Jaune: It really is you, right?

Ruby: It's us, Jaune...

You all hug.

Jaune: I always hoped I'd see you all again.

Y/N: How did you get here?

Blake: When did you become the Rusted Knight?

Yang: When did you get so...

Vice: Old?!

Ruby: What happened with Atlas after we fell?

Jaune: I... Guess we have a lot of catching up to do...

The group is walking while catching up with Jaune.

Ruby: So Salem and Giff have two Relics now?!

Yang: And with Cinder, she can get another.

Blake: They don't know where the Beacon Relic is!

Weiss: There's that to be thankful for at least.

Ruby: ... We lost Atlas and the Relic...

Blake: But we got everyone out safely. Jaune said so...

Weiss: But we risked their home for the Relic and we failed.

Blake: Saving everyone has to count for something.

Ruby: What's the point of saving anyone if Salem just destroys the world anyway?!

Yang: That's how Ironwood thought... You don't mean that...

Y/N: ...

Jaune: We need to move before the weather turns.

Yang: Where are we going?

Jaune: My village. I still can't believe you made it all the way from the Crimson Keep on your own.

Blake: Well we had some help from...

She notices the cat hasn't reunited with your group.

Blake: I hope the cat's okay.

Jaune: What cat?

Little: That cat!

The Curious Cat runs up.

Cat: Woo. I'm glad I caught up with you.

It notices Jaune.

Cat: Oh, Jaune. It has been quite the amount of time. How have you been?

Weiss: You know each other?

Ruby: From the story.

Jaune draws his sword.

Blake: Jaune!

Yang: It can get us to the tree!

Jaune: We need to get to my village. We don't need a guide.

Cat: But your friends wanted me to take them to the tree.

Jaune: That's where you were having it take you?

Blake: Well yeah... That's how Alyx got out, right?

Jaune glares at the Curious Cat.

Jaune: You didn't tell them anything.

Cat: That's simply not true. I told them many things.

Weiss: Can someone please make sense?

Jaune: The tree is death. It absorbs you, takes your memories, and turns you into something else. If you go there, it will erase you! They call it Ascension.

Ruby: The tree causes Ascension?

You glare at the feline.

Y/N: You forgot to mention that.

Cat: It doesn't do that to your kind. You're not from here.

Jaune: Oh yeah? What happened to Lewis?

Ruby: Lewis?

Jaune: Alyx's brother.

Yang: She had a brother? Why didn't you mention him?

Cat: You never asked. It was always about Alyx.

Jaune: Let's go. I have a plan.

Cat: And that's done you so much good after so many years?

Ruby: Can everyone please stop! This is a lot to take in.

Cat: Then I suppose we're at a crossroads...

Jaune: NO!

There is suddenly a bright flash and you find yourselves in a strange area.

Jaune: Damnit... Welcome to a Punderstorm... A weather pattern that creates a physical manifestation of a mental or emotional problem... So we appear to be at both a metaphorical and literal crossroads...

Weiss: How incredibly Ever Afteran... This place really is the pits.

A hole suddenly appears beneath her and she falls through before it closes.

Jaune: Let's keep moving.

Weiss comes back, but you catch her before she hits the ground.

Y/N: Got you.

Weiss: Thanks.

Ruby: Where's Blake and Yang?

Jaune: They must have had their own problems to sort out.

Vice: This is so weird.

The group walks and Jaune sighs after a few minutes.

Jaune: It would help if you made up your minds.

Ruby: I just don't understand how the story's both real and not...

Jaune: It all happened... Just not the way Alyx described it.

Weiss: So she lied?

Jaune: You... Have no idea...

The group keeps walking around.

Jaune: I waited years for you all... But someone came here before you... Alyx and Lewis. Two siblings from Remnant... I told them I was from there too. I was waiting for my friends... Once I started helping them, it didn't take me long to realize that I was part of their story... I was the Rusted Knight... But it didn't always work like the story described... Like Alyx... She wasn't just a little petulant or inconsiderate... She was selfish... Cruel... Like this world was simply make-believe and the rules didn't apply to her...

Y/N: What about Lewis?

Jaune: Lewis was the kind one... The clever one. We went to places that were never in the story, like the Herbalist. After talking to him, something changed in Alyx... She became paranoid. She began to think we weren't trying to get them home... And the "Rusted Knight drank the poison in her stead." When I came to, she was gone... So... Not exactly my favorite story anymore.

Weiss: I'm so sorry...

Ruby: Wait. Why don't you trust the cat then?

Jaune: ... I didn't find out until later... When people of the Ever After lose their way, it convinces them to either continue their purpose or to return to the tree. It just feeds the tree and keeps the cycle going.

Ruby: How do you know?

Jaune: It took both Alyx and Lewis to the tree... Only one returned to our world...

Cat: There you are!

The cat jumps into view.

Cat: This time you were in the first place I looked rather than the last.

Weiss: Jaune told us .

Cat: Oh, I thought there was more to the story. You're accusing me of something. Same page now.

Y/N: You send Ever Afterans to the tree. Why didn't you tell us?

Cat: When Afterans get all higgledy-piggledy, I help them return to the Ever After, yes. But you're, not, Afterans! I'm not taking you there to ascend! I'm taking you there because you all have such delightful information for me!

Weiss: You pretended like you never heard the story when you met us. But Jaune already told you.

Cat: I think ol' Jaune's... Maybe a few sand berries short of a picnic these days. Wouldn't you say?

Ruby: What happened when you took Alyx and Lewis to the tree?

Cat: I... I don't know. She had told me she'd take me through the door to Remnant, but... She tricked me. Just... Just like all of you.

You glare at the feline, waiting for it to get to the point.

Cat: You only want to use me, in the same way I've only seen others as sources for knowledge and entertainment. Well... At least I know what not to do.

Ruby: We... We just want to go home.

Cat: Thank you for this lesson, Ruby. Rose. Huntress. I'll be on my way now. Stay with your friend.

The cat leaves.

Vice: Good riddance!

The area around you returns to a field of flowers and you notice Yang and Blake kissing.

Vice: Took their sweet time!

You turn.

Y/N: Jaune, lead the way.

Yang: Um... What did we miss?

Jaune takes your group to his home and he brings a chest into the room.

Jaune: Ruby... I wanted to return this to you.

He opens it to reveal Ruby's scythe. Ruby seemingly zones out while staring at it.

Y/N: Ruby?

Ruby snaps out of it.

Ruby: Oh. Thanks. Um... Jaune... What happened to Lewis?

Jaune: ... I think... Alyx traded him to the tree to leave. She then wrote him out of the story... Night...

On that cheery note, Jaune went to his room. When RWBY and Jaune are finally asleep, you step outside and sit on the ground. You stare at the tree in the distance as you think about everything that's happened.

Weiss: Can't sleep?

You notice your girlfriend sitting beside you.

Y/N: Not after everything that's happened...

Weiss takes your hand in hers.

Weiss: We'll get home. We always manage our way out of situations.

Y/N: As long as we have each other, right?

Weiss: Of course.

The two of you share a kiss.

Y/N: If not your you, I probably would've gone insane here.

Weiss gives a playful smirk.

Weiss: Probably?

Y/N: Okay... I definitely would've gone insane.

The two of you stare at the sky.

Weiss: So... I guess Blake and Yang are finally a thing, huh?

Y/N: Yeah. I was wondering when they'd finally get together.

Weiss: It does make you think about things.

Y/N: Like?

Weiss: The future. Our future specifically.

You blush.

Y/N: O-Oh.

Weiss: I know we're still young but... Maybe it's because of the way I was brought up. I've always been concerned about that kind of thing. I was always afraid my father would arrange a marriage to someone like him...

She shudders in disgust.

Weiss: But... After thinking about it for a very, very long time... I think I've decided that I want to spend the rest of my life with you.

Your face turns even brighter red.

Y/N: I... I would love that.

Weiss: Let's let that thought give us more motivation to get back home.

Y/N: Right.

She huddles close to you and rests her head on your chest.

Weiss: I love you...

You kiss her one more time before she closes her eyes.

Y/N: I love you too... Goodnight, Weiss...

End of Part 57