A/N: I hope you are all doing well today. So I just finished volume 8... and I don't know how to feel. So many elements make the story amazing, but as a fan of the show it just didn't feel the same to me. I am glad I decided not to stick to canon very much because damn. But that's a different matter. I won't lie when I say that the end of last chapter, beginning of this one was never planned and just sort of happened when I spaced out while writing. With that being said, let me know what you think, and enjoy. Rhino out.
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Topaz turns to see two large men drag his grandfather in front of Tera. His grandfather's eyes go wide at the sight of both her and Topaz.
Grandfather: "You! Boy, what are you doing here!?"
Tera: "I called him here. He has every right of being here."
Grandfather: "He has NO right! He's a mistake to the Nemea tribe!"
Tera: "ENOUGH!"
Everyone goes stiff at her shout, including Topaz. Every set of eyes in the general area are on her.
Tera: "That's better. You, he who erased his name from the history of the tribe, demanding that all call him Chief Nemea for all time. You stand before this ancestral council on trial for multiple reasons. The biggest of which, are attempting to kill one of our own, and then next. Siding with an ancient enemy to destroy the world. How low can you stoop?"
Grandfather: "I will stoop as low as I need to in order to protect the tribe's name."
Tera: "The tribe's name?"
Grandfather: "Yes, the Nemea name is sacred."
Tera: "The Nemea name is a name, nothing more, nothing less. There is nothing wrong with taking pride in one's heritage, however there is a lot wrong with one thinking a name has more value than an individual."
Mouba: "Your grace, I respectively disagree with your statement and thought process. The Nemea name has been around for generations. When all else failed, the Nemea tribe fought on, living in the most dangerous area on Remnant. The brothers themselves have given their respect for our tribe. The Nemea name is much more than a mere name."
Tera: "So you think it's alright to force a child to leave their parents while young? To wipe all memories they had of those that love them the most?"
Mouba: "If that is what it takes, yes."
Tera: "I've heard enough from you Mouba."
Mouba: "But-"
Tera: "No! You shall remain silent for the duration of the trial, or you will leave."
Mouba: "As you wish…"
Topaz watches Mouba head to the back of the crowd, not looking back for an instant. Topaz then sees Tera motion for him to come to her. Walking to the very front of the crowd that has gathered, Topaz stands next to Tera.
Tera: "Everyone, this is Topaz Nemea, the one on trials own grandson. The very person who's life has been attempted, and reason for this trial."
Topaz: "Hello everyone."
?????: "Young Topaz, your upbringing is well known to us, and I must ask, do you think it made you stronger?"
Topaz: "In some ways it might have, but at the same time I think that strength doesn't matter as much as family does."
?????: "Spoken like a Nemea. Well said."
Tera: "Well said indeed."
?????: "Forgive me for not introducing myself young Topaz. I am Mufasa Nemea, husband of Tera and the original alpha of the Nemea tribe."
Topaz: "It is an honor to meet you sir."
Mufasa: "The honor is all mine child. The Nemea name still stays strong with you being apart of it."
Grandfather: "M-Mufasa. Surely you see my reasoning sir, the boy-"
Mufasa: "I will hear none of it from you boy. You mistake your greed for pride and are lucky I can do nothing to you about it.
Topaz can only watch with wide eyes as Mufasa picks up his grandfather with a single hand, and throw him back to where he stood previously, a solid fifteen feet away.
Topaz: "Wow."
Mufasa: "Impressive is it not. There will come a day young Topaz where you too will realize the strength that comes with the eyes you hold. You and I are quite alike in that regard."
Topaz: "Can you teach me?"
Mufasa: "I cannot, my apologies. Our time together is coming to an end, but I can give you some advice. Just as Tera had you channel your aura through your spear to use the effects of your silver eyes, you can also do that with the rest of your body. Train your control over your aura, then try it with the strength your heart holds."
Topaz: "I will try sir, thank you."
Mufasa: "There's no need for thanks my child. It's what family should do. Now, I hope to not see you again for a long time. You're young, and shouldn't be standing near deaths door so soon."
Topaz: "Don't worry, I have no plans on joining you guys here for a long while if I can help it."
Mufasa: "Good, take care Topaz. I see great things in your future."
Mufasa raises his arm and slaps Topaz on the back, and everything goes white. When things finally calm down in Topaz's head, he blinks his tired eyes and looks around. He's laying in a room that he is unfamiliar with, and reminds him all too much of the room he stayed in while kidnapped. Slowly getting to his feet, he walks to where he remembers the door being and presses on the wall. With a hiss the door opens showing him the familiar Schnee hallway. Taking a step out he hears Qrow and Winter talking, and begins heading towards the sound.
Qrow: "It's not a good thing Winter! Topaz is unconscious, and has been for two days."
Winter: "Do you think I don't know that?! I'm just saying that Topaz proved there is a way to beat those monsters."
Qrow: "What a way to prove a point, almost dying."
Robyn: "You know that's not what she meant Qrow:"
Qrow: *sigh* "I'm sorry. I'm still on edge about that whole fight."
Winter: "We are too. To think that Topaz's grandfather was here, and under Salem no less."
Qrow: "We knew he was following her from passing news, but I don't think anyone could have expected that."
Ozpin: "If the three of you are finished arguing, he's awake."
Qrow: "He is, lets go… oh, hey kid. How uh, how long were you there?"
Topaz: "A little bit. You two just can't help but argue with each other, can you?"
Winter: "He started it. He always starts it."
Qrow: "I did not start anything. It was your condescending attitude and lack of care for what you say sometimes that starts everything."
Topaz: "Both of you stop it already. You sound like an old married couple for Oum's sake."
Winter: "W-What did you just say?!"
Winter is bright red from both from embarrassment and frustration, Qrow is staring with a dumb look on his face, and Robyn is laughing hard. Topaz and Ozpin chuckle at their reactions before the room goes quiet once again.
Winter: "As if I would ever even think of marrying such a fool."
Qrow: "And you think I could stand marrying you?"
Topaz: "Seriously you two."
Robyn: "I think you might be on to something Topaz. We might have a new couple on our hands."
Topaz: "Brothers above no. I enjoy my quiet."
Robyn: "Ha ha, same here."
Ozpin: "So… Topaz, how are you feeling?"
Topaz: "Groggy, but otherwise fine."
Ozpin: "Makes sense given the time you've been unconscious."
Topaz: "Was it really two days?"
Ozpin: "It was indeed, the damage you sustained took quite a lot out of you to recover from. Add in the mental strain from how it ended and it makes sense."
Topaz: "While I was unconscious, I spoke with some of my ancestors."
Ozpin: "Really, anything in particular?"
Topaz: "It was mostly a judgement for my grandfather, but I was also given advice from Mufasa Nemea, the original alpha for the tribe. He told me that if I trained my aura control like I did with the spear to pierce my grandfather's skin, I could have incredible strength."
Ozpin: "Having seen the strength he had first hand, I would hope you do what you can for that. Mufasa was one of the strongest living beings in one of my first reincarnations. Even across Remnant we still heard tale of his abilities, even if they were exaggerated slightly. But that is a story for another time. Right now we need to figure out what to do next."