Chapter 117:

A/N: Hello everyone, I hope you're all doing well. It's been a while, I know, but here I am with an actual chapter this time. I had to go through and read back everything that's happened because I have little to no memory of what I've all written thus far. I'm not sure how the writing quality will be given everything, so I apologize if it's not up to stuff. Admittedly my head is still a mess, and focus is still next to impossible, but I wanted to get a chapter out for you guys, because you're all incredible with your support. With that being said, enjoy the chapter. Rhino out.

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Winter: "I didn't think that I would be back for a while, but it's time."

Neon: "It's finally time?!"

Topaz: "Time for what?"

Flynt: "Time for us to finally leave this place."

With everyone talking about leaving, Yuna begins sniffling and quiet whimpers can be heard. Topaz kneels down next to her and pulls her in for a gently hug.

Topaz: "Don't you worry your pretty little head Yuna. Your brother will join us soon, I know it."

Yuna: "R-Really?"

Topaz: "Pinky promise."

Topaz extends his pinky to the small girl in front of him. She looks towards him with wide eyes and then quickly wraps her small pinky around his. She giggles as he shakes his hand with hers and he can't help but chuckle himself at the adorable sound.

Topaz: "Hey Yuna, would you like to make some friends?"

Yuna: "Friends?"

Topaz: "Yeah, back with the rest of my friends there are two girls that are your age. Maybe the three of you can get along nicely and watch each others backs."

Yuna: "O-Okay."

Topaz gives Yuna a smile and then stands up and makes his way over to Winter who is talking with Neon, Flynt and Rika.

Winter: "I guess I shouldn't be surprised you are great with children."

Neon: "I'm sure surprised. I always took you for the stoic violent type after what I saw in the Vytel Tournament."

Flynt: "Eh, I've been trying not to judge people after what you're little sister did in the Vytel Tournament Winter."

Rika: "So Topaz, you know my sister based on you thinkin' I was her. How's she doin'?"

Topaz: "Well from the last I saw. She led me into Mantle after I was separated from my friends on our way in. She seemed well from what I could gather."

Rika: "Well that's good."

Winter: "Alright everyone, gather what you need and prepare to leave. Topaz, can we talk for a moment."

Turning towards Winter and nodding, Topaz follows Winter a little ways off from the group before she stops and turns towards him.

Winter: "My sister and her friends are here as well, aren't they?"

Topaz: "Wouldn't be team RWBY if they weren't involved in some sort of trouble."

Winter chuckles dryly before shaking her head.

Winter: "You're right about that, but I couldn't be happier for her. Weiss finally looks like she's happy where she is, like she belongs with her team."

Topaz: "She's definitely changed since that first day of orientation, they all have. There isn't a team closer than them, and I don't know if there ever will be."

Winter: "Closer than you and your team?"

Topaz: "Everyone is close to their own teammates, but team RWBY goes beyond that. The four of them at this point I'm pretty sure consider each other family. I feel the same way about my teammates but even then, they put us to shame sometimes."

Winter: "You care about them as well, don't you?"

Topaz: "Well, Ruby and Yang are actually related to me, and I've been around Blake and Weiss long enough to be close to them as well."

Winter: "Related to you in what way? If it's alright to ask."

Topaz: "Summer Rose is my mom's twin sister, so they're my cousins."

Winter: "Summer has a sister?"

Topaz: "She does. My mom had been missing for years after a mission went bad on Menagerie. Was quite the reunion when they saw each other again."

Winter: "I bet."

Winter looks at her scroll for a moment before sighing.

Winter: "Time to go. I'm going to lead them out of here and then come back to help. I'm trusting you to watch over my sister until I return."

Topaz: "No worries. She has her team, team JNPR and my team to help."

Winter: "That's reassuring."

Winter turns and walks back to the others.

Winter: "Alright everyone, it's time to go. Neon I want you keeping an eye on Yuna while we are moving."

Neon: "Got it."

Winter: "Flynt, you'll be watching our backs while we go."

Flynt: "Yes ma'am."

Neon: "What will Topaz be doing?"

Topaz: "I need to get back to my friends and let them know I'm alright."

Neon: "Why?"

Topaz: "Why what?"

Neon: "Why keep fighting. You can escape with us. You can get away from everything that's happening. This Salem sounds like the end of the world."

Topaz: "Maybe, but I cut off her arm on the way in. I'm a threat to her so I'm on her target list no matter where I go. Might as well stay where she is to keep you all out of harms way."

Neon: "…"

Flynt: "No offense my man. But if Salem is really immortal, how on Remnant did you hurt her?"

Topaz: "Silver eyes are rare these days, because she hunted everyone who had them down because of what they can do. She's scared of them, and what they can do to her. I was able to cute off her arm and prevent it from regenerating."

Flynt: "A'ight. I'll trust you on that. Good luck out there."

Topaz: "Same to you Flynt, Neon."

After that interaction Yuna walks up to Topaz. Looking up to him with big, childish eyes.

Yuna: "Topaz, you have to leave?"

Topaz: "For now Yuna, but I'll be back to play with you when this is all done."

Yuna: "Okay!"

Topaz gives them all a small wave before leaving the room. Making his way quickly and quietly out of the building and back towards the Schnee Mansion, avoiding anyone and everyone he sees just to be safe. After a few minutes of running through the city Topaz enters the Schnee grounds and makes his way to the door. Knocking on it twice he waits a while before the door cracks open, and a familiar gentleman stares back to him.

Topaz: "Klein, it's good to see you again."

Klein: "Topaz? You've finally returned. The girls were beginning to worry."

Topaz: "Beginning to, or starting to plan to go out themselves.?"

Klein: "…"

Topaz: "Thought so."

Klein: "How did you know?"

Topaz: "I know them all too well, they are like family to me after all."

Klein smiles gently at Topaz's comment before ushering him inside. Once inside Klein quickly moves through the long hallways before stopping outside of a door.

Klein: "They are all gathered right in here. Go on now."

Topaz: "Thank you Klein."

Klein nods quickly before walking off once again. Topaz opens the door and peeks inside. The room goes quiet hearing the door open.

Topaz: "What's up guys."

Everyone: "Topaz!"

Everyone rushes over to give their greetings, Ariel and Neo being the first to arrive and hugging him tightly. Pats on the shoulder and quick hugs are given before everyone separates once more.

Neo: "What happened Topaz? You were gone for a lot longer than you should have."

Topaz: "Well, to put it simply, that explosion was Ironwood having the Ace Ops blow up the whale grimm. When I got there though, someone else was rushing over, and she was pissed."

Ariel: "You didn't. Topaz you aren't supposed to face her alone!"

Topaz: "Heh, I didn't have much of a choice at that point."

Nova: "Who did you face Topaz?"

Topaz: "Salem."

Emerald: "Impossible, there's no way you faced her and are still alive."

Topaz: "Well I did. I was able to cut her and stop her from regenerating temporarily."

Ruby: "So we can hurt her."

Topaz: "We can."

Scarlett: "Which means we can beat her."

Topaz: "Exactly."

Ruby: "That's great. We can build on that hope and push through."

Weiss: "What's our next step?"

Ruby: "We try to help Penny."

Topaz: "Is she still having issues?"

Ruby: "Yeah, and it seems to be getting worse."

Topaz: "Not good."

Ariel: "Have we thought of actually going to the vault?"

Ruby: "Going to the vault? As in just letting her go?"

Ariel: "In a sense. We have Neo and Emerald who can both trick Ironwood into thinking he's getting what he wants. From there we restrain him and go into the vault. We take the Staff of Creation and leave Atlas."

Qrow: "It's not a bad idea kid, but there's a big problem with that."

Ruby: "What's wrong Uncle Qrow?"

Qrow: "The Staff of Creation is what's keeping Atlas in the air. We take it away and the city falls."

Everyone: "…"

Topaz: "So we do what we trained for."

Nova: "What's that?"

Topaz: "We be the huntsmen and huntresses we trained to be. We fight against the grimm Salem throws at us, we save everyone we can."

…