Rusted Gold

Chapter 3

A year and a half ago

Jaune was in good spirits, excited even. For the first time in a very long time he was simply happy. The overjoy he felt was ecstatic that he couldn't contain his smile. The long wait that he grew to despise was finally over. He couldn't wait to see his friends again after so long.

Oh he just couldn't wait to finally talk to someone after so long. Don't get him wrong the afterians were ok to speak to but there was a lot to be desired and there was nothing to relate too with them. There was simply too much of a difference between him and everyone around him. Coming from a different world with its own rules made life difficult for him at the beginning but now he knew just about everything here.

And speaking of afterians, the gems were just as happy if not because he was. He met a lot of afterians over the years of his stay here, saved several too. Ever since the gems made their presence everywhere and following his example of helping others while still doing their original purpose left him with a lot of time for himself and Juniper. And they used that time wisely.

They explored all over the everafter, going into new acres where they couldn't before because of time restraint with the village. But now that was no longer an issue and so they went further and further until they reached the edge. He did not know this place had one until then. That's when he started to map out everything, from landmarks to different biomes types and even the creatures that lived there. It took a long time to map out everything, there were simply too many acres to explore all the time, so they divided up exploring and training for himself. Plus he wanted Juniper to take breaks every now and then.

When it was time to call for a break, they headed home back towards the village. The village itself was ok for the most part and whenever he returned the gems greeted him and wanted to speak with him. The newly made gems look up to him like one would expect whenever they see an elder or a veteran of great renown. They also would seek his guidance with their new found task and even their purpose or how to improve it. He did not know why they looked up to him let alone took a path similar to himself but he didn't want them to figure it out alone if he could help it.

And so the newly founded order was born, he tried his best to give a great example of both leadership and governing for themselves. He based everything on knighthood and looking out for each other like one would for a team. It did not have to be perfect, it just had to work for them.

After everything in atlas, he did not want them to share the same fate, and also made sure a man like ironwood would not rise to power here.

But there was a problem here, they did not fit in their environment anymore. The paper landscape was fragile for what they do and found themselves destroying things instead of beautifying it. So a new location was in order. The question was where.

The answer came in the form of the great tree. Or more accurately just at the base of it. It was perfect, for both him and them. They get a central area where they can move around where they are needed and he gets a place to call home and a place to find any other worldly newcomers.

Once settled in he began training, and oh was it dunting. He did not know when his friends would arrive but he knew for sure he did not want to remain how he was now. He would push himself to the limit each time, finding it and going just a little further. Aura and pain would mix in but as time went on and on he grew worried with every passing year.

Worry grew into doubt and then that would grow into fear.

Fear. such a primal thing, how ironic that it was not what he fears but the lack of inaction for what's to come. Maybe Nora was right all along, he was what some would call fearless, he would throw himself towards any danger if it meant making a difference. The Jabblewalker was still around but between him and the gems it barely did a lot of damage. It still claims lives every now and then but not like before.

And now here he was, riding Juniper towards the beach. He told the gems he would call them forth later, after he reconnects with his long lost friends. As he neared he slowed down, taking a breath and getting off. Juniper went to rub her face with his and looked around.

This was it, all the trials and obstacles lead to this moment and now all he had to do was look around the area to find them. With Juniper it shouldn't take long, especially if he had her nose.

Everything was according to plan.

You just had to say it

Author's notes

Not going to lie, I was actually working on a later chapter after I posted Chapter 2. Like I said, I have a vision for all this and working on some of the key scenes helps with writing too and fro but at the same time it could lead to writing dead ends where I am dissatisfied with some scenes or chapters but it has not gotten there yet. And oh boy I can't wait until we get there. It's going to be great. At least I think, still work in progress.

On another note this chapter I find kinda explanation heavy and less with jaune's thoughts. But it's hard to write his thoughts while planting some bits of ground work, so here is this chapter. Hope you guys like it.

Talk to you folks later once again, and maybe a good chapter this upcoming weekend. Got to say working while thinking of scenes hypes you up and when you get home and actually sit to write, some things change and you're like wow, that could have been better.