Yang: "What is SHE doing here?!"
Topaz looks over and sees Yang angrily stomping towards Emerald. Before she can do anything, Ariel steps in between the two of them arms raised defensively.
Yang: "Out of the way Ariel!"
Ariel: "No, she's with us."
Yang: "SHE has tried to kill us on multiple occasions!"
Topas: "Yang, that is enough. Emerald is going to be with us now, and here's why."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yang: "You expect me to believe any of that?"
Topaz: "You don't need to trust what she says Yang. Trust me, I'm deciding to trust her."
Yang: "Argh! Fine. But don't expect me to like it."
Topaz: "Just don't try hurting her Yang, then we'll be good."
Emerald: "I-If it's any consolation, I'm sorry for everything that happened."
Yang: "Whatever."
Yang turns back into the mansion and storms off. Ruby rushes over and puts a hand on her shoulder only for Yang to shrug her off. Ruby looks like she's going to try again but Neo puts a hand on her shoulder and shakes her head.
Neo: "Give her some space Ruby. Some time to cool her head."
Ruby: "But-"
Neo: "Ruby."
Ruby: "Okay."
A sudden explosion rocks the mansion causing everyone to brace for a fight. Topaz looks around and sees a cloud of dust and smoke off in the distance.
Jaune: "Hey guys… isn't that the direction that the massive grimm was at?"
Topaz: "Yes it was. I'm going to go check it out. You guys stay here and be careful."
Without waiting for anyone to reply, Topaz takes to the sky after changing to a hawk and makes his way quickly to the farmlands where the whale was… or used to be. Where the grimm used to stand is now a massive crater, with bits and pieces of the large grimm scattered about slowly turning to dust. He can see Winter staggering on the ground holding her ears with the ace ops doing the same. Landing next to them he slowly approaches them.
Topaz: "Winter, are you guys alright? Winter?"
Winter's eyes are hazy as she turns towards Topaz. After a few minutes of her just staring at him, her eyes begin to clear up and then go wide.
Winter: "Topaz! What are you doing here?"
Topaz: "I think I should be asking you guys that."
Winter: "The general ordered us to take out that massive grimm. So we did."
Topaz: "Just how did you do that?"
Harriet: "Don't answer that traitor Winter. In fact, arrest him now."
Harriet rushes Topaz and throws a heavy punch towards his face. A step away from Topaz she loses her balance and falls onto her face.
Harriet: "ARGH stupid ringing ears! I can't get my balance."
Winter: "Harriet stand down."
Harriet: "I refuse. Ever since Topaz decided to fake his death, General Ironwood has been going more and more mental. It's his fault things are like this."
Topaz: "Yes, I faked my death. It was either that or get shot by the General. So yeah, blame me for him losing his mind. Not like he was very sane when I first got to Atlas."
Winter: "Both of you stop it now!"
Harriet begins grumbling to herself but Topaz was a little more focused on more pressing issues. From where the massive grimm used to lie, Topaz could feel something bad. No, worse than bad, something evil in every sense of the word. Then a loud scream pierces the air, sending chills down everyone's spines.
Topaz: "Move it, something bad is coming."
Winter: "You all heard him, back to the ships."
Harriet: "And why should we trust anything he says."
Topaz: "Because I'm not going with you guys."
Winter: "What?!"
Topaz: "I'll try to hold it off as long as I can, you guys get out of here and warn everyone else."
Topaz could see the hesitation on Winter's face, and the anger on Harriet's. Harriet takes a step towards Topaz with her fist raised. She stopped a moment later and pure horror was displayed on her face. Topaz pulled his spear out and turned to fight whatever was coming their way. Hearing the others quickly run off from behind him gave him some peace of mind, but the sight in front of him gave him chills. Rushing his was, was a black mist that just radiated malice and hatred. The black mist stops a few steps away from Topaz and slowly begins to change shape. Now standing before him is a woman with white skin and black veins covering her skin. Her white hair is separated into six small buns with one larger bun covering the back of her head.
Salem: "Well, well, well. If it isn't Topaz~"
Topaz: "Salem."
Salem: "How cute, you think you can do anything to me. Not even that fool Ironwood with that massive explosive could keep me down for long. So what does a little boy such as yourself think you could possibly do to me."
Topaz: "Doesn't matter what I do. It's still worth a shot."
Salem glares at Topaz and lifts her right arm with her palm facing the sky. In her palm, a small ball of purple fire dances, illuminating her face making things feel even creepier than they already did. She extends her hand towards Topaz and a wave of the purple flame comes his way quickly. Rolling out of the way, Topaz bounces to his feet and tries to rush Salem. With a wave of her hand Topaz is flung away with a gust of powerful wind. Landing hard, Topaz bounces off the ground a few times before regaining his footing.
Salem: "Silly boy. You can do nothing to me. Not even Ozpin could scratch me in his pitiful state."
To emphasize her point, she waves her hand once more and a cyclone of different colors surrounds her. Varieties of elements are shot towards Topaz forcing him to dodge over and over, never given a chance to catch his breath. With a frustrated cry, Topaz rushes Salem once more, taking a blast of fire to the chest. Ignoring the searing pain, he continues his rush, swinging his spear horizontally while focusing his aura into it. Salem realizes the incoming danger a second to late and tries retracting her arm, but the blade of Topaz's spear is still able to make contact on her right wrist. The magic surrounding Salem disappears immediately and Topaz watches with a tired smile as Salem's arm begins turning to stone from where he has cute her.
Salem: "So the kitten has learned how to use its claws. Too little too late boy."
With a pained shout, Salem tears her right arm off and throws the now stone object to the ground. She looks towards Topaz with a cocky smile, which quickly turns to a panicked one.
Salem: "What? Regenerate already you stupid arm!"
Topaz: "Great, my theory worked."
Not giving Salem time to think he rushes towards her once again. Slash after slash he continues his onslaught on her but is unable to connect any more hits. In an act of desperation, Salem backhands in Topaz's direction, sending a massive wave of purple fire his way. Taking cover in a small crater left in their fight, he waits until the fire dissipates before popping out once again. Looking around he is unable to see Salem anywhere. A faint breeze brushes past him and a whisper can be heard.
Salem: "You win this time boy, but no more. You shall watch as I slowly kill all of those you hold dear. And only after I finally allow them the sweet release of death shall I take your broken mind and make you mine. Until then~"
Taking a step away, Topaz thinks on what she said until his head becomes foggy, and the pain he'd been pushing to the back on his mind could be held back anymore. In hazy steps, Topaz falls to the ground as his world turns dark.
…