Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY. I wish I did. All characters, terms, and settings are property of Rooster Teeth. This is just a Fan creation. No profits are had. So enjoy this detour into my odd fascination with irrational Ships.
Chapter 14
"I still don't like this," Weiss said, scowling at her scroll. "I mean a victory party? Doesn't this feel just a little premature?"
"Orders are orders. With the success of the supplies we gave Mantle and the press attention it got, Ironwood wants us there, giving Robyn our support," Ruby said from her bunk. "Besides, Penny and the Ace Ops are working security, all we have to do is enjoy the party, talk to some people, and relax. What's the worst that can happen?"
"This is Ruby Rose, Councillor Hill was attacked. We have wounded and need medical support! Hello! Is anyone there!" Ruby shouted as she continued with chest compressions. "I repeat this is Ruby Rose, I'm a Huntress. We need medical."
Jaune stood next to her with a grimace on his face. "Ruby, stop," he said, defeat in his voice. "She's gone."
6 hours earlier
"A trap?" Jaune asked, watching as the shutters slid into place, basking Ironwood's office in darkness. The holoprojector rose from the floor and into place before emitting a display of the warehouse that Robyn Hill had announced would be hosting her preeminent victory party. Several locations were highlighted and labelled, including the only two entrances, a front door leading to the main street and a back door behind the stage, leading to an alley.
"That's the plan," Clover said, pointing to several of the locations. "With the attention you and your friends are getting for helping Robyn, we're predicting that Tyrian Callows won't be able to resist the opportunity. As far as the public knows, you and your friends just happened to be in Atlas and took that humanitarian mission. As it currently stands, there's nothing connecting you guys to the General and the possible high classified construction project we've got out in the tundra."
Jaune nodded and stroked his chin. "Yeah, but Tyrian would know that Ruby, Ren, Nora and myself have travelled with Qrow. The enemy would know that we have the lamp, and now that we're in Atlas, they'll assume we've delivered it to the general." Jaune stated an obvious logic, which was the actuality of the situation. "But you're not wrong. Put us there with Robyn and the Happy Huntresses and its very appealing. Perhaps too appealing, no?"
Ironwood nodded and walked around the holographic projection. "We've considered that possibility, but decided to go through with the plan anyway," he said. "If Tyrian Callows does show up, then all of Beacon Squad will be there, Robyn and her Huntresses will be there, and just off site the Ace Ops will be waiting in discrete unmarked vehicles, running surveillance, on a closed network in case our mysterious hacker is also involved."
"If he doesn't, well then the night continues without incident and we resume operations, waiting for another opportunity," Ironwood said, looking over the layout of the warehouse. "Robyn will be made aware of the operation, but only Robyn. It'll take some convincing, but I'm confident that she'll agreed to keep this operation from any prying ears. She understands the stakes"
Clover took a lull in the conversation to resume the planning. "We've set up a few avenues that Callows might attempt to use for either infiltration or escape. Earlier today, before Robyn made the announcement we had some Atlas technicians in plains clothes set up non-networked cameras in the area," he said, bringing up the positions and viewpoints. "They'll be physically connected to our unmarked vehicles. The only issue now is whether Callows will show."
Jaune nodded and looked over the cameras, checking for blind spots. "It's a trap and we're the bait. I don't have a problem with that, or the risks," Jaune said, reigning in his frustration with the general and Clover. "What I do have issue with is leaving my friends in the dark. The Ace Ops will know, I'll know, but my Team? Team RWBY? They'll be left hanging there if it all goes wrong!"
"Fiona stop!" "Robyn behind you!"
Jaune looked over the mission briefing for the fourth time and liked it even less. Although the humanitarian mission was successful, more successful than anticipated, the work wasn't done yet. The press highlighting their work with Robyn Hill was all the talk of Atlas and Mantle. The news circuits had been having a field day with the coverage nonstop since it happened. "Beacon Huntsmen and Huntresses rally to assist Robyn Hill and Mantle, announce their support for her election. Jacques Schnee vilified. Shut down of SDC facilities, Criminal?"
It was all very sensational and at times droll. The Mantle specific news was paying more attention to the actual efforts and results, the supplies and Robyn, while the Atlas specific outlets were focused on the drama. Weiss was in the spotlight quite a bit. "Schnee household Schism? Former SDC Heiress Weiss Schnee seen in Mantle on humanitarian mission with Team announces support for Robyn Hill's election, in direct opposition to Jacques' campaign. Winter Schnee reportedly also at odds with family. More on page 7."
Ironwood's name had come up a few times with some Pro-Atlas opinion pieces questioning his position for allowing Huntsmen from other Kingdoms to take humanitarian missions on an Atlas Mission Board. The Military PR response was precise and effective. "Missions boards in all Kingdoms are not and have never been limited to nationality. The system allows for all Huntresses and Huntsmen to take missions wherever they are for all purposes. These brave few simply got to the posting first and did their duty. To imply that certain mission within Atlas' borders should only be authorized for Atlas Huntresses and Huntsmen borders on xenophobic."
Most of the opinions, both official or editorial, were positive. All of the Mantle coverage was good, and about half of the ones in Atlas were good, so it was a win. Though the fallout was not outside of predictions.
"Tyrian Callows, you're under arrest!" "Oh, I don't think so."
"I don't like this. Keeping secrets from them. It just feels like what Ozpin did, to us, to everyone," Jaune exclaimed while pacing. "I hate the secrets and the lying. But if Tyrian does figure it out, if we slip up and he gets away, then we're no better off than we were." In a bout of frustration, Jaune punched a nearby bulkhead, denting it inward.
"Please refrain from damaging my quarters any further," Winter said, sitting in her favorite chair. "I, understand your vexation, truly, I do, but why did you come here? Why did you come to see me with this?"
Jaune's pacing froze. "I, I'm not sure," Jaune said, not even convincing himself. "I guess I- I just needed someone to vent to. Someone I trusted." There was an awkward silence. Jaune swallowed hard. He knew what was burgeoning between them. He wasn't oblivious this time. He enjoyed their time together, on mission or otherwise.
Even now just being in the room with her made things less daunting. "I'm normally… incredibly bad at this, but you make things seem more manageable. Everything we're doing. All the incomprehensible stakes don't seem so unachievable," Jaune said, looking out the window behind her desk. "Ironwood's faith in us, I wasn't sure we deserved it at first. With everything we've done and failed to do. All the losses and defeats. But now we're actually doing it. We're fighting back."
Winter smiled. "Thank you Jaune. I will admit that the situation seems less bleak when you're around as well. Your boundless optimism, that ever present smile and boyish charm," she said, feeling her cheeks flush. "You've proven to be far from what my sister described. I believe her exact words were 'insufferable', 'incompetent', and 'pig-headed'. I don't know what exactly transpired between you two at Beacon, though I am aware that you sought to court my sister and she was adamant on her… disapproval."
Jaune laughed pitifully. "But then she and I had the opportunity she informed me of your exploits getting to Atlas, how you handled yourself during the Fall of Beacon, and your bravery at Haven. Though I was quite cross to learn that she omitted her injury," Winter said, still smiling. "I believe I'm rambling though."
"No, it's fine. I've been known to ramble a bit myself," Jaune said before a small chuckle. "I don't really know what's happening here, but I don't want to ignore it. Not this time." Gathering all of his courage Jaune closed the distance between and took her hand in his. "Tell me to stop and I'll stop. Tell me to leave and I'll leave." With his other hand he cupped her face.
Winter felt her face warm in his touch and her heart accelerated. The officer in her told her to make him stop, to end this now. That it wasn't right, it wasn't professional. But everything else in her wanted him to stay. He was right, they didn't know what was between them, but she didn't want to ignore it either. "I don't want you to leave."
Neither of them knew who leaned in first, but it didn't matter. Slowly they shared a very gentle, very tender kiss.
"This is Jaune. Hill, Ruby and I are in pursuit of Tyrian. Send backup to our location."
Jaune stood at the makeshift entrance to the 'Employees Only' area of the stage. It was nothing more than a hastily made stage and some curtains, but it served well enough to keep the regular folk away. A few had come up to him specifically to thank him for the supplies and for helping Mantle, though he humble about it and made no issue of the matter.
At first the warehouse seemed too large of a venue for the event, and Jaune had a clear view of his friends, but slowly more and more people started filing in and he lost sight of everyone else. "Comm check. Everything good?" Jaune said, looking at the stage tapping his ear.
"Ruby and Weiss here, everything's fine on the South corner."
"Blake here. Yang and I have the North side. All good."
"Nora and Ren at the main entrance. Nothing odd here."
Jaune let out a breath he didn't notice he was holding. "Just checking. I know this is a party, but technically we're on the clock, so let's give these people a reason to trust us other than just handing out Atlas' supplies to them," Jaune said, scanning the room. He didn't want to tip their hand, so to speak, but he wanted his friends to be ready.
Before long, Robyn Hill and her Happy Huntresses arrived. The crowd was excited, cheering and chanting at their mere arrival. Jaune met eyes with Robyn from across the stage who nodded her head to the back. Jaune caught the meaning and made his way backstage.
"Robyn Hill, Jaune Arc. We never really got the chance to talk yesterday, what with handing out all the supplies," Jaune said, offering her his hand. She looked at him incredulously before taking it. "I trust you're ready for tonight."
"Trust eh?" Robyn said with a smile. She hadn't let go of Jaune's hand and looked at him. "What's going on with Amity out in the tundra?" Before Jaune knew what was happening their hands started to glow a dim grey with aura.
"I'm afraid it's not my place to say." Jaune said firmly, watching as their hands were basked in a green aura before he tore his grip from hers. "Neat trick. Don't do that again." Jaune looked around and saw that the Happy Huntresses were standing off to the side, seemingly waiting for Robyn to make her address. "I understand that the General told you what is at stake here, so if you need anything relating to that, let me know."
Jaune didn't give Robyn the chance to follow up and walked back to his position. "Ok, eyes up everyone," Jaune said to his comms, "Robyn's going to take the stage, keep an eye out." Jaune internally lamented about trying to keep his friends on mission even though they don't know what that mission is.
"Relax Jaune, it's just a speech," Yang's voice in his ear chided. "I don't think anyone here is gonna try anything that Robyn and her team can't handle."
There was a chorus of everyone else agreeing with Yang, only cementing in Jaune his feeling of dread and guilt. He was about to try and reaffirm a sense of duty when a screech of feedback came out the sound system of the building, forcing his attention to the stage.
Fiona stood there, timidly holding a microphone at arm's length. "He-he, well, that worked." Fiona said timidly. Looking up at Fiona and the stage, Jaune noticed the current poll results behind her. Robyn's lead had shrunk dramatically from only a few hours ago. 57% to 43%. A stark contrast to the 70/30 the day had started with. The crowd began chanting "Robyn".
Before long Fiona started the main event of the evening. "I want to thank everyone for going to the polls today. This is Mantle's moment. I know that, like me, you're all thrilled that we chose Robyn as our voice in Atlas. No one has fought harder for Mantle than she has," Fiona said before stopping to wipe tears from her eyes. "I know Robyn will continue that fight on the Council. Will you share a few words?"
Fiona turned to look at an off stage Robyn, causing the crowd to intensify their chanting of Robyn's name. Robyn walked onto the stage, causing the crowd to cheer. She took the microphone and gave Fiona a one armed hug.
"I've never been much for public speaking, probably wasn't my best idea ever to go into politics," Robyn said, smiling at the crowd. "Thank you so much, everyone, for choosing me. You said you believe in me. But I'm the one who believes in all of you. You've proven to me that as individuals, we are strong. But together, we're unstoppable."
Jaune tore his gaze away from the stage and scanned the crowd again.
"So no matter what happens tonight, win or lose, we will continue to fight for our city, because it is this city that brings us together," Robyn said before raising a fist in solidarity. The crowd began to cheer more and upbeat music resumed playing.
Jaune sighed and let his shoulders relax a little. "Ok, I'm going to do a round." Jaune said to his comms. "Ruby, you mind taking over at the stage entrance?"
There was a slight hiss of static before Ruby's voice came across. "Yeah. On my way." She said cheerily. A small smile graced Jaune's face at Ruby's optimism. It didn't take long for Ruby to practically burst out of the crowd pulling her cloak behind her, looking back at the crowd with a childish scowl.
Jaune smiled and approached Ruby. Before Jaune could thank her for covering his position Ruby's face flashed into fear and confusion. Jaune ran closer and saw what she saw, a familiar but updated tail recoiled in the crowd. Jaune and Ruby only briefly saw the manic smile of a laughing Tyrian. Before either of them could get a word out, the lights all turned off.
There was a brief moment of a quiet confusion, the calm before the storm.
In the darkness Jaune and Ruby drew their weapons. They stood there, on edge, waiting for something to happen. Then, as if the universe wanted to prove Jaune right, something terrible happened. Not that he or Ruby could tell what it was, but the blood curdling screams within the crowd was clear. "Blake! We've got Tyrian in the crowd. We need eyes on him!" Jaune nearly shouted into his comms.
Before Jaune and Ruby could push their way into the crowd, the panic pushed against them, throwing Ruby against the wall. Jaune rushed to her side as she took the brunt of the impact to the back of her head. "Ruby!" Jaune said, kneeling next to her and immediately patting the back of her head, checking for blood. She seemed to only be dazed.
"Nora, Ren!" Jaune said, holding a barely conscious Ruby in his arms. "Make sure he doesn't get out with the crowd. Weiss, we need light in here! Yang, be ready to back up Blake. This guy is extremely dangerous. Like Qrow level strong."
There was a chorus of affirmation and though he couldn't see it, he had every confidence that his friends were doing their part. Slowly Ruby got her feet. "Ruby? You good?" Jaune asked as he helped her steady herself.
"Yeah, just wasn't expecting that hit. What's going on?" Ruby asked before unfurling Crescent Rose.
Jaune stood up, unsuccessfully peering into the darkness. "Tyrian's here. We have to protect Robyn," he said, guiding Ruby in darkness to the stage access. As they approached, they heard the signature sounds of Gambol Shroud firing in the dark. The dim lights coming through the windows or underneath doors allowed Jaune to get to the stage, Ruby close behind.
As they ran up on stage the warehouse started glowing with a soft light as Weiss threw glowing, flaming glyphs all across the warehouse. In a moment everyone saw Tyrian Callows in the middle of the warehouse, surrounded by his victims. Blake laid at his feet, holding her stomach, a bleeding wound. "Oh, that's an unfortunate turn of events," Tyrian said with a cackle.
Tyrian looked around at all of his foes. "Well, things have gotten a bit more interesting than anticipated." Tyrian said before only narrowly dodging the incoming strike from Yang who had been out of sight directly above him. The ground behind Tyrian exploded and Tyrian lept backward, gracefully transitioning into a back-flip and landing into a roll.
Standing on the stage with Jaune and Ruby in front of her, Robyn stared, dumbfounded at Tyrian. "Ironwood was telling the truth, she said, struggling to believe it. "Tyrian Callows, you'll pay for this!" Robyn shouted in rage as she dived off the stage, crossbow in its War Fan mode. She swiped wildly at Tyrian who dodged all of her attacks effortlessly.
The Happy Huntresses were right behind Robyn, attempting to attack Tyrian in melee and at a distance. Tyrian though was seemingly unable to be hit. When May and Joanna closed the distance and attacked in sync, Tyrian merely took the opportunity to redirect their weapons into each other and used Joanna as a human shield against Fiona's bolts, casually discarding her when he surprised Fiona with his tail, tossing her across the warehouse.
Without backup, Jaune and Ruby leaped to Robyn's aid, attempting to catch Tyrian off guard, but to dismal results. Tyrian casually dodged and redirected their attacks, almost causing them to strike each other a few times. Despite how much they'd improved since their first confrontation in Oniyuri, they were still outclassed. Taking a more reserved approach, Jaune carefully pulled back, signalling to Ruby and Robyn to do the same, slowly and deliberately surrounding Tyrian.
Ren and Nora remained at the main door, determined not to let Tyrian escape. Yang was kneeling next to Blake and was attempting to dress her wound. Weiss was standing off to the side, concentrating on maintaining the Fire glyphs they needed to see. All this left only Jaune, Ruby, and Robyn to deal with Tyrian.
"What?!" Tyrian shouted to seemingly no one. He glared at empty space off to his side. "But they're all right here! I should just kill them all and be done with it!" Tyrian let out a guttural scream of anger. "Fine!" He turned his attention back to Robyn. "It appears our little run in is going to have to be, cut, short." He smiled as he gestured to the corpses all around him. "Perhaps another time."
Tyrian suddenly dashed forward, poised for an attack on Robyn only to somersault over her as she swung at him, playfully smacking her in the back of the head as he did, quickly dashing to the stage and towards the back entrance behind it. As he landed on the stage, the lights suddenly came back on.
The existence of light allowed Weiss to drop her continued effort on the Fire glyphs and she staggered to one knee. Yang was still applying pressure on Blake's wound, which Jaune noted wasn't purple, alleviating some of his dread.
Tyrian performed a wide sweeping bow on the stage before rushing out the back. Robyn, practically snarling, rushed after him, Jaune and Ruby close on her heels. "Nora! Ren! Support Team RWBY until help arrives," Jaune shouted on his way out. Once in the alley, Jaune and Ruby caught up with Robyn as she still had a visual on Tyrian.
"This is Jaune. Hill, Ruby and I are in pursuit of Tyrian. Send backup to our location," Jaune said into his radio, trying not to look at Ruby who was giving him a confused look. This confusion was short lived as overhead a familiar trail of lightning and hook appeared on the roofs. Before long Harriet and Clover arrived, intercepting Tyrian's path and standing in front of him.
Clover, extending his kingfisher, stared Tyrian down, blocking the madman's escape. "Tyrian Callows, you're under arrest!" Clover said, obviously prepared for the fight. Tyrian cracked a smile before slowly laughing.
"Oh, I don't think so," Tyrian said as he lowered himself into a feral combat stance. Launching himself towards Clover, Tyrian unleashed a flurry of swipes with his wrist blades, none of which hit their mark.
Frustrated, Tyrian changed up his combat style, moving in a more grotesque manner and adding swipes of his tail. Jaune, Ruby, and Robyn watched in awe as Clover dodged the onslaught of attacks, but moved to assist. Before any of them could though, a streak of lightning whipped past them. Before anyone could react Harriet had tackled Tyrian from behind in a near imperceptible ball of lightning. The pair rolled down the alley a few feet with Harriet violently pushing herself off of Tyrian revealing that in the tussle, she'd managed to wrap Tyrian in a gravity bolo.
Severely limited in his movements, Tyrian struggled to get back to his feet, a deep scowl on his face. Again Tyrian seems to hear voices. "No! Things are not going well!" Tyrian shouted, looking up at the sky to nothing. "That would be very appreciated!" Tyrian returned his glare to Clover. "You look familiar. Have I tried to kill you before?" Tyrian said, cracking a smile.
Clover, despite an obvious attempt to maintain composure, moved in to continue the attack on Tyrian, who while restrained by the bolo, was still a genuine threat. Nimbly, Clover dodged Tyrian's kicks and managed to attach his hook to the bolo, jerking Tyrian around and keeping him off balance constantly.
Sensing an opportunity, Robyn leaped at Tyrian, whose head snapped around to meet her gaze before jumping and tucking into as small of a target as possible causing Robyn to miss her very powerful swing. Before hitting the ground, Tyrian unrolled to his full height, firmly planting both feet in Robyn's face and crashing her into Clover.
Anger radiating off of her, Harriet rushed at Tyrian, the lightning of her semblance streaking behind her. She threw her arm back, readying for a strike, but before she could make contact with her foe an Atlas surveillance drone brutally collided with her face. Harriet was knocked off course and violently crashed to the ground, rolling and barrelling through crates before she finally impacted a wall, breaking her Aura.
To everyone's surprise, and Tyrian's glee, a small fleet of Atlas surveillance drones flew in to swarm around Tyrian, seemingly protecting him. The standard soft blue lights of the drones were replaced with an ominous red. From within the swarm Tyrian smirked at his would-be captors and resumed his escape. As Ruby and Robyn attempted to give chase, the drones descended on them, activating their self defence function and bristling with an electrical charge.
Jaune watched from right behind Ruby and Robyn as any contact they made with their weapons severely debilitated them, if only momentarily. They both attempted to fall back, refraining from melee and opting to only fire at the drones. Thinking quickly, Jaune saw an opening and moved to take it. He ran away slightly to give himself the needed space for the running start. "Ruby, up!" Jaune said, breaking into a sprint.
Catching on instantly, Ruby prepared her scythe and at the right moment as Jaune jumped she positioned herself under him and fired Crescent Rose, propelling him over the drone swarm. Jaune gracelessly rolled through the air and righted himself above the drones, facing his shield straight down and readying himself. With a repulsion of gravity dust all the drones crashed hard into the concrete, shattering in impact.
Jaune tumbled to the ground but got up quickly. "Let's move," he said to Ruby and Robyn. They continued down the alley after Tyrian, only barely seeing him turn a corner. As they caught up to the corner they saw the remains of the gravity bolo on the ground when they passed it. Ahead of them Tyrian was free of it, running in his trademark low to the ground bounding.
Jaune, Ruby, and Robyn struggled to keep up with Tyrian but as luck would have it, Tyrian led them to a dead end. "It's over Callows. You've got nowhere to run," Robyn said, taking point.
Tyrian whipped around with a scowl, only for it to dissolve into a smile. "Goody." He said before lowering himself into his feral combat stance. Before he could launch himself at them though, a shot came from the rooftops and the Happy Huntresses arrived to help. Fiona, May, and Joanna descended on Tyrian, having learned from their mistake at the warehouse and not letting him force them to hit each other. Robyn quickly joined in but to middling effect.
Jaune and Ruby watched, anxiously, wanting to help but not seeing an opening in the coordinated teamwork of the Happy Huntresses. The combined efforts of the Huntresses didn't seem to be suited for someone like Tyrian, but worked well enough at pushing him further and further back to the dead end of the ally.
As they continued their advantage the Huntresses grew just ever so slightly bolder, taking wider hits, moving just out of position. By the time Robyn noticed that, it was too late. "Fiona stop!" Robyn cried out. Tyrian had also seen it and in a furious spin and flurry of kicks repelled the Huntresses just as they were about to make their move, pushing them all off balance. Robyn collapsed next to May.
Seeing his opening Tyrian slowly raised his tall behind him, readying to strike at an unaware Robyn. "Robyn, behind you!" May screamed, getting her wits back first. Robyn clenched her eyes and waited for the hit.
Robyn felt a dull thud and was confused. She had expected to feel slashing or piercing, but the impact was barely noticeable. She looked up and saw Joanna smiling at her. "Sorry Robyn. Guess we won't get to have that rematch after all. Don't go and do anything reckless now. Mantle still needs you," Joanna said weakly, blood slowly starting to leak from her lips.
Behind her stood Tyrian, robotic tail embedded in Joanna's back. Weakly, Joanna put her arms behind her and gently felt Tyrian's stinger buried in her back. With the last of her strength and aura Joanna activated her semblance, turning her hands and arm into the same metal of Tyrian's prosthetic stinger and squeezed it with all her might, caving it in under her grip. "Get Robyn out of here!" Joanna shouted.
"What?!" Tyrian shrieked and attempted to pull away, but Joanna's grip was too strong. "No! No! Noooo!" Tyrian screamed. Jaune and Ruby took this opportunity to rush in and help the down Huntresses, Joanna's body transmuting more and more into metal.
Tyrian attempted to strike Joanna with his wrist blades, but her entire body was metal already. Anger and dread filled his face as he looked at Ruby and Jaune. His expression changed to one of worry when voices could be heard in the distance.
It was the rest of the Ace Ops. They were closing in on their location. Jaune's scroll hadn't stopped transmitting since he requested backup.
There was a tense silence as Tyrian unleashed a barrage of ineffective swipes on Joanna. "No-no-no-no-no!" Tyrian repeated under his breath. He glared daggers at each of them, only to pause on Ruby. Something dawned on him. "Oh not again!"
Before anyone could move to stop him Tyrian scissored his stinger between his wrist blades and cleaved it off. "AHH!" Tyrian writhed, though not in pain, but frustration and anger. Jaune and Ruby made to engage him but before they could several surveillance drones appeared between them and initiated a self-destruct. The explosion knocked Jaune and Ruby back.
When the ringing in their ears ceased Jaune saw no signs of Tyrian. He was gone. They had failed.
With Tyrian gone Jonna's semblance receded and she collapsed. Ruby rushed over to Joanna and checked her pulse. "She's not breathing!" Ruby cried out and began administering chest compressions. She paused only briefly enough to tap the comms in her ear. "This is Ruby Rose, Councillor Hill was attacked. We have wounded and need medical support! Hello! Is anyone there!" Ruby shouted as she continued with chest compressions. "I repeat this is Ruby Rose, I'm a Huntress. We need medical."
Jaune stood next to her with a grimace on his face. "Ruby, stop," he said, defeat in his voice. "She's gone."
A/N: Hey! Look at that! I'm not dead! No, I didn't die, just the laptop with all my notes and WIPs on it... Yeah. So that's the reason for the massive delay/unintended hiatus. Had to get a new one, tried recovering my files, couldn't get them all. So I had to start over on 14 from scratch. Then it kind of just grew and grew, and ultimately I wanted to get back to y'all with a massive surprise and this monster of chapter came to be.
So, yeah. I just killed one of the Happy Huntresses. I initially planned on killing Fiona, but decided that she served too much in the overall plot of Canon V7/8 to off her like this. So it was between May and Joanna. I ultimately decided on Joanna because she does the least in the show, in terms of importance. I wanted to have her be important somehow, and she can do that in death here.
Now, moving forward. I'm going to try and keep to a weekly release schedule, but no promises. Still looking for people will to Beta for me, just someone to check over the chapter before I post. I've gotten a little... unintentionally comfortable with my mistakes, so I don't see them all the time. This chapter had someone go over it, but I can't guarantee that for all of them. If you're interested in being that person to get first crack at a chapter, well you can find me in Discord at Dezmar-Sama#6079, or in the r/RWBY Discord server. I'm pretty active there, specifically in the Fanfiction Room.
But yeah. That's about it. I'm pretty excited to be back at and to see all of your wonderful comments. You guys keep me motivated and I'm super stoked to get these chapters out.
