Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. The Thoron beam from Zephia sped toward him, and Jack could feel the power of Chrom and Robin flow through his veins. With the enhanced speed granted to him by the Engaged form, he swiftly kicked himself off to the side, narrowly avoiding the Thoron spearing him through the chest. Jack had little experience with magic himself, but he didn't need to have any, not with Robin in his head - his own Thoron tome appeared in his hand, and Fell lightning gathered around him, different yet similar to Zephia's.

Zephia herself readied another spark just as Jack sent out his. An explosion of color filled his gaze when the two beams struck each other, and after that, smoke.

Jack didn't waste any time.

He pushed himself forward, feet above the ground as Falchion materialized in his hand. His eyes were narrowed and his brows furrowed - a look of grim and furious determination.

Zephia blocked the blow, but only narrowly. Her silver sword nearly shattered from the force, and she hissed looking upon Falchion's blade.

"Impressive. It would seem you've mastered this Emblem-"

"Shut the fuck up and fight."

Zephia's wyvern reared its head around to bite Jack, but he slashed Falchion to the side and cut it along its face. The wound burned and wisps of smoke trailed from it, as the wyvern thrashed and bucked itself away, flapping its wings with reckless abandon. Zephia fell off, but was quickly on her feet again to parry a blow from Jack with her sword.

With one more, massive blow, Zephia was nearly blown off her feet. However, just as Jack was about to strike again, a familiar face, cloaked in red, kept him from doing so. Lucina stood there, looking him in the eye with a placid and misty expression that Jack couldn't recognize. His blood turned to ice as he flew backward, only to be taken off his feet by a Thoron from Zephia.

"Such anger," Zephia said, "and yet the minute you are taken off guard, you become easier than a squire to defeat. Such a shame-"

Jack held up a Levin Sword, and a bolt of lightning fell down onto Zephia. She screamed as she fell to the ground, pushing herself back up and baring her fangs at Jack.

"I will annihilate you! I will make you bleed, miserable wretch!" Zephia snarled.

Jack got to his feet, his Engaged state fading away for the moment. He wasn't able to use its ultimate attack, so either he needed to end the fight soon, or somehow find a way to stall Zephia. He held his arms out to his sides.

"I'm standing right here. Come on."

Zephia didn't even bother using magic - at least, not the traditional form. Her strikes became wreathed in flame as she struck. Jack's sword held strong, thankfully, just long enough for Zephia's blow to be redirected to the sand below. Jack kicked, hitting her in the stomach and causing her to gasp and stumble back, only to growl as she surged forward and struck Jack with a backhand. She hit a lot harder than her lithe physique would imply, though she was a dragon, Jack noted.

Jack could see Lucina's blade heading toward his outstretched neck, but it met Chrom's before she could make it. Both disappeared, leaving Zephia and Jack alone again. Jack spat blood onto the sand as he wiped his mouth.

"Bitch," Jack snarled.

Zephia didn't bark back. Instead, she merely decided Jack had to die then and there. She was no longer 'playing around as she stabbed forward, only to meet nothing but air as Jack forced himself to the side. He sprang forward, tackling Zephia to the ground as both of their swords stabbed into the sand.

Jack's mind went blank after that - there was no cognizant thought, only raw, unfettered emotion as he proceeded to batter Zephia with his bare hands, focusing on her face. By the time she kicked him off, blood trailed from her lips and nose, and she clutched at her face as she screamed.

"Miserable, deplorable-! I will-!"

"Emblem, Engage," Jack said simply.

The power surged through him again, and he didn't waste any time - Falchion became emblazoned with electricity, and Jack jumped high into the air before slamming into the ground. Sand and dust kicked up into the air as Zephia became obscured from view, though Jack knew he had hit her directly.

All thoughts, however, were purged from his mind when he felt a burning pain in his side, and the sound of thunder nearby. Jack looked down to see a bullet wound in his side, and blood slowly dripped from it. He turned to see an Ashborn staring at him, its hands shaking as it held a rifle in its gray hands. He looked at his body - one in the side, and one in the chest, just barely missing his heart, considering he was still alive.

Fuck.

Another shot, and Jack was on his back, blood pooling beneath him as an entire squad of Ashborn moved in. Chrom and Robin tried to help, but gunshots echoed in the night and they disappeared. He craned his neck, his muscles and nerves screaming at him to lay still, and he saw Zephia being lifted up by a group of Corrupted. Her body was covered in bruises, and a red, bleeding wound went across her entire midsection, but she was alive. She couldn't talk, and only one of her eyes was open, but Jack could make out a faint smile on her face.

The Ashborn gathered around Jack, pointing their weapons at him.

No, no, no, no no no no nonononononono-

Their guns never fired. A spectral, green arrow split into multiple smaller arrows, and struck a majority of the Ashborn in their heads or chests, causing them to fall apart on the spot. Jack could hear them say things - things he still couldn't understand. Nonetheless, they fell, and Jack was still alive. And he saw who had done it.

Magenta-turned-light green swept up behind her upon her wyvern, as another arrow loosed from her glowing bow. It struck another Ashborn who had been stunned by the destruction of his comrades, and the last was dealt with when she dismounted and slashed at it with what looked like a katana - but Jack knew the Mani Katti when he saw it. So fast was she that Jack thought there were several of her, and before long, nothing remained but discarded bones and ash. The Corrupted had gone, along with Zephia, leaving both Jack and Ivy alone.

Jack couldn't move as Ivy ran to his side, her Engaged form fading as she reached her hands out, before deciding better than to move him.

"How bad is it?" she said, near-breathlessly as she pulled out a staff.

"Bad," Jack coughed out. "G-got me in the chest, I think - a-and I know how this looks, but I didn't plan on this! Those goddamn jets…"

"Stop talking. Stop moving," she hissed, "this will only take a few moments."

Jack doubted that, but when the green light washed over him, he could feel some semblance of peace and the ebbing of pain. It wasn't long before his bullet wounds were healed, but something else was wrong.

"...They're still inside," Jack whispered. "The bullets. Shit."

"We will focus on that later, when the battle is done," Ivy said. "Can you get up now?"

Jack took a deep breath, and while it hurt like hell, he was able to get up, even walk around. It felt awkward, and he was certain that if he didn't get the bullets removed at some point they would cause problems, but for the moment, he was mostly fine.

"Miracles, those staffs," Jack whispered out, rubbing the back of his neck and wincing. He heard Ivy whimper, but before he could turn around, he felt her arms wrap around him.

"Foolish…" Ivy said quietly. "You would do all of this, and then nearly die on us? On me? Foolish, stupid man…!"

"I didn't plan on fighting her," Jack said, raising his hand to grasp hers. "I didn't plan on being on this side of the bay, but here I am. A jet blew up the wall and sent me into the water. Had to crawl my way out in the muck and after taking out a group of Corrupted, there she was. I'm sorry, Ivy."

"...No. No, I should apologize. I came to conclusions too swiftly," Ivy said, "B-but now is not the time for this. We can… explain ourselves when the battle is over. You can see it too, can you not? The fires across the sea."

Jack could see them. The planes weren't in the air anymore, so either they were all destroyed or they had fled. Gradaegis was a smoking ruin, with columns of smoke lazily floating high into the air. In a way, Jack almost thought it was beautiful, with the bright fires reflecting off the bay and bathing the world in artificial orange light. The fighting had not stopped, however - if anything, the sound of gunfire, swords, and magic was louder than ever before. Several ships were docked, and several more were also on fire, and one was even beginning to sink into the sea.

If Sombron doesn't win this battle, then there'll be no way outta Lythos. This could be the end, one way or the other.

"Will you be able to fight? I must rejoin the battle; I cannot leave my people to fight in that inferno alone," Ivy said, coming up at Jack's side. Wordlessly, Jack took her hand, and she squeezed it. Despite her face showing no emotion, Jack could tell that she was upset. More upset than he had ever seen her.

"I don't think I can in close quarters," Jack said, shaking his head. He turned his head to see the stock of Natalie's crossbow across his back. "However- wait a second. Is that…?

Jack winced as he walked forward, seeing a glittering band in the sand. His eyes widened once he realized what it was.

"Lucina…"

Jack would never get used to flying. It was the domain of pegasus knights and wyvern and griffon riders, not him. He preferred to have his boots on the ground. However, that feeling of the wind tussling his hair, and staying behind the woman he loved? He could get used to that, certainly.

It would've been better without the smoke clogging the air.

Together, Jack and Ivy regained control of the skies after the jets had been either destroyed or driven off. Ivy sent a fireball into the heart of the Corrupted and Ashborn horde, while Jack charged Natalie's crossbow and sent bolt after bolt of blue magical dust below, exploding entire groups of Corrupted or Ashborn. Despite all of that, there was one thing that was bothering Jack.

Where's Sombron?

Zephia was probably carted off to one of the intact Elusian ships, but Sombron was nowhere to be seen. Jack had never seen his human form in person, but judging by what he could remember, he should've been pretty distinctive. Despite that, there was nothing. Not even a flash to signify him transforming.

Nonetheless, Jack and Ivy continued to rain hell down upon the enemy, occasionally backing off once the heat became too much - arrows and bullets were an entirely different hell to deal with.

Jack had just shot another bolt from Natalie's crossbow when he finally saw it. Except, it wasn't one or two blinding flashes of light in the middle of the ruined fortress town, but three. Aside from the crackling of flame and the grunts and screeches of Corrupted and Ashborn, the world became silent, and Jack heard Ivy whisper.

"By the Divine Dragon…"

"Two of them," Jack replied hushedly.

It had been some time since Jack had seen Alear's dragon form, but it was just as terrifying and awe-inspiring as ever. Lumera's, by contrast, reflected the fire-light that surrounded her and made her appear even more radiant than she usually did.

Sombron, meanwhile - there was something off about the Fell Dragon. Jack had only seen him once before, but back then, there was a pressure to him that he couldn't identify. It was as if the air itself condensed in fear from his presence. In that moment, however, there was none of that, and somehow, he seemed smaller than before. Either the 'royal blood' he needed was wearing off, or his and Alear's battle had taken a bigger toll than anyone else had thought.

It was only a moment of silence before the battle continued in earnest. Jack knew that he and Ivy had no business in that fight, but even so, he couldn't help but watch them. Breath attacks followed by savage claw strikes came from both sides. Even though Sombron was outnumbered, his great experience ensured he wasn't overwhelmed, but he certainly wasn't winning either. Lumera slashed at Sombron's face before unleashing a beam of magic into him, but Sombron endured and when she was done, he charged and knocked her over, slamming her into a building.

Alear roared, sounding almost exactly like Sombron in that moment before he bit into Sombron's neck before wrenching out a chunk from it. All the while, Jack could hear scattered gunfire, but Alear and Lumera's scales seemed to be dealing with it decently well, compared to the last time. Blood seeped from several wounds that successfully broke through their tough hide, but nothing horrifically damaging.

Despite all of that, however, the battle still wasn't going anywhere. They appeared to be at a stalemate. At least, until another flash of light eclipsed the darkness for a brief moment.

Jack didn't have time to notice what it was - though he had an inkling as to who it was, and his heart thundered in his chest in fear - as Ivy banked to the left quickly as a stream of gunfire and magic came from below. She got closer to the ground as Jack looked to see a glowing dragon behind Sombron, its teeth sunk into his back and tearing at his wings. The dragon had four limbs and two wings, and said wings were feathered, unlike those of Lumera. It was also the smallest of them all, but clearly that wasn't much of a problem as Sombron screamed and thrashed about.

Jack saw where Ivy was headed: a pocket of normalcy in the middle of the burning fortress town, with heavily armed and armored warriors protecting the entrances while the Corrupted and Ashborn attempted to get through, though they found no purchase. It seemed to be some kind of plaza, though much smaller than the town center itself. Nonetheless, Jack was shocked to see several soldiers wielding the same guns that the Ashborn used. Though he could tell that many of them were unfamiliar with how to hold one, and when they fired back, half of the time the guns sailed out of their arms.

Ivy landed in the middle, and as she and Jack disembarked, they were approached by an old friend.

"Oh, good! I was getting worried there for a second," Alfred said, running a hand through his sweaty blond hair as he walked forward, toting a spear in one hand.

"Prince Alfred," Ivy greeted. "What's our status? How has our army fared? I could not see much with all the fires and destruction."

"Well, that would make it difficult to see, yeah," Alfred noted dryly before shaking his head. "Honestly? It looks a lot worse than it actually is. Sombron's force got past the sea wall, but they haven't made it very far into the city. Honestly, those metal wyverns did more damage than they have, even with those terrible weapons on their side."

"This is what happens when your strategy consists of 'keep attacking until you get through'," Jack mumbled, "Just ask Alear's siblings."

"Veyle's actually been busy converting as many Corrupted to our side as she can, and Alm and those three other Emblems are better at guarding her than anyone else," Alfred said, rubbing the back of his neck as he looked around. "Really, I'm more worried about the others we can't account for, like Diamant or Fogado…"

Jack swallowed. "Fogado was on the sea wall with me when the jets attacked."

"Jets? Is that what they're called? Huh, I thought they would've been called something… different," Alfred noted. "And Fogado… well, you're here, so he's probably out there too. Still, even though we're holding, I think it's only a matter of time until we're overwhelmed."

"Zephia will no longer be fighting, so Sombron is down his only able commander," Ivy said, crossing her arms as she gave Jack a sideways glance. "Though I am not entirely happy with how it happened…"

"What? How'd it happen? Wait- nevermind, maybe I shouldn't be asking that question," Alfred said, looking to the sky. "I hope the Divine One and the others can finish this before we're-"

Just as Alfred was about to finish his sentence, a great shadow eclipsed what little light was available. Jack looked up to see Sombron, his wings tattered and outstretched, blood seeping from almost every part of his hide as his roars echoed across the sky. The snarls and moans of the Corrupted and Ashborn quickly faded as Alear followed in Sombron's shadow, sending out beam after beam from his snake-like maw. After a few moments, however, he calmed himself and looked down, noticing Jack and the others. Even though Jack knew Alear had better control over his dragon form than before, it still sent a shiver up his spine seeing his slitted gaze upon them.

Alear's next words echoed across the ruined streets of Gradaegis, and with them, Jack felt his heart finally steady.

"The battle is won."

Gradaegis would have a hard time recovering from the damage dealt to it, that was certain. The sea wall was completely annihilated, with only a few sections of it standing up; everything else was rubble. Thankfully, Fogado was found buried underneath it, kept alive mostly thanks to Hector clearing the way. Jack was glad he'd given Fogado that bracelet.

Jack watched as only a handful of ships out of the dozens that Sombron had arrived with made their hasty escape. Even from such a far distance, on the clear day that had broken out, he could still vaguely make them out, their masts at full sail. Jack wondered how Zephia and Sombron were reacting to their defeat.

The sun rose above the horizon, its golden rays bathing the broken fortress town in its light, and Jack leaned against a pillar that was still standing, rubbing his forehead and wincing as he felt the bullets he'd been hit with.

"That answers one question," Robin said, floating beside Jack and following his gaze. "We cannot stop those bullets very well. There can be only one response to those Ashborn, as Zephia called them."

Jack nodded. "Kill them as quickly as possible."

"That's something I can get behind," Chrom said, rubbing his forehead. "I can't feel pain, but when those bullets hit us - I'd prefer if we didn't act like shields for that."

Robin snorted. "As I recall, Chrom, at that first plane crash you almost willfully allowed one of those things to strike you in the head."

"For science," Jack commented, looking at the twisted metal of the plane that had knocked him into the water.

Chrom gestured to Jack. "He understands. We won't know anything for certain if we don't test it."

"I'm wondering why I chose to follow you again," Robin harrumphed, turning away. "Honestly… well, it did prove that we can't reliably deflect them, so it wasn't all for nothing. In any case, Jack… Lucina. You have Lucina's ring."

Jack nodded quietly, taking the ring from his pocket and holding it up. He knew that Lucina was still Corrupted with Fell energy, but even so, that didn't make the ring any less beautiful.

"I didn't think we'd get her back so soon," Jack remarked. "It's been a while since we got an Emblem Ring. Haven't gotten one since Corrin."

"I'm glad she's back with us," Chrom said, "raising my sword against her was far more difficult than I thought, even if we can't die. At least, not with weapons."

"I'd think the only thing that could kill you guys is if the Emblem Bracelets or Rings were destroyed or damaged in some way," Jack mused, "not that I'm in any hurry to find out, either way. Still, we should probably take her over to Alear, let him know-"

"There you are."

"Shit, run," Jack whispered, as the Emblems promptly disappeared. Jack turned around the pillar to see Ivy staring at him from behind her fascinator.

She didn't say anything for a few seconds, and Jack merely gazed back, tapping his fingers against the corner of the pillar.

"You know, I've been meaning to ask," Jack began, "how do you keep finding me? You didn't place a tracking spell on me or something, did you?"

Ivy's hand balled into fists.

Jack quickly turned to the wreck of twisted and burnt metal. "Look, that's where I fell into the water, and just over there is where I first beached myself. I know, I'm sorry to have worried you. Believe me, worrying you is the last thing that's on my mind! I'm being as honest as I can be, no fucking around."

Ivy walked forward, and Jack froze in place. He didn't know why he was so afraid - well, perhaps 'afraid' wasn't the right word. 'Apprehensive' seemed to fit a bit better, with 'nervous' coming in as the runner-up. It didn't help that Ivy was a prodigy mage who could destroy normal people with a flick of her wrists, but Jack asked himself a serious question.

Is this relationship really going to work out if I'm so scared just from this?

So, Jack grit his teeth and stood his ground, and when Ivy stood in front of him, he prepared himself for whatever may come.

At the last moment, Ivy's eyes softened, and she raised her right hand up to cup his left cheek, running her thumb along the scar there.

"I thought it would be… prudent of me to apologize for being short with you earlier," Ivy murmured. "I know what I said was not mean or demeaning, but it was unbecoming of me to say it when you had already explained to me your circumstances. I am sorry, Jack."

Jack let out a sigh of relief. He really needed to place more faith in Ivy. And also to not take stock in any media he might've seen about relationships. He only had one frame of reference for the real world and that had not ended well.

"Well, it's, uh, good to hear," Jack whispered.

"I just…" Ivy said, her voice breaking. "I just do not want to lose anyone else. You, Hortensia, our retainers… Connor. All of you are important to me. I realize it may be too soon for me to say this, but I consider you all my family, and seeing you in such pain and agony - it feels as if something is squeezing my heart when I look upon it."

Jack nodded. "I think I can understand that. Like I said, I didn't go outta my way to end up in that situation. It just sort of… happened. But, well, if there's anything I can do to make this better-"

"There is something you can do to make me feel better, at least. And everyone else, too, but they likely won't hear this, but… I need to hear this from you. Promise me that we will all make it through this, and that we will rebuild my nation together. I do not know what awaits us for the rest of this war, but, please…"

Taking a deep breath, Jack pressed his forehead against hers, moving the fascinator out of the way. "I promise you, right here, right now, no matter how melodramatic this sounds, that all of us will make it through this in one piece. And then, come what may, I'll help you rebuild Elusia with my own two hands if I have to. I… I love you, Ivy. I'm not going to die any time soon."

Ivy let out a shuddering laugh. "I cannot tell if what you have just said has made me feel better, or just made me more nervous… but, I love you too, Jack. Before we set off again, I must ask - may we bring Connor to the Somniel? I realize he would be better protected in Lythos Castle, but it would-"

"It'd make you feel better?" Jack asked with a smirk. "I was gonna ask that myself. You're basically the closest thing he has to a mom right now, so I thought I'd get your opinion first."

Ivy wiped her lips with the back of her hand. "We make for an odd couple, don't we? Half the time it feels like we do not communicate well, even though we can finish each other's sentences. This is all happening so fast, but oddly, I do not mind that."

Jack shrugged. "Me neither. God, I feel like such a sap right now, but all of this feels… right. 'Course," Jack turned away to look at the pile of twisted metal and ash that had once been a jet. "We still have to fight a massive war before anything we just talked about becomes reality."

"Yes," Ivy said, walking around Jack and staring at the wreckage. She placed her gloved hand against the cold steel of what was likely the wing of the plane. "Tell me about your world again, Jack. About its people and its technology. I do not want to believe that the world you come from is nothing but terrifying war machines."

Jack's lips thinned as he walked beside Ivy to look at the remnants of one of said war machines.

"It's not all bad," Jack began, "The thing that allowed me to see the future here, for starters…"

A raven circled overhead as Jack approached Alear. It was the same plaza that most of the army had staked out in, and he was talking to Alfred and Diamant. Jack eyed the raven suspiciously as it landed on a nearby rooftop and stared right back at him, occasionally letting out what sounded like a dissatisfied chortle.

"Ah, there's Jack! I was wondering where you had gone off to," Alear said, noticing Jack approach. "I heard you fought Zephia. And that you were… well, have you had those things removed from you yet? Are you alright?"

"I'll be getting them removed before the day's over. Until then, I have something to give to you," Jack said, "Also, hi Diamant. Alfred."

Diamant bowed his head. "Greetings. My report was already complete, so I will leave you all to whatever it is you must do next. Prince Alfred?"

"Yeah, I think that's enough from me, too. Just remember that mother's ships could be here within another week, Alear," Alfred said.

Alear nodded. "I will, Alfred, thank you. Now, Jack, what is it you wanted to give me?"

Jack held out his hand, with the Ring of the Princess Exalt in the center of his palm. "I got back an old friend."

Seeing Alear's heterochromatic eyes light up was certainly a welcome sight, and he gingerly took Lucina's ring. He stared at it for a few moments before looking at Jack.

"We shouldn't waste any time, should we?" he said.

Jack gestured to go on.

"Alright! Reignite us, Emblem of Awakening!"

A surge of nostalgia hit Jack as Lucina appeared a moment later, glowing blue once again as she let out a sigh of relief.

"That is twice now I have been like that, and once was already enough. Thank you, Divine One, for releasing me again. I owe you one," Lucina said, bowing her head.

"Thank you, Lucina. Welcome back. But it's not me you should be thanking for retrieving you. That would be all Jack's work," Alear said, gesturing to Jack.

Lucina turned around, her brow furrowed. "Ah, Jack…"

"Been a while, Lucina. How're you feeling?" Jack asked.

"I feel as if I should be asking you that question. I can see a scar that was not there when last we spoke, and I cannot help but feel as if it is my fault. I tried to defend you when you were uncovered by that mage, but I could not stop him. And for that, I will forever be sorry," Lucina said, closing her eyes and bowing her head. "I failed you."

Jack shook his head vehemently. "There was nothing that could've been done. We were screwed one way or the other. I'm honestly lucky I made it out with just this mark on my face. Good thing it doesn't detract from my looks any, right?"

Lucina let out a breath, smiling. "That it doesn't. Though, it's strange, I can feel another Emblem on you, but that can't be right. There's no way they are-"

Chrom and Robin appeared by Jack's side. Chrom looked as if he was about to lunge forward and gather Lucina up in a hug, while Robin stood with his arms crossed and a small smile on his face.

"It has been a long time, Lucina," Robin said, "I hope the Elyosians of this world have been treating you as well as they have been treating us."

"R-Robin!? Father!? How are you-!?"

Chrom teleported forward in the blink of an eye, appearing behind Lucina and placing a hand on her shoulder.

"This actually reminds me of that time we finally found out who you really were, beside that river…" Chrom said wistfully. "That feels like a lifetime ago now."

"F-father… it really is good to see you again!"

Jack turned away, letting them have their moment.

We'll need every moment like this we can get.

Steadily heading toward the end of this arc, though I have a feeling that it'll be a while yet before we get into the real nitty-gritty of this fic. Or what I consider to be the nitty-gritty, and most exciting. I'm really looking forward to writing the arc after this one lol.

Anyway, here's a link to our Discord server: discord. gg/u89gs745fn

See you guys next time!