Chapter 7 – The Return

Jensen sat in the library of Ylisttol Castle. He was relived he managed not to get injured again while trying to rescue Maribelle. But he had failed again, he had failed to prevent a war that would cost thousands their lives and potentially lead to the fall of this world at the hands of Grima the Fell Dragon. It had been a pain to gain access to any books concerning the Grimleal religion but his status of being a Shepherd allowed him to get them when push came to shove. Yet the information he had was sparse the Fell Dragon returned every ten thousand years and could only be killed by the Falchion. He couldn't even feel the wall his power was behind anymore. He was completely human again. He needed the power. Without it this world was doomed. He knew that Emmeryn's assassination was coming soon and with that Lucina would be making her next appearance as Marth. He needed to protect Emmeryn he left the library returning the books. Jensen eventually found Emmeryn in her private study.

"Your Highness." Jensen said knocking on the door

"Ah, Jensen. Seeking council?" Emmeryn asked

"I will save that for when I find the time to go see a Priest. No, I'm here to give you some."

"What makes you think I'd want any from you?"

"Because when I was hexed Marth saw my past. However, I saw some of his. In his time, you were assassinated tonight."

"And you withheld this information why?"

"Because Chrom wouldn't be able to handle it he cares too much for you he'd cause some suspicion. How I see it we need the assassins to attack and to be utterly crushed to end this before it begins."

"You think stopping one attempt will end the war with Plegia?"

"Plegia isn't of my concern anymore. I'm playing the long game. The Fell Dragon returns and it's the Grimleal who come here and hopefully with their leader. I cut the head of the snake and I stop Armageddon."

"Minimizing casualties?"

"I'm going to guard you tonight, I'm going to use every asset I still have. I only need the leader dead. I'm going to try not to kill anyone else for questioning."

"I didn't see you as merciful type."

"I used to be a heck of a lot more merciful. We get through this then I will have to repent. But I don't think there's enough time or forgiveness in the world for me."

"You really should be guarding Chrom."

"Trust me I would if Marth wasn't already doing it. And I'm sure you've figured out who he is by this point you're not as oblivious as your siblings. Nor as trusting as Robin."

"I will take that as a compliment but he's clearly Chrom's descendant."

"You know you can't tell him this right? This all stays between us everything here. It's just going to be convenient that I was nearby. They will ask too many questions if they learn that I saw Marth's world."

"Anything else?"

"Maybe while we wait we could start that whole repenting thing."

Validar looked at his map of the castle as they slowly made their infiltration. He clutched his tome of dark magic as he made his way through the castle as his assassins took out the guards and made his way to the study. Meanwhile, Chrom and Lissa sprinted to the same place.

"Chrom, Lissa focus on the coming battle. I'll keep Emmeryn safe and deal with the leader." Jensen said leaving the room a gun in each hand, Emmeryn following behind him.

"Go. He has this under control." Emmeryn reassured them as Chrom and Lissa went to rally with the rest of the Shepherds.

"So, Marth you gonna keep sulking back there or are you gonna help?" Jensen asked into the shadows

"I was just seeing what you were going to do while left alone with the Exalt."

"Please, we both know that neither of are the enemy here. I really hope you didn't tell him. Besides we've got to stop your future from ever occurring again. I wasn't sure I believed it until I saw it."

"You saw?"

"Yes, I did Princess."

Validar revealed himself as he walked down the corridor menacingly, a hood covering his face. Dark magic flowing down his arms into the book.

"These two actors don't belong on this stage."

"Unfortunately, this is your curtain call." Jensen smirked

"Who do you think you are to test me boy?"

"I could ask you the same thing old man. However, I guess I can tell you. I'm Jensen Jones of the Shepherds. I'm the man from another world with nothing left to lose."

"A grandiose man from my own heart, but grandiose is worthless if you can't back it up." Validar said bringing his hand to his heart. "I am the bringer of the Exalts destruction. She stands in the way of a brave new world. I am Validar of the Grimleal fool." Validar pulled down his hood and Jensen's eyes widened in shock as he felt his body still as he dropped his guns and they clanked.

"Y- yo- you… YOU TOOK EVERYTHING AWAY FROM ME!" Jensen screamed at him

"I'm sorry but I would never remember a weakling like you."

"DESTROYER!" Jensen screamed as he closed the gap between the two in a second throwing a punch at Validar's gut. Marth looked in shocked as the punch landed sliding Validar back a few meters.

Validar gritted his teeth reeling in pain before bringing up his tome dark magic coursing through the book.

"Die." He said as the magic hit Jensen in his chest and his eyes widened in a familiar pain as he was thrown backwards. The burning running through his body as he slid on the floor unable to get up from the pain blood seeping out of new wounds.

"Pathetic. How could you ever protect anyone if you can't even protect yourself." Validar said as he moved to Marth. "Now let's see if you're more amusing."

Jensen was left to his own thoughts as he heard the fight going on. It seemed even as he tried to pull himself to his feet before falling onto one knee. One arm on his leg and the other holding him up. He felt rage creeping through his body. Why was the power never enough, it always failed him back then when he needed it the most. So many lives lost in an instant. No more. He couldn't take this anymore. As he felt his frustration boil in him.

"I… I… just wanted… to save everyone… but… my power always fails me when I need it the most."

"Ah so you haven't croaked yet…" Validar said a hint of disappointment in his voice. "And that's your sin these people. They're not worth saving. They should be left to die bleeding like you."

Jensen screamed in frustration as he punched the floor. The force being so great that cracks rippled down the corridor.

"Jensen…" Lucina said worry beginning to form in her voice.

"Curious…" Validar observed looking at the cracks

Jensen panted in exhaustion the effort straining him as he raised his head looking at Validar. As sparks of golden light began to form around his body.

"If you call that a sin… THEN I DON'T CARE!" as the light began to consume his body as he screamed in pain. The column of light ascending to the roof. Shaking the castle. The light visible to everyone.

"What's happening?!" Validar screamed

"Jensen!" Chrom shouted knowing where was

Jensen stood up inside the light as blue sparks began to form as the light began to think becoming more focused as he felt it flow inside his. His body feeling rejuvenated by the familiar feeling as the light began to fade flowing inside his body. Jensen began examining his arms curiously as light began to flow through an orb appearing in his hand.

"Light magic has been gone for centuries…" Validar said not believing it

"This isn't magic… no it's something else entirely… can't you feel it?"

"WHAT IS THIS?! TELL ME!"

"Everything."

"This light show won't save you or the Exalt get out of my way!"

"No. This ends here. This world won't be brought to ruin by the Fell Dragon. Not when I'm playing guard." Jensen began to step forward again pulling out the hilt of his shattered sword. It began to reform becoming solid metal from light. "Now then Grimleal, try to make me fight seriously." Jensen surged forward with his sword with inhuman speed as Validar stepped back conjuring shields with dark magic as Jensen cut through them as he got closer and closer. Validar blasted dark magic each shot missing and hitting the ceiling or wall.

"You're just a child trying to save the world using power to play god. LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING JENSEN JONES THERE'S ONLY ONE GOD IN THIS WORLD!" As he cast another spell collapsing rubble onto Jensen. "Grima."

Light began to seep out of the rubble as it grew more and more as the rubble was blown off him as he stood there.

"I don't know Validar. Saving the world can't be too hard." Jensen chuckled as energy rippled around him "I mean I've already done it before funnily enough by killing my version of you. I wonder if it will have diminishing returns.

"You speak nothing but lies!"

"I honestly couldn't care if you believe me. I do have to thank you for letting me to regain this. So, I will make this quick and painless."

Jensen rushed at Validar and began to completely dominate him. Outclassing him so entirely in speed that Validar could no longer keep track. A sharp kick to the stomach sent Validar flying back into a wall in front of Chrom. As Jensen calmly walked forward.

"Jensen, what is that?!" Chrom asked

"This is the power that allowed me to save the world." Jensen said as he continued to fight Validar who tried to keep him back but eventually a brief opening occurred where Jensen could cut him at his waist into two. The crackling energy stabilized completely entering Jensen as he calmed down completely.

"Not bad… I can work with this amount of power…" Jensen said observing as he felt himself able to sense the presence of everyone around him. "But damn. I forgot how good that can feel."

Robin studied Jensen. He seemed more confident and sure of himself like he felt whole again. Jensen meanwhile focused on Lucina's presence he couldn't let her get away without asking her a few questions. Jensen left the rest of the Shepherds to clean up as he went to pursue Lucina. Eventually following her to a secluded place outside the castle grounds.

"You should be aware that you can lose me anymore Lucina."

"I'm aware, you're not exactly the one I want to lose right now. My father might ask too many questions."

"So Emmeryn is saved the head of the Grimleal is dead. The world is saved. However, we should keep an eye on things. Conduct our own investigation. We need to make sure the Shepherds get stronger and I feel my presence now could mess that up at least for the moment."

"This is only just beginning Jensen. Saving Emmeryn was only the first step."

"We have time now. Plegia should go as per normal, we should focus our efforts on finding your friends."

Validar stood in an abyss of darkness.

"How could that brat kill me and defy me the Exalt and the Vessel?!"

A figure in a plegian cloak stepped out revealing himself.

"Is your faith in me that easily shaken Validar?"

"What? Who are you…. Where did you… come from?"

"Surely you've figured it out by now. I'm the one who puts that interlopers power to shame. I am the Fell Dragon. Naga never could stand up to my might. He will fall like the rest along with those he tagged along with."

"Impossible! It can't be you!"

"Jensen Jones wasn't the only one to follow those children. I will shatter him light and bring him to ruin. He cannot defy a God."

Support 1 – Emmeryn

"Where do I begin? I guess they always said the road to hell was paved with good intentions but at times I don't think I even had those."

"Why do you think that?"

"I feel like I did the whole vigilante thing to get attention for the glory not because it was right."

"I take it you did a lot of good."

"Yes, but had I spent that time actually learning I could've stopped so much death."

"It's not your fault, you're just one person."

"I had all the power to stop it. Just not the training."

"You can't see into the future."

"I guess but during the war. I killed so many people. I killed my own father. I almost killed an innocent child before I came to my senses."

"And you understand you made some mistakes. Many don't realize that. You regret every death you caused from the looks of things. Many soldiers forget."

"I don't like killing but I understand that it is sometimes necessary. Especially when you're at war and not playing hero."

"That's at least respectable."

"I wish I could represent your ideals Emmeryn to a degree, but I think I've gone down my own path too far. I think ultimately, I just need to keep dealing with this until I can fully come to terms. Thank you Emmeryn but I think it's time."

Author's Note: So, Jensen is going on a side quest for about two chapters while the next two chapters of the game take place. I felt that Emmeryn was the best for a first support with Jensen due to her limited time in the story meaning I only have so many opportunities to do it. For the next two chapters his Support will be able to be planted before or after the side quest. My current thoughts are for the support candidates are Frederick, Lon'Qu, Cordelia, Maribelle, or Gaius. As for pairings the only one that is truly final currently is Chrom (who will get his supports in the main story) and Sumia (who will get it either as directly part of or as the tagged on at the end of the chapters in the peace between the two wars). As for the future Jensen is going to have a child from the future and she is a girl. I also have a name finalized on that one and her mother. If I said the name I feel the mother would likely become even more obvious.