Hello, dear readers. This is CrossVipeR316 here with the latest chapter of Gamer Emblem Awakening.

Man, this winter has just been wacky. We spent all of last year's November, December and this year's January without even a single flake of snow falling from the sky. The same trend continued through most of February until; Boom! The whole region where I live is covered in a blanket of snow overnight! Now, I am well aware that discussions about climate can surge out of these things all over the place, but before any of you decide to butt heads, let me point out that weather and climate are technically two separate things. Weather refers to the atmospheric conditions at the moment. Climate refers to the atmospheric conditions in general, a pattern that forms over the course of a long time. The former can change drastically without any lasting damages being made, while any change in the latter can lead to a myriad of long-lasting consequences for everyone within an area. It's true that climate can and will affect the weather, but remember that weather is affected by far more factors than climate alone.

On another note, it seems I left Jack's relationship to Tiki on a bit of an ambiguous note. Allow me to clear up any misconceptions that you may have had since the last chapter:

Like I said when replying to a review of an earlier chapter; The only woman that Jack will be paired with is Robin. This is strictly a monogamous marriage. Any indication that Jack and Tiki grow any more intimate than friendship will simply be me messing with your heads at most. Besides, Tiki should be wise enough to recognize that Jack only has eyes for Robin, and thus should keep her distance (even though her sleep talking behavior may suggest otherwise).

Now that I've cleared that little issue out of the way, it is time to proceed with the story. Enjoy.

Copyright disclaimer: I only own the plot of this fic. For a full copyright disclaimer, please read chapter 1.

A real man never does things half-hearted. – Owain


Chapter 28

Cursed sword…wielder?
Scion of Legend, steady thine hand!

Morgan frowns in intense concentration as he eyes the chess board.

I lean my cheek at one hand while drumming my leg with the other. "Well, son? Your move."

"Could you please let me concentrate, Father? Keeping everything floating while working out a strategy is hard." my son replies as a bead of sweat runs down the side of his face.

We're currently sitting cross-legged on opposite sides of a chessboard. But instead of the normal setting of us sitting on the ground and the chess board on a stump, we're instead floating a bit over the ground and slowly rotating clockwise at a steady pace, all while playing the classic strategy game.

What's keeping us afloat? Morgan's Telekinesis.

This is a training exercise that I more or less came up with on the fly a few days ago. Morgan may be skilled at using his mental abilities, but he's got a lot of ground to cover if he wishes to use them to their full potential. So, in a flash of inspiration from Master Yoda himself, I figured Morgan should be able to train said skills if he were to practice the art of levitating several objects at the same time. Turns out keeping track of each object simultaneously while holding them afloat can be surprisingly taxing for anyone but the most experienced espers. To make this exercise more difficult, I added a game of chess to the mix. This adds another dimension of mental training for Morgan while training his tactical prowess (to an extent) at the same time. In short, I'm training my son in at least two skills simultaneously while sharing one of his favorite activities. It's three birds with one stone.

Our levitation briefly dips before Morgan grunts and brings up back up to the right altitude. Our rotation speeds up slightly.

"Easy on the speed, Morgan." I remind him gently.

My son takes a deep breath and manages to return our rotation to its original speed. Good. He's still keeping his focus.

And then his expression changes to one of triumph. He grabs his remaining bishop and moves it in front of my knight.

I raise an eyebrow and scan the board carefully. Nothing seems to stick out in particular. His rook is in a favorable position due to an earlier gambit that payed off well. On the other hand, my knights could put Morgan in a tricky situation in just two moves. Now, if only I could do something about his infernal wall of pawns… My bishop's all but grounded because of that lineup.

Maybe that's what I should focus on. Sneak around his pawns and blow open a hole through his ranks right at the base. Decision made, I move my remaining rook into position.

The moment I release the black piece, Morgan's gleeful grin tells me that I just made a decisive blunder. Faster than I can react, Morgan moves his knight in a checking position.

"Checkmate!"

I blink surprised. How's that-

No, wait… His bishop! He put it there during his earlier turn because he wanted to limit the movements of my king. And on the row right behind my king, his rook is already set up for an ambush. The pawn covering my king instead blocks one of his few remaining escape routes. And what awaits on the last remaining tile? A pawn that Morgan put there some ten turns ago…

I grin wryly. "Well, color me impressed. Nice move, son. You can put us back down now."

Morgan exhales as we slowly float back down on the ground.

The moment our butts touch the grass, my son raises his fists in victory.

"Yes! I did it!"

I clap in a slow applause. "Now that's what I call an exemplary performance. You've grown tremendously since I met you, Morgan. As both your father and your teacher, I'm proud of you."

Morgan wipes some sweat off his brow. "Thank you, Father. I couldn't have done this without your help."

"Hold up." I stop him with a raised hand. "While I admit that you've done well today in many ways, remember that this is just a steppingstone on your path to become a master in your own right. The road ahead of you is long yet."

Morgan pauses before he nods determined. "I should've known getting there wouldn't be that easy. Alright, I'm ready for the next challenge."

I smile at my son's enthusiasm. "That's good to hear, but it will have to wait until another time, when you've rested and had some time polishing your skills. Until then, we're done for the day."

Morgan deflates. "Aw… And here I was all fired up for the next exercise."

"Remember, son; to travel to the end of a long road, one needs diligence, endurance and patience. I'll walk with you on this path, but only at my own pace. Whether you match this pace will be up to you. Fall behind and I will eventually leave you there. Run ahead and you might bite off more than you can chew."

Morgan puffs his cheeks before he gets back on his feet and dusts off some dirt on his tactician's robe. "*Sigh* I guess I could spend some time with Mother or Rose, then. I haven't had much time alone with Rose ever since we got back in time."

"I'm happy that you two grew up together. I can't imagine how it must be growing up alone with no memories of the past." I remark fondly.

Morgan huffs. "Growing up with Rose can be more trouble than it's worth. I mean, really. She's the elder sibling, so you would think she's the more mature between the two of us. But no. I end up cleaning up after the messes she leaves behind more often than not."

I raise an eyebrow. "While I admit that you bring up a fair point, it can't be all that bad, can it?"

Morgan shuffles his feet. "Well… From what I can remember, Rose has always been doting. No matter what happened, she would always be there for me with open arms and a smile on her face. As much of a headache she can be, I always feel at home with her."

I smile. "That's family life for you. We can get on each other's nerves something fierce – me and you sister more often than you or your mother, to be fair – but at the end of the day, we can only be truly at peace when we're together. That's why family sticks together, no matter what."

My son sighs. "How do you put up with all this, Father? More importantly, how does Mother put up with all of this? She seems to take it all in stride."

"Love works in strange ways, my son." I explain while nodding sagely. "It allows you to see the best in the people you care for and bring it to the surface. And in the face of hardship or madness, it helps you find a calm point where you can guide your loved ones. Or, you know, smack some sense into them with a thick tome to the head. You'd be surprised how often your mother's had to do that to keep me in line."

Morgan raises an eyebrow. "Funny. I faintly remember Mother doing the same with Rose one time when she made her really angry."

I grimace. "Robin may be a bit rough with me at times, but that's mainly because she knows I can take it. But our children? I doubt she'd hit you with anything unless you crossed the line by a huge margin. What in the world could Rose have done to warrant a punishment like that?"

Morgan shrugs. "Beats me. All I remember is that Mother bent Rose over her knee and spanked her with a lightning tome for half an hour while scolding her." My son shudders. "Now do you see why I always take care staying away from Mother's bad side? As much as I love her, she also scares me sometimes."

I nod in approval. "It's wise of you to fear your mother, son. There is no other woman in the world who's as fearsome as she is. And yet, I can tell you this; your mother highly values the people close to her. The reason she can be so fearsome is because she cares so much for us. All that planning and strategizing? Deep down, her main reason for pushing herself so we can get even the slightest tactical edge against our enemies is because she fears the thought of us dying, let alone under her leadership."

Morgan blinks in surprise. "Mother…is afraid? Of losing us?"

"She may put up a strong front, but I've seen sides of her that she shows no one else, Morgan. Behind the fearless tactician and terrifying war commander hides a woman with a caring and fragile heart. Your mother treasures her bonds with the people around her, because they are essentially all she has. Without her bonds, she'd be a lost soul. That's why she's so caring towards me, you and your sister, no matter how much we get on her nerves. That's how she can handle leading this army, because she knows how much we all trust her, and she'll do anything to make sure that trust isn't misplaced."

Morgan frowns in thought before he gives me a look full of determination. "If that's the case, I will devote my all to support her. Mother may be strong, but she can't carry the whole world on her shoulders."

I smile and ruffle his hair. "That's funny of you to say, because you already are."

"Huh? I am?"

"I heard from the other Shepherds how fiercely you fought alongside your mother in the last battle. It wasn't just you destroying any enemy soldier who got in her way – you fought side by side as a team. You've grown into a fine young man and a reliable ally in battle."

Morgan blushes lightly. "You think I'm…finally reliable?"

I grin cheerfully. "And then some. Even though you have a long way to go, you're already someone I can count on when things get rough. As of today, we're equals on the battlefield. I trust you to have my back, just like I have yours."

I stretch out my fist in invitation.

Morgan matches my grin and returns the fist bump. "I'll show you that you made the right call to trust me, Father. Just you wait. I'll become an ally that you can be proud of."

"I already am, my son. And even if you weren't, nothing could diminish the pride I take in calling myself your father. Having you and Rose as my children and your mother as my wife are the greatest honors I have been bestowed with in my life."

"And I will always be proud of being your son. Even though I remember so little of our time together, every moment I spend with you reminds me of why I always looked up to you."

I smirk. "You'd better change the angle of your outlook, then. It's only a matter of time before you can only see me by looking besides you, not up."


Your relationship with Morgan has advanced! Your relationship with Morgan is now "Friends!"

The bond you've nurtured has given birth to a new ability! You can now perform the Union Strike "Storm Howl" with Morgan!

Regularly playing a strategy game has increased your INT by 1!


I glare as I ponder my next move. I have to choose carefully.

Rose raises an eyebrow. "You'd better not pull that "I can see without using my eyes" thing on me, Dad. That's cheating."

I roll my eyes in good nature. "Oh, come now, Rose. Who do you take me for?"

"The reason why the majority of my friends think I'm crazy." my daughter replies without missing a beat.

One of my eyebrows twitch. "Low blow, Rose. You can't blame me if I haven't even raised you yet."

"Technically, you have." Rose points out. "Now, are you gonna ask for a card, or should we just skip a turn?"

"Fine." I grunt. "I want tens."

Rose grins. "Go fish."

I click my tongue and pick a card on the table between us. I may be an expert in combat, but playing Go fish? That's a whole different story. Especially when my daughter seems to know exactly what cards to ask for.

"Alright, Dad. Gimme that three."

I grumble as I pass my daughter the card I just picked up. Case in point.

Rose frowns a bit. "Okay… Now I want your fives."

I smirk. "Go fish, Rose."

Rose shrugs and picks a card for herself – and then promptly dumps all fives in her ever-growing pile.

I bite back a curse. Of course she'd nail the one card she needed.

"I can't believe it." Cynthia mumbles in awe from the sidelines. "Sensei actually has a weakness."

"I don't think that counts, dear." Sumia corrects her daughter. "I mean, how do you even apply a card game in a fight?"

"If only you knew, Sumia." I mumble.

You'd be surprised how often some worlds have been at stake due to a children's card collecting game. The fact that one of them involved motorcycles was just icing on the already heavily decorated cake. I swear, some of the combos Yusei pulls off are just absurd. That's animé level plot armor, right there.

Then again, I suppose this is what happens when I put literally no effort into increasing my LUCK stat. I'm actually amazed that I'm not beset by all manner of random misfortunes due to having a LUCK stat that low. Guess that's my one luck-based saving grace.

I squint as I return my focus to the game. Rose may have been hitting a lot of cards I have these past few turns, but her pile only has two sets. Now to find out what kinds of cards I haven't asked for yet…

I blink as an idea hits me. Well, here goes nothing.

I smirk. "Rose, jacks."

Rose blinks before she begrudgingly hands me three cards. "Only you, Dad. Only you."

I join those three cards with the one in my hand before I place them in the beginning of my own pile. All right, I've still got a shot at victory. Bring it on, Rose!


Eight piles… Rose managed to sneak past me and gather a total of eight piles. I still don't know how she did it. She just…did.

Me, salty? What ever could you be talking about?

It certainly has nothing to do with the fact that I'm currently looking for Lon'qu in the hopes of sparring with someone who can (maybe) keep up with me as I vent my not-frustrations.

"Denial ain't just a river in Egypt." Sparrow quips.

*Whang!*

"Quiet, you! I'm busy reconciling my failing grasp on reality with my wounded ego."

"Hey, Lon'qu? How about a spar?" I call to my lieutenant as I finally spot him.

"Are you sure you want to spar while in such a perturbed state of mind, Jack?" Lon'qu asks without missing a beat.

That question stops me dead in my tracks and sets an eyebrow to violent twitching. Am I really that transparent?

"Told ya."

"…"

"What? No anvil?"

"*Sigh* It's just not worth it at this point."

I shake my head. "Look, my mental state aside, I think I finally figured out a way of sparring with you without us slicing our training weapons apart at any time."

To accentuate my point, I show Lon'qu the training staff I brought.

The Swordmaster raises an eyebrow. "And how exactly is that supposed to help prolong our spars?"

"It's simple." I elaborate. "Our spars are cut short because we both use swords in them, right? It doesn't really matter if they count as swords or not; so long as we treat them like swords, they can cut."

"I believe that's not how it works, Jack." Lon'qu points out skeptically.

"Look, just humor me this once, okay? My point is, if I use a weapon that I don't treat like a sword, the chances of me actually cutting yours in half should pretty much disappear."

"And what about the opposite?"

I shrug. "Honestly, I've sparred with you using weapons other than swords way too little for me to consider it to be in accordance to the deal we made back when our rivalry first started. Since polearm wielding soldiers have an edge against you (small as though it often is), this should serve as good practice for you in preparation for such encounters."

"Fair point." Lon'qu relents and goes in search of a practice weapon. "Know that I will bring an actual training sword for this fight."

I nod in agreement. "Might as well. I don't think a broomstick will hold up to the punishment when we begin sparring."

Lon'qu returns a few minutes later with a training sword in hand. We both nod before we settle in our respective stances. No need for words. Just an unspoken signal.

The clearing falls silent.

A single birds chirps as it flies over our sparring ground.

*Crack!*

Lon'qu and I meet in the middle of the clearing, both our weapons locked in a power struggle. We separate moments later before we both plant our back feet firmly in the ground and engage for real.

Block, swing, twirl, feint, thrust, jump, overhead, side roll, ankle swipe, spin, transfer the momentum into a bigger swing, go with the flow and side roll again to flank Lon'qu's left.

The cracking sound of our weapons clashing in rapid succession echo through the clearing. Lon'qu and I each take a step back and wind up a particularly strong thrust. The small shockwave resulting from the clash pushes both of us back a few paces.

I take a moment in the brief lull to inspect my training staff. Slightly chipped from the intense exchange earlier, but still in working condition if I can handle it right.

Lon'qu narrows his eyes as he settles into a lower stance. In all our spars, I've come to recognize that one as a sign that he wants to end it. The way my lieutenant moves from that stance is crazy. Which means I have to pull out all stops on my end as well.

I let go with the left hand, leaving only the right to hold the end of the staff and shoulder it. Then I angle myself so that the tip of the staff points at Lon'qu. I crouch low and make a come-hither motion at my opponent. Lon'qu's eyes narrow even further. It's subtle, but I can tell that he's breathing deep.

We charge each other at the same time, both weapons ready for the clash. Because of the way I hold my staff, I have the advantage in reach and swing first. My staff comes down in a diagonal swing. Lon'qu blocks the swing and steps in while sliding his training sword along my staff.

But that was exactly my plan. I held back on the swing so I could instead focus on taking a step-in myself. I re-grab the staff with my left hand and angle the staff to a right angle against Lon'qu sword. The brief pause is all I need to get right in front of Lon'qu and, in a moment of inspiration from Say'ri, slap him in the face.

The shock of my palm against his cheek causes Lon'qu to stumble backwards. I rush in to finish it in one last combo. But Lon'qu regains his bearings moments before my swing connects and ducks underneath before he retaliates with a rising slash. I manage a hasty block, but the swing has enough power to cleave my staff in half. Thinking fast, I flip the two halves so I hold them like dual blades, pivot and come in with a parallel slash. At the same time, Lon'qu answers with a full-power overhead swing.

*Shing!*

We stop with our positions inverted, neither moving a muscle after our completed respective swings.

*Plonk, plonk, plonk*

I glance at what remains of my training staff. Two halves, each of them cut in half in turn. Then I turn around and Lon'qu's training sword in a similar state, only his practice weapon is broken instead of cut clean in half.

"In the end, it came down to a sword fight yet again." Lon'qu remarks as he tosses away the broken training sword.

"True, but at least this spar lasted longer than five seconds." I point out. "Even better, we could actually afford to go serious this time instead of holding back for fear of ending it at the first swing. I think we're on the right track for how our future spars should be done."

My rival raises an eyebrow. "While I prefer a spar where I can cut loose over one that I constantly have to hold back in, wouldn't this get a bit repetitive?"

"I'd say this solution has plenty of room for creativity." I counter. "Besides, the way this spar went pretty much proves my hypothesis was correct; so long as either of us don't treat our weapons as swords, we might be able to spar for real."

"As ridiculous an idea it was, even I have to admit it seems to have merit." Lon'qu relents.

I pat Lon'qu on the shoulder cheerfully. "Hey, no need to look so glum. You got a serious spar, and one where your opponent uses a polearm at that. I think this was a productive moment for the both of us."

Lon'qu allows a small smile. "Can't argue with that. But what was that slap back there?"

I grin. "The most effective moves are the ones your opponent doesn't see coming. There's a difference between fighting dirty and fighting creatively."

"When it comes to you, I fail to see that difference."

"Hey, low blow, man!"


I blink in surprise as Lon'qu and I return to camp.

"That one looks new. Did I miss something this morning?" I ask confused.

"You're not the only one. This is the first time I see something like that as well." Lon'qu confirms.

The object we're referring to reminds me of one of those old Japanese prayer shrines, only this one seems a bit scaled down to roughly the size of a tent. It even has a few strips of paper that, upon closer inspection, reveal themselves to be charms. Even weirder is the fact that poles are sticking out from the front and back, allowing the whole thing to be carried.

"What is this, some container for a sacred artifact?" I ask while scratching my head.

"Not quite. That would be Lady Tiki's private quarters for the duration of our campaign." Libra explains as he approaches us.

Lon'qu raises an eyebrow. "You built her an entire house? Why in the world would you do that?"

"I believe the answer is quite obvious, Lon'qu." the War Monk replies. "Lady Tiki is the Voice of the divine Dragon Naga, which in turn makes her something akin to a divine figure in her own right. It is only right that she be granted quarters befitting her holy station."

I give Libra a dry look. "And so, you had this portable miniature shrine built for her to sleep in while we carry it around Valm like we're some sort of procession?"

"We need some way to transport Lady Tiki, seeing as she still sleeps a lot, do we not?" Libra elaborates. "And to be clear, I enlisted Frederick's aid in building this humble housing for her Holiness. I admit, he did some fine work."

I redirect my dry gaze at said housing. Now that I know who's occupying it, I can't help but view it as a small cottage instead of a shrine – a small cottage that's been decorated and fashioned to the point of excess. The attention to detail in some places is just ridiculous. That's Frederick's handiwork, alright.

"And you couldn't, I don't know, have just prepared another tent for her to sleep in instead?" I ask skeptically.

"That is unacceptable!" Libra replies sternly. "I will not have the Voice of the divine dragon sleep in such demeaning quarters as a mere soldier's tent."

"Mm… Is there something going on outside? I hear some commotion." Tiki asks sleepily as she peeks out from the flaps on the side of her housing.

Libra bows in reverence. "Forgive my insensitive conduct, milady. I merely tried to convince these two of the importance of granting you adequate sleeping quarters."

Tiki sighs. "I already told you, Libra, while I appreciate what you all have done for me, I find these sleeping arrangements a bit…extravagant. If I really need to sleep while you march, I could just sleep in one of the carriages."

"Milady, no! Such poor arrangements do not befit someone as yourself!"

Tiki shakes her head. "I've forgotten how tiring it could be when there were people who practically worshipped the ground I walked on. Ban-Ban, I blame you, even though you're not around anymore."

"Is there any way I can assist you, milady? Any at all?" Libra asks.

I lean close to Lon'qu. "Wow. Libra's gone full-on fanboy over her. I hope Emmeryn takes the news well."

It's subtle, but I notice Lon'qu hold back a snort.

"You can start by leaving me in peace." Tiki tells the War Monk in a tone that indicates that she's had more than enough of him acting like her personal servant. "I wish to be alone…with this man over here."

I notice that Tiki's pointing at me. I blink and point at myself.

"Yes, you. I wish to speak with you in private…Jack, was it?"

"Um, yeah. So…where do you want to talk?"

Tiki lifts the entry flaps and indicates the insides. "Inside my quarters. There's enough space for the both of us in here."

I nod and am about to enter when Libra grabs me by the shoulder.

"Jack, please understand that I say this with full faith that you are a good man; I expect you to conduct yourself with proper respect in front of Lady Tiki. Do I make myself clear?"

I settle for a dry look and a nod instead of rolling my eyes. "Yes, I understand completely, Libra. We're just having a conversation in private. Nothing more, nothing less. You have my word."

Libra holds his grip a bit longer before he lets go and nods. "I suppose that is the most reassurance I can get out of you. Very well. If you would excuse me."


Libra and Lon'qu leave as I enter Tiki's miniature cottage.

We both get comfortable on a pair of cushions that somehow fit inside with everything else in here with room to spare.

"So, what did you wish to talk about, Tiki?" I ask curiously while I put a soundproof air bubble around her living space.

Tiki closes her eyes to gather her thoughts.

"There was something odd that I sensed when we met back at the top of the tree before I fell asleep again." Tiki begins. "I felt power like my own in Robin, yes, but she was not the only one up there with a peculiar power slumbering within her. Yours is even more so, Jack. Your power feels…otherworldly. Just who are you?"

I nod. "So you managed to sense it too, huh? You're not the first one, though I believe you're the fastest one to catch on. Your estimation that my power feels otherworldly is more on the mark than you might guess, Tiki. Simply put, I'm from another world."

Tiki nods in understanding. "As I thought. Being so close to you, I can feel how your very lifeforce is distinguished from any other creature I have met in the many centuries I have lived."

I raise an eyebrow. "Is that…bad?"

Tiki shakes her head. "Not necessarily. Even though your existence is foreign to this world, your existence here is no different than if someone were to live as a foreigner in another country. In fact, I could have easily mistaken you for a resident of this world. It was only pure happenstance that I sensed the nature of your power in the short time I was awake. Even as we speak, I can feel how it slowly grows attuned to the rest of the world, though it remains distinct at its core. You originally came to this world as an outsider, but you have found a place here, and so have slowly been accepted as part of this place."

I smile. "I think I can figure out how that works. You're right in that I have found a place in this world – by my wife's side."

Tiki smiles back. "The silver-haired woman who bears power like my own? Yes, I could feel a strong bond between you two almost immediately. Rarely have I seen two people share such trust and affection for each other. You may already be aware of this, but that bond is something to be treasured. Ah, but there's more."

"More?"

"If I were to liken your bond with your wife to a chain, I can sense something akin to several smaller chains weaved together around it." Tiki explains. "The bond you share with Robin is not the only one. There are many others that you have formed bonds with. They are not as strong, but when taken all together, they form a whole that is strong in its own right."

My mind immediately goes to my friends and allies. My children, the Shepherds, Lucina and her friends, my teammates. There are so many people in my life that I care for.

The smile gives way to a grim frown. "But at the same time, I sense something foreboding within those bonds."

I blink confused. "Foreboding?"

"I'm not sure how to put it. While your bond is a strong one, it's also fragile. It's almost like the bond you share with your wife acts like an anchor for your heart in this world – a fitting analogy when considering how you describe your place here. But I can feel something wrapped tightly in that bond. And what I sense there…frightens me. It feels like a storm just waiting to be unleashed. If your bond were ever to break, the destruction it would cause would be devastating – more so on yourself than the world around you."

I scratch my head in further confusion. "Well, I'm lost. Any idea what she's talking about, Sparrow? You're a being born from my own soul, after all."

"…"

"Sparrow?"

"Let's just say…Tiki's onto something." my Hollow spirit answers evasively.

I frown. "And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Not sure if you'd like the truth. All I can say is that you've got A LOT of suppressed stuff in your soul, and it's not even my fault. You being a papa bear? That's just the tip of the iceberg."

"I'm not that bad, am I?"

"Remember what that blonde swordie you met during your training trip told you about Reality Marbles?"

"Jaune?"

"No. The other blonde swordie."

"Zero?"

"Nope. Try again."

"Shulk?"

"I don't think the Monado actually counts as a sword. Also, no."

"…Link?..."

"For crying out loud, the guy's practically mute! And would you stop being so sexist! I was referring to a woman!"

I'm really starting to wrack my brain. "Uh… Cloud? No, he was just crossdressing. Aha! Mythra!"

The distinct sound of a facepalm echoes within my mind.

"For the love of- I was referring to that knight chick who blasts Final Flashes from her golden sword!"

"Oh, you mean Saber." I reply in realization. And then my eyes widen as I think back on one particular conversation that I had some time after Shirou had finally fought and defeated his future self.


Flashback

Saber took a sip from her cup of tea.

"Still, to think there was not one, not two, but three people in Fuyuki with the ability to manifest a Reality Marble." the King (Or queen?) of knights mused. "Forgive me my skepticism, even though I was given a demonstration of it not even a full day ago."

I waved off her concerns. "Considering what you're all up against, I find no offense in that. Really, it's a good thing you're focusing on the more pressing matters at hand – such as getting rid of that arrogant showoff of a king with far more riches and legends to his name than can ever be considered reasonable."

Saber frowned. "Arrogant he may be, but King Gilgamesh is a man who claims to stand above all others, and he can back up every word. He is not someone to be taken lightly."

I huffed. "Don't I know. I'm still amazed that I witnessed Gates of Babylon firsthand and lived to tell the tale. And that jerk had a smug smirk on his face while he kept bombarding me with the blasted things. Thank whatever deity is out there for time stopping abilities."

"Which brings me back to the matter I wished to discuss with you." Saber reminded me. "You have powers that I could scarcely fathom. Powers that seem more like a product of your own imagination, and yet they are as real as my own or Shirou's. In fact, the Reality Marble you showed me…bears a striking resemblance to the one Shirou's future self manifested. Yet I know for a fact that you and him are two different persons. How is that?"

I scratched the back of my head awkwardly. "Yeeaah… You're a lot closer to the truth than you think when you said my powers seem born from my imagination. It's a bit of a long story, but the bottom line is, those powers aren't necessarily my own. You could say that my power, at its core, is extremely malleable."

Saber narrowed her eyes at me. "I do not take kindly to people who answer vaguely." The King of knights sighed. "Though I am hardly in a position to press for answers. If not for you, who knows if Shirou would still be alive after such an ordeal? For helping me in bringing my Master and friend back home alive, you have my thanks."

I allowed a small smile. "You care for him deeply, don't you?"

Saber nodded. "I see so much of myself in him. Selfless to a fault, brave, if not a bit foolish, kind to all around him, but fiercely protective for those he cares for. His resolve gives me hope, but at the same time, his willingness to so easily throw his life away for the sake of someone else disturbs me. And when I saw Archer manifest Unlimited Blade Works, I felt as if I finally started to understand how Shirou could think so little of himself. I decided then and there that I would fight for him, not as a Servant, but as an ally. The world needs people like Shirou – people who are ready to go the extra mile for anyone who cannot walk on their own."

I hummed in thought. "While I agree that the world is in dire need of more selfless people, I believe Shirou makes a terrible model. He's more of a martyr than a hero. It's hard to inspire people to do good when your end goal involves you dying a painful death because you refuse to back down from your beliefs. And before you begin lecturing me on chivalry, let me point out that you can do a lot more good alive than dead, sacrifices notwithstanding."

Saber bit her lip. "I…concede that there is truth in your words. Even so, I-"

"I'm not saying that dying for your beliefs or the sake of others is meaningless." I cut her off. "Death can send a message as impactful as any amount of words could. But from that point onwards, how that impact affects the world will be completely out of your hands. So long as you live, you still have the power to steer your impact according to your will, and can thus decide your legacy. I am well aware that our beliefs differ, but I also acknowledge that there is a good point in what you yourself believe in. I highly doubt your legend would've lasted to this era had it not."

Saber nodded with a slight smile of her own. "I am pleased to speak with someone of such an open mind. You would not believe how difficult it could be to find someone so willing to listen back during my reign."

I sighed. "And some people wonder why mankind has such a bloody history, fictional or not."

"Be that as it may, your willingness to listen might save your life, especially when it concerns your power." Saber remarked.

I raised an eyebrow. "Okay… How exactly?"

"The ability to manifest a Reality Marble is rare for a reason." the King of knights elaborated. "To even have a Reality Marble to manifest in the first place, the bearer must view the world in a way that is fundamentally different from how everyone else does. The manifestation is a means through which the bearer asserts their worldview on reality itself. By witnessing this manifestation, one can gleam into the bearer's view on the world. And when I saw Shirou's, I finally understood just how skewed his own worldview is. He views himself as nothing more than a tool to protect the innocent. And like a tool, he has accepted that he can be discarded the moment his usefulness comes to an end." Saber clutched her teacup just a tiny bit tighter. "Such a noble soul should not be so willing to throw away his own life. In that regard, you and I both agree that staying alive is far better than martyrdom. I will make Shirou see his own worth, even if it is the last thing I do as his Servant."

I scratched my head. "Your understanding Shirou and being ready to help him is good and all, but what does that have to do with me?"

"The nature of your Reality Marble." Saber explained. "Like I said earlier, it bears a striking resemblance to Shirou's. A Reality Marble is born from the soul. Manifesting one is therefore the same as baring an image of your soul to the world. The only way I can explain that you and Shirou have such similar Reality Marbles, is that you two have more in common than you think – such as the way you view yourselves. I have already seen what will happen, should Shirou remain the way he is and walk his path to its end. And while you are mostly a stranger to the both of us, I cannot in good conscience simply let you go without at least trying to help you as well."

Saber's assessment gave me pause. Me? Similar to Shirou? The guy may have a one-track mind regarding heroism, but I was firmly convinced we both had more complex personalities than that.

"Forgive me if I find your assessment wrong." I replied. "Though I am willing to help the innocent, dying in the process is not on my agenda."

"I did not say that you are identical." Saber pointed out. "Similar? Yes, but not identical. However, that similarity is still so great that I cannot help but feel that you could end up in a fate as tragic as Shirou's, should the worst come to happen. A Reality Marble may grant its bearer immense power, but such a power can only be obtained at an enormous cost. I do not wish such a fate on you, Jack, which is why I hope that my warning can at least dissuade you, should you ever be given a choice that could set you on a path that only entails sorrow."

I had half a mind to protest when something strange happened. A slightly painful feeling, almost like a tug, took place over my heart. Small as it may be, I felt it strike a chord in me. Could there be a point in Saber's warning?

Flashback end


"So you're telling me…that what Saber saw in me is connected to what Tiki's warning me about?" I ask.

"That's what I've been thinking." Sparrow replied. "Frankly, there's a reason why you and that Noire chick are the only ones around here who can even manifest a Reality Marble, even though hers is far more incomplete. I just hope this is just a case of two chicks making a mountain of a molehill, but with someone like you, I'd rather be safe than sorry. And don't get me started on the whole worrywart thing. I know you just as well as you know yourself, Jack. Heck, sometimes I know you even better than yourself. "I am thou" and all that."

"I… I'll take your words to heart, Tiki." I eventually tell the ancient manakete. "While we're on the subject, could you tell me more about this foreboding feeling?"

Tiki shakes her head. "I'm afraid I have told you everything I could find out from our brief meeting, Jack. The best piece of advice I can give you is to remind you that you have more bonds than just the one with your wife."

I raise an eyebrow. "But didn't you say that I share a strong bond with Robin already?"

"Yes, but I also warned you about what that bond might be keeping in check, even as we speak." Tiki reminds me. "As morbid the thought may be, imagine if that bond were to be broken. What would you still have in your life to anchor yourself in the storm?"

A shiver runs up my spine. I don't want to think about it, but Tiki more or less dragged my thoughts towards quite possibly my greatest fear; losing Robin. If that were to happen, what else do I have in my life? What meaning does it have? Just like Robin told me her life began the day we met on that field, my own life has always given my wife a significant amount of space. Her leaving my life…would be the same as tearing my heart in two. It would essentially spell my death.

"I see you understand just how high the stakes are for you." Tiki remarks. "And yet, you must acknowledge that you and Robin could become separated at any moment. Life is fragile, Jack. A single mistake, a decision that is just slightly off, could set the events in motion that lead up to a tragedy." Tiki sighs wearily. "In all my centuries in life, I have seen it happen to even the most cautious of people. And every time it happens, the lives affected are filled with a sorrow that haunts then until the end of their days. It's a sight that breaks my heart every time, because it reminds me of the burden that my own lifespan entails."

That last sentence snaps me out of my thoughts.

"You've had to witness the death of everyone you've ever held dear." I remark. "No matter how many of your friends left this life, you alone have remained all this time, with their memory being the only link you still have of them."

Tiki averts her eyes and nods with growing sadness. "Yes. It…is the reason why I leave my home so rarely these days. Leaving for the outside world means meeting new people. Meeting new people means forming new bonds." Tiki shakes her head. "And for every bond formed, there is one more friend to grieve when their time comes. And so the cycle repeats itself until my own time will finally come. Though when that happens, I cannot tell."

I gulp as the weight of Tiki's words settle on me. How many loved ones has she seen off before I met her? How many times was she on the edge of despair, knowing that her time may well be so far away that she can't even comprehend how far it is? I can't leave her like this, but what can I do?

"Do you…miss them?" I ask tentatively.

Tiki nods. "At times, yes. I know it's a foolish notion to wish to see them again, but a part of me simply cannot let go of the thought. Caeda, Bantu…" Tiki closes her eyes. "…Marth…"

Marth, huh? From what I remember, Tiki cherished the bond she formed with the Hero-King. But that was around two thousand years ago, while she was still a child. Hasn't she mourned his death plenty by this point?

…What if she hasn't?...

"Did you ever get to say goodbye to Marth?"

Tiki freezes up. "Wh- How did you know?"

I shrug. "A hunch, really. I suppose that's the real reason why you can't join us on the battlefield yet, is it? It's not that your powers are still dormant – you're not in the mindset to make a stand in battle."

"…I am weak." Tiki declares bitterly after a moment of silence. "Everyone here is putting their lives on the line in the hopes of one day stopping the return of the Fell dragon, yet here I am, cowering inside this small cottage like I have truly grown old and frail. Some Voice of the divine dragon I am…"

I shake my head. "I beg to differ. Your sorrow is no weakness, Tiki. It proves that you have a heart. A wounded one, granted, but it still beats. To be able to live on, even as burdened as you are with your sorrows, takes more strength than most people have."

Tiki gives me a small smile. "Thank you for you encouraging words, Jack." The smile disappears as fast as it came as Tiki closes her eyes instead – which I now realize either means she's either in deep thought or trying to hold back her tears. "But I fear they can only provide me a small comfort at best. As kind as your intentions are – and I am truly grateful for that – it does nothing for the sorrow I am forced to bear."

Tiki takes a shuddering breath. "My power was simply too great. Had I been allowed to roam freely, there is no telling how much destruction I could cause on accident, simply because I was still too young and inexperienced to control the power I had inherited as the progeny of the Divine dragon. So when Marth had defeated the Shadow dragon, he used the power of Naga to seal me into a deep slumber, so that my power would never again be misused or I turned into a puppet. And so, I slept. When Marth was crowned king, I slept. When he married, I slept." A tear escapes Tiki's eye as her voice cracks. "When he passed from this world, I slept. When the time for his last rites arrived…I slept."

"You never got to say goodbye to him. To none of the people you befriended in that time." I remark in realization.

Tiki nods silently. "The few times I woke up and went out to explore the world, centuries had passed since the last time. The only link I had to Marth was meeting his descendants. But every time I met them, I was reminded that I slept right through the end of his days. The guilt I felt was crushing. Even now, a part of me wishes that I could die too, if only so that all this grief will finally end."

"Then what if I did something that could lighten your burden?" I ask.

Tiki gives me a questioning look. "How? While I do not question your ability, I do not see how you could succeed in such a task."

"…What I'm about to do could either give you some much-needed closure, or send you into a rage that would destroy any chance I will ever have to meet you on good terms again. I will give you an opportunity to have a moment with Marth." I tell her.

"But Marth has been dead for centuries. Do you mean to wake the dead?"

"No such thing. *Sigh* Screw this. I might as well give it a shot. Just…make sure to brace yourself."

I active Mimicry with a puff of smoke. By the time it disperses, it reveals that I've shapeshifted into Marth's image, clothes and all.

BGM: Shrine maiden's prayer, Bravely Default music

Tiki gasps upon seeing my form.

"I know I am not the real Marth." I tell the ancient manakete in Marth's voice. "I'm sorry I couldn't give you a moment with the real one. But, please… Even if we're just pretending for a moment, let me be Marth for you. Tell me everything that you never got to tell him. And, if all goes well, let me convey the words he never got to tell you before his life reached its end."

Shudders run through Tiki's body as tears wrack her. "Mar-Mar…"

She tackles me in a hug faster than I can react, tears flowing freely down her face as she cries against my chest. I'm taken aback at first, but then get comfortable and let the manakete release all the tears and sobs she needs.

"I've missed you. I've missed you so much. When I was sealed away in that chamber, I had hoped that you would at least visit me, even if I was soundly asleep." Tiki shakes her head. "But you never came. And when I finally woke up, it was only to learn that you had passed away. One by one, all my friends met the same fate, until I was the only one left. I felt so alone. No matter how many people I met, I was always left behind. I couldn't take it anymore. Not when I no longer had you in my life. Why, Marth? Why did you leave me?"

I rub Tiki gently on the head. "I'm sorry, Tiki. There was so much I had to do. A kingdom to rebuild and rule after the war was over. A family to raise together with Caeda. A peace to keep, and reminding the people of the terrors of war, lest they forget and repeat the same tragedies again. Before I knew it, I was an old man. My strength had left me faster than I thought. In the end, I couldn't even muster what was needed to make that trip to your shrine. You're right. I should have at least payed you a visit. I… Words cannot express how much I regret never doing that while there was still time."

"Y-You…" Tiki begins to beat my chest, though there's hardly any strength in her hits. "You dare give me such a hollow excuse after all this time? After all the centuries I have spent regretting my own inability to wake up in time to at least see you off to your grave?"

"If I told you anything else, I would be lying." I reply sadly. "The least I could do is being honest with you, Tiki. I know the truth hurts, but you'll never be able to move on unless that's what you're given."

"I don't want the truth." Tiki sobs as she clutches my clothes. "I want to be with you again, just like all those centuries ago."

"Tiki, look at me."

Tiki slowly raises her tear-streaked face. I wipe away a tear from her cheek.

"I know it's painful to ask this of you, but you have to let go of the past and move on."

"You mean to tell me to simply let go of the one thing I have wished for almost two thousand years? What's so wrong with wanting to be with the people I have cherished for so long?"

"Tiki, you know just as well as I do that your wish will never be granted. I'm no longer of this world. None of my companions are, save you. I'm honored that I still have a special place in your heart, even after so long." I shake my head. "But that impossible wish is shackling you to the past. So long as you let it chain you down, you'll never be able to move forward."

"What if I don't want to?" Tiki asks bitterly.

"If you did…" I hug Tiki close. "…do you even realize how heartbroken everyone would be? Not just me. Bantu, who had watched over you for far longer than I had. Draug, who loved to play with you when there was free time. Navarre, even though he'd never admit it. Linde, who cared for you like a sister. None of us want to see you like this, Tiki. Please… Let go of the pain and look forward to the people in front of you."

"Only to be left behind again? They will all join you on the other side long before me, and I will be all alone once more. All that will remain are the memories."

"Then let those be your anchor to the bonds that you cherish so much. I'm not asking to you discard the bonds you formed with me and the others while we were alive. Keep them in your heart for as long as you can remember us, but never let that stop you from forming new ones. Those are a treasure worth far more than anything else this world could offer you." I give Tiki a gentle smile. "And when the time finally comes for you to leave this world, we will all be waiting for you on the other side with open arms."

Tiki looks at me with budding hope. "Do you…promise?"

I nod. "I promise. I don't care how long it will take. We will be there when you find us again. So please… Stop living in the past, Tiki. There are so many among the living who still wish to be with you. Live life to its fullest. That's what we all wish for you; a fulfilling life."

The dams burst as Tiki hugs me and cries in my chest again. I gently stroke her hair as her tears flow and sobs echo through the small cottage.

The cottage eventually falls silent. A closer inspection reveals that Tiki fell asleep while she was crying. And yet, her face looks peaceful, like a heavy burden has been lifted off her shoulders.

I decide to leave her as she is and put her to bed. After I've placed the cover over her prone body, I brush away a lock of hair from her face.

"Sweet dreams, Tiki. Let's meet again when you time here has come to an end."

Tiki grabs hold of my hand.

"Promise me, Mar-Mar." the ancient manakete mumbles in her sleep.

I smile and rub the top of her hand gently. "I promise. Sleep now. You still have a long journey ahead of you. Farewell. Until we meet again in the next life."


Your relationship with Tiki has advanced! Your relationship with Tiki is now "Trusted"!

BGM ends


My transformation has already dispelled by the time I exit Tiki's cottage. And right outside, I spot Nah.

"Uncle Jack? What were you doing with Tiki?" my niece asks.

"Just had a talk with her. There might be a few things I need to be on the lookout for in the future."

Nah frowns. "Really? Does a normal conversation entail enough physical contact that I can smell her all over you?"

I pause. Oh yeah. Tiki all but draped herself over me while I pretended to be Marth. And Nah's a manakete who was trained in Dragon Slayer magic. Of course she'd pick up on scents with ease.

I rub the back of my head. "Yeah, we got a little…close. Nothing serious happened between us. Honest."

"And you honestly expect me to believe that?" Nah counters. "For all I can tell, you're going behind Auntie Robin's back and-" *Wham!* "Ow! What was that for?!" Nah shouts as she holds her head (with a freshly smoking bump on top).

"Never question my loyalty to Robin." I berate Nah as I hold up my now smoking fist. "Look, I just put Tiki through some therapy that was around two thousand years overdue, and she got a bit clingy during it all. That's it. Now, are you going to drop this matter or not?"

Nah pouts as she rubs her sore head. "You didn't have to hit me that hard. We're not even training right now."

"Which reminds me." I point out. "It's been a while since I personally instructed you. I think it's high time that got rectified."

Nah perks up. "Really? I get you all for myself?"

I smirk. "Careful, Nah. If taken out of context, one might think you have the hots for your handsome uncle."

Nah stops in her tracks as her face somehow manages to blanch and glow red at the same time. It's quite fascinating to observe.

*Fwoom!*

On the other hand, her flames are not.

"Get back here, you jerk!" my niece shouts as she chases me with limbs shrouded in dragon fire.

"Trollololololol!"


After Nah finally calmed down, I prepared a patch of dirt outside camp for her to train on. Why dirt? Because dragon fire can reach some pretty freakin' high temperatures! The Valmese countryside is packed with grassy plains and the occasional forest! If Nah went all-out in her training without some proper precautions, she'd send out a smoke signal that would alert half the empire about our location!

"Hah! Yah!"

So here I am, observing as my niece goes through her current set of katas, complete with azure flames shooting out from her strikes. The form's good enough, but there's something important missing.

Ah, I think I know what's off.

"You're doing it wrong, Nah." I remark after some thinking.

Nah blinks and gives me an incredulous look. "What do you mean, "wrong"? I'm performing the moves just the way you taught me. I even expel the flames the right way."

"That's where you're wrong." I elaborate. "Look, your martial arts moves are good as they are, but that's not the point. The whole reason why you're training those moves is because they're supposed to channel your dragon fire."

"Again, which I am doing." Nah points out.

"*Sigh* Look, why don't I just demonstrate my point?"

I get up and stand beside the patch of dirt Nah's training on.

"Tell me, Nah; where does a dragon's fire stem from?" I ask.

"That one's easy. The breath." Nah answers confidently.

I nod. "Exactly. For a dragon to utilize its breath to its fullest capacity, it has to breathe in deep and fill its lungs with a proper amount of air. If there's too little air in the lungs, the flames become weak and fizzle out before they can reach their target." I settle in a basic karate stance with my feet wide apart and my right fist reared back. "Your fighting style works according to the same principle. Your main objective isn't to beat up your opponent; it's to use those moves to channel your dragon flames and burn your opponent with them, just like any other fire breathing dragon. You're supposed to think of your punches as kicks as substitutes for a dragon's maw, unless you breathe fire directly from your mouth. However, there's no substitute for your breathing. Only when you breathe in deep will your strikes become effective."

I clench my fist and take a deep breath through the nose. "Like THIS!"

A miniature hurricane is expelled from my fist as I throw it. Though concentrated, the horizontal vortex tears up anything standing in its path, be it grass, bushes, or the unfortunate rabbit sitting in the line of fire. It only stops when it hits a boulder and pushes it a good ten paces before it dissipates.

Nah looks at the destruction in awe. "Whoa."

I turn back and smile at her. "See? I only needed a tiny amount of wind magic to pull that one off. But because I breathed deep, I could concentrate it far better than if I just launched it on a whim. You should be able to get similar results if you use your own fire powers the same way. Remember your breathing technique, even while fighting, and everything else should click into place."

Nah nods enthusiastically. "You got it, Uncle Jack! I'll blast so much dragon fire from my fists, I'll light up the night sky!"

"Please don't." I tell my niece dryly. "The valmese may count as our enemies in this war, but destroying their homeland just because of that and because you got too excited in your training would just be rude. Leave your enemies with a grudge after the war is over, and it's just a matter of time before the next war starts."

For real, that's pretty much how World War 2 started. The germans were super butt-hurt after France, the UK and the US pretty much screwed them over after the first world war by shoving the Versailles treaty in their faces. Grudges festered among the populace for years, especially the more patriotic side, and the market crash in 1930 undid pretty much any progress Germany had made in getting back on its feet. Is it any wonder, then, that the germans, still feeling the screwing from the Versailles treaty, wanted a scapegoat to blame for this giant mess? Well, Hitler gave them a bunch to pick from, but he especially painted a giant target on the Jews. And then he shared his dream of a mighty German empire and a pure, Arian race, put some of them into action, and when the rest of the world told him to stop, he resorted to violence.

Remember, kids; where the established democracy fails, populism gains ground.

But I digress.

"Hah!" *FWOOM!*

Niiice. I smile proudly upon seeing that Nah expels significantly bigger flames now. She's getting the hang of her breathing technique. I'm proud to call myself her uncle and teacher.

…Though we might need a bigger patch of dirt soon. Those flames look like they could overshoot the edge of the current patch any second and light the whole field on fire.


Timeskip: Five days later

Since news of our assault on the garrison stationed at the Mila Tree and the subsequent capture of said area should have reached Walhart's ears by now, Robin decided to completely ditch the subtle approach and simply hustle back to Valm Harbor with Tiki in tow, behind our own lines. Part of the reason why we managed to get back to the port town so fast with a divine manakete sleeping in a portable miniature cottage was because I had a quartet of Shadow clones carry the thing the whole way. And, just to make sure they wouldn't jostle the thing while marching through unsteady terrain and risk giving Tiki a rude awakening in the process, I had the clones hover over the ground. I might've also told them to move forward at a slightly faster pace than the standard marching speed for laughs. If anyone complained about the entourage going too fast (read: Lissa and Severa), I could just defend my decision by pointing out that Robin wanted our army and Tiki behind allied lines ASAP.

I love exploiting the situation for my own personal gain.

Of course, Say'ri wasted no time sending messengers to any Resistance hideout near our traveling route with the news that Tiki was on our side. The few times I checked in, I noticed that those messengers sure know how to travel the Valmese landscape fast and stealthy. By the time we make our next move, I'm sure every pocket of the Resistance knows of our success and where we intend to strike next. Divided though they may be, Say'ri knows how to use their communication channels to their fullest.

Which brings us to our current meeting in the war tent. As usual, the leaders of each main faction of our army, along with the head tactician and Say'ri, are gathered here. In addition, the second-in-command of each faction is here as well. That means Frederick, Raimi and Lon'qu are behind Chrom, Flavia and me respectively.

"All right. I hereby declare this war meeting opened." Robin begins as we're all gathered around the war table. "Say'ri, any progress on the Resistance?"

The Dynast Swordmaster nods pleased. "Yes. Factions of the Resistance are already uniting in answer to the Voice's call! Soon bards will sing of this day… "They who conquered the Conqueror!""

Chrom nods in agreement. "A tune I'm most anxious to hear."

Robin frowns as she eyes the map of Valm on the table. "But a man like Walhart will not roll over dead at the first sign of trouble…"

I scowl. "If anything, this latest news has made it clear to him just what we're capable of. We've shown our hand. It's only a matter of time before he shows his."

Say'ri nods grimly. "You are both right. He will muster his forces to put down the Rebellion. Then he will turn his gaze to us. Against his full might, we would not last long."

Chrom rubs his chin. "Where are his armies garrisoned?"

Say'ri looks between me and Robin. "If I may, could you lend me those chess pieces?"

I pull the board out in a flash. "Be my guest."

Say'ri pulls out the black pieces and spreads them over the map. The fact that several pieces – including every single one of the valuable kind – are concentrated in certain spots on the map is not missed by anyone.

"The Valmese Imperial Army is comprised of three main divisions: one controls the north, one the south, and the third the lands between." Say'ri elaborates as she indicates the concentrated groups of pieces. "Emperor Walhart commands the northern forces. Their might easily exceeds our own. The south is led by my brother, Yen'fay. His host is said to rival Walhart's."

"Divisions, are they? Hmm…" Robin mutters as she eyes the black pieces.

Flavia glances at my wife. "I see a plan brewing in those eyes of yours, Robin…"

Robin takes out the white pieces and starts to move them around the map, starting with the pawns. "If we could divide their divisions – disrupt communications, supplies, etcetera…"

The pawns knock down the pieces not included in the main black groups one by one, or simply have a pawn standing next to it. "Then introduce misinformation to add to the confusion… A whisper here and there…"

Robin pushes around the main groups of the black color a bit, gradually putting greater distance between each individual piece. "The panic would spread on its own… And all the quicker for their great number."

Then my wife snaps her fingers and casts a light wind spell on the black pieces. Had they remained close to each other, they could've supported each other and resisted Robin's spell. Instead, they fall down with a clatter that sounds deafening in the silence of the war tent.

"Such a giant force could collapse under its own weight." Robin concludes.

A chill runs up my spine – a sensation that I can tell is shared by several of the individuals in the tent. Even though I remember Robin making this assessment in the game, seeing her demonstrate it with those chess pieces makes it feel like she having a battle of wits with the Conqueror himself – and destroying him with as laughable ease as when she plays with me. I know defeating Walhart is nowhere near that easy, but the thought of my wife toying with the emperor of Valm while beating him at his own game is terrifying and irresistibly exciting at the same time.

Chrom is the first to regain his wits. The prince indicates the middle group of fallen chess pieces. "Say'ri – the third division, stationed between the other two…"

Say'ri nods. "Aye, sir, at Fort Steiger, halfway along the highroad. In fact, the stronghold is located fairly close to here, around a week's march. We might stand a chance against them… But it would take speed and luck."

Say'ri takes the pawns on the board and line them up at our current position along with the rest of the white pieces. She then moves the pawns along with each bishop and knight and divides them equally to the pieces representing Walhart's and Yen'fay's factions. "I wager Walhart and Yen'fay are both ready for battle at this very moment. As such, I suggest sending the bulk of our army to the north and south to mask our plan. An elite force, led by Sir Chrom, might then quietly slip through to Fort Steiger." The rooks, the queen and the king are sent to the middle group of black pieces. "What say you?"

Chrom puts his hand in his chin before he nods. "I say "aye"."

Flavia nods along. "Aye."

I frown as I eye the pieces. "A question, Say'ri. Which ones would be included in this elite force led by Chrom?"

Say'ri puts on a thinking pose of her own. "From what I have seen, Sir Chrom's personal militia would be the most fitting choice. You are few in number, but your individual combat prowess is astounding. But if we are to make this force as powerful as possible to ensure victory, Khans Flavia and Basilio, Lady Robin and you, Sir Jack, might be necessary as well."

"That's it?" I ask with a hint of worry.

"Jack, I can tell something's bothering you." Robin remarks. "What's the matter?"

"Think about it, Robin." I elaborate. "We're splitting up our forces to challenge the three mightiest armies in the entire empire of Valm at the same time. What's more, the parts of the army marching towards the two strongest will fight without their head commanders – me, Khan Flavia and Chrom – leading them in battle. I have seen suicidal plans before, but this feels like we're in over our heads."

That, and I know how fast things go south after the battle at Fort Steiger. I am not sending my team in either direction, d-mn it! They're good, but this is Walhart and Yen'fay we're talking about here. Those two are practically one-man-armies on their own.

Robin shakes her head. "Jack, I understand your concern, but this might be our best shot at scoring a decisive victory that will truly tip the scales of this war. The force attacking Fort Steiger needs to be as strong as possible with its small number, else we will fail. On the other hand, bringing too many into this force will reveal the ruse. We can't afford to add any more members to it."

I clench my fist in frustration. I know Robin's reasoning is solid, given the situation, but I also know how horribly wrong everything will turn out.

"You're concerned about our team." Lon'qu discerns – thus making him the first lieutenant to speak up in the war tent.

I blink in surprise before I rub my temples. "*Sigh* Yes, Lon'qu, I am."

"We've handled any mission we were deployed at with ease." Lon'qu points out. "This is what we trained our team for, Jack. At least have some faith in them."

"We trained our teammates to protect the people of Ylisse, Lon'qu." I stress. "I don't care how relevant this is for the cause of our team. I know how strong our team is, but these are the armies of the Conqueror they'll be up against, and I won't even be there by their side. For all I know, this could mean sending them to their deaths."

"Then you know exactly how every single military leader in history who was worth a d-mn felt whenever they sent out soldiers for a task they could not handle personally. This is war, Jack." Flavia interjects sternly. "No matter how well-trained the soldiers, no matter how good the equipment or tactics, there's no guarantee that the ones you send out will return home alive. There's a reason why commanders rarely establish strong bonds with anyone under their command but their most trusted subordinates; the guilt of knowing they sent trusted comrades to die could crush any man, no matter how strong they are. You, Chrom and Robin are the only exceptions I've met."

"So what? I'm just to distance myself from my team before I send them out?" I ask defiantly. "That would go against the whole point of why I accepted the rank of captain in the first place."

"I'm asking you to trust in our team." Lon'qu tells me. "Just like I trust that you will win your battle in time to reunite with us and lead the whole team once more."

I look around me. Expectant looks from all around.

Is this really the right choice? Can I trust my team to handle themselves against such a powerful foe without me to be there for them?

I put my hand on Lon'qu's shoulder. "If I go along with this plan, it means I will put the fate of the team in your hands, Lon'qu."

"Do you trust me with that task, Captain?" my lieutenant asks coolly.

I frown as I weigh my options – not that there's a lot to go on.

I tighten my hold on Lon'qu's shoulder by the tiniest bit. "Send this message to Hawke; I'm counting on you both."

Lon'qu places his hand on top of mine and nods wordlessly.

I nod back and let go of his shoulder before I face Say'ri with a determined look. "Count me in, Say'ri. Let's do this."

The Dynast Swordmaster nods pleased. "Fie! We could all be dead within the moon, yet all of you are willing to go with this bold plan. Your courage is…an inspiration… Aye, we will win this war yet, by gods!"


The rest of the day is spent organizing the bigger factions that will march towards Walhart and Yen'fay. Knowing that I will send my team against the southern faction still fills me with a sense of unease.

No. I've already committed myself to this plan along with everyone else. Backing out now would just complicate matters. All I can do now is to believe in my teammates. All of them.

We're currently handing out the necessary supplies for the march for the northern division. Between Anna's sheer bureaucratical skills and a small squad of my clones, procedures are going smoothly.

*Ka-BOOM!*

The campsite shakes from an explosion close to where the Shepherds sleep. I make another dozen clones to scan for potential attackers on the off-chance that the Valmese army has managed to sneak Assassins behind our lines while we were busy looking elsewhere.

So imagine my surprise when I notice that Henry's tent is gone and instead has scorch marks and a small, smoking crater in its place. The Sorcerer himself lies on the ground unmoving and covered in soot.

"Henry!"

Lissa runs up to Henry and kneels down to check up on him.

Henry groans as he regains consciousness. "Oh, ow… Guess adding those extra lines to the rune circle was a bad idea after all."

"You're telling me that explosion happened because you were researching?!" Lissa asks in disbelief while she casts a healing spell over the Sorcerer.

"Sure do." Henry replies cheerfully. "It's been a pet project of mine since a week or so. Can't complain about the power, but I had hoped the thing wouldn't go off in my face so quickly."

"You EXPECTED your experiment to go wrong?!"

"Hey, happens all the time in research. Though I had hoped it would take a few more trials before it happened. Now I have to trace back a few steps to make sure I figure out what I did wrong."

Lissa sighs exasperated. "What am I to do with you? I can't leave you alone for a day without you putting your life in danger like it doesn't even matter."

"But it does matter. At least, it does with you around, Lissa." Henry remarks.

Lissa blinks confused. "Huh? Why me?"

Henry rubs the back of his head. "Uh, what's the human phrase for this sort of thing again? Oh yeah. I've begun feeling…comfortable when you're close. Normally when I'm with humans, I'm always wary of them, no matter how friendly they may be. Comes with being raised by forest animals. But with you, I don't feel the need to be wary at all. In fact, I feel safe – safe enough that I can even sleep close to you, just like we did under that tree back before we went sailing here."

Lissa fidgets a bit. "I thought that was because you'd pulled gods-know-how many all-nighters trying to help me with my nightmares."

Henry nods. "Yeah, that was part of the reason. But now that I think back on it, I could've just left you under the tree and gone sleeping in a haystack or something. But I didn't. It's only recently that I've begun thinking on that. And that's when I noticed this was important. My head's usually filled with all the different ways I can kill someone. I never think about which humans I like sleeping around, because I've never met anyone. Not until I met you."

"What am I to you, then, your nanny?" Lissa huffs. "Look, as nice as it sounds that you're comfortable around me, that doesn't change the fact that you're still more likely to die by your own hand than because of someone who wants you dead. I can't stop thinking about you, because I always worry that you'll do something stupid like this when I'm not around to keep an eye on you. Do you have any idea how many times that's kept me awake at night, not knowing whether I'll even see you in one piece in the morning?"

Henry frowns concerned. "You couldn't sleep because you were worried? That's stupid."

"Like you would know! And it's your fault anyway!" Lissa snaps. "Unless you've gotten it through your thick skull, I care about you, Henry! I know any one of us could die in this war, at any time. But when I realize that it could happen to you, I feel like my stomach's about to twist into itself." A tear forms in Lissa's eye. "I'm scared. Scared of you dying more than anyone else, even Chrom. And I don't understand why."

"You know… I just realized that I've been thinking about you a lot lately too, Lissa." Henry muses as he looks up in the sky. "All my life, I've always kept away from humans in one way or another, never thinking much about them. But every time I was close to you, I felt happy that you were around. Seeing you walk away to do whatever doesn't involve me made me sad. I tried to figure out why you, of all humans, would latch onto my thought like that." The Sorcerer shrugs. "I eventually gave up thinking about it and went with the flow. But that's when I noticed something else. I never realized how lonely I felt without you until you were actually gone. This might sound crazy, but I never want to live away from you again, Lissa – ever."

Lissa's cheeks begin to turn red. "Uh, Henry…? Are you talking about what I think you're talking about?"

"I don't know about you, but I've decided that I want you as my mate." Henry declares. Then he frowns. "Wait, that's not what humans call it. What did the deer say it's called again? Something about it being different when it's a female… Aha! I want you as my wife!"

Lissa's healing spell stops abruptly as her face goes from slightly blushing to full-on boiling point.

"Y-your wife?! Henry, you're asking for my hand in marriage?!" Lissa all but shouts as steam pours from her ears.

Henry nods thoughtfully. "Yeah, something like that. Don't worry. The bears taught me all about the birds and the bees." The Sorcerer scratches his head. "Though the wolves kept barking that the part about bee larvae being a tasty treat was just a bear thing. And then the bears wouldn't stop growling about the alpha male thing just being a stupid setup by the wolves. And then they all got in a big fight."

Henry shrugs. "Meh, whatever. I've pretty much got the gist of it. You decide to live together and start a family, right?"

"Don't make it sound so simple!" Lissa protests. "Getting married means that you promise to love one another and stay with each other for as long as we're both alive."

Henry smiles. "I know! The swallows wouldn't stop pecking me on the head until I got it. It sounds great!"

"You… You really want to go through with it." Lissa remarks disbelieving.

"Of course I do. Do you?"

Lissa bites her lip before she nods. "I… I do." A smile grows on the War Cleric's lips. "I finally understand why you've been on my mind so much lately. I love you too, Henry. And I want to marry you."

Henry's smile matches Lissa's. "Awesome! This is gonna be great, Lissa! We're gonna make the best home ever together, with kids and everything!"

"Whoa, slow down there! One step at a time, Henry." Lissa tells the Sorcerer. "Things like these take time. There's no need to rush it."

Then the princess points at me. "And you will be the witness to our agreement, Jack."

I blink surprised. "Huh? Me?"

Lissa nods. "Yeah. In case Chrom reacts poorly to the news. Can't have Henry cut down before our wedding."

I give Lissa a dry look. "Chrom can't be that bad, can he?"

Lissa gives me an even dryer look. "You have no idea what went down after you left for your little trip around the continent. The day after you left, some pompous noble pointed at Lucina and told Emm he wanted to marry her. It took Emmeryn using her full authority to barely stop Chrom from gutting the fool like a fish. How do you think he'll react when he hears his own little sister's getting married?"

"Oh, come now. Chrom knows Henry. Unlike some no-name aristocrat, our favorite prince knows who you're getting involved with." I counter.

"Actually, Chrom's still a bit wary around me." Henry points out. "I think it had something to do with the Risen crows I let loose in camp a few days ago. Probably not one of my better ideas."

"Which is why we need you, Jack, to be there and confirm that me and Henry agreed to this marriage together." Lissa continues. "And to make sure Chrom won't try to gut Henry like a fish anyway, in case Cordelia's not there to stop him."

Come to think of it, Severa did mention back during our sailing voyage that Chrom was seriously protective of her whenever some pompous noble rudely asked for her hand in marriage while she was still as child. If what Lissa says is true, she's got a good point.

I scratch my head. "*Sigh* Fine. I'll be there in case Chrom protests. Heck, so long as you treat each other right, I have no reason to object to this. Congrats, by the way."

Lissa beams at me. "Thanks, Jack! Now, let's share the good news with everyone."

Henry matches her smile. "I'm right behind you – as soon as I'm sure I can walk without feeling like I'm about to keel over."

That snaps Lissa out of her joy. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry, Henry! Here, let me finish up treating you wounds first."

Lissa and Henry are now "Lovers"!

Well, that's one way to propose…


Timeskip: The next morning

Our camp's all packed up, and the army stands ready to march. Each division stands distinct from the others. I pay the southern division a quick visit to see my team.

And there they are, led by Lon'qu.

"Team, I won't sugarcoat what I'm about to say." I tell my teammates. "What you're about to do may be the most dangerous mission you've been sent out to since this unit was founded. You'll be facing against the strongest armies the empire of Valm has at its disposal, led by one of its strongest generals. But I have faith. Faith that you will stand strong in the battles to come. Faith that, even though I'm not there, you will fight like I never left. And faith that we will meet once more. Until then, we all have our roles to play, and mine is in another division. I look forward to the day when we can swap stories of our travels through this continent. Until then, Godspeed to you all!"

My teammates stand at attention. "Yes, Captain Jack!"

I nod with a proud smile. A quick glance at Hawke shows that Lon'qu delivered the message. Alright, this is all I can do for the team. The rest is in their hands. Here's to hoping that we'll head south as soon as we're done at Fort Steiger.


Our marching strategy this time is a bit more elaborate compared to the previous strategies Robin has devised before.

First up are the three main divisions that our army is split up in. The northern mainly consists of Feroxi soldiers, seeing as the climate in northern Valm is somewhat colder – which in turn is no problem for an army of soldiers who live in a country that's mainly covered in snow for long periods of time.

Then there's the southern division, which mainly consists of Ylissean soldiers, as well as my team, led by Lon'qu and Hawke. Their task is fighting against Yen'fay's division.

And then there's the middle faction, consisting of the fighters recommended by Say'ri during that war meeting where the whole idea of splitting our army was first presented. Our main objective is to strike Fort Steiger and seize it as fast as we can. We then make the stronghold our new base of operations while sending help to either front as the situation demands.

But there's more. To make this plan even have a shot, Robin picked out a few soldiers among our ranks, plus several of our key contacts with the Resistance, and made a fourth covert division. They have two tasks. The first task is to connect with the other factions of the Resistance spread throughout the continent and gather soldiers and supplies to bolster the northern and southern divisions. The second is to spread misinformation and rumors in every major town where communication lines in the empire intersect. This will aid in Robin's little misinformation plot to weaken the imperial armies from within as much as possible. Of note is that both Gaius and Kellam (we almost forgot him) are part of this division. The idea is that they will meet up with us at Fort Steiger at a later point in time. Guess Tharja and Miriel will have to make do without their husbands for a while.

And thus comes the marching routes for each division. The northern and southern divisions will obviously march straight towards their objectives, seeing as they have a lot of ground to cover. Meanwhile, our division will take a turn to the south and then march in a wide curve westward to Fort Steiger. The reason for this maneuver is twofold on its own and connected to the fact that our objective is the closest. The first reason is because spreading those rumors and pieces of false information will need time before they have any notable effect. If we delay our attack a bit, that gives our covert division time to spread the disruptive messages and (in theory) mess up Walhart's communication network something fierce. This points towards the other reason of our roundabout marching. The plan is to strike at all three of Walhart's main divisions at the same time. Since our division would reach its target faster than the others, we need to stall our time of attack a bit to give the others time to reach their targets. At the same time, we have to stay on the move to make sure that the tracks we leave in the places where we do stay will be as unnoticeable as possible.


So it is, then, that I find myself marching with the Shepherds, just like back in the last war. Only this time, we're accompanied by several of our future children, both khans and Say'ri. According to our local Swordmaster, we should arrive at a hamlet soon. This hamlet in particular supposedly holds deep historical connections to Valm's past, as it served to guide both the first king and queen of the united empire back then during a time when both were in dire need of guidance.

While we're marching through the woods surrounding the hamlet, Lissa sidles up to Lucina.

"Say, Lucina? I'm still around in your future, right?" the War Cleric asks her eldest niece. "So, um… What am I like?"

"Well… You're warm and kind, for starters. Even amid the darkness and desolation. Your smile serves as a beacon of hope for all those around you." Lucina reminiscences. Then her face falls. "Or, at least, it did, before your passing. Your death was mourned by many. Some even said you were every bit as radiant as the late Exalt Emmeryn."

That makes Lissa blush. "Oh, geez! I'd better get cracking if I want to live up to that."

"That shouldn't be too hard, Lissa. Your smile always brightens my day." Henry adds happily.

"Aw, that's so sweet of you, Henry." Lissa replies and hugs her fiancé.

Severa fidgets as she walks. "Man, I'm still getting used to seeing Aunt Lissa and Uncle Henry together again. It's been years since I last saw them like this."

Lucina nods with a sad smile. "I know the feeling. Uncle Henry's death was a devastating blow for all of us – especially their son."

Lissa perks up at the last part. "Oh, I have a son?! Tell me more!"

"Well… His name is Owain, for starters." Lucina replies.

"Aw, cute!" Lissa gushes. "So what's he like?"

Severa sweats nervously. "I, uh… If he's anything like we remember, maybe we should hold off on that…"

Lucina shakes her head. "No, Severa. I think it is best to let Aunt Lissa know." The blue-haired princess grimaces. "…No matter how uncomfortable the thought makes me."

Severa sighs. "Oh gods… Might as well get it over with."

"So? Out with it!" Lissa presses as she's practically in both future princesses' faces.

"He's… Well, he's quite colorful…" Lucina begins nervously.

Severa rolls her eyes. "Understatement of the year."

Lissa rubs her chin frowning. "Hmm… Now I'm not so sure if I want to know what that means."

"Well, at least he's not boring, right?" Henry asks hopefully.

Severa bites her lip. "You could say that… Never a dull moment with Owain around, that's for sure."

Henry giggles. "Sounds great! I think I like him already. And we haven't even had him yet, Lissa!"

"Easy for you to say, Henry." Lissa huffs. "You're not the one who has to push him out. Do you have any idea how painful childbirth is for the mother?"

The Sorcerer shrugs. "I can make an educated guess. You wouldn't believe how foulmouthed female bears get whenever they give birth to their cubs. And they always squeeze out two. Did you know bears have a separate vocabulary, just for cursing while giving birth?"

Miriel adjusts her glasses. "I am torn between wanting to study this vocabulary for the sake of science, and trying to erase the very thought for the sake of decency and civilized behavior. Such crude language should never be known to man."

Laurent places a comforting hand on Miriel's shoulder. "If it is any consolation, Mother, you did indeed get started on a dictionary in the future. Your…curiosity simply won out in the end. Though you left your work unfinished."

Miriel frowns. "I never leave my work unfinished, Laurent. What could possibly make me abandon that task at-" Miriel freezes upon noticing a pained grimace on her son's face. She soon mimics his expression. "Ah, I see… My apologies. That must have dredged up some painful memories."

Laurent shakes his head. "That does not matter now, when you are right in front of me. Just know that I will make sure it stays that way, whether you attempt to finish what your future self started or not."

"Well, bear language or not, there's something else I'm curious about." Lissa interjects. "Does he have…"

Lucina blinks at her aunt's sudden silence. "Yes?"

Lissa shakes her head with an accepting smile. "No… Never mind."

"Are you sure, Aunt Lissa?" Lucina asks confused. "You were so curious not even a minute ago."

"Sorry, I just remembered I promised to help Chrom with something. Bye!"

With that, Lissa runs off.

Lucina watches her aunt run towards her father, still bewildered. "What could she have wanted to know?"

"I think I know." Severa answers. "Remember that one thing that kept bothering her back in our time?"

Lucina frowns. "Bothering her? True, she had her fair share of trouble – and I am still amazed how little Uncle Henry had to do with that – but could you be more specifi-" Lucina's eyes widen in realization. She glances in the direction Lissa ran off to. "Ah, of course. If Owain had never been born, I don't know if she ever would have found closure on that matter."

"Yet another thing we have our cousin to thank for, and he didn't even have to try his usual thing for that one." Severa remarks while rubbing her temples. "As if he didn't already stir things up enough, just by being around."


"Say'ri, is the hamlet close?" Chrom asks after some more wandering through the woods.

The Swordmaster nods. "Aye. It should be just beyond these trees."

We expected a peaceful settlement waiting for us beyond the foliage.

Instead, we come to a town in an uproar, with bandits running about and trying to pillage the townspeople. Seriously, Walhart. Put some law enforcement on your conquered territory! Is there any wonder there are people who are dissatisfied with your rule?!

"This is it, Boss!" one of the bandits shouts gleefully to their leader. "That treasure's here; I'm sure of it!"


Gecko Lvl 48 Class: Assassin


"You'd better be right this time, Gumshoe!" the bandit leader growls before he zips ahead, grabs a maiden by the collar and presses her to a house wall with a dagger to her throat. "All right, woman. Speak! Where'd ya put it?"

"I've never heard of no treasures here! Honest I haven't!" the poor villager sobs fearfully.

"Oh? Then I guess we're done here." Gecko tosses her aside, right among several of his men. "She's useless, boys. Kill her. And then get to looting this town. I refuse to leave emptyhanded."

The ruffian from before licks his lips hungrily. "Aye, Boss."


Quest alert
Side quest: Scion of Legend
While on your way to Fort Steiger, you come across a hamlet under attack from – Who else? – bandits. You know the drill by now; drive them off, cut them down, just do anything to stop the pillaging. Also, you might want to have a look at the local militia. They have a most remarkable sword wielder in their ranks.
Objective: Defeat all bandits.
Rewards: 10 000 EXP, 10 000 gold


Say'ri gets ready to draw her Windcleaver. "This is bad. We must hurry to her aid, fast!"

"Halt, fiends!" a young man shouts from further within the village.

Everyone's attention turns to the owner of the voice.

The young white-haired man is garbed in a yellow fur coat that's surprisingly popular among many sword wielders. There's a chest plate and armguards made of leather for added protection, while still allowing for easy mobility. And to complete the ensemble are the tan pants and black boots. But the most eye-catching feature are the orange pointy sunshades over his eyes.

And then, of course, there are the words I can see floating over his head.


Owain Lvl 35 Class: Myrmidon


The young Myrmidon walks up to the bandits, Killing Edge resting over his shoulder and with a posture that just screams confidence.

"Hey! Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey! You've got guts, prowling around in this peaceful little hamlet like you own the d-mn place! You and your merry little band of ugly underlings! You know that?!"

Severa facepalms. "Is he for real?! It's even worse than last time!"

"Huh? Who the Devil are you?" one of the bandits asks menacingly while pulling out a Steel Axe.

"Who am I, you ask? I'm gonna tell you, so you'd better clean out those ears and pay attention!" the young sword wielder replies with a smug grin on his face. A quick twirl on the sheathe brings his Killing Edge to his side, ready to be drawn at any moment. But instead of drawing the deadly blade, he thrusts his finger skywards. The sunlight reflects off his shades with such intensity that it gives off an audible ping.

BGM: Steel Samurai (Cadenza remix), Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney music

"The reputation of the Justice Cabal echoes across the realm! When people talk about their fearless and awe-inspiring Scion of Legend, they're talking about me; Owain!"

Everyone present at the scene looks at Owain in stunned silence.

Brady nods. "Yep, that's him, alright. No one can fake a speech like that."

Cynthia heaves herself up on Frederick's shoulders with countless sparkles glittering in front of her excited face. "Did somebody say "Justice Cabal"?!"

"This guy's got rocks in his head." one of the bandits mutters dryly. "All right then, boy. Guess you're the first to-" *Shing!*

Owain passes the bandit in the blink of an eye. By the time either the bandits or the nearby townspeople can even react, he's already sheathed his Killing Edge again.

The bandit collapses with a surprised gurgle from the blood flooding his throat.

"I should have warned you, I bear a terrible power in my right hand. It has cursed me to wield the blade without peer, but if I ever give in to its dark power, no one – friend or foe – will be left standing after my rampage ends." Owain whispers to the bandits.

That makes the ruffians step back.

"The h-ll?! Did any of you see him move?!" another bandit shouts shocked.

"Clearly, he's got some skills to back up that ridiculous rambling." Gecko growls while drawing a Silver Sword. "No matter. We'll kill him, then we pillage this hamlet."

Owain puts himself between the bandits and the frightened village maiden. "Go. I'll hold them off."

The young woman nods and hurries away from the scene.

Then Owain faces the bandits. "As for you, you will all atone for your deeds in the eternal hellfire of perdition!" As the Myrmidon grasps his Killing Edge again, winds billow around him. "Behold!"

BGM ends

A slight fizzle sparks under the fur coat covering his right hand. Whatever Owain planned to do stops right then and there.

The Myrmidon looks at his hand in alarm. "Huh?! Not now, of all times! Come on, sword hand! Back me up here! I'm sorry about calling you a cursed power!"

A massive collective sweatdrop forms in the atmosphere.

Chrom groans. "I am so lost right now. Does he intend to fight those bandits or not?"

Henry giggles. "Hee hee. He's funny. I like him."

"I don't care how, just shut this nutcase up." Gecko orders his lackeys. "And start pillaging already! He's only one man! He'll go down soon enough."

BGM: Vs Ho-oh (Hito Ookami's remix), Pokémon Heart Gold / Soul Silver music

"Not on my watch!" Lissa shouts as she pulls out Betty and runs into the fray.

"What? Lissa, what are you doing?!" Chrom shouts after his sister.

Sparks dance over the giant mallet head as Lissa jumps and brings her weapon down like a wyvern on the hunt.

"Clear a path, everyone! Zeus Hammer!"

*Krrzzt! Kra-BOOM!*

The Zeus Hammer strikes the ground between the two sides like a literal thunder bolt and causes everyone close by to scatter out of sheer survival instinct.

Owain gawks at the blonde War Cleric. "M-Mom?!"

Lissa shoulders Betty and smiles at Owain. "I thought you could use some help. Don't worry. I'm an old hand at taking down bandits."

"First a nutcase who can't even use a sword properly, and now a delicate girl holding a giant hammer?!" an Archer shouts bewildered. "What is wrong with this da-" *WHAM!*

"Never call me delicate." Lissa huffs after she sent the poor ruffian flying.

I draw Harvest Moon and glance at Robin with some uncertainty. "So, uh… Do we join the fray? Those two seem to handle themselves pretty well right now."

"Then we should head further into the hamlet and stop the bandits robbing the people there." Chrom replies as he draws Falchion. "Shepherds! Protect the townspeople!"

"Yes, Captain Chrom!" the rest of us respond as we charge in.

Since the bandits have a head start, I decide to leave the front of the village to the others and take to the rooftops instead. I notice that the bandits move among the houses in groups of four to five, each of them ganging up and trying to break into the locked houses.

*Screech!*

Oh, so they have Wyvern Riders too? Been a while since I fought one.

The mounted ruffian commands his wyvern into an attack run with his Steel Axe at the ready.

*Clang!*

Not that it's enough to knock me out of the sky.

"Frontal assault? Against me? Really?" I ask incredulous as I push back against the axe.

The bandit smirks. "Who said I'm the one who'll off you?"

The wyvern opens its maw and takes a deep breath. The telltale glow of fire breath shines from the depths of its throat.

"Sorry about this." I tell the wyvern before I grab an apple from my bag (Because why not?) and shove it right down the gullet.

The eyes of both wyvern and rider bug out at my move. The wyvern's throat momentarily bulges out like a balloon before it returns to normal. The wyvern falls to the ground unconscious with smoke leaking from its nostrils, all while the rider screams bloody murder.

"Did you just shove an apple down a wyvern's throat?" Cordelia asks in disbelief as she flies close to me.

I shrug. "I wanted to stop its fire breath before it roasted me. Had to improvise."

The Falcon Knight shakes her head. "Only you, Jack…"

I give her a sour look. "Hey, how about you reprimand my fighting style…"

*Thwip*

I lash out my hand and snatch the arrow headed for Cordelia right out of the air. "…when you pay attention to bow users at all times again?"

Cordelia flips Gradivus and tosses the legendary spear right past my ear.

*Shink!* "Guah!"

Nailed the Assassin who shot the arrow, right in the chest.

Cordelia summons Gradivus back with a smirk. "I'll consider it."

I smirk back. "Well played, milady. Well played."

Seeing as pretty much every bow wielding ruffian within hamlet proper has it out for us, I decide to head down and take care of things on ground level instead. Inigo and Olivia are fighting a Dark Mage in tandem while weaving dance moves in between. Their choreography is smooth for being an on-the-fly arrangement, as evidenced by the fact that they actually manage to lead the Dark Mage along with the moves.

Olivia twirls in from the side after Inigo makes a hasty retreat. She turns her pirouette into a low spin and jumps before she puts all the momentum into a single deadly slash across the ruffian's chest. The Dark Mage retaliates with a hasty Fire spell, only to miss as Inigo grabs Olivia with Hermit Purple and pulls her back. Then the dancing Mercenary swaps places with his mother and points at the Dark Mage with a dramatic pose.

"Your next words will be: That's it, I'm turning you both to ashes!"

"That's it, I'm turning you both to ashes!" the Dark Mage shouts and starts chanting a stronger fire-elemental spell. He stops mid-chant as he realizes what just happened. "Huh?"

*Shink!*

Inigo smirks as his Steel Sword sinks into the ruffian's chest. "Never chant in a hectic situation."

*Clang!*

Sparks fly as Vaike clashes axes with a Warrior. Despite the dangerous blows constantly canceling each other out, Vaike grins confidently with each swing.

"What's with that stupid grin?! Get serious and die already!" the outlaw Warrior shouts and takes a step back to wind up an even stronger swing.

The swing goes wide as Vaike ducks at the last moment and shoulder charges the ruffian. The impact knocks the Warrior off his feet and on the ground. By the time he gets his bearing again, he notices that Vaike's grabbed him by the legs.

"What the- Hey, let go!"

"That's enough back talk!" Vaike declares and starts spinning.

The blond Berserker goes faster with each revolution, until the Warrior in his grip is almost a blur. Vaike throws his opponent with a war cry and, despite how hard it is to aim while spinning that fast, nails a Swordmaster with the flying Warrior.

And that's when Frederick descends on the two outlaws horse-first and has them pounded into the ground.

Severa bats aside an Elfire spell and jumps back to dodge the follow-up Elthunder spell right behind it. She'd be fine facing just one of the Mages in front of her, but numbers win over raw ability in this case. The fire Mage takes another shot and unleashes an Arcfire spell this time. Severa blocks the stream of fire with her sword and looks ready to return it to sender. I have a different idea, though.

"Toss it up!" I shout to my redheaded student before I jump into the air.

Severa nods and shifts her blade to swing upwards and sends the fire stream into the air. I make a Shadow clone in the air and then climb even higher with Gale step. At the same time, my clone catches the magic fire and molds it into a sphere through the basic principal of the Rasengan. The stream of fire quickly turns into an orange glowing orb of flames that my clone tosses up to me. While that happened, I concentrated wind magic around my fist. I rear back my wind coated fist just as the sphere reaches my height.

In the wise words of Alpharad:

Forward. AERIAL!

My fist slams into the sphere from above and sends it back to the earth like a miniature meteor.

*Boom!*

And, conveniently enough, right at the two Mages who were busy gawking at my awesome moves.

By the time I land, Severa gives me an accusing glare.

"That was mine!"

I grin uncaringly. "Not apologizing. Nice teamwork, by the way."

Kjelle grunts as she slides back from blocking a Hammer blow from a Wyvern Rider.

"Could you two argue when we're not fighting?!" the Knight admonishes us.

The Wyvern Rider comes in for another attack run, confident in taking down Kjelle. Too bad he's got terrible timing.


Union Strike: Sky Drop

"Ready, Kjelle?!" I shout as I sidle up next to the Knight.

Kjelle digs her feet down. "Have at you!"

The Wyvern Rider swings his Hammer down. Only this time, I counteract the swing with Telekinesis to the point that Kjelle easily bats aside the Hammer with a swing of her shield. While the Wyvern Rider is distracted, I land a knee in his face and knock him off the wyvern. Kjelle is already waiting underneath the draconic mount and swings her lance at the falling ruffian with enough force to juggle him. I cut in and send kicks upwards to keep the combo going. Then I grab the Wyvern Rider and toss him into the air before I charge up a Hurricane fist.

"Get ready for the finisher."

"Too easy!" Kjelle replies and tenses her legs before she leaps into the sky.

As the Wyvern Rider comes back down, I send him skywards once more with my Hurricane fist. The ruffian shoots into the air like an arrow before he smacks right into Kjelle's armored chest.

"This ends here!"

Kjelle grabs the Wyvern Rider and angles his body to point upside down before she locks her legs and arms around his own limbs. That's when they begin their descent back to the ground. At the same time, I use Telekinesis and grab hold of the falling pair.

"You're going six feet under!"

I swipe my arm downwards, causing their descent to accelerate even faster.

*Boom!*

The ground briefly shakes from the heavy impact. By the time the dust settles, the Wyvern Rider is buried to the waist in the ground and completely unmoving.

Kjelle brushes some dirt off her armor. "Hardly a fair match."

I shrug. "Was it meant to be?"


*Vrrm!*

Rose backflips away from a Flux spell and then tosses Kirby at an incoming Thunder spell to block it. By the time the plush toy lands back in her hand, Rose has a spell tome out and makes a quick chant.

"Here's how you do it. Elthunder!"

Rose's lighting spell gets blocked by the Mage earlier by casting a Thunder spell as a wall, thus neutralizing the charge. Then his accompanying Dark Mage tags in right as he finishes his own chant.

"Too slow! Waste!"

Rose frantically dodges the barrage of dark orbs that fly her way. Some she's forced to bat aside with Kirby, but she'll get overwhelmed at this rate.

Right as one orb is about to hit her, a wall of paper rises up and takes the hit instead. The paper whirls around and then scatters to reveal Laurent with his own tome opened and glowing with channeled mana.

"Do be careful, Rose." the young Mage admonishes.

"Sure, rub it in, will you?" my daughter huffs before she sidles up next to Laurent and levitates Kirby over her fingertip. The spell tome's already stashed away. "So, how are we doing this?"

The pages in Laurent's tome flutter. "I propose a temporary alliance. Is your mana resonance still up to speed?"

Rose smirks and gets in a combat stance. "Oh, we're doing that. I'm game."

Laurent nods. "Very well. Let us begin."

The ruffian spellcasters open hostilities with a Flux spell and Thunder spell respectively. Laurent responds by raising another wall of paper to cover himself and Rose. The spells detonate and scatter the papers, only to reveal that neither my student nor my daughter are there anymore by the time the dust settles.

The Dark Mage looks around frantically while his partner chants and holds another lighting-elemental spell at the ready. His eyes widen as he looks up and notices a white sphere flying at them at high speeds.

"Move!" he shouts before he dives out of the way.

The white sphere hits the ground hard enough to kick up some dirt. Rose lands at the point of impact moments later, casting a quick earth spell to launch the sphere up. Then she kicks the glowing object at the Mage. Said spellcaster dives to the side, causing the sphere to hit a house wall and bounce off while leaving spider web cracks. Rose is already in the air, ready to cycle kick the sphere at the vulnerable bandit.

"Oh no you don't!" the bandit Dark Mage shouts as he prepares a spell of his own to intercept Rose.

That's when dozens of sheets of paper fly at him, striking like hail and making him lose his concentration. Laurent reappears in another shroud of paper and moves his free arm in a circular motion before he casts an Elwind spell at the staggered Dark Mage.

At the same time, Rose's kick connects with the white sphere and sends it right in the bandit Mage's solar plexus. The light disperses after the impact to reveal that it was Kirby coated in mana.

The Dark Mage growls and forces his way past Rose with a daring point-blank Flux spell, all for the sake of getting close to his partner.

"These brats are getting on my nerves." the ruffian growls. "Never thought we'd have to pull out our ace in the hole for these two."

His partner nods. "Don't see much else we can do. Ready?"

The Dark Mage grins. "You even need to ask?"

The Mage swaps out his lightning tome for a fire one. His partner takes the initiative and chants as a dark purple rune circle glows under their feet.

The Dark Mage's grin grows even wider. "Witness the true terror of when spellcasters combine their might!"

His partner Mage finishes his chant right as the glow of the rune circle intensifies. Flames rise around the edges of the runes circle and gradually turn black.

Rose glances at Laurent. "You got this, right?"

Laurent faces the incoming spell combo with an unflinching glare. "I prepared for this the moment they got in position."

The ruffian Mage snaps his tome shut. "Ready!"

The Dark Mage claps his hands together. The glow of the rune circle flashes red for a moment before the flames separate from their base and float independently like burning black spheres. In response, Laurent begins chanting while the pages of his tome flutter again. Sheets of paper glowing yellow begin to fly around him and Rose. All the while, Rose holds Kirby aloft and frowns as she concentrates her mana into a red rune circle spinning underneath their feet, matching the dark purple one under the bandits.

"That won't help!" the bandit Dark Mage shouts triumphantly as he points his hands at Rose and Laurent. "Hellfire!"

The black fire orbs speed off against the opposing mage pair. Laurent steps in front of Rose and snaps his tome shut before he crosses his arms in front of him and moves the papers around them into a defensive formation in the front.

And that's when the bandit Dark Mage makes a few hand gestures that causes the black flame orbs to fly around the paper shield.

*Boom!*

"Ha! Suckers!" the bandits shout triumphantly.

"That's what you think!" Rose's voice shouts from thin air.

My daughter jumps out from a shimmer in the air, indicating that she was coated in a cloaking spell. More importantly, she holds Laurent's tome in her free hand.

"I've got more where that came from!" the bandit Dark Mage growls and directs more fire orbs against my daughter.

In response, Rose opens Laurent's tome. Hundreds of paper sheets fly from the book (while the page counts strangely stays unaffected) and intercept the flame orbs through sheer numbers. And then Rose chucks the tome through the opening and nails the opposing Dark Mage in the face. The tome barely bounces off his face before more paper sheets fly out from its contents and surround the two bandits.

"Rose! Now!" Laurent shouts.

Both bandits look in shock from the flying paper to the smoke cloud from where their combined spell hit earlier. Laurent's still standing, albeit smoking in a few places, with his hand stretched out. Then the paper that got stuck on the bandit Dark mage earlier floats off his body and joins the myriad of paper already flying around. Every single sheet begins to glow red.

The same shade of red as the rune circle that reappeared under Rose's feet.

"Is it hot, or is it just me?" Rose asks grinning as she raises her hand. "Crown Fire!"

A vortex of flames erupts from each and every paper sheet. Though each one is small, the attack is practically omnidirectional and traps the two bandits in a dome of swirling flames. By the time the spell dies out, both bandit spellcasters have been burnt to a crisp.

BGM ends.

Laurent groans as he goes down on a knee.

"Hey, are you okay?" Rose asks concerned as she checks up on the Mage. "Seriously, what were you thinking, tanking a combined spell like that?"

"I knew I had to take some measure of risk if we were to execute our plan successfully." Laurent replies while wincing in pain. "I would rather take that role over you. Though I admit I did not expect their combined attack to be so potent."

Rose rolls her eyes. "I swear, you can be just as bad as Dad when I'm around. Come on, let's find Brady so we can patch you up."

Laurent nods as he accepts Rose's hand. "That would be for the best, yes." As the two spellcasters get ready to find their resident Priest, Laurent turns to me. "I take it you can handle the battles to come here without me, Master?"

I nod. "Sure. Just make sure you get those wounds looked at. Oh, and make sure to keep a healthy distance from Rose after that. Wouldn't want you two to get any funny ideas together."

Laurent's face lights up like a lamp.

"Dad! We're not like that!" Rose yells indignant.

I wave off my daughter's denial. "You'd be surprised how relationships can develop, Rose. I mean, I used to be absolutely clueless about how much I love your mother, even as you sort-of aunt blatantly told me we interact like mates. After all that, it took a confrontation with Flavia in a locked room before the truth finally sank in."

"Yeah, well not everyone's got a mind that's denser than lead." Rose huffs before she helps Laurent along and leaves.

Kjelle gives me a skeptic look. "Really? That actually happened?"

I scratch the back of my head. "Definitely one of my more embarrassing moments. Still worth the wait in the end, though. I'm married to the love of my life, I have two great children, and a place that I can call home without reservations. Life is good – when I'm not busy beating bandits into the ground for the six millionth time, just because the local ruler can't enforce basic public security and law. Now, are we going to wrap this mess up and be on our way or not?"

"We need to find their leader and put him down first." Kjelle points out. "After that, the underlings should disperse."

"You sound like you've done this before – not that you're wrong by any means." I remark as I begin walking in search for more bandits to smack down.

I mean, if I keep at it, I should have their leader in my sights eventually, right? That's usually how Fire Emblem maps work.

Though I guess the fighting noises coming from somewhere close to the hamlet's outskirts would be a good place to start looking.

And that's where Kjelle and I find Lissa confronting Gecko and three of his underlings; a Barbarian, a Myrmidon and a Dark Mage. Despite the clear disadvantage in numbers, Lissa's putting up a strong front. But there's no mistaking the scuff marks, the sweat and the fact that her breathing seems just a little bit heavier.

"Gads, as if the little girl swinging around that giant hammer like it's a lightning bolt wasn't enough." the bandit leader growls.

To accentuate his point, I notice that one of the Myrmidon's arms are hanging limply. Lissa must've scored a good blow on that arm with Betty.

The War Cleric smirks. "What's the matter? Can't beat one delicate girl, even with all four of you at once?"

A vein on Gecko's forehead throbs. "That's it, I've had it with you! Kill her!"

Lissa braces herself as the Barbarian and Myrmidon charge her. Though her expression grows confident as she notices a shadow growing right in their path.

"I shall save you!" Owain shouts as he lands between his mother and the bandits and lands a clean blow across the chest of the Barbarian thanks to his sneak attack.

"Hey, nice save!" Lissa commends.

Owain turns around and gives Lissa a thumbs-up (complete with gleaming sunshades). "Of course! A real man is always there when he's needed! Leave these villains to me."

As the two ruffians retreat, Gecko gives Owain an incredulous look. "You think you can take on all four of us at once?! I knew you had rocks for brains, but this is just ridiculous! Injuries or not, victory is impossible for you!"

Owain whirls around and points at Gecko. "Don't you tell me what's impossible, you rat! When logic dictates that I will lose, I'll just kick logic to the curb! Doing the impossible is my specialty!"

"Is that so?" Gecko asks smirking. "Then let's put that to the test. He's all yours!"

The Barbarian and Myrmidon charge Owain with their weapons ready. As the Barbarian comes within striking distance, he swings his axe diagonally. Owain ducks under the swing and responds with a lightning fast slash of his own. His follow-up gets interrupted by the Myrmidon trying to bisect him with a horizontal swing. Owain jumps over the sword and lands a kick on the Myrmidon before he springs off and gets some distance from his two adversaries. The two bandits glance at each other and nod before they renew their attack on the young Myrmidon. Owain ducks and weaves between their swings, all while keeping a calm look on his face. The moment the Barbarian overextends his swing and gets in the way of his partner, Owain lashes out and scores a clean hit on his shoulder. The Barbarian's arm hangs limp as he shouts in pain from the precise blow, which likely severed whatever tendons and muscles were necessary to move the arm freely. The Myrmidon growls and swings wildly in an attempt to avenge his fellow ruffian, only for Owain to dodge the swings with greater ease, now that he has one less opponent to focus on.

Duck, parry, sidestep, roll, poke the chest, jump, duck while pivoting in, flip the blade and stab backwards!

*Shink!* "Guah!"

Owain pulls out his Killing Edge and flips it back in a normal grip right as the bandit Myrmidon collapses from the stab through the gut. Then Owain charges the Barbarian and lays it on thick with a barrage of sword slashes.

"Owain, look out!" Lissa shouts alarmed.

Only now does Owain notice the purple rune circle under his feet. He barely has time to swear before an explosion of dark magic erupts with him at ground zero. Owain skids backwards, panting and with purple sparks dancing across his body.

The Dark Mage smirks as he chants for another spell. At the same time, the Barbarian charges in with the intent of splitting Owain's attention (and possibly his whole body). Owain has none of it as he dashes to meet the Barbarian head-on. As the two clash, the rune circle follows Owain's movements. The glow grows steadily brighter.

"He's toast." the Dark Mage declares confidently…

…until he notices another shadow growing around him.

"Don't forget me!" Lissa shouts as she descends with Betty humming with restrained lightning magic.

The Dark Mage curses and jumps back moments before Lissa's hammer hits the ground hard enough that I can feel the impact from where I'm standing. Then the War Cleric surprises everyone as she pulls Betty out of the ground and resumes her attack faster than someone of her build would suggest she would be capable of.

The Dark Mage risks a glance behind Lissa and spots the moment Owain lands a critical blow on the Barbarian and cuts him down for good.

"Screw this!" the Dark Mage shouts as snaps his fingers.

The power in the rune circle under Owain's feet spikes before yet another explosion of dark magic catches him. On the other hand, that maneuver gives Lissa the opening to wind up a massive swing and send the Dark Mage right through an entire house.

"I will not fall here! That treasure is mine!" Gecko shouts as he charges Lissa with his Silver Sword ready to slice her head off.

Lissa does her best to stave off the attack, but the difference in speed is too great for the blonde princess to keep up with her attacker. Meanwhile, Owain is down on one knee and is breathing heavily after he tanked the full brunt of two spells that blindsided him. Wait a minute. There's more to it that just the dark magic. Why is he holding his right hand as if that's the source of his pain?

"Come on… Of all the times for my sword hand to act up, it has to be now? Curse it all!" the Myrmidon laments.

Now that I take a closer look, there's a symbol on the back of Owain's right hand. It depicts a sword wreathed in black flames with a pair of demonic wings growing out of the guard.

Wait… Owain's sword hand is a thing?!

Kjelle gets ready to charge in. "This is bad. At this rate, we could lose Lissa!"

I put my arm in front of the Knight. "No, wait. There might be another way. If what I can see from Owain is correct, we're about to witness something spectacular."

Kjelle looks at me incredulous. "You can't be serious! How is Lissa ever going to survive an onslaught like that?!"

I smirk. "Like this." I take a deep breath. "Owain! Grit your teeth!"

Everyone stops and looks at me funny, Owain in particular.

"S-Sensei?"

"Did I ever train you to wuss out the moment things get tough?!" I yell at the bewildered Myrmidon. "There's someone you need to protect, and she's standing right in front of you, fighting for both her own life and yours. Are you going to writhe on the ground because you can't even control your own hand, or will you man up already and take charge?!"

Owain looks between me and Lissa. Then he sucks in a breath and clenches his teeth.

BGM: Strength of a thousand men, Two steps from Hell

White wisps of mana radiate from Owain's body as he slowly stands back up.

"What the- You're supposed to be out of this fight!" Gecko yells in disbelief.

"Who the h-ll do you think I am, bozo?" Owain growls as he grabs his Killing Edge. "I am the Scion of Legend, the man who represents the hope of all mankind in their darkest hour. My blade is the blade that will cleave the heavens, the darkness, and clear a path towards a brighter tomorrow!"

Owain launches himself at Gecko with a burst of speed that tears up the ground in the process. The impact of their clash pushes the Assassin all the way out of the village before he finds his footing again and pushes back. A flick of the arm causes the two sword wielders to disengage before they slash at each other in a deadly dance of blades.

Gecko swings his Silver Sword in a reverse grip, targeting any opening at a vital point that he can find. This puts Owain somewhat at the defensive to avoid having anything important cut in half. But between those blocks, the Myrmidon strikes back with strength and ferocity that he didn't show before.

Gecko ducks under such a swing and responds with a kick at Owain's midsection. Owain slides back from the blow, staggered more out of surprise than pain. He only barely manages to stop Gecko's sword from slashing his throat open. Gecko rears back his free arm to accomplish his goal with the blades mounted on the side of the forearm instead. But that alleviates the pressure from his sword arm enough for Owain to slip into his guard and shoulder tackle the Assassin back.

Owain takes a step back and takes a breath before he thrusts at the staggered Assassin with a war cry. Gecko blocks, but after all the blocked strikes from Owain's fierce swordplay, the Myrmidon's thrust shatters the Silver Sword into pieces.

Gecko stumbles back in shock. "Wh-what are you?!"

Owain raises his Killing Edge skywards with both hands. "Radiant…"

The white mana expands to surround the Killing Edge as well. "…Dawn…"

Then it shoots out of the blade and turns into a pillar of light that pierces the clouds above.

Gecko's eyes widen in fear. "N-Nooo! Stop!"

"BREEEAAAKEEEER!"

As Owain swings down his sword, the light around his blade erupts into a massive white beam of power that drowns the world in light and noise. Everyone present shield their eyes from the shockwave caused by Owain's move.

When the dust finally settles, there's no sign of Gecko. There's no forest, no animals, heck, not even any rocks left in that direction. There's just a massive trench left behind from Owain's swing.

"Holy crow…" Lissa mutters in awe.

Owain slides the Killing Edge back into its sheath. "This is the power of Owain Dark; the strength of a thousand men."

*Clink*

BGM ends


Destructive Finish!

Gecko has been obliterated!

Owain has leveled up!


That…was far more than I expected from him. Seriously, did future-me really teach the guy how to do that, or did he figure it out on his own?

And right out of the blue, the mana surrounding Owain disperses and the Myrmidon is back on his knees.

"Owain!" Lissa shouts in alarm as she runs up to check up on him.

I think back on the way he fought before I hold back the urge to face palm. Of course Owain would be on the verge of collapse. He just fought his way through several bandits, tanked two dark spells point-blank, and then basically went Super Saiyan on the bandit leader, topped off with a bootleg version of Saber's Excalibur. A normal person would've passed out from exhaustion even before his finishing move. The fact that Owain is still conscious speaks volumes of his stamina.

Kjelle sighs. "As excessive as always. Actually, I think he's even worse than last time I saw him."

I glance at the Knight. "He's done stuff like this before?"

"More times than I care to count." Kjelle reveals in mild exasperation. "We keep telling Owain that fighting like that will tire him out too quickly – and it happens every time – but he just doesn't listen. How the Risen didn't manage to figure out his location after he practically makes himself a beacon that can be seen ten leagues away, I still haven't figured out to this day."


Quest alert
Side quest: Scion of Legend
The bandits have been wiped out and peace returns to the hamlet once more. All in a day's work. Who knows? The townspeople might be more than grateful for your heroic deed. Just make sure to check up on that sword wielder before you leave.
Objective: Defeat all bandits.
Objective completed!
You gain 10 000 EXP! You gain 10 000 gold!


BGM: Theme X (OST version), Xenoblade Chronicles X music

"Owain, hang in there!" Lissa frets as she checks on just about every single scratch on her son.

Owain grins at his mother. "Heh. It's alright, Mother. I'll live."

"Don't you "It's alright, Mother" me, buster!" Lissa admonishes the Myrmidon as she gets him in a seated position. "What were you thinking, going up against a band of brigands all on your own? I don't care how strong you are; you could've died!"

"H-hey. It's not like I've never been in situations like these before." Owain defends weakly. "I mean, I'm still alive, right? That has to count for something."

Lissa shakes her head. "Gods, you sound just as bad as Jack. Now stay still and let me take care of your wounds. That last battle left more than a mark on you."

As the light of Lissa's healing magic mends Owain's body, the white-haired Myrmidon smiles at his mother gently.

"Heh. I've…kinda missed this. All those times you would fret over me for even the smallest things."

"That's what mothers do, don't they?" Lissa asks with a hint of humor.

"Hey, there you are!" Henry shouts cheerfully as he walks up to the pair. "Man, I got worried when you disappeared into the fray back when we started fighting, Lissa. Drag me along next time, will ya? It's hard to keep an eye on you otherwise."

Lissa blushes. "Sorry. I kind of got caught up in the moment."

"Oh, and you found the funny guy living in the hamlet too." Henry notes. "You're the one who made that huge blast of mana earlier, right? Man, that looked awesome – when I wasn't making sure I'd get blown away from the shockwave or going deaf from the noise."

Owain gives the Sorcerer a wink and a thumbs-up. "Heh. I wouldn't call myself the Scion of Legend if I couldn't perform at that level at minimum. A real man never does things half-hearted."

Henry chuckles. "Nya ha! I like this guy, Lissa. Can we keep him?"

"Of course we're keeping him!" Lissa snaps. Then she shakes her head. "Wait, why are we talking like he's a pet? That's our son, Henry!"

Henry pauses and looks at Owain in a new light. "Huh? Really?" Then a massive grin splits his face. "Sweet! So you're the awesome kid Lucina said me and Lissa will have in future? You're even better than I imagined! Welcome to the family, son!"

Owain blinks surprised. "You- You two are accepting me, just like that?"

"Well, of course." Lissa replies gently. "I don't care if you were technically born from another woman. You're our son, and therefore family. That's what matters in the end."

Owain bites his lip as tears form in his eyes. "I… I never thought…that you'd accept me so readily… I expected that I'd live as a stranger. But this…"

The mark on the Myrmidon's hand begins to glow. Owain blanches.

"Uh-oh…"

Henry looks at the glowing mark curiously. "Hm? That looks unusual."

Owain grabs his right hand with the left as his face turns into a pained grimace. A red shroud of mana surrounds the hand bearing the mark. "Feelings…getting too strong! My sword hand…is thirsting for blood…once more!"

Lissa looks at her son worried. "That looks bad. We'd better find Libra and find out what's wrong."

"Nope." Henry interjects with his usual cheer and swipes his hand down.

The glow subsides within seconds.

Owain looks at his hand in wonder. "Huh? Father, did you just…suppress my sword hand?"

Henry shrugs. "The thing's basically some sort of massive, corrupted container of mana, right? I'm an old hand at the dark arts, so I could tell there's something sinister hiding in there. That, or the thing's just a bit messed up."

Lissa sighs in relief. "Phew. Well, at least we know how to stop it if things get out of hand. Though we should get that looked at, just in case." Just as her progress at healing Owain reaches his right side, the War Cleric notices his arm – or rather, what's on it. "Holy crow! Your arm!"

"This? Hah! 'Tis but a flesh wound, Mother!" Owain reassures Lissa.

The blonde princess shakes her head. "No, I mean, HOLY CROW, LOOK AT THAT THING ON YOUR ARM!"

Owain blinks before he realizes what she's referring to – the Brand of the Exalt on his right arm, out in the open for all to see.

The Myrmidon nods in understanding. "Oh yeah. Sorry. Guess I should've shown you that before." Owain angles his body to give Lissa a better view. "It's my Brand – the one carried by all of House Ylisse. So no more need to worry, eh?"

Lissa bites her lip. "Th-then you know? That I don't…"

"That your Brand never surfaced? Yes, you told me as much." Owain confirms before he sighs. "You said it always weighed on you. You should have seen how happy you were the day mine appeared! You were sobbing and laughing for an hour without pause!"

Lissa pouts. "I was kind of hoping to grow out of the crying thing…"

Owain winks. "Yes, well, no more worrying. It was by chance alone that your Brand never surfaced. We're all family, linked by blood. You are no illegitimate child, but one of House Ylisse's own in every way. My Brand proves our lineage."

Without warning, Lissa throws her arms around Owain and hugs him while burying her face on his chest. The sporadic shuddering shows how hard she's crying.

"Thank you… *Sniff* Just…thank you, Owain. For being born. For being my son. We've barely met, and you've already done so much for me. I don't even- Thank you… I'm just so happy." Lissa manages to force out between sobs as she rubs her crying face against Owain.

As Owain places a gentle hand on his mother's head, he bites his lip as the tears flow from his own eyes. "I- I promised to myself…that I wouldn't cry… A real man…doesn't…cry…" Then he throws all of that macho stuff out the window and embraces Lissa with the tears practically flying off his face. "BWAAAH! Mother! I've missed you so much! I- I love you! I can't even say how much I love you!"

"I love you too, Owain." Lissa sobs. "I love you so much. It's- *sniff* It's all right. Cry as much as you want. Mother's here for you. My baby boy… My little…*sniff*…Owain…"

Henry looks between his crying fiancé and crying son with a lost expression. "Man, where's a handkerchief when you need it? And why am I the only one not crying? I feel left out."

"Just- Just get over here, Henry." Lissa tells the Sorcerer with a shuddering voice and pulls him into the hug.

Owain looks at his parents through his tears. "My family… I've missed you all so much. This time, I will protect you all. I swear it."

To be continued (BGM ends)


Owain's character sheet

Owain Lvl 36 Class: Myrmidon
Lissa's son from the future. This young man has an imagination so active, it's often debatable whether he has a proper grasp on reality or not. Most notably, he often complains that his own right hand is cursed with a power beyond his control. Questionable world view aside, his sheer enthusiasm and lack of fear can inspire even the most despairing ally to keep fighting and achieve victory against all odds. Under Jack's tutelage, he developed a skillset and personality traits similar to the (arguably moronic) daredevil Gunman rider, Kamina. Instigator of the manliest bromances.
Born on July 15
th.

Titles: Scion of Legend (+ 10 % CHAR, -5 % INT)

HP: 5 700 / 5 700
MP: 2 200 / 2 200

STR: 35
VIT: 42
DEX: 55
INT: 15.2 (16 * 0.95)
WIS: 30
CHAR: 60.5 (55 * 1.1)
LUCK: 73

ITEMS:
Killing Edge (Equipped)
Concoction

Skills:

Sword mastery, Lvl 51 [88.0 %], Passive
The sword is quite possibly the most well-known weapon in history, often being depicted as the weapon of choice by hero and villain alike or even as a symbol of power. While swords generally deal less damage than other weapons, they make up for it by being easier to wield. Increases attack speed and attack power by 255 % when attacking with a sword or dagger of any kind.

Hand of the Sword Demon, Lvl 50 [63.0 %], Active, Cost: 135 MP per minute
It's official; there's some kind of power slumbering inside your hand. This power can let you swing your blade with strength and ferocity befitting the legendary Sword Demon himself. But be warned; to control this power at will, one needs a heart that matches it in strength, and yours unfortunately falls short. The mark may empower you, but at the cost of clouding your mind in a haze of bloodlust that can hinder you from discerning friend from foe. Or it could just leave you hanging at the worst possible moment because you simply lack the fortitude to handle its power, period. You'd better crack down on your training if you want to bend this power to your will, or else the opposite will happen.
Increases attack power and attack speed by 75 % when activated.
User may suffer from Berserk while this skill is active. This skill randomly deactivates prematurely. Probability of either happening decreases as the level of this skill increases.
This skill has a cooldown of 3 minutes.

Grit you teeth!, Lvl 45 [10 %], Active, Cost: 80 MP
Not everyone's as determined as you are. There's a chance your allies may lose heart in the face of a powerful enemy. If that happens, it's up to you to remind them what they're fighting for, what they're capable of deep down, and to believe in the they that you believe in. Punch to the face is optional, but tends to have a better effect.
Increases all stats of an ally by 28 % for 1 minute. Ally's HP must be below 50 % of its maximum value before this skill can be activated.

Who the h-ll do you think I am?!, Lvl 40 [63.0 %], Active, Cost: 160 MP per minute
Bad guys often tend to gloat whenever the good guys are in trouble. What said bad guys don't realize is that the greater the odds against the hero, the stronger they become. In your case, this is pretty much a universal law. When your enemy starts to talk down on you because you're in a rough spot, that's the moment to prove that they messed with the wrong guy. Unleash the full power of your manly spirit and put that SoB in his place!
Increases all stats by 90 % while active. HP must be below 50 % of its maximum value before this skill can be activated. When deactivated, user suffers from Exhaustion.

Chow power, Lvl MAX, Passive
Fighting on an empty stomach is a bad idea at best and suicidal at worst. If you want your attacks to have a proper amount of oomph behind them, you need some food in your belly first. It doesn't have to be a grand feast. Even the smallest morsel will make a world of difference. It's kind of the thought that counts, really.
All stats increase by 10 % after consuming something edible. This boost lasts for 3 minutes. If the user suffers from Exhaustion when this happens, the status ailment is dispelled.

Super Finisher, Lvl MAX, Active, Cost: Varies
Nothing screams overkill like obliterating your enemies in the most over-the-top, spectacular manner possible – which is exactly why this is right up your alley. Crank up your power level beyond the 9 000 mark and shout the name of your attack in typical Shonen Jump fashion before you annihilate whatever stands in your way with a massive attack that, by all accounts, your enemy should see from a mile away, yet still often find themselves unable to react accordingly to. Just make sure that you actually finish your enemy off with that attack. Failing to do so will just embarrass you. Also bear in mind that these attacks drain your strength something fierce, which means you have to execute them wisely. They're called finishers for a reason.
The cost, base power and elemental properties vary with each Super Finisher.
Available Super Finishers:
Sacred Stones
Shadow Dragon + Sword of Light
Abysmal Body Blow
Eldritch Smackdown
Unquenchable Blood Flames
Radiant Dawn Breaker


Preview of the next chapter:

Wyverns: *Exist*

Bandits: It's free real estate!

Shepherds: Great… Here we go again.

Villager: You there! Please, help us! I beg of you!

Gerome: It is not my place to interfere with the machinations of death. All creatures die eventually. That is a fate no one can escape. I'm outta here.

Next time on Gamer Emblem Awakening:

Edgelord Mk 2! I said; The exit's the other way!

Future-Minerva: *Screech!*

Gerome: Shut up, Minerva! My sense of direction does not suck! And what do you mean "I just turned around"?!"


Omake: JOE Vol 2: Just my Type

Jack looked down at his reflection in a nearby pond with an expression of clear displeasure.

Sparrow snickered within his mind. "You know, this is oddly fitting, all things considered."

A tic mark pulsed on the Outrealmer's forehead. "Zip it. I look ridiculous, no matter how you slice it."

The Riolu standing beside him scratched his head with a lost look. "You know… Glaring at your own reflection won't do you any good. I mean, what's the problem?"

"My problem…" Jack stressed slowly. "…is that this is the most humiliating moment I can remember in my life. The fact that everything in sight doesn't laugh at me may be the one saving grace."

"Don't be like that, Jack. Deny it all you want, this form matches your abilities. Somewhat…"

"That's if you stretch it by a wide margin, Sparrow. I mean, sure, it made sense that I would change into another form, considering where we are. I just expected to turn into something more…majestic. Not some bottom tier creature that can hardly fly without lots of effort."

Riolu gave Jack a dry look. "I fail to see how one would feel humiliated by the way they were born. Embracing yourself helps a lot in these situations. Trust me."

Jack growled, but kept the comment to himself.

"Look, it's not like you can change anything until we're done in this realm, so you might as well go with it until then. I mean, how bad can it be?" Sparrow asked.

"Bad enough that I know exactly what awaits us near the endgame. Some of the stuff that's bound to happen is right up there with Lucina's doomed future. And what am I given to combat the incoming threat? This form!"

The Outrealmer spread his wings (yes; wings) and glared into the sky.

"I swear to Arceus; When I get my hands- Er, talons on you, Old man Hubba, I'll rip you a new one! Why in the world did you turn me into a Spearow?!"


Riolu took a wary step backwards as Skuntank and Koffing lined themselves up.

"W-watch out, Jack! They're going to try something!"

Skuntank snickered. "Chaw-haw-haw! Let's see if you can withstand this attack. Koffing and I will use our…noxious gas combo!"

Jack's eyes widened in recognition. He placed himself in front of his partner in the blink of an eye.

"Let's see if this works… Mirror Move!"

Right as Skuntank and Koffing unleashed their gassy payload, a translucent square formed in front of the Outrealmer-turned-Pokémon. The noxious cloud made contact with the Mirror Move for only a moment before it bounced back and covered Team Skull in their own attack. The three Poison types passed out within seconds, each with a face twisted in pure disgust and agony.

Jack grinned. "I take it all back, Sparrow. Being a Spearow rocks!"

Riolu looked at his partner in awe. "First of all, that was amazing. I didn't even think that they would pull something so nasty. And second; Now I understand that crazy grin on your face the moment you learned that new move. And now that I know what it does, it kind of scares me."

"Hey, it's all good." Jack assured the Fighting type cheerfully. "We're partners. You wouldn't mind if your closest ally had a great trick up his feather shroud, right?"

Riolu scratched his head with a skeptical look. "I guess… Though now that the last obstacle between us and those Perfect Apples is out of the way, we'd better get one of them back to the guild. I bet the guild master is getting impatient."

Jack nodded nervously. "Good point. In fact, I think we should take as many Perfect Apples as we can carry back to the guild."

"Why?"

Jack pointed his wing at the Perfect Appletree. "Because some of the gas that I sent back at those clowns hit the tree. You can see what part was affected."

Riolu followed the direction of the wing – and blanched as he saw that part of the trunk had started rotting from the mere exposure of the gas.

"What the- Those two tried to hit us with something like that?!"

Jack nodded. "Chances are that tree will need a while to recover – if it can survive at all. Best be on the safe side and help our guild master build up a small stash of Perfect Apples in case we need to find a new place to pick them."

As Jack flew up to pluck the apples, Riolu glanced at the knocked-out Team Skull. "What do we do about them?"

"Heck if I care." Jack replied uncaringly as he plucked the first apple and passed it down for Riolu to store in Jack's bag (which he thankfully got to bring with him into the world of Pokémon). "We might as well leave those troublemakers in the woods and tell the others what happened."


Dusknoir raised himself to his full height. Despite the numerous blows he had taken during the battle, the traitorous Ghost type showed that he was still going strong.

"Humph. You've done admirably well for those as pitiful as you. But it's all over now."

The mouth on Dusknoir's belly opened up. "This is…the end!"

Grovyle's eye widened in alarm. "Watch out! He's going to do something!"

Jack braced himself while wracking his brain for any reference information. "If I remember correctly, that's Dusknoir's trump card. Which means…I should be able to use it against him…"

The ground started shaking as Dusknoir started gathering orbs of Ghost-type energy into the mouth on his stomach. The dark blobs clustered and grew into a single pitch-black sphere crackling with power.

Jack smirked. "Hey, Dusknoir! It just occurred to me that you're a Ghost type! You know what that means? You're empty! Just like your threats, and just like your powers!"

Riolu looked at his partner in horror. "Are you out of your mind?! We're about to be blasted by whatever Dusknoir's preparing, and you're just going to goad him on?!"

A tic mark pulsed on Dusknoir's head. "In the end, the only thing you can resort to is meaningless blabbering! But if you want to challenge my power that badly, then I shall oblige! TAKE THIS! SHADOW BALL!"

"Mirror Move~!" Jack chirped with a sing-song voice.

The massive orb of Ghost-type energy slammed into the translucent square with enough force to crack the ground between both Pokémon. Despite pushing back the Mirror Move a bit, the Shadow Ball eventually stopped moving forward.

It was at that moment that Dusknoir knew; he f-cked up.

"I…forgot he can do that…"

The Mirror Move reflected the Shadow Ball right back at the Gripper Pokémon. The resulting explosion rocked the Old Ruins to their foundation. By the time the dust had settled, there was no trace left of Dusknoir.

Riolu looked around. "Huh? What happened to Dusknoir?"

Grovyle glanced at the dimensional hole that Dusknoir was in front of just moments ago. "Looks like the impact of having his own attack sent back at him flung him right back to the future."

The surrounding Sableye flinched upon hearing Grovyle's assessment and ran for the hills moments later.

"Yeah, you bozos better run!" Jack shouted after the retreating Ghost/Dark types. "That's what happens when you mess with the strongest members of Wigglytuff's explorer's guild! Huzzah!"

Grovyle gave Jack a dry look. "Now I understand why you kept asking the Kecleon brothers for a Taunt TM. That combination is almost as evil as Dusknoir himself."

Riolu face-pawed. "I should've known you would pull something like this, Jack. How did I not see that coming?"

Jack grinned. "Because I'm a genius! Muahahahahahaha!"


Dialga reared back its head and unleashed a massive roar. "I WILL SHOW NO MERCY!"

Riolu glanced at Jack. "Mirror Move?"

Jack nodded. "Mirror Move."

Draconic energy gathered in Dialga's maw as it prepared its attack. "BEGONE FROM THIS PLACE, INTRUDERS! ROAR OF TI-GRAAAHH!"

The omnidirectional roar that struck through time itself was redirected right back at the temporal dragon. The resulting cacophony of noise and destruction almost blew the two explorers off the Temporal Spire.

As the dust settled, Dialga was on the ground, knocked out by its own power.

"You know, this was almost too easy." Jack mused while he passed by Dialga.

"You wanted a challenging fight against Dialga? After everything else we had to get through in order to come this far up?" Riolu asked exasperated. "I don't know whether to admire your passion for battle or just write you off as a mad bird."

"It's a little bit of both, actually." Jack admitted. Then he looked over the indentations where the Time Gears were meant to fit. "Could you give me a paw, Riolu? I'm not sure if I can lift the Time Gears all the way up to slot them into place."

Riolu shook his head while rummaging for the Time Gears. "One moment you ask for an even harder fight against Dialga corrupted by darkness, and the next you're not even sure if you can lift a few artefacts."

"Hey, do you have any idea how hard I have to flap these tiny wings in order to even fly on my own?! Carrying any sort of load could strain my wings! There's a reason why I felt displeased with being turned into a Spearow!"


As Riolu and Jack left the Temporal Tower, orbs of light began to float out of Jack's fading body.

Riolu looked at his partner alarmed. "J-Jack?! What's going on?!"

Jack looked down at his body before a spark of realization lit in his eyes. "Ah, I think I get it. Guess my time here is up."

"Your time? Wait, does this have something to do with us changing history?" Riolu asked worried.

Jack shook his head. "Riolu… I have a confession to make. It's not just that I'm from another timeline; I'm originally from another world entirely."

Riolu looked at his partner in disbelief, unable to utter a single word.

Jack averted his gaze with a sad expression. "I'm sorry I kept it from you all the way until the end. Truth be told, I was only meant to stay here for a while. The one who sent me here knew of the incoming disaster in the form of the planet's paralysis. So he sent me here to help you put a stop to this."

"Wait… Me?" Riolu asked shocked.

Jack nodded. "This wasn't really my mission to begin with. It was yours. I was meant to be there to show you the way. And maybe help you out when you found yourself in a pickle (which, admittedly, happened quite often). But other than that, our adventures, our triumphs, our setbacks, our ups and downs? They were all on you. And you grew with each experience. Look at yourself now, Riolu. You've become a fine explorer. You don't need me to hold your paw anymore."

"How can you say that?!" Riolu yelled with tears streaming down his face. "I couldn't have done any of that without you! I still can't!"

Jack placed a wing on Riolu's shoulder. "That's because you haven't tried it yet, silly. You're a lot more capable than you think. Now it's time for you to see it for yourself. From this day forward, you're the leader of Team Sky Fighters."

"But- But what about you?"

Jack looked off into the distance with a longing gaze. "The time I spent with you as an explorer was just a temporary thing. And now that this journey is over, it's time for me to move on. As much as I'll miss you and everyone else (except for Chatot – that birdbrain is insufferable), there's someone very dear to me waiting at home."

The orbs of light grew in number as Jack's body progressively became more transparent.

"This is it, Riolu. For what it's worth, I had fun walking this journey with you. Stay strong, buddy. And know you're never alone, even when I'm no longer there." Jack assured his partner.

The Outrealmer-turned-Spearow vanished without a trace as the last orbs of light left his body. As those lights dispersed, his voice echoed for one last time.

"Eh, what am I worrying about? You'll do fine."

Riolu looked up where his partner vanished. The Emanation Pokémon wiped the tears flowing down his face before he proceeded to the Rainbow ship, determined to return back to the guild and tell everyone of the passing of the greatest friend he had ever known.


Jack blinked as the light slowly faded into a more manageable level.

"Well, now. That was certainly an adventure." the Outrealmer mused while looking over the sunset. Then he tilted his head sideways. "It's curious, though. It might be because I spent such a long time being short, but I'm certain that the waves on a calm beach shouldn't reach this high up on me."

Jack looked down – and found that he still had the body of a Spearow.

"…"

The human-turned-avian spread out his wings.

"OH, COME ON!" he squawked. "I already beat the main story! I have to do the post-game too?!"


Jack, Riolu and Cresselia looked around them, as they were surrounded by Darkrai and his minions.

"I will seize control of the darkened world as its king." the Pitch-black Pokémon declared. "But first, I shall be rid of you meddlers for good."

One of Jack's eyebrows twitched. "That's…it. I've listened to you ramble on, and on, and on about plunging this world into a state that no one would enjoy, all for the sake of ruling as king. I've had it with you, your stupid ambitions, and everything you stand for, you sick excuse of a Pokémon!"

Jack's entire body shone with a blinding light, causing everyone present to shield their eyes to the best of their ability.

"What?! What's happening?!" Darkrai shouted alarmed.

"This power…" Cresselia muttered in awe. "Did he possess this much power all along?"

As the light died down, an entirely different creature had taken the Spearow's place. Jack was once again a human.

The Outrealmer opened his eyes and flexed a hand experimentally. "I've forgotten how convenient it feels having hands…"

Then he glared Darkrai right in the eyes. "As for you, I'm about to end your little pet project right this instant!"

Jack held out his hand and started focusing his wind magic over his palm. A pure-white bladed sphere took shape, followed by a high-pitched screech caused by its extremely fast rotation and immense power held within the core.

"Darkrai! Your reign of darkness shall end before it even began! Rasenshuriken!"

The sphere of concentrated wind magic hit its mark right on and carried Darkrai all the way into a nearby spire, which was then ground to dust as the scheming Dark-type suffered the full brunt of the Rasenshuriken's wrath.

Of course, since this is the world of Pokémon, its inhabitants don't get shredded to pieces or anything of the sort. They just suffer unholy amounts of pain and damage to the point that they pass out. This is meant for children, people! Keep it family friendly!

Darkrai collapsed in the middle of the crater caused by Jack's attack. His minions fled moments later, knowing that they stood no chance against this new threat.

"There! Am I done now?!" Jack yelled to the sky exasperated.

Riolu rubbed his chin before he dropped his fist into his open paw. "Oh, now I get why he kept complaining that he couldn't learn Air Slash!"


Sorry, no Jack's encyclopedic corner this time. I simply couldn't think of any good objects to put into this issue.

More importantly, I have finally revealed the build for Owain. That's right! I based his build on none other than the man, the myth, the legend: Kamina.

This is the main reason why I waited so long before Owain's screen debut. His build is mainly based on sheer weaponized hype that more or less defies logic for the sake of awesomeness and entertainment. Had I included him at an earlier stage, he would've run the risk of overshadowing the other members of Lucina's generation and deny them their time in the spotlight. That, and reading all your speculations of how I would put my own little twist on the Scion of Legend was kind of amusing. Don't worry, though. I'll make sure Gerome gets his fair share of attention as well. Far be it from me to deny him that after everything his fellow 2nd-gen Shepherds have already had the opportunity to demonstrate.

If any of you think Owain got a bit more attention for his screen debut than the other future children so far, you raise a fair point.

Truth be told, Owain served as my original source of inspiration to write this fic in the first place. In the first version of Gamer Emblem Awakening that I drafted in my head, Jack married Lissa, which would make him Owain's father. Owain's sword hand being more than just make-believe was there from the start, and Jack would offer to train Owain so the Myrmidon could eventually tame it. The reason? Because Jack wanted to be a supportive father for the guy.

The second version had Jack strictly adopt the role of a mentor in Owain's life for similar reasons. In this version, Owain would marry Rose, simply because Jack's so paranoid that the only man he could entrust his daughter to was his only student. Of course, Rose's build and character was radically different compared to her current one, so their relationship dynamic would be significantly different as well.

It was only later that I decided that Jack would mentor all the children in the future, and that this would carry over when they traveled back in time. It was also at this stage that I decided to base their own builds on those of other characters. As for Owain, I had to juggle a few options. I originally opted to swap his and Cynthia's builds, but later went for the current setup, because I felt I had more relevant material to work with.

It took a lot of planning, and I dare say I'm happy with this setup, if for no other reason than that any Kamina-inspired character has the potential to be hype and hilarious at the same time, which fits Owain to a tee.

That will be all. Until next time.

VipeR out.