I know the ending isn't the best. I didn't know how to end the chapter.

Zarya stood by the edge of Rudick's Hollow. She felt slightly dizzy from the fog, but she knew she'd be fine as long as she didn't come any closer. Of course, that meant that she wouldn't be able to make sure that Emerald was alright.

"Em!" Zarya called out. "Can you hear me?"

There was no answer, making Zarya sigh in frustration. She knew that it wasn't likely to work. If Emerald did get inside, which Zarya hoped was the case, then there would be no chance of her hearing Zarya.

She knew that Piper and Arkayna were alright at least. She called Arkayna, hoping to see if Piper was alright without seeming overly worried. Piper was fine, so Zarya just told them about Emerald's situation.

Zarya knew that she needed a plan. Arkayna and Piper were on their way, but they still had to get there. And even when they did, it's not like either of them would be able to walk into the fog.

She thought about her dream, hoping that something from there would help her figure out a plan. She remembered that some people held their breath while the fog came in the city, and they were fine for as long as they got inside before they had to take a breath.

This is crazy, Zarya thought to herself as she took a breath and ran into the fog. She looked around, hoping to find any sign of Emerald, but there was nothing. She only lasted around a minute before she felt the urge to take a breath beginning to overtake her.

She ran as fast as she could to the outskirts of the town, where the fog was lightest. As soon as she reached the outskirts of town, she sat on a nearby log and caught her breath.

"There's no… way I can keep this up," Zarya said between breaths. She couldn't go into the fog for long before needing to take a breath, and she was lucky she managed to get far enough away. The chances that she finds Emerald, or anyone in Rudick's Hollow for that matter, would be very slim. And even if she did, it would be hard to get anyone's attention with very limited time and being unable to open her mouth.

She looked around to make sure that no one could see her. She knew that Arkayna said to not go into their mysticon forms, but she had a plan, but needed her powers for it. Besides, it wasn't like breaking rules was a new idea to Zarya, and there were some times where she needed to do so.

She used her arrow and made an "E" with the string from it using two trees nearby. The fog would make it harder to see, and the small glow of the strings made by the arrows would make it at least slightly easier to see how to get out of the fog. And she thought that "E" would be the best shape. Even if Emerald didn't notice the light, then anyone still outside would be able to see the lighted sign and be able to see the string and assume that "E" stood for "Exit", which Zarya would want.

Zarya began walking, stopping every so often to make more "E"s on the trees. She didn't think she could circle the entire valley, but she had to try.

She had just finished the fifth sign when she heard a familiar voice say "Just a little more."

Zarya stopped dead in her tracks. She saw a shape coming relatively close to her. She wondered what it was, considering it didn't look like a person walking, like she expected. Still, she guessed that Emerald was close to there.

"Em!" She said, waving her arms. "Em! Over here!"

As the shape got closer, Zarya realized her mistake. Emerald was in a mine car, but so were her parents. Emerald was in her mysticon form, so calling her by her real name would make the parents suspicious. She knew that Emerald's dad knew she was a mysticon, but doubted that her mom knew.

Stay calm, she said as the mine car became closer. Maybe I was far enough that no one heard.

She waited nervously as the mine car stopped beside her, and Emerald and her parents got out.

Without a second thought, Zarya hugged Emerald. "Mysticon Knight! You're alright!"

"Did you call her 'Em' at first?" asked Citrine, Emerald's mom.

Zarya hesitated for a second. "I couldn't see her that well through the fog. I thought it was Em, but I guess it wasn't."

"Em isn't in the valley, is she?" Citrine asked, her eyes wide.

Malachite looked at Emerald. "I think it's time you tell her the truth."

Emerald changed into her normal form. "Hi, Mom."

"Em?" Citrine asked. "You were Mysticon Knight the whole time?"

"Yeah," Emerald said.

Citrine looked at Malachite. "And you knew?"

"I knew she wanted to keep it a secret," Malachite said.

Citrine looked back at Emerald. "So when you came for a visit and there was the incident at the mine, you were there?"

"And I'm guessing that your friends were the other mysticons, weren't they?" Malachite asked.

Zarya and Emerald looked at each other. Zarya didn't know if she should tell or not. They kept their identities secret for a reason, but Citrine was kind and welcoming to her and Piper.

"It's your choice," Emerald said.

Zarya turned back into her normal form. "Hi, Mrs. Goldenbraid,"

"I don't believe it," Citrine said. "Does that mean Piper and Princess Arkayna are mysticons to?"

"Yeah," Emerald said.

"They're not in the village, are they?" Malachite asked.

"I don't think so," Zarya said. "I told them what happened, and they're on their way, but they wouldn't go in without a plan."

As if on cue, Piper and Arkayna came on their griffins. Emerald and Zarya waved to get their attention, and Piper pointed them out to Arkayna. They both landed nearby.

As soon as they landed, Arkayna and Piper ran to hug Emerald, who hugged back. "You're O.K!" Arkayna said.

"Yeah," Emerald said. "Thanks to my dad's mine car and my energy shield."

"Though I did tell Mrs. Goldenbraid about who we really are," Zarya said.

"Oh." Arkayna said.

"I don't think it's a good idea to stay as a mysticon," Citrine said. "It's too dangerous."

Malachite put a hand on Citrine's shoulder. "I think being a mysticon is where Emerald belongs."

"Please, Mom," Emerald said. "Being a mysticon means the world to me."

Citrine sighed. "Please be careful. All of you."

Piper hugged Citrine. "Thank you!"

Citrine smiled. "You're Piper, aren't you?"

"How could you tell?" Piper asked.

"Do you know if this black fog is just affecting Rudick's Hollow?" Malachite asked.

"No," Arkayna said. "Whoever's doing this wants to affect Gemina. There was a close call at Drake City, and we believe there'll be one at Magi Mall."

"We'll figure out what we can do here," Citrine said. "You girls go save the rest of Gemina."

"Are you sure, Mrs. Goldenbraid?" Arkayna asked.

"I have my cart," Malachite said. "All we need is some way to block the fog, and we have a way to get people out. Besides, we looked through the town, and it seemed like most found their way inside."

"O,K, Dad," Emerald said. "Be careful."

"You to, Em," Malachite said.

"Come on, girls," Arkayna said. "It's time to go."

"Wait," Emerald said. "I let Topaz fly off to save her."

"Ms. Paisely's pretty strong," Piper said. "You can ride with me."

"Thanks, Piper," Emerald said.

With the team reunited, they took off. They knew they would be able to figure out where to go next, knowing that they were all fine.