It has been a week since Topaz and his class completed their weapons. The excitement in the air is so present its almost tangible. Today was the 'Signal Tournament of Champions' which to any student of Signal, is the biggest event of the schoolyear. Students are challenged to compete by themselves or with a team of four or less students. Topaz grins to himself in preparation for the fun that is about to ensue. Hearing Qrow give his consent for the students to begin looking for teammates if they want them, Topaz stands up and grabs Ariel and Yang.
Topaz: "Ariel, Yang we are going to win this."
Yang: "Of course we are. It's us."
Ariel: "W-We can do this. I believe in us."
The three make their way up to Qrow to sign up as a team. Qrow seeing who Topaz teamed up with looked at Topaz and winked with a cocky grin. Topaz rolls his eyes and continues towards to where the tournament will take place. After a few hours, Yang, Ariel and Topaz stand on the arena grounds, waiting to see who their opponents will be. Seeing the far door open, Topaz begins to laugh as he sees Chad walk into the arena followed by the other two bullies from that day many months ago. When Chad sees Topaz grinning, he stops and goes pale.
Chad: "I-I-I'm not feeling well. W-We forfeit."
The other two are quick to follow in their forfeit, and they quickly turn and run out of the arena. Seeing the three leave, the official for the match can only shake his head as he declares YAT the winner.
Topaz: "Why did we call ourselves YAT?"
Yang: "I didn't feel like thinking of a better name, you can thank me later."
The rest of the tournament went rather uneventfully, team YAT won every match they were placed in. They were eventually placed in the finals and were set to face a team of students set to graduate at the end of the year. They were the previous year's tournament winners, and the favorites to win again this year.
Announcer: "Welcome to this year's tournament finals! This year we have last year's champions team TOP. And facing them, we have the dark horse of this tournament, team YAT! And for the official for this year's final, coming all the way in from Beacon. Please, put your hands together for Headmaster Ozpin!"
Ozpin: "Thank you, thank you. I'm hoping to see a clean but exhilarating match between the two teams. Now, if both teams would prepare, we will get this fight going."
Team TOP get into a triangle formation, having the two biggest guys stand in front of the girl who sits towards the back. Team YAT stands in a horizontal line drawing their weapons in preparation for the fight.
Ozpin: "Alright students, you may begin. Fight!"
At Ozpin's call, team TOP rushed forwards, and focused on Yang, hoping to take out one of the members of team YAT early. Seeing what was going on, Topaz drew his gun and began firing rounds at the member closest to Yang. Ariel extended her blade whip and made her way over to Yang to provide her backup. Seeing the frontlines of team TOP occupied with Ariel and Yang, Topaz rushes past them to push the lone girl sitting at the back. Seeing him close in on her quickly, she tried pulling out her sword, only for it to fall to the ground in her panic. Approaching the weaponless girl, Topaz quickly subdued her with a simple punch to the diaphragm. Turning back to assist his team, he notices that one of the guys from team TOP is already on the ground, and the second follows after quickly as Yang punches him in the face, sending his aura into the red.
Ozpin: "And with that final knockout, team YAT is the winner. Congratulations children."
Ariel: "T-Thank you sir."
Yang: "Woo-hoo, we did it!"
Topaz: "Thank you Professor Ozpin."
The three of them were led to the center of the arena, and see Qrow walking towards them carrying a small trophy and some medals. Qrow hands each member of team YAT a medal and offers his congratulations. The three then gathered together for a picture to commemorate their win. After a few pictures were taken, Ariel's scroll began to go off. Taking it out and answering it, a conversation ensued that would change up Topaz's life.
Ariel: "Hey mom, what's up?
Ariel: "Wait, what?! Oh my gods, is he ok?!"
Ariel: "Yes, I want to come with to help. I don't know what I'll do about school, but I have to help dad."
Ariel: "Ok, I'll see you soon. Love you."
Topaz could tell that something wasn't right immediately. Ariel had tears in her eyes and looked like she was about ready to lose it. He didn't know why, but seeing her like that tore him up inside.
Topaz: "Ariel, are you ok?"
Ariel: "I don't know. My mom just called and told me that my dad has been badly injured when out on a mission. He's being taken care of in Mistral, and I'm going to go with her to help him."
Topaz: "What about school? What will you do?"
Ariel: "I don't know. I'll probably try to start school again in Mistral when dad starts getting a little better."
Topaz: "We are going to miss you."
Ariel: "I will miss you guys too."
Watching Ariel walk away for probably the last time, Topaz started to tear up. Yang gave him a hug and started to cry herself. They stayed like that until Tai walked up to them. Seeing his kids in tears, Tai immediately went to them and asked them what was wrong. After explaining to Tai what happened Tai gave the two a sad sympathetic smile.
Topaz: "Hey Tai?"
Tai: "What's up bud?"
Topaz: "When I saw Ariel start to cry after being told about her dad, I felt like my heart was breaking. And watching her walk away gave me the same feeling. What is this painful feeling?"
Tai: *Sigh* "When she was close to you, or whenever you saw her smile, how did you feel then?"
Topaz: "I felt warm and fuzzy whenever she was close, or she smiled. Hearing her laugh gave me butterflies, but I don't know why."
Tai: "Oh Topaz, I'm so sorry. Those feelings you felt were love. Luckily you are young, and have plenty of life ahead of you to feel that again. I'm so sorry bud."
Understanding what Tai said, Topaz began to cry yet again. Being comforted by both Yang and Tai, Topaz continued to cry until he had no tears left in him. Tai led Topaz and Yang out of the school and back home, and left Topaz to sort out the newfound feelings.