Time slowly passed at Edom and Ares waited for Leon to reform. After a few days, they moved Leon's gem to the conservatory after getting the okay from Steven.

As time passed Leon still showed no sign of reforming. Latin or Vishula would occasionally come to check on the progress but never stayed long. When a month was coming to an end Latin started to worry but tried to remain calm.

When a fifth month came to pass with no signs still Galeun was the first one besides the other Topazes and hybrids to check on Leon.

Galeun let out a deep breath before walking into the conservatory. Leon's gem was on a table as Edom watched from afar and Ares was pacing back and forth.

The pair turned their head to see Galeun coming in.

"Is there a problem?" questioned Ares more than ready to fight.

Galeun raised his hand. "I didn't come here to fight." said Galeun.

"Then that would make you the first. Now, what do you want?"

Before Galeun could say anything, the warp pad activated as all of the other Topazes warped in.

"I'm telling you, there may still be time." said Latin. "I believe we've wasted enough time." said Erwin.

"What if that isn't the case? There still may be a chance." said Vishala.

"I understand where you two are coming from. Especially from the court you two come from. But we must look at this from a view not clouded by emotions." said Erwin.

"What's going on?" asked Ares. Erwin turned to him.

"Ares, from your experience, what is the fastest a gem ever reformed and the longest a gem ever reformed to your knowledge?" asked Erwin.

"The fastest was a few minutes and the longest was short of a month by four days. Why?"

"To prove that there may be nothing left to wait on."

"What are you implying?" asked Edom as he stood up.

"I believe it's quite obvious what I'm getting at." said Erwin.

"Then what are you going to do with his gem?"

"If there is indeed no signs of life, then just bubble it away somewhere."

"You really think that….he's gone?" asked Galeun.

"The possibility was always high. It's about time we come to terms with that." said Erwin.

"I believe that there is still a chance. Something is coming from that gem, I can feel it." said Vishala.

"How strong is it? Is it strong enough to tell if he is reforming?" questioned Erwin.

Vishala didn't say anything.

"Even if he is still alive, do you really think he would even attempt to reform?" questioned Wira.

"What if he's trying and something is stopping him?" asked Melena.

"The only thing that could possibly stop him is his own will to not reform." said Erwin.

"What about Pink Diamond?" "What about her?"

"Didn't she give up her physical form so that Steven could be born. What if…" said Melena before she started to trail off.

"Do you really think that is possible? She was a Diamond and had more energy than a normal gem.

'In order to have Steven, she had to shapeshift 24/7 for nine months straight. Leon is not a full gem, true he is stronger than an average gem, and doesn't have the same amount of power she had." said Erwin.

"What about during his reformation? During that time, that is when a gem regains all of their strength the most and may change their physical form." said Taji.

"Don't tell me you're aboard with it now?"

Before anyone could make a response Leon's gem began to glow. Everyone watched on as it hovered a bit and a figure took form.

When the light faded, Edom and Galeun were the only ones taken aback. Instead of Leon reforming, a young man( with red hair in a buzz cut, wearing a white shirt, black pants, and boots) fell to their knees.

"Uh, my head." said the young man as he rubbed his head. He looked up to see the Edom and the Topazes staring at him.

The young man panicked as he crawled back.

"Y-you!" "It would seem that there was still life in there. No matter." said Erwin as he reached for his gem.

He pulled out an Aquarium gemstone. Erwin walked toward the young man. Edom stood in between them.

"What are you doing?" "I should be asking the same question." said Edom.

"Clearly I'm doing what must be done to have a sliver of hope of bringing him back. Now step aside."

"Clearly, neither one of them had a choice in the matter. He didn't want you to bring him back. You did anyway. The innocent you dragged into didn't offer to help nor wanted to be what you made them into

'If you truly want to show you've changed than at least hear him out." said Edom.

Erwin's gem began to glow. "I have no time for this. Step aside." Edom struggled to stay where was as he felt his body trying move on its own.

Galeun saw this and took a stand in front of the young man. Erwin let out a frustrated groan.

"Here I thought you wanted him back."

"It doesn't need to be this way. Do you think he would want this? I mean do you even know his name?" said Galeun.

"You know what. You deal with it." said Erwin.

He then left and warped away somewhere. Before Galeun or Edom could ask what was going on, Wira spoke.

"We did what we could. We did what we thought was best. I can understand where you're coming from but to get some things done you may have to do things a bit unethical.

'I'm not saying to look over some of the things we've done. Just for you see that we did what we deemed as necessary to get results." said Wira before she warped away as well.

Taji let out a sigh. "Those two may claim to only be logical but they sure take some things personally. Give them some time and they may come around. At least Wira might." said Taji.

"So what are you guys planning on doing?" asked Edom.

"Stay back and watch how things play out. At least that's my plan." Taji headed for the warp pad with Melena, Ares, and Bellona flowing.

"We'll still be in touch but I doubt our presence is welcomed here. Tolerated sure. Welcomed, not with open arms." said Melena before the four of them warped away.

Latin wanted to say something but didn't know what to say exactly. Vishala put a hand on his shoulder.

"You can go with the others. I can be the one that explains everything." said Vishala.

"Are you sure?" asked Latin. "I may not know the others as well as you do but besides Melena I may be the only one they may listen too."

"Or won't be too blunt." "Don't forget riled up."

"Okay. I'll leave it all to you." said Latin before he warped away. Vishala looked at Edom, Galeun, and the young man.

"I believe we should tell the others as well as introduce you to them." said Vishala.

Edom helped the young man stand up as Vishala led the way. When Vishala opened the door, she could hear all of the hybrids were downstairs talking to Tiger, Onyx, Celeste, and Thuilite about something.

She also saw Steven off to the side. They stopped talking when Vishala stood at the top of the stairs.

"If you're here, I take it that he's back as well. Or let me guess, he ran off again." said Tiger.

Vishala didn't say anything as she looked back before facing the again.

"It's best that you see for yourselves." Vishala came down to the bottom and stepped aside.

Edom came down with the young man behind him and Galeun at the very end.

"Who is he? I thought you brought him back?" "This was the human we used to bring Leon back initially.

'We said there was always a chance that he may not be the one would reform. There was always a possibility that he wouldn't even reform at all." explained Vishala.

"So, Leon is gone?" asked Erin. "We don't know for sure. He could be gone for good or he may still be in there."

"If that was the case what are you going to do now?" questioned Tiger.

"The only option we saw was to remove the gem but we have idea on what that might do.

'Leon could still be in there and reforms but then it could uh.." said Vishala before she turned to look at the young man.

"Mike." said the young man. "Thank you. It could kill him. Even if we replace the old gem with a new one, it may not work."

"Could he even reform? Both of them were in the same gem. If Mike was the one that reformed, is it possible that he…." started Thuilite before stopping.

"Gave up his physical form to allow Mike to be one that would reform. Possibly but the only that would know that answer is gone."

"Who would even know the answer to that?" asked Celeste. "You mean my mom?" asked Steven.

It then dawned to everyone, but Mike, at where Vishala was getting at.

"Yes. She gave up physical form to have you. It's a similar case. Two lifeforms but only one gem. More than likely, someone would have to give up to let other survive.

'Granted, they might still in there in some capacity. Just not able to communicate with the outside world." said Vishala.

"So what are you going to do now?" asked Celeste. "This is it. Besides removing and replacing the gem we have no other idea to even bring Leon back.

'However, I doubt that would be an acceptable route so we are just going to let things play out.

'If you all of you are in agreement than we can do so. I mean everyone even Mike has a say in this decision and is the one with the most say. Until then, we'll stay out of the way.

'We'll be around but only if you want us too." said Vishala.

"So what?! All of you are just running away from this!?" questioned Tiger.

"We're not running away. We just have a bad track record with majority here. Also if Mike is to be around, then it might make him feel comfortable with us not around."

With that out of the way, Vishala turned to head back to the conservatory warp pad.

"Wait." said Mike. "Yes?" "What am I supposed to do?"

"You may not be able to return to the life you once had but you can start anew. You're now a hybrid. It will take getting used to but you won't be alone.

'There are others like you that can help with your adjustment. I know it's a lot to ask, especially after what we did. I don't expect you to ever forgive us but at least find a way to adjust.

'I will answer any questions you have. None of us responsible for your change will pressure you to be something you're not.

'We were desperate and didn't fully acknowledge all of the risks." said Vishala.

"Why me? Why me of all people?" asked Mike. Vishala frowned as she let out a sigh.

"You looked so much liked him. You share some of his features but not enough to be a carbon copy. We thought you would be easier to alter."

"BUT YOU TOOK AWAY EVERYTHING! MY FRIENDS! MY FAMILY! MY HOME!" yelled Mike as tears started to flow.

"I know. There's nothing I nor the ones responsible can do fix this. If there is we will try our best." said Vishala.

She quickly left, however Edom noticed it was mainly to avoid them seeing the tears that started to fall.

Erin place a hand on Mike's shoulder.

"You didn't ask for this to happen. None of us truly did. There are a few of us that wanted him back but we came to realize he may have been gone for good.

'If we knew that would go this far, than it wasn't worth it. Out of anyone being a hybrid is something some of us know a lot about." said Erin.

Mike looked back at him.

"How do you deal with it? How did deal with losing everything?" asked Mike.

"We didn't. Well Tal, Mai, Bryx, Claire, Mal, Ichigo, Emma, and I were made to be weapons. We didn't have what you'd consider parents or siblings.

'We had a purpose and we were expected to fulfill that purpose If not, we would be replaced with someone else that could and we'll be sealed away." said Erin.

"Then is that why they really did it? To just replace him?" questioned Mike. Erin didn't know what to say as he never thought of that.

"If anything, he made it so he wouldn't be replaced." said Edom. "What makes you so sure?"

"He was the perfect soldier. No, the perfect weapon. Out of all of them, the pressure to perform perfectly was always on him.

'He shattered many gems, killed many humans, and all without any consideration to what it did his psyche.

'He threw himself in harms way. When his human body leg was broken, he kept moving. When he had weapons impaled in him that didn't outright poof him, he would use those weapons to fight with.

'He was treated as nothing more than another weapon to be used. Even when the fighting was finally over, he kept fighting. Whether it was a physical outward one or an internal mental one.

'More than likely to his bitter end, he kept fighting. In this day and age, there is no need for fighting. What's the use of a weapon if there is no one to use it on.

'As for replacing him, you will come close to him. You don't share that same fire. If anything, if you were made before him. You would be the one replaced." said Edom.

"Edom, don't you think that was a bit harsh." said Thuilite. "We all need to face facts. No one will ever replace him. No one will even come close to the things he was capable of and did.

'The sooner we come to terms with that, the easier it will be for him to adjust. That way there will ever be a need to compare the two.

'Let be honest too. Leon was deranged and his only way of maintaining what little sanity he had was to use the insanity to protect others." said Edom.

"Was he that bad?" asked Mike. When no one said anything, he looked around. Tiger had his arms crossed, he and everyone else didn't look at Mike.

Mike didn't ask any more questions after that relating to Leon. As time slowly passed, Mike began to adjust to his new life as a hybrid.

Erin, Emma, Mal, Ichigo, Tal, Mai, Bryx, and Claire were there every step of the way. They answered any questions they knew the answer to and even gave pointers.

Edom stayed close, mainly to ensure that Mike was safe. He knew the hybrids would never hurt him but there were a few he kept a close eye on.

Some of the others warmed up to Mike and accepted him. There were still a few that felt that Leon was still in there, just waiting to break free.

Some lost faith after a training accident a few months into Mike's stay. Onyx was helping Mike learn a few fighting stances. Tiger joined in and pushed Mike too far.

Mike's gem activated and a large burst of water pushed Tiger away. Edom quickly stepped in took Tiger's attention while Onyx got Mike to safety.

It took close to six months for many to finally see that Mike truly wasn't Leon when he finally summoned his weapon. Instead of a tessen like Leon, Mike's weapon was a halberd.

It got many people talking since Erin and Edom were always around Mike and his weapon was a combination of the pair's weapons.

An entire year passed but even with everyone supposedly accepting him as his own person, Mike still felt unwanted.