Jack ran a hand through his hair as he looked out over the rolling hills of the alternate Firene. Atop the border mountains to its north, still at Zephi- Zelestia's camp, it all looked almost peaceful.
That was, of course, so long as he didn't look up at the sky and see the diseased, red sun shining down upon them, or noticed that the grass was yellow and dead.
It was clear that the land itself was dying, in some way. Something had been done to it that damaged it irreparably, and Zelestia did not have the answers. She stood nearby, putting out the remnants of the campfire and packing up what she couldn't carry on her wyvern. Jack took a deep breath before speaking.
"Remind me again," he began, standing up. "What, exactly, we're gonna be doing out there."
"Oh?" Zelestia said, continuing her packing. "I have already explained it several times. Are you alright?"
"I don't like the quiet. No birds, no crickets, barely any wind - I need something, anything. So, explain it again, just in case I missed something."
"That makes sense, yes. Very well! Listen closely this time," Zelestia said, finishing packing up as she placed her hands on her hips. "I've been monitoring the Firenese royal family for a few weeks now - to see what they plan to do. They are a war-like people, although there was hope that would no longer be the case… until Queen Eve and the Divine Dragon died. Now, it would seem, the royal family is pushing for war. At this point, my only concern is to document the amount of troops they have."
"War? Right now?" Jack asked incredulously.
"Yes. I realize how it sounds, considering the way the world looks right now," Zelestia replied, standing beside Jack as they both looked out over the plains. "But that is how it is. Perhaps this was always their plan, or maybe the loss of their mother and the Divine Dragon drove them to this. No matter what, however, they cannot be allowed to run rampant across Elyos. What little order remains must be maintained."
"It's not just the way the world looks right now," Jack clarified, rubbing his chin. "I doubt much of anything is growing in this environment, and whatever soldiers they'd be able to muster would be sick of fighting, even in a war-like nation. It doesn't make any sense."
"Hmm. You would be correct. The fields are fallow, and the livestock are either too sick, too weak, or already dead," Zelestia replied. "Nonetheless, that's what they're doing."
"It just…" Jack began, before sighing. "It just seems like, even in an alternate world, Alfred and Celine wouldn't be this stupid and deaf to their people."
"You will have plenty of time to tell me what they are like in your world as we travel," Zelestia said, placing a hand on Jack's shoulder. "Now, come along. Let us be away."
Jack did as he was told, even if he shivered impulsively when Zelestia touched him. If Alfred and Celine were this tyrannical in alternate Elyos, then what were Diamant and Alcryst like? Timerra and Fogado?
Ivy and Hortensia?
Despite having appeared in alternate Elyos in the fields of Firene, Jack still was surprised at the desolate country that the peace-loving nation of his old world had become.
That alone was a strange thought. He wondered when, exactly, he had been thinking of Elyos as 'home', when he had finally convinced himself completely and utterly that it was where he belonged. It could've had something to do with being away from it. Being away from everyone he'd grown to know and trust and love. And Connor.
Connor.
Finding him and Ivy were his number one priorities, which meant playing along with Zelestia's scouting mission for a while longer. At least until she was set to meet the others. Of those others, Jack knew very little. She had mentioned a Nel and Nil - two twins, apparently also children of Sombron, and that they had essentially taken over Alear's position as Divine Dragon Monarch.
No wonder Firene was on the verge of declaring war. From their point of view, the position of their god had been usurped.
Nevertheless, there he and Zelestia stood, looking upon the ruined city of Kering with Firene Castle at its center. The island it was situated upon was nearly a complete mirror of the one Jack had seen near the beginning of his journey, although obviously, the Kering of alternate Elyos had seen better days. The walls were crumbling, houses were in ruins, and he couldn't see anyone that wasn't either a soldier or knight.
Essentially, the once vibrant and colorful Firenese capital had been turned into a full military fortress.
"It's like an anthill…" Jack said, swallowing a growing lump in his throat.
"Indeed," Zelestia concurred. "There are many more than I had thought. More than I had seen last I was here. I wonder how all of those soldiers could be fed and sheltered when Kering looks like that! Maybe it's some sort of magic, but Firene has never been known as a magically-inclined kingdom. That was always more the domain of-"
"Elusia," Jack finished. "What happened in this world's version of Elusia? If Firene is like this, then…"
"Despite their country's climate, they were seen as a warm and caring people, even if a large number of them worshiped Sombron - but I don't think talking about all of that while we're still figuring out how to deal with Firene is a good idea! I'd be happy to tell you more later, though."
Jack nodded. He had his answer already anyway.
Zelestia sighed after a few more minutes, as the red sun sank below the horizon. "It's just as I'd feared. And with Brodia to the north preparing their own forces, it seems conflict will be inevitable."
"Probably," Jack mumbled. "Though I'm starting to wonder what they even want to accomplish, fighting against each other."
Zelestia shrugged. "It's hard to say, but then again, Alfred and Celine have not been acting like themselves of late, even taking the Divine One's death into account."
"Really? You said that the Firene of this world is a warrior's land or something to that effect - doesn't it make sense that they'd be doing something like this?" Jack asked, scratching his chin.
"Perhaps. If they felt like desecrating their promise to the Divine Dragon," Zelestia replied, her voice low. "Which is something even they would have balked at breaking, not so long ago. A force of this size would easily be able to break through the Brodian line, but if they would be able to reach the capital, and after that, gain their Emblem Bracelet? It is too early to say. I believe I finally have enough information about what is happening here to report back to Nel, though."
"Mmm," Jack hummed. "I still have no idea who she is. You said she was a Fell Dragon, or the child of one, so…"
"She is on our side and I will hear no such attempts at suggesting the contrary," Zelestia suddenly snapped, before her gaze softened. "I realize what you must have gone through in your world. It could not have been easy there either. But please, I would ask that you keep an open mind when talking with everyone from this world."
Jack took a deep breath. "You're right. I… It's just really strange for me right now. I didn't even think of Veyle as the child of Sombron, so I really shouldn't do that for her, uh, pseudo-siblings."
Zelestia blinked. "The Veyle of your world is still alive?"
"Erm, yeah, is she not here?" Jack asked, before wiping his forehead. "Better not tell Mauvier that."
"He already knows," Zelestia replied grimly. "The one from our world, I mean. That was when the Four Winds started, when he- Ah, but I am getting ahead of myself. You are really good at getting me to go on tangents, you know!"
Jack shrugged. "Yeah, I am. It's the only talent I have."
"Now, that is plainly not true," Zelestia said, lightly glowering at him. "But we should really get out of here, before any of their lookouts spot us. The information we have gathered is no good to the others if we wind up dead!"
What followed was a few days of… nothing.
Jack and Zelestia didn't have much cause for conversation as they waited to rendezvous with Nel and whoever she had with her. It was like waiting for a battle for Jack - he knew, intellectually, that nothing would happen. There would be a talk, and hopefully some of the others would be there, but it wouldn't be bad. If all went well, they would all go home with Sombron finally gone, and maybe even two worlds saved instead of one.
Yet no matter how much he tried to convince himself, something in the back of his mind screamed that something would happen, and that he would not like it.
They waited in the alternate version of Flora Mill, the town itself nothing more than a scorched ruin. Images of the ruins they followed Yunaka to at the beginning of their adventure surfaced in Jack's mind as he kicked his legs out, watching the stagnant water beneath him. He was sitting on the walled edge of the village, right where the town met the water. The pier had collapsed long ago, leaving nothing but rotting stumps that were once its supports.
The sight was sobering. The water barely moved, and the red sun over it all - there was little doubt in Jack's mind that whatever happened in this alternate Elyos, it would not be good. For them, or for the people inexplicably still living in it. It was a soft Hell.
Jack saw them around an hour before they made landfall. Across the water, as the red sun set below the horizon, there was a ship. It was small, maybe a dwarf galleon or something, but even though he knew where it was coming from, it looked broken, somehow. Wrong. Ships from Lythos always had a strong artistic flair to them as well, but the small thing before him was completely spartan. Nothing was spared from the cutting room floor when lives were on the line, it seemed.
I really don't like this place.
The good news was that he would likely be seeing Alear again.
The ship weighed anchor just near the destroyed pier, and Jack could see five people on deck, who disembarked in quick order, sloshing up from the beach. Jack readily admitted to himself that had things been different, he probably would've jumped down from the seawall and gathered Alear in a crushing hug.
And Alfred and Veyle, too, considering he could see them beside him. Alongside two people he had never seen before.
Before long, they stood in front of him. Jack looked down, trying his best to look impassive.
"Uh, are you okay? Jack?" Alfred said, waving a hand in front of him. "Are you broken? Did we bring any spare parts?"
"We used them all on you," Veyle replied.
"He really does look just like him," one of the newcomers said, turning to the black-haired one with the spear. "Nel…"
"I could handle the Divine One," Nel said. "I can handle him as well."
"...I was gonna sit here stoically and try to come up with a wisecrack to break the tension," Jack explained, before jumping down to the wet sand below. "Now, c'mere you lizard bastard."
Alear squawked as Jack gathered him up in a bear hug. He gently patted Jack's back, something between a cough and a laugh escaping his mouth.
"There, there," he wheezed. "I- we missed you too!"
Jack hummed, before turning to see Alfred standing aside, looking awkward. He fixed that by bringing him into the hug as well. He did the same for Veyle - who was looking at her feet in an attempt not to seem interested - and she squealed as she was pulled in.
"I really did miss you guys," Jack whispered. "Zelestia's nice, but…"
"Not the same as Ivy, I'm guessing?" Alfred coughed out.
"I oughta kick your ass for that but I'm too emotional to care," Jack replied, giving them all one final squeeze before letting go. "Besides, too early to be getting all cold and moody. Ah, and these two must be-"
"I'm assuming you've already heard of us, so there's no need for introductions. Just take us to Zelestia," Nel said, her arms crossed.
"I stand corrected," Jack sighed. "I guess it is time to be all cold and moody."
"Ah, it's alright. It's just been a long journey for us all," the white-haired one said, bowing his head. "I'm Nil, and this is Nel. Good to meet you again, Jack."
"Again? Oh, right, alternate timelines and shit like that," Jack said, coughing into his fist. "Awkward."
"You're telling me! This has been a surprising experience all around," Veyle stated, clutching her staff as she looked at the others. "Though, it's good to see more Fell Siblings, even if they're from a different world."
"For whatever counts as siblings…" Nel muttered. "It does not matter, either way. As I said, take us to Zelestia. She must be hiding somewhere in this village, yes? And you were told to get her when we arrived?"
Jack rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, not really. But I can see the writing on the wall. C'mon, I'll take you to her."
There was a definite tension beyond just Nel's rudeness that Jack could pick up on, but he couldn't tell where it came from. It was similar to what he had with Ivy before he confessed, but- this one was more charged. Angrier. As if at any moment, it would blow up.
He shoved those thoughts for later as he guided the others through the broken town.
They gathered at what was likely once the gates of Flora Mill Town, its blackened ground and tattered iron spires the only remnants that anything had once stood there at all.
"So, they're unlikely to hand over the Emblem Bracelet willingly?"
Zelestia bowed her head. "I'm afraid so. Everything I have seen has pointed to war with Brodia, in particular. Although, Jack pointed something out that I had nearly neglected to notice."
Nel raised a brow, prompting Zelestia to continue.
"Ostensibly, Firene is about to wage war because of a lack of resources, but the amount of troops stationed in Kering far exceeds whatever supplies they might be capable of producing or stored. Truthfully, looking at them, they act more like Corrupted than they do human beings."
"Huh," Nil hummed. "That's… disturbing."
"I'm not sure how to take the fact that the Firene of this world is in such dire straits that they're considering invading," Alfred said, rubbing his forehead. "It just… it just doesn't make any sense! We've always been a nation of peace!"
"Not here," Nel said, shaking her head. "Here, Firene has always been infamous for its war-like nature, regardless of the passage of time."
"Role reversals are such fun, aren't they?" Jack said.
"Hmph," Nel grunted. "We will march toward Kering tomorrow, and seek out the royal family. If they do not relinquish their Emblem Bracelet willingly, then we will be forced to take it from them."
"That's rather drastic, isn't it?" Alear said, rubbing his chin.
"I wouldn't expect you to understand what's at stake here," Nel replied. "Fight alongside us or don't, we need those Emblem Bracelets to put this right."
"I'm not denying that," Alear replied, his brow furrowing. "I merely wanted to say-"
"I know what you wanted to say, and I do not care," Nel snapped. "Do what you want while we remain here. I need to scout out the area to ensure that we aren't being watched."
That was when Nel took a step back, and was enveloped in blue light. A moment later, a dragon stood in her place. With a snake-like head, frayed neck that displayed glowing blue scales, and leathery wings, the fact that she was descended from Sombron was plain to see. A few flaps of her wings later, and she was in the air.
"She's just a ray of sunshine, isn't she?" Jack asked.
Nil rubbed his forehead, walking away. "Yes. I'll need to keep up with her so the power of her dragonstone doesn't fade away. Take care for now!"
Once he was gone, it was just the five of them. Zelestia bowed her head. "I hope she has not been giving you too much of a hard time, Divine One! You see, it's just…"
Alear held up a hand. "I think I can understand it, somewhat. She and the me of this world were close, weren't they?"
Zelestia nodded her head, her brows furrowing. "I… yes, that would be an apt phrase to use."
Jack rubbed his forehead. "They were in love, weren't they?"
"Wh-" Alear stammered out. "B-but-!"
"I didn't want to say it because it is not my place to do so," Zelestia continued. "But… Well, yes, they were. But the truth is a bit more complicated than that."
Zelestia finished while staring at Jack. He tilted his head in response, before his eyes slowly widened.
No…
"Nuh uh," Jack said, taking a step back. "Don't say a word. Not right now. I don't wanna hear it."
Zelestia nodded. "I will abide by what you wish. Like I said, it's really not my place to say it out loud. I will leave that to them, if they want to."
"For all our sakes, I hope it's never said at all," Jack mumbled.
"We are agreed on that," Alear concurred, looking up in the air. "It does explain a lot, though, doesn't it?"
"Hopefully she doesn't have any ideas now, eh?" Alfred laughed, before coughing into his fist. "Bad joke. Sorry."
"I get the feeling that something may have happened to us in this world that is far from… pleasant, I should say," Veyle said, looking at Zelestia. "I'm sorry, but could we have a few moments to ourselves? I am sure that we will be able to get to know each other better later, but…"
Zelestia smiled. "I do not have a problem with that. Considering what Jack has told me, this must all be very confusing for all of you. I will make a campsite nearby. Please, do join me later!"
Once Zelestia was gone, Veyle sighed.
"Three of us appear to be dead in this world," she said, "Me, brother, and you, Jack. And Alfred, I do not think the you of this world is much better off."
Alfred rubbed the back of his head. "I am starting to get that impression, yes."
"No wonder Nel was so prickly, honestly. I just hope it doesn't become a thing for her," Jack said, crossing his arms. "There's a lotta things I think we need to discuss. Like, you know, the fact that the Emblem Bracelets we all were wearing are missing. But not your staff, Veyle, or the rings."
Veyle looked down at her arm and nodded. "Yes, and I have already asked Alm, and he had no idea why that might be the case. It is a strange conundrum, I must admit."
"Marth hasn't spoken a lot since we came here," Alear noted, "but I don't think he knows either. Neither does Sigurd. I don't know why it would be like this - unless…"
Alfred pat Alear on the shoulder. "It's okay, take your time."
Alear snorted. "I just needed a second to really think about it. Maybe the fact that there are Emblem Bracelets here, and they seem to be similar to the ones we have in our world, maybe it's… time trying to keep itself on course? That is, if these Emblem Bracelets are the same ones that end up appearing in our world. I know it's not a sound theory but it's the only thing I can think of."
Jack rubbed his scalp. "Probably the best theory we're gonna have. I already miss Chrom and Robin. Did you try awakening any of those Emblems?"
Alear frowned. "That's the thing, when I held one in my hands, it… the incantations didn't come to me. I couldn't remember what I should say."
"And considering those other two are Fell Dragons…" Jack mumbled, looking up to the sky. "I guess the Emblem Rings we brought with us are the only ones we're getting. Speaking of which…"
Jack held up his hand, and Byleth's ring was in his palm.
"Took something from Zephia just before we left. I think all we have left is Leif and Eirika's rings now."
"Well, the other rings are probably safe," Alfred said, scratching his chin. "We just gotta make sure we don't lose these ones. That'd be bad. Very bad."
"You don't say," Jack replied, rolling his eyes as Alear gently took the ring from his hand.
"Teach us, Emblem of the Academy!"
Jack had to take a step back when Alear shouted that. Usually he was farther away from an Emblem awakening, but he was nearly blinded when the light flashed. Byleth floated beside Alear, then, his form glowing blue. He looked around.
"...I see that not all is well," Byleth said, looking down at Alear. "Nonetheless, you have my thanks, Divine Dragon. Being controlled with Fell magic is far from pleasant, even if I do not remember it."
"There is no need to thank me. You should thank Jack if you must, though. He is the one who brought you to me," Alear said, gesturing to Jack.
"Hold on, now - all I did was pry that ring off of Zephia's finger. It's good to know you can still use incantations for the Emblem Rings, though," Jack said, wiping his forehead as a chilly breeze blew past him.
"Nonetheless, I will give you my thanks as well," Byleth said, bowing his head. It was odd - even though there was at least some emotion to his voice, his face barely changed even as he spoke. "Now, there is something different about this place. Where are we?"
Alear rubbed the back of his neck.
"We're in an alternate version of the Elyos we're all from," Alear said, looking up at the sky. "And we're going to need all the help we can get to get through this alive."
Deep in the dark below, a green light emanated from a singular eye socket. It looked around the blackened room, bodies on the floor and water dripping from the ceiling. What was once a glorious testament to the Divine Dragon's stature had become a rotting tomb deep beneath the earth. He would have found it hilarious if he was not constantly mortally wounded, yet unable to die.
The wounds inflicted on him, and the sword impaled through his chest, refused to calm down. It was like his very blood and body were infected. Still, he lived. And he would reach out and wreak vengeance upon those that did this to him.
The Emblem Bracelets would be his. The Sombron from another world would be joined with him, and maybe even his 'son' would be as well. He would devour them all, and they would break through the veil and end the constant cycle. It would be beautiful. It would be devastating. And he didn't care.
The end was approaching. For all of them. And they did not know. His green eyes blazed in the darkness. And when he spoke, it was the voice of the dead and the damned.
"Come to me, my other half. Sombron of another world…" he said, and though his arms were unable to move, strung up as he was, he could still reach through the void, at the Corrupted his 'son' had made. "Let us rid ourselves of this plight, together…"
They would follow his wake, or they would die.
This'll probably be the last chapter I post for an extended period of time, if only because life is getting a bit crazy and I've felt my will to write plummet lately. Probably not what many of you were hoping to hear after I post a chapter after almost a month, but that's how it is. I'll be back though. Or maybe not! Who knows. Let's see!
Here's a link to our Discord server: discord. gg/u89gs745fn
See you guys next time!
