Jaune Arc vs The Thing

Chapter 2: The Aftermath and The Deal

Haven Academy, Kingdom of Mistral: Nighttime.

It had been a few hours since the Battle of Haven. When everyone realized that Cinder had killed Jaune, they were filled with nothing but despair. Neo, obviously took it harder than everyone else. In an attempt to get revenge, Neo began chasing after Cinder to the vault only to be intercepted by Emerald. Enraged at being denied her vengeance, Neo angrily attacked Emerald, eventually stabbing her in the stomach. Unwilling to end things there, Neo pulled out a knife and repeatedly stabbed Emerald to death.

Right now, everyone was tending to their wounds and resting. Ruby cautiously approached Neo, unsure how the mute was holding up.

"Hey, Neo," Ruby said softly. "Do you mind if I sit with you?"

Neo simply patted the spot next to her, letting her permission be known. Ruby sat down, then looked over at her friend. It was easy to see that Neo had been crying.

"How are you holding up?" Ruby asked.

Neo turned to give her friend a tearful glare, as if asking "How do you think?".

"Right, stupid question," Ruby corrected herself. "Sorry."

Neo rolled her eyes, sighing.

Seeing that words weren't going to do anything, Ruby simply wrapped Neo in a hug, allowing Neo to cry. It genuinely broke Ruby's heart to feel how tightly Neo was clinging to her.

*Line Break*

Flashback: A few hours ago...

Neo deflected a kick from Mercury, then slashed at him with her sword. At the moment, she was helping Yang take down the bastard who got her disqualified from the Vytal Tournament.

"So please explain to me when the hell you and the bumbling idiot got together," Mercury said, dodging the slash. "There are so many better options than that dumb ass."

"What, like you?" Neo signed in a taunting manner. "At least Jaune is a gentleman and doesn't treat girls as they were some kind of prize to him."

"Harsh," Mercury mocked.

"But true!" Yang declared, socking the assassin in the jaw.

Just as Neo was about to slash at Mercury again, Cinder returned... Without Jaune. If Cinder's blade being stained with blood were any indication, then that meant only one thing.

Neo's eyes widened in horror, realizing that, once again, she had lost someone dear to her.

"Lionheart, take us to the Vault," she ordered.

"Uhh, r-r-right!" Lionheart stuttered.

With that, Lionheart opened the entrance to the Vault, allowing Cinder, Raven, and Vernal entrance. Neo began chasing after Cinder with murderous intent, only for a chained blade to wrap around her sword. Neo turned to see Emerald stopping her.

Neo never had anything against Emerald, almost considering her an older sister figure. But now, her former friend was standing between her and her revenge. And that was no good.

"That's far enough Neo," Emerald warned. "I won't let you interfere with Cinder's mission."

Neo's face started twitching, contorting into absolute rage. Neo had waited for so long to get revenge on Cinder, but now Emerald was interfering. Their past friendship be damn, no one simply did that.