The Mist Pt. II

-Anima-

"Emerald?" Ren gasped. Emerald looked at him with anger and hate. For some reason, she knew about him more than he ever thought of for whatever reason. "You..."

"What?"

Emerald then takes out her pistols and fires them as Ren dodged then by rolling them. Then he fired back with his pistols, but Emerlad leaps away and aimed her fist at him, but missed as she only made a crack on the ground.

"Why, Emerlad? Why help destroy Beacon? Why posing as Haven students?" Ren then parried her punches and was only blew down with a high kick. "Ugh!"

"Kyah!" Emerald then pinned him down to the ground. "You deserve it! Everything I lost was because of you!" Emerald yelled out and spat at his face. But Ren ignored it and fought back. Pushing Emerald off him.

Ren then slashes his kunai and swipes Emerald's chains away. With one more whip from Emerald, Ren grabs it and pulls her in. "Me?! What did I have anything with you?!" Ren tried to reason with her.

Emerald used Ren's pulling to use her kick. Ren flips back and avoids Emerald's attacks. Using his palms to counter her blows. "You will see why, when I end your life!" Ren could feel her anger directed towards him. He wasn't sure why.

Using a sweep kick to trip Emerald back. But also dodging hers as she spins on ground.

Nora was wandering around the forest for someone she hasn't seen for a long time. "Mom! Mom!" Nora called for who appeared to be her mother. But there was no response. She could feel herself shaking. Not because of the chills, but because of the trembling of the sight of the fog.

"Ren!" Nora called for Ren. There was no response. Then a voice was called to her. "Nora." Nora turned to the voice and it belonged to her mother, she has violet hair, but with the same cyan eyes as her. It was her mother. "Mom?" Nora's voice felt small at the sight of her mother. It all felt like it was yesterday.

"I have questions. Why did you left me?" Nora asked, her heart feeling saddened at the memory her mother had left her. But was it for dead? Or was it the circumstances of the Grimm that her mother cannot get to her. "After all those years, you looked the same."

"Nora..." Before the illusion can speak.

"Tell me something, why? Who is my dad?" Asked Nora. But the image of her mother was silent. Then another voice came into her ears. "Nora!" A male voice all tok familiar. Nora spins around to see who it is. "Huh? Ghost? Are you talking to me?"

"Nora..."

"I must be hearing things." Nora rubbed her ears, thinking she was hearing things. Then reality hit her as soon as she snapped her eyes opened.

"Nora!" Nora opened her eyes. And Sage was kneeling next to her shaking her awake. And found herself lying on the ground. She looked around and it was nothing but trees and fog. "Sage, how long had I been out?" Asked Nora.

"Not long, but we need to find the others. The Mist is creating illusions to distract them." Shoji licked Nora's cheek to make sure she is okay. Nora petted him in return.

"Where's Ren?" Asked Nora, as she remembered that he got sidetracked in the mist. Then she hears gunshots. And those gunshots belonged to Ren. "That's got to be Ren. He needs help." Nora then sprints forward to where the gunshots were at.

"Shoji, come on!" Sage told his pet wolf and Shoji followed again. Sage heard the voice again. "Sage..." Sage almost stops to see an illusion of his mother, but shook his head again to focus.

"No, not again! Have to focus. This fog keeps playing tricks on us." Sage reminded himself.

-Mountain Glenn, 8 years Ago-

During a second semester, Winter and Jupiter were paired up despite being in separate teams already. Because the two have powerful semblances, officials believed they should cooperate and learn how to work together regardless of their antagonism towards one another.

"Jupiter, why can't you be more like Miss Schnee?" They said. "Why can't you be as swift as her?" They said. Argh! It's because of you, I'm always the lesser student!" Jupiter spat at Winter. Winter remained at silent as she folded her arms while still a bit ticked at his own words.

"Are you going to rant more, or are we going to finisht this?" Winter huffed calmly. Jupiter blows a raspberry from his tongue in response. "Well, aren't you a sad sack of a silver platter?" Jupiter remarked. "How did I end up stuck with you?"

"Good question. Let me remind you that you need me to snap out of your tendencies of your violent habits, the way you act before you can think, thievery." Winter smirked. Causing Jupiter to growl at her. Winter isn't afraid of the blue-haired rebel. But the last word got Jupiter to turned to her. "Wait, what?! How did you know?"

"Enough, let's get this done and over with, Vasilias, before midnight." Winter told him as she and Jupiter hopped off the ship as their mission begins.

Later at night, there was no sign of thugs, nor the Grimm. But waited for the next plan to investigate the faction of Dr. Merlot's whereabouts. So they set a campfire to take watch for a moment.

Winter then eyes on what Jupiter was wearing. A tear drop necklace that was of blue aquatic color. "That necklace, there was something familiar about it." Winter stated gesturing to it. Jupiter jerked his head away.

"What's it to you?" He scoffed. This prompts Winter to take out her necklace, that was similar to his, only it was white. "It was similar to mine. My grandfather gave it to me before his passing. He told me it was carved by an old friend of his. It became more of an heirloom, not the family company, not even armor. Just this. Where did you get yours from?"

Jupiter tried to avoid the question. Winter May have been apprehensive about Jupiter. But she hoped there was good in him if he can just open it. "It wasn't mine. It was my brother's. An assassin killed him after he graduated from Haven. I never wanted to take that off. Before it was given to him by my father and his father before him. For some reason, everytime Father looks at the necklace, it made him look like he had seen a ghost. Haunted by a piece of jewelry that was just a carving. Not sure what gives."

"I'm sorry." Winter said to him. Jupiter blinked when Winter apologized. It had him turned to her because he never saw this side of her.

"What for? Aren't you Schnees supposed to be unapologetic? Since when do you care?" Jupiter asked. Winter cleared her throat. She was never good with emotions as a child growing under her father's thumb. As she gets older, she vowed to never fall in love, nor to surrender to her own emotions. But maybe she can find Jupiter's inner self in him.

"If you think living in a manor filled with dusts and fortune is what's making me the big shot, you're wrong. If you can see more clearly, then you'll know why my grandfather's legacy has a meaning. When his business became successful, nobody saw him for him. Only for his name and money. Cause before he was a dust miner before my great-grandfather was killed in an accident. His generosity and courage is what brought him to where he was today, even if no longer around. Though he wasn't the best businessman, it was his heart and mind that had him to see a brighter side of Remnant. Not only did it came from his dust mining days, but it came from protecting and serving the people, even if no one else appreciates him."

Jupiter seem to stop resisting at Winter's words as he grew to be intrigued. It was pointless to compare her to Jacques. "I have a sister and a brother, whom I held dearly. But the way things are now with the company under my father's management, it was never the same again. I vowed to myself that I will not let anyone else decide my fate, I swore on my grandfather's grave that I will write my own story for when I become a full-fledge soldier. My only hope now was that my siblings follow that example to write their own. Even if I'm no longer a Schnee. Hoping I am just Winter to everyone else. And I am going to prove it to them. And when I die, I wanted to be remembered as a soldier, not a Schnee."

"Well, good luck with that." Jupiter sighed as he brushed it off. Thinking people will just remember her as a Schnee, not as a person.

Winter then turned to Jupiter who was staring at her on awe. She blinked her eyes, not knowing what he was thinking. "What are you staring at?" Winter asked. Jupiter shook his head and tried to deny his own newfound feelings. "N-nothing. You lost me there. Know what?! Whatever. I'll take watch for tonight."

Winter was at a loss for words. Her tale might have an effect on him. As if a door to his heart was slightly opened before it closes again. But nonetheless, she needs to sleep. So she laid down and closed her eyes.

-Anima, Present-

Ren and Jaune were clashing each other's weapons, as neither of them are aware that not only they were fighting illusions, but also each other.

"Pyrrha, I'm sorry for not being there for you!" Jaune tearfully apologized to an image of Pyrrha in front of him. While Ren is trying to reach out to Emerald, or at least what appears to be.

"Stop this, Emerald! Whatever vendetta you had, it is with me!" Ren shouted as he blocks Jaune's slash. Emerald watches from a few meters as he illusions are fun for her to use. "Huh, this is getting fun. I wonder for how long will I mess with their heads." Emerald snickers until she was smacked from behind. Emerald rolled and make a stance. It was Scarlet, already aware of her illusions.

"I already knew you would show up, bloody thief." Scarlet snarled. He then holds out his sword aimed straight at her. "I don't know much about you, but I hate you already." He remarked. Ready to give her a piece of his mind.

"Looks like you weren't dumber than the rest of them, red. But when I'm done with you, this might be your last fun." Emerald then holds out her pistols and both she and Scarlet circled around in a standoff.

Scarlet twirl his sword around and smirked. "Heh. I'd love to see you try." He chuckled. Then Emerald lost focus on her semblance due to Scarlet's interfering, and her illusions wear off from Jaune and Ren, who then came to their senses.

"Ren?"

"Jaune?" The two then parted from each other, confused.

"What are we doing?" They heard a clang to see Scarlet battling Emerald. "Emerald, she was messing with our heads. I should've known she be here." Jaune growled, clenching onto his blade and combined with with his shield.

Sage, Nora and Shoji arrived to their aid. "Emerald?! What on Remnant is she doing here?!" Nora snarled taking out her hammer and thrusted herself onto Emerald. Then Emerald created on herself an illusion of Ren, but Nora wasn't easily fooled. "Not this time you won't!"

Nora spins her hammer above her head and then aimed at her upper body. But Emerald fearfully dodged her and attempts to wrap her chains around. Scarlet then cuts them with his blade. "Oh, no you don't!" Jaune then charged at him while Scarlet fires his gun at Emerald.

Jaune slams Emerald to the ground. His face became murderous as he wants answers. "You're going to tell me where Cinder is!" He demanded. Only for Emerald to spit saliva on his face. Then she uses her feet to roll him and then tossed him to the trunk of a tree. But Jaune wasn't finished with her yet.

Jaune then slams his sword to the ground to where Emerald is standing. And then she summersaults back. Jaune made a crater in the dirt. Nora then spiral sideways to knock Emerald on the tree. "She's all yours, Jaune!" Nora told him, vengeful as he is, Nora hope to at least capture her.

But was having second thoughts when Jaune looked at her with pure hatred and disgust. Emerald could see that Jaune wanted nothing more than to be relieved from the pain, even if it meant to take down a person responsible. Sage noticed this and tried to stop him..

Jaune rushed towards Emerald and was about to lunge his sword onto her abdomen. But Sage interferes, enemy or not, Emerald didn't deserve anything too severe. Both blades where crossed together. Emerald took this chance and ran.

"What are you doing?! She's getting away!" Jaune yelled at Sage.

"I know what you're trying to do! But this isn't going to help!" Sage interjects. They were pushed backwards as they continue to fight. Sage blocks Jaune's slashes while he tried to get him out of the way.

Scarlet tried to tackled Emerald, but instead she disappeared like a ghost. "What?" And fell forward instead. Sage ducked down as Jaune, in full anger and despair was, was ready to lash out anyone who gets in the way. Nora and Ren watched, terrified for what was about to become of Jaune, until Sage uses his palm to gesture him to stop, putting down his blade. "I said, STOP!" Sage's aura glows green as his palm raches towards his chest and lowered Jaune's aura as he paused.

Jaune felt his energy draining from his body and he fell. Until Nora catches him in her arms. Jaune breathed steadily. Whatever Sage did, he calmed him down. Sage looked into his palm, shocked at what he just did. But clenched his fists out of relief that Jaune was fine and calmed down. "He's breathing. Sage you did it!" Nora told him.

"Forget Jaune! Emerald's getting away!" Scarlet shouted as he looks round to see if Emerald was about to attack, but nothing came to them. Ren places his hand on his shoulder. "Not now. We recuperate today, fight tomorrow." He told him. Not wanting another incident. "We need to find Ruby before any of the Black Vipers or any of Cinder's forces got to her." He continued, causing Scarlet to curse the world to self-destruct.

-Mistral-

In the bar of the Spider gang organization, Jupiter was led by Alea, one of his former flings and spies (but most likely his favorite) to them where they were to meet Lil' Miss Malachite. The leader of the Spiders. She was sitting on the table flapping her fan near her face. Standing behind her are Malachite's black-haired twin daughters, Melanie and Miltia Malachite.

"I didn't know you had those connections to them, Babe." Jupiter told the blonde-hair. Alea then held her finger under his chin. "I knew how much you like surprises, so why not give you one? My sister is now working with them as one of her personal spies." She giggled. Jupiter smiled and kissed her cheek. "You just made my day." Alea then took lead to Lil' Miss Malachite. Her daughters then blushed at the sight of Jupiter, they can tell how handsome he is. "Lil' Miss Malachite I presume? It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am."

"To what do I owe a pleasure? You see in this bar, we don't guarantee any hiding out. You see, if you want a drink, you're gonna have to be a Spider."

Jupiter then takes out a bag of Lien. "Actually, I was hoping you can do me a favor. I'll double it if you can search for this woman." Jupiter then takes out his scroll and shows Lil' Miss Malachite a picture of Winter. "I didn't mean to ask, but what's a handsome young man like you doing in a place filled with the wolves around?" Asked Malachite. Jupiter knew his appearance would have an effect not only on young women, but also the older ones. Melanie and Miltia giggled as they stared at Jupiter. "Wow, so handsome. Don't you think, Melanie?" Miltia whispered to her sister.

"You have no idea. And he is so bad, I want him." Melanie agrees. One thought, both twins shared the same thing when it comes to attraction. Then Malachite puts down her fan and began to smoke with a cigar. She then blinked staring into the eyes on Jupiter. "We must warn you that we Spiders don't guarantee the safety of our clients. But giver us a week and we'll confirm it for you." Jupiter then parted from the table and nods. "Thank you."

He and Alea left the bar. The twins turned to their mother. "Mom, any chance the guy comes back, we should hire him as one of ours."

"Well, dear we can't be too wishful. After all, the end results of your father ended in blood." The twins did not seemed bothered with the death of their father. And seemed to enjoy their mother's tales of her days as a gangster before her rise as a leader. "In some ways, Mom. You're right." Miltia agrees. The three laughed together, the twins also held out their fans to their faces the same way their mother did.

Author's note:

Sorry for the short chapter. But things are getting too much as it is for my days. Responsibilities and all. Anyway, Sage unlocked a new skill in his semblance that deplete's one's aura while also prompting other semblance users to calm down when angered, causing them to be rendered unconscious.

We can see Jaune in anger when Emerald was messing with the group's heads with her illusions. The next Chapter, we will see where Ruby heads too while getting lost.