The Tick Tock Tree stood tall, its massive branches stretching across the endless sky of the Everafter, woven into the very fabric of this realm. Beneath its ancient limbs stood a lone figure, The Rusted Knight.

His wooden form had remained still for what felt like an eternity. A statue, frozen in time, waiting for something or someone to awaken him. The tick-tock of the fruit above echoed through the clearing, a rhythmic chime counting down the seconds.

The hand of the stopwatch pointed to eleven.

Slowly, but surely, it moved.

Tick.

Tock.

Twelve.

The tree let out a soft chime, low and melancholy, like the final note of a forgotten lullaby.

Autumn sat in front of him, her silver eyes closed in quiet prayer. She had been waiting, as she always had, as she always would.

Then—

Crack.

The wooden shell around the Rusted Knight fractured.

Like eggshells breaking apart, the bark splintered, crumbling into dust and peeling away in jagged fragments. The figure beneath stirred, his breath sharply as if he had just taken in air for the first time in ages.

And then two blue eyes flickered open.

Confusion filled them first.

Then recognition.

And finally—

Love.

A slow, familiar smile crept across Autumn's lips. It was childish, and was unlike her.

"Hey, Vomit Boy. Why are you always so late?"

The man blinked, his voice rough, yet warm with something nostalgic.

"Crater face," he muttered, tilting his head. "You look… different." His eyes scanned her face, taking in the silver streaks in her once-dark hair, the small scars she hadn't had before. Then, a teasing smirk. "Is it your hair?"

Autumn scoffed, standing up. "Really? You've been asleep all this time, and that's your first comment?"

The Rusted Knight stepped forward, tearing free from the last of the wooden cocoon. His plated boots thudded against the ground, the worn steel of his armor creaking as he moved. Reaching up, he unlatched his helmet, removing it with a slow breath.

His bearded face was exposed to the Everafter once more. His golden hair was longer now, unkempt, his wolf's tail swaying behind him as he stretched.

Autumn crossed her arms, eyeing him. "Hmm. You didn't change."

The Rusted Knight let out a breathy chuckle. "I wasn't dead… just resting."

Autumn snorted. "Well, it was mean of you to leave me alone here."

His expression softened. "Sorry, Rub—" He paused, catching himself. "…Autumn now, huh?"

She nodded, eyes twinkling. "Right. Of course."

He hesitated for a moment, then let out a small, knowing sigh. "You really waited all this time."

Autumn grinned. "And here I thought you'd finally figured me out." Without another word, she reached forward, unbuckling his plate armor piece by piece with practiced ease.

The Rusted Knight raised a brow. "What are you doing?"

Autumn huffed. "Do you expect me to hug you with your armor on? Be reasonable, Rusty."

And then, without hesitation, she pulled him into a tight embrace, pressing her forehead against his chest.

She could feel his warmth.

His heart, steady and real.

Her voice was barely above a whisper. "…I was so lonely."

The Rusted Knight's hands hovered for a moment before slowly wrapping around her shoulders, holding her close. "I'm here now."

Autumn squeezed her eyes shut. "Yeah," she muttered. "You better be."

A long silence stretched between them before the Rusted Knight finally spoke again.

"How's my Squire?"

Autumn didn't lift her head from his chest, simply murmuring against the fabric of his tunic. "He's… doing his role now."

The Rusted Knight exhaled, turning his gaze toward the heavens, the swirling sky of the Everafter shifting above them. "I'm going to assume you did what you needed to."

Autumn nodded. "Yeah."

"And now," the Rusted Knight muttered, "the Brothers are coming home."

She looked up at him, studying his expression as his jaw tightened slightly. "Do you think this was the right choice?"

Autumn sighed. "Who knows?" Her voice was light, almost teasing, but there was something underneath it, something weary. "Our role was to be part of the Everafter. And now, I think the Blacksmith would like a word with them."

The Rusted Knight groaned. "They're in trouble, aren't we?"

Autumn smirked. "Oh, absolutely."

The mood lightened for a moment.

Then, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, she grinned. "But you shouldn't worry about that now. Worry about me instead."

The Rusted Knight raised a brow. "Why?"

Autumn pouted dramatically. "Because your younger version is such a dense idiot." She rolled her eyes. "Weiss and Pyrrha are practically throwing themselves at him, and he has no clue."

The Rusted Knight blinked. "Wait." He narrowed his eyes. "He hit on them?"

Autumn gave him a flat look. "No, because you trained him too much. He's a goddamn monk!"

The Rusted Knight let out a tired groan. "I was hoping that the Herbalist's potion wouldn't have such an effect…"

Autumn smacked his shoulder. "It's not the potion!" she exclaimed. "You just drilled the idea of duty and knighthood into his head for so long that he unconsciously accepted it!" She threw her hands up. "Congratulations! You turned a perfectly good idiot into a chaste knight who fights for a fairy tale land!"

The Rusted Knight winced. "…Oh."

"Oh?" Autumn mocked. She huffed. "He's a Jabberwalker now, you know. Carrying a Vorpal Blade, granting the Afterans eternal rest."

Something flickered in the Rusted Knight's eyes.

Autumn saw it… the sadness.

She sighed, then gently lifted his chin with two fingers. "But despite everything," she said softly, "Jaune's a good kid."

The Rusted Knight nodded. "I know."

Autumn smiled, but it was bittersweet. "I just wish he'd learn to do more than what we taught him. To live. To love. To be happy." Her grip tightened slightly. "He's too much of a knight sometimes. A knight too dedicated to the role he made for himself."

The Rusted Knight lowered his head. "…Did I fail him?"

Autumn stilled.

Then she shook her head. "No."

He looked at her, hesitant.

Autumn sighed. "I'm not disappointed in you for that." Her voice softened. "I'm disappointed that you left me."

The Rusted Knight's breath hitched.

"That you left me alone." Autumn's voice cracked slightly. "That I had nothing other than you. That it really, really hurts knowing we could've done better. We could've lived better." She swallowed. "We could've graduated at Beacon… we could've kept our friends alive…"

The Rusted Knight clenched his fists. "Autumn—"

Her shoulders trembled.

And then, before he could say another word, she buried her face in his chest.

"…I really missed you," she whispered.

His arms wrapped around her once more, holding her close.

"I'm sorry," he murmured.

Autumn sobbed into his tunic, gripping him tighter.

The tide rolled in with a slow, rhythmic hum, waves caressing the shore in soft whispers. The golden sand still bore the imprint of their bodies, scattered with footprints, tangled fabrics, and the remnants of what had been shared between them. The scent of salt lingered in the air, mixing with the faint traces of sweat and warmth.

Autumn sat on the shore, half-dressed, her crimson cloak draped loosely around her shoulders, one knee pulled up to her bare chest as she gazed at the horizon. The Rusted Knight sat beside her, his armor discarded piece by piece, the salty breeze tousling his golden hair.

A long moment passed before he finally spoke.

"…Other me might come looking."

Autumn scoffed, running a hand through her silver-streaked hair. "If that dense fool has any self-preservation instincts, he'll keep far away." She cast him a knowing smirk. "Unless, of course, he's looking to get an education."

The Rusted Knight let out a weary groan, running a hand down his face. "Don't."

Autumn snickered. "What? I'm just saying—"

"Nope. Not listening."

Autumn laughed, stretching her arms above her head, completely unbothered. "Fine, fine. He won't bother us." She leaned back on her elbows, looking up at the stars. "Besides, he has more important things to worry about."

The Rusted Knight exhaled, his expression darkening. "Yeah."

Autumn tilted her head, watching his face.

"So," she began, kicking a stray seashell away, "now you know what the hell happened while I was waiting for you?"

The Rusted Knight let out a slow breath. "Where do I even start?"

"Salem," Autumn said first. "She's still a problem."

"She always is," the Rusted Knight muttered.

Autumn narrowed her eyes. "And now?"

He hesitated, then finally said, "It's up to the Gods now."

Autumn blinked, then let out a dry chuckle. "Well, that's a terrifying sentence."

The Rusted Knight offered a humorless smirk. "The Blacksmith made a promise," he explained, watching the waves as they curled over the sand. "She's going to talk to the Brothers... and I trust her."

Autumn sat up straighter, suddenly serious. "The Brothers?"

He nodded. "She thinks she can level the playing field."

Autumn's silver eyes flickered. "You mean—?"

The Rusted Knight met her gaze. "No more immortals. No more unfair fights." He looked back out toward the water. "If this works… we'll have a chance. A real chance."

A heavy silence fell between them.

Autumn tapped her fingers against the sand, thinking. "You really think they'll listen?"

"The Blacksmith is the only thing older than the Gods," he said simply. "If anyone can make them listen, it's her."

Autumn hummed, considering. "Alright. Say this does work. Say they actually make it fair." She leaned forward, her chin resting on her palm. "That still leaves Merlot."

The Rusted Knight let out a slow sigh. "Yeah."

Autumn shook her head. "He's a big problem."

The Rusted Knight hesitated, then said, "Remnant needs a Merlot."

Autumn froze.

Slowly, she turned to stare at him. "Excuse me?"

The Rusted Knight met her gaze evenly.

Autumn narrowed her eyes. "No, no, no—back the hell up. I know you're not about to sit there and tell me that lunatic is a necessity."

The Rusted Knight didn't flinch. "I'm saying Remnant has always had its monsters. Merlot is just another kind."

Autumn scoffed. "Oh, brilliant! What's next? Maybe we should thank Salem while we're at it?"

The Rusted Knight shook his head. "That's different."

"How?"

He exhaled. "Merlot isn't like Salem. He doesn't want to destroy the world. He wants to control it."

Autumn arched a brow. "That's supposed to be better?"

The Rusted Knight nodded. "In some ways? Yes."

Autumn let out a sharp laugh, more disbelief than humor. "Okay, enlighten me."

The Rusted Knight turned to face her fully. "Think about it. What's the biggest problem with Remnant?"

"Gee, I don't know. The immortal witch trying to kill us all?"

"Other than that," he muttered.

Autumn rolled her eyes. "Alright, fine. Grimm."

The Rusted Knight nodded. "Exactly."

Autumn crossed her arms. "And?"

"What if they weren't?"

Autumn frowned. "Weren't what?"

The Rusted Knight's gaze was steady. "What if the Grimm weren't a problem anymore?"

Autumn's breath hitched slightly.

Because she knew what he was saying.

But she didn't want to say it.

"…You think Merlot can actually do it?" she whispered.

The Rusted Knight didn't answer immediately.

Then—

"I think he might."

Autumn shook her head. "No way. You think he can tame the Grimm?"

The Rusted Knight was silent.

Autumn studied his expression, searching for hesitation—for doubt.

She found none.

Slowly, her shoulders slumped. "…Shit."

The Rusted Knight nodded.

Autumn exhaled.

If Merlot, if that madman, had truly found a way to control the Grimm, then…

Then it would be a miracle.

A terrifying, dangerous miracle.

"…It's a double-edged sword," she muttered.

The Rusted Knight nodded again.

Autumn ran a hand down her face. "If he actually succeeds, it changes everything."

"But," the Rusted Knight added, "if he fails…"

Autumn let out a breath. "Then it's a disaster."

Another silence stretched between them, heavy with the weight of what they had just acknowledged.

Then, finally, Autumn sighed. "I hate that you have a point."

The Rusted Knight smirked. "You'll live."

Autumn kicked sand at him. "Ass."

He chuckled, shaking his head.

Autumn stretched again, rolling her shoulders before flopping back onto the sand. She stared up at the night sky, silver eyes flickering with thought.

"…So, what now?"

The Rusted Knight leaned back on his elbows, watching the tide roll in. "Now?" He inhaled, exhaled. "Now, we wait."

Autumn turned her head slightly, looking at him. "For the Gods?"

"For everything," he corrected. "For whatever comes next."

Autumn snorted. "So we're just sitting ducks."

"For now," he admitted. "My squire will have a talk with Merlot, anyway."

Autumn groaned. "I hate waiting. We could help him."

The Rusted Knight smirked. "It's better if he does this himself."

Autumn huffed, closing her eyes. "Fine. But the second something happens to him, I'm punching something."

The Rusted Knight chuckled. "Duly noted."

A comfortable silence settled between them.

The waves continued their slow, endless dance against the shore.

The Everafter was a land of endless dreams where stories found new endings, where lost souls wandered, where fate bent and twisted upon itself.

They had once been something more.

Once been people.

Once been whole.

But Remnant had taken everything from them.

Their homes. Their futures. Their friends.

And now all they had left was each other.

Their story had been written once.

And then, cruelly, the pages had been ripped. Torn apart, rewritten by hands they had never seen, by fates they had never asked for.

But a story that is broken is not a story that is ended.

A Knight could still rise again, even if his world was lost.

A Huntress could still guide, even if her loved ones had faded.

Though they had lost their homes, though they had lost their places in the world they once knew and dearly loved.

They could still be something.

They could still be the mentors.

The shadows in the background.

The ones who ensured that the next generation did not break as they had.

At least... try not to repeat the tragedy they had.