The Storm before the Ice - A Sibling for a Sibling
-Darklands-
In Salem's Palace, Cinder was summoned alongside Mercruy, but unbeknownst to them, Emerald was gone. Then Mercury sensed her gone after he tried to knock the door and call her. There was no response.
The throne room was nothing but gloom and silence. Salem stood by the window, seemingly enjoying the sight of Grimm. Cinder then walks towards the queen of darkness. Her voice was getting a bit better than before.
"We are here. Have you summoned us, your grace?" Cinder bowed to her, and Mercury followed along. Tyrian amd Watts also knekt before her. Salem the turned around to her subjects. Displeased at her presence, she gracefully walks towards Cinder as she begins to reprimand her from going against her orders like she had before. And Hazel, a personal assassin she recruited since his teen years.
"I'm disappointed, Cinder. You have disobeyed another order yet again." Salem sighed softly in a mix of terror and gentleness. Cinder flinched a bit while kneeling to not offend her more.
"Watts was informed how you planned on taking out the girl with silver eyes without my knowledge." Said Salem as she wandered around her throne. Cinder then glared at Watts, who smirked at her at the thought of being told off by their leader. He wasn't pleased with Cindet as much as Cinder was.
Tyrian laughs silently. He alwasy thought she was always weak in front of Salem. "Really? With all due respect, your grace. Jupiter was just throwing off his own comrades, even outside of his own faction. He plotted against a Schnee soldier without my knowledge."
"Actually. I allowed it." Salem replied to Cinder.
"What?" Cinder stammered. She was shocked that Salem would allow a rebellious being like Jupiter. Obviously, he was one of her favorites. "Your grace, you know the man with the blue hair. He went behind his team's back. It's no different than me getting rid of Ruby-!"
"On the contrary. Jupiter was proven to be an asset to our cause. Out of all the Black Vipers, he was the most ambitious of all. Taking out his very enemies was the start to watch the beauty of my own vision." Salem explains.
"He knows that aside from the silver-eyed warriors. The Schnee were just as a threat as they are. The soldier from Atlas was very formidable when he reported to me. So I gave him a go-ahead." Salem roamed around the throneroom looking through her crystal ball.
Tyrian then made a maniacle smile at Cinder. Cinder felt nothing but annoyamce at rhe scorpion faunus. Not only he was insane, but he was also a nuisance in her eyes.
"An eye, for an eye." He chuckled. Repeating those words he would say every night and day. Cinder wants nothing more than to kill him right then and there is nothing he can do about it considering he was "Salem's favorite pet."
"I suggest you watch it, if you don't want me to cut your tail." Threatened Cinder. The two assassins glared at each other. To Watts, it's like seeing the choas playing in his favor. Salem then turned to Watts.
"I couldn't be more than surprised your apprentice had chose his right moments to plan ahead, Dr. Watts. He never ceases to amaze me." Said Salem.
"All in good time, milady. While he tracks down Ironwood's top puppets. We might take a sample from her corpse to cintinue with the project. "I already sent Emerlad to scout around the area. She already spotted Ruby and her friends." Cinder informed.
Roth then made it to Salem's palace and kneeled to her. "Anything you want inform me?" Salem asked petting her Seer. A jellyfish-like grimm that can see through Salem's eyes.
"Zerena spotted the girl with silver eyes. She was just as formidable as Cinder had said. She is also a student under Qrow Branwen's tutelag." Roth said. Salem smiled to hear of the stories of one of her enemies. From what she can tell, she was impressed with his competency as a huntsman.
"Qrow Branwen. Perhaps he may have seen it coming and taught the girl." Salem said.
"Any orders for this, your grace?" Asked Watts. Hazel remains silent, as if he was waiting for what is going to happen next. "But, she is only a child. You said she is young, yes?" Hazel spoke in a mix of seriousness and concern. Even if he wasn't suppose to show it.
"Killing her would mean going too far. She doesn't even know of your existence. Forgive me for speaking out, but perhaps if not killing her, we could just bring her here." Hazel reasoned. "Then we can decide on her fate."
Cinder felt disgusted to hear of Hazel's sympathy towards the kid he never even met. But his best method was to find a different way to end her suffering, cause he knew what Salem can be capable of and will not be stopped.
Salem still stared at the window, thinking of Hazel's words. She knew for some reason, not haveing met Ruby. She does seem to remind him of someone most precious to him. A family member he lost long ago. She knew that killing her would prompted Hazel to rebel against her. But she will have to think of a solution.
"Perhaps this could work ." Then Cinder smiled, thinking she finally has the opportunity to stand from her feet and kill Ruby. But Salem has other plans.
"Tyrian. Find Ruby Rose, and bring here." Sakem ordered. Chnder was taken aback that she sat back down. The faunus rejoiced for given a chance to prove his worth to the false goddess.
"Thank you, for giving me this opportunity, my queen!" Tyrian kneeled before he left the palace and shut the hallway door. But there was no point on disobeying her. Knowing what she will do if she does something to upset the queen.
-Mistral-
Mai, Mi and Choi arroved at the Temple of Mizu, where they meet with the Mizu Clan for an alliance discussion. There, they are greeted with the warriors from the temple. Leaving the rest of Team STRM to search for the teenagers.
"Lady Mai, Lord Choi, Lady Mi." They bowed. "An honor to welcome the House of Ren. As we all have known, the House of Gorekoro has fallen."
The Rens headed to the front temple as they are greeted by a man in a blue yukata. Alongside him was his wife with forest-green hair dressed in a blue kimono. Mai, Choi and Mi bowed to them.
"Lord Jaizo." Mai greeted. The Mizus bowed to them as well. "And Lady Masaki. We are content to arrive to discuss the situation." She continued.
"Is Lie not present at this hour? My daughter had been wondering of when he could meet him. I think he would make a nice suitor for her. Don't you think, dear?" Lady Mizu asked, Jaizo was not persuaded. The Mizus also have a daughter they want to introduce to Ren as a potential groom for her, much to the Rens dismay, but they managed to change the subject. Because not in a million years would they force neither their nephew or daughter to marry someone they never choose.
"Masaki, we talked about this. We shouldn't discuss anything that is unnecessary." Her husband reprimands.
"But dear..."
"We'll talk about this later." He repeated. Leaving Masaki stunned and then gave to defeat. Then she noticed Mai shaking her head in disapproval, meaning she is not taking this well.
"Apologies, Lady Mai. Let us discuss the occurrance in the events around Anima." Said Jaizo. Mai mostly gets the recognition as the head of thr House of Ren desoite being a woman. Most of the men in Mistral are in charge of their samurai clans. But Mai is one of the few exceptions. Being both an lady and lord of her own household since the passing of her own father. Choi, her husband, is mostly in charge of guarding the temple.
He then turned to one of the servants. "Prepare for our guests to get comfortable for today." Jaizo ordered. The servant nodded and left to prepare the welcoming zone.
As the Mizus went inside. Choi notices his wife being distraught, and Mi notices too. "Mother, is everything okay?" Asked Mi. Mai then brushed back her hair. The thought of an upcoming battle scares her, not because she has to fight, but it would mean her family had to risk their lives.
"It's alright. No need to worry about me. Worry about the battle. I have to sent word to Professor Lionheart. My hope was that Lie made it back home safely with his friends."
Choi places his hand on her shoulder trying to comfort her. "Mai, he'll be fine. He's a grown boy, let me know if you want me to check on him." Choi offers. Mai nods. "Tell me, husband. Why was it that you married me? Was it because you're indebted to my father? Or was it because you love me?"
Choi was confused. The question Mai asked. In Mistral, arranged marriages were accustomed to ninja clans. Li was originally arranged to marry a daughter of another clan. But he refused and left the clan to marry his true love, An. While Liu arranged Mai to marry Choi. Choi only loved her because of who she is, and not her lineage. Being adopted into the family, Choi actually loved Liu Ren as a father, and not because he was indebted to him. But it was because he found a family he never had as a child.
"Dearest, of course I love you. What kind of question is that? Growing up, I used to view you as a sister. But whenever I see your art of combat, and your spirit, it was the only reason I fell for you. I am aware this was an arrangement that we are together. But I promise you, Mai. My love for you. It was all true. And for that, we are blessed with a daughter and two more children. It made me feel complete. Li only left the clan for love. But it was okay, because you knew his happiness matters. Just like your happiness means more to me. Li isn't just my brother-in-law, but he's my brother too. Liu wasn't just my master, he is also my father since the day he took me in as his own." Choi assures her.
"Choi..." Mai began. She then leaned close to her husband and rested her head against his chest. It had been years since she had last let him held her lovingly. Cherry blossoms rained upon them. Choi held her gently. Physically, Mai is a strong warrior. But she is frail on the inside. She had forgotten what it felt to be loved.
Mai then approaches Mi, whom she had been dostant from a very long time since the death of Li. Mi stood silent. "Mi, I know I had been distant towards you because I was focusing on preparing Lie to be head of the clan. But know this, nothing changes for the fact that I love you. But you are the best thing that has been happened to me. To your father. You had been there for me when I was in grief. Your heart, it's what kept me going because of you. Thank you for that."
Mai explained. Mi felt touched by her mother's words. Mi had been a bit distant due tonher mother tutoring Ren to be head of the clan because he was the oldest of the two cousins. And for that, Mi has been more close to her father. Not wanting to stress her mother. But when her mother grieves, Mi was the one to offer her tea and meditate with her.
Mi embraced her mother after many years. Knowing that something bad will happen. But wanted her mother to know that she loves her. Mai then gives Mi a key for unknown reasons.
"Should anything happen to me, give this key to Qrow to use it and open the passage in Haven, and get the relic. Once this is done, tell him to take it somewhere far away from here." Mi nodded, as if she knew what this is all about. A secret that she was trusted with without telling Qrow or anyone.
-Beacon Academy, 1 year ago-
Ren was sitting in his desk after his team was meeting with Team RWBY for a coffee break in Vale City. He was having to dig his own thoughts in regards for his feelings. A heartbeat for everytime Nora hugs, or smiles at him. Throughout his life, he had studies, he had obligations, he had high-focus in regards to the legacy of the Ren Family and Clan.
Taking action, does it mean he has to held down his feelings for good? Or would he had to endure it for the rest of his life. He was writing down poems about his thoughts about Nora.
Every day, I always held myself back, and every year, you were always there to cheer for me.
With your smile, I can feel the wind dancing faster than a mile away.
The light is as bright as the sun, for where I can see the color of the sky in your eyes.
Ren wasn't sure what to write next. His mind was blocked for whatever reason. Writing poetry was his way of dealing with sadness and grief. He remembered how his father used to write poems to his mother when he was a student of Haven Academy at the time.
Intrigued by the arts of limericks, Ren asked his father to teach him. While he was good with poetry, he was never good at romantic gestures. If that's what he was feeling. To him, it was always Ren and Nora. To him, emotions can get in the way at times. But he never wanted it to push them down.
He looked at the window as the sun was setting. Buy then a voice came from the doorway of the classroom. "You know, you and Nora should be the ones to enjoy the dawn." He turned to see Neptune by the doorway. "Dad always said that when a guy and a girl see the sunset, that's when everything blossoms."
A bit taken aback, Ren blushes at the mention of Nora. "I don't know what you're talking about." He denied. Neptune smirked, "Really? Your face says otherwise." Neptune deduced when he hinted the tinted pink color on Ren's cheeks. It was hard for Ren to hide it. "Dude, you're like one of the most attractive guys in Beacon. Yet, you reject every girl, only to have eyes on Nora. You didn't seem to deny her." Neptune points out.
"You do realize I have to concentrate. If you're going to vent some embarrassing moments, why not talk to Sun?" Neptune scratched the back of his head as he has something he never tells Sun. "Well, you know Sun. Kinda busy with Blake since he stowed away in Vale." Neptune sighed.
"You just have something you never wanted to talk to him about judging by you changing the subject." Ren reads him. Neptune is left surprised to hear him revealing his emotions quickly. "Wow, just wow. You're good. It's like you're a psychic or something."
"Not a psychic. Just a student who can read emotions and body language in psychology class." Ren admits.
"Dude, don't get me wrong. Suns' like my bro. I don't mind telling him everything, but there are times I have something personal. And I don't think he will understand. I am never good at keeping secrets and I thought I should talk to you."
"Why me?" Ren asked.
"Jaune told me you're a good listener." Neptune replied. Ren facepalms and sighs. "Of course, he did." But he decides to just hear him. "Alright, what is it?" Asked Ren as he turned his chair and crossed his arms.
"Well, there's this girl. For some reason, I felt some sort of spark when I saw her. She seems determined, smart, not to mention a good fighter, but also beautiful. And the way she was very competitive, it's like part of me likes it when she was very passionate about reaching her goals. But seeing her smile, it was so cute when she was just her." Neptune admits. Ren raised an eyebrow.
"That's it?" Ren asked.
"No, that's not it. I am getting the feeling she was out of my league. No, it's not her. It's me, I didn't know who she was until Sun points out. I thought she can be too good for anyone, even me. I was also getting the feeling she may not like me. I think it was because I was beating her in some of the classes. It wasn't my intention to one-up her. I mean, I just wanted to keep up with my grades and train hard. I didn't mean to humiliate her since I won in Miss Goodwitch's combat class. Okay, maybe I was too scared to admit I was a loser." Neptune said nervously. "Maybe I didn't want to be looked down upon like I had been before."
Ren blinked. "In other words, you felt like a nobody. But you worked hard to get to Haven."
"I only wanted to become a huntsman because I can't rely on my family to fuss and worry over me all the time, all because of my stupid fears. And to everyone else, I am a coward, I always will be. The girl I was talking about, I think I sorta like her. I don't want to look like a coward in front of her. So I kinda went rough in the sparring match. And I kinda upset her that I win in the match." Neptune admits again, feeling embarrassed. Now it was his turn to have a painted blush on his cheeks for mentioning of his mysterious crush. Ren began to suspect whom he was talking about.
"I think your problem is, you're trying too hard to keep up appearances out of fear. It was you who was pretending to be someone you're not. While I agree this is unintentional, you could've realized that you hurt someone just to bury your insecurities." Ren deduced. Now that he mentioned it, Ren could've thought of being a psychologist. But he already worked too hard to become a huntsmen, that even the headmaster consider to move Ren as a second-year student.
"Dude. You dug up way too deep." Neptune shook his head. But didn't deny his perspective. "The least you can do is just be honest to the person." Ren advised. "Only if you're ready."
After listening to Ren's point of view of interactions. Neptune notices paper sitting on his desk. Intrigued, he tried to grab them to read whatever is written on it. "Ren, watcha got here?" Ren realized his poems were out in the open and tries to hid them. Snatching them from the desk. "N-nothing! Just homework." Ren blushed. The he realized there was one poem left.
Just as Ren was about to reach the last paper, Neptune quickly grabs it. Ren stood up from his desk to snatch it back. But Neptune holds it put of reach. "Give that back!" Ren shouted.
"No way, I wanna see." Some of Sun's antics were rubbing on him as he reads the poem. "Hmm?" They both stop, Neptune reads the poem Ren wrote. "Wow, Ren. That poem is beautiful. Who's it for?" He asked. Ren snatched it back. "Just for someone important to me. It was my way of expressing it without even showing it."
Ren's cheeks went from pink to red. "Dude, I read poetry in Sanctum, but man this is deep. Like how you put your own mind and soul to it."
"Well, when you put it that way. I was trying to figure myself out." Neptune then shakes Ren by holding onto his shoulders with pleading expressions.
"Dude, you got to teach me that! Maybe the girl I was talking about might like it!" Neptune pleaded. Ren then stops him. "Neptune, I think it's too soon. But perhaps I can teach you poetry if it means you won't tell this to anyone about the poem I wrote for someone. But once you write the poem for the girl, you might want to wait long." Ren offers.
"Say no more." Neptune saluted. Ren cannot help but smirk and shook his head at his humor. Maybe this is tbe side of Neptune he should show to the girl. "Aww, you guys writing to your crushes? That's cute." Emerald showed up like a ghost, scaring the boys. "Ah!" Neptune jumped.
"How long have you been standing there, Emerald? Can I help you with something?" Asked Ren. Emerald twirled her hair tails. Smiling like she was snooping around. "No, I just can't help but eavesdropping when things get interesting."
"Next time, you mignt want to give us a heads up." Ren sighs. Emerald then came closer to Ren. But he didn't like the way she was looking at him. "So, Ren. Heard there's a nice teashop uptown in the city. Maybe we can take a look. No worries, it's not a date. Thought I'd take you out cause it's boring inside the classroom." Emerald asked him.
"I appreciate the invitation, but I'm afraid I will have to decline." Ren shook his head.
"Okay, but you're missing out." Emerald then walks out of the classroom. As soon as there was no one around, Emerald sighs in relief. Her back sliding down on the walls as she sat down on the floor.
She cannot help but think of Ren. For some reason, his voice, his magenta eyes. He seems more of a dream than anyone can see. Rhen she takes out a knife that Ren has owned. It was the kunai that his father had given him. She cannot help but think of how beautiful the weapon looks.
"That kunai looks rather beautiful for a weapon like that. Can't believe I stole that one." Emerald said to himself. Confused for why she felt eyes for him. Mercury then came upon her.
"Don't tell me you took that knife from another student?" He teased. Emerald felt annoyed to see him coming on to her personal business. "None of your business, Merc. And it's a kunai, not a knife." Emerald corrected.
"What's the difference?" Mercury asked. Emerlad breathed as she spun the kunai and puts it in her pocket. "You know what? Why am I even talking to you. Let's just focus on getting the info and get out of here." Emerald excuses herself putting away the kunai.
Later at night, Emerald snuck into Team JNPR's dorm room as she checkes if they were asleep. As steps closer to where Ren was sleeping, quielty in stealth. Making her footsteps as quiet as possible. Seeing him sleeping, Emerald sees some solace in him. The calming aura, it was hard for her to look away.
Emerald takes out the kunai she stole earlier and gave it back to Ren by putting it on a nightstand.
If I were Nora. Could I even have you?
Ren was all she can think of. But she knew she will never have him. Not even a million years. Or in the new life. She sees how Ren was fond of Nora hearing him about the poem he wants to write for her.
Emerald heads for the window and open it to exit the dorm to get back to hers. But not before having one last glance at Ren. The one person she alwasy thought of as an enemy. Emerald then went to her dorm, taking a photograph of her mother, Sapphire.
The same color eyes they both had. The aching pain in her heart that her mother is gone. Emerald hugged the photo as if her mother was present in her life, even in death. She never had a photo of her father before due to her parents' busy lives as thieves. Never met her father since he died after her birth.
If you were alive, Mom. I want to know more of Dad. I wish we have the chance. I miss you. I hope in a new life I would see you again.
-Mist Hollows-
Winter continued to scout around the hollows. The fog did not mattered to her. Regardless of the scars and the emotional veins, Winter is trained to endure it all. Rain falls upon her. Emotionally, she is numb.
Winter tried her best not to see any illusions. Until she hears a giggle. "Huh?" Winter shook her head, knowing the fog can cause illusions, even the sounds of loved ones who are not here. "Just hearing things. Keep it together, Winter." She told herself.
As she attempts to look around the forest, Winter keeps hearing the girly giggle again. "Tee hee hehehe!" And it grew louder, and louder. For some reason, the giggle was too familiar to Winter. Something that she wishes to never hear when it was just a figment of her imagination.
"This can't be. I'm fine. This is Mist Hollows. Nothing you hear, or see is real." Said Winter. Trying to shake off the noise. But it was pointless. The laughter remind her too much of the past. Winter checks around, wondering if it was just a child playing a prank. To her surprise, it was a child.
"A child?" Winter asked herself. The child did not show her face as she glanced and runs off fast. "Child, stop!" Winter went after the child, thinking she was lost.
The child kept running faster, and Winter used her speed to keep up with the figure. Until the child stops near a tree. "Stop!" Winter calls out. And then bearthed heavily when the child turns around to face her.
"Please, I do not come to harm you. You must be lost. Let me..." Winter paused to see the face of a child, no older than 9. It was Weiss. Winter was taken aback to see a young version of her sister.
"Why did you leave me behind, Winter?" Asked the illusion. Winter remained frozen on the spot. And said nothing as she was at a loss.
"Why does the deer led the wolf off course?" Winter heard a man's voice she had recognized from the past. And now it was the time for her to face the ghost.
"Because the wolf's pack were out..." Winter replied. "Jupiter." She said the name she never heard in a very long time.
"Long time. Eh, Schnee?" He chuckled. He theb clutched onto the end of his spear. Winter didn't grab ber weapon yet as she is preapred for anything.
"What happened to you, Vasilias? You used to fight for the good of Mistral, yet still you went with your rebellious ways. Only this time, it was criminally. I felt sorry for your own mother."
"Never talk about my mother!" Jupiter yelled put spinning his spear and took a stance. Winter then does the same with her sword.
"Let's see how long you can hold without bleeding to death." Jupoter taunted.
"Let's see how fast you are to keep your grudge." Winter taunt back.
"Spoken like a true Atlesian. Just like your father." Jupiter snarled. Comparing Winter to her father is what sets the glare. "Once a Schnee, always a Schnee. You can't even hide from your name."
"Never, compare me to my father. Cause now, he's dead to me." Winter remind him. "But know this. I said it before and I will say it again, I will be remembered as a soldier, not a Schnee." Winter repeated the vow she made in Atlas Academy.
"That's what you said before. But my destiny is made clear that I will eliminate the last of the Schnee Family. That is what I swore on my brother's grave. The same brother you murdered!" Jupiter yelled.
"What?" The mention of what she didn't know about Jupiter's elder brother came to a shock to her, why he was after her in the first place. "Salem told me what you did to my brother! And I will gladly return the favor! Starting with your precious little sister!"
The name of Salem had Winter shocked. She was one of the few individuals told about her existence. While the rest of the world was left in the dark. The Black Vipers, and the White Fang, they all want her and her family dead. Though estramged from the rest of her family, she never wishes death on them. Even her cruel father. Cause to her, Jacques Schnee is rather weak against those with raw strength, enough to frighten him.
Jupiter clashes his spear with Winter's weapon and Winter deflects as she swishes back in the way of upward. "Salem? That's a lie! I don't know anything about your brother!" Winter replied as she kept dodging his slashed as he thrust them forward.
Winter uses her glyphs to thrust her blade at him, pnly for Jupiter to use his semblance to turn himself into mist to avoid her attacks. Then he returned physically from behind to hit her with his spear. But Winter saw it coming and fights back with her sword.
"Liar! You'd say anything to save yourself!" Jupiter retorted.
"It's true! Whatever happened to your brother, I'm sorry! But killing me won't bring him back!" Winter tried to talk him out of fighting her. But his anger amd hate was too great for an ex-huntsman. Winter thought to herself. If she dies, what will happen to her sister and brother? Her only hope was that they would be spared of the blood feud.
"Fight me, if you must. But leave my family out of this!" Winter warned her swinging her sword upward as Jupiter twirls downward. "Not the guy who can make promises." He taunted. Then he turned his physical form into most again and sped up on a tree.
Winter uses her glyphs to speed up to catch him. But he was avoiding her too fast up to the point where he surprise her with a sneak attack under he blade.
Winter then summons projectiles of small Lancers. And orders them to attack Jupiter as she tumbles back. But it was just a distraction as Jupiter turns his spear into a sniper and shoots them all, until thw last one knocks him off the branch. But he landed on his feet.
"You're even fast since the last time we fought." Jupiter remarked. Winter used her tilted glyph to dash downward and pounds to the ground, causing her to create a hole after an impact. "Years of practice. And you're still losing!" Winter snapped.
"If anyone's gonna lose! It's you, Princess! Oh, wait, I forgot Daddy took your money away!" Jupiter taunted. Then he swift his soear below before Winter counters moving her sword before acrobatically jumping over his weapon trying to sweep her under to make her fall. But that fail. Tumbling back to make the stance again.
Jupiter leapt forward to make the strike on her. But Winter dodges that, and summons icicles at him. The only damage they did was just a scratch on his gear. While he still rolls to dodge them.
Winter uses her glyphs again to sprint at him. But Jupiter bacame more ready than ever since the last sparring matches they had together. So he uses three tiny orbs that were the size of his fingers and threw them as they grew into radius 2 size and floated in front of him. Then Jupiter uses electric dust in his hand to crush them in his own hand and became electrified with his hair glowing bright neon blue like the signs that lit in the cities at night.
Winter was in for a surprise. Jupiter blasts lightning onto his orbs and they shot at Winter. Causing her to fall back. "How did you-?!" She gasped. Her aura flickered as she realized that this kind of power was depleting her semblance more than anyone could.
Jupiter still sparks in electricity.
"My semblance evolved after you killed my brother. But more than my semblance. My hate is my power. I'd start running if I were you." Jupiter smirked.
"Whatever Salem told you about me. She's only using you." Winter warned him. "She'll only leave you alive until she finds you useless."
"I don't care. As long as I get what I want, my nightmares will end." Jupiter retorted, making an uppercut above Winter and Winter strikes back slashing over him, only to cause each other to have cuts and bruises. At the same time, Winter was having trouble avoiding orbs.
That is until Winter realized she was cornered to the ledge where there are waves of the sea crashing towards the rocks. The two rivals panted as they were bleeding, but there was no guarantee of giving up. Winter knew she will be done for if she keeps fighting. The only option left was to evade him and recover for awhile until she can report him to her general of Jupiter's reemergence. Escaping os what she calls cowardice, but the soldier of ice knew when it was necessary.
"Just... give up...Vasilias..." Winter panted. She uses the last of her strength to destroy his orbs. "Just come with me...and I will help you..."
"No one...helped me." Jupiter panted. "Even a human...being..." Jupiter then wipes off the blood off his lips. Then continued. "Even Atlas lets down human beings, even the faunus. A human like me, even I was considered a monster. But I felt more comfortable being feared. You know what, the real monster I am standing in front of was you." Jupiter referred to Winter as the demon in a guide of a human woman.
Winter hated to admit that those words felt like a stab in her heart. But she knew he was just bluffing. She then makes the stance against him again. "Then let me make this clear with you. If this is how you feel, then know this. You come after my family. And I won't hesitate to come after you." Winter warned him. She will have to finish him if she had to. Knowing he knew too much of what she has and lost.
"Well, that's too bad. I hesitated the last time. Only because I felt sorry for you. But now..." He paused getting into his stance again. "You're going to get what you deserve." Jupiter stated twirling his spear. Winter summoned her glyph from her hand, Jupiter's hand sparks of electricity. Neither of them had cared of being hurt themselves. The one thing they have in common was that they have to stand for what they have to fight for.
And their ankles felt numb as they shake from their injuries. Then Jupiter shot lightning at her, amd Winter shot ice at him. The ice only hit Jupiter's cybernetic eye, and Winter was hit with the bt of lighting. Only leaving a burnt mark over her right cheek and eye. But she still maintain her sight.
But now Winter felt weak. She felt exhausted. Jupiter also felt the same. After years from academia, bith are still equals in every way. Winter fell into the water as she fell unconscious. The rain was still falling. But lightning strikes when Jupiter also fell unconscious.
The next morning, Winter was still unconscious. After drifting onto the beach. Until a shadow loomed over as she moans.
Author's note: We finally have a Winter Schnee vs. Jupiter Vasilias match, and it ended in a tie. It comes to show how the two are stronger in an equal kind of way. Their pair name is Ice Storm, and not it's not a romantic kind of pair, it's a rivalry kind of pair. We get insight that Winter used to see Jupiter as a friend, but due to Salem's claim of Jupiter's brother, Pluto being killed by Winter, he sought revenge.
Meanwhile, we get a flashback of Ren's feelings for Nora, and the thing is, the way he pours out his emotions was through poetry, one was of Nora. And then Emerald, whom in his version of the fanfic have some interest in Ren, but at the same time, she wasn't sure of whether or not to kill gim as she might have unrequited feelings for him.
In Mistral, there were still old customs in regards of ninja and samurai clans. In Ren's case, he was birn from a long line of samurais. But the fact is, arranged marriages were still there. Though Mai hoped that by letting by her nephew and daughter have the free will to choose on their own, they wouldn't have to marry out of obligation. It is also revealed that Li Ren was oeiginally arranged to marry a daughter od another clan, but he left the clan to marry An, whom he loved dearly. One thing is for sure that the cycle will break through Ren and Mi.
After Neptune reveals his insecurities to Ren, it was revealed that Neptune had been overprotected by his parents since the death of his eldest brother Pluto, and his fear of water. Fir that, he felt bad and didn't want to worry them anymore. So Neptune resolves to enroll into Haven Academy to not be afraid anymore.