Chapter 1: A New Life and it's Challenges

[MC POV]

Darkness, what is it? I can't say that I know. Actually, come to think of it, who am I? I can't seem to remember. How did I get into this darkness? How long have I been here? A day? A month? A year? Yeah, probably that last one. It feels like an eternity since I first awoke in this darkness. I try reaching out and feel an almost invisible force pushing me back. The harder I try, the harder it pushes me back. But at the same time, there's an almost muffled voice, almost as if it's responding to my action. Wait. It feels like I'm being pulled towards that bright light. When did that get there? It's impossibly bright, but also welcoming at the same time. Okay, something is definitely pushing me towards that light. It's getting closer and closer. Here it comes!

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!

(Muffled Voice): "C_____du__tions, it's a boy"

Oh. I just experienced my own birth. I hope I never have to experience that again. I see shapes moving around me, but everything is blurry. I can feel myself handed over to someone new, and then this comforting warmth. This must be my mother's warmth. I don't know how I know for sure, but I just do. Only a mother could give off such a nice feeling. Slowly the world begins coming into focus, and the muffled voices begin clearing up. I hear a soft and soothing voice and feel the vibrations of that voice coming from the chest of my mother whose chest I'm resting upon.

Mom: "From today forward my little one, your name shall be Topaz. I wish your father could be here to meet you as well, but he's a little preoccupied dealing with your grandfather."

[Time Skip: 5 years]

18...19...20! Phew, I'm done.

Topaz: "Mom, I'm done!"

Mom: "You're done? Well it's about time, you know that the daily workouts will only get tougher and tougher the older you get right? You need to be strong to fight against the creatures of grim."

The creatures of grim, the terrifying monstrosities that are attracted to the negativity of mankind. And I'll have to fight them when I get older, or at least that's what I'm aiming for. Mom told me she used to be a huntress, that she went to this big school called Beacon with her sister and their friends. It sounds so cool! Dangerous yes, but that's half the fun. As for dad... where do I begin. Turns out he's the son of the villages' chief and has many expectations placed on his shoulders, so he's not home much. Mom only has nice things to say about grandpa... not. Apparently, I shouldn't be alive based on the village's customs. You see, dad and the rest of this village are lion faunus. Strong, stubborn, but above all high strung on their pride. Mom is a human that was found when dad was out on one of his hunts. He found her injured and on the brink of death. His initial plan was to help her and then send her back to wherever she came from the try and help with the human and faunus relations. Which are apparently not good. To humans, us faunus are nothing more than mere animals. Oh yeah, I should probably add that I'm a lion faunus too. Mom says that it always happens when a human and faunus have a child, it'll always be a faunus. Getting back on topic, because I'm not supposed to exist, I don't have any friends, and even though I want to, mom and dad say I'll never be able to pretend to act like I belong in this village. Moms heritage and all that, dirty blonde hair and silver eyes. I can hear the door opening, guess I'll go and say hi to dad.

Topaz: "Hi dad... you're not dad."

Standing before me is and older man who looks similar to dad, but his eyes hold a ferocity I'd rather not see.

????: "No, I'm not. Who are you child?"

His voice is cold and holds a minor tone of anger. At this point, mom walks into the room and see's the two of us and the panic in her eyes is apparent.

Mom: "Chief Nemea! What a surprise! What are you doing here?!"

Chief: "Well, I came here today to fetch you to bring you into the town hall to speak of this marriage of yours that foolish son of mine continues to bring up. But what to my surprise but do I see a child that is obviously the two of yours."

His voice holds a tone that shows his anger, and the growling he's doing isn't helping any. The door flings open and in walks dad. He rushes to stand in between the chief and my mother and I.

Dad: "Father, I can understand your anger, but there is nothing you can do about it. This is my son, my flesh and blood. He may not look like much now, but one day he will show a strength greater than my own, and that of yourself. I will not let you harm him, or Sara."

Chief: "It matters not what he is, you broke the customs of our village. And I know you know what that punishment entails. So, take your pick, your fiancé or your child."

The shock and pain on dad's face is scaring me. He looks between my mom and me and shakes his head.

Dad: "No. I will not choose either of them. The love I feel for them is stronger than any love I feel for the village."

Chief: "Is that so, well then. I'll cut you a deal. Seeing as he carries my blood within him as well as your own, he should be strong when he gets older. How about this, we will use our villages' secret potion on him to temporarily erase his memories of everything he's experienced up until then, and then send him to Kuo Kuana where he will then take a ship and go to Sara's sisters place and stay with her. He will get his memories back on his 16th birthday, and is then free to return. But... he must return strong enough to be able to fight against any and every warrior this village holds, and he must win. If he cannot, he shall face death. So, my son, how does this deal sound?"

My father and mother look between the two of them, an unspoken conversation ensuing. But before they can say anything I step towards the chief,

Topaz: "Old man chief, I will accept your proposal. I understand it will not be easy, but I've heard the stories of how dad never smiled before mom came around. But whenever he's home he's always smiling and happy. If I can somehow keep that happiness for him, then I'll gladly do it."

Turning towards my shocked parents.

Topaz: "Mom, Dad, I know you guys don't want this, but don't try and stop me. It'll take some time, but I promise you, we will see each other again, and when I do, I'll be strong enough to make anything possible, you'll see. I'll be so strong that we can all go and see your sister mom."

My parents rush to my side, trying to hold their tears back. They give me a tight hug and tell me they're proud of me, and they can't wait till the day I return. With that I turned and followed the chief out of the house, and past the surprised faces of the villagers. He escorts me to a cart, tells me to stay there and walks into a weird looking hut with purple smoke coming out of it. He returns a moment later carrying an odd-looking vial filled with a purple liquid. He tells me to drink the liquid, and when I do everything becomes hazy and I feel myself drifting off to sleep. Before the world turns dark, the last thing I can hear...

Chief: "I look forward to the day you return little one. May your journey prove fruitful and may your strength surpass any seen before it. I am sorry our customs forced this upon you."