Hello, dear readers. On the day this chapter is posted, it's been 6 months since I posted the very first chapter of this fic. These past 6 months have seen some major changes in my life. I moved to a new town, got started on a new job, got to know new people, and, of course, I've come to experience the depths of the art of writing.
With Christmas fast approaching, what better way to celebrate this little anniversary, and the fact that this fic has over 500 followers (WHOO!), than by presenting the newest chapter. This chapter, however, will be a bit different than the previous ones. While it does have relevance to the overall plot, you can actually follow said plot without even reading this chapter at all. You might miss out on a reference or two in the future chapters, but that's about it.
Think of this chapter as my answer to the Final mix exclusive content for the Kingdom Hearts games. It's meant to give a little extra for the dedicated fans, but not so much that newcomers miss anything important when the main plot progresses.
Now then, on to some reviews.
TheOrangeLord: I have a skill that Jack will learn during his journey that can accomplish just that. Except in this case, it also provides a power boost that'll terrify anyone who can survive the first two seconds.
Mukuro Kaze: Aside from this chapter, I'll only give brief flashbacks or references to Jack's journey through the Outrealms. Other than that, we'll jump straight to when he returns to Ylisse. As for Morgan, only the male counterpart makes an appearance in this fic. Jack and Robin will have their hands full keeping their eyes on just one amnesiac child, alongside his sister.
And I sympathize with you regarding what you suffer at your daughter's hands. Fear the Smash Villager…
warrior of six blades: Well, Tiki's a grown manakete in Awakening, so I imagine she'll just drag her chosen mate straight to the nearest bedchamber and claim him. It's not like anyone would try to stop her, since she's revered as a demi-goddess. You do not cross the voice of Naga.
dcoon: Nah, I haven't planned for Jack to visit any other Fire Emblem universe in his travels. At least not from what will be mentioned. And yes, Jack will be married to Robin and only Robin.
Antex-The Legendary Zoroark: That's…a pretty accurate comparison. In fact, Kushina's one of the few redheads I know who has managed to consistently weaponize the legendary pan. Pity the poor soul who awakens her wrath.
thepowerfullkira: Nope, there will be no de-aging. Jack will make a stop in the Elemental nations, but only as his current self, not his child self.
Isshion: Nope. As much as Tharja wants to get it on with either Jack or Robin (or both at the same time), that won't happen. And there are at least two good reasons for that.
1: Jack will be powerful enough to repel Tharja with ease. Nothing serious, just enough to move the Dark Mage away from him.
2: By the time Jack returns, Robin will have grown enough of a backbone, and grown possessive enough, to fight off any would-be alternate suitors with whatever she has on hand. Jack is hers and hers alone.
A fan: Those are some interesting bows. Still, I've already made up my mind regarding the bow for Noire. There's no need to give her anything as overpowered as you suggested, especially since I've planned a skillset for her that'll make her an absolute terror anyway.
Anonymous reviewer, December 2nd: Yeah, the Second seal kinda makes Donnel's Aptitude skill pointless. However, that's assuming you grind at all in the run instead of rushing into the next main chapter as is. The main advantage with Aptitude is that Donnel becomes a beast faster than anyone else. Also, he does have a few notable good stats. First is, of course, his Luck stat. The growth and cap basically makes him the perfect candidate for Armsthrift. His strength and Skill deserve mention as well, since they result in him being able to hit like a truck with consistent accuracy. In my experience, he does suffer from low speed and resistance, though, so Tricksters (with Levin swords) and Assassins tend to give him a lot of trouble when fighting on equal footing. Again, this is my own experience.
A guest: Jack won't use the Kamehameha. One of the future Shepherds, however, will. After all, Jack can't hog all the spotlight.
.77770: She'll learn it somewhere during the Valm campaign. As things stand, however, I've only planned for her to use the basic version. Adding an element to that technique is hard as h-ll, as has been explained by Kakashi and demonstrated by Naruto.
Copyright disclaimer: I only own the plot of this fic. For a full copyright disclaimer, please read chapter 1.
Without further ado, allow me to present my early Christmas present to you all. Enjoy!
If I were you, I'd stop ev'ry now and then and enjoy the view. – Hubba
Bonus chapter:
Remnant's call
It's been a few minutes since we entered through the Outrealm gate. You know… I didn't expect this place to look so…bland. It's all white and gray here.
"I thought this place would have more color…" I comment idly as I look around.
Hubba shrugs. "Eh. The powers that be didn't exactly put much stock in decoratin'. "Keep it simple" they said."
"I admit that this place looks a bit dull, but that's the nature of the passage between worlds." Anna explains.
I raise an eyebrow. "Passage?"
Old Hubba nods. "Yup. While this technically is a world of its own, the main purpose of this here place is to serve as a calibration o' sorts. Without this, the multiple worlds would be too close to each other and start affect each other in wacky ways."
"Kinda like a culture shock…times apocalyptic." Anna tacks on. "Trust me, you don't want to imagine it."
I'm not familiar enough with space-time theory to even begin to construct anything in my imagination, but it sounds freakish.
"Ah, here we are." Hubba remarks with a grin as we approach a glowing white ellipse hovering above the ground. "This portal'll take ya to the hub world."
"There's a hub world too?" I ask. "Huh. And here I imagined cross-world traveling to be more…direct."
Anna claps my shoulder. "Oh, you definitely don't wanna miss this, though. Any inter-world traveler worth their salt stops by a hub world every now and then." A bright smile lights up on her face. "These places are packed with all kinds of shops. Gear, food, weapons, healing items, crafting materials, you name it. It's like a giant multi-cultured market."
I give the redhead a flat look. "And I assume your relatives have set up at least a dozen shops in there."
Her smile grows even larger. "You know my family so well."
I shrug before I enter through the white portal with my two companions.
*Flash*
As my eyes finally recover from that sudden flash of light, I look around to find myself in a very familiar place.
"No way…"
BGM: Traverse Town, Kingdom Hearts music
You have arrived at a hub world! Welcome to Traverse Town!
The town around me is bustling with activity. Neon lights flash periodically to show the various establishments around town. Shops of all kinds are set up wherever I look. Signs indicate their specialty. Sundries, armor, magic. Heck, they even have a bank.
"Quite the sight, eh, sonny?" Hubba remarks and elbows me lightly in the side.
"I've forgotten how long I've been in the world of Awakening." I mutter as I take in the sights. If any of my fellow Shepherds saw this, they'd flip. It's like I went from the middle ages straight into Kingdom Hearts.
Hubba moves away from our group. "Well, I've got a few errands to run. See ya soon, youngsters."
Anna heads to one of the shops. "I need to make a few stops as well. Why don't we meet up here in half an hour or so? That way, you can explore the town a little on your own."
Some fiddling with my menu helps me find a map of the entire town. That's a relief. At least I can wander around without running the risk of getting lost. Like I've mentioned earlier, my sense of direction is bad. That goes double for a place like Traverse Town.
I nod to the inter-world merchant and set off on my own.
But, man, Traverse Town sure has a lot to offer. I mostly spend my time window shopping and checking out the merchandise, and what's in store baffles me. There's of course the classic Final Fantasy assortment of goods. Some shops offer a variety of modern firearms and bulletproof gear. And- Is that a Crazy Cap shop? With a replica of Speedwagon's bladed hat on display?! Dang, this place offers more than I imagined.
However, none of that really takes priority of my attention (even though the hats on sale look mighty impressive). No, there's something else in this place. It's almost like…I'm being drawn somewhere.
I follow the strange sensation and find myself at the town's clocktower plaza. The sensation's getting stronger.
After walking around the plaza for a while, I notice something out of place. There's a white portal in the middle of the place. Strange… I don't remember there being one in any of the Kingdom Hearts games that feature the iconic hub world. What's even weirder is that the strange pulling sensation I felt gets stronger the closer I get to that portal. This… This is what I was looking for. Whatever it is that's calling me, it's on the other side.
Warning! A powerful foe awaits beyond this point. Are you sure you want to enter?
Huh? That's a surprise. Better doublecheck my gear to be safe.
Yep, I should be set for whatever awaits me. After I receive the same notification again, I select "Yes".
BGM ends.
*Flash*
…
Strange… This place is all white with some gray in it, not unlike the passageway that led me to Traverse Town in the first place. Yet, unlike the passageway, this place is a single space. No exits or pathways to other places, just a big space of…nothing…
!
No. There is something here. But whatever it is, it's not in a hurry to reveal itself.
Alright, calm down, Jack. Slow down your breathing. Sight probably won't help until I know what I'm up against, so I close my eyes and let Mind's eye take over.
A vaguely humanoid figure seems to flicker in and out of my mental field of perception. That would be strange enough on its own. However, what really catches my attention is that the strange tugging feeling I felt when I entered the hub world seems to come from this mysterious figure.
The figure comes to a stop on my left. As I open my eyes and look there, I finally get to take in their features in detail.
? Lvl: ?
A mysterious figure with no discernable features. Though you can't figure out anything regarding this person, you feel a notable connection with them. How that works, however, is beyond your understanding.
Not that there's much to see. While this person (?) is taller than me, that's about what I can discern at the moment. Whoever it is who's standing in front of me doesn't want to reveal who they are. The face is covered under the hood of an honestly snazzy robe that covers everything from head to ankles. The only things not covered by the garment are the hands and feet, which are clad in gloves and boots, respectively. The whole ensemble is pitch-black, save for a few silver accessories adorning the robe.
"Finally you answer my call. I have been waiting for you."
The figure's voice is distinctly male, but that's everything I can figure out. The voice sounds…distorted. It's like he's talking through a device designed for that specific purpose.
I raise an eyebrow. "Waiting for me? For what purpose? And why here?"
And why the heck does it look like he's fading in and out of existence? It's almost like he's existing, and yet, not existing at the same time.
The figure points his right hand forward. "To test your strength."
Sparks fly from the palm before the stranger grabs hold of a weapon. My eyes widen at what he's holding.
The black color, with silver at the center. The borderline demonic shape. The blue eye sitting where the guard meets the blade, staring right at me with an unyielding glare.
I draw my Windcleaver and crouch in a fighting stance in the blink of an eye. I know only of one man who has ever wielded that sinister weapon.
"Xehanort."
The very mention of the dark keyblade master's name tastes like acid on my tongue.
The figure lets his arm fall calmly to the side, keyblade still in hand.
"Xehanort? That name rings familiar, though it is not mine."
I narrow my eyes as I stack three layers of Reinforcement. Xehanort or not, this guy's threat level instantly jumped into final boss territory.
"What are you then?" I ask, ready to strike at a moment's notice.
The figure turns slightly sideways, standing with his left foot forward and holding the keyblade away from me. It's a battle stance, alright, but a very loose one.
"Prove your worth, and I may deign to answer you."
I don't know what it is with this guy, but there's something about him that's bugging me. Like we share some strange connection. Yet, for the life of me, I can't figure out how. Just like Observe told me. Worse yet, my cluelessness combined with his dismissive attitude is getting on my nerves.
"Fine then." I growl. "You're starting to piss me off, so I might as well beat the answers out of you."
BGM: Master, tell me the truth, Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep Final mix music
I dash straight into melee range and bring my Windcleaver down.
*Clang!*
Our weapons lock together, neither of us giving any ground. What's bothering me is that he's holding the weapon lock with only one hand while I'm using both. Whoever he is, he's strong.
The figure breaks the lock with a flick of his weapon and sends me back in the process. I quickly skid to a halt and get ready to- Whoa!
*Clang!*
Son of a- He followed up right after he broke the weapon lock and struck while I barely had time to get in position! Only a hasty block that has me jump a few steps backwards saved me from getting stabbed in the shoulder. Correction: he's strong and fast.
All right. Attacking this guy head-on is out of the question. That leaves flanking and range attacks. Range attacks may be too slow to hit him unless I can get him off-balance first. Okay, flanking it is.
I activate Gale step with barely a thought and start zipping around my opponent. I change directions at random, hoping to throw him off. Oddly enough, he's just standing in the same stance as when the fight started. Provoking me into attacking again, are you? Fine. Let's see if you can catch me at maximum speed!
Right, right, left, back, jump, zip down, rightleftstrike!
*Clang!*
I stare at my opponent in disbelief as I push my weapon against his again. Did he…read my angle of approach? I feinted at the last moment and struck at full speed, and the guy blocks me without even looking!
I'm swatted away again before I'm forced on the defensive as the figure in black attacks me with a dizzying flurry of slashes. For every slash I block, another slips past my guard. It's like my first fight against Lon'qu all over again, and I can hardly fight back here even when armed. Only liberal use of Mind's eye and the occasional retreat with Gale step saves me from suffering any serious injuries from the relentless assault. Not that it matters that much with how fast my wounds are piling up.
Come on… Come ON! There has to be an opening somewhere – a weakness that I can exploit to turn the tides on this fight!
A particularly hard swing sends me flying backwards. Cr-p! My guard's blown wide open and he's closing in fast. No choice then.
"Za Warudo!"
The mana dome expands from my body, envelops my opponent and stops him in his tracks moments before his keyblade reaches me. I take the opportunity to step back and catch my breath. Alright, this should help me get in posi-
*Shing!* "Ungh!"
My shoulder! What just- No… There's no way!
I spin around and notice the figure standing behind me with his keyblade still stretched out from when he just slashed my shoulder. This guy just freakin' moved while I stopped time! What the actual-
*Clang!*
I deactivate Za Warudo as I'm forced back on the defensive. My mind's still reeling from what I just witnessed. I stopped time itself, and this guy still managed to move?! How the heck does that even work?!
My thoughts get interrupted as I move to block an overhead slash, only to realize too late that he just feinted me. I earn a kick in the gut for my mistake.
So I have seemingly my every move read, my ultimate trump card shut down like it doesn't even matter, and I'm barely keeping up with this guy as is. Come on, what other options have I not used in this battle yet? I'm getting cornered here!
Wait, that might work. If Robin finds out I used this tactic, she'd scold me like crazy. But desperate times call for desperate measures. It's all or nothing with this one.
My opponent rushes after me again. I get in a stance and exhale calmly. I'll need an opening to pull this off. That means I have to knock him at least off-balance with this clash. Focus…
There!
The sinister keyblade barely passes over my head as I crouch low and send a counter slash at my opponent just as he passes me.
*Shing!*
The retaliation makes him stumble as he tries to recover from the blow. Now's my chance!
I sheathe my Windcleaver and stretch my arms outwards.
"Trace on!"
My hands are covered in glowing mana before it disperses to reveal Tifa Lockhart's ultimate weapon: Premium Heart. These beauties grow more powerful the more damage I have sustained, and considering the hits I've taken in this fight, there's plenty of power stored inside them.
My opponent manages to recover from the blow and turns to face me. Judging by the slight sway backwards, he didn't expect me to pull these bad boys out of thin air. Before he can do anything else, I slam a fist into the ground. Sparks travel along it before several poles shoot out around him, effectively trapping him in an impromptu prison made of…whatever the ground's made of in this dimension.
With my opponent temporarily stunned, I rush him with my Traced weapon at the ready. To add more momentum, I summon a dozen clones around him, all equipped with copies of Premium Heart and ready to lay the smackdown on this guy.
Just as they reach striking distance, however, my opponent breaks out from his restraints and begins to slash around him at a frantic pace. The first few clones get hit and disperse within a second. Before I lose any more, I dive forward and make a handspring into the air. Before my hands leave the ground, I make a quick transmutation. The ground under my opponent's feet drops lower, making him lose his balance for a brief moment. That's all my clones need to finally get inside his guard and rain their fists on him. Even with all those advantages, however, he manages to not only block or dodge a lot of the punches – he even manages to slip a few slashes in between and destroys more clones in the process.
Good thing my plan finally worked. All I needed was for my opponent to stand still and not pay me any attention as I get close. I punch the ground as I land right in front of him and send him up in the air from the resulting shock wave.
"You're right where I want you!"
I finally begin to unleash my own punches on the black-clad figure. With the assistance of my remaining clones, I manage to split his attention enough to get a few clean hits on him. Even though they're few in number, this is Premium Heart we're talking about. Even a single clean hit is guaranteed to leave a mark.
My opponent, naturally, fights back. He manages to duck and weave in between several punches. At one point, I overextend a right hook, and suffer a swing at my mid-section in retaliation. But even as the damage registers, I smirk.
Limit energy: Maximum!
Just what I was waiting for.
"Now!"
One of my clones throws a Rasengan at my opponent. He swats the spiraling sphere aside. In that precise moment, my other clones rush back into the fray. Instead of attacking him head-on, they all duck low this time. The clones in front are destroyed in a blindingly fast counterattack, but the remaining clone behind lands a double fist that sends him hurtling forward, right where I am.
My right fist is reared back as I concentrate all the energy stored within Premium Heart for a single attack. With my opponent flying towards me, I don't need to get into position. I already am.
"Final Heaven!" *KRA-BOOM!*
The robed figure flies away from me at breakneck speeds. After a few bounces on the ground, he rights himself in mid-air and stabs his keyblade into the ground to come to a stop.
I look at him in disbelief over recovering from a punch from Premium Heart at full power, until I notice his left arm hanging by his side limply. Drat! He must've blocked my punch with it at the last moment and had it absorb the brunt of the attack at the expense of no longer being able to use it for the rest of the battle. The bad news is that he may not even need it. He's powerful enough already with only his right arm and that keyblade of his!
My opponent rushes past my last clone, destroys it in the process, and is right in front of me in the blink of an eye. With no other options, I cross my arms in front of me.
*Krish!*
Guh! That one swing obliterated my Traced Premium Heart like it was made of glass! I can't let this go on. I have to finish it now!
I allow myself to fall backwards from the force of the blow. As I land on the ground, I channel a good chunk of my remaining MP into a massive Transmutation. The ground rumbles as my opponent is sent upwards and away on a spiked pillar that erupts from the ground. The only thing stopping him from getting impaled on it is once again his keyblade, held between him and the pillar like an unmoving shield.
He flips on top of the pillar and slides along with it, keyblade poised to slash me the moment he reaches striking distance. Alright, if that's what you want, then just try me!
I unsling the sheath of my Windcleaver from my back and hold it in a drawing stance. I exhale and grab hold of the hilt. Mimicry, go!
"One sword style…"
My opponent jumps off the pillar and lunges at me with his keyblade reared back. Time seemingly slows to a crawl as we stare each other down before the imminent clash.
"Shishi Sonson!" *SHING!*
The robed figure slides to a stop behind me. I flip my Windcleaver in a reverse grip with the edge facing upwards and slowly slide it back into its sheath.
"In your face." *Clink*
My opponent flinches back as the effect of my slash makes itself known across his chest. At the same time, the ground in front of the unknown figure cracks before a Shadow clone pops up with a mana sphere in hand.
"Rasengan!" *Shr-Boom!*
BGM ends
Right. In. The. Face. My opponent flies over my head and lands on the ground with a heavy thud. That's when blood erupts from a diagonal slash mark across my chest.
"Ungh!"
I fall to my knees and use my sheathed Windcleaver as a crutch as I pant for air. That final clash resulted in both of us slashing the other. Despite the combination of Iron body and Reinforcement, the cut I suffered is deep. Well, at least he's the one worse o-
Oh, come ON! The guy not only stands up after all that, the only indications that I hit him are a few tears in his clothes!
Ugh. It's no good. That move earlier was the last idea I had for defeating him. And even if I had more ideas, I've taken too many hits and my MP is almost at zero. I'm out of options, out of stamina, and, apparently, fresh out of luck.
I've lost – completely and utterly.
"Impressive. Typical, but no less impressive." the figure remarks. "Perhaps you are the one to fulfill the prophecy."
Before I can ask what he means, he zips right through me – as in, he literally zips through me like I'm not even there.
PAIN! It feels like someone fired a nail gun at my head from pointblank range! The pain is so intense that I lose my grip on my Windcleaver and crash to the ground while clutching my head.
"I have entrusted you with the memories of my final moments. However, they will remain sealed away in the depths of your mind until you are deemed worthy. Whether you achieve this or not is up to you."
"What…the h-ll are you talking about?" I groan as I struggle to turn around and address him directly. "Who are you?"
"I am merely…"
Black tinted winds surround the robed figure as he slowly turns to me.
"…a remnant from a past long gone."
The hood of his robe flutters in the wind. My eyes widen as I get a glimpse of the face hidden underneath.
"Wait… But you're-"
*Whoosh!*
The winds pick up in strength and quickly turn into a gale. And yet, the figure stands in the middle of it all, completely unfazed.
"The road ahead is fraught with danger. Tread carefully, but never stop moving forward."
"W-wait…" I groan out as I try to lift myself off the ground, with little success.
"When you next wake up, your body will bear no marks of our meeting. When you try to recall, your mind will be blank. But your heart will remember."
With a final, massive gust of black wind, the figure vanishes, leaving no evidence that he was here in the first place.
"Ungh!"
I crash back down on the ground as my strength fails me. This is bad! My head's killing me. My HP's low and falls further due to my bleeding wounds. My MP is hardly any better. I have to get my Concoction from my bag and restore my HP, but the pain makes it hard for me to even figure out how I'm supposed to accomplish that.
My vision's starting to blacken around the edges. No! I can't afford to pass out now! I have to restore my health. I can't fall unconscious. Have to stay awake…
…Have to get…
…
Cobblestone.
My vision's filled with cobblestone.
Why is my vision filled with- Oh, wait. I'm lying face-down.
I gently place my palms on the ground and push myself up with a groan. Man, it was bad enough sleeping on a field. Sleeping on rock just plain sucks.
"Oh, awake at last, eh, sonny?"
I turn my head to the right and spot Old man Hubba and Anna stand a bit away from me. There are a few others present as well, but they're not important.
"You sure had us worried there for a minute." the redhead remarks concerned.
I look around myself a bit before I address my traveling companions. "What happened?"
"That's what we'd like to ask you!" Anna replies.
"There was an energy surge that half the town felt." Hubba explains. "Gave us all a good jump scare. We found out it came from the clocktower plaza."
Anna nods. "Imagine our surprise when we found you lying facedown on the ground unconscious, right where that energy surge came from. Jack, what did you do?"
I try to recall as I get up on my knees.
"Ungh!"
Error! Memory has been locked. Cannot access contents.
What the heck?!
"I… I don't remember…" I pant out as I clutch my head. "Everything that happened after I got to this place is a blank."
It's strange. It feels like I was just in the hardest fight of my life. But that can't be right. My HP is full, and none of my clothes bear any tears that a rough fight would give. Even if I were involved in a fight, it must've been one-sided, since I don't have any injuries. But that only contradicts this weird feeling that I actually lost.
I shake my head. "Ugh… This is giving me a headache. I can't even begin to puzzle out what happened here."
"The Outrealms are a place where strange things happen almost all the time, youngster." Old man Hubba muses. Then he shrugs. "You'd do well to learn that now. Whatever happened here, you can chalk up as one o' those mystery thingies. Though it's rare for it to happen in a hub world."
You know what, I'm done with this matter. I'm not getting anywhere with it, so I might as well leave it be and move on. And the first step is to actually get on my feet.
That's when I notice something slip off my shoulders. It looks like a cloth of some sort.
"Hm? What's this?" I ask curiously.
Anna raises an eyebrow. "Wait, you don't know? That thing was lying on top of you when we found you here. We thought you picked it up in a store. Though I must say, I've never seen anything like it."
I gingerly pick the dark purple piece of fabric off the ground. Let's see…
Spirit Cloak, Consumable, ?
A mysterious cloak of unknown origins. While it looks like an ordinary piece of cloth to the untrained eye, it's anything but. Every fiber woven into it is saturated in spiritual energy, giving the cloak an ethereal vibe and glow.
Allows the user to change classes into Reaper. Vanishes after use.
This item will let me change my class? Hmm… This might be just what I needed. My Traveler class will do me little good against Valm and the Grimleal. I don't know what this "Reaper" class has to offer, but I'm certain it'll be a major step up. Decision made, I place the cloak around my shoulders.
Do you want to change your class to "Reaper"? Warning: Once changed, you cannot change back to your previous class unless you use the appropriate item.
Alright, let's do it.
Winds whip up around me after I selected the affirmative. The moving air picks up dust from the ground and obscures me from view. Sparks of mana fly around me and into various directions as the wind grows more intense.
"Gracious me, sonny! Yer sure ya know what'cher doin'?!" Hubba shouts over the wind while shielding his eyes.
I'm about to answer when the wind curls into a small tornado with enough dust to completely hide me from view and drowns out whatever I wanted to say. The sparking mana becomes dozens of continuous currents that oscillate around me. Next thing I know, they all flow together on me, glow brightly, and then burst in a shockwave that disperses the miniature tornado. Stray sparks flicker in the air around me as the air finally settles.
Congratulations! Your class has changed to "Reaper"!
I notice that the Spirit Cloak transformed into a robe that replaced my traveling cloak from earlier. While it looks a bit tattered around the edges, I'd say it looks pretty stylish. More importantly, I can already feel a significant change in my power, all for the better.
I clench my fist in approval. This… This is just what I'll need for the battles to come. Perfect.
"Well, been a long time since I saw someone change like that." Hubba muses as he inspects my new look. He gives an appreciative nod. "A bit dark an' edgy fer my tastes, but it seems ta suit ya, sonny."
"Thanks." I reply idly. Then I look into his eyes resolutely. "I'm ready to head out whenever possible."
"You sure about that?" Anna asks. "At least take some time to check this place out. And you could stock up on medicine while you're at it."
I shake my head. "As interesting as this place is, I have more important things to do. I've got a training trip to complete…" I clench my fist as I close my eyes and picture the smiling face of the love of my life. "…and a promise to keep."
Hubba shrugs and heads off in another direction than the one I came from.
"Well, it's yer call, sonny. Still, it ain't ev'ry day ya get ta travel the Outrealms. If I were you, I'd stop ev'ry now and then and enjoy the view."
The old dude glances at one of the townspeople gathered here. Specifically, his sights are set on her…ample figure.
"Hee hee hee… Enjoy the view, indeed."
Anna and I roll our eyes as we follow him. Yeesh. Just when I thought I'd make it through this trip without having the old fart sound like some ancient pervert.
"Whatever." I reply dismissively. "Let's just go."
To be continued
Jack's encyclopedic corner:
Premium Heart, Blunt weapon, Base damage: 79, Unique
The most powerful fist weapon ever wielded by the busty martial arts heroine of Midgar, Tifa Lockhart. The knuckles on this weapon are actually materia crystals with the rare ability to store excess energy released whenever the wielder is in a fight. The more energy is released, be it from dealing damage or receiving it, the stronger the blows become. Should the crystals be filled to maximum capacity, the wielder can expel all the stored energy in a single titanic punch.
Wielding this weapon counts as fighting unarmed.
Skills available when wielded: Limit boost, Final Heaven
Teaser trailer:
The sounds of a quill scratching over paper can be heard in an abandoned old library. The decrepit building is dark, save for a lone candle sitting on a desk. A young, silver-haired woman in a pink and purple jester's outfit sits by the candle, writing in a book while talking out loud what she's writing.
"On that day, their names were carved into history. The battle they fought would determine the fate of the continent for centuries to come – and, in turn, the whole world. No longer were they known as a mere militia. They were an army, worthy of respect and fear on the battlefield. Yet, little did they know, their legend had only begun. Their strength would soon be put to the test again, against a foe unlike any they had faced before."
The sound of a door opening echoes through the dark room. A teenage boy in a Plegian Tactician's coat enters.
"I thought I would find you here." the young man remarks. "Lucina sent me to tell you everything is ready for the ritual."
The woman stretches her arms over her head and sighs in satisfaction as her joints pop.
"Oh, it's time for that already?"
With a snap of her fingers, she casts a spell that dries the ink in an instant. She gets up from the chair and puts her supplies away. The book she wrote in is closed and gently scooped up in her arms.
"Thanks for the reminder, Li'l Bro."
As she leaves, the Tactician-in-training follows suit while pinching the bridge of his nose. An exasperated sigh escapes his lips. "You're the elder, and therefore, supposedly the more responsible sibling between the two of us. So please remind me why I keep reminding you of important stuff."
The woman whirls around with a cheerful smile and her book held behind her back. "Because family sticks together, no matter how much we annoy each other. That's what Dad used to tell us, Morgan."
Morgan rolls his eyes. "Honestly, I think Father had something else in mind when he said that."
His words fall to deaf ears, however, as his elder sister leaves without giving any sign of acknowledging them.
"Hey, listen when I have something important to tell you, Rose!"
BGM: Archangel, Two steps from hell
Two years of peace,
shattered in an instant.
"Our western neighbors of Valm are no longer acting so neighborly." Riami explains. "The emperor, who they call the Conqueror, has launched warships against us."
Chrom scowls. "An invasion? Are you certain of this?"
"Walhart has conquered our continent and now seeks to conquer yours." Cherche warns.
A new foe arrives from beyond the sea.
"The Conqueror himself, Emperor Walhart, claims dominion over these lands!" the Valmese captain declares. "Now, kneel! And swear fealty to the mighty Valmese Empire!"
Chrom scowls. "We must stand against evil, in all its forms, or there can be no peace!"
Generations will band together.
"I do not need the name of the Hero-King any longer. I choose to fight as Lucina now." Lucina declares with a smile. "The name that reminds me of the strength in the man and woman who chose it."
"A strength shared by the woman who bears it." Chrom adds proudly.
Will their combined strength topple the empire…
Panne smiles. "I am pleased to see you, my son. You represent a new hope for our race."
Yarne gives her a deadpan stare. "No pressure there…"
"I was talking about your tears." Nowi clarifies. "If you're sad, you can talk to me."
"No, I… I have to be strong." Nah protests. "Everyone expects me to. I can turn into a dragon, you know? And that's not…normal. So I have to put on a brave face to protect everyone, just like you do."
…or will they crumble under the Conqueror's might?
"Feroxi soldiers are the finest east of the long sea." Frederick remarks with a troubled frown. "If they are having trouble, we are ALL in trouble."
"That's not the half of it." Flavia points out. "This was just the vanguard – but a taste of the meal yet to come."
Basilio sighs tiredly. "And once it arrives, their host will wash over the whole continent in weeks."
Lissa's jaw hits the ground. "Um, Chrom? Did she just say he has a MILLION soldiers?!"
"So much for fortune favoring the bold." Basilio sighs in resignation. "This war was lost even before it began."
Chrom slams his fist against a wall. "All our struggles until now, and we've yet to so much as dent the empire…"
How far will you go…
…to protect what you hold dear?
Jack points his sword at the slavers. "You angered the wrong father." he declares darkly.
Blind loyalty?
Pheros scoffs. "I need not concern myself with what my actions bring. So long as I follow in the Conqueror's lead, I need nothing else, even if it is merely in his shadow. Such is his greatness."
Deceit?
Yen'fay scowls at Excellus. "I have no sister."
Murder?
"Does a pegasus join with the flea on its back?" Walhart snarls. "A dragon, with a cow it eats?"
Blood will be spilled…
"Damn you, Yen'fay!" Say'ri shouts. "If you refuse to say anything, I will make your sword answer for you! Draw your blade, and let it sing your final words!"
As Say'ri and Yen'fay clash, a boulder plunges into the lava and lights up the moment of battle in a timeless silhouette.
…yet neither side will yield.
Walhart growls. "I have an army!"
Jack grins. "We have Donnel."
For when this war ends…
The Ylissean League storms against the Valmese army, ready to put everything on the line for victory. Their battle cry washes over the imperial soldiers as the clash grows imminent.
…there will only be
ONE
LEFT
STANDING!
Jack looks up to find the Conqueror in front of him with his axe raised.
"This is nature."
The axe comes down.
Gamer Emblem Awakening:
Battle of Valm
Coming in January 2019
(BGM ends)
Merry Christmas and a happy new year, everybody. VipeR out.
