"He's just over here, Nat! Just a little farther!"

Jack could tell his voice was strained, even as Natalie lurched forward, a crutch on one side and Marni on the other, looking up at her as if she was about to cry. Natalie's face was almost entirely emotionless, with one side drooping slightly - Jack paid it no mind. They didn't have a lot of time left.

"I'm… coming," Natalie said. Despite her face being the way it was, her voice was still mostly full of life. It let Jack know that she was still there.

Jack opened the door for all three of them. Connor had grown a small bit since Jack had last seen him, he noted bitterly. That was his fault, but he was going to make up for it. There was still time for that. Connor was actually on the floor, gnawing on a wooden horse with his set of baby chompers, only to look wildly at the intruders. Jack didn't know if Connor could even recognize him as his father, or if he'd see every man as his dad, but nonetheless, he began to crawl forward, slowly but steadily.

"That's… yours and Brianna's kid?" Natalie asked, as Marni let her sit down on the lone chair in the room. Natalie kept hold of her crutch. "And Brianna is… dead. Jack, I'm… sorry."

Jack took a deep breath as he picked up Connor. The boy still didn't weigh too much, but he had no doubt that he'd start getting heavier and heavier as time went on. He was a strong kid, had a lot of life in him, so he thought. Even with war on the horizon, and Sombron's forces on their way, he would see to it that Connor had a world worth living in.

"Don't worry about it, Nat," Jack replied, backing up until he was right beside her. "See? He's got my eyes. Kinda remind me of yours, too. Family resemblance, huh?"

Natalie let out a half-hearted chuckle. "He's very strapping, Jack. You… must be proud."

"It smells like baby food in here," Marni noted.

Jack rolled his eyes. "Oh man, I wonder why that might be? Could it be - no, it has to be that this is a baby's room! Wonderful display of insight there, Marni, truly. Where would we be without your stunning intellect."

"Oh by the Fell- Natalie, is he always like this?" Marni asked pointedly, crossing her arms.

Natalie let out a more meaningful chuckle. "Yeah… he is. It's good to… hear it again."

"If you're joining the Divine Dragon's ranks, then you'd better get used to it, Marni," Jack said, looking down at the blonde-haired girl smugly.

"Is it too late to go back to the other side," Marni grumbled.

Jack looked down at Connor. "I told you, son. See? I told you. Women are evil. Avoid them at all costs. Being gay is the best thing you could be right now. You'll avoid all that nastiness."

Natalie snorted. "You're a bad influence on him."

"What, are you saying he can't be gay? Kinda homophobic of you, Nat."

"You are… an asshole, Jack," Natalie said, coughing a bit. "A complete… and utter… asshole."

"You know it," Jack said, hugging Connor closer to him. "Then again, I haven't convinced anyone to switch sides, so maybe there's some merit to that."

Natalie shrugged one of her shoulders. "I didn't do it… on purpose. I am glad Marni is… here though. She's like the… sister I never had."

Marni sniffled. "Yeah, you too."

Jack took in a deep breath, looking at them both as he rubbed at his eyes, keeping Connor firmly secure in the other. "You know what? Why don't we go for a walk? Lythos is a big place, but the castle and castle town are really cool looking. After that, well, how about I make some lunch?"

Marni raised her hand. "Oh! Oh! I say aye to that! Say aye to that, Nat!"

"Aye," Natalie said, raising her good hand.

Jack nodded, smiling despite himself. "Good. Let's get going. I'll take Connor with us for the sightseeing part."

Might as well, Jack thought, this'll be the last time he will see his aunt.

We don't have much time.

Even as Jack and Connor, Marni, and Natalie went about their time in Lythos, the growing feeling of futility and despair grew inside of them. Jack could feel it coming from Marni, at least, and he had no doubt that he was smiling through clenched teeth. Even as they stood at the precipice of a view into a Lythosian valley, looking at the sun raining light down upon the villages and fields of grain and corn therein, Jack couldn't shake it.

"This place is… very beautiful," Natalie said, holding herself up with her crutch. Her voice sounded more tired than before. "Jack, I… I need to tell you something. Something I… didn't wanna tell the others."

"Sure, what's on your mind?" Jack said, moving closer beside her. Marni saw them both and shrugged, turning away as if to mind her own business. "I have a feeling you kept it from Alear and Lumera for good reason."

Jack so desperately wanted to crack a joke, something, anything to break the anxiety that practically crippled his heart. Natalie spoke her next words carefully, and Jack wasn't quite sure he heard her at first.

"Sombron… brought us here," Natalie said breathily. "He's the reason we're… here. In Elyos. I didn't wanna believe it, but… there it is."

Jack blinked, before taking a step back. "I'm going to keep talking based on the assumption that what you're saying is true. Sombron's depowered - how in the hell could he bring people like us from across the multiverse?"

Natalie shrugged her good shoulder. "I wish I… knew. But Zephia told me that before she… did this to me."

Zephia.

There was no one Jack wanted to kill more in that moment then the Mage Dragon. Even Connor's small, frightful cries in his arms could barely abate his rage. Nonetheless, he cooled himself off for Connor and Natalie's sake. Rage could come later or not at all, depending on the circumstances. Rage led to rash decision-making and poor life choices. Things that Jack couldn't afford at that moment.

Jack let out a sigh, burying the questions he held deep in his head. Natalie didn't know the answer to any of them anyway. And bringing them up would only sour the rest of the day.

"I'm glad you didn't tell the others about it, then," Jack said, rubbing his forehead with his good hand. "I'm not sure how they'd take it. I mean, I doubt they'd cast us out, but still, it'd be a conundrum. Anyway, uh, thank you for telling me, but how about we get some lunch? My treat! I'll even make your favorite."

"Can they even… make burgers here?" Natalie asked.

Jack winked. "Never doubt me. Where there's a will, there's a way. Marni! C'mon, lemme treat you to some Earth cuisine."

"Why would I wanna eat something from the ground?" Marni asked loudly. "What do you think I am, a mole?"

"No, I think you're the worm a mole eats," Jack replied, deadpan, causing Marni to sputter and snap at him.

"How dare you!" she snarled. "I oughtta-!"

"Shh, shh," Jack hissed, rocking his arms. "If you upset Connor, I'll never forgive you."

"Don't upset my… nephew, Marni," Natalie said, shaking her head. "Or I'll teach him to… shoot you with a crossbow."

Jack winced at that, while Marni merely stuck her tongue out at Natalie.

"I've got plate armor on! I'm practically invincible," Marni boasted.

Rubbing his shoulder, Jack recounted, "I once saw that crossbow Nat uses nearly take off Louis' arm. That guy wears plate armor too."

Marni blinked before turning to Natalie. "How the-? What is that thing even made of?"

Natalie shrugged. "I tried explaining a gun to them and a crossbow was the… closest they could give me. Better than nothing. I could… swing around the weapons that Emblem Bracelet… gave me, but I was much better at… aiming."

"I thought you'd know a bit more about it, Marni," Jack remarked, chuckling lightly to himself. "I mean, you've been around Sombron's forces longer than most in the army."

Marni crossed her arms and looked down the bridge of her nose at Jack. Or as much as she was physically capable of, considering the height disparity. "Yeah, and I was a front line combatant or whatever. They didn't even bother talking to me about that kinda stuff. It… kinda stings, in hindsight."

Jack nodded. "Hindsight is twenty-twenty, as they say."

Natalie rolled her eyes. "Please, God, no, I had enough of 2020 when we were still in our old world."

Jack snorted as Marni looked between the two with a bemused expression. "What's she talking about?"

Waving a hand, Jack answered, "Long story. Short answer: awful plague, locked indoors, lots of arguments and cabin fever. If we ever go back, I hope we won't have to deal with that shit anymore."

"If we… ever go back," Natalie said, humming, "If. I talked to… Alear before this, Jack. You… went on a date. With a… fucking princess."

Jack's cheeks went red as he turned away. "You wouldn't understand."

Natalie barked a weak laugh. "Jack, I saw… her! I spoke to her! Dad would be… proud of you, you know? Mom might be… too. Good to know that… Connor will have a mom."

Marni snorted. "What? Already? Hrmph. Good for him, I guess."

"It's the weirdest thing, it's like she already adopted him before we were together," Jack said, shaking his head. "Not that I'm complaining. It's just… strange."

Natalie let out another laugh. "Did you ever think she was… into DILFs? Because that's what… you are now, Jack. A DILF. Congratulations."

Jack sputtered, looking down at Connor who began crying. "You upset my son with this sinful talk, Natalie. How dare you."

Marni sniffed. "Looks like any little thing can upset that little brat to me."

"Says the girl who needs constant affection, otherwise she'll collapse," Jack quickly shot back, and Marni nearly doubled over as if he had punched her in the gut. Natalie let out another round of chuckles at that.

"He's probably… tired now," Natalie suggested. "Maybe we should… get some lunch, while he rests?"

Jack nodded, gently rocking Connor. "Fair enough. I had someone help me earlier so it shouldn't take too long. Let's go meet with Alear or Lumera and get this show on the road."

Elyos didn't have hamburgers, as far as Jack was aware. The thought of grinding up meat was around, though - it was just used to make army rations and other such things, mostly ground up cow meat dipped in fat, with the occasional berry added in if it was a special occasion. Sacks of that, and an army was prepared for weeks of travel. However, Jack wasn't looking for that, but he could use the same instruments for his own purposes.

Before him sat three well-seasoned patties on two slices of bread - he didn't have the time to get traditional buns, so it'd have to do. Along with them, Jack had slices of cheddar cheese, and three cuts of steak fries, seasoned with a small peppering of, well, salt and pepper.

It wasn't exactly what he had in mind when he first set out to make burgers, but so long as it tasted the same, who was he to judge what it looked like?

He walked outside of the kitchen carrying the tray, looking at Marni and Natalie talking between themselves. The cafe was devoid of other people - presumably, they were out and about preparing for the coming battle. Jack wished that Ivy could be there, but he understood why she wasn't. In fact, a part of him was glad.

She wouldn't have to see a potential family member leave so soon.

Jack placed the tray down on the table between them, smiling to himself all the while. Preparing the food was a nice way to take his mind off of what would likely happen soon, but as he stood before them, Marni chatting away as Natalie nodded along, Jack could tell that she was getting steadily weaker.

"Before you… even ask," Natalie said, "No, you don't need to cut it for me… well, maybe down the middle, but that's it."

"Say no more," Jack said, taking out one of the kitchen knives he brought with him and cleanly cutting the burger in two. "There we go. I've gotten good at that."

"Cutting stuff? Yeah… I guess you have," Natalie said, looking up. "Thank you, Jack. For all of this."

Jack wiped at his eyes. "Yeah, no problem, Natalie."

Marni snorted. "Don't get all teary-eyed! I-it's not over yet!"

Jack sat down. "No, I guess not."

Jack and Natalie sat at the lookout point of the Somniel, watching the sun set over the horizon. Jack's fingers tapped against the arm of his chair, while Natalie was painfully still, her crutch cast aside as she let out deep breath after deep breath. Marni had left, unable to see what was going to happen soon. In that moment, the words Queen Lumera spoke to him echoed in his mind.

It is a curse, she had said, one that has already been cast. It has taken root in her heart and in the rest of her body. I… I cannot dispel it. There is nothing that I can do. I am- I am sorry, Jack.

Natalie was living on borrowed time. She would be dead by the time the sun set. The curse took away everything from her, and Jack knew who to blame. An image of Zephia flashed in his mind, and all he wanted to do was crush her with his bare hands. The rage dissipated, however, when Jack heard Natalie begin coughing next to him.

"You alright?" Jack asked.

Natalie waved her good hand lazily. "Been better."

Jack nodded. "Yeah."

An eerie silence passed them by, before Natalie finally spoke again.

"You like it here, don't you?" she asked, a bit more strength returning to her voice as she let out a chuckle. "I can tell. Sure… things aren't great right now, but they'll get better, right?"

Jack nodded, his lips thinning. "Yeah, though I've thought about what we'll do if we ever go back. Wanna hear it?"

Natalie pursed her lips. "Shoot."

"I was thinking if I ever got back, I'd go and finish that English degree. Sure, it might be worthless, but I kinda just want it to prove that I did it, you know?" Jack said, rubbing the back of his neck. "What will you do when you get back, Nat?"

Natalie took a deep breath. "Tell them I'm sorry."

Jack tilted his head. "Who?"

"Mom and dad. Our friends - the ones who are… still alive," she clarified. "Tell them I'm sorry. Tell them that we didn't mean to… leave. That it was out of our… hands."

"I don't think they'll hold it against us, Nat," Jack replied.

Natalie snorted. "Even Rocky? That idiot would blame us for all the shit in the world and you… know it."

Jack sighed. "Fair point."

"Maybe I'll even… finish that Art degree," Natalie said, "Just like how you'll finish that English one. I-I know that they aren't the best degrees to have, but I always wanted to be an… artist. Never wanted to kill people in some world… far from home."

"Me neither, Nat," Jack said, "me neither."

Natalie went silent again, and Jack was about to call out to her before she spoke once more.

"Hey, Jack…"

"Yeah, Nat?"

Natalie shifted in her chair, so she was looking away from him. "Did I… did I do good?"

Jack rubbed his chin. "What do you mean, Nat?"

"I just wanna know if I did something that… mattered," she said, letting out a whimper. "I know I did some awful things when I was with the Hounds, when Zephia… but I don't wanna be remembered like that. I-I mean, if it's what I d-deserve, then it's what I deserve, but… I just wanna know if I did something worth doing. Did I do that? By telling them about the…?"

"You did, Nat," Jack said, "you did. And you know what? It's not gonna end here."

Natalie didn't respond.

"It's gonna be great, you'll see. There's still so much we gotta do. Everyone's back home, waiting for us, ya know? Even if I end up staying here, personally, you and Lio would probably be better off back home. Maybe Lio can even take Seadall with him, even if it'd be a bit weird. Everything back here… it'll be just like a bad dream, Nat. Trust me."

"It'll be great… right?" Natalie asked quietly. "Yeah, I think I'd like that. I'll be one of those… famous painters. Like Picasso or Van Gogh. Maybe then I'll feel…"

"Nat? Nat, are you okay? Stay with me a little longer," Jack pleaded. "I'm not even done yet, none of us are. We'll fix our lives. I promise."

"Promise…" Natalie murmured, even as Jack got up. "I'm sorry, Jack, but I think I wanna… go to sleep now…"

"It's still light outside," Jack said, lunging forward as if to shake Natalie awake, but she did not move from her position. "It's still light outside, damnit! Not yet! Not yet!"

Natalie's body had become completely limp, and her chest didn't rise and fall. Jack took a step back before he attempted to shake her, as if all she needed was a small jolt.

"Nat! Nat! Goddamnit, Nat! Wake up you-!"

It started out as a light in the middle of her chest, slowly growing in intensity until Jack could barely stare at Nat's body without feeling as if he was about to go blind. He took several steps back, covering his eyes until, finally, a beam of energy exploded out of Nat's body and shot into the sky. It struck something far above, cracking it until it was gone completely. A few moments later, and it was all over. When Jack finally got a good look at where she had been, her chair had been almost completely destroyed, and her body was gone.

It was like a final insult; not even her body was allowed to be buried.

Jack collapsed to his knees, barely holding himself up with his hands as he stared at the ground. He could feel the blood rushing to his face, with his mouth open in a silent scream.

It did not stay silent for long.

"God…" Jack murmured out, his voice barely above a whisper at first. "God… fuck, fuck, fuck! FUCK!"

He slammed his fist into the ground several times, as if the feeling of something beneath his punches would somehow make it more bearable. But if anything, it just made it worse. Hot tears streamed from his eyes as he let out a wordless shout that sounded more like an animal than a human being.

"Jack? Jack!"

Jack shot up, knowing who it was immediately. He didn't even bother to hide his expression as Alear came closer.

"That was…" Alear said, pointing to where the beam of light had soared into the sky. "That means she's…"

"She's dead, Alear," Jack said, his voice breaking. "She's fucking dead, and that beam of light - it torched her body, for God's sake! There's… there's nothing even left to bury!"

"Jack, I-"

"No, Alear, listen to me. I don't know what that beam of light was, nor do I know what the fuck they are. I do know that Sombron brought us here! He brought us here, through means only known to his three-eyed stupid fucking head, and two of us are dead already, and I don't have any answers! Maybe it was all an illusion, you know? All of it. All of our accomplishments. Maybe Sombron has an entire army of Outlanders on his side, and they're gonna bowl over Lythos and then it's game over! Game over!"

Jack fell back down, his back against the remnants of Natalie's chair as the sun finally set completely over the horizon. Alear merely looked on, his heterochromatic gaze unnerving Jack more by the second.

"What's even the point, Alear?" Jack asked, shaking his head. "Sombron brought us here, but I still have no idea why. I don't know what I'm doing here. Brianna had something fuck with her head, and Natalie died because some horny jackass planted a curse inside her. I don't… I can't take this, Alear…"

Jack went silent, sniffling to himself before he heard Alear moving toward him. Jack didn't say anything when Alear sat beside him, looking up to the sky.

"I'm Sombron's son," Alear said, "You knew that even before I knew that."

Jack nodded.

"But here I am, with my adoptive mother and friends, trying to stop him. Because I want to. Because it is my choice," Alear continued, "So, you tell me, Jack. Sombron brought you here. And what are you doing?"

Jack ran a hand down his face, wiping away his tears. "Trying to stop him, obviously. I can't make this a safe place for Connor while he's still around."

Alear smiled. "You have a bit more than that now, don't you?"

Jack rolled his eyes, even though it felt uncomfortable with how red and puffy they were. "You can't just tease me about my love life."

"I'm not teasing," Alear replied. "I think it's beautiful what you and Ivy share. I almost wish I had your courage."

Jack snorted, looking away.

"My point is… you are your own person, regardless of where you came from or how you got here. And Nat… she was strong, I must admit that. To get here and tell us of an incoming invasion, and then to kill one of the Four Hounds while she was at it, all while she was… well, I admire her, to be honest."

"You…" Jack shook his head. "Fuck's sake, Alear. You really know how to…"

Alear stood up. "I know, I'm not the best at this, am I?"

"Not even remotely," Jack said, letting out a deep breath. "I thought I was prepared for it, you know? I knew she wasn't going to last the evening, but I kept talking to myself, kept hoping that above all logic that she'd somehow pull through. Maybe she'd have more physical problems, but at least she would be alive. She… she wanted to be an artist, you know that? And Brianna wanted to get a STEM major, but ever since we got here, we…"

Alear looked down. "I'm sorry, Jack."

"You don't have anything to apologize for," Jack muttered. "If anyone should apologize, it's Sombron. And if we know anything about that jackass, then we'll need to beat it out of him. Him and Zephia."

"We will bring them to justice for everything they've done, Jack. Do you need a hand?" Alear asked, holding his hand out.

Jack looked at Alear's hand strangely, as if at any moment it would disappear into thin air and Jack would be left with nothing but ghosts and memories. Jack chuckled to himself, despite the aching in his heart.

"Not for revenge, right?" Jack said quietly. "I wanna live. For Ivy and Connor. And maybe Hortensia, if I can be bothered. And for you guys, too. All of you. You all have… made this life worth living, so far."

Jack reached out his hand and grasped Alear's, and the Divine Dragon pulled him up. Jack placed his hands behind his back after that.

"I know it might be too much to ask, but," Jack said, looking at the precipice they stood on. "Do you mind if I… have a little cairn here or something? Just… something to commemorate Natalie. I'm not gonna ask for one for Brianna, but…"

Alear nodded. "I completely understand, Jack. I-!"

Alear's eyes trailed up and widened so quickly that Jack almost recoiled. Nonetheless, he followed Alear's gaze, and he could feel his skin turn clammy at what he saw.

It came from what almost looked like a small rift in the sky itself, with shattered edges like glass. A massive gray thing rushed out of it, trailing fire alongside it as an explosion wracked its hull. It soared over Jack and Alear's heads, smoke billowing out of it and ash raining down upon them like snow before it dipped into the clouds and disappeared.

Jack blinked once, and then twice, before looking at Alear.

"That was…" Jack choked out. "Alear, that was a plane. That was from my world."

The game has just begun, Jacky.

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