As the team are quickly heading back to Solm Palace, Zi-O's Zikan Phone began ringing, prompting him to answer. "What's up?"
"It's Amber! I've got some good news and bad news. Good news is that Princess Hortensia is with us with the Emblem Ring, though her retainers are not here for some reason. Bad news is that the Elusian army led by the Four Hounds are invading the palace soon. If you're done with what you're doing, please hurry back! We could use some help!"
"Understood, we're heading back to the palace ASAP. We're currently with the princess of Solm along with Ike's Emblem Ring awakened. Hold the line until we arrive!" Zi-O noted.
"Gotcha! Noelle and I will protect the palace until then!" Outrider Amber replied and ended the call.
"Good call sending in some of our members to defend the palace while we're gone, Cure Starlight." Maria said.
"Call it a gut and cautious feeling." Cure Starlight smirked. "Anyway, double time, team! We need to move!"
The group soon arrived at Solm Palace as they saw Hortensia and the members of the Rebellion that stayed, protecting Queen Seforia from several Corrupted. Leading the attack was Zephia, along with Mauvier and Marni.
"Hortensia!" Ivy called.
"Sorry we're late!" Geiz said.
"Dangit, now the rest of them are here!" Marni groaned. "You said this was gonna be easy, Zephia!"
"I didn't account for them being this clever…. First their escape at Destinea Cathedral, and now a preemptive defense of Solm Palace." Zephia said.
"It seems we cannot take the Hero Alliance lightly. The Divine Dragon has made incredible allies." Mauvier added.
"(Heh, thank you common sense.)" Zi-O thought. "Alright, let's send these invaders packing while we regroup with Hortensia and the others!"
"Ivy, Zelkov, Kagetsu, Alear, go and rendezvous with Hortensia! We'll cover you!" Cure Starlight ordered. "Aether, Lumine, go with them too!"
"Divine One, hop on my wyvern!" Ivy said.
"Okay!" Alear nodded, hopping onto the wyvern and took off with Zelkov, Kagetsu, Aether, and Lumine covering them, attacking any Corrupted in their path.
While Outrider Amber fired a Pyro arrow storm onto more Corrupted with her Favonius Warbow, she saw something coming from above. "Ah! Princess Hortensia, your sister and the Divine Dragon are coming this way!"
"Ah!" Hortensia gasped and waved at the arrivals. "Ivy, Divine Dragon, over here!"
"Hortensia!" Ivy said, landing her wyvern. "Thank goodness you're okay."
"You too, sister." Hortensia smiled as she hugged her. "And it's nice to see you too, Divine Dragon."
"I'm glad we're not enemies anymore. And please, call me Alear." Alear replied. "Do you have the Ring of the Instructor? I need to awaken it so you can Engage with it."
"Yes, Lady Hortensia. If you can Engage with it, it will really help in driving the enemy out of Solm." Kagetsu said.
"Alright." Hortensia nodded, moving the worn ring over to Alear. "Go for it!"
"Teach us, Emblem of the Academy!" Alear recited.
Appearing in a purple light was Byleth's male variant as he had a hand to his chest with his eyes closed before he swung the Sword of the Creator and posed with it.
"I am Emblem Byleth. It feels as though I've just awoken from a very long dream…" Emblem Byleth said. "I'm glad to be where I belong, at your side. Use my power to guide everyone."
"Professor. It is good to see you again." Dimitri said to Byleth. "When we heard you were tainted with Fell Dragon magic, we were quite worried."
"My apologies for having worried you all." Emblem Byleth said.
"Still, it will be an honor to fight by your side!" Edelgard added.
"This little reunion reminds me of the day we first met the professor." Dimitri said.
"You mean that night our camp was attacked by bandits?" Edelgard asked.
"That's right. Only now, Claude won't be able to make any 'strategic retreats.'" Dimitri said.
"I guess we are stuck together." Claude said.
"Yes. We all must work together and I have always been proud of you all." Emblem Byleth said. "This time, let us fight together to the end."
"Well said, professor. Now come, let us drive away the enemy from this land!" Dimitri said.
"Emblem Byleth, if it is not too much trouble… I know Hortensia used you as a Dark Emblem, but would it be alright if you fought by her side a bit longer?" David asked.
"It'd be my pleasure. Ready, Byleth?" Hortensia said as she slipped the Ring of the Instructor on once more.
"I am ready, Hortensia. It is time for us to properly unite." Emblem Byleth said.
"Emblem, Engage!" Hortensia called as her hair turned purple and her clothes changed to gain an outfit similar to Bylelth's. "Whoa…so this is what it feels like."
"Now, let's do something about driving the Four Hounds out of the palace." Hope said.
"Actually… Three. They're missing one." David said. "Where's Griss? A little busy with something today?"
"Maybe he got the short straw on looking into the Bracelets." Mark suggested. "Heh, if that's the case, he's in for quite a bit of reading."
"Griss unfortunately couldn't be here today. But you'll have more than your hands full with us!" Marni said.
"I take it that you are keeping those Rings you snagged nice and clean?" David asked.
"Oh, we are. All of them. Sigurd, Micaiah, Celica, Leif, Roy and Marth, all safe and sound. Shame we couldn't bring them. Couldn't let you snatch them back now, can we?" Zephia asked.
"Actually… That may be a dumb move on your part." David said.
"Dumb? How so?" Zephia asked.
"Because it means we won't have to worry about holding back." David said.
"In other words… y'should've brought the Emblems so y'wouldn't have to suffer this major beatdown we're about to give ya!" Peacock said. "Let's tame these puppies!"
With that, the Heroes engaged the Hounds.
"Your army is not to be trifled with. Because I respect you, I will hold nothing back." Mauvier said.
"Very respectable of you. But as you are an enemy yourself to us, we won't hold back either." Maxwell said.
Both spear wielders clashed against one another before the Dawn Spear went and disarmed the man.
"My orders do not involve dying. I take my leave." Mauvier said before he retreated.
Meanwhile, Marni was locked up in her own battle.
"Solm Palace is so pretty! It's a nicer tomb than you deserve!" Marni said.
"Well stop talking and start trying to kill us already." Ragna said.
"Uh, what do you think I'm trying to do?" Marni asked.
Marni swung the hurricane axe she was using and Ragna dodged, opening up the door for Noel to blast her with Bolverk, but Marni blocked with her shield.
"Damn, her armor looks pretty sturdy. As we expected, physical attacks aren't going to hurt her." David said.
"Then let's add some magic to the equation." Linde said. "Aura!" she called, engulfing Marni in a pillar of light.
"Water Creation Magic: Sea Dragon's Roar!" Clover Noelle called, following up on Linde's attack with a blast of water that pushed Marni back. The Hound tried to recover for a retaliatory attack, but she ended up slipping on the floor because it was all wet from Noelle's spell.
"Gotcha!" Flamberge called, finishing Marni off with a slash of her fire sword.
"The floor's slippery! That's the only reason I lost! I'm going home!" Marni said before she retreated as well.
"Alright!" Linde said as the three hi-fived.
"The stolen rings. You'll return them, won't you?" Zephia asked.
"Funny, considering you stole them first." DW typed.
"Plus, they've kind of grown quite attached to their new wielders." Mayumi said.
Zephia blasted her magic at the group from atop her wyvern, forcing the group to dodge.
"Hey, Zephia!" Hortensia said, floating towards her with Luin in hand. "Consider this my resignation from your service! Don't mess with a Princess!"
She hit Zephia with the Heroes Relic, causing her to be stunned atop her mount. Dark Water followed up by shooting her out of the air with a well placed Charger shot.
"That would have been too easy, I suppose… We'll meet again soon enough." Zephia said as she was the last to retreat.
"Alright. It looks like that was all of them." David said.
"You rock, Hortensia. Nice hit on Zephia too." Makoto said.
"Thanks… I guess." Hortensia sighed before looking to Jexi. "Jexi… That's your name, right? I'm sorry. For what happened on the Grand Crossing a few days ago, I mean. It wasn't right, flaunting the Ring of the Princess Exalt to you and your friends when I didn't know Lucina was a friend of yours from outside Elyos."
Jexi smiled before pulling back a fist and sending the princess flying into the wall as she collapsed. "We're good!" he said happily.
Lucina was summoned from her ring in concern. "Ouch… Was that…really necessary?"
"Yes. Definitely. Absolutely." Jexi said.
"Dude, let. It. Go." Zi-O deadpanned.
"Paimon's starting to question this guy's way of doing things." Paimon also deadpanned.
"Well, she kind of knew she had it coming, if it makes you feel any better, Lucina." David said. "My apologies that you saw such a sight."
"It's alright. The fact that she has shown regret for her actions during her time with Sombron's forces is more than enough for me. I just…wish I could express it with her properly." Lucina said.
"You know, usually I'm the one punching people into walls unnecessarily, so…it's weird seeing it from the outside." Mark remarked.
Hortensia was helped to her feet by Hope. "I offer a genuine apology, and he punches me right in the face? What's wrong with him?"
"That's how Jexi forgives people sometimes. You'll get used to it." Hope said.
"Oh, thank goodness. She seems unharmed. Um, David, if you don't mind." Lucina said.
"Oh, um… Sure." David said as he walked towards Hortensia, Lucina floating by his side. "Hortensia… I think Lucina has a few words she wanted to say to you too."
"Princess Hortenisa, I forgive you for what happened at the Grand Crossing as well. You've shown genuine regret for your past actions, and want to do the right thing. That's more than enough vindication for me that you're now on the right side." Lucina said.
"Thanks, Lucina. If you and I are ever paired up in the future, I'll use you the right way." Hortensia smiled.
"Hey, Hortensia, where are Rosado and Goldmary?" Glimmer asked.
"I don't know. We weren't able to meet up after we defected. I hope they're alright." Hortensia said.
"I'm sure they'll be fine." Aelita said. "We can go and look for them later on. Though why did the Hounds come here?"
"Apparently, they wanted to know about the other ring in Solm's possession." Queen Seforia said.
"Wait, you guys had another ring secretly? Just like Firene?" Bow asked.
"Yup, the Ring of the Crux of Fate." Timerra said.
"The Crux of Fate…could it be?" Azura asked.
"Gotta be." Hope said.
"It's currently being held inside of a set of ruins in the desert." Queen Seforia said.
"Then let's go get it." Hope said. "We managed to keep Tiki out of Sombron's claws, but I don't want this dragon especially to be in his possession."
"In that case, we should not waste any time and head there immediately." Nesma said.
"And so our heroes have obtained yet another Emblem Ring along with having a new ally in the form of Princess Hortensia." Woz narrated as he walked across the desert of Solm in the night while holding an open book with the Fire Emblem symbol on the cover. "And now they're on their way to the ruins in search of another Emblem Ring, and once it is found, all of the Emblems will be at play. Makes you wonder what will happen next, doesn't it? …Hm?" He then stopped walking as he noticed a certain long white haired girl at a distance, which happens to be Veyle in her evil state. "Well…. What have we here?" He closed his book and hid behind a large rock as he observed the girl.
"Hmm…" Evil Veyle murmured. "Another ring in the hands of the Divine Dragon and those meddling heroes. I would say it won't turn the tide, if it were not for the existence of the Emblem Bracelets. How in the world were they able to possess them?" Before she could continue, she began to feel a headache. "Urgh… not now…! I must sleep. Curse this feeble form of mine for plunging me into darkness. I pray that next time, my waking hours will not end so soon."
Afterwards, Evil Veyle passed out for a few seconds before waking up with her eyes back to her normal purple colors. "Huh?" Veyle blinked in confusion as she looked at her surroundings. "Sand…? What happened to all the snow? Where am I? …Why does this keep happening to me?"
"(Ah. It seems the real Veyle regained control. Since I'm nearby, I think an intervention is in order.)" Woz thought before revealing himself and spoke to Veyle, earning her attention. "I believe I have the answers you seek, young one."
"...Who are you?" Veyle asked.
"Just a passing-through chronicler." Woz bowed. "And to answer your first question, you're in the desert of Solm."
"Solm?" Veyle repeated. "I thought I was in Elusia. Wait… you said something about having the answers I seek?"
"Correct." Woz nodded and offered a hand with a smile. "Come with me, we have much to discuss."