Rusted Gold
Quick author's note - Someone pointed out that Juniper is actually a girl so starting forward that's what the mount is going to be, I could change it but I'll let it stay.
Chapter 2
A year and a half ago
Jaune sat at the end of the massively long table with a heavy sigh and had a very tired look in his eyes. Around him he sees all different kinds of colored gems moving around and some also beginning getting seated at the table waiting for the meeting/council to start.
As he slowly gazes around the room and doing just that took some effort to do. Juniper who was resting just next to him slowly wakes up, has a look around and then leans her head towards jaune's hand as he slowly relents and begins rubbing her head in which she very much loves receiving.
Jaune on the other hand did not mind bonding with Juniper a bit more before everything got started but to him doing just about anything felt taxing. Just getting up this morning was an obstacle. Mind you he was still able to do things just…he could not put it into words in his head, tiredness perhaps? It was hard to tell with his feelings, everything felt so dull to the point where he would usually wake up later than normal.
Yet again, what exactly did he gain if he woke up in the mornings? There was nothing. Nothing at all.
Ever since the paper pleasers stopped existing and the gems took over after the Jabblewalker incident. And man was that an emotional event for everyone.
God, how long ago has it been since then? Even he didn't know for sure, especially with how time works differently here. Hell he was not sure how old he truly was, but he was old enough to see the beginning stages of wrinkles on his face and some of his long blond hair show some white.
But during that time he was maybe only a fraction as strong as he is now. Back then he fought the Jabberwalker to save some walking mushrooms but that fight left him injured and exhausted and so Juniper took him home that night. When morning hit, the first fire of the day took a whole quarter of the village before he arrived.
He could not quite forgive himself for that then and even now but in the end it was for the best. Those that perished returned but they were not all there like before, it was this that convinced him that maybe keeping them as paper was both harmful for them and himself if he had to look after them all the time and so after about 3 months everyone in that village was now a new gem person who was now resilient.
But that was years ago, now they are more different then before. They are taller and more human-like than ever before after a few reincarnations. It was both a good and bad thing in his opinion, he felt less alienated but more creeped out from them now. They feel real and talk like a human person but it was the face. Faceless, depraved of any emotions one would expect to see and that put him off more than anything and that told him just how truly alone he really was.
Alone…
How long has it been since them…Fuck how long has it been since anyone? He put his hand on his head.
"Huh Ha… what was the point?" he said depressingly as his breathing increased.
Why? Why am I doing this? Any of this? Oh he knew the reason, he trained himself until it hurts. Training with the gems only made it easier with them being resilient and strong as well. Training so when he did go back he was ready, and never a burden to anyone again.
But it's been years…no decades and still no signs…NOTHING. WHAT WAS IT ALL FOR?!. TO DIE ALONE!?
He starts breathing through gritting teeth as he increases his breathing more.
I HAVE TO MAKE UP FOR WHAT I DONE DON'T I?! I'VE WAITED AND WAITED AND STILL NOTHING. IS THIS HOW IT'S GOING TO END?!
Juniper saw this and slowly backed away, this was not the first time this happened but it was maybe the worse she saw it.
Jaune was gripping the side of the chair in a death grip, so much so his aura was showing around his hand and the chair cracked.
As it did the gems looked towards their mentor/hero and saw this, but before anyone could go and help him calm down a random gem barged in the room.
"EVERYONE! I GOT NEWS FROM THE BEACH!" This got everyone's attention, even Jaune who let go of the chair in shock.
"One of the town people saw a light in the night sky come down!" they knew what this meant, as they all turned towards Jaune they saw something. Something in his eyes, like a switch that came to life once again for the first time in a long time. It was something they all thought was maybe dead. Hope.
Jaune got up from his chair so fast and pushed it back like it was nothing that sent it back to the wall. He did not care in the slightest.
"Tell me everything".
Author's notes
Just a quick chapter before it leaks from my head and gets lost forever. Mind you I had this kind of story cooking in my head for so long that now that I'm writing it, it's flowing like water and it's great but at the same time I also don't want to rush it either, It's vexing.
On another note this is one of my greatest pet peeves I have on the show's Jaune, What the hell was he doing for all those years? Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure I only read fanfiction on rwby was because of how pissed I was. Talk about motivation huh?
I also want to talk about more of the gems but I can always do that later to flush it out a bit more. And also Jaune's mental state, because let me tell you, He should not be okay at all given what happened. Like damn what he went though was ROUGH to put it lightly.
Alright talk to you folks later I guess and I'm not updating this story this fast either this was a heat in the moment kind of thing. Bye.