Chereads / The Strength Needed: A RWBY Tale / Chapter 36 - Chapter 36:

Chapter 36 - Chapter 36:

Topaz wakes up after an unknown amount of times. Sluggishly looking around, he realizes he is back in his room at Patch. Blinking the sleep from his eyes, Topaz attempts to get up, but is weighed down by something on his chest. Looking down he sees Neo sleeping on his chest. He smiles and brushes her hair out of her face. Topaz hears the door latch click so he looks towards the door, and sees Summer's face poke through to check up on him. Seeing he's awake she throws the door open.

Summer: "Topaz! Thank the brothers you are alright."

With Summer's loud entrance, Neo rolls over and opens her eyes. Seeing that Topaz is awake and looking at her, she throws her arms around his shoulders and begins crying. Topaz rubs her back and tries his best to calm her down.

Topaz: "It's ok Neo. I'm ok."

Neo just tightens her grip on him continuing to silently cry into his chest. After a little while she calms down and separates from Topaz, looking into his eyes. She grabs her scroll and begins to type on it with a pout on her face.

{You said you would be safe! What part of facing so many powerful people and then passing out is safe? Do you know how worried we were?}

Topaz: "I'm sorry Neo. I had to fight them, it was that or let people I care about die. That was not going to happen. And the passing out wasn't my fault, I got my memories back."

Summer: "What did you say?!"

Topaz: "I got my memories back Aunt Summer."

Summer: "So you remember everything now?"

Topaz: "Yes I do. I'm sorry for how I acted the last time we were together."

Summer: "No it's ok. It was understandable for you to react like that. No come on, everyone else is worried about you too."

Topaz: "Are Ruby and Yang ok?"

Summer: "They are fine. Shaken up but fine."

Topaz: "Good."

Topaz gets up and cleans himself up for the day. Changing he meets up with Neo and they make their way down the stairs and into the kitchen where they find everyone else. All eyes are on Topaz when he walks into the kitchen. Ruby bounces up and runs over to him and gives him a big hug. Tai makes his way over to Summer and wraps his arm around her shoulder. Yang looks up to Topaz with sad eyes but doesn't say anything. Qrow shakes his head with a small smile on his face while leaning against the counter.

Tai: "It's good to see you up and about Topaz."

Qrow: "Hey kiddo, glad to see you up and about again."

Ruby: "Topaz, thank you, thank you, thank you. If you hadn't done everything you did who knows how many more would have been hurt."

Topaz: "I didn't do anything special Ruby. I just didn't want to see anyone I care about get hurt. Wait, how is Nova?!"

Tai, Summer and Qrow all look at each other with grim faces. Summer decides to be the one to break the news.

Summer: "Because of Scarlett and your quick thinking and you not wasting any time he will make it, but there is very little chance he will be able to become a huntsman."

Topaz: "No... if only I had been a little faster. I could have saved him."

Qrow: "Knock it off Topaz. I was there too that night, it was chaos. There isn't anything we could have done. It wasn't your fault, and if I'm being honest, too many people are still alive because of you that shouldn't be."

Tai: "Qrow is right Topaz. Everything went badly, but even then, you and your friends managed to make it out of there. Yes, people got hurt Yes, people were lost, but thinking back on it too much will not do anything about it. It will only tear you up inside. You did all you could, and saved everyone you could."

Topaz: "But I could have done more."

Tai: "Topaz, you listen to me and you listen well. Nova is still alive and breathing because of you."

Summer: "He's right Topaz, please stop beating yourself up over it."

Topaz: "I'll try. Is Ariel ok? And the rest of team RWBY and JNPR?"

Summer: "Everyone is alright. You know about Blake and Yang, Pyrra has her leg in a cast because of the injury, but she's alive. Everyone else made it out with barely more than aura exhaustion."

Topaz: "I'm glad. Do you know where they all ended up?"

Ruby: "From what I've heard, Weiss was taken back to Atlas by her father, Pyrra went back to her hometown with Jaune. Apparently, he has a sister there. Ren and Nora are still around Vale, Nova was airlifted to Mistral to be treated and Scarlett went with him since she is from around there."

Topaz: "What about Blake and Ariel?"

Topaz notices Ruby flinch at the mention of Blake's name.

Yang: "She's gone. She ran away the moment she was clear."

Topaz: "Yang? You ok?"

Yang: "No, I'm not ok. I lost my arm, and Blake is gone. How could I possibly be doing well?"

Topaz: "I'm sorry Yang."

Yang: "Whatever."

Ruby: "Ariel was pulled back to Mistral by her parents."

Neo walks over to Topaz at the mention of Ariel. Grabbing his hand, she holds out her scroll.

{We will see her soon enough. You still owe us those dates. }

Topaz couldn't help but smile when Neo said that. Giving her a kiss on her forehead he pulls her into a hug.

Topaz: "Thanks Neo. I needed that."

Topaz takes a deep breath and gets to where everyone can see him.

Topaz: "Everyone, the night of the attack I didn't pass out from exhaustion or anything like that. I passed out because I got my memories back. I know my past finally."

Summer: "The passing out isn't that suprising after knowing that to be honest. From the note your mother gave us when you first got here, your memories were supposed to resurface when you were sixteen. So, there could have been some adverse effects by it being two years late."

Tai: "What do you plan on doing with that information Topaz?"

Topaz: "I think I need to go to Menagerie and find my family. There's too much I want to know."

Summer: "I don't know Topaz. The world isn't doing well after the attack on Beacon. Without Beacon's CCTV tower there isn't any communication between kingdoms. I don't know if I'm comfortable with you going to Menagerie alone, even if it is to see my sister."

Topaz: "I wouldn't be alone Summer. You think Neo is just going to let me leave after all this time?"

Summer: "But humans aren't allowed on Menagerie, how would she get there?"

Topaz looked to Neo and gives her a smile and a wink. She closes her eyes and her image shatters into glass. Standing in her place is a girl with sandy blonde hair and small cat ears on her head.

Topaz: "That's how."

Summer: "Oh my Ohm. You weren't kidding about her semblance being powerful."

Topaz: "Yep."

Tai: *Sigh* "Topaz, you know that you will always have a place here, right?"

Topaz: "I know Tai. And I truly appreciate it, but this is something I need to do."

Summer: "Fine, but you have to promise you will visit whenever you can."

Topaz: "I will certainly try. I did promise my mom I'd get strong enough so I could take her to see you when I last saw her."

Summer: "Of course you did. Take a few days to make sure you're fully healed and so we can spend some time with you. You have been asleep for a few weeks you know."

Topaz: "Sure thing Summer. I'll leave at the start of next week."

The rest of the week went by quickly, Topaz spent time with everyone and eventually said his goodbyes to them. Now standing in front of the house, everyone else stands and says their farewells. Turning towards Neo, Topaz holds out his hand for her.

Topaz: "Ready Neo?"

Neo nods her head and grabs his hand. The two make their way towards the docks, waving goodbye as they walked away. Arriving at the docks, Topaz payed for each of their tickets and they then boarded the ship that will be taking them to Menagerie.

Topaz: "Next stop, Menagerie."