You’ve made your choice, and all you have to do now is take it.

I've finally been catching up with War Machines again after falling behind for a while and absolutely couldn't resist making some fanart of this beautiful chapter!

Go read the fic here!

"What? Like- crank one out to me? Ain't none of my business so do whatever you want."

"But is it. The desires I bare for you would have me hanged for a century in my time."

"That's cool, but in human society that's a bit of an extreme punishment for jerking off to someone."

"Very well then. To balance out the weight of my son's I shall bring you the head of a criminal as payment for every release."

"Sure, man- Whatever makes you happy."

Her fingers brushed a lock of golden hair from his forehead, a gesture reserved for someone precious, someone who had suffered far more than they ever should have. She looked upon the young man before her, and did not see the villain that Remnant believed him to be or who he presented himself as.

She saw the frightened boy who had stepped into a burden no mortal was ever meant to carry.

The Blacksmith bowed her head, and a sob escaped her. "Oh, my little soldier boy..." she muttered.

Carefully, she slid one arm beneath his shoulders and another beneath his knees before lifting him from the stone steps

It wasn’t like a warrior carrying a fallen soldier or a goddess carrying a champion. It more so resembled a mother lifting her sleeping child. Jaune's head rested against her shoulder as his arms limply hung off to the sides.

The Blacksmith held him close against her chest, protectively and possessively, as though she could somehow shield him from every hurt he had ever endured.

Her tears fell freely now.

"There was never supposed to be so much suffering,” she said, rocking him gently back and forth.

The motion was comforting because it was like a mother soothing an infant after a nightmare.

"Not for you," she said as a tear fell into his hair. "You were always so kind, even when the world wasn't," she continued as she smiled sadly.

She remembered every opportunity he had been given to surrender. Every chance to become bitter and cruel.

And yet somehow… He had remained Jaune Arc.

He had become broken.

Had become scarred.

And become exhausted.

But still, he remained Jaune Arc, the boy willing to sacrifice himself for others.

The Blacksmith held him tighter. "You stubborn, wonderful boy,” She said. "You carried entire worlds on your shoulders, and still worried more about everyone else.”

Her forehead rested against his, and for a long moment, she simply stood there, cradling him, as if he was simply taking a nap.

The Blacksmith closed her eyes and spoke once more. "You don't have to be strong anymore; you don't have to save anyone or suffer more," She whispered into his ear.

The leaves of the tree that followed her from the Ever-After around them began to glow, and a warm light surrounded his body.

"When the time comes… I will make you anew," The Blacksmith told him as her head stroked his hair. "I will give you back all the years that were stolen, Jaune Arc. You will laugh again, smile again, and live again."

The Blacksmith looked down at him, and she saw the boy who had sacrificed everything. The boy who believed everyone else's happiness mattered more than his own.

God of Light: Let's give her a wonderful supportive family.

The Blacksmith: Good... Good... Let your brother make something.

God of Darkness: I'm going to set this kid on fire.

God of Light: Mom? Don't let him do that. I need that one to help this one.

The Blacksmith: Compromise boys: you can set him on fire a little bit and burn him in his dreams.

GOD: Yes!

GOL: Fine.

*later*

Ruby: You couldn't go to your family when you were sad?

Jaune: No.

Ruby: Does that have anything to do with why you wake up screaming?

Jaune: (Knocked out, About to be erased)

Pyrrha: (Shouts, Throws shield)

Pyrrha: (Slides next to Jaune) Aura... Hello? Can you hear me?

Jaune: (Opens his eyes)

Pyrrha: Boreís na me akoúseis?

Jaune: I... You... P-Please... Tell... Tell them I'm sorry...

Pyrrha: (Unlocks his aura) Please, try again. I can understand you now. Can you hear me?

Pyrrha: Who are you? Where did you come from?

Jabberwalker: (Snatches Jaune)

Pyrrha: NO! (Chases Jabberwalker into jungle)

----------

Pyrrha: (Carrying Jaune) Mother! I need the Hearth Blanket! It's the warmest!

Blacksmith: Now, isn't this interesting?

Pyrrha: (Lays him down) I... I found him by the shore.

Blacksmith: Is he from the sea?

Pyrrha: I... I don't know. He was on the beach when the Jabberwalker tried to take him.

Blacksmith: The Jabberwalker? Oh, Pyrrha, you know one simply does not fend off a Jabberwalker.

Pyrrha: I didn't fend it off. It was more like... It didn't fight when I took him back.

Blacksmith: The Jabberwalker does not release its purpose so easily.

Pyrrha: Then I will fight it again. And again. And if I must kill it, then I will. He does not belong to it.

Blacksmith: Oh? And who does he belong to, my daughter? You?

Pyrrha: Of course not. He belongs only to himself. But since I found him, I felt responsible, so I must take care of him.

Blacksmith: If that is the tale you wish to tell, then I will not stop you. What I will do, however, is prepare some tea.

----------

Pyrrha: I wouldn't throw that rock in there.

Jaune: (Already thrown) Huh?

Pyrrha: The Jabberwalker I saved you from is not alone in the danger they present. It likely has friends inside that jungle.

Jaune: Jabber... walker?

Pyrrha: You can see its face glaring in the dark.

Jaune: I... I can't see anything.

Pyrrha: Oh... I see... Sorry, I forget that my vision is a lot better than others.

Jaune: Well, I mean, I have good eyesight, too. They don't let just anyone be a huntsman. Still, your eyes are...

...something else.

Jaune: ...You're really tall.

Pyrrha: We're... about the same height.

Jaune: Yeah, but I'm really tall, too! And, well, back home, there aren't a lot of women as tall as you.

Pyrrha: Does it matter?

Jaune: ...No, it doesn't.

Pyrrha: Then let's talk about something else. Your home, outside of Beacon; what are the people like there?

Jaune: I... Sorry, it's kind of hard to think after everything... and, well, not to brag, but I didn't expect to end up here, on the other side.

Pyrrha: Does anyone?

Jaune: ...Yeah, okay, you got me there. I just... I dunno, I thought I had more time.

Pyrrha: There's so much time and yet not enough of it. Before you know it, you're here.

Jaune: Thanks again. Y'know, for saving me... twice.

god Brother of Darkness: "If she was here she'd be ashamed of what you've done!"

The Blacksmith/Tree: *Holding Jaune in their hand* "I am quite fond of humanity."