A/N: To start, how about that first episode of Volume 8? Going to be an intense season if the intro is anything to go by. With that being said, I hope you are all doing well and staying safe with how the world is. Enjoy the chapter and have a great day. Rhino out.
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[Atlas]
????: "General Ironwood, sir."
Ironwood: "What is it?"
????: "Sir, I just received a report that the squad of robots we sent to Patch for retrieval were destroyed."
Ironwood: "What? I never ordered any retrieval."
????: "But sir, the order was signed off by you."
Ironwood: "The only thing that I have signed off for recently has been the leave requests for Specialist Schnee, Ariel, and Neo."
????: "But sir-"
Ironwood: "Enough, I will be looking into this matter. What other missions were signed off under my name?"
????: "Well sir, the only other mission signed off by you personally, was the four man team of the specialized robots, to search for a Emma Nemea somewhere around the Patch/Vale area."
Ironwood: "WHAT!? That bastard will pay!"
????: "Who will pay sir?"
Ironwood: "The bastard responsible for us losing Topaz."
????: "What are your orders sir?"
Ironwood: "Return to the barracks. Even with this new information, I'm still placing the safety of Atlas before anything else. You are dismissed."
????: "Right, sir."
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Neo: "Hey Topaz, all of this started because of a false accusation of you kidnapping Emma, right?"
Topaz: "Yeah, why?"
Neo: "Well, I'm just curious, where is she?"
Topaz: "You know, that's a good question. Let's go ask my parents."
Topaz and Neo walk from the room they are staying in into the living room, where Ariel is talking with Sara. The two sit down next to Ariel and look towards Sara.
Topaz: "Hey mom, where is Emma?"
Sara: "She's staying in Vale currently. She decided she wanted to help people so she tracked down Miss Goodwitch and is learning from her."
Topaz: "Good for her. I guess I know what I'm going to do tomorrow then."
Sara: "Why?"
Topaz: "Neo reminded me that this whole incident started because Grandfather was looking for her. I want to make sure she's doing ok."
Sara: "I'm sure she's fine, but I think it would be a good idea for you to at least warn her what happened."
Topaz: "Have you heard on how things have been around Vale?"
Sara: "Not much has changed Topaz. Glynda is trying her best to restore order and everything, but it's taking time and a lot of effort."
Topaz: "That reminds me, I need a weapon."
Sara: "What happened to your spear?"
Topaz: "Somewhere in Atlas. I don't even have my scroll anymore, it was smashed by the guards."
Neo: "Those soldiers had better watch themselves. If I find out who it was that treated you that way, I will hit him."
Ariel: "Same here. Probably a good thing we are here for a while then."
Topaz: "You two coming with to Vale?"
Ariel: "As much as I would love to, it would probably be easier for you to move around if you are alone."
Neo: "I could use my semblance to hide us all, but I promised Haley I would show her how to paint her nails."
Ariel: "Are you thinking what I'm thinking Neo?"
Neo: "Probably not. What are you thinking?"
Ariel: "Girls day. You and I can show Yue and Haley the ropes of painting our nails and messing with their hair."
Neo: "That sounds like a lot of fun, let's do it!"
Topaz: "Cool, I'll take off pretty early in the morning to avoid people."
Sara: "Be safe Topaz, I mean it."
Topaz: "I'll be fine."
Sara: "I know you will be, but I'm your mother. I will always worry."
Topaz: "You don't have to worry about me, I'm not doing anything dangerous. I'm just going to check on Emma and help out Professor Goodwitch if she needs it."
Ariel: "Even still, you are a magnet for trouble."
Topaz: "Eh, I manage."
Ariel: "You know what, I'm not even going to get into it. You know we trust you, just be safe."
Topaz: "I will. Love you guys."
Neo: "Love you too."
Ariel: "Love you Topaz."
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Flying over the treetops, Topaz looks around for any sign of either people in need of help, or a group of huntsmen or huntresses to point him to where Professor Goodwitch is located. After a few hours of nothing, Topaz lands in one of the trees and reverts his form to normal. Leaping to the ground, Topaz walks towards the city, the towering walls hiding what the city itself looks like. When he gets close to the wall, someone shouts from the top of the wall telling him to stop where he is. Doing as he's told, Topaz stops and waits for someone to check him and escort him inside the city. After a minute, a guard walks out of a doorway in the wall and makes his way over to Topaz.
Guard: "What is your purpose for coming to Vale stranger?"
Topaz: "I'm looking for my cousin, who came to Vale to learn directly under Glynda Goodwitch. I'm also here to help Professor Goodwitch however I can."
Guard: "And how exactly do you know Miss Goodwitch?"
Topaz: "I was a student at Beacon before it fell. I met her there and was taught by her there."
Guard: "What is your name?"
Topaz: "My name doesn't matter to the situation. I mean no harm to the people of Vale, nor the city itself."
Guard: "Listen kid, either give me your name or go away. There's no reason why you shouldn't be able to tell me."
Topaz: "I mean no disrespect sir, but I really cannot. After an attempted murder from someone in Atlas, I'd rather they continue to think I'm dead. Makes things easier."
Guard: "Are you serious?"
Topaz: "Yes."
Guard: "Gods kid. Fine, I will let you into the city. But I will be personally escorting you to Miss Goodwitch. If she doesn't recognize you, you will leave Vale without any complaints."
Topaz: "That works for me. Lead the way."
Guard: "Very well, follow me."
The guard turns and walks towards the doorway in the wall, and Topaz follows after him. Once inside the wall, the door shuts behind them and a series of locks seal the door. Following the guard, Topaz decides to break the uncomfortable silence.
Topaz: "How have things been around here since the fall?"
Guard: *sigh* "To tell you the truth, it's been tough. There isn't enough manpower to cover every inch of the wall, and restore the city at the same time. Most of our resources are focused on keeping those inside the city safe, everything else is considered bonus."
Topaz: "Have the grimm been an issue, or have they stayed pretty docile?"
Guard: "For the first few months after Beacon fell, the grimm would attack in waves almost daily. Recently though, there will be an attack maybe once a week. Luckily, they always attack from the same direction, so we focus our toughest fighters there."
Topaz: "That's good, all things considered."
The guard leads Topaz through the empty streets of Vale, turning corners here and there, before eventually stopping by a run down looking building. Entering the building, Topaz sees Professor Goodwitch standing against a table discussing something with a couple of other familiar faces.
Goodwitch: "Alright gentlemen, after the attack the other day, we are down four men due to injuries. Luckily they are minor, so they should only be out a week or so. We need to shift our numbers around to help cover the northern section of the wall. Any suggestions?"
Port: "If I may, the eastern wall has been almost untouched for almost three months now. We could shift some of the numbers from there to the northern wall to help."
Goodwitch: "That is a possibility. Dr. Oobleck, has there been any word from your team in the field?"
Oobleck: "No ma'am. It's been almost two weeks and I'm beginning to worry. I would like to send another team to retrieve them, or even one person capable enough to survive on their own."
Goodwitch: "As much as I want to help them, we don't have the numbers for it."
Oobleck: "I understand. They knew the dangers before they left for the mission."
The guard that escorted Topaz through the city takes a step forward to alert the three of his presence.
Port: "Danny, what brings you here? I thought you were helping watch the southern wall?"
Danny: "I was sir, but something came up that required me to come here."
Port: "What came up?"
Topaz: "That would be me professor."
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