Three months have gone by since Salem's defeat. Since then, Ironwood has been arrested by Winter Schnee and is awaiting a proper sentencing. Topaz and his family have returned to Patch and are currently enjoying the small break the world has given them for their efforts. Topaz is currently sitting in the backyard of his parent's house watching his younger sister and Yue as they run around.
Alex: "Topaz, I'll watch after the girls. Looks like trouble has come for you."
Topaz: "Bad?"
Alex: "Seems so, but I don't know what you have planned."
Topaz: "Alright, I'll lead them away if it gets bad."
Topaz walks through the house to see what the trouble his father was speaking of. As he nears the front door he sees his mother with her arms raised and two familiar people standing in the doorway.
Topaz: "Let her go."
Mercury: "And why would we do that?"
Topaz: "Simple. You're afraid to die, and Cinder isn't as powerful as she once was."
Cinder's eyes snap wide open at his statement, trace amounts of fear could be seen on her face. Mercury laughs loudly while letting go of Sara. Topaz walks out the door and stands in the yard.
Topaz: "Did you two come to give yourselves up?"
Cinder: "After what you did to me, I would rather die."
Mercury: "Cinder. Calm down. You and I both know we can't take him without an advantage."
Topaz narrows his eyes, a stilling calm surrounds him.
Mercury: "We have something or should I say someone special to you. Do as we say or she dies."
Mercury holds out his hand while holding a scroll. On the scroll is Emma, tied up with different people holding her at gunpoint. Mercury smiles menacingly while Cinder begins to laugh.
Cinder: "Now come with us or she dies."
Topaz calmly looks towards them both before smiling.
Topaz: "Hey Emma, how did you let them catch you so easily?"
Cinder: "What?"
Emma walks out of the house with a confused look on her face.
Emma: "Me, caught? When?"
Mercury: "Wait, if you're here, then who do we have?"
Cinder and Mercury both look at the scroll again and watch as if glass shatters around the 'Emma' they caught. Where Emma was tied up to a chair now sits one of their own thugs.
Topaz: "You should know better by now Cinder. With you on the loose of course we would be keeping tabs on where you were last seen. The moment you stepped foot anywhere near Vale I was told and we planned this. Now… you're both under arrest."
Team RWBY and Topaz's team step out from various trees, all leveling their weapons on the two. Mercury is quick to get to his knees with his hands on the back of his head. Cinder however, flips out when she sees Ruby and begins rushing towards her, only for Weiss to freeze her where she stood. Topaz is quick to restrain Mercury's hands and disable the weaponry from his legs while the girls quickly captured Cinder.
Cinder: "You b-"
Emma is quick to gag Cinder before she could start spewing any profanity.
Emma: "Language. There are children present."
With muffled cries of fury, Cinder and Mercury are led away from the house by Topaz and Ruby, who quickly hand the two off to Glynda Goodwitch, who is waiting nearby. When they arrive, Cinder and Mercury are handed off to some huntsmen that came with her and taken away.
Goodwitch: "Your plan worked. I guess I shouldn't be surprised by you two anymore."
Ruby: "We had good teachers to show us the ropes."
Topaz: "She's right. Without you guys we would still be as lost as we were that first day back at Beacon."
Ruby: "Ugh, don't remind me of that!"
Goodwitch: "I for one, am surprisingly glad to see that you all still carry that childish attitude sometimes."
Ruby: "Childish?"
Goodwitch: "I mean no disrespect by it Ruby. After everything you guys have been through, you're still able to joke around to such an extent. I don't know if I could say the same about myself."
Ruby: "Oh… well thanks."
Professor Goodwitch can only chuckle at Ruby's behavior. She gives them both a small wave while beginning to walk away. After a few steps she stops and looks over her shoulder.
Goodwitch: "Oh, and should you two ever decide you want to start training the next generation, let me know."
Topaz: "Sounds good Professor."
Ruby: "Will do Professor Goodwitch."
Goodwitch: "A good day to you both."
She walks off into the distance while Ruby and Topaz begin to walk back home. Ruby skips along happily while Topaz follows after.
Ruby: "It was nice to see Professor Goodwitch again."
Topaz: "After everything we've been through, it sounds funny hearing you calling her Professor Goodwitch."
Ruby: "Well she is… technically."
Topaz: "I know, I'm only messing with you Ruby."
Ruby puffs her cheeks in a pout before breaking into laughter. Topaz wonders why she's laughing when he suddenly feels two people jump onto his back. Topaz smiles softly before chuckling himself.
Topaz: "Hey girls, how are you?"
Neo: "How do you never jump?!"
Ariel: "It's not fair. We can't scare you no matter how hard we try."
Topaz: "Well you do realize that I can either hear you coming, or smell you. And on top of all of that, Ruby broke into laughter before you two even did anything."
Ruby: "Hehe, whoops."
Topaz: "All that aside how are they doing?"
Neo: "They're doing well. They're excited for you to visit."
Ariel: "I still can't believe how much energy those two have."
Ruby: "Are you guys talking about those two girls that Topaz named after me?"
Topaz: "Yep, Ruby and Rose, the adorable twins that decided I was ready to be a father figure."
Ruby: "As much as I want to laugh at that it makes sense to me."
Neo: "Topaz has always had that side of him. Especially when it's with those he cares about or kids. I got to see it the day we met, and have seen it over and over again."
The four continued their talk as they walked through the peaceful forest of Patch, until they finally arrive back at the new neighborhood their families live in. Topaz could see everyone gathering in the Rose/Xiao Long backyard as Tai dances about while grilling. Ruby's eyes go wide in embarrassment as she bursts into petals to stop him. Everyone gathers round in celebration of peaceful time they find themselves in.
Tai: "Everyone gather round for a toast. I think this goes without saying, but here's to Topaz. When I first saw you those many years ago, who would have thought you'd be the one to stop Salem and bring such a huge change to the world. Through the ups and downs you stayed strong and showed the world that no matter what your background is, you can do huge things. I'm proud of the man you've become Topaz. To Topaz!"
Everyone: "To Topaz!"
Topaz suddenly finds himself being pushed forwards so that he's standing in the middle of everyone. With all eyes on him he sighs and clears his throat.
Topaz: "None of it would have been possible without everyone here. Tai and Summer took me in when I was forced to leave the village, Qrow was the best mentor I could hope for. My parents, along with everyone else here, continued to believe in me and help however they could through everything. I can't thank you all enough for that. Ariel and Neo, you two supported me and gave me the courage I needed when things looked bad. I love you both and can't wait for what the future holds for us. So, with that all being said, to family!"
Everyone: "To family."
The rest of the night was spent with everyone enjoying the company of those around them. Good food and laughs were shared amongst the group, with Topaz enjoying it all. Everything he'd been through quickly passing in his mind as he mentally prepares for what the future holds. So, what's next, he thinks while looking out into the horizon.
…
A/N: Hey everyone. I just wanted to put this at the end here to once again thank you all for the amazing support that has been shown throughout this story. Without you guys this story wouldn't have become what it has. This is the first thing outside of a school project that I've even attempted to write, and look at what it's become. Nearly a year after the first chapter was published, with nearly 1 million views, and just shy of 1.6k collections. While the year itself may not have been the best for me personally, I'm glad that I was able to write this to completion. So for the final time, thank you all for your support, Rhino out.