DH: 3 versions of this, and more time worked on than any other chapter. Seriously, F*ck this chapter… F*ck this chapter… F*CK… THIS… CHAPTER!

Vincent: Dark Habit, pay up.

DH: For what? Wait… you didn't.

Jem: WHY IS MY HAIR PINK?

Vincent: I did.

DH: *laughter* I was joking when I bet you! Still, so worth it, 500 gold to you.

Jem: You bet him that he wouldn't dye my hair pink?

DH: Actually, I bet him to dye it red.

Vincent: I ran out of dye, and well, your hair is already white, so... pink.

DH: I needed this so much! *laughter*

Jem: I will get you both back for this.

"What distinguishes a flower from a weed is only-and exactly-this: the choice of the gardener." Matthew Stover

Chapter 3:

Old Acquaintances

Morgan's POV

The day after the battle, I head to the weapons tent. Outside the flap, I overhear a conversation, or rather, an interrogation.

"-time, Walhart, what is your interest with Warren?"

"Put the sword down Jem, I keep telling you, no one in this camp goes by that name."

"Why do you insist on lying to me; we both know I can easily pull the truth from you."

"And your method would show I am not lying."

"Fine, let just see what is floating in that helmet of yours."

This can't be good. I charge in, only to see that the swordsman, apparently named Jem, now has his blade at Walhart's neck.

"Get away from my companion."

Jem sheathes his blade. "If that is what you wish."

"Now explain who you are and why you are here."

"You know who I am, Warren. You and Hope are why I am here." Warren? Don't ask me.

"You have the wrong man. I am Morgan."

"Don't try to hide it. I recognize Retribution. You and Hope are the only two people who don't perish for wielding it." Okay, what? Told you it was evil. Stop trying to score points!

"I can't be who you are looking for. I am from another time entirely."

"That… doesn't make much sense."

What response did you expect? "I am from the future. I wasn't around more than three years ago."

He brushes his hair away, revealing that his right eye was actually made of stone.

"What? You can't be telling the truth… but there is no deceit in your intentions."

"Time travel. Honestly, I don't even fully understand it."

"Why did you come here then?"

"Usual reasons, Doomsday; end of mankind; rise of the living dead." Usual?

"…I mean this army."

"My parents leads it."

"Your parents? You can't mean…"

"Chrom and Hope, yes."

"Jem, leave off the boy."

"Don't tell me what to do. I am still ready to kill you the moment you regress."

"You caught me off guard, assassin. Let see you beat me in a fair fight."

"Walhart, what is the deal between you and Jem? You conquer his homeland?"

"He hated me before that, but that as well. We used to be, for lack of better terms, partners."

Partners?

"Care to explain?"

"Ancient history, boy, between me and Jem."

"That only makes me more curious."

"Well, tough, because I am not proud of helping him."

"Enough of the past, Jem. Why are you here now, and what does it have to do with our tacticians?

"I owe someone a favor I couldn't repay. Looking after her family is all I can do."

"Family?"

"I promised to protect your mother and her brother from the Grimleal. When this strife is over, maybe I can let go." Brother? I have an uncle? Mother never mentioned him. Too be fair, she never told you Chrom was our father. Fair enough.

He turns to leave.

"Where are you going?"

"I am part of the shadows. I can't fight alongside you, but I will be making my moves behind the scenes."

With that he leaves the tent.

"Walhart, can we trust him?"

"His honor is the only thing he holds dear. If he promised to help, I believe him."

I rush to follow Jem, only to run into a confused Inigo.

"Did you see him?"

"See who?"

He only had a few seconds! Apparently, he is a very GOOD assassin.

"Never mind…"

Hope's POV

"Milord, I have returned."

"Yes Frederick? Did you find it?"

"I believe so, sire. King Validar has extended an invitation. He says Plegia has been guarding Sable, and he now wishes to return it to you.

"Chrom it's a trap. There is no way he doesn't realize our plans. He's simply setting up for the endgame."

"Do we have a choice otherwise?"

"No, we don't. We need to outplay him. Frederick, Lucina, find Morgan. There needs to be a major strategy session."

Jem's POV

Validar is finally making his move. I won't let you hurt them. You may have the initiative, but you are playing MY game.

Vincent: Seriously, why take three chapters to introduce Jem? We all knew that it would be him.

DH: I like delaying. I realized that when I mentioned an OC in this, most people would jump to the ONLY OC I have mentioned, minus the one in Soulseer.

Don't be disappointed, I have way more OCs in my later stories. Unfortunately, keeping their facts separate is driving me nuts. How Cormag designed all of your kids without becoming truly insane, I don't know.

…How did get pass my password on my computer?

Vincent: Jem told me. Seriously, though… "Darkest before the dawn"? Vain much?

DH: One to talk… JEM, WHY?

JEM: It annoys you. Revenge against you, complete. Revenge on Vincent, later.

DH: And my stress is back. Great.