Standing in the open sand, Topaz and Leo feel the ground begin to shake. They then suddenly find themselves surrounded by eight deathworms and the wounded alpha deathworm. Leo and Topaz make eye contact for a moment and nod to each other. They then both transform into lions and begin attacking the deathworms surrounding them. The minutes go by and Leo and Topaz both stand back to back, back in their normal forms, aura flickering. Around them stand two deathworms and the alpha deathworm. Leo tries taking a step forward but his legs give out beneath him.
Topaz: "Leo!"
Leo: "I'm sorry. This is as far as I can go. Just leave me."
Topaz: "Yeah that's not happening. Hand me your spear."
Leo: "But it's mine."
Topaz: "Give me the spear or we both die."
Leo: "Fine, but if anything happens to it you owe me."
Leo reluctantly hands over his spear to Topaz, before passing out from exhaustion. Topaz can only marvel how well balanced it is. Giving it a couple of test swings, Topaz nods and prepares himself for a tough fight. The alpha deathworm sees Topaz standing alone and makes its move. Rushing towards Topaz, the alpha tries taking a bite at Topaz's right side. Topaz dodges to his left and takes a stab at one of the open wounds from their fight earlier. Seeing that he hit the mark, Topaz jumped back and prepared for another inbound attack. Continuing the dodge and stab game with the alpha deathworm, Topaz feels his arms get heavier and heavier. He knows he has to finish it soon or he won't stand a chance. Taking a deep breathe Topaz plans to finish the fight with the next move. Waiting for the alpha to charge one last time Topaz stands where he is waiting until the very last second. The alpha raises its head to bite Topaz's head off, and at that moment, Topaz thrusts the spear into the injury made when he was a rhino. Sending the spear into the wound and pushing as deep as he can, he sends the spear all the way to its base. With one final wail, the alpha deathworm falls to its side and begins fading into dust. Turning to face the final two deathworms he is surprised to see them both a pile of dust. Standing in their place is a group of faunus, each holding their own spear. Topaz rushes over to Leo to make sure he's ok. Finding Leo just staring at him wide eyed, Topaz sighs with relief.
Topaz: "Good to see you're ok Leo."
Leo: "Kid, do you realize what you just did?"
Topaz: "I killed a grimm, what of it?"
Leo: "Kid, you killed a grimm that no one in our tribe has ever faced and lived to tell the tale."
Topaz: "Oh, well cool. It dropped a tooth, so I'm going to keep it as a trophy"
Leo: "By all means, you earned it."
????: "Leo, are you ok!?"
A woman with long brown hair runs over, shoving Topaz out of the way. She then begins checking over Leo to make sure if he is ok.
Leo: "Stella, yeah. I'm ok thanks to the kid. Just a little tired."
The woman, apparently named Stella turns towards Topaz. She looks at him for a moment with confusion.
Stella: "Thank you for helping my idiot husband. But may I ask, who are you?"
Topaz: "There's no need for thanks. He was helping me and my girlfriend before we were attacked. And my name is Topaz."
Stella: "Topaz, why do you look so familiar?"
Topaz: "I don't know. It's been a long time since I was last on Menagerie."
????: "Stella, is everything ok over there?"
Stella: "Yes Chief Nemea, everyone is alright. Just a little exhausted."
Chief Nemea: "I'm glad to see there wasn't any casualties. Leo what happened?"
Leo: "Chief sir, you won't believe it."
Chief Nemea: "Try me."
Leo: "An alpha deathworm was defeated."
Chief Nemea: "What?! How on Remnant did you kill it?"
Leo: "I didn't sir. He did."
Leo points to Topaz as he says that. The chief looks at Topaz for a moment, wondering just who could have beaten an alpha deathworm.
Chief Nemea: "Who are you kid?"
Topaz: "I would have thought you would recognize me to be honest. Then again, it has been thirteen years. It's good to see you again... dad."
Chief Nemea: "T-Topaz? Oh my gods, you're alive."
Topaz's father wraps him in a tight hug and just holds him. Topaz relaxes into the hug after a moment.
Stella: "Chief Alex, just who is that?"
Alex: "Stella, I would like to introduce you to my first born, Topaz."
Stella: "Wait, he's your first born?!"
Alex: "Yes, he is Sara and my first born. Sadly, he was born before we were married which caused trouble with my father."
Topaz hears sand shifting behind him and smells the comforting scent of vanilla. Turning with a smile Topaz grabs Neo's hand and pulls her into a hug. He can feel her tear begin to seep through his shirt. Rubbing her back, Topaz does everything he can to calm her down.
Topaz: "I told you I would be fine. Would you like to meet my father?"
Neo's eyes go wide and she immediately begins wiping her tears and tries to make herself look more presentable.
Topaz: "Relax, as I said earlier, you are perfect as you are. Now come on."
Pulling Neo over to where his father is talking to Leo and Stella.
Topaz: "Hey dad, I would like to introduce you to Neo, my girlfriend."
Alex: "Girlfriend? That's my boy. Pleased to meet you little lady, I am Alex Nemea, current chief of the Nemea tribe and Topaz's father."
Neo quickly takes out her scroll and furiously types into it. Topaz's father looks at Topaz with an eyebrow raised. Topaz just holds up a finger signaling one moment. Neo hands her scroll over to Alex and he begins reading it.
{It's my pleasure sir. My name is Neo Politan, Topaz's second girlfriend. Your son saved my life the day we met, and I've been in love with him ever since.}
Alex: "Second girlfriend?! Topaz you'd better not be cheating on anyone."
Topaz: "Ha ha, I'm not dad. Neo and Ariel are close. I don't know what I would do without either of them."
Alex: "Well good, but no promises on how your mother will take it."
Topaz: "No matter what she says or does, I refuse to hurt either of them."
Alex: "Good."
Alex makes his way to the group of tribe members who were discussing the current predicament. Motioning for Topaz and Neo to follow they did.
Alex: "Alright everyone, let's make our way back home. I will explain everything once we are there. After that it'll be a celebration."
Topaz runs over and grabs Leo's cart for him. Bringing it over by him, he helps the tribe load him into it and then Topaz lifts Neo into the cart as well. Topaz then proceeds after the tribe members pulling the cart. The trip is quiet but uneventful which Topaz appreciated after the arduous fighting that had happened earlier.
Leo: "Hey Topaz."
Topaz: "What's up?"
Leo: "Thank you."
Topaz: "For what?"
Leo: "I'm still alive because you refused to leave me behind. Without that I would have never seen my wife again, or met my unborn child."
Topaz: "Oh, congratulations!"
Leo: "Thank you, she just told me she found out today."
Topaz: "That means you need to stop trying to be a hero so you can survive to watch your child grow up."
Leo: "Yeah, yeah."
Topaz looks back at Neo and gives her a loving smile. He mouths 'someday' to her and she blushes but nods slightly. Topaz chuckles and focuses on the direction they are heading. They eventually arrive at a large set of gates. The gates opens at their arrival and they follow inside. Alex walks in front of the growing crowd and calls for their attention.
Alex: "Everyone, we return with great news! The alpha deathworm has been killed!"
The tribe shouts in approval when they hear that bit of news.
Alex: "I also have another announcement. Many of you don't know this, but Sara and I had a child around eighteen years ago. Now I know what you are all thinking. And yes, you are right, that child went against my father's customs. Because of that, he was sent over to Vale. He was supposed to regain his memories when he turned sixteen years of age. I'm not sure why, but he didn't return at that time. But I am more than happy to say that he has now returned. So everyone, please warmly welcome my son Topaz."