Halo, it's time for the newest chapter. Enjoy the reading.

It was a quiet night in the paper house where Jaune had put up his friends and despite how little space there was, the RWBY team, Lance, Neo and Jaune fit comfortably. The saying was true, a lot of good people fit in a small space.

In the early hours of the morning, an origami bird flew into the window and began to chirp pleasantly as the morning sunlight illuminated the room.

There was only one person who couldn't sleep all night. Lance, who just sat on the couch and thought about his past mistakes and the losses he could have prevented. On his armor in the corner, which he had taken off for the evening.

The silence was interrupted by a loud bang, causing the others to wake up uncomfortably.

- I'm late! - Jaune, who had slept in the same bed with Weiss all night in armor and boots, immediately woke up, like someone who was late for work. - I'm late!

- Jaune... - Weiss rubbed the sleepiness out of her eyes. - calm down...

- I'm late! - Jaune didn't even hear his girlfriend, he just jumped out of bed, grabbed his shield and sword and ran towards the exit, carefully jumping over the girls' and Lance's boots and shoes, which they had taken off for the evening and ran out of the house.

The others yawned, put on their shoes and boots and picked up their weapons, followed the aged knight, who immediately started to saddle Juniper.

- What was that?! - Weiss could hardly understand what had hit her.

- Did you sleep in armor all night?! - Lance was tormented by this question, he only took his boots, shield and sword with him, his armor was still in the house.

- I tried to get him to take it off, but he wouldn't hear of it. - Weiss rubbed her forehead.

- I fell asleep! - Jaune prepared Juniper. - I never fall asleep! I was so excited yesterday... - He shook his head to collect himself and concentrated hard. - Get yourself! You can do it! You always do it! - He mounted Juniper and galloped towards the nearby paper village that was on fire.

- Jaune! - Blake shouted after him.

- There's no time! I'm late! - Jaune explained quickly. - There's going to be another one any minute... - Unfortunately, there was no time to explain, because another explosion occurred in the village and another paper house caught fire. - Damn! Just in time! Go to the city! - He turned to his friends. - I'll meet you there! - He rode Juniper towards the village.

- I never get this excited when I fall asleep. - Little, who had just woken up, rubbed the sleep out of his eyes with a yawn.

- What do you mean, just in time? - Yang didn't understand that.

- I'm sure we'll know when we get there. - Blake was sure of that.

- Come on, let's help him! - Weiss immediately wanted to rush to her boyfriend's aid.

Team RWBY and Lance prepared their weapons and immediately rushed towards the village. Neo didn't really feel the need to help others without thinking, she was angry that she had been woken up and just followed Team RWBY and Lance slowly, walking.

Crossing a bridge, Team RWBY and Lance reached the colorful paper village, where even the plants were made of paper, but they didn't have much time to stare because several buildings were on fire.

- Who makes a village out of paper?! - Yang blurted out.

- Hello! - A strange, light blue paper origami star greeted them, barely 50 centimeters tall. - Welcome to our village. We hope you like it. - The paper star wasn't at all bothered by the fire. - Would you be so kind as to share with us how we can serve you? - He simply bowed.

- Serve us?! - Ruby and the others couldn't understand how he could be so calm when the village was about to be engulfed in flames.

- Your village is on fire! - Weiss pointed to the burning roof of one of the buildings.

- Oh... - The paper star, as if it had just noticed the fire, turned towards the roof, but he wasn't worried at all. - It's okay, we're safe. We have a hero.

At that moment, Juniper jumped over the burning roof, with Jaune on her back, who put out the fire with a bucket of water and landed right in front of the RWBY team.

- Hurray! - The townspeople, dozens of identical paper stars, but different colors, cheered loudly and were grateful that Jaune had saved them.

- Three cheers for the Rusted Knight and the White Deer Rabbit! - The paper stars couldn't get enough of celebrating.

- Stop! Stop! - Jaune quickly stopped them. - Back off! Careful, there's water everywhere and you're going to get wet!

- Hello, water, - One of the white stars, with a yellow fan pattern, walked to the spilled water. - how can I be of service to you?

- Stop! - Jaune, before the star could walk into the water, quickly picked him up and put him away. - I can't believe it almost happened. I haven't missed my first fire in years.

- Do fires like this happen often? - Ruby was a little worried by how routine Jaune was explaining.

- Every day. - Jaune replied.

- What?! - Yang and the others could hardly believe their ears that Jaune was preventing city fires on a daily basis.

- Oh, yes! - Jaune, after a slight phase lag, thought it would be a good idea to explain things. - I think... it's time for an introduction. These, - He turned to the paper stars, who were continuing their daily routines. - the Paper Pleasers. Probably the kindest and most hospitable creatures in the Ever After. Because... that's their goal. - A dark purple Paper Pleaser brought a tray, several cups of tea but Jaune just indicated that they didn't want any. - When Alyx left me to die... Juniper brought help. She brought me here to the Paper Pleasers, who healed me. They work all day. They not only help travelers, but also care for the land they live on. They beautify it. Making it a peaceful place. Unfortunately, they're a little... clumsy. But that's what makes them so predictable. - Another paper star was blown away by the wind and Jaune routinely caught him in midair and placed him on the ground. - I told you to carry these. - He gave him two stones, which prevented the wind from blowing him away again.

- Thank you, brave Knight! - The paper star had already turned and set off.

- Typical Ren. - Jaune not only took care of the Paper Pleasers, but he even named them.

- You name them? - Weiss was a little worried about Jaune. - After your teammates.

- No, - Jaune just waved. - I named them after everyone.

- Hello, - A red, pink floral Paper Pleaser greeted them. - my name is Ruby. And yours?

- I hate this already! - Yang made it clear.

Neo, who had caught up with them and heard everything, twirled a finger in front of her temple.

- Okay, we put out this morning's fire. - Jaune mounted Juniper. - Now we have time to discuss the plan before the gravel tower collapses, breaks the dam of the carp pond and floods the entire village. - He explained the disaster again routinely, as if he had seen it a hundred times before. - So, in the meantime, a quick brunch will do.

The girls and Lance looked at the Knight in confusion and their words also faltered.

- I could eat! - Only Little was excited.

They returned to the house where they were staying for the night and Jaune showed them a hand-drawn map of the parts of the Ever After he had explored. Of course, it had the Paper Pleasers' Village, the Crimson Castle, the Hunting Mouse Jungle, the Cake Acre, the Farmer's Wasteland, the Volcano, the Garden, the Swan Lake, the Stinky Cheese and the Green Chapel, and at least twice as many unexplored areas.

- Here's my life's work. - Jaune explained. - Over the years, I have explored as many Acres as possible with Juniper. - He just laughed as the former, dark purple Paper Pleaser brought their breakfast. - If you think you have seen everything... then you are very mistaken.

- What exactly are you looking for? - Blake looked at the map worriedly.

- Anything or anyone who can help us get home. - Jaune gave the clear answer.

- Okay... - Weiss looked at her boyfriend and the map a little awkwardly. - and... what did you find?

- So far? - Jaune felt a little ashamed that he couldn't show anything. - Not much, but I have a really, really good feeling about the fact that there are a bunch of pyramids on one of the estates!

- Sorry, but... - Yang interrupted. - I want to clarify if I understood correctly. Do you have any concrete clues? Maybe some kind of backup plan?

- This is the plan! - Jaune stubbornly stuck to his plan. - Look, I'm sorry I didn't solve everything or have the answer, but...

- But you had twenty years! - Lance looked at the incomplete map a little disappointed. - What did you do?! Sat and played with your d*ck?!

- Lance! - Ruby glared at the Red Knight, who was outraged that Jaune hadn't come up with anything in so long.

- I couldn't leave them here to die! - Jaune looked at the Paper Pleasers walking up and down outside, for whom he felt a great responsibility. - Besides protecting the village, searching for you and finding a way out... I have a pretty busy and difficult schedule! - Suddenly, he remembered that he wasn't alone anymore and the others could help. - So, now you guys will have a busy and difficult schedule too.

- Excuse me! - Weiss, although she supported Jaune, didn't like it when he was the one who assigned her and the others' schedules.

- Here, - Jaune took out a long, taped list. - a short list of the disasters that befell the village on a daily basis. - The list, which wasn't short at all, reached all the way to the ground and most of the problems on it weren't really emergencies, it was like having to take care of a bunch of two or three year old children. - Which would have already been destroyed without me and Jun. With this list, there will be no problem at all in defending the village, which means that while one part of the team stays here, the rest can come with me to look for a way out. With Juniper's speed and my knowledge of the area, we will find the way home faster. - Unfortunately, it was clear to everyone how obsessed Jaune had become with protecting this village and they weren't at all optimistic. - Guys! We have the solution! If there is one thing I have learned over the years, it's that patience always pays off! That's why we're together again! I know we will find a way out! - It's not known if he was trying to convince the others or himself, but it was clear that his optimism was just a disguise. - I know! - He slammed the table angrily and everyone looked at him worriedly, as he was only an inch away from being completely gone insane. - I'm not crazy... - He whispered to himself. - I'm not crazy... - He took a deep breath and continued. - This isn't crazy, it's simple. We still have time before the pebble tower collapses. - He stood up and offered excitedly. - How about I saddle Juniper and show you around and introduce you to the most clumsy Paper Pleasers? - He started towards the exit. - Just wait until you see Neptune. - Finally he left the house.

- Damn it, Jaune... - Yang looked over the list and it became clear that Jaune had been out of his mind for a while. - This isn't a plan, it's a to-do list!

Neo twirled her finger in front of her temple again, indicating that she thought Jaune was crazy.

- He's obviously been through a lot. - Blake tried to defend him.

- Yes... - Yang was understanding too.

- We can talk about this later... - Weiss was more worried about her boyfriend, who clearly had serious mental problems. - But Jaune needs us right now and we need him... it's just... - She shook her head. - Maybe we could stay for a while and help with the village until he calms down a bit.

- We have to be careful not to fly back in time. - Ruby warned them.

- Just don't grab any clocks that grow on a tree. - Lance just sighed. - And be careful not to let the Tree kill us.

- Let's hope we don't... - Ruby was interrupted by one of the Paper Pleasers.

- The Great Tree doesn't kill you. - It was the dark purple one who served the food. - We try to tell him that, but our hero insists that we never ascend. - He explained sadly, as if he regretted the fact that they were being saved every day.

- What? - Weiss and the others looked at the paper star in shock.

- I don't mean to be rude, but... - The purple Paper Pleaser lowered his head sadly. - We have fulfilled our goal long ago. Thanks to us, this land has become beautiful. But we realized that, like us, it's also very vulnerable. We have created something that's both eye-catching and flexible. And precisely because of this, we're ready to let go and merge with the Tree, so that we can return as something new. But... - It's clear that this is all his desire, so that he can reborn. - our hero doesn't allow this to happen. We tried to contact the Tree by catching its leaves that fell here, but our hero forbade it. Then, the wisest ones in the village suggested that we free ourselves by breaking our bodies by ourselves, letting the wind blow us to the Tree or going out into the storm with a metal rod in our hands, just in case a lightning bolt hits us, but our hero isn't only brave, but also smart. He always keeps us out of trouble. You have to understand, the Tree doesn't kill you. It resurrects and rebuilds! - The girls and Lance listened sadly to what the paper star had to say. - We don't want to make our hero sad, since he works so hard to protect us and I hope we don't cause you any trouble, but... we really, really want to return to the Tree. To return home so we can find a new purpose.

- Return home? - Yang understood, for the Paper Pleasers and the beings of the Ever After, the Tree is a kind of home and security, which is why they want to return so much.

- Wait, - Lance wanted to clarify something. - all this time, this bumbling and clumsiness is just an act, while in reality you wanted to commit suicide?! - They didn't know what was sadder, the fact that the Paper Pleasers pretend to be clumsy and cause disasters in order to kill themselves or the fact that Jaune sacrificed years of his life to protect them from themselves.

- Oh, don't be sad. - The paper star just waved and his voice was full of hope. - The wise ones will knock down the pebble tower today! I'm sure that this time they'll manage to destroy the dam and flood the village!

- What makes you so sure about that? - Weiss didn't understand, since Jaune prevents all suicide attempts every day.

- Nothing. - He answered as if he had been asked the most obvious question and left the house.

- That's really sad. - Yang could hardly believe that Jaune had sacrificed half his life to keep them away from the Tree, where they were desperately trying to reach. - Weird... but sad.

- But it also means that Jaune isn't entirely right about the Tree. - Blake mused. - It's not Death... it's rebirth.

- In a certain way, maybe, but... - Weiss agreed, although she wasn't entirely sure. - what happened to Lewis? Jaune said...

- Jaune wasn't there. - Yang reminded everyone. - The Cat wasn't there either! None of us know the whole truth and babysitting the residents won't get us anywhere! We have to convince Jaune to let them go.

- But how? - Weiss understood the point, but she was worried about her boyfriend. - I'm afraid he's not quite himself right now.

- Maybe you could convince him, Weiss. - Lance hoped that Jaune would listen to his girlfriend.

- I don't know... - Weiss wasn't sure, but she couldn't finish, because their host had already returned.

- Is that what you think of me? - Jaune's voice trembled with anger and he felt betrayed after his friends, especially his girlfriend, talked about him like that behind his back. He walked towards the exit and slammed the door behind him angrily.

- But what if the Cat was telling the truth?! - Yang and the others immediately ran after him. - Maybe not about everything, but about the Tree!

- He would tell the truth about the Tree for the last! - Jaune didn't listen to anyone. - He's just fulfilling his role! He doesn't care what happens to you once you get there!

- We're not listening to him! - Blake tried to reason. - We're listening to the people living in the Ever After! - She pointed to the Paper Pleasers, who were hoping that someone would finally convince their hero to let them go. - And they said that the Tree isn't to be feared! They want to go there!

- They don't know what they want! - Jaune didn't accept it. - You've seen what they're like! Everything here is too complicated! The people living in the Ever After are either too smart, too stupid or too crazy to trust! - Unfortunately, all the Paper Pleasers heard his outburst and guessed which of the three things their hero considered them to be.

- Then why do you care so much about this village?! - Weiss demanded an answer from the Knight.

- BECAUSE I CAN ACTUALLY PROTECT THEM! - This was where all of Jaune's mental problems stemmed from. - I couldn't protect Pyrrha... - His tears flowed. - I couldn't protect Penny... - He fell to his knees and began to sob. - I let Alyx poison me and sacrifice Lewis to the Tree... I... I failed them... I didn't know what to do...

- Jaune... - Weiss walked over to him, knelt down in front of him and hugged him. - You think you've failed us?

- Absolutely not! - Ruby supported her and knelt down too. - We need you, but we can't waste our time on this village.

- I can't let them go... - Jaune shook his head. - I just can't. I know I'm not well. I know this isn't healthy... but I just have to...

- Hey, - Blake had an idea. - what if one of us stayed here and protect the village while we went to find a way out?

- Would that work? - Weiss hoped as she wiped the tears from her boyfriend's eyes.

- Yes... - Jaune whispered as he calmed down. - that would work. After all... this is what I've been waiting for all this time. - He stood up and walked over to Juniper. - Who's staying here?

- I will. - Lance offered, although his voice wasn't at all cheerful, but he was just knocking over the pebble statue that had fallen onto the main square instead of the dam and luckily no one was hurt. - Give me the list.

- Are you sure you want this? - Ruby was a little worried that Lance had offered his help too quickly.

- I'm doing it for Jaune's sake. - Lance dodged the question as he took the list from Jaune. - Find a way home.

- Okay. - Ruby saw in Lance's eyes exactly what he was up to and agreed with his motivation, but was afraid that it would be a little too harsh.

- Thank you, Lance. - Jaune was simply grateful that someone was willing to take the burden off his shoulders. He took out the map and showed it to the rest of the team again. - Where should we go first?

- What about this place? - Blake pointed to the part next to the Paper Pleasers, which was just beyond the border, but uncharted.

- I couldn't go into that place because a dangerous monster was guarding the entrance. - Jaune warned his friends. - No creature from the Ever After has ever been able to get through that, because the monster finished them all off.

- Then we're going there! - Yang was excited to finally fight a monster.

- I don't know, Yang, - Jaune, on the other hand, was very skeptical. - this creature might even outdo you.

- Come on, - Yang wasn't that worried. - how many monsters did we fight on Remnant?

- This monster is nothing like anything we fought on Remnant! - Jaune was annoyed by the girl's overconfident attitude. - This... - He tried to put it into words, but he didn't know how to explain it. - It would be hard to explain... because... if you really want to go there, I can lead you to it, but I warned you.

- We'll deal with it, Jaune. - Ruby was also confident and remembered the Cat's words that they would find what they were looking for where they least expected it.

Jaune mounted Juniper and then set off, taking one last look at the Paper Pleasers' village that Lance was entrusted with protecting today. Team RWBY and Neo followed him, across the paper hills.

Lance was left alone with the Paper Pleasers and saw that one of the stars was trying to cut off the head, so he had taken from him the pair of scissors.

- Do you really want this? - Lance asked the big question.

- We just want to finally get to the Tree and now that our hero is leaving, maybe this is our chance. - The red paper star, whose name was Ruby, explained.

- Would you like to call everyone together in the main square? I have an important announcement to make for them. - Lance knew that whatever he was about to do, he would do it for Jaune's sake.

- Of course! - The paper star named Ruby started off excitedly.

It didn't take five minutes for the majority of the Paper Pleasers to gather in the square, around the large fountain, which also had fish swimming in it, and they were curiously waiting to see what their new protector had to announce.

- I know you don't know me very well, but I'm friend of Jaune, aka the Rusted Knight! - Lance began, as the paper stars cheered and greeted him excitedly. - Recently, I learned that you all desperately want to get to the Tree. Is that true?

- Yes, - a white star with a blue snowflake pattern stepped forward. - nothing would make us happier than finally letting ourselves go.

- But our hero won't let us! - Another, black star with yellow flame pattern continued.

- Your hero isn't here right now. - Lance continued. - If you want, I... can get you to the Tree before Jaune would figure it out. - The Paper Pleasers looked to Lance as some kind of savior who offered their long-desired ascension. - Where I come from, what I propose is madness and dangerous. I must ask, is this really what you want?

- Nothing would bring us greater joy. - The red star named Ruby spoke.

- Those who don't wish to ascend, just stay away from me. - Lance took out his sword, which gleamed and most of the Paper Worshipers were reflected in it. - And I'll avoid you.

The Paper Pleasers looked at Lance's sword, with which they would finally receive the long-awaited ascension and set off towards the Red Knight, on their last journey.

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