chickens of Beacon. You're just the center piece Ruby Rose." Colorado happily nodded.

'This girl is the kind that gets under your skin.'

"Okay!" the loud thud from the repeated thumping of the club garnered attention.

Her burning amber eyes jumped to Olga and Ruby individually before scanning and stopping at Jane.

"So whose real enough to try and take me on? Don't fret with those teary eyes; I'll make sure to treat you hens real nice."

Jane was heard growling, her shoulders were tensed up and her fists clinch. Both her partner and new friend looked worried and wondered how bad was this getting to her.

The club swung up and rested on the bully's shoulder.

"I have no problem taking you all on and spreading the joy," She then gestured towards her crew of Faunus behind her, "But being the ultra generous being that I am, the promise I gave to them was that I shared in the fun. Am I not a good young woman?"

"Yeah!" The bespectacled bat-Faunus proclaimed while the two other casually dressed lackeys looked at him.

Under Colorado's dismaying gaze did the Faunus's willpower died down with a pathetic groan.

"Henchmen." She rolled her eyes.

"Ah!"

Brown boots kicked and rocketed. The now angry Jane unsheathed her broadsword Arthur, running at full speed for a slash at Colorado. The quickness unparalleled, surprising Ruby and Olga with her sheer power.

The blue-hooded leaped off the ground and descended from an extraordinary height to smash down at the smirking red opponent.

Thud!

The brash attack was in vain. With a flick of her wrist Colorado brought the behemoth of a club and effortlessly brought the sword to a standstill.

Jane gritted her teeth as she tried to push down on the forte of the sword with her gloved hand. With all her might it made little difference against the thick club, Her glowing finger lightly tapping the opposing weapon during her struggle.

"My, aren't you over your head, blue?" Colorado taunted, "Poor little girl, never realizing how alone you really are."

Teeth grinding and eyelids closed as Jane continued. Colorado took as sign to get into the mind of hers by bringing her lips closer to Jane's ears.

"Such 'talent', if you want to call it that. Even then you can't do it right. You know why? It's because y…."

A day is not enough to know someone. Weiss, Blake, Jaune, the others; they were in various stages of different in their initial meeting. Weiss was always haughty, Blake quiet, and Jaune bashful.

Jane, no matter what: was constantly smiling and cheerful. To a point that if glossed over to arrogance. She was always smiling even in battle.

Now she was showing fear. Green eyes dread, sputtering jumbling words, like she was in a trance, like she wanted to repudiate something. A truth.

"Jane don't listen to her!" Ruby yelled trying to snap Jane out of it.

To her it was clear that this girl was more than strength intimating, she also psychologically tormented her victims somehow.

"Ruby is right! Rough up that girl!" Olga rallied as well.

The words from her friends seemingly pulled through with Jane's nodding smile, she pushed on.

Colorado smirked. "Nope!"

She gripped the handle of the club causing a whirling sound to ignite on the square head of the weapon. With a turn of her wrist she inverted the club deflecting Jane off.

Colorado started laughing while she planted her feet on the spiked nubs like a footrest. The hiss of the flames erupted and rocketed the girl high above close to one of the girders running parallel of the roof.

She then flung the club over her head as she descended. The powerful swing demolished the red paint mark sending a vibrating shock-wave that smashed and hit Jane.

Her friends watch in horror as she yelled in pain, being thrown, body skidding across the floor.

Their calls for their friend's name mixed with Colorado's laughter.

"Pyrrha, please stop."

They retreated to the only place that felt secured to them; back to the roof they always known.

Another unnecessary cold dab here and there.

Jaune was starting to get worried. No, now it was beyond worry. Her excessiveness was preamble to something much worse. She wouldn't listen, not a single word was acknowledge.

Pyrrha was the kind of person who would always help. Whether a lay a helping hand or simply lend an ear to listen to problems that they may have. It was simply unique to her.

That what he liked about her. 'Maybe a stronger word could be used.'

His blue eyes examined her again. A fixed, worried face focuses on a task with no substance.

Jaune had enough of her sad glossy stare.

"Pyrrha stop!"

The rooftop echoed with his yell and the loud thwack as he violently swatted her arm away.

His arm rested against the wall, thinking back, it took a lot of strength to move her arm. It felt so firm no wonder it was difficult.

She stood there, static to the floor. Her eyes looked downcast, looking at the ointment drenched cotton ball on her hand.

After the harsh introspect, Jaune step back his anger; it was like scolding a puppy.

'She is so worried about me, can she see that I'm fine?'

He frowned.

'Can she see she is the reason I'm fine? Does she not have confidence in me!'

"I'm sorry Jaune! I just was…"

Once again the silence filled in.

"Look, I'm fine!" he flexed his left bicep with an awkward grin.

It was in his nature to cheer people up whenever they were sad. Especially if it was his best friend.

His grin was met with an unsure silence.

"It's just you look so helpless." The blond's demeanor drop dramatically as she continued. "It was so brutal, so fast, I felt like I-we almost lost you."

"Pyrrha, I-"

"No!" she shouted. "It's much more than just that! I failed you Jaune, as your partner and as huntress; as Pyrrha Nikos."

He was baffled. "I don't understand Pyrrha, please make sense."

"I thought you were ready. You made remarkable progress in the past few months, I thought I taught you almost everything you would need to know, not only to fight but survive." she paused. "I failed you as a teacher."

"Failed me? That's crazy talk! I'm a skilled swordsmen because of you! you taught me everything about stance, parrying, counter and Aura…" he sounded out the last word.

It was something she wasn't able help him much in, not for the lack of trying.

"It's about my semblance, isn't?"

She looked away forlornly. "Back there we were lucky, you were lucky. Your Aura was severely diminished, it was by random chance that your semblance appeared to aid you in the most inconvenient manner. If I was a better teacher…"

"I could have access to my semblance." He finished with a lackluster tone.

"Being a warrior is knowing your weapon. Being a great warrior is seizing all available weapons at your disposal. In Mistral we were taught that semblance is the key to everything and if you couldn't pass down the knowledge to obtaining it then…" she looked downcast.

"Then you're a failure." he finished it.

Pyrrha winced.

Jaune started to get angry, all the stories he heard from his ancestors were of warriors that seldom use semblance rather fighting with good' old honest steal. It was said that his oldest known ancestor took down monsters with his bare hands along with a young maiden named Nina who was recorded to have no powers at all but still fought.

Maybe there needs to be a new kind of thinking.

"Well maybe Semblance is not all that its cut up to be!" his shout stunned her, emerald eyes widen at the outburst.

"Yeah! you're looking at new kind of hunter Pyrrha. One that doesn't need semblance, a hero that only requires tenacity."

Pyrrha shook her head. "Jaune, that's foolish talk. Aura and Semblance is everything." One thing she loved about Jaune was his tenacity, but even with that he couldn't shake the core fundamentals of her kingdom's cultural beliefs.

It was the clash of cultures, "Well, I guess I'm going to have to prove myself then huh?" he said with a mix of stubbornness and anger.

"You'll get killed!"

Boom!

A large explosion popped in the distance.

"What was that?" Jaune looked around.

"There! it came near Vale's airship platforms." Pyrrha pointed at the smoke bellowing from the location.

Jaune quickly pulled out his Scroll, "We're going to check it out. I'll call Ren."

A satisfying painful yell came out of the mouth of the loud bully. The blue-hooded girl was just full of surprises, making use of everything in her disposal.

After recovering from the blow, Jane stood up slowly with a content grin and a claim that confuse Colorado. Before she knew it, a hit landed across her cheeks in a quick succession and then a second.

Jane semblance once again trump all reason as she phased out of the club like a supernatural being. Emerging completely, feet planted on the floor with club resting on shoulder, she tilted her head with a bright smile and an accomplish feel.

It only continued as Colorado finally rested next her group. Seeing her flailing like a rag-doll made her sincerely happy.

"You don't know who you are messing with friend." she covered the echoing giggle with her gloved hand.

Behind her both Ruby and Olga watched the entire event unfold. The Faunus felt agitated, her hazel eyes narrowed with worry while her hands were steady and firm on the handle of North's wind.

The silver-eyes next to her could only think what was going on in her mind. She thought any minute Olga would step in and she would have to do the same, leading into an all out fight.

Turning her attention to Jane she felt a little unease, a familiar feeling that she usually felt from Yang-and not the good kind. The smile of the brunette's face looked like someone who was about to indulge in recklessness.

"Ow, hehehe." the weak laughing caused Jane to revert to an emotionless, blank face. "oh, you." Colorado shun her group from helping her up, she looked up, wiping her mouth. "Oh, chicken-chick, it's been a long time since someone gave me a wallop."

Jane said nothing as she swung the club over her head and drop it with a loud thud, kicking it over to Colorado which landed precisely within her reach.

"How kind of you." she picked up the weapon. "You know, I'm actually curious about that power of yours."

"What do you want to know." The aloof nature return to Jane.

"Janey, what are you do-"

The partner was given the cold shoulder with a raise hand commanding her to silence. Colorado continued.

"Back at Beacon, I was lucky to say that I was among the spectators enjoying the show. Team RWBY and the rest of your team fought well enough, but you...you were something different. Well, just the same chicken-chick as any other but that semblance of yours,"

Between the lengthy words and pausing, Jane let out an annoyed sigh as she slowly started approaching Colorado.

"My Semblance is called 'Marionette' meaning I have domain over inanimate object or vessels without souls. From vases to androids, I can reproduce a clone via a piece of Aura I pass on to them. Oh, and not just that, I can appear in my clones place, you know something extra to tell you about."

With poise and a confident shrug, the girl wanted to reveal as much as she can to her opponents. She knew who she was, she knew she was powerful, which meant giving an edge when she saw it needed.

"So, you're not nothing different than the broadsword that you're carrying on your right hand right now. Ha! Basically, you're nothing but a weapon." Colorado's hand press against her chest as she chortled.

The dull sound of the point of the sword dropping against the cement floor-Jane's eyes grew. All of the sudden her confidence washed away in a stupor, with low whimper coming out of her slightly ajar mouth. The shock expression was all Olga needed to see.

Ruby quickly scrambled away as Olga swung the weapon behind her, pulling the trigger on the arm rail-gun, it send the Faunus speeding past her dazed partner over to the offenders.

"I had enough of you~!" in a motion that was too fast for eyes to catch the woodswoman loaded another round into North's wind. "You're coming with me!" Again with pull of the trigger Colorado silently yelled as she was hook by the ax blade and sent flying and crashing along with Olga through the upper level windows of warehouse.

Everybody-enemy or not, was caught in between what to do. Ruby's eyes narrowed as she sped to Jane who was reluctant to do anything.

"Jane," She urged her with a whisper.

After what seem like an eternity the blue-hooded girl closed her mouth and her green-eyes shine jubilant again.

"Ruby," she smiled, "I am sorry."

"I think we got bigger trouble."

Both turn to see the three others amassing their weapons. The deer-Faunus in the casual shorts and raglan shirt cracked the whip gun. The ram-Faunus wearing cargo shorts and a sweatshirt was aiming both shields at them with the air around the two getting noticeably hot.

Two things pop into the mind of the local weapon enthusiast, 'Awesome' and, "Run Jane!"

Both girls separated, jumping out the way in time as two jet streams of intense fire broiled the location. Between the hissing flames the girls briefly looked at each other with disbelief before arming themselves for the attack.

Ruby using her semblance, dashed quickly, launching a counterattack on the ram-Faunus, who she saw as the most dangerous foe.

After a slip up caused by the wet floor, she fired a couple of shots on her way to him catching his attention, charging in faster she withdrew with Crescent Rose for a horizontal slashing motion.

The initial blunt-hit rang hollow on the tough shield, she went for another but was trounced again and pushed back. Before she could recover, the bat-faunus slammed down on her scythe with his battle-axe and fired his own barrage at her.

From left to right Jane uncannily dodged the precise sniper bullets, much to the frustration of deer-faunus as she steadied the rifle-whip on her left arm for another shot. The blue-hooded girl charged up the lighting dust on the broadsword-having only enough for two more she needed to make it count.

Her footsteps momentarily slowdown as Ruby stumbled in front of her trying to run away from the line of fire. In that hesitation a crack was heard as the whip coiled around the broadsword. With the dust fizzling out, Jane could only watch as the whip heaved the sword and her for a ride.

The Deer-Faunus gritted her teeth, Jane was holding on to the hilt dearly as her opponent tried to send her for a tough ride in hopes of flinging her off.

"Wow, You're heavy for a little girl! Let go already!" her struggle worked as Jane was finally toss away. "Wha!"

The girl bounced and rolled into the sights of the ram-Faunus. Easy picking-he aimed both shields. Shaking her head and opening her eyes to the heating vent, there wasn't much she could do.

Fortunately, Ruby evaded the Bat-Faunus just in time to speed to Jane's location-almost again tripping. Ignoring her annoyance at the floor Ruby dashed, scooping up Jane using all her energy to do so. Ruby's boots screeched loudly right before they made contact with the cement wall; sighing a relief 'phew' as they stop within inches of it.

"Wow, you are heavy" Ruby blushed, " I didn't mean it as an insult."

Jane tilted her head, "I am big-bone?" she fumbled an answer.

Soon the moment was interrupted by the whack of the battle-axe split them apart from each other. Jumping back they both silently agreed to one another. The whirling mechanism from Jane's propelled sheaths activate with the touch of her orange Aura.

With two clones send off to fight the two others, it will make taking out this opponent easier.

Turning foe into friend Ruby used the wet floor to slide and tackle the legs of the Bat-Faunus who missed with the swing of the ax-with the shaft of her scythe causing him to buckle to his knees in which Jane elbowed him out cold from behind.

The sounds of two smoked and broken short-swords scattered against their feet notifying them of the others advancement.

Ruby's boots splashing on the puddle gave the young leader an idea. She looked around the warehouse which was still rank with the smell of fish, and also water. The shrewd silver-eyes finally saw the stubborn source; a water barrel sitting on top of some boxes near the opponents.

Swinging Crescent Rose to its more accurate gun-form she fired three shots into the yellow barrel rupturing a small stream that soaked the floor under the foes; much to their anger.

Jane tilted her head curiously; figuring out her answer from Ruby's smile, the brunette happily nodded. Pointing down her broadsword and charging the last of the dust, Ruby readied to power her semblance.

The electricity cracked before the powerful thrust dug the sword into the wet ground generating an electric explosion. With Ruby's phenomenal speed she carried the arcing lighting behind her.

Lighting fast, she dodged the flames and the slices of the whip as she circled around them. Biding her time she saw the opening for an attack as the deer-Faunus cracked the whip at her. Everything slowed down, with a devilish grin, Ruby extended her finger to make contact with the point of the metal whip.

It was amazingly satisfying to see how quickly the leaders who just re-met in a short time could work a plan together.

Even more satisfying was seeing arcing current harmlessly past from her, slithering around the whip to the other girl-unaware-down to her shoes to the puddle ground where it struck the flaming throwing partner. Both were shock, bodies stun and shook, now groaning in pain as they drop to the floor.

Ruby sighed and retrieved her weapon. "In honor of Yang I gotta say this, I guess these guys shock and until they drop." A weak smile crept.

"boo!" The ram-Faunus said in the middle of his groaning.

The red-hooded girl droop her head in disappointment.

"Shush you, I think it was an excellent pun friend." Jane smiled, "Um, Ruby." She pointed at her own head for reference.

The girl mouth a 'Huh?' before looking up to see she was not without damage from the electric attack. Wild hair in all directions she quickly remedy it with a quick shake and comb from her hand.

Letting out an embarrassed giggle, Ruby to turn to see the fallen foes. 'being bad does pay' was enforced today, she thought. Wondering about the next course she turn to Jane who stood over them.

"So, what should we do now?" she asked.

"Do whatever we do when enemies are at their weakest." Jane didn't face to speak to her. Ruby eyes widen, she felt an irk feeling arising from her, in a monotonous tone Jane spoke as she drew her sharp broadsword over them.

"Eliminate them."

"ah!" She yelled.

Theresa, despite all odds showed no signs of giving up. No matter how many times the White Fang members tried to push her down, she would literally defy physics as her feet would firmly stay planted.

"Crap, would you just fall down already!"

The plan of the swarming members was to take her and Penny alive, and well enough. Easier said than done as they dealt with one problematic target and one target that was an army on her own.

Theresa wasn't strong or fast and was inept with her weapons but her staunch attitude in the life of huntress meant she did pour her assets into one thing; being craftily.

"Where is she?" one of the Paladin pilots scanned the screens for any signs.

"She is under...one of the um." the responder hesitated to tell the pilot.

"Just get her!" He yelled, only to feel regret as a crunching blow was given to the undercarriage of the Paladin by another mech arm.

The pink-eyes of the girl shine mischievousness as she left to do more damage to the others.

Meanwhile Penny was wrecking the advance troops. With the guide of her hands she whisk the blades into the group of troops surrounding her, breaking their guns and swords; their unconscious bodies flew back down with a loud thud.

She then turn to defend herself from the bullets of the Paladins marching towards her; each large casing hitting the circling blades which pushed her back with each blow.

Unlike last time where she got the element of surprise on them at the docks, the White Fang here were the one orchestrating the ambush with manpower and heavy hardware enough to be called their own army.

Penny could only handle so much. Thankfully Theresa was giving them the slip but it also meant that everything was being thrown at the android girl.

Today started as a good day; she made new friends after all. But now the danger of one of them being taken was looming. The blades began to dull and break; not enough energy to fire a blast at them, she needed to act fast.

A lone Paladin seized the distraction of Penny looking around, trying to warn Theresa. Her head just turn in time to see the shadow of the mech foot enveloping her. Penny's face met with the heavy cold steel of the behemoth, her back dug into the asphalt creating a large crater.

The loud boom caught Theresa attention, panic settled in, iris shrank and mouth hanged. The troops quickly overwhelmed the girl who tried to yell Penny's name in vain.

Under the crushing force Penny tried all she could to move the giant mech off of her. The emotion 'Regret' was registered, if she could have tried harder to protect her friends-if only she could have made it an option for Theresa to be allowed to escape.

Now...now she felt light; very light. So light she was being lifted up, which seem so impossible. The steel foot was lifted off and the Paladin was flung on its back with a crushing thud. The unknown force also lifted the orange-hair girl as well.

"Ah! are you okay?"

Penny turn to see a tall red-headed spartan looking at with a concern and frankly baffled face.

The android girl smiled. "Why yes, thank you for helping me." The cheerful demeanor only further confused Pyrrha.

"Get away from her!" The blond knight smashed into the swarming ranks with his shield pushing away the White Fang from Theresa. Once the troops were cleared off, the pink-eye girl dash to gather her halberd while she ran back to Jaune's side.

He smiled, "Theresa, are you okay?" He had no idea why they were attacking her but he didn't care. He was just glad he was here now. Weird as it may seem, Jaune saw her as a little sister-not that much different from his others who were also filled with their own insecurities and fears.

"Yes, Thank you Jaune." She smiled.

The somber scene was interrupted as White Fang members littered the ground before them.

Ren came in stampeding another group, using his bladed guns he took the form of a speeding tornado. He was not worried about the Paladin who was about to get the drop on him, after all Nora was here too. With a hollering yell she flew in, using her hammer destroying the legs of the mech. The smiling maniac waved cheerfully at her partner who weakly waved back. A typical day for them.

After all that happen today, seeing the dispersing troops running away from the rampaging Nora with Ren hastily following by brought a sense of relief that he needed. The smile leaving him he needed to quell the situation.

He and Theresa made their way to regroup with the others. Penny came up to the small girl, "Theresa!" laying her hands on her shoulders was allaying enough for the android to develop the brightest smile that was capable of.

'I guess she is her friend.' Looking at Theresa nodding okay while Penny's smile grew made the mad day less bleak.

After learning from Olga that she was an introverted person he felt worried. Long ago, Jaune could have empathized, living with not much people his age he didn't find much comfort outside his big family.

He didn't know how the big, outside world would treat him. Chin up and be confident; were words his father would tell him. It took a lot trial and error, he had reasons to believe that Theresa might face the same thing. But looking at the girls now cast away any doubt.

Turning to Pyrrha the obviousness of his happiness was not lost as she too shared a smile.

"I had enough!"

A blue energy-bolt impacted Pyrrha's chest-plate, sending her flying with painful cry. Before Jaune could react another bolt blasted him on the shoulder tossing him another way. The two paladins quickly ascended on the horrified remaining two. Mechanism whirled as the guns aimed at Penny.

A chainsaw buzzed. "You're coming with us," The buzz drew loudly as the Lieutenant appeared behind Penny who dug the chainsaw into her back, causing her kneel down. She gasp in pain. "Piece by Piece if we had to." His snarl mixed with the buzz.

Boom! Boom!

The once sturdy legs of the giant machines gave way as they fell one by one to their sides. The higher rank member stood still staring at the metal corpses, he then turn to the culprit.

Boom!

He didn't see much as he was launched into the brick building behind him with another mortar round.

The determined Theresa was not without her own tricks. Crouch next to Byrthen Knave's mortar form she glared.

"Don't hurt my friends."

Penny weakly got up and smiled again. Theresa wasn't the only one who was glad to make a friend.

Jaune groaned.

Apparently, today was making a point of putting him down. It was a good few minutes and the intense nausea was going away along with the blurred vision, however he was still standing up on his own. Perhaps his body knew better than to give up too.

Pyrrha was all he could think off, his feet still staggered, letting his waving hand guide him. The figure of a moving red person gave him hope that she was okay; it was only cemented as the voice called out to him alive and well. She was amazingly doing better than him.

Before he knew it the blond was embraced in her arms after his legs grew weak again. The attack took a lot out of him, or maybe he wanted to be held by her; Perhaps his body knows better.

Although the frown soon crept in by the anguish sight of her face. It was the same face she gave him back at the end of Yang's match. The face that wouldn't listen to his assurance and pleas. The face that only saw him as an example of her fictitious failure.

Just then he realized they were in the middle of a battle.

"Freeze!" a lone member pointed his rifle at the two who were so weak and vulnerable that couldn't do anything.

Well other than primal instinct. The shout, so loud and ear piercing it made Jaune shriek in fear, causing him to-without warning-kick the member in the not so pleasant area that all brothers-Faunus and Human-share.

The troop doubled over in pain. Both exhausted warriors shared confuse face. "Did you just-" Pyrrha was soon silence by a familiar yell coming in fast.

"I'm coming in hot, watch out!" Nora yelled.

She was falling to them in a fail attack that set it sights on them. The hammer was coming down and there wasn't anything else they could do but to close their eyes and hope it wouldn't hurt as much.

A vibrating thud was soon heard, then a continuing low hum.

Opening their eyes again they saw Nora hovering before them with her hammer in mid-swing. Zigzagging waves were racing down in a dome shape that protected Jaune and by extent Pyrrha. It was an awe sight to see, confusing to all three, Jaune most of all as his face drew closer to the dome's edge. 'is this my semblance?' he thought, within the admiration his fist slip, touching the ground with pop and a spark.

Then in a second later the humming sound started to grow louder, then the waves switched directions towards Nora and before anyone could react, "Wha!" Nora was repelled off; sending her flying into the orange sky.

Both stood up, alarm as they saw their teammate disappearing from view.

"Nora?" Jaune uttered.

Not sure what to say. Even more so as the dome grew big enough to envelope the small street. Shining like a crystal it finally burst, soon the asphalt collapse into a crater and the nearby cars and light-post fell apart; sliced in a neat dome shape with a thud and a car alarm sounding off.

Except for the few stragglers the battle was being won by the hunters in training.

Penny was relief to see this nice strangers coming for aid of others. Her esteem of Vale was proven today, more so the mission she was born to do to protect good people like them. She looked at the smaller girl who was calm but to her own keen eyes she could tell she was very tired.

"Theresa, I believe even though they're still resisting the battle is almost won. The Airship docks should be heavily guarded by Atlesian troops. I think now it would be your safest bet." She nodded.

The girl frown unsure. She indeed felt tired but she wanted to press on and help her friends.

"But I can't leave you, The enemy-"

"We're friends right?" Penny braced Theresa's shoulders. "And friends have to trust each other, so I heard. So please trust me to take care of them for you."

With the honest green eyes and the melodious voice that sounded so familiar Theresa was adamant in putting her faith in her new friend. She nodded and left, hoping that the rest of her team was near by just in case.

Thankful that her friend was soon safe she turn to the troops who were in the act of retreating. A groan was soon picked up. Eyes scanning she saw a lone female member caught under the severed legs of a paladin. Racing to the scene, she stopped over the fallen troop, crouching down she used all her might to pick up the leg and toss it off.

The White Fang member crawled forward and looked up. "You?" She lightly chuckled. "I can't believe you of all people would be the one helping me."

"Why? I help people: friend or enemy." Penny answered. She was designed to be a weapon yes, but she could still do morality choices on her own.

"Humans don't care about us Faunus, but you, a machi-heh is just I would think you would come here to eliminate me or something."

"Because even though you tried to hurt my friends it would be wrong to leave you to perish. Human or Faunus, you're not enemies to be simply eliminated."

"Jane stop!"

She didn't nothing, her arm were held in place by Ruby's. Was she really going to kill them? her arms squeezed tighter on the coat.

"Ruby, what are you doing?" Jane asked.

To Ruby it was getting harder and harder to read the other girl's face. Emotionless in contrast to The red-hooded girl's lucidly and angered emotions.

"What do you mean?! It's done! you don't have to resort to this." Ruby trying argue a basic fact that shouldn't be question at all was bewildering to her.

Jane however, saw it differently and argued back in a pragmatic view, "If they live, then they would just come back and hurt Theresa again. I can't let my friends hurt, even you Ruby."

"But Jane, we are Hunters. Slayers of monsters and upholders of peace, Killing people is not the way. Sure, they would always be some bad people who would try to hurt us but the thing about people is they could change. If they see the outcome of their actions they would reflect on that."

She believe they could change. Maybe not miraculously overnight but she was sure it would be better that simply snuffing them out. If all Hunters resorted to that pledge as a way of holding the peace then she would just take the other route. Even If she would be called a child or a foolish idealist she would just chide them and call herself a rebel and hero; ushering a new kind of hunter to fight the impossible.

"Ruby…" Jane said sadly.

Boom!

They both turn to see two figures flying into the warehouse. Olga landed harshly besides them, clutching North's wind as she huffed exhaustedly. Colorado rapidly rolled and bounced into a nearby open box container then rebounded back in front of them. Much to her displeasure she felt something scaly in her loud mouth.

Pulling out the fish tail, "Fish!" she shouted.

Ruby caught herself in a fit of giggles at the proud bully now spitting and desperately cleaning her tongue with her hands. Olga couldn't help but smirk too.

M'her!

The groaning sound caught the attention of the three girls. Looking up they could see a broken girder that was hit during the crash landing. Small debris fell down to the preoccupied Colorado and her fallen team.

"It's going to fall on them." Ruby muttered.

"Olga," Jane turn to face her partner, "I want you use an Ice dust sabot into that girder. It should hold it in place long enough." She pointed.

Olga stared for a second, then nodded. "Aye." She inserted a blue casing into the opening, aiming North's wind she fired. The impact quickly encased the broken metal and mended in a nest of ice.

"I won't forget this!" Colorado growled, she and her group slowly gotten up, still feeling the affects of the defeat. "Oh, I'm going to smell like fish for a week!" The group left for the entrance with their tail behind their backs.

"I guess you could say she is Colorado Clupea." Jane smirked.

Ruby gawked her head. "Um what?"

Jane shrugged. "You know, Clupea? the Herring that was lodge in her mouth?"

"Oh, hehehe." Ruby still didn't get.

Olga secured her weapon to the back. "I get it Janey, I don't find it funny now but I get it."

Olga frustratingly sat on the wide mouth of the large fountain. She redialed again, ever since they came back from the docks the phone stayed glued to her face.

Twitchy and hesitant; the dwindling sunlight and the constant patterning of the evening crowds increased it more. Ruby and Jane stood idly, neither could talk to her or get an answer. Although from the erratic behavior Ruby could tell it was an oblique threat from Colorado.

'Just what did that bully say?'

"I can't get a hold of Theresa!" She look up to Ruby with a defeated look. "I called Luvia earlier, she and your friend would be meeting us shortly."

She nodded after giving her a sympathetic smile.

After what happen today, Jane felt conflicted, many emotions and thoughts put the leader in doubt. For the while, walking from the shipyard she felt lost. However as she stared at the dilemma that her partner was fighting with, Jane took a more solemn oath as her role as a leader.

Somehow she knew her other teammate was fine and with the light touch on Olga's shoulder she passed on her reassurance with bright smile. A contagious smile that was also pass on to Olga who smiled back.

"I could see Weiss!" Ruby pointed at the unmistakable girl who stood out among the crowds with her high-class appearance. Luvia too soon appeared, sharp and poise as ever. Carrying on with an iron will.

"Ruby? You didn't get into trouble did you?" pointing at the clueless little leader who was coated with smudges of gun and dust, along with fishy smell that made Weiss scrounge up her nose. "Just what happen?"

"It's a long story." she laughed nervously, pulling away the heiress who soon regretted the fast and lengthily explanation. But Weiss did have to admit; Ruby was good at conveying a story with erratic hand gestures and dramatic sounds.

Luvia walk to her teammates, she looked around, "Where is Theresa?" the neon eyes flared at Olga. Feeling ashamed, the wolf girl stared at the title floor. "Luvia, I…" the boots dug deeper as she felt the magnifying glare.

Just as Luvia was about to say something they heard a familiar dolce yell. All of them turn to see Theresa running to them. Olga stood up with an astonished face, grey ears jolted.

The small girl stop in front of them to catch her breath. Luvia was surprise by the sudden and intense appearance. "Oh? Theresa, where were you just now?" she asked.

"Pen- she, s-he."

"Who?"

In between the gasp she tried to answer only to be interrupted by an increasingly louder yell.

"Ah!"

The object or rather person landed on the fountain displacing all the water in it and creating a large wave that was about to crash on them.

Accepting their faith with a simple smile, Olga put on her cowboy-hat while Jane put up her hood. Preparing for such an event, Luvia grab the smaller girl's arm and drew her close to her, then with her free hand she took out a fire-dust grenade and tossed it into the air. After the last beep the explosion vaporized the water over the two while the rest of the teammates were soaked.

"Bah!" Nora surface from the shallow fountain. Ignoring her predicament she picked up a small object with all aspiring stare.

"Oooh! A penny!"

After all the White Fang members finally retreated Penny felt her energy zapped. A lot of information was processing, why were the White Fang after her and Theresa? How did they know her secret?

Assessing the damage done to her body she wondered could she really save the world by herself. Feeling the gash cut across her back by the chains-sword she would often wonder how big a task was given to her and if she could really accomplish it. After all she was entrusted with the care of a friend, one that she almost lost.

The world felt so heavy by herself.

"Hey, are you alright?"

Penny turn around to see the total strangers that had come to her aid. She was sure they were hunters, the upholders of peace, warriors who would band together and fight for the good. With the deeply concern expression that both Jaune and Pyrrha was given her maybe the philosophy of Hunters would assuage the weight.

"Why yes, I'm one-hundred percent optimized!"

Hic!

"Are you sure?" Jaune asked again.

"Yes! Thank you for your concern but I am okay!" Hic! Penny covered her mouth again before returning to her bashful smile. Both Jaune and Pyrrha looked at each other. They didn't think an ordinary looking girl crush by a giant robot foot would be so cheerful.

As they stood there awkwardly they heard the heavy engine of a large dark blue car approaching them. The tires screeched with a full stop. One of the six doors open, a tall dark-skin man in a button lab-coat emerged from the cramped interior. "Penny." he spoke with a firm and upset tone.

The girl was hesitant with her arms shaking before she stood upright. "Sir!"

He looked around see the fallen Paladins and the damage done. The bald man scrunch up his face before he turn to looked at Jaune and Pyrrha. "I know the White Fang attacked, so who are they Penny?"

She shot a quick glance at them. "There the ones who helped me fend off certain capture Dr. Carnelian, I mean sir!"

"At ease Penny," He turn to look at the others who tried to look professional. "Hunters I presume. I thank you for your service." He said bluntly.

"Your welcome?" Jaune said tentatively.

"Penny, it's time for you to come with us. Your 'uncle' is waiting to speak with you." He gesture her over to come into the car.

The girl looked downcast. "Yes, sir."

Knock! Knock!

In the dorm room of the cabal and its mastermind the air thicken. Emerald who was sitting on the ground started to reach for her weapon, she was then commanded to cease by Cinder who shook her head and smirked.

In a sarcastic and hollow tone Mercury spoke. "Gee, I wonder who that could be." He put away his magazine, turning the door knob it open with him dramatically gasping. "Why, if it isn't the missing member of our four-man team."

The pig-tail girl didn't enter as she examined the poorly painted cardboard crown in her hands. She stared at the group with a wicked grin as she crushed the crown into pieces.

"Got something to say silent bob?" Mercury asked.

"Just proving a point about insubordination." she chuckled.

The burning amber eyes of Cinder glared. "I believe you already made your point today 'Colorado'." Her words rang with a knowing tone. "I find it hard to accept that the White Fang would get an opportunity to grasp two high value assets so easily without a little help."

She shot daggers at Colorado which made her feel weak and vulnerable. One of the few people to make her feel fear that way. She frown. "Okay um." her lips quivered.

Cinder's eyes flared even more. "After all, you're free to chose a side, but know this: Pick one without any regrets."

After hearing what happen today by a reluctant Olga, the dark chatelaine bit her lip.

But it didn't stop her mouth from watering at the sight of the cook pork. The long day settled into its end. Team JOLT enjoyed their evening with a nice diner at the expensive of Luvia: Theresa munched on a nice Caesar-salad, Olga did not let the smell of the shipping-yard waive her from eating a blacken trout, Jane herself ate a light meal consisting of a half a sandwich and a soup. While Luvia practically chugged a hearty bowl of Pozole.

"After reviewing the events of today, I think the White Fang must pay." Luvia spoke firmly, both Jane and Olga have stopped eating their meals, looking up at her with interest. The air around them sparked with tension as she continued. "Schnee and I has found a damning connection that one my company's stockholders, an illicit one, might be conniving with the aforementioned terrorist organization. Tomorrow night, Schnee and I will be going a covert mission to gather evidence and hopefully have the White Fang suffer a blow in the process."

Olga's eyebrow rose and eyes narrowed. "Ya don't say." she said cautiously.

"I see." Jane mimic the same tone.

Meanwhile Theresa continued to eat unaware.

Author's final Note: Colorado is in Cinder's team? what a 'shock'. Also more team conflict arises.

Also the next chapter will begin the new arc: The investigation Arc.

Also shout-out to the one reviewer. Thanks.

Read and Review if you please.