"I can only imagine how badly Note has turned Darios' own body against him. She may not have been able to seduce us, but Darios was fair game either way." Genis said.
"We'll just have to keep an eye on him in case he does anything strange." Frederick said.
"Hmm. It looks as though a large portion of Note's forces aren't here anymore. Same goes for the woman herself. But there are still plenty of Outrealm Fiends and Manakete to guard the fortress." Teba said.
"Should we go in swinging like last time, or do you think they're more prepared this time?" Hope said.
"No, they know we need the Shield of Flames. They'll definitely be expecting us now." David said.
"So, how do we get in this time?" Elise asked.
"Same strategy as last time. Take control of the outer forts to gain a foothold." David said. "However, the central gate will be heavily fortified now. This time, we go in from the North and South gates."
"Wait...there's someone already charging the gates in horseback." Teba said. "A woman...and she's wielding what looks like a lightning bolt shaped blade."
"Hmm. Sounds a lot like Ginchiyo Tachibana." Mitsunari said.
"Why would she be here?" Hope wondered.
"She's likely been brought here by the same force that dragged those other warriors here." Jexi said.
"Think she's been brainwashed by Note?"
"No, otherwise she'd be charging at us instead." Sectonia said.
"I don't think she is controlled either. But I see her target." Lacy said as a woman wielding throwing blades stood in front of the monster army leading it.
"Wait...that's...Wang Yuanji!" Jexi said.
"Is she leading the monsters?" Hope asked.
"I don't believe this. Our friend is fighting for the enemy." Maka said.
"Relax. She's just being brainwashed. You can just knock her out and get her back to her senses like all the others." David said.
"That won't be easy. We've fought her and she is no pushover." Rainbow said.
"Then she'll need help from a knife expert of our own. You're up, Maki." Lloyd said.
"Understood. I'll assist Ginchiyo, you all breach the gates." Maki said as she did a pose and vanished.
"Is she an assassin or a ninja?" Hinoka asked.
"I don't think there's much of a difference at this point." Takumi said.
Maki was getting close to the two female warriors before she was approached by an Outrealm Fiend. But before it could attack, a thrown blade pierced through its hide as it fell. Maki looked to see the blade was thrown by Yuanji.
"It seems the time for playing the enemy is over." Wang Yuanji said.
"Agreed. Now is the time for action!" Ginchiyo said as both started attacking the monsters and Manakete.
"Seeing as though I'm already here, might as well." Maki said as she joined in.
"Oh, that Yuanji. Always keeping everyone on their toes." Kabuki said.
"Clever...she played the enemy." Rarity said. "Meaning we have a chance to charge in."
"Awesome weapons, more manpower… Things are really looking up now!" Elise said.
"Let's take advantage of this and find Darios." Colette said.
"He's most likely being kept in the dungeons. Break through into the fortress and get him out!" Rowan said.
"Charge!" Chrom said as they broke through and found the monsters and manaketes, a squad of them were blocking the front.
"They're making a blockage!" Xander said.
"Then we need to force through!" Marth said as his sword glowed with a holy light as he sliced through the Manakete with ease.
"Whew… I'm glad I'm not your enemy, Marth." Kokoro said.
"Likewise." Marth said as the twins sliced through the monster ranks as they got to Darios and the shield.
"Darios!" Rowan said.
"We're so glad you are okay. And so is the shield." Lianna said.
"Yes. I had a rough time keeping quiet about you all but it was worth it. The shield was even kept safe." Darios said.
"Now all that remains is to add the final Gleamstone." Marth said approaching. His body then started glowing as from his body came a bright stone that flew into the final slot, completing the shield.
"We did it, the Shield of Flames is finished!" Chrom said.
"Just what I was waiting for…" Darios said as he suddenly donned a wicked smile as he slashed at the group, forcing them back. "And now...the shield is mine." he said claiming the shield of flames.
"Darios?! What're you doing?" Hope said.
"This energy coming from him... It's worse than we thought…" Mayumi said.
"What difference does his reason be? He's betrayed us." Leo said.
"Fools. I was never on your side to begin with. I've always been a loyal soldier to Gristonne. I had to put up with all of you finding the heroes with gleamstones. Well...at least you all somehow completed it so...congratulations." Darios said.
"Darios, you're talking crazy. You don't really believe all that stuff you're saying, do you?" David asked.
"Your belief is irrelevant. What matters is that I now have the completed shield." Darios said.
"What are you planning with the Shield of Flames?" Marth demanded.
"Due to your lofty rank, I will tell you. I will use it to take the power of the Chaos Dragon for myself." Darios said.
"Chaos Dragon? So it's true…" Mayumi said.
"What is?" Chrom asked.
"The Chaos Dragon is using Darios' body as a means of consolidating his power." Mayumi said. "Darios is still in there, but due to the Chaos Dragon's influence, he is unable to hear us."
Sectonia clutches her heart, remembering when she was in that exact situation.
"Now...I will bid all of you farewell." Darios said leaving as the fortress was shaking.
"No good. This place is collapsing. We must flee!" Xander said.
"As much as I hate the idea, we must retreat." David said.
"This way, hurry!" Cadea said as she flew out of the room with the others following.
It didn't take long for everyone to escape as the fortress was now rubble.
"Whew… That was a close one."Lloyd said.
"Yes...but now...we must deal with the traitor Darios." Ginchiyo said.
"But...he wouldn't do this. I just know he wouldn't." Rowan said.
"It doesn't matter anymore. Darios is now our enemy." Ryoma said.
"Yes. He must pay with his life." Leo said.
"That's enough." Sectonia said. "I believe them, because I know how it feels to be in Darios' position."
"You...you do?" Corrin asked.
"We've fought Sectonia before, but not by her own choice. She was possessed by an artifact known as the Dimension Mirror. She was made into an enemy until she was defeated." Jexi said.
"And just a little while ago, I got possessed again, but David managed to free me." Sectonia said.
"And I will, again and again." David said holding her close.
"If you two truly believe that Darios is still in there, you must be willing to do the same for him." Aoyama said.
"We do." Rowan and Lianna said.
"Ah...amazing. The human spirit at work." a voice said as a man in white robes with a white fox and wooden fan approached. "I admire your determination."
"Okay….he's new. What's your name?" Hope asked.
"Abe no..Haruakira." he said.
"Abe no….wait...you mean Abe no Seimei?" Gundham asked.
"That's another way of pronouncing my name, yes." he said.
"You've heard of him, Gundham?" Hope asked.
"Yes...Abe no Seimei...the most renowned onmyouji in Japan's history and a researcher into the occult." Gundham said.
"It figures you'd know him, you're Mr. Cursed Empire." Rainbow said.
"He was the one who told us that Note woman along with her slaves had left, leaving us to attack." Ginchiyo said.
"Indeed. I accurately predicted the moment she would leave and planned the attack." Seimei said.
"So….you know where she and Darios have gone right?" Jexi asked.
"Yes. They have shamelessly taken up residence within the walls of Aytolis Castle which has been claimed as their own." Seimei said.
"Aytolis claimed…" Lianna said.
"We'll take it back!" Rowan said.
"Agreed. Now...we take the charge to Aytolis." Lucina said.
"Hang on just a moment longer, Darios. One way or another, we're going to save you." Sectonia said.
