The group had made landfall at Givre Port which was near both the castle and the cathedral, but something was wrong.
"It's way too quiet." Roy said.
"He's right, this is a port town. It's typically bustling with people. Why is it so quiet?" Ivy asked.
"Uh…I might have a clue." Eddy said, pointing ahead of the group, at a Corrupted standing in the center of town.
"The Corrupted. But if that's the case…" Ace said before realization hit him. "Damn you, Sombron. He took the lives of all the people that lived here."
"Does the Fell Dragon mean to destroy Elusia too?" Diamant asked.
"Would be standard practice from our experience, really." ZS shrugged.
"All I know is we can't turn a blind eye." Alfred said. "We've got to get rid of them."
"No." Alear spoke, surprising some of the group. "We move on."
"What? And abandon the people here? Princess Ivy, tell us what you want to do." Timerra suggested.
"We leave this place." Ivy said.
"But there are people in danger. We have a responsibility to help them. That's what we did at Florra, isn't it?" Alfred asked.
"We got there right after the attack. There were people to save. Look around. Ace is right. There aren't any survivors." Alear said.
"I would have wished nothing more than to help the people here. But with every passing moment, more lives may be lost elsewhere. We cannot waste our time on the dead. We must protect the living." Ivy said.
"This is terrible…" Timerra said.
"But Ivy is right. There is nothing we can do here. There's no point if there is no one left to rescue." Cheetah said.
"Thank you for your support, Barbara. Now, to the castle." Ivy said.
"Aww! You're gonna cut and run, just like that?" a familiar voice asked as the group turned to see Marni and Mauvier approach.
"Ah, you two again. I take it you had something to do with all of this?" David asked.
"Nah, the port fell a long time ago. But I won't let you just walk away. Wait, how's this for a deal? Drop your Emblem Rings and Bracelets, and you can go." Marni offered.
"How about we do you a solid and swipe yours instead?" David asked.
"I figured. Worth a shot though, right? Well, time to fight, then! And don't worry. We brought lots and lots of the Corrupted, just for you!" Marni said. "Mauvier. Take." she said, holding up the rings of the Young Lion and Dawn Maiden.
"Emblem Rings? Did you get Zephia's permission to use these?" Mauvier asked.
"It's not gonna matter once we take all of theirs." Marni said.
"You did so without Zephia's word? But why? Aren't you afraid of what she'd do to you if you fail?" Madeline asked.
(Cue- Awkward Justice- Tales of the Abyss)
"Like I said…it won't matter when I bring her your rings and your heads. Starting with you, bluey!" Marni said as she and Madeline clashed.
"So, this is how it must be then." Madeline said.
"It's a shame that we have to fight like this, Mauvier. You are so much like the one in our reality." Zelestia said.
"I prefer not to fight you all either, as spitting images of my own comrades. But as my duty, I must. I will at least spare the both of you pain." Mauvier said to Zelestia and Gregory.
"Has everyone chosen their partners? Great, then let's go!" Ultra declared as the battle began.
"~Duh, duh, duh. Another one bites the dust.~" ZS sang to himself as he battered any Corrupted he got near. "~And another one's gone, and another one's gone, another one bites the dust!~"
He then noticed someone fighting Corrupted on the pier itself.
"Huh… Hey, Diamant!" the zombie called out to the Brodian Prince as the latter was slicing down an axe-wielding Corrupted. "Isn't that lady over there wearing Brodian armor?" he pointed the person out.
"Saphir!" Diamant realized. "She must have come to Elusia to join our side."
"Oh. That's good then." Lucy said.
"Well, we better get over to her, then." ZS said. "I've got this."
The zombie then hopped on his skateboard and started circling the Corrupted between them and Saphir, picking up speed until the Corrupted were caught up in a tornado, before the zombie stopped and the tornado came to a halt, flinging the monsters inside of it all around, some even falling into the ocean. "Way's clear, prince!" ZS said with a two finger salute.
Prince Diamant soon made his way to the armored woman.
"Prince Diamant." the woman said.
"Saphir? What are you doing here?" Diamant asked.
"Your letter said you were headed to Elusia. Figured you could use another soldier. Don't worry, the castle is safe and secure. But about King Morion…" Saphir said.
"I am sorry, Saphir. I should have protected him. He was so sure he would return…" Diamant said.
"He knew the risks. For whatever it's worth, I'm glad you're still above ground. Let's make sure that doesn't change anytime soon." Saphir said.
"Alright, welcome to the group!" ZS waved. "Let's celebrate with a little spring cleaning, huh?"
"It's actually summer." Sachiko said.
"Semantics!" ZS said.
Back with the Four Winds, they are fighting on even ground against Marni and Mauvier, whose Emblems gave them a boost.
"He really fights just like our Mauvier. It really feels like we are facing our old friend." Gregory said.
"Yes, but he is not using his Engage Skill." Zelestia said.
"He would be using up energy to heal her. Doubt he's gonna waste it on one person." Gregory said.
"As much as he would want to, yes. That would be a detriment." Zelestia said. "But at the same time… I won't let him die like our Mauvier did! Come on, Gregory. We have to keep the pressure on him!"
"Yeah. We gotta show him just how much Veyle means to him!" Gregory said. "Our Mauvier talked about how he failed to protect Veyle. I won't let this one live with that same regret!"
"Yes but he also cared for Madeline too and I get the feeling it's the same for her counterpart." Zelestia said.
"Yeah… Those two… They always were Mauvier's favorite. All the more reason I know Madeline will get through to her." Gregory said. "For now, let's do our part and take Micaiah's ring from Mauvier."
Mauvier charged the two with his Brave Lance.
"Sorry, Mauvier…" Gregory said as he fired an Elwind at Mauvier.
Mauvier braved it but still took some damage from it, forcing him back as well as forcing him to lose the ring he had on.
"Until next time." Mauvier said as he rode off.
"And he's off. You think he saw the light?" Zelestia asked.
Gregory took Micaiah's ring from the ground. "He will soon. I'm sure of it."
Meanwhile with Madeline and Marni…
"Grr… Why can't you just stay down already?!" Marni asked as she and Madeline kept clashing.
"Maybe I'm just more skilled than you?" Madeline said as Marni was getting more infuriated.
"That's it, you have just pissed me off!" Marni said as she went for a harsh swing.
Madeline however took the chance to knock her counterpart off balance, allowing her to take the ring right from her finger and knock her over with a quick strike.
"Grr…how dare…" Marni said before the retreating Mauvier went and grabbed her.
"We need to fall back, now." Mauvier said as they rode off.
"But….oh…Zephia is going to be mad." Marni said as the two fled the battlefield.
"Mauvier…" Madeline said as she clasped the ring in her hand. "You really do care for her, don't you?" she asked as a tear went down her face with a smile as she rejoined the others.
The battle was soon over as Alear went and purified both Micaiah and Emblem Roy.
"That's two more rings. Just need Celica and Marth." Blake said.
"Bet you Creepy Veyle has Marth." Yang said.
"No doubt. She is going to be tough to deal with." Alphamon said.
"Speaking of which… I have to commend the Four Winds in this battle. I am sure it must have been tough, having to fight Mauvier after everything that happened in your reality." Nesma said.
"It was. Seeing him fight reminded us of ours, and how he sacrificed himself to protect your Veyle." Zelestia said.
"So the Mauvier in your reality died, huh?" Zi-O said. "Sorry to hear about your loss."
"It's alright. He wouldn't have wanted us to wallow in despair. He would've wanted us to push forward, no matter who our opponent was, even if it was himself." Gregory said.
"I see." Geiz noted. "Still, time is running out for them considering the failures they've gained after losing to us. We need to help them defect before it's too late."
"If it's my counterpart we're talking about, she'll end up pushing the needle herself before long." Zelestia said.
"Then we must not let that happen." Cure Starlight stated before looking at the castle. "But first, we've got a castle to visit. Someone's waiting for us, and I think you guys know who it is."
"Ah yes, Greg's evil, masochistic counterpart." Emo stated.
"...I know that's accurate, but being reminded that guy is technically me really hurts…" Gregory said with a wince.
"You get used to it." David remarked, patting Gregory on the shoulder.
"Yeah. But we have to face him again sooner or later, right? He still has Celica's ring." Gregory said.
"Exactly. And once that's done, we're getting Marth back." Maria said. "He's been under Veyle's dark counterpart for too long."
"So…let's pay the Fell Dragon and his goons…a little visit." Jexi said.
"Alear, are you nervous right now?" Boss asked. "Something will happen once Celica's ring is recovered. I hope you're ready for it."
Rime looked away as she had a guilty expression.
"Something will happen…?" Alear repeated to herself, before she shook her head. "I don't care what will happen. No matter what vision anyone claims to see, I will see the Fell Dragon fall no matter what. In honor of my kingdom. The Dimensional Heroes were the ones who saved me, and I've seen so many amazing places. I'm not ready to just give up on you just because of all of this."
"Hmm…well said." Boss noted before they moved towards the castle. "(But the real truth about your origin…can you handle it?)"