A/N: What's up everyone! Technically this is the 100th chapter for the story, if the mini backstories are included, so YAY! I honestly didn't think the story would go this far when I started it in August. It's the first time I've tried writing down the ideas I had swirling around in my head. With that being said, I know it's not the greatest, but you guys still show it so much support, and for that, I can only thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are all incredible and your support is appreciated immensely. Let's see how far the story will go by the time it finishes. I'm trying to get at least a small portion of writing done a day to get chapters out a little more regularly than they have been recently. Thank you all again for the continuous support, Rhino out!
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Alex: "Hey Topaz, can you come here for a second?"
Topaz: "Sure thing, what's up?"
Alex: "So… are you comfortable taking out your team and clearing out some grimm?"
Topaz: "Of course. Is it a large group?"
Alex: "I'm not sure to be honest with you. I ran into someone in town that looked pretty ragged. When I asked him what was wrong, he told me about his village detecting a group of grimm heading their way. He then said he's been running for the past day to get to town, only to learn that there aren't any huntsmen available. So, I told him we could help."
Topaz: "Good, we are more than happy to help. It's what we decided we wanted to do."
Alex: "Good, go and gather your team. I'll be coming along, but won't join in unless things get bad."
Topaz: "Sounds like a plan. Be back soon."
Running into the house, Topaz notifies his team to grab their gear and prepare for a mission. After 20 minutes or so everyone gathers outside the front of the house with their weapons, aside from Topaz.
Scarlett: "Topaz, where's your weapon?"
Nova: "Yeah man, didn't you have an ax?"
Topaz: "Well, the ax was destroyed the night Beacon fell. When I was on Menagerie I made a spear, but that is more than likely still on Atlas."
Scarlett: "Oh… I'm sorry for bringing it up."
Topaz: "You're good, don't worry about it."
Alex: "Actually Topaz, Ruby and Yang brought it back when they visited a while ago."
Topaz: "…are you serious?"
Alex: "Yes?"
Topaz: "So all this time I could have been using it for training, but I was never told about it."
Alex: "Maybe?"
Topaz: "…"
Neo: "Alright you two. We shouldn't be wasting time like this as entertaining as it is."
Alex: "Right, so here Topaz. Now, for all of you, I'm not sure on the number of grimm you will be facing. The only thing I was told was there was a number of grimm making its way towards the gentleman's village."
Ariel: "So we are pretty much going in blind?"
Alex: "I'm sorry, but yes."
Nova: "Can I ask why we have to do this? Aren't there huntsmen and huntresses in Vale who's job is this kind of thing?"
Alex: "Normally, yes. But as of now, there aren't any available huntsmen or huntresses available for missions. I didn't get the exact details, but I did overhear something about other groups of grimm in the surrounding area."
Topaz: "So 'someone' is trying to keep everyone occupied in this area."
Alex: "Seems so. The question being, where is this 'someone' focusing on to keep most distracted around here?"
Topaz: "Sadly, I think I know."
Alex: "Oh?"
Topaz: "…"
Alex: "Ooooh. There. Yeah, that makes sense."
Nova: "Would you two like to share some details? The rest of us are sort of in the dark here."
Scarlett: "Salem is the 'someone' and if I had to take a wild guess, Atlas is the where."
Nova: "What makes you say that?"
Scarlett: "You know, I love you Nova, but you can be rather dense sometimes."
Nova: "Hey!"
Scarlett: "Think of what Topaz told us that has all happened while we were in Mistral."
Nova: "…"
Scarlett: "Do you get it now?"
Nova: "…not at all."
Scarlett: *groans* "Teams RWBY and JNPR along with Topaz, Ariel and Neo stopped Salem's group in Mistral with us, then they took that weird lamp thing to Atlas for Ironwood's help. Since Salem is after the lamp thing, and whatever is being hidden in Atlas, that's obviously her most likely target."
Nova: "Ah."
Scarlett: "Ah?"
Nova: "That's why I let you do all the thinking. You're so smart."
Scarlett: "No, you're just an idiot."
Alex: "Alright you two. Yes, you are correct Scarlett. Now for the task at hand."
Topaz: "Do we have any transportation for this?"
Alex: "Luckily, your mother still has some connections around here. She managed to get you guys an old truck to take towards the village."
Topaz: "And where exactly is this truck?"
A low rumbling begins, and the mentioned old truck appears from around the house. Stopping in front of Topaz and his friends, Sarah steps out of the truck and gives everyone a wave.
Sarah: "Hey guys, the truck is good to go when you guys are."
Topaz: "Sounds good mom. Let's get in guys."
Alex gets into the passenger seat alongside Sara, while everyone else gets into the back of the truck. Setting their gear down, the group finds some open floor space to sit and make themselves comfortable. Once they were ready Topaz hits the side of the truck to let his mother know they were ready to go. At the signal the truck lurches forwards, and the group begins their journey towards the unknown village.
Driving along the countryside, Topaz looks out the back of the truck, looking for anything to occupy his mind. He can't help but worry about his friends in Atlas after the earlier realization. Part of him wants to rush over to Atlas and help however he can, but the logical part of him knows that Ruby and the others are capable enough to handle themselves. After a few minutes of thinking, a hand is placed on his right shoulder. Turning to see who it is, he sees the concerned face of Neo, with Ariel next to her.
Neo: "You're worried about them. Aren't you?"
Topaz: "How can I not be. They are as much family to me as the two of you are."
Ariel: "We are worried too you know. We just have to trust that they can handle themselves. At least for now."
Topaz: "I do trust them. I know they are capable, and even more so when they are together, but I can't help but worry about them."
Neo: "We know you will always worry about those you care about Topaz. It's one of the many reasons that I fell in love with you for."
Ariel: "I can agree to that."
Neo: "But for now, you can't be worrying about others when on a mission. It's putting everyone else, and more so yourself, in danger. So try your best to focus on the mission, or at least us."
Topaz: *sighs* "Thank you, both of you. I'm incredibly lucky to have you both."
Ariel: "Of course Topaz."
Neo: "Now, relax and talk with us. Get your mind off of everything else."
Topaz: "Sure thing."
Nova: "Hey Topaz, there's something I've been meaning to ask you."
Topaz: "What is it Nova?"
Nova: "Well, its actually a couple of things. But the big question I have is about Sienna."
Topaz: "What about her?"
Nova: "Wasn't she the leader of the White Fang?"
Topaz: "She was."
Nova: "Was? As in past tense?"
Topaz: "Yes, the group of White Fang that attacked the night Beacon fell, and also tried to attack that night at Haven weren't under orders of Sienna. They were a splinter cell of sorts, following under another faunus who was bad news."
Nova: "Was bad news?"
Topaz: "Yes, was. On the way to Argus I was separated from the others after an incident. I joined up with them in Argus after a little while. I learned that when Yang and Blake were exploring the city, they were attacked by this guy. The two of them together defeated him, at the cost of his life."
Nova: "Oh…"
Topaz: "I've spoken with Sienna a few times before she decided to move to Patch. I warned her about the guy, and thanks to that she survived the attack on her, but was pretty badly injured from it. When separated from the others, I accidentally ran into her in some random cabin in the woods. Funny how that works sometimes."
Nova: "So Sienna and you are close?"
Topaz: "I don't know what she feels about me, but she's almost like an older sister at this point."
Nova: "Cool cool."
Topaz: "So, what was the other question you had for me?"
…