After awhile, the company made it to the fortress Darios mentioned as the Gristonne forces patrolled.
"Wow… Defense is really air tight."Jesse said.
"Looks like Darios wasn't lying. They really are patrolling this place." Jexi said. "Which means we need to take it."
"So how are we gonna do this?" Rowan asked.
"Only a single option I can think of...a full frontal assault." Jexi said.
"We need to be sure the Shield of Flames is handled. If we lose that, all is lost." Chrom said.
"No worries. Darios can handle it. We trust him with our lives completely." Rowan said.
"Okay." Nana said.
"Now...let us lead the march!" Jexi shouted as the army marched towards the fortress.
"First, we take the forts outside the castle. If we do that, the central fort will weaken, and we'll be able to get inside." David said.
"Sounds like sound strategy. How many are there?" Elise asked.
"Two from the looks of it." Yuno said.
"Well that's easy. We go in swinging and take em down." Asta said.
"Just as simple as that." Achilles said. "Now we attack!" he shouted as the armies besieged the forts.
It just a matter of minutes, both forts were taken. This led to the opening of the central fort.
"The central fort is open! Move in!" Darios said as they charged in as watching from afar was Note as she smiled evilly.
"Seems our little trap is working perfectly." she said. "Won't be long before my forces move in for the kill."
As soon as they were inside as Darios was further ahead, a wall suddenly slammed down from the ceiling and separated Darios from the others.
"Aw crap. Darios! Are you alright?!" David asked.
"I'm fine. But we...what…..AHHHH!" Darios screamed.
"Darios? Darios!" Lianna shouted.
"Darios!" Rowan shouted.
"Guys, we got trouble. A huge reinforcement of Outrealm Fiends as well as soldiers and warriors from other time periods are surrounding the castle!" Vector said as they saw said reinforcements.
"A trap, and we waltzed right into it." Petra said.
"Should've known it was too simple." David said.
"Quite so." a voice said as Note stood there with a smile on her face. "So...you're the ones who gave my boss trouble."
"So, you must be Note. I'd say the name suits you, but that would be giving you a compliment." David said.
"Especially when you've been controlling other warriors with singing." Jexi said.
"Yes...my Law of Singing is pretty amazing." Note said. "I can bend any person who hears my voice to my will."
"We pretty much figured it out by now. Just tell us what it is you want from us." David said.
"There are plenty of things I want from this world. But for now...I want you to return the property you've taken from me so far." Note said.
"Property? These are living people you're stealing!" Ciel said. "And you're taking them from important battles."
"I could care less about what battles they were fighting. All I care for is that they are mine." Note said.
"You witch…" Ciel said.
"And now….I think it's time I added all of you to my growing army." Note said as she cleared her throat.
"Uh oh… not good!" Hope said.
Before she could sing though, a rumble was heard through the castle. "What is that?"
"My lady...a small band of unknown warriors have broken through the monster army." a soldier said.
"What?" she said.
"Jexi, you think its…?" Hope asked.
"It has to be…" Jexi said as a boy with short blue hair in royal clothing slashed through the monsters alongside a man in red with long brown hair.
"I am Marth...the Prince of Altea. We have come to save you all!" he said.
Prince of Altea
Lord
Marth
Flying in on a pegasus came a girl with long blue hair and armor with a smaller girl with green hair and pointed ears riding behind her. "We'll be safe if we fight together. Now let's get out."
Princess of Talys
Pegasus Knight
Caeda
"Yes. We have to hurry." the younger girl said.
Manakete Princess
Manakete
Tiki
The man in red cut down more monsters. "Follow and live or stay and die." he said.
Scarlet Sword
Mercenary
Navarre
"They're right. Let's get out of here." David said.
The heroes took advantage of the confusion and ran from the fortress as Note looked on in anger. "This isn't over. I'll get back what you have taken no matter what." she said.
Once the group managed to make a safe distance…
"Are we safe here?" Ming asked.
"It doesn't look like they followed us. I think we're in the clear." Hope said.
"To think, we were rescued by the Hero King himself." Chrom said.
"Hero King? I have not done anything that deserves such a grand title." Marth said.
"And Caeda and Navarre….this is the first time we've seen them outside of the Mirage Field." Rainbow said.
"Mirage Field?" Caeda asked.
"It's a long story. Anyway, thanks for getting us out of there." Mayumi said.
"I am glad we could make it in time, but I am sorry for the capture of your friend." Marth said.
"Note… She has Darios, and the Shield of Flames." Rowan said.
"I can't stand people like her. People who think they can just do whatever they want solely for their own benefit. They never think about the people they're hurting due to their actions, and that's why everyone they come across is suffering." David said. "Those are people's lives she is messing with, and if you guys know me, you know I'm not the type of person that takes that kind of stuff lying down."
"Neither do I. Next time we face off, I'm finding that law of hers and breaking it." Hope said.
"But ungentleman like to fight woman." Gonta said.
"We know, Gonta. But she's not exactly the type of person who plays by the rules. I mean, she did try to possess us." David said as he looked at Sectonia. "And I know one person who doesn't want to go through that again."
"Whether we decide to fight her or not, dispelling her law is pointless if we don't know what she's using for it." Ming said.
"Fine. I'll fight her than. Her singing won't work on me." Aria said.
"Aria?" Sonata asked.
"I'm a Siren, remember. Song like effects don't work on sirens. You should know, you're one too." Aria said.
"Oh right. I forgot." Sonata said.
"In any case, we should get some rest. We got beaten pretty bad out there." David said.
"But we need to rescue Darios." Rowan said.
"If you go in, you'll end up surrounded again. Do you really want to repeat that experience?" Navarre said.
"There must be something we can do." Lianna said.
"Well...I have sensed a power similar to that shield far away, radiating with the power of the divine dragon." Tiki said.
"Really?" Rowan said.
"Just what I'd expect from the Manakete of legends. Even though you're...younger and almost like a kid." Hope said.
"Yes...the power I sense is in that direction." Tiki said as they could see a tree in the far distance.
"That's the World Tree." Lianna said. "A place where a sacred dragon once laid to rest."
"If it can help us free Darios, and save the world, I guess a trip won't hurt." Kokoro said.
"Very well. Our next destination is set. Tomorrow...we make way to the World Tree." Twilight said.
