Jack stood before the gathered royal and dragons - the latter of which were technically royal dragons, but he barely made the distinction; he was around them so often that he barely registered most of them as royalty, let alone as inhuman reptiles. He tapped his fingers on the perishable table, looking from Alear and Veyle, to Céline and Alfred, and to Diamant and Alcryst. He let his head fall slightly, letting out a deep breath.

"Your father was fated to die on that battlefield," Jack said, looking Diamant and Alcryst in the eye. "But with an Emblem Ring, and better preparedness, that might be avoided."

Diamant's arms were crossed as he looked at Jack up and down, nodding his head. "An Emblem Ring of legend can make all the difference in a battle. If he had not taken Leif, I would have offered him Roy instead. He is the one who will be leading the charge, after all. And with King Hyacinth's trickery…"

Jack pushed himself away from the table. "Would you believe me if I said I have no idea what he did?"

Alcryst raised a brow at that. "You said that you saw it happen. He used an Emblem Ring, right?"

"Yes, but it - it's hard to explain. His eyes, I'm pretty sure they became slitted like a reptile's, and it's Lyn's Emblem Ring he has, the Ring of the Lady of the Plains I think it was called?" Jack said, rubbing his forehead. "Also, would you believe me if I said everything's starting to get a little murky?"

Alear tilted his head forward. "You're starting to forget?"

"I… think I might be getting confused and some other shit," Jack said, rubbing his scalp as he turned to the side. "Everything after Destinea Cathedral won't happen. At least, not in the same way, because she's here."

Veyle shrunk in her spot, trying to look smaller. Jack winced at that.

"And, well, I guess it's not the worst thing in the world to happen now," Jack mumbled, "You won't be needing me for this much longer anyway. Timeline's gonna be so different, best I can do is tell you about who can be on our side or not."

"Then let us focus on that, for now," Céline suggested, "I have heard that Princess Ivy and Hortensia of Elusia will be joining our side. With King Morion likely not to meet his end in the coming battle, will it still be possible to recruit them to our cause?"

Diamant shrugged. "I do not know them very well, I must admit. And I do not want my bias towards Elusia to color my perspective."

"I feel like it's worth mentioning that it was implied King Hyacinth isn't doing this of his own free will," Jack commented. "All of this blustering and invasion? Yeah, apparently, something changed in him when Sombron awakened."

"I find that hard to believe…" Alcryst whispered.

"I do too!" Jack said, pointing at Alcryst. "But that was what the stories said. Now, I also think he's the one who awakened Sombron-"

"You're not making a strong case for the guy, Jack," Alfred said, arms crossed.

"I'm not making a case for him," Jack said, brows furrowed. "Just as I won't make a case for King Morion - I did it for you, Prince Diamant, Prince Alcryst. And just as I'm doing it for you, I think Hyacinth should have the chance to make up for his screw ups, if for nothing else than Ivy and Hortensia's sakes."

Veyle stood up. "I think Jack's right. If I could be helped, then I do not doubt King Hyacinth could too."

Diamant stood up. "And I do think his viewpoint is valid. But as you have prudently pointed out, Jack, your foreknowledge is on its way out, and we cannot rely on what happened there to help us now that the 'timeline' is changing. My father may be heading out to that battlefield, but he is not alone. I refuse to stand on the sidelines. If King Hyacinth tries to take my father, regardless of what you have seen in the future, I will not stop myself."

"I agree with Diamant. I won't throw father to the wolves just to fulfill your prophecy," Alcryst said, his stare resolute.

Céline was next. "If King Hyacinth was foolish enough to awaken to Fell Dragon from his slumber, then he is responsible for the deaths of hundreds, whether or not he is under his spell now. That cannot be left unpunished."

Jack felt sweat going down his back as he turned to Alfred, who stood up next, placing his hand on the table. "In this war, we will need all the allies we can get. And allowing Hyacinth to die will only lead to more enemies. I say we spare him. The time for punishment can come later, at the hands of his family and people."

It was easy to forget that Alfred was crown prince of a nation sometimes, Jack reflected. He was so easygoing, it was difficult to see him on a golden throne, even if he wore a circlet. Céline, on the other hand - Jack had no issue seeing her on it. Sometimes, with the way she spoke, he felt like she was born on that throne.

Jack held his arms out. "Looks like it's a tie. Thanks, Alfred."

Alfred tilted his head. "Well, I do like saving the day."

With that exchange, all eyes were on Alear, who sat with his chin between his fingers, deep in thought. His blue-and-red eyes stared out at nothing in particular, before finally, he came back from his inner dialogue and stood up.

"This is not an easy decision for me to make," Alear began, placing both hands on the table. "But… I feel I must agree with Alfred, and thus with Jack and Veyle, on this. Alfred makes the most convincing argument, however - we cannot pass up a potential ally in this fight. Whatever King Hyacinth's crimes, letting him die or killing him would only lead to more suffering in the long run."

Céline sat back down, placing her chin on her palm as she gave Alear a side eye. "Very well, Divine One. I have said my piece, and you are free to do as you wish; it is your army, after all."

"I must ask that you reconsider, Divine One," Diamant said, crossing his arms. "Regardless as to whether or not King Hyacinth is under Sombron's control or not, we cannot place his life above my father's - and I realize that sounds hideously selfish of me, but my father also isn't under the sway of a dark god."

"Okay, playing Devil's Advocate here, but not really," Jack began, "We won't know if or how we can de-brainwash him. It took Queen Lumera using her power in the holiest place in Elyos to get rid of Veyle's evil side. Regardless of what happens, it will look bad to not just Ivy and Hortensia, but also to the people of Elusia. Who are innocent, need I remind you."

"They worship the Fell Dragon, Jack," Céline pointed out, her face betraying no emotion.

Jack shrugged. "And how many of them actually do it by choice? Do you know what it's like to live in Elusia, Princess Céline? What if they don't worship the Fell Dragon as he is, but rather as he's depicted in legends? Queen Lumera wouldn't have entrusted an Emblem Ring to them if they had always worshiped the Fell Dragon."

Céline tilted her head forward. "A fair point. Whatever the case may be, you are right. No plan survives contact with the enemy."

"D-did you get that from Brodia? That sounds a lot like a Brodian turn of phrase," Alcryst asked.

"It is an apt phrase for what will happen," Diamant sighed. "Even if what was decided here today comes to pass, I wonder what will happen when Jack's foreknowledge completely runs its course."

"Maybe it won't be as bad as any of you are thinking. Even you," Veyle said, staring at Jack. "With things the way they are now, anything is possible, right? You are right, both of you; we can't say anything for sure. But I don't think giving up and going for the easiest solution is the right choice."

Alcryst closed his eyes. "She makes a good point."

"We can keep deliberating until our mouths run dry, or we can prepare for the battle ahead," Céline pointed out, standing up. "Despite my misgivings, if the Divine Dragon is intent on trying to spare King Hyacinth, then I will do my utmost to see it through. I trust you will do the same, Prince Diamant? Prince Alcryst?"

"My first priority is to Brodia," Diamant said, before sighing and rubbing the bridge of his nose. "But, I will concede to the Divine One's plan."

Alcryst gave a curt nod, but not much else.

Alfred clapped his hands. "Alright, then! Looks like we got that figured out. I say we celebrate by popping open the brandy."

Shaking his head, Jack said, "Sorry, Alfred. Me and Prince Alcryst drank it all a few days ago."

The crown prince of Firene looked shaken to his very core. "Y-you what?"

Alcryst gaped at Jack, only to shrink away from Alfred's gaze as the prince of Firene looked from him to Jack and then back to him.

"It was a good night," Jack said, patting his stomach.

Diamant raised a brow. "And I wasn't invited? Firenese Brandy is my favorite."

Jack shrugged. "Alcryst was the only one who I could find. If I'd known, I would've looked a little harder for you, Prince Diamant."

Céline facepalmed. "This is hardly an appropriate discussion to be having in the war room."

"I thought you were a good friend and a good man, Jack," Alfred said, with all the gravitas as if Jack had just been ousted as a spy for Sombron. "But now I see that you are a coward and a scoundrel. And I will not stand for it."

Jack raised a brow, looking Alfred up and down for any sign of standing up. "Well? I'm standing right here. Go on, strike me down with all of your hatred."

"I said I will not stand for it," Alfred reiterated, a shit-eating grin spreading across his face.

Realization dawned on Jack as he pawed for a spear that wasn't actually there.

"Oh dear Lord," Jack hissed, "Please, Alear, forgive me for this act of regicide I am about to perform."

"You are forgiven," Alear commented, before descending into a fit of giggles and chuckles. "I-I think I needed that. Thank you, all of you."

"At least the Divine One was able to find humor in this farce," Céline muttered.

"A good laugh is a fine way to clear the tension," Diamant said, "I do not hold any of you in contempt for your decisions, by the way. If I even have to make that clear. Whatever happens on that battlefield, from what I have seen, you are all men and women of honor, and so far I have enjoyed fighting beside you."

"Prepare yourself, Prince Diamant," Veyle said, "if what Jack has said is true, then there will be many battles ahead. Many of which I am… not looking forward to."

"So, tell me, Jack. What is your world like?"

Jack sipped at his bottle of Brodian Ale, placing his other hand against the crate he sat on as Diamant did the same beside him, although the crown prince of Brodia was handling it better than Jack was.

"Lots o' cars," Jack said, wiping his brow as he grunted and pushed himself forward. "Lots of tall buildings that scrape the sky. Place I lived was a shitty swamp - I'd go outside and get eaten alive by bugs whenever spring or summer rolled around. Brodia's actually a nicer place than where the hell I'm from."

Diamant snorted. "Sounds like paradise."

"Oh, it was! I got stung by something that looked like a cross between a fly and a scorpion once. My finger swelled up and everything and I swear I started seeing stuff after that," Jack continued, pointing at something that wasn't there. "You know what scorpions are, right?"

"Big, chitinous insects in Solm. They have claws and a stinger. I've only seen one once before," Diamant said, shivering in place as he took another swig from his bottle. "The thought of one being able to fly, it… frightens me."

"You got the balls to admit, I'll grant ya that," Jack said, "Good thing we can't march any farther today, this ale's hitting me like a truck. Sorry about the brandy, by the way. I'm serious. You should've seen Alcryst, though. He was great."

Diamant chuckled, leaning back. "I have seen my brother drunk enough before to know what you mean, Jack. It truly is a sight to behold."

Jack shrugged. "He just needs to blow off steam. You know that Lapis girl? One of his retainers?"

Diamant nodded. "Yes, I know of her. Her crush is plain to see."

"I realize she's a commoner and you royals have some kinda… kinda rule against that, right? But hey, nothing need be official, you know. And hey, if it gives him confidence…"

"If anything, I am concerned that would instead make him feel worse…" Diamant said, rubbing his forehead. "You forget, Jack, that I am his brother. The Divine Dragon knows that I have tried to break him out of that shell. Even my father's constant praise can do nothing about it."

Jack raised a brow. "Alear knows about this?"

"What? Ah, my apologies, such turns of phrase seem so trite now that I have met the Divine One in person," Diamant said, "Enough about my brother's love life, though. It is rude. Tell me about yours instead."

Jack snorted. "What a segue, Prince Diamant. But alright. I've only been with one woman before. She and I were childhood friends, or whatever the hell anime calls it."

Diamant raised a brow. "Who is 'anime'?"

"Someone you need not bother knowing. They're very creepy," Jack replied, shivering. "Anyway, what was I gonna say? Oh yeah, she's my ex, now. We both decided to cut it off after, well, after we figured it just wasn't gonna work out in the long term. God, it all feels so far away, now…"

"Did she have a name?" Diamant asked.

Jack nodded. "Her name was Brianna. She was a spitfire, lemme tell ya - great friend, not so great a girlfriend. Which is why we broke up. We're still friends, though, with a few, uh… side benefits."

Diamant raised his brows, nodding in understanding. "It seems as if you left a life behind. You didn't come to Elyos by choice - it was thrust upon you."

Shrugging, Jack said, "Yeah, and I don't know why. I still wanna get home, but I feel like that decision's gonna get harder and harder to make the longer I stay here. I still miss my family and my old friends, but the longer I stick around here…"

Diamant raised a hand. "I understand completely. I may not be going through what you are, but losing friends and loved ones, even if they may yet live… it is not something I would wish anyone to go through."

Jack held his bottle out, a goofy smile crossing his face. "Well, good thing you won't have to go through it, huh, Prince Diamant? I'm still a bit worried about Ivy and Hortensia, but I'm actually kinda happy with the way things are going now. Besides the, well, senseless deaths of Elusians fighting for a cause they might not believe in. That's a bit of a pisser."

Diamant nodded again, taking a forlorn sip from his bottle. "I realize I may have come across as rather harsh during the war council, but I must see to my people's needs first and foremost. Though, I admit, Brodia's warmongering has cost Elusia a great deal. More than I can repent for in a lifetime, I think."

"Why does Brodia invade Elusia all the time?" Jack asked, "I mean, I heard it's because Brodian resources are scarce, but wouldn't invading Firene make more sense?"

Diamant snorted. "You think we haven't? Every country in Elyos has been invaded by Brodia in some form or another throughout the last thousand years. It's not a particularly glorious history, in my opinion. We should not have to resort to barbarism and pillaging just to make ends meet. Unfortunately, it is beyond difficult to curb our country's warrior spirit."

Jack frowned. "People never change, do they?"

"Not without time and patience, no, and I have neither, if everything goes wrong," Diamant said, shaking his head. "By the- this ale is making my lips loosen too much. I barely know you and yet I have spilled some of my deeply kept secrets."

Jack raised a brow. "If these're your 'deeply kept secrets' then I think you'll end up being alright."

Diamant hummed. "Mhm. Do you have any deeply held secrets, Jack?"

"Beyond the horrific fate that awaits us if we fail? Nah, can't say I do. Nothing I'd say in polite company, at least," Jack said, "I toasted your brother, and I guess I'll toast you, too. To Brodia's future!"

Chuckling, Diamant chuckled and clinked his bottle against Jack's. "To Brodia's future. May it be more prosperous than the present."

Once the army descended from the mountaintops of Brodia, it became much colder. Much, much colder.

It wasn't long after they left the last of the peaks behind that Jack was pining for the warmth and the comfort of the Somniel again. Snow blanketed the rocky ground, with only small woody shrubs and intermittent grass covering the brown ground where snow didn't reach. He could see his breath before long, and as they moved across the thin stretch of land that connected Brodia to Elusia, Jack could see the cold waves as well, crashing against the sheer, jagged cliffs they had carved into the land itself.

And then Jack saw it, in the distance. A ruined wall stretched from one coast to the other. The sheer size of it was difficult for him to comprehend; even from their great distance and height, Jack could only see one coast. Snow flitted through the sky and blanketed the air in a sea of white, but even then, a great deal of the wall could be seen. And it was ruined, burning, as if the Elusians had taken careful consideration in how best to insult it.

And then Jack saw the army that was held below it. It was a sea of people; the biggest army Jack had ever seen. Pillars of smoke from the fire contrasted the white light reflecting off the snow. Pictures of when he watched The Lord of the Rings, seeing how the orc war machine descended onto Helm's Deep - it was hard to believe Jack was standing there, in that moment, looking down at an army of men and women looking to tear them all apart.

"I don't find myself liking the look of that army either."

Jack turned to see Alear beside him, arms crossed as he breathed in and out calmly.

"I'm surprised you're not shivering," Jack said, lightly tapping Alear's shoulder. "You're a reptile, right? A dragon. I thought this'd be Hell for you."

Alear shrugged. "I don't feel any different from usual, so I suppose I can't be cold-blooded. I haven't had the chance to ask mother what, exactly, our true nature as dragons entails - although I can live a long time. That one is easy to surmise."

"And also sleep for a long time following a horrific injury," Jack added, "Can't forget that part. Very important."

Alear nodded in agreement. "Very important."

They both stood there for a couple of moments, the army of Brodia marching past them - marching to their deaths, Jack remarked in his head. How many of them wished they were back home; how many of them actually wanted to be there, participating in Brodia's favorite pastime?

"Jack," Alear said, "Some of what you have said worries me."

"What, about the future? Yeah, I can understand-"

"No, not that," Alear interrupted, turning to Jack and staring him in the eye. "Do you really believe you'll be useless once your foreknowledge has run its course?"

"Once it has?" Jack echoed, "I think it kinda already has, Alear. Even- okay, even if King Morion bites it during this battle, my foreknowledge was on a ticking clock the moment we saved Veyle from being Sombron's pawn. Whatever happens here, even if it's entirely the same, it will not be the same."

"You didn't answer my question," Alear pointed out.

Jack shrugged. "It's not worth answering. Look, I'm not exactly a top-rate soldier. I know just about how to stab with a spear and I can take a hit, but I'm not some irreplaceable piece of the army."

"I disagree," Alear said, "vehemently."

"Well, I mean, fair enough? Why's that?" Jack asked, shuffling in place.

"Regardless of what you were before this, I, and many others, consider you a friend," Alear said, placing a hand on Jack's shoulder. "I would not have my mother or my sister with me right now if it weren't for you. So, even if your foreknowledge has run its course, even if you are not the best fighter in the army, you are a valued ally, and we would all miss you if you suddenly vanished or died."

Jack rubbed at his eyes, turning away. "Please, don't make me cry right now, Alear. My tears'll freeze."

"I would point out that you are deflecting, but you actually have a point there," Alear said, chuckling. "Sweating is dangerous too, but I'm afraid we'll be doing a lot of that in the next few hours."

Waving a hand, Jack said, "Yeah, that'll be fun. What could be better than snow and blood? God- Alear, did you make sure to snuggle with Sommie back on the Somniel before you left?"

Alear nodded, his face the very definition of seriousness. "I did. It was much appreciated. I think mother has been visiting to pet him as well. I can't blame her."

"She hears its siren call too," Jack mused, closing his eyes. "We all hear it, sooner or later. That is what happens when your house is host to a living plush toy."

"I'm glad the Somniel exists, even if I am wary of sleeping there most of the time," Alear said quietly. "When we are up there, everything feels so… distant. Far away. As if I could forget about the troubles of the world for a little while."

"Do you mind if I stick around for a while once this whole deal with Sombron's over?" Jack said, "you know, I probably won't be able to go home instantly - or at all, really, if what Lady Anna said is true, and there's some kinda barrier preventing me from doing it. Which is, er, kinda bad for me."

Alear nodded. "I wouldn't turn away a friend in need. You can stay as long as you like. I'm sure you will find a way home eventually."

Jack nodded, a fond smile on his face. "The folks back home won't believe what's happened to me, you know. Probably have to go my whole life without saying anything. Maybe I'll write a book about it with the names changed; I always wanted to be an author."

Alear stared off past Jack. "I… don't know what I will do once this war is over. What did I do in the stories you saw?"

"Well… since Queen Lumera is dead in that timeline, you take her position as Divine Dragon Monarch," Jack answered, rubbing the back of his neck and ruffling his hair. "I mean, even if you're her adopted son, you are still her son. I assume you could go back to Lythos and eventually take her place? Preferably once she abdicates the throne."

Alear looked away, off to the gathering Elusian army. "It's so strange, having my life laid out before me like that. I can only hope that I will lead the people of Lythos and advise the kingdoms of Elyos half as well as my mother has."

"No leader is perfect," Jack said, shrugging. "But you've done a pretty decent job of it so far, in my opinion. Now- hm. Maybe we should get going, you know? There's a battle that needs winning, and a path that needs opening."

Nodding, Alear said, "Yes, of course. Just, remember what I said, Jack. You are valued, foreknowledge or not, okay?"

Jack waved a hand. "I won't, Alear. I promise."

Jack wasn't there when the Brodian and Elusian forces clashed on the snowfields; he, along with a good portion of Alear's army, were towards the back, making sure the Elusians didn't try to flank the main force. King Morion wasn't alone like he had been in the main timeline, however. By his side were Diamant and Alear, making sure the 'good' king of Brodia didn't fall in battle.

As for Jack, and those who were with him, the air was bone-chilling, and the distant, thundering sound of battle did no favors.

"Hey, you! You! I don't remember your name but, you! Yeah, you're looking at me, now! Right here! Right here-!"

Jack's eyes widened as Amber approached him on horseback, a nasty-looking spear in his right hand as he smiled down at Jack with a goofy and wide grin.

"You're the augur, right?" Amber asked, patting his chest. "Finally, I get to meet you! Wow! I wouldn't have known you could see the future just by looking at you?"

Jack stared at Amber with half-lidded eyes, keeping an eye on the sky, swearing he saw wings beating against the air. "Oh yeah? How'd you find me, then?"

"The Stewards showed me! I think they were… the 33rd Stewards of the Divine Dragon? Clanne and Framme were their names. Anyway, that's not important! I've got questions for you since we haven't seen battle yet!"

"That may change soon, if things don't go smoothly," Jack said, staring past Amber. "Go ahead, then. I'm listening."

"Oh boy! Phew, I'm not prepared for this. Gimme a moment!" Amber replied, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. "Alright, I wanna know! Do I have any legendary accomplishments to my name in the future? Any great beasts slain? Any awesome weapons found?"

"Aren't you an… alpaca farmer, or something?" Jack asked absentmindedly.

The way Amber reacted to that comment, it was like Jack had climbed up his horse to slap him in the face with all of his strength. Amber sputtered.

"W-well, yeah, but being an alpaca farmer doesn't mean I can't be a legendary warrior, too!" Amber protested.

"I never said you couldn't be a legendary warrior. I just asked if you're an alpaca farmer. Which you are," Jack said, eyes narrowing as he saw a flash of bright color in the blizzard.

Amber blinked, before laughing and rubbing the back of his neck. "No, ah, you didn't, I guess! Sorry about that, I just-"

"We're under attack!" Jack shouted, ripping Amber off his horse as a gust of wind blasted the place he used to be. Feathery, flapping wings followed, before Jack could hear, just above the roar of the blizzard, somewhere around a dozen.

Amber's horse didn't move from its position, despite the fact that it was almost torn apart by wind magic. Amber himself didn't say anything, and in a far cry from his previous goofiness, his face had become the very epitome of seriousness as he mounted again and rode off, spear at the ready as an Elusian pegasus knight landed, completely unaware of him as she prepared to kill a Brodian soldier. Jack didn't see Amber kill her, but he heard the sound of a shout cut short.

Jack followed suit as a pegasus knight rode upon the wind, with him in her sights. Jack prepared himself. He could feel Lucina's presence; without her, he'd be easy pickings for the pegasus knight.

Just as the pegasus knight thrust forward with her spear, Lucina was there with Parallel Falchion blocking the blow. Jack lunged at that moment, stabbing the pegasus through a small opening in its chest armor. It winnied, a watery sound that sounded as if it was drowning as it kept its forward momentum, taking Jack spear with it as it collapsed in a heap of feather and white fur.

"Thanks," Jack said.

Lucina nodded before her attention turned to the rider struggling out from under her dead mount, spear still in hand. Jack rushed forward, tackling her as she just got out from underneath the pegasus, trying to wrestle the spear from her. Eventually, he was successful, and he stabbed her in the chest.

It was a quick death, and the pegasus knight mercifully stopped moving after that. Jack stood up, wiping his brow as he looked to the battlefield. It was entering full swing, and the sound of fighting reached his ears far more clearly and brutally than before. Lights erupted among the troops, the lights of Emblem Rings being used. Considering the Elusian army showed no signs of retreating, King Morion hadn't been taken or killed yet.

Jack looked around and noticed all that he was surrounded by was snow and corpses; the others had joined the battle after the first round of pegasus knights attempted to flank the main army.

"Couldn't hurt to make sure things are going well, right?" Jack asked.

Lucina appeared by his side again, her gaze inscrutable as she looked at the snowy battlefield.

"Were it that I could have done the same in my world," Lucina said, "Yes, let us go."

The sound of battle and the biting cold wind cutting into his skin made Jack feel like he was in Hell. The Hell described by Dante, of course - he expected to see Satan chewing on Judas, Marcus, and Gaius. Considering the amount of death and destruction around him; bodies on the snowy ground, their life blood spilling out onto the ground, fires and spikes used as barricades, he might as well have been in Hell.

Even so, Jack strode forward, and fought with all he had.

Jack could see others in Alear's army fighting, too. He saw Céline and Celica using their magic to cut a swath through the Elusian forces, Alfred and Sigurd fighting on horseback, striding across the battlefield like a mobile fortress. Lastly, he saw Alear, Diamant, and Morion, with their respective Emblems fighting by their side.

The only thing that was missing was King Hyacinth. He was nowhere to be seen. Not at first, at least - he showed himself eventually, flanked on either side by-

Griss. Zephia.

Jack could recognize those two, even through the harsh snow. The blizzard was getting worse, and he had to focus to really get a good look at them. Zephia looked just as Jack expected, with her tanned skin, silvery hair, and crescent-moon shaped horns atop her head, as she was sitting sideways upon a wyvern. Griss, for his part, looked like she should have been freezing - which, Jack knowing what he knew - the masochistic bastard probably was, and enjoyed it. With barely anything covering his admittedly toned midsection, and a baggy robe covering his bottom half, what really made him stand out was the scar across the side of his face, and his unkempt and wild brown hair.

King Hyacinth looked almost normal beside them, but he was in no way ignorable. It looked as if the King of Elusia had all of the color drained out of him, with even his extravagant robes looking as if they had been made from dust.

Jack couldn't hear anything that was said, but after a brief exchange, the fight began. Hyacinth against Morion, Alear against Zephia, and Diamant against Griss. Jack continued to fight against Elusian soldier after Elusian soldier, only to eventually realize he wasn't fighting live people anymore - their eyes had become an unfocused, glowing red. They may not have worn masks, but they were Corrupted all the same. They snarled and hissed even as Jack did his best to fend them off.

A blast of magical lightning turned half of a Corrupted that had accosted him to dust, and Jack turned around to see Clanne there, a smear of blood on his cheek but otherwise, thankfully, completely fine.

"On your right!" Lucina shouted, blocking a blow meant for Jack. Instead of waiting for him, she slashed the opposing Corrupted with Parallel Falchion, and the creature screamed before Jack reared back and stabbed it through the chest, causing it to fall to the ground in a heap. A few seconds later, and it was gone.

Jack let out a breath, the fog that produced blinding him for a few seconds.

There was something wrong, though. That same sensation Jack felt before came back with a vengeance. Something was about to happen - it was like his guts were mounting a rebellion in his stomach if he did nothing about it. The others still battled, King Morion was fighting King Hyacinth and winning and-

From the depths of the white fog of the blizzard, a trailing blue light came forth. It was like an arrow or a bolt, charging forth like a lightning bolt from Zeus. It landed right in the middle of the battle between King Morion and King Hyacinth.

The same explosion that broke the doors of Brodia Castle broke Morion and Hyacinth apart. Hyacinth backed up, looking a little singed but otherwise unharmed. The blast had struck closer to Morion, however, and he was not nearly quick enough in getting to his feet. Another bolt from the fog came forth, and struck him directly. Diamant had tried to get to his father before then, but was blown back by the blue magical explosion, sending him tumbling across the ground.

Jack finally saw the one who had fired the bolts. They walked out of the fog, clad in black robes while wearing what looked to be a modified Corrupted mask. There was no glow of undeath in its cyclopean eye, so they were likely still alive. They were short, standing no more than a few inches above five feet tall.

What was most strange, however, was the device they carried. It vaguely resembled a crossbow, though it didn't look like any crossbow Jack had ever seen. An ethereal blue glow came from it. They held it up, and prepared to fire again-

"Emblem, Engage!"

Jack hadn't even realized that the voice that said that was his own, nor did he recognize the fact that he was already running as fast as his legs could carry him before then. The power of the Emblem Ring flowed through him, and he transitioned from running to floating, letting the golden wings upon his back do the heavy lifting as he brandished Lucina's rapier.

The masked crossbowman didn't have time to react before the rapier was almost straight through their torso. A grunt was the only vocalization Jack got before their hand stopped the rapier from going all the way through. They swung their crossbow up, hitting Jack across the face. He twirled mid-air, snarling as he swiped at them again, cutting through their robe before they backed off. Readying their crossbow, they brought it up and shot it.

Jack was just barely able to avoid the explosion. It was smaller, but still, it was enough to get him grounded. He wouldn't take that lying down, however. Jack growled, allowing Lucina's rapier to disappear into sparks as another weapon materialized in his hands.

Parthia.

Jack had never used a bow before, but just as with the rapier, the knowledge and strength came to him like muscle memory. He pulled the string of the legendary bow back, just as the crossbowman was lining up another shot. They fired at the same time, their projectiles meeting in the middle and causing an even larger explosion than the one that had incapacitated King Morion.

Using the smoke to his advantage, Jack charged forward, bringing the rapier to his hands once again as he thrust forward-

And his stab was blocked by an axe. An axe he hadn't seen in what felt like years. And the eyes that stared back at him, though reddened and corrupted, were so familiar that he felt a chill up his spine.

Edelgard!?

The Dark Emblem of Edelgard faded away, and in the crossbowman's left hand was the grotesque axe Aymr.

"Did you really think you were the only one who knows the future, Jack?" the crossbowman said, their voice barely above a whisper and betraying no emotion. It was unlike anything he had ever heard, as if a cat was trying to speak English.

Jack was barely able to bring the rapier down in time to try and block the blow from Aymr, but the axe was a monster - he was sent flying from a single blow. He landed roughly nearby, the snow flying around him as he looked up.

"You're not supposed to be here. We're not supposed to be here. But don't worry; I'll correct that," they said.

Jack's lips were peeled back in a sneer, though the crossbowman made no move to raise their crossbow. Still, it didn't stop Alear from charging in out of Jack's field of view, Engaged with Marth and wielding what seemed to be Mercerius. The crossbowman jumped back, shooting a bolt at Alear's feet and causing the Divine Dragon to float back, standing guard in front of Jack.

And just like that, the crossbowman was gone. They faded away into the white fog of the blizzard, with not even the glow of their crossbow to show their position.

Jack stood up, the energy and power granted to him by Engaging with his Emblem fading as he used his spear to stand up. Alear was beside him, holding him up.

"Alear," Jack coughed out. "Did we…? He's not-!?"

"King Morion was taken," Alear said grimly. "But don't worry, we're not letting them get away."

"Alear!" Jack hissed, getting to his feet by himself. "If that's happened, then we'll be waylaid by this blizzard!"

Alear shook his head. "It's not bad yet, we can still-!"

"You're not listening to me," Jack said, looking around with panic in his eyes. "If King Morion's taken, then that means that he's left somebody behind to guard his escape, and if it's who I think it is-"

The flapping of wings made the hairs on the back of Jack's neck stand on end as he looked to the sky. A vaguely purple wyvern flew upon the air, before coming to a stop just nearby. Jack couldn't see far past her; the blizzard was picking up terribly, and he could barely see. Alear's earlier words were just wishful thinking, Jack thought bitterly. And with the woman in front of them, they may as well have signed King Morion's death warrant.

To his surprise, however, Ivy disembarked. Without a tome, and without a weapon, she walked forward, still wearing the fancy dress and fascinator he remembered her wearing. Alear held Libération in his hands, eyes trained on the princess of Elusia.

"Divine One," Ivy said, before turning to Jack with narrowed eyes. "...Augur. We have much to discuss."

I think this chapter has like 3 or 4 plot twists in it alone. Can you spot them all?

Anyway, this was a fun as hell Chapter to write. Yes, I know, King Morion getting captured happens in canon, but trust me, there is a method to my madness. I still haven't used any lines from the game itself, I think.

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See you guys next time!