The Outrealm gate opens with a loud, rumbling noise. Three figures step out from the shining pathway behind its stone door. The first is an elderly man with balding hair and an easygoing grin. The second is a cheerful redhead with mischief in her eyes. The third is a figure garbed in a dark purple robe covering everything from head to ankles. The cowl on the robe obscures the head, hiding the face from the rest of the world. Instead, what demands the most attention is the weapon on the figure's back – a double-edged great sword with the blade shaped like a bat's wing.

The robed figure calmly looks around the peaceful landscape. A distinctly male voice sounds from within the cowl.

"This place looks as tranquil as ever."

The elderly man chuckles. "Ya know how it is in this world, sonny. Doesn't see much change even in a thousand years."

The party of three leave the now closing Outrealm gate and head north.

"Even so, I would have expected at least some notable change here." the robed figure muses. "Perhaps I will notice something once I reach a town. After all, this is the first time I am here in…how long has it been?"

The redhead places a finger on her chin in thought. "Hmm… By my estimates, it should be roughly nine months since you last set foot here."

The robed figures stops in place, to the confusion of his traveling companions.

"Nine months? It would seem this moment is long overdue. I need to return as soon as possible."

The figure places his hands together and bows to the elder. "You have my sincerest gratitude for guiding me for all this time."

The elder chuckles. "No need 'ta be so formal, youngster. Not after ya spent ev'ry night sayin' her name over an' over again. Also, ya might wanna drop the whole stoic act soon. It doesn't suit'cha."

The figure rises form his bow and nods. "Very well. Until we meet again."

The robed figure vanishes in a purple blur. The only trace he left behind is a small swirling dust cloud at his previous position. The countryside falls silent, save for the chirping birds.

The redhead looks at the fading dust cloud with a sweatdrop. "Boy, he sure was in a hurry."

The elder chuckles in response. "Judgin' from goin' all lovey-dovey durin' the second half of the trip, can't say I'm surprised. Li'l whippersnapper's got it bad."


It's a calm day in the capital of Ylisstol. The peace that the halidom has come to enjoy since the end of the war against Plegia allowed the people to settle in an easy daily rhythm that spoke of joy, if a little boredom due to the lack of notable action. While some crave for excitement, most people are content with the tranquil peace that has settled over Ylisse. Among the more divided between these two opinions are the palace guards. With no notable threat against the halidom or the exalt, the guards and soldiers have found themselves with a duty that has more or less become obsolete.

It is right in this dull, harmless atmosphere that a figure completely garbed in purple walks up to the palace gates. The guard currently stationed at the gate yawns before he prepares himself to question the approaching person, when they suddenly vanish from sight. The guard blinks at the strange sight, wondering if he didn't just imagine it. He returns to his previous seated position with a groan. Ah, what he wouldn't give for a patrol mission right now. At least those missions allow for more movement than standing on the same spot the whole day.

The figure reappears on the other side of the gate and shakes his head as he continues his trek undeterred.

"Hmph. And here I expected more from the palace guard. Perhaps a talk with the guard captain will stir things up a bit here…"

The robed man turns to the right and soon reaches a three-story building that he looks at intently. At that moment, a young girl with green hair and a surprisingly small amount of clothing walks out from the building. Taking note of the newcomer, she happily skips up to him.

"Hi! You're a new face here." she greets enthusiastically. "What'cha doing?"

The figure turns to the little girl. "I wish to meet with the exalt and Prince Chrom. Are they in the palace at the moment?"

The figure goes down on a knee until he's at eye-level with the girl and lightly lifts his cowl. "It's a matter of great importance."

The girl gasps as she sees the face hidden underneath. A massive smile lights up on her face. Just before she can glomp the newcomer with a happy cheer, he places a finger on her mouth.

"Shh. It would not do let the whole palace know I am here yet." At seeing the girl pout, the figure rises back up and offers his hand. "How about you lead me there?"

The smile returns to the girl's face instantly. "Okay! Wow, everyone will be so happy!"


The palace staff look at Nowi happily skipping down the halls. While that is nothing new in itself, they've never seen the young manakete do it while leading a robed stranger through the palace. Knowing Nowi's…demandingly playful nature, the staff wisely keep away from the spectacle that will no doubt erupt within a few minutes.

Nowi soon reaches the doors to the throne room. She turns to her companion while pushing the doors open. "Wait here a bit, okay?"

The figure nods without a word.

Nowi jogs into the throne room until she stops in front of Emmeryn. The exalt gives her a kind smile.

"Hello, Nowi. How can I help you today?"

Nowi returns the smile with one of her own. "You have a visitor, Emmeryn. He really wants to meet you."

On the exalt's left, a stalwart Great Knight frowns at the young manakete.

"Nowi, what did I tell you about proper etiquette last week, regarding speaking to royalty? And for that matter, what have I told you about letting strangers into the palace? For all we know-"

"Oh, don't be such a stick in the mud, Frederick." Nowi interrupts with an exasperated huff. "If anything, you should be happy this person's come to visit."

Then she turns to the man standing on the exalt's right. "And you should be happy about this meeting too, Chrom."

The prince of Ylisse raises an eyebrow at the statement. "Really? Who is this visitor that you're talking about, Nowi?"

The manakete turns around and heads back to the doors. "You're about to find out." she declares cheerfully over her shoulder.

Nowi opens one of the double doors and nods to the waiting man outside. "Okay, you can come in now."

"Did you make sure to ask whether I am even allowed to enter?" the figure asks.

The manakete pauses as she realizes her oversight and leans back into the throne room. "He's allowed to come in, right?"

Emmeryn smiles fondly at Nowi's antics. "Of course he may. If he has already earned your trust, I am sure he will earn mine soon as well."

The captain of the royal guard frowns at the easy admittance. "Your Grace, I must advice against this-"

"It would not do to keep our guest waiting, now would it, Phila?" Emmeryn interrupts with her smile still in place. In contrast, she practically radiates a sinister aura that has the Falcon Knight break out in a cold sweat.

"N-no… Of course not."

With the coast clear, Nowi turns back to the robed man and nods happily. The man nods back and walks in together with the young manakete. As he reaches the exalt, he takes a knee.

"It is an honor to meet with you, Your Grace. Long have I awaited this day."

Emmeryn nods in reply. "And I, in turn, am honored that you would travel so far only to meet with me. Now, what is the purpose of your visit?"

Before the figure can answer, Fredrick steps forward with a scowl on his face. "I know not who you are, stranger, but I must ask that you lower your cowl if you wish to stay in the presence of the exalt any longer. It is very rude in Ylisse to hide your face while speaking with another person, especially royalty."

The robed man rises and turns to the Great Knight. "I am a bit disappointed, sir knight. You would talk to me like that, after all we have gone through?"

Chrom raises an eyebrow. "Wait, you know Frederick?"

The figure turns to Chrom and nods. "Indeed I do, my prince. In fact, we all know each other."

"And how is that possible?" Fredrick asks confrontationally.

The figure reaches for his cowl. "It has been nine months since any of you here last saw me."

The cowl falls back – and reveals the face of a Shepherd not seen in the halidom for a long time. Only, he looks significantly older than the elapsed time would suggest.

"For me, it's been three years."

Chrom gapes at his long-time ally. "J-Jack?!"

The Outrealmer gives the Ylissean prince a warm smile. "It's good to see you again, Chrom."


Gamer Emblem Awakening:

Battle of Valm


Hello, dear readers. CrossVipeR316 here. 2019 is here, and with it, the first chapter of the Valm arc. While I'm trying to keep the optimism at a realistic level, it is indeed a new year, with new possibilities. Me? I plan to stay where I am for the time being and grow where I can, be it as a writer, in my profession or as a person in general.

Something that several people have asked me these past few months is if I will continue writing beyond Awakening's storyline and if Jack will visit other worlds. Here's my answer at the moment:
I've entertained the idea of writing a sort-of sequel to this fic. I already have some ideas for a Fates fic, but not nearly enough for a fully fleshed out story. The big point is that Jack won't be the center of that fic – it's an entirely different person, with a build that will be very different from Jack's. Jack
will appear in that story, but only a few times at most. Whether this idea grows into a fic or not is something I can only decide in the future. Until then, I want to concentrate on this fic.

Now, onto some reviews:

warrior of six blades: If you're referring to Maria the Grimm reaper from the RWBY series, then you're…quite spot on. Though I imagine Jack's garment to be a deeper shade of purple. Somewhere close to the color of the Reaper Cloth from the Pokémon series. As for the true identity of his opponent, weeell…
That'll be revealed in a future chapter XD

Guest reviewer: Thanks. Though, to be fair, that reference is probably one of Donnel's most famous memes.

Anonymous: Boy, do I have plans for the future children. Jack's interactions with Lucina so far barely even scratches the surface of his relationship with the 2nd-gen Shepherds. And don't worry. I already have a travel route planned out that should go smoothly.

LegacySpellsword: Heh. Jack won't learn the style of his mystery opponent – at least not the conventional way. Besides, he's busy learning a different fighting style, and it's closely tied to something revealed here.

Do you have any idea how insufferable life is without a mate once you come of age? You humans think you have it bad, spending less than a decade in the thing you call puberty. Try a hundred years. – Nowi


Chapter 11:

A promise kept

POV: Jack

Ha! Their reactions are priceless! Frederick's gob smacked face in particular. Ah, what I wouldn't give for a camera right now…

"B-but how?" Chrom asks in a shaken voice.

"Hm? How, what?"

"You look so much older than when I saw you last time. What happened to you, Jack?"

I snap my fingers. "Oh, that. Well, turns out time flows at different rates within the Outrealms. Each world has its own pace. As it turns out, the flow of time in this world is slower than most worlds I've been to during my journey."

I indicate myself with a flourish. "As you can see, this resulted in me aging faster than you guys. The aging varied depending on which world I was in, of course, but all in all, I've technically traveled for three years before I returned here."

"Were you aware of this when you started your journey?" Fredrick asks.

I shake my head. "No. It came as a surprise for me when I first discovered this. In fact, the change in the flow of time threw off my own sense of time. I had to ask for references in order to learn how much time had passed in this realm when I returned."

"Speaking of which, how did your journey go?" Chrom interjects.

I place a hand on my flexing bicep with a grin. "It was awesome! I'm better than ever and ready for action. Speaking of which…" I take a knee once more. "Reporting for duty, Captain Chrom."

Chrom smiles fondly at my action. "At ease, Jack. And…it's good to have you back."

I barely have time to rise from my kneeling position when Nowi glomps me from behind.

"This is great! Just wait 'til you meet everyone else. We've missed you, Jack."

I laugh lightly as I pat her on the head. "And I've missed you too, Nowi. But there's one person that I've been looking forward to meet again more than anyone else."

Nowi tilts her head to the side curiously (still adorable). "Are you talking about who I think you're talking about?"

I nod and face the people in front of me. "When did any of you last see Robin?"

"I believe she is in her office." Frederick replies. "Ever since the war against Plegia, Robin has been busy managing the soldiers in the Ylissean army. As should be expected. Her Grace herself promoted Robin to the title of grandmaster-at-arms in recognition for her efforts in the war."

I raise an eyebrow. "Huh. Guess congratulations are in order then. Anyone else I should be aware of?" Now that I take a closer look, Chrom's armor does look fancier. A quick Observe tells me that, yep, he's been promoted to Great Lord. Though I wonder how well the Fire Emblem serves as a shield. I mean, it's a sacred artifact. That kind of stuff usually isn't meant for taking hits on the battlefield – or ever for that matter.

Phila nods at my question. "Most of the Shepherds have been promoted in recognition of their war efforts. Those who were not, typically declined on their own volition in favor of pursuing different avenues as soldiers."

So, in short, they settled for Second Seals. Gotta have a look for myself sometime soon. But enough about that. I've got a love life to manage.

I gently pry Nowi off my back and raise my cowl over my head again. "Well, speaking with you all has been most refreshing, but I have urgent business to take care of." I bow to everyone, Emmeryn in particular. "By your leave."


It takes some searching before I notice the familiar signature behind a door. There's no doubt about it. This is her office. I reach for the doorknob, only to hesitate just shy of grabbing it. It's been months since we last saw each other. Does she…still feel the same for me as she did when we parted ways?

I shake my head at my own cowardice. For crying out loud, she's the main reason I returned in the first place! Course of action decided, I knock on the door tentatively.

"Come in." is heard through the door. Alright, here goes nothing. I grab hold of the knob, twist, and push.

There she is. Seated by a desk and going through more documents than I have probably handled over the course of my education. I notice a few changes in her appearance. For one, her hair clips are gone in favor of tying her hair in a ponytail, save for two bangs hanging at the front and framing her face. Second, I notice that her coat is a lot more decorated than I remember – a telltale sign of her promotion to the Grandmaster class and a testament of her hard work.

Robin raises her head and looks at me curiously. Even as I appear calm on the surface while walking towards her, my insides feel like they're twisting into themselves from sheer nervousness.

BGM: Homecoming, Naruto Shippuden OST

"Can I help you?" she asks.

"…I have come to retrieve a certain object and fulfill a promise I made long ago." I reply. "It's a most…personal matter."

The Grandmaster (Dang, I feel proud of her!) raises an eyebrow. "I fail to see how I can help you with that. Especially since I don't even know what you're referring to."

"Oh, but you do." I answer and point at her. "What I am referring to is the medallion hanging around your neck."

Robin's eyes widen. "Wait… How do you know about that? Who are you?" she asks as she gets up from her chair and circles her desk.

"Simple." I reply as I reach for my cowl. "I'm the one who gave you that medallion in the first place."

Robin stands stunned as the sight of my face. A few tentative seconds later, she clears the last few steps between us and hugs me.

"You're back…" she whispers with tears escaping her eyes. "You're finally back."

I smile as I return the hug. "I told you I would return."

Robin buries her face in my chest. "I've missed you so much."

"As have I you. There were many times during my journey when I was close to give up. The only thing that kept me going was the knowledge that you were waiting for me."

I slip out from the embrace and take a step back. "The time has come for me to fulfill the promise I made to you all those months ago. I realized that I never got to do this properly."

I reach into my robe, pull out a small velvet box and take a knee before her. "So I wish to ask you clearly."

Robin gasps as she sees the contents of the box – a silver ring with a rose on top, fashioned from the same material, and with an emerald fitted into the petals.

"Robin, will you marry me?"

Robin pulls me into a deep kiss before she gives me a smile full of tears. "Yes! All of my yes!"

Seeing her cry so happily for my sake, and knowing her love for me has remained as unchanged as mine for her, makes tears of my own well up in my eyes. As they begin to fall, I bring Robin into an embrace and hold her tight.

"I'm home…" I declare with my voice cracking from emotion. "I'm finally home…"

BGM ends


Quest alert:
Side quest: Outrealm traveler
After a long and arduous period of time, you've finally completed your journey. You've grown stronger, wiser and, thankfully, your sanity is somehow still intact (debatable). Yet as great a many sights you've seen in your travels, there is truly no place like home. After all, that's where the heart is. Welcome home.
Objective: Travel the Outrealms
Objective cleared!
Rewards: You gain 5 000 EXP! You gain 1 000 gold!


My smile is goofy. I don't care. I just proposed to the love of my life (again), and she accepted wholeheartedly. We've just arrived back at the Shepherds' barracks to share the good news. Right as we arrive, we meet Sully. Her armor reveals her promotion to the Paladin class, and she wears it with obvious pride.

"Well, look who finally decided to show up." the Paladin greets with a grin upon seeing me.

I return the grin with my own. "Good to see you again, Sully. How have things been while I was away? By the way, congratulations on the promotion."

"Hey, you never congratulated me." Robin huffs from my right.

I give my fiancée (I'm the happiest man alive!) a flat stare. "In my defense, I was busy proposing and rejoicing over your acceptance to focus on that tidbit. And honestly, what matters to me is that you're still you. Promoted or not, I love you all the same."

Robin smiles at me. "Oh, you…"

Sully rolls her eyes at our interaction. "Well, looks like you two finally decided to tie the knot. About d-mn time. Robin's had her head among the clouds while you were off to who-knows-where whenever she wasn't busy bein' the head tactician and stuff."

I hug Robin and give her an affectionate smile. "You had it as bad as me? You never told me."

Robin's smile turns affectionate as well. "I tried, but then the whole proposal happened. But now you're here, and I'm not letting you go."

Sully snaps her fingers near our faces. "Hey, lovebirds! I'm still here."

We turn our heads to her while still in the embrace.

"You two got it bad, I get it! But Jack, if you wanna catch up with everyone, you've gotta focus on stuff other than your fiancée."

"Speaking of which, where are the others?" I ask.

"You'll find 'em all over the place. Gettin' promoted ain't just fanfare and fancy parties. Many who got promoted also got an important station to manage, and that takes responsibility. Take Robin for example. Her promotion basically made her top dog in Ylisse's army."

Yeah, Robin's awesome.

"And how about you?" I ask the Paladin.

A smile with a hint of sadism grows on Sully's face. "Me? I've taken over Frederick's job of trainin' the new recruits in the army. Big guy still visits from time to time for his fanatical fitness hour." She shakes her head in exasperation. "D-mn bozos think they're hot stuff before I drag 'em through initiation. Eight outta ten quit after the first day. Buncha pansies, I tell ya."

I sweatdrop at hearing about Sully's new duty. It was bad enough when Frederick roped the standing army into his fanatical fitness hour during war times. Having the only Shepherd who genuinely enjoys that hellish workout routine train the new recruits means Sully will either turn the Ylissean army into the strongest in the world, or have it die out because no sane person can handle the strain.

I said sane. These are the Shepherds we're talking about. The only thing stopping us from being branded a bunch of madmen/women is the fact that we actually get stuff done, including ending an entire war and marching through a desert just to prevent the execution of the most benevolent ruler ever.

"Yyyeah… Cool…" I reply hesitant. "Any idea where I can find the others? I do want to catch up, after all."

Before Sully can answer, we hear neighing of a horse. We turn to notice Stahl arrive. Unlike last time, the man in green has a lot more armor on his body. Heck, even his horse wears armor. All of it points towards the dude being promoted to Great Knight. Dang. Stahl takes hits like a tank and dishes out punishment like one too, and that's as a Cavalier. As a Great Knight? He's practically a mobile fortress equipped with battering rams!

"Heya, Stahl. Back already?" Sully greets.

The green Great Knight waves in return and approaches us with his horse in tow. "Hi, Sully. We managed to finish up early, so I got back to the capital faster than expected."

That's when he takes note of me.

"Well, looks who's back. It's great to see you again, Jack!"

I accept Stahl's offered hand. "Same here, Stahl. Looking good. Like the armor."

Before our conversation can take off, we're approached by Vaike.

"Stahl! About time ya got back! Panne's been antsy these last few days, and no one knows how to calm her down."

The green Great Knight's eyes widen when he hears that. "Oh no, she's in heat!"

I raise an eyebrow. "Heat?"

Stahl nods. "Panne is…very in tune with her instincts. Turns out taguel mate on a cycle based on the moon. That's one of the reasons why I wanted to get back to the capital so early – the full moon's coming up tonight. And when that happens, Panne needs me, or else she'll go stir crazy."

"And you know this because…?"

A smile grows on his face. "She's my wife. Of course I need to know this sort of thing."

With that, Stahl runs off from the palace grounds. "See you in a week!"

I'm pretty sure my jaw hangs loose after hearing that. Hoping to find answers, I turn back to Sully.

"Panne and Stahl are a thing?"

The Paladin nods. "Yup. Took us by surprise when Stahl dropped the news on us. I've never seen 'im as a man of initiative, but d-mn, if he wasn't driven when he changed the whole menu just so our resident rabbit could join us for supper. And then Stahl just up and proposes, only for Panne to accept."

Huh. Guess Stahl's one of those people who only get in gear when it's something they're passionate about.

"But seriously… A whole week?" I ask skeptically. "How do they even manage that?"

Sully shrugs. "Turns out Panne doesn't care about soldier's pay, so she's struck a deal with Chrom. Instead of being payed in gold, Panne and Stahl get extra leave every month so Stahl can keep her under wraps until the whole heat thing blows over." Sully chuckles fondly. "By the time they get back, Stahl always has bags under his eyes."

Yikes… That's gotta be one wild week.

"Well, if it ain't our favorite Shepherd from another world!" Vaike greets as he reaches us. "Long time no see, Jack, buddy. This place has been too quiet without Teach's greatest student."

I roll my eyes at Vaike's greeting. Same old Vaike. "Happy to see you too, Vaike."

Hmm… His garb looks different, though. "If I remember correctly, that's a Barbarians clothing, right?"

The blond man nods. "Sure is. Felt like a good idea to explore axe wielding from another angle. Broaden your horizons, or what they call it nowadays."

"Huh. And here I thought you'd get promoted. I mean, you fought hard in the war too, didn't you?"

Vaike scratches the back of his head. "Yeah, sure, but I didn't want to leave the others in the dust. Gotta keep pace with everyone so they don't feel overwhelmed with the Vaike's greatness."

Sully snorts. "Pfft. As if. The only good things ya did in the war was take a few hits and return it twice over. Good for a soldier, but nowhere good enough in Chrom's book to get'cha promoted. So he had to settle for changing roles instead. Not that this one's any different from the last one."

A tic mark grows on Vaike's head. "Hey, back me up here, Sully! I thought you were on my side!"

"Well, tough luck, love. No husband of mine's gonna advance in the ranks until he's d-mn well earned it. Which reminds me; ten laps around the palace grounds-"

"Can do!" Vaike replies confidently.

"-with my horse chasin' after ya!" the Paladin finishes. Vaike doesn't looks so confident anymore.

"Uh… Can still do, but I might need some time to, you know, warm up…"

Sully nods with a knowing smirk. "Sure thing. Just make sure you finish up soon, or no supper for you."

"WHAT?! Sully, you can't do this to me!"

"If you have time to whine, you have time to run. Now, mush!"

I sweatdrop again as I see Vaike do a few stretches before he runs towards the walls surrounding the palace. Two seconds later, Sully's horse comes barreling out from the stables in full gallop. I'm genuinely impressed. I only got to witness it for a moment, but Vaike looked like he kept pace with that horse before both vanished out of sight.

"So… You and Vaike, huh?" I ask Sully after I get over my momentary shock.

The red Paladin nods with a smile. "Yep. Didn't even see it coming first, but, h-ll, after all he did to earn my respect, I figured he'd be the only man around that I could even consider marrying. So, I accepted."

My word… With parents like those, Kjelle will hit like a truck. Also, those two actually form a cool couple.

"I suppose congratulations are in order."

"Thanks."

"By the way, any idea where I can find the others?"

Sully shrugs. "They've spread out, last time I checked. We generally stay within the palace grounds, but, well, this is a big place. Ya might wanna search thoroughly if you wanna find everyone."

I nod. "Yeah, I'll do just that – after I've settled back in my room."

"I suppose this is where we part ways then." Robin comments. "I've still got my duties as grandmaster to fulfill."

I turn and smile at Robin. "I'll see you later then. How does supper together sound?"

My fiancée smiles back. "That sounds lovely."

She leans in for a quick kiss on my cheek before she departs. "Love you."

I wave back as my smile turns goofy. "Love you back…"

"D-mn." Sully comments. "I'd tell you two to get a room, but I guess that's outta the question until the wedding."

I nod at her remark. "Yeah. As much as I want her, I'd like to hold back on the physical part until we're officially husband and wife."

I turn to the barracks. "Well, I'm getting settled back in my old room before I look for the others. Was nice talking with you again, Sully."

"Don't mention it. If anything, we're happy to have ya back. Oh, and you might notice that the place is more or less spotless. Frederick made it a point to clean your room every day in waiting for your return."

The guy cleaned my room everyday for nine months straight? Dang. And here I thought he couldn't get any more dedicated.


As I enter my room and look around, I notice that it looks exactly the same as I remember it on the day I departed for the Outrealms. The furniture sits in the exact same position, everything's as empty as when I left, and, as Sully told me, the place is practically spotless. I'd better make a note to thank Frederick for his hard work. Adding cleaning of my room into the endless mix of his daily tasks sounds more tiring than his routine already is.

Seeing as I'm checking my closet (which I don't even seem to need due to my slim selection of clothing), I get the chance to take in my appearance for the first time since I returned to Ylisse.

For starters, I've grown significantly taller. Whereas before I stood at 167 cm (or 5 ft 6 inches), I now stand at a solid 175 cm (or 5 ft 9 inches). While I managed to retain a slim build, the muscles on my body are tight and distinct, giving me the body of an athlete.

As for clothing, most of my body is covered in the purple robe I picked up during my travels. I still wear chain mail underneath it for extra protection. For my hands, I've settled for a pair of fingerless gray gloves with metal plates on the back. The boots on my feet have been switched out for a new pair. These new boots are meant to handle my fast-paced movements in battle, since continuous use of Gale step is murder on any pair of conventional boots.

My hair's grown significantly as well. Not only does it reach almost to my shoulders, it's grown spiky in the process. Thankfully, my hair consistently grows backwards and stays out of my face.

If I didn't know any better, one look in the mirror would make me think Axel from Kingdom Hearts decided to color his hair black and wear brown contact lenses. And just for the heck of it, I tap my temple with a smirk.

"The name's Jack. Got it memorized?"

I bet that'll make for a good first introduction. Or an embarrassing one. Better work on my entrance first.

Ugh… And I'm planning this even before we recruit Cynthia.


The air itself feels sinister when I open the door to Tharja's workshop. Every window in the room is sealed shut, letting only the candles inside provide light. My eyes eventually adjust to the dim lighting. That's when I notice Tharja sitting at a desk and reading a thick tome. Our resident expert on dark magic takes note of me and rises from her seat with a (by her standards) happy smile.

"Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes. It's been far too long, Jack."

I scratch the back of my head. "Um, yeah… Likewise, Tharja."

I had hoped to avoid this conversation, but Tharja's one of us. That means she deserves to know of my return just as much as the next Shepherd.

A quick look at her clothing shows that she's been promoted to Sorcerer. In a way, it's fitting. The only Shepherd – present and future – who would delve deeper into the dark arts than her would be Henry, and that guy's probably off having fun times with the crows right about now.

"You know, things have been awfully dull ever since you left." Tharja tells me as she approaches with a subtle sway in her hips. Great. She's got it as bad for me as always. And I doubt telling her that I'm engaged to Robin will actually dissuade her from trying anything.

"Oh? Care to share?" I ask, hoping for anything to distract her.

The Sorcerer shrugs. "Nothing much, really. Most of the Shepherds got promoted, some got married, including me."

That makes my thoughts screech to a halt. "Hold on. You're married? To whom?"

"That would be me, Buttercup."

Gaius seemingly melts out of the shadows in the room, clothed in an Assassin's cloak and with his ever-present lollipop sticking out from his mouth.

"'Sup. Been awhile. Looking good there."

"I could say the same to you." I reply with a smile. "So, how exactly did the two of you end up together?"

The Assassin shrugs. "Funny story there. Tharja here tries some hexes, I dodge 'em like the pro I am. She tries a few more, I still dodge them. Then she switches it up by casting a hex that makes me see her as attractive. She lifts the spell, and I still find her attractive. So I popped the question, and we got hitched."

He just summarized their support conversations in less than a minute. Seems legit.

"You're no Jack, and you're certainly no Robin, but you've become a man I can appreciate." Tharja comments. "I suppose that's good enough for me. Even I realize finding a man who sees me for me and genuinely cares for me is difficult at best." A small, genuinely affectionate smile grows on her lips as she caresses Gaius's cheek. "That's what I love the most about you, Gaius."

Gaius smiles back as he leans his face ever so slightly against Tharja's palm. "Hey, you're the one who made me realize how much I like you. I'm still trying to figure this whole marriage thing out, but I do know the most important part is showing that I love you."

"I feel the same…" Tharja replies. "I'd better make sure to return the favor tonight. Candles or hexes?"

The Assassin's smile turns into a smirk. "Why not both?"

Tharja's smile turns sultry as she cups his other cheek and brings their faces close. "Oh, you tease."

I feel like I'm intruding on one of their moments. And it might just be my imagination, but it sounds like they're into some pretty kinky stuff. Better vacate the room ASAP. Before I do, however, Gaius slips from his wife's hands and faces me.

"So, I take it you're going around and catching up to everybody, Buttercup?"

I nod. "Yeah. Tharja's workshop was the closest, so I decided to check here first."

"Aw, that's so sweet of you, paying little ol' me a visit first." Tharja purrs. "But it would be such a shame for you to leave so soon. Why not stay a little longer? I promise to be a very good hostess."

I slowly back away from the Sorcerer and towards the door. "Well, as generous as that sounds, I think I'll pass. Was nice seeing you again, Tharja. Hey, Gaius, think you can help me find some of the other Shepherds?

Gaius nods. "Sure thing. Follow me. See you later, honey."

Tharja sends me a look that should honestly be for bedchambers only. "You know where to find me, Jack. I'll always have time for you."


After Gaius and I left the Sorcerer's workshop and made sure we're well out of earshot, I turn to the Assassin with freaked out eyes.

"What the heck!? She married you, for crying out loud! Why does she still sound like she's after me?!"

Gaius shrugs. "Guess she never really got over it. Trust me, it's not as bad as it used to be. At this point, it's mostly force of habit."

Deciding to leave that creepy topic be, I direct my attention to Gaius's garb.

"So, I noticed you and your wife got promoted. Congrats on that."

Gaius idly pops a bonbon into his mouth. "Thanks. I'm still kinda surprised with how it turned out. See, Tharja and I don't exactly dab into…clean stuff. My work entails espionage, scouting, and, if necessary, assassination. As for Tharja… Well, Ylisse has never been known to teach much about the dark arts. That may change with her in charge."

"Tharja's teaching dark magic?" I ask surprised.

"She's more like the leading authority. You won't find anyone else in the halidom who knows more about that dark stuff than her, so Emmeryn allowed her to keep up her research as much as she likes – within reasonable limits, of course." A fond smile grows on his face. "You should've seen the fit she threw when she learned there's something called "ethical guidelines" when you conduct research."

Yep, sounds like Tharja, all right.

"Specs had to show her the ropes regarding that. Took about a month or two before Tharja got it down. A funny side effect is that she's gotten nicer in the process. A little bit."

I raise an eyebrow. "Specs?"

"You know, the redhead who experiments on just about everything. Really good with magic, too. Emotional like a rock."

"Oh, you mean Miriel?"

"Got it in one. Speaking of which, this is her workshop."

Whereas Tharja's workshop felt sinister and creepy, Miriel's feel focused – like walking into a library. The only sounds we hear is the bubbling from a few beakers containing Naga-knows-what kinds of liquids, as well as the telltale sounds of a quiver gliding over parchment.

A little further in, we spot our resident scientist in all her academic glory, writing in a notebook with enough focus to block out all else around her.

That is, until she blinks and looks up to see me and Gaius. A small smile shows on her face.

"Ah, back at last. I take it your journey taught you much, Jack."

"Sure did." I answer with a matching smile. "And it looks like I'm far from the only one who learned more during my absence. I take it you were promoted to Sage." Well, Miriel's new robes kind of give it away.

"Indeed I was." the redhead replies. "I was granted the title of head researcher upon my promotion. With my new title, I can oversee the research of scholars from across the halidom while contributing with my own." Her smile returns, this time a bit wider. "A heavy responsibility, but one I find most fulfilling."

I raise an eyebrow. "Hold on, I thought Tharja was the lead researcher on dark magic."

"Let me explain, Buttercup." Gaius interjects. "It's true that Tharja's the biggest expert on dark magic in Ylisse, but that's because that's her field. What Specs here does is organize everything that Tharja and her fellow researchers find in their work and put everything together. Did I get that right, Specs?"

Miriel nods. "Yes. As such, it is of utmost importance that I keep continuous correspondence with my fellow researchers, so that we may be able to cross-reference each other's work and determine which studies yield valid results and which that do not."

At that moment, the Sage reaches out and seemingly pulls a stack of papers out of thin air.

"Thank you, Kellam." Miriel says smiling.

I blink. Kellam's here? Where-

"*Ahem!* I said: It's good to see you Jack."

"Yikes! Kellam?! When did you get here?!"

Seriously! One moment he's not there, the next moment: Boom! He's right in front of me! How? He wasn't this stealthy when I last saw him!

Wait… His clothes are different. He hardly wears any armor. In fact, his clothing more leans towards…

"Kellam? Did you change to become a Thief?" I ask.

The newly minted Thief nods. "Yes. I did so after discussing things with Miriel."

Miriel, in turn, adjusts her glasses. "While studying Kellam's uncanny ability to vanish from everyone's perception and remain undetected, even when he wishes to be seen, I entertained the thought of what would happen, should Kellam take on a role that specializes in stealth."

Gaius nods. "And that's where I come into the picture. Specs asked me to train Ghost in stealth some time after you left." The Assassin chews on the stick of his lollipop in mild agitation. "Imagine my surprise at how good he got at hiding after just a couple of lessons. I've honed my skills for years, but this guy? He's a natural."

I raise an eyebrow and turn to Kellam (at least, I think he's standing in that direction). "Let me get this straight. Miriel and Gaius helped you turn the strangest part of your skillset into your greatest asset."

The Thief nods with a smile. "Yes. Instead of trying to be seen, now I'm trying to remain hidden from everyone. Once I started trying, I found it to be much easier than trying to be noticed."

"But I thought you wanted help in being easier to spot because you didn't like being missed." I counter concerned.

Kellam shakes his head. "Not anymore. I now know that if anyone truly cares for me, they'll learn to spot the signs of when I'm nearby. Miriel helped me realize that."

A small blush spreads over his face. "And when I did, I also realized how much she means to me. We eventually got married."

Huh… Well, color me surprised. I knew they'd get along well, but things might've gone smoother between them than I thought.

"Well, congratulations. For both of you, that is."

"Why, thank you." Miriel replies. "It may have been an unforeseen side effect, but a bond developed between Kellam and I while I studied him – a bond that led up to his proposal. It might be too early to make this statement, but our marriage may be the greatest scientific undertaking that I will engage in during my entire life." A blushing smile grows on the Sage's face. "One that I will carry out happily."

Yeah, these two are great together. They just…fit.


After parting with Miriel and Kellam, I decided to walk around the palace grounds some more, just to kill some time. Let's see… I've met up with Nowi, Emmeryn, Chrom, Frederick, Phila, Robin, Sully, Vaike, Stahl, Tharja, Gaius, Miriel and Kellam. That still leaves quite a few Shepherds left on my list. Heck, some meetings were so short, I hardly had any time to catch up with them properly. I might need another day or so before I'm done reconnecting with everyone.

"Hup! Hyah! Yah!"

Hm? That came from the sparring area near the Shepherds' barracks.

As I reach said area, the first thing I note is Frederick sparring with a young Fighter. Not only is that guy quite buff, he wields his training axe with surprising skill. Wait a minute… I only know of one person in the entire halidom who runs around with a brass pot on his head!

"Donnel? Is that you?"

The Fighter turns in my direction and reveals that, yep, it's Donnel.

Dear Naga, that guy's grown like a weed while I was away. He was a scrawny kid when I left, but now? The former Villager can easily compete with Chrom in sheer muscle mass, and it looks like he's not even done growing!

"Howdy, Jack! Boy, am I glad ta see you back here again!" the village boy greets.

"Um… Hi. Uh… You've grown…stronger."

"Ya think?" Donnel asks while looking at his arms. Dang, Vaike better step it up if he still wants to brag about his muscles. Donnel's becoming serious competition.

I give Donnel a flat stare. "Yes. Yes, I do. Seriously, what kind of training did you go through while I was away?"

"I can answer that question." Frederick interjects. "As per our agreement prior to your departure, I oversaw Donnel's training. While somewhat lacking in skill and strength at first, Donnel was quickly brought up to speed and met the qualifications for being promoted to a proper soldier. What you see here is the fruit of his hard work these last nine months."

I direct my flat stare towards the Great Knight. "Tell me, Frederick. How many rounds of your fanatical fitness hour did you drag this poor guy through before he got like this?"

"About a dozen." Frederick replies with a straight face. "It took some work, but once Donnel came into his own, his aptitude as a soldier shone through. I have never trained a more capable protégé." The last sentence was said with some pride leaking through.

"Aw, thanks, Frederick, sir." Donnel replies with a happy smile. "I first thought I wasn't cut out fer this whole soldier thingy. Heck, if it wasn't for Nowi, I'd have given up long ago."

I sigh exasperated. "Frederick, this is why Chrom and the others insist you should hold back on your training program. Not everyone can survive your fanatical fitness hour."

"I fail to see how that is a valid point." the Great Knight replies. "In fact, I've recently considered making a double extravaganza version of my fitness hour. Double the time, double the exercises, twice the intensity."

"Pass." both me and Donnel reply with twin deadpan stares.

Frederick almost looks offended. "Come now, the results should speak for themselves. Did you two not grow significantly stronger after a few sessions of my training regimen?"

I shake my head. "Frederick, you only grow stronger from training if you actually survive it. Trust me, that extravaganza thing would send us to an early grave."

If I didn't know any better, I could swear Frederick's pouting. "Mark my words, Jack. This is an opportunity neither of you want to pass up. As you can see, Donnel training under my watch has yielded tremendous results."

At that moment, Nowi glomps the new Fighter from behind. "And now my hubby's all big and buff. Thanks, Frederick!"

Frederick nods. "It pleases me that at least someone here appreciates my efforts. Of course, I shall bring up this proposal with milord first."

Come to think of it… Frederick's here. But where's his other half?

"Oh, you're finally back!"

We turn our heads to see Sumia run to us. Huh. Her armor's darker than I remember. Is that- Yep, she's been promoted to Dark Flier. Though…I wonder why.

"Whoops!"

Just when it looks like she's going to trip, Frederick's there in the blink of an eye and catches her.

"Oh, thank you, Frederick." the Dark Flier tells him with a smile of adoration.

Frederick shakes his head with a fond smile of his own.

"Honestly, Sumia, it amazes me how you are still prone to tripping. Perhaps we should take up your running training again."

Sumia nods. "That sounds like a good idea. I could use some extra running."

Then she turns to me. "More importantly, I'm so happy to see you again, Jack."

I smile back at her. "The feeling's mutual, Sumia. How have things been since I left?"

Sumia responds by reaching behind her breastplate and shows me a ring around a thin necklace.

"Frederick proposed to me a few days after my promotion. We've been married for around four months, and it's wonderful!"

"Nice. By the way, did you get assigned some duty upon that promotion?"

Sumia nods happily. "Yes. I'm in charge of taking care of the stables together with Ricken. Taking care of all those animals together is so much fun." A contemplative look forms on her face. "I just don't understand why people would shy away from such a duty. I love it, and so does Ricken."

Leave it to the resident animal lovers to take care of the stables. Though I wonder how they'll handle things when Minerva moves in. Based on Ricken's supports with Cherche, the little guy might be in trouble if left alone with the wyvern.

"That's nice and all… Except I never pegged you for a Dark Flier." I comment.

Sumia fidgets and averts her eyes. "Well… About that…"

"It should not come as a surprise once you get to know her more intimately." Frederick interjects. "She may not look like it, but Sumia has some…slightly violent tendencies. Heavily repressed, of course."

Sumia sends her husband a betrayed look. "Frederick, how could you?!"

"It is only for the good of everyone that we let them know, my love. I really should have known better than to let you finish that final volume of "Tales of a bloodthirsty Falcon Knight"."

Sumia pouts with tears forming in her eyes. "You can be really mean when you want to, you know that?"

"I do what I must."

While the Great Knight and the Dark Flier have their brief marital spat, I turn to Nowi and Donnel.

"So, I see you got promoted to Fighter." I remark while looking at Donnel's gear.

The former farmboy nods. "Yup. Outta the options I was given, this just felt right. Helps that I'm good with an axe."

Nowi gives a bright smile. "And as an added bonus, my Donnel shows a lot of skin. All those muscles, fully on display!"

Donnel blushes while I sweatdrop at Nowi's comment. This is my adorable sister figure from nine months ago?

"That's what you're concerned about?" I ask the manakete with a flat look.

"Of course it is." Nowi huffs. "Do you have any idea how insufferable life is without a mate once you come of age? You humans think you have it bad, spending less than a decade in the thing you call puberty. Try a hundred years."

A hundred- Okay, when she puts it that way, it kind of makes sense.

"Dang…"

"Exactly."


Seeing as Frederick and Sumia will be busy with their squabble for a while longer and Nowi will be busy snuggling up to Donnel, I decide to check the stables next. Just as I thought, I find Ricken in there, tending to Stahl's horse.

"There you go, boy. Now, off with you and get some fodder."

The horse snorts before he obeys the boy and walks to his part of the stables.

"Looking good, Ricken." I greet the little guy.

Ricken turns around and smiles upon seeing me.

"Jack! You're finally back. This is great!"

"Heard from Sumia you're taking care of the stables together with her."

Ricken nods. "Yep. I've always been good with forest animals, so stable duty felt like a natural choice."

A nearby horse starts to nuzzle the little guy.

"Hey, cut that out, Reinhardt." Ricken protests laughing.

"Hold on… Whose horse is that?" I ask. "And why in the world is it named "Reinhardt"?"

"Oh, he's mine." Ricken replies. "After I got promoted, I knew I'd need a good horse. Finding him was pretty much a stroke of good luck."

Now that I take a closer look, Ricken's definitely promoted to a Dark Knight. So, he named his horse after one of the most powerful Dark Knights to ever live in this world? In a way, I suppose it's fitting.

"What made you choose the path of a Dark Knight?" I ask him. "I know you're good with animals, but I never pegged you for a person who rides with them into battle."

Ricken scratches the back of his head. "Eh heh heh… It was mostly so I don't have to hitch a ride on L'Arachel if I want to stay close to Maribelle. Gotta make sure my wife is safe and all that."

"Oh, you're married now? Congrats."

"Thanks."

"Ricken? Who are you talking to- Oh!"

Ricken and I turn and find Maribelle at the stable entrance. Wouldn't you know it, she's promoted to Valkyrie.

"Nice seeing you again Maribelle." I greet the blonde. "Congratulations on getting married."

"Why, thank you, Jack." Maribelle replies with a curtsy. "I see you have changed significantly during the course of your journey as well."

I nod. "Oh, definitely. I'm ready for action whenever."

"Please don't say that." Maribelle replies frowning. "As Shepherds, our first and foremost duty is to protect the people of Ylisse. There will be no fighting unless an outside party makes the first strike. Do I make myself clear?!"

I wave off her answer. "Yeah, got it."

Maribelle sighs. "Well, I suppose I should feel reassured that you're at the very least motivated. While the peace has been enjoyable, I feel like morale just isn't what it was back during the war. Some people around here almost seem…slothful. Like they have lost the fire that comes with battling against hardship."

"I thought that's what we have Frederick for." I counter with a raised eyebrow.

"Indeed we do, but he cannot oversee the entire halidom."

"Shh! Don't give him any ideas!"

The Valkyrie rolls her eyes. "Oh, come now. Surely you don't believe Frederick would actually attempt to steward the entire halidom, just because someone suggested that the people are growing complace-" A look of horror grows on Maribelle's face. "Oh gods… Oh gods, he would."

Just to be safe, I pulse a quick Mind's eye. Nope, the Great Knight is somewhere else. Probably still with Sumia.

"It's okay. He's out of earshot." I assure the married couple. All three of us take a moment to release a relieved sigh.

"So, I take it you were appointed some important duty upon your promotion?" I ask Maribelle after everyone's heartrate stabilized.

"Well, sort of." Maribelle answers. "As the heiress of the duke of Themis and Ricken's wife, our houses will no doubt share very close ties in the future. In fact, this may help me immensely in the pursuit of my goal."

"Which is…?"

"I wish to become a magistrate, Jack. One who brings justice and equality to all, irrespectively of the circumstances of their birth. Of course, reaching such an esteemed title is no small feat. I have much work ahead of me if I ever wish to attain that goal. Thankfully, my chances of reaching it will grow, if I am backed by Ricken's family."

"And I'd be more than happy to support her." Ricken adds smiling. "Maribelle has what it takes to become a great magistrate, I just know it."

"Thank you, my love."

Considering the social gaps between commoners and nobles in these kinds of societies, Maribelle's vision might be just what the people needs. Emmeryn may be a benevolent ruler, but she can't handle everything at once.

"Well, for what it's worth, you have my backing too." I state. "Sure, we got off on the wrong foot when we first met, but I know now that you're a genuinely kind and earnest person. Just remember: Power corrupts. So long as you remember your time with us Shepherds, I think you'll do great."

"I am well aware of that statement, Jack." Maribelle replies in a no-nonsense tone. "And, thank you. Your advice and support are most appreciated."

The soft neighing of another horse reaches our ears. That's when Virion walks in with a horse in tow. Bow Knight? Yep.

"Ah, greetings. Truly, it is a joyous day to be reunited with a long-lost comrade once more."

"Happy to see you too, Virion." I greet back. "So, you got a horse too?"

"Indeed." The Bow Knight answers. "Allow me to introduce my faithful companion on the battlefield, the steadiest of steeds: Innes."

The horse itself snorts and seems to stand as proudly as his master. Seeing those two stand side by side looks oddly comical. Like master, like mare.

"Innes, huh? After the Sniper prince from the theocracy of Rausten?" I ask.

"The very same." Virion replies with a proud smile and pats his horse. "Only the name of one of the noblest of archers in history fits my dear companion. He wears the name with pride, and I can assure you, I will do the noble prince justice with my own archery."

"That's an ambitious goal you've set for yourself, Virion." I remark.

"And mark my words, it is one I will fulfill." the Bow Knight counters confidently. "Before that, however, my foremost duty would be securing the happiness of my beloved Olivia."

I raise an eyebrow. "Olivia? The Dancer who helped us during the Plegian war?"

"The very same. She is not only a dancer of marvelous skill, she is also my fiancée."

"What do you know… Congratulations."

"Thank you, my friend. Our wedding is scheduled within two months. You are more than welcome to attend."

"But not in that outfit, Jack." Maribelle interjects. "Those robes are ill-suited for a wedding, and I'll never allow such scandalous garb be seen on my darling Olivia's big day."

I roll my eyes. "Hey, it's not that ba-"

I suddenly find myself staring down the tip of Maribelle's parasol.

"You will submit to my command in this matter. Do. I. Make. Myself. Clear?"

"Yes, ma'am." I answer meekly.


After making a quick escape from the wrathful demoness (read: barely let off the hook after a vicious tongue lashing from Maribelle), I made a return to the palace interior.

No, it doesn't have anything to do with me wanting to get away from the irate Valkyrie.

Okay, maybe a little.

The shuffling of someone stepping over grass catches my attention as I wander the palace gardens. Curious, I take a closer look and discover Olivia, immersed in a dance. While quite different from the dance I saw her perform during our final battle against Gangrel, it's no less mesmerizing.

Hey, this might be a great time to catch up to her (for as little as we interacted).

"Hello, Olivia."

"EEP!"

Wow. She ran…very fast. Yeesh. I know social anxiety can be crippling, but this is just absurd.

"Ah, I see you've met up with my beloved." I hear Virion remark.

I turn to my left and spot the Bow Knight walk up to me.

"Yes, and I somehow scared her away a second later." I reply.

"Ah, that might be because she has yet to grow comfortable with your presence, I believe. After all, when the subject of you came up while you were off traveling, my dear Olivia confessed that she hardly got to know you."

I nod. "I suppose. Still, her running away from me the moment I try to talk with her could get troublesome, since we'll work together in the future and all that. She is still a member of the Shepherds, right?"

"She is." Virion confirms. "Hold a moment. I'll get her here, if you wish to speak with her."

"Please do."

A few minutes later, Virion returns with the shy Dancer.

"So, uh… Hello…" I begin tentatively.

"H-hello. You're…Jack, if I remember correctly." Olivia replies carefully.

I nod with an easy smile. "That's me. We fought side by side during the battle against Gangrel roughly a year ago, remember?"

Olivia nods. "Yes, I recognize you now. You and Lon'qu fought so well together. I've seen his swordsmanship before, and it amazed me that there was someone who could work with him in tandem so easily." A smile grows on her face. "And then there was the time you danced with Robin. It was beautiful."

I scratch the back of my head. "Thanks. Though, honestly, that was mostly me flying by the seat of my pants. I'm still amazed we managed to pull it off so smoothly."

"Yes, Robin told me the same thing. But that only made it more beautiful. Two lovers taking the dancefloor in the spur of the moment and putting on a marvelous display of partner dancing. I sure wouldn't dare do that."

I take a quick glance at Virion and give the Dancer a knowing smile. "Oh, I think you might. At least if your dance partner is a skilled dancer himself. Wouldn't you agree, Virion?"

The Bow Knight catches on and returns my smile. "Why, I agree wholeheartedly. The world deserves to know of your dancing prowess, my love, solo or paired up."

A blush spreads along Olivia's cheeks. "What?! But- But I-"

"Now, now, dear. No need for your usual modesty. Dancing is your forte, and no one may tell you otherwise."

"Oh, thank you, Virion."

D'aaw. Seeing those two interact is the perfect recipe for warm, fuzzy feelings. Virion may be a womanizer until he settles down, but he's also a true gentleman, making him among the best men at making Olivia feel comfortable when talking. Their S-support hits that feeling home.

Well, seeing as the Dancer finally feels comfortable with me around, I might finally get the answer of a question that's been bothering me ever since I first saw her.

"Say, there's something that I've been meaning to ask you for a long time, Olivia."

Olivia blinks as she exits her romantic moment with her fiancée. "Oh? What do you want to ask?"

I point at the air around her. "Why do you sparkle so much?"

AN: No, really. Have any of you noticed how much Olivia's Dancer model sparkles in the battle/dancing screens?

Olivia blinks a few times. "Well, I'm not so sure myself. According to my mother, it's a trait that's been passed down among women in my family for generations."

My eyes widen at her choice of words. There's no way… "Uh, you last name wouldn't happen to be "Armstrong", would it?"

Olivia shakes her head. "No. I wasn't born in a noble family, so I have no family name to speak of." She smiles a few moments later. "Though it does have a nice ring to it. How about it, Virion? If we ever pick up a family name, maybe we should settle for that one?"

Virion rubs his chin in thought. "Well, the idea certainly has merit."

Did I just help in founding the Armstrong family? Does this mean Ylisse will become Amestris in the future? Or…maybe I'm just overthinking it.


Some small talk later, we go our separate ways. I've wandered the palace halls for a few minutes when I meet up with two people I'd hardly considered would stand so close to each other.

"Hey! There you are! I'm so happy to see you again, Jack!" Lissa shouts as she jogs up to me.

"Nice to see you too, Lissa." A quick glance shows that her dress has gotten armored parts on various parts of her body. All points towards the young princess being promoted to War Cleric. "And congratulations on your promotion."

Then I direct my attention to the other person. "Same to you Lon'qu. Looks like you've kept up your training, just like you told me you would. And don't worry. I've trained hard during my journey."

The Myrmidon-turned-Swordmaster nods with a hint of approval. Yup, same old Lon'qu, but now with a whole new degree of badass.

"By the way, you seem unusually comfortable being around Lissa." I remark. "Last time I saw you, women still made you uncomfortable."

Lon'qu scowls and looks away.

"That's because Chrom made him my bodyguard upon promoting him." Lissa explains.

"You need a bodyguard?" I ask surprised.

The War Cleric huffs. "Ever since Gaius caught wind of an assassination plot on me and my siblings, Frederick and Chrom have practically armed themselves to the teeth and made sure both me and Emm are protected at all times. Chrom appointed Lon'qu to be my bodyguard until this whole mess is resolved. The worst part was that neither of us wanted this, but my brother wouldn't have any of that, so we had to stick around each other."

Lon'qu nods. "As uncomfortable as it was at first, this bodyguard duty had the unexpected side effect of helping me grow comfortable around women again."

"Except it only works around me." Lissa counters. "When Maribelle walked up and told you to keep me safe, you almost freaked out."

"She stood too close!" Lon'qu protests indignant.

The princess rolls her eyes. "Oh, please. You always think women stand too close."

"It's not so bad anymore."

"Yeah, with a difference of three inches compared to last month."

I look back and forth as the two continue their banter. A sweatdrop forms on my head as they trade arguments like it's some kind of spar. Huh. Not only does this look like great exposure therapy for Lon'qu, Lissa may well have met her match in banter. Chrom may have thought this arrangement through more than Lissa gives him credit for.

"Well, unless you two are done arguing like an old married couple, I think I'll go look for someone else to catch up with." I tell them flatly.

"Wait, you can't just leave like that!" Lissa shouts indignant. "You didn't JUST train while traveling, right? You must have seen all sorts of places on your journey."

I nod with a smile. "Sure did. Not even an hour into my journey, and I had already reached a place that neither of you could even imagined existed. And that was just the first day."

"Wow! That sounds incredible! I wish I could make a journey like that too!" Lissa gushes happily. Then she blinks and points at something. "By the way, is that a new sword on your back?"

Huh. I was wondering when someone would point it out. I mean, it's pretty big (And not compensation!).

I draw the weapon on my back and present it to the pair. "Lissa, Lon'qu, allow me to present my new go-to weapon; Harvest Moon."

Lon'qu looks at my weapon with visible interest while Lissa practically has stars in her eyes.

"Wow! I've never seen a sword like that."

I smirk and twirl the sword a few times. While in motion, the hilt elongates until it becomes as long as the shaft of a spear and the blade shifts at a 90-degree angle. I place my transformed weapon over my shoulders, now holding it with my left hand instead of my right.

"It's also a scythe." I state proudly.

Lon'qu's interest increases markedly (by his standards) while Lissa gapes in open shock.

"Holy crow! Did your sword just transform?!"

I shrug. "More or less. That's the thing with Harvest Moon. This weapon is designed to be able to shift between being a sword and a scythe whenever I want."

Ah, yes. Harvest Moon, my very own go-to weapon. Maybe not a masterpiece on the same level as divine weapons like Falchion, but I dare say that this weapon is in a league of its own. It took me months to come up with the design, gather the materials needed, and work out the kinks in the transformation mechanisms before it was complete. The hardest part was forging the weapon, due to the amount of detail that went into designing each specific part on the inside to slide into place correctly whenever it transforms. I have no idea how Qrow even got the idea to make a weapon like this himself, while still being able to integrate a gun into the design, but I now have no doubt that the man is at least as much of an engineer as an accomplished huntsman and unrepentant drunk.

On the other hand, gathering the materials was the easy part.


Flashback

MUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDA-

Flashback ends


Lynel hunting. Good times…

Lissa raises an eyebrow. "I get the sword part, but how does the scythe part work?"

I twirl Harvest Moon a few times to shift it back to its sword form and replace it behind my back. "That's for real combat only. Scythes aren't meant for fighting – they're meant for killing." The last part was said with a slight edge. Thankfully, both Lissa and Lon'qu pick up on it.

A smirk grows on Lissa's lips. "Well, you're not the only one who got a new weapon."

That piques my curiosity. "Oh? Do tell."

Lissa reaches behind her back and- Holy dragonstones, that's a big Hammer! As in: the mallet head alone is almost as big as Lissa herself! Where did something that big- Don't tell me she picked up that mallet space trick from Frederick. That's just weird.

What? At least I can explain my case with an enchanted bag. Frederick's mallet space is just pure animé logic!

"Cool, huh?" Lissa asks proudly. "I had this thing custom made after training with Libra and Frederick on how to wield a hammer. I call it: Betty."

I give the War Cleric a flat look. "Betty? Really?"

Lon'qu shakes his head. "Don't ask. Just don't."

I blink as I look at Betty one more time. "Please explain to me why Chrom thinks you need a bodyguard when you've trained to swing that thing around."

"Because Chrom and Frederick are paranoid mother hens who always raise a fuss the moment they think me or Emm are threatened." Lissa huffs. "And by threatened, I mean as little as getting scraped against a branch while walking through a peaceful forest."

Lon'qu nods. "It's true. It actually happened once. Chrom cut down the tree before I could even blink. We later used it to make a new door for the Shepherds' barracks."

Oh, so that's why the door to the barracks seemed to be in such nice condition.

I raise an eyebrow. "Overreact much?"

Lissa sighs. "You don't even know half of it."

One thing that I took note of when with Lissa was that there wasn't any ring around her ring finger. I know the whole assassin thing happens in her supports with Lon'qu, but it doesn't look like they've grown that close. Hmm…


"What's this? Friend is back from traveling?"

I turn around and spot Gregor approach me. Old man looks better than ever. He even wears the signature armor of the Hero class.

"Hey, nice to see you again, Gregor. How have things been while I was away?"

"Gregor do much training. Also, side jobs for filling of purse. Merriment very expensive."

"You've basically been busy training and partying for the last nine months?"

"Yes, very busy training of wee one."

That makes me raise an eyebrow. "I didn't take you for the teaching type."

The middle-aged Hero nods. "Gregor busy with the juggling of training self and training wee Ricken. Young boy want to learn wielding sword."

Oh yeah. Dark Knights use swords as their secondary weapons.

"Ricken show good talent." Gregor states proudly. "He follow Gregor closely and learn from watching. Feels nice for having admiring boy."

"Sounds like you've gotten more generous in my absence." I remark smiling. "Had this been before I left, I would've expected you to charge him a small training fee."

"Oi! Do not be giving wee ones ideas!" Gregor exclaims nervously. "True, Gregor train Ricken for free as acting from kindness, but only one-timing-thing. If always give freebie, Gregor's purse grow empty."

"Yeah, I see what you mean. Guess that explains your side jobs."

As Gregor nods, I notice one of the few Shepherds that I've yet to catch up with – and hardly talked with, for that matter.

"Hey, Libra. You seem well."

"Ah, Jack, how good to see you back again." the War Monk greets back. "When Her Grace told me the news, I had hoped to speak with you as soon as possible. I never did thank you for what you did to save her during the war against Plegia."

I wave it off. "You're welcome. While appreciated, it's not like people haven't thanked me for that before. I mean, I'm apparently a folk hero in Ylisse for accomplishing that feat. There's no shortage of people who appreciate it."

Libra shakes his head. "Yes, you are indeed considered a hero in Ylisse for that, but that is not the entire reason for why I wish to thank you. My reasons are more…personal."

"How personal are we talking here?"

"It is quite simple, really. As a member of the Shepherds, I found that I have more liberty in speaking with Her Grace more often than had I never joined. After the war, the two of us ended up speaking quite often. In time, this developed into friendship." Libra explains happily. "Had you not intervened, I never may have found such a kind friend in Exalt Emmeryn."

"Well, you're welcome, then, Libra."

I address the two of them at the same time. "So, anything else happening while I was gone?"

A grin forms on Gregor's face. "Libra not entirely truthful with befriending. Is very fond of exalt, yes? VERY fond."

A small blush appears on Libra's face as he looks at Gregor indignant. "Wh- Do you even realize what it is you are talking about, Gregor?! I mean- I…"

"I don't hear you deny it, Libra." I comment smirking. "So… You and Emmeryn, huh?"

The blush grows. "Ah, well… I do not deny that Exalt Emmeryn is as beautiful as she is kind… And during the talks we've had, I have indeed grown fonder of her." Libra shakes his head. "But pursuing such a relationship would be foolish. My station is far too low for me to even ask about courting her."

"Friend should not worry over station, no?" Gregor replies with an encouraging smile. "Libra very fond of Emmeryn, and Emmeryn very fond of Libra. Is worthy of trying, yes?"

"I agree with Gregor." I chime in. "Think about it, Libra. The royal family of Ylisse isn't known to put that much weight regarding stations. If they did, many of the current Shepherds wouldn't even be here due to their background, including any of us three. Chrom and Lissa accepted us with open arms, and Emmeryn, in turn, did the same."

Libra shakes his head. "I appreciate you two trying to encourage me, but I still believe it would be an exercise in futility. I mean; me? A simple priest? What chances do I even have with Exalt Emmeryn?"

I smile and indicate behind the War Monk. "Why don't you just ask her?"

Libra freezes up before he slowly turns around – and finds Emmeryn standing behind him, as regal looking as ever and with Phila standing nearby like usual.

"Hello, Libra. I could not help but overhear a bit of the conversation you had with Gregor and Jack, and I believe I heard my name mentioned. Is there something I should know about?"

I may have seen Libra in a hurry before, but I've never seen him outright frightened.

I lightly clap him on the shoulder (which makes him almost jump in fright). "You've got this. Just ask." I whisper in his ear. I then address Gregor. "Gregor, how about you show me some of those moves you used during the war? I've been trying to recreate them during my travels, but it feels like I'm missing something important.

Gregor quickly picks up on my plan and plays along. "Gregor would be happy, but only if friend is paying of fee."

I roll my eyes. "Oh, fine. But no more than 100 gold pieces."

"No no no. Too little. Jack need at least 300 gold pieces for paying of fee, yes?"

"Unacceptable! That's way too high! If you're so intent on twisting my arm, I'm willing to pay you 120, but not a single gold piece higher than that."

"Oi! Friend being cheapskate is bad for business relationship, no? Gregor's purse not as heavy as needing to be. Needs gold for food, yes? Can give small discount, but not lower than 280. Jack in agreement, yes?"

"No, Jack NOT in agreement! You might as well rent a room at the closest tavern in the capital for that amount of money. 140!"

"Friend really make with twisting of Gregor's arm! Any lower, and Gregor too poor for supper! 260!"

And so our haggling act continues until I'm sure we're out of earshot. Now, if only Emmeryn had a way of telling Phila that she's having a private conversation with Libra…


"Think you can have that arranged within three hours?" I ask the kitchen staff.

"Of course! Just leave it to me, young man." the kitchen matron replies cheerfully.

After me and Gregor had finished our little wingman act, we went our separate ways. Gregor had some errands to run in town. As for me, I went to the palace kitchens for some supper arrangements. Even though I've lived within the palace grounds for some time and even visited the kitchens once (while fighting off an assassin), I've never had time to get to know the staff working here. Most importantly, I've never met with the kitchen matron until now; a motherly woman in her early 50's who conducts her work with passion that I normally only see when Gaius and sugar are involved.

I nod at her reply. "Thank you. And I apologize for putting this request in on such short notice."

The middle-aged woman waves off my concerns. "Oh, don't think too much of it, son. I'm more than happy to help arrange this little supper surprise of yours. I can tell this girl means a lot to you." She stares into space dreamily. "*Sigh* To be young again."

Will me and Robin get like that when we reach our 50's? Eh, better leave those thoughts untouched.

"Well… I'll leave it to you, then." I answer and make a hasty exit from the palace kitchens.

Passionate she might be, but being close to her makes it feel like I'm in the presence of a doting mother to the point that it makes me uncomfortable. Sure, she's the kind of woman any home would love to have, but the amount of care she puts into everything she does sometimes feels a bit…overwhelming.

Uncomfortably doting mother figures aside, the arrangements mean I have about three hours to kill before my appointed supper with Robin. What to do, what to do…?

"Ah, so here is where you are."

I turn around and find Chrom in the company of the one who called me. The last of the Shepherds that I've yet to catch up with: Cordelia.

"Good to see you again, Cordelia. How have things been for you?"

"It's been wonderful, Jack." Cordelia replies smiling. "I've had the joy of living together with the royal family, and it always feels like a warm home. I truly have Chrom to thank for this opportunity."

A quick glance on her outfit reveals that she's been promoted as well. Falcon Knight, by the looks of it.

"Looks like a promotion came along the way." I remark.

Cordelia scratches her cheek. "Yes. I was promoted in recognition of my efforts during the war. Still, it feels a bit…shallow somehow."

I raise an eyebrow. "How come? You fought just as hard as everyone else."

The Falcon Knight nods. "Yes, but my promotion mainly concerned me landing the killing blow on Gangrel. Honestly, I never could have done it without you, Jack. You're the one who gave me the courage I needed to fight, and you also distracted him long enough for me to land that killing blow. I feel like I stole the honor of facing down the Mad King from you."

I wave off her concerns. "I don't mind. To be fair, I'm not sure if I would've walked away from that battle alive if you hadn't been there. Taking down Gangrel was a team effort, and let no one tell you otherwise. Besides, I think you deserve that promotion. The fact that you can wield Gradivus speaks volumes about your combat prowess. Speaking of which, were you appointed any specific duty upon promotion?"

Cordelia nods. "Yes, in a way. Captain Phila has personally taken me under her wing. I am to become the next wing commander of the Ylissean Pegasus Knights."

"You don't seem particularly excited about it. Why the dejected face?"

"Jack, do you remember where I served in Ylisse's army before I joined the Shepherds?"

I mull it over before I remember. "Yeah, it was the Ylissean…Pegasus...Knights…" Oh… Ooooh!

Cordelia nods. "Jack, this isn't just about me taking command of some haphazardly picked unit. Captain Phila is asking me to command the very unit that had once been my family." Her face grows somber, despite Chrom's reassuring embrace. "I… Am I truly worthy of taking up such a duty?"

I walk up to the Falcon Knight and gently place a hand on her shoulder. "Cordelia, look at me." As we make eye contact, I continue. "I believe there's a bigger purpose behind this decision than just giving you a responsibility. Do you remember when Phila told you about keeping the legacy of your late knight-sisters alive?"

At Cordelia nodding, I nod back. "Guess it's almost time. I don't know what it takes to be the commander of an entire squad, but I think that's what Phila wants you to gain with your new position. You have finally moved on from the death of your knight-sisters, and as you walk forward, you'll lead the Pegasus Knights to greatness."

A tear forms in Cordelia's right eye before she hugs me with a smile. "Thank you, Jack. I think…I finally understand. I will not fail Captain Phila's expectations."

"I fail to see how you ever could." I reply jokingly.

The married couple laughs along with my joke.


Time skip: Three hours later

I arrive at Robin's office right as she exits and stretches her arms upwards. A satisfied sigh escapes her lips as a few joints pop.

"Finished for today?" I ask my fiancée as I greet her.

Robin turns in my direction and smiles at seeing me.

"Yes. I can finally relax for the day."

I grin and show her the whicker basket in my left hand. "Great! That means we can have that supper I proposed."

Robin raises an eyebrow while eyeing the basket. "Are we doing what I think we're going to do?"

"Yep. I had the kitchen staff prepare our supper as a picnic. There's a tree growing on top of a hill outside the capital with a nice view of the landscape and the horizon. I figured we could sit there and enjoy our meal."

Robin's smile brightens as she sidles up next to me. "Well, aren't you quite the romantic? What brought this on?"

"It's been nine months since we last saw each other, so I thought it would be nice if we could have some time alone again, just the two of us."

"I'm all for it."

Our walk is done in comfortable silence. Neither of us have much to say and simply prefer to stay with the other. As we arrive at the spot outside the capital that I mentioned, I unfold the cloth on top of the basket and place it near the base of the tree. We make ourselves comfortable on the cloth and finally start to dig into the contents inside the basket. Bread, fruit, small salads, a meat pie, a bottle of milk with complimentary cups. Wow. The kitchen matron went all-out in her preparations.

"I've looked forward to this all day, Jack." Robin tells me as we get started on our meal. "Honestly, I first thought we would eat in the palace, but this is a pleasant surprise."

"That's what I was aiming for." I reply. "Hopefully, you'll be able to relax more by eating somewhere far away from all the duty."

A tired smile escapes her lips. "Oh, I definitely will. You'd be surprised how much work being the lead tactician of an entire country's army can be."

My thoughts return to the sight of seeing Robin's desk covered with documents. "I think I have an idea."

The entirety of the basket's contents are eventually eaten, leaving only the now empty containers where all the food lay. Man, that was one awesome supper. I'm about to address Robin when she stands up. I only have time to raise my eyebrow before she sits back down right in front of me, leans back against my chest and releases a satisfied sigh.

Robin looks back at me with a smile. "This supper was wonderful, Jack. I needed this more than I thought."

I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her closer. "I'm just happy I get to spend this moment with you, Robin. Even with companions on my journey in the Outrealms, I always felt lonely without you. I hope we never have to separate for so long ever again."

"Me neither." she replies as we watch the setting sun. "It's strange." she muses as she places her hands on top of mine.

"Hm? What is?"

"How our lives turned out the way they did. About a year ago, I woke up on a field with no memories of my past, and the first person I met was someone who seemed as lost as I was." She turns her head and smiles at me. "But look at us now. We became part of a militia that protects the people of this country, fought our way through an entire war, decided to marry each other, and now we sit here, just the two of us, enjoying the sunset together without a care in the world."

I smile back at my fiancée. "And I wouldn't have it any other way. Without you, I might've ended up wandering this world completely lost. By meeting you, I feel like I found a purpose with my life – a place in this world. And that place is right by your side."

"I feel the same."

No more words are necessary. Our lips meet in a tender kiss. That's how we stay until the sun sets completely; cuddled up under the tree and enjoying the simple pleasure of being with each other.


We return to the palace some time after it's gotten dark. I had a clone return the basket to the kitchen while I accompanied Robin back to her room.

"Well, here we are." I remark as we stand by the door.

Robin nods smiling. "Thank you for the time I got to spend with you, Jack. I'm so happy to have you back here – that you kept your promise."

I smile back. "And I'm happy that you waited all this time for me. But I haven't fulfilled my promise just yet."

Robin raises an eyebrow. "There's more?"

"I promised that I would make myself worth the wait. I still need to fulfill that promise as well."

Robin giggles. "You already have, silly."

"No, I haven't. We're not even married yet."

Robin brings me into a hug. "You're missing the point, Jack. Just having you return to me made every day I spent waiting worth it. Everything you do after that is more than you promised to me."

"Well, I did promise myself that I would make you the happiest woman in the world." I reply as I bring my forehead against hers. "And I'll devote every day we spend together to reach that goal."

There we stand, losing ourselves in each other's gazes. Our lips join together in a kiss, which grows deeper and more passionate as time goes on. In turn, our desire for each other grows, which further fuels our mutual passion and results in a positive feedback loop of-

Robin quickly places her hands on my shoulders and pushes me away. I stare with a mix of longing and confusion as we both breathe heavily from our make out session. Why would she- Oh…

"Too soon?" I ask between breaths.

Robin nods her head. "Too soon."

I think she made the right call. Had neither of us stopped, we'd most likely get more intimate than we intended before our wedding. That being said, a major part of me screams in frustration over being this close to join with the love of my life in the most intimate manner possible. Down, libido! Your time will come, but it is not now!

"I, uh… I think I'll go cool off somewhere." I say while trying to avert my eyes – keyword being trying – knowing that the more I look, the greater the temptation will grow. Easier said than done, though. The sight of my fiancée panting with her face flushed and a look of barely restrained desire for me turns me on like nobody's business! "A barrel of ice cold water sounds handy right about now."

Robin does her best to avert her gaze as well, though she does sneak a few glances at me every now and then, only to quickly look away again. "Y-yeah. And I should retire early for the evening. Head to bed and get some rest. But feel free to come here again if you need anything." Her face lights up like a lamp. "N-not in my bed, though! I meant outside my room! Ah, I mean, you're free to enter my room! Just-"

"No, it's okay!" I interrupt with a matching blush. Mental images of me and Robin getting naked and performing all kinds of bedroom activities flood my mind, pushing my restraint to the breaking point. Back, lustful thoughts! Back, I say! "I'd better leave now! See you in the morning! Love you!"

Robin nods. "Yeah! Love you back!"

She quickly dashes into her room and slams the door shut a moment later – a motion that let me glimpse her tantalizing hips swing seductively once before she vanished from my sight.

Forget the water barrel! I'll need to pull an all-nighter in an ID to blow off all the steam in my head right now! An army of Icy Lizalfos should do the trick.

To be continued


Preview of the next chapter:

Jack: You want me to what?

Frederick: Command a unit as part of the Ylissean army.

Chrom: Think of this as your assigned duty as part of your promotion.

Jack: But I haven't even been officially promoted yet.

*Emmeryn places a brooch on the coat of a kneeling Jack*

Emmeryn: Done.

Jack: That was fast…

Next time on Gamer Emblem Awakening:

Forever, my heart is yours. Gathering the 100 allies.

Jack: I have a feeling that this will be…wonderful.

Robin: Not as wonderful as what awaits the two of us.


Omake: Bountiful protection

Being a high-profile figure in Ylisse means being expected to attend parties hosted by the various noble houses across the halidom – something Jack got to discover only weeks after returning.

At the moment, the Outrealmer is at one such party, dressed in a more decorated version of his usual outfit.

"Typical." Jack mutters while looking around. "If you've been to one of these noble house parties, you've been to them all."

"Oh, isn't that Jack, the folk-hero of Ylisse? Such a handsome man."

Jack turns his head and finds a trio of female aristocrats. The alarming part is that all of them give him blatantly flirting looks.

"Handsome doesn't even begin to describe him, darling." the middle one giggles.

"Oh, I think I can see some of his muscles under those clothes." the third whispers none-too-conspicuously. "Mama like."

"Kill me now…" Jack mutters behind a facepalm while trying to back away from the gaggle of airheaded women. An attempt that gets foiled by the very same women approaching him faster than he can back off discreetly.

Just as they're about to reach him, Robin runs in, hugs Jack's arm and glares at the three women. "Mine!"

The aristocrats stop abruptly in shock before they leave in a huff.

While the gesture had the intended effect, it also resulted in Jack's arm getting trapped against a certain part of Robin's anatomy. And judging by the sensations traveling straight to Jack's brain, there is no doubt that Robin is…well…a grown woman.

"That should take care of them." Robin remarks smiling and turns to Jack – only to find her fiancée stare off into space with an empty look. And is that steam pouring out of his ears?

"Jack? What's wrong?"

"Dang. Never took you for the bold type, Bubbles." Gaius comments as he arrives at the scene. "If you want Buttercup that badly, you should tell him first."

Robin follows where the Assassin indicates, and notices where she and Jack made contact.

"Eep! I'm so sorry!"

"Bleuraghlrgh…"


Gaius pokes Jack on the cheek multiple times. No response.

"Yup, he's definitely broken." the Assassin concludes.

Libra raises an eyebrow. "How strange. He seemed perfectly fine when we arrived here. What could have placed him in such a state?"

Meanwhile, Robin is a bit off to the side, blushing deep red and trying her hardest in averting her eyes from her fiancée.

Libra leans in for a closer look. "There has to be some hint on how we can help him."

"I've got this." Gaius replies and snaps his fingers in front of Jack's face a few times. The action soon pays off, as the glassy-eyed look vanishes from Jack's face.

"Uh…Wha?"

"Glad to have you back, Buttercup." Gaius greets smiling. "Had us worried there for a sec."

"Gaius? Libra? What happened?" Jack asks confused.

"That is what we would like to ask you, Jack." the War Monk replies. "What can you remember?"

Jack scratches his head. "Uh, let's see. I think I remember being hunted by a pack of hyenas… Then, right as they had me cornered, an angel descended from heaven and enveloped me into her protection." After scratching his chin a bit, the Outrealmer continues. "And I remember there being comfort. Soft…bountiful comfort."

By this point, steam pours out from Robin's ears.

Gaius looks between the engaged couple a few times before giving a knowing smile. "Close enough."


Jack's encyclopedic corner

Reaper, Class
The avatar of death. With blade in hand, this silent warrior strives only to bring its enemies to the ultimate fate that all living creatures head towards. And where the blade itself cannot reach, the wind shall bend to the Reaper's will, slicing through all within sight and prove the futility of running from death. However, be warned. While the Reaper possesses great offensive abilities, it has little to offer in the way of defense. Such is the burden of this bladed master; walking on a razor's edge, while bringing all who awaken its wrath along the same journey.
Attack power and attack speed increase by 15 % when attacking with a bladed weapon. Wind-element spells do 10 % more damage. The cost of wind-element spells is reduced by 5 %. Damage taken from all physical sources increases by 15 %.

Harvest Moon, Sword, Base damage: 100, Unique
A broadsword forged in the shape of a huge bat wing and Jack's first original weapon. Its striking power comes from its core being forged from smelted Lynel weapons. The surface has been covered with the bone from Lynel horns to reinforce the structure to the point that a conventional sword cannot even scratch the surface. However, the greatest secret lies within the sword's internal structure. With a few precise movements, this weapon can shift into a massive scythe, allowing the wielder to swap between at least two different fighting styles on the fly.
This weapon can shift into a scythe form at any point in battle. Should this happen, this weapon counts as a polearm.

Elixir, Consumable, Very rare
Through refined brewing techniques, the healing agents from the Concoction were distilled into this clear blue liquid. This increases the restorative effects of the medicine several times over. However, the compounds of the Elixir have been proven to spoil easily if not contained properly. To prevent this from happening, it is poured into special glass flasks to be carried around. The advanced brewing methods and the glass containers result in giving Elixirs a steep price. On the plus side, one sip of this potent liquid can heal almost any wound and replenish any mana reserve, no matter how exhausted.
Restores all HP and MP. Each flask can hold up to three rations.

Betty, Blunt weapon, Base damage: 90, Unique
Lissa's personal war hammer and definitive proof that she can no longer be called delicate. This custom-made Hammer is far bigger than its average counterpart, offering far more weight to every swing. It's more than just an extra big piece of metal on a pole, however. Spell runes are carved into the surface of this weapon, allowing the wielder to channel mana through it with greater ease than with run-of-the-mill weapons.


And there you have it. We won't see Jack in action just yet. There's some interlude stuff I want to finish first, chief among them being Jack's and Robin's wedding.

If you're curious about Harvest Moon's shape, imagine Riku's Soul Eater sword. Remove the eye, recolor the whole thing bone-white and scale it up to Buster Sword proportions, minus a foot or so on the blade length. The idea of Harvest Moon is that it works similarly to the Sparda devil arm from DMC4, which is also a greatsword that can transform into a giant scythe.

Harvest Moon as Jack's weapon was an idea that had to be hatched gradually. I originally planned on giving Jack a replica of Cloud's Fusion Sword from Advent Children, but later scrapped the idea when I went with the idea of changing his class to Reaper. I wanted a weapon that can act both as a polearm and a sword at the same time. The first solution could be a glaive, but it sounded too simple. Then I watched Qrow Branwen in action, and the pieces fell into place.

Oh, and one more thing. I posted an extra chapter that contains Jack's character sheet after chapter 11. For those who are curious about how powerful he's grown over the course of his journey (and the course of this entire fic, really), the information is right there. However, I've decided to omit any new skills he's gained during the timeskip. Those will be revealed as the story progresses in order to limit the info dump and prevent spoilers.

That's all for now. Please rate and review. VipeR out.