Rise

Charlotte's Fon assembled an army that raided Genesis's mine pit in Sitan stood dormant outside of a Sitan command center filled with Ziko's young troopers and other Fon supporting Sir Vayah's Sagittarius Fon. Troopers assembled outside the command center's miniature hangar, where most of Sunlight's aerial vehicles docked at. Within the center, which was set up in a matter of a few hours thanks to the help of the Fon and Sunlight working together as a whole, were two bedrooms that supported both Sumire and Corlean's recovery. Nanomachine technology sped up their recovery, but it still anticipated that it would take longer they anticipated.

Charlotte approached the only person watching Sumire from a distance as she recovered from the nanomachines. She tapped on the man's shoulder and flipped her hair back. "So, this entire time, you were her brother," She said with a chuckle surfacing near the end. "Small world."

Ryo, equipped with his golden nanosuit, stood up from his seat and leaned against the metallic wall with his hand pressed against his forehead in stress. His sister's position could have been much more severe, and he wanted to shed some light on the positives. "Charlotte," He called as she watched Sumire through the glass. "Where's Rion Stormfield?" He asked.

"Rion... Stormfield..." Charlotte muttered. "I hate that name."

"You know who he is?" Ryo asked.

"They called him August Jensen," Charlotte said. "Sly fucker was the spy all along since the beginning. He was frequently seen as a guest throughout the Fon's city-state. Used his now dead fake son to get in to create some sort of pity party for the rest of the people. I was never fond of him. I knew something was up."

"Then why didn't you say anything?" Ryo asked.

"I couldn't have known!" Charlotte yelled, slamming her fist on the medal podium. "I had my suspicions, but I wasn't even part of the Fon until recently. I was more of someone who sided with Lucine... and maybe I shouldn't even have. I had no power. Corlean, well... Corlean's got more knowledge than I ever did."

"How did she find out?"

"You can ask her yourself once she recovers," Charlotte said. She buried her head into her arms in shame. "We were on the same battalion, and I couldn't protect them both from Rion. I'm... sorry, Ryo."

"You're being too hard on yourself," Ryo said, exiting the establishment. "I'm going to go check on the others."

"Okay." Charlotte finished.

Ryo approached the main lobby of the command center where the rest of his comrades remained. Claude shamefully pressed his hands against his eyes, shrouding them both in sorrow. Jinni and Nana both kept him company; Jinni, in particular, nodded at Ryo, acknowledging that both Sumire and Corlean were safe.

"What exactly are we waiting for?" Naoto asked after entering the command center with more first-aid supplies. "We know where Rion is, so why can't we just storm through the city-state?"

"We need a plan, shit for brains," Ziko insulted, slapping Naoto's back. "Unless you'd like to go in there all by yourself and kiss Rion's feet?"

"Hey, don't touch me!" Naoto yelled, dropping his first-aid supplies and spraying his back. "God... my germaphobia's coming back now that we're in mother nature's domain. Why can't Aries revive this district?" He glanced over at Ryo, who sat next to Jinni, Claude, and Nana. "Hey, Ryo! What's up, man! I would have been here sooner, but I had a little errand I had to run earlier."

"What kind of errand?" Ryo asked.

"Well, some of the Fon needed to make us those ear cuffs so we could understand what they were saying, so..." Naoto revealed an entire pouch full of special ear cuffs, distributing them like candy to his comrades. "Take a good look and wear them right away!"

Ryo, Jinni, Claude, and later Sophie, rolled their eyes back in nervousness.

"Huh? What's wrong?" Naoto asked.

"Earrings aren't my style," Sophie said.

"Neither is mine. Scusa." Jinni said.

"Hey, you either put them on, or you won't understand a damn thing the Fon are saying!" Naoto yelled. "Put them on! I already have mine on, see?" He moved his ear to the side for the rest of Sunlight to see.

Jinni snickered. "You put it on wrong," She said. Both of her hands came to light, holding them up to tease Naoto with a tickling frenzy. "Let me help you, yes?"

"Get away from me!" Naoto shouted.

Jinni chased Naoto into the opposite room as Claude moved back into Sumire's resting chamber. Ryo sighed and placed the ear cuff on, activating its powers. Sophie did the same. She sighed and placed Nana on the nearest table.

"Ryo, I'm sorry that this had to happen to you," Sophie apologized. "I don't know what kind of pain your sister must be feeling right now, but something that she would want right now is to devise some kind of plan to save everyone. You're the leader of this mission, right? What's your call?"

Ryo looked down at his hands and clasped them together. "I'll have to converse with Charlotte or the others about heading to the city-state. All I know is that once we do, it's war with Genesis. If we can stop Rion and get to this glacial crystal, then we win."

"But what about what Rose Accel said?" Sophie reminded him. "The plan was to get your sister and get out."

"We can't just let Rion get away with this," Ryo said. "We're so close to the brink of stopping him. We have to save the Fon."

The entrance to the command center opened, revealing a single Fon soldier approaching Ryo and Sophie. With one of the delicate creatures nestling on his shoulder leaping down onto Ryo, his entrance made a bold statement about how sophisticated the Fon truly was. "Truly sorry to bother you," The Fon soldier apologized with a quick bow to Ryo. "But there is someone who is here to see you and Captain Charlotte."

Ryo stood up. "Who would that be?" He asked.

"Senna!?" Charlotte's voice came from outside of Sumire's resting chamber. "And Bame?!" She chased near the entrance.

"Huh? Who are they?" Sophie asked.

"They are the Fon's last remaining officials who have come to greet you and your comrades," The soldier explained, revealing two regal figures adorned in iron-clan battle armor. Their maroon and golden-plated robe and armor combination made them appear godly and significant to the Fon's efforts. Senna and Bame both stepped inside the room with worried expressions on their faces. "Allow me to introduce Senna and Bame Vicio Melodia, our two noble chairs of the Sagittarius Fon."

"Nice to meet you," Ryo greeted. "My name is Ryo Nakai."

"Nakai... is that what you said?" Senna asked.

"That's right," Charlotte spoke. "He's the brother of Sumire Nakai, the one that you sent on the mission to retrieve the glacial crystal. Fifth Batallion. A lot has happened ever since. Rion Stormfield's mobilizing the Genesis army to invade the city-state, and Maven's gone missing. Sumire and Corlean have both been injured, and-"

"Charlotte, please. Allow me," Senna interrupted, stepping close to Ryo. Her luscious blonde hair reminded Ryo of April; almost too strongly. Even her perfume resembled the scent of Japanese sakura, but Ryo believed he was imagining it. "Ryo Nakai," she began, taking a bow to him out of pure respect. Charlotte, Bame, and the Fon soldier both locked their jaws open in amazement that a woman of royalty bowed to someone like Ryo. "Your sister's injuries are my fault. Had I realized that Rion Stormfield was disguised as the spy under the alias August Jensen, I would have immediately canceled the mission."

"Just forget about it," Ryo said, looking away. "It already happened."

Bame stepped forward with his booming voice taking the stage. "How dare you disrespect one of the leaders of the three chairs-"

"Bame, that's enough," Senna interrupted with a commanding tone. "Ryo Nakai, I need your help. Our leader, Sir Vayah, has been trapped within his city-state. He has decided to stay to defend his home from Genesis. These are the people that destroyed our home planet ever since we were children. I beg of you..." Senna slumped forward on her knees and placed both of her palms on the floor. "Please, help us stop the enemy! We require your help!"

Charlotte, Bame, and other Fon soldiers mobilized outside the front door both locked their jaws in astonishment again. Ryo stood still.

"Miss Melodia," Ryo began. "You don't need to beg us for your help. We were going to do the same."

Sophie's eyes widened as she tugged on Ryo's arms. "Ryo!?" She said.

"Too many lives have been lost, Sophie," Ryo reminded. "I'm going to have to go against orders. We could stop Genesis tonight if we prevented them from fighting full scale on their city-state. This can't continue any longer."

Senna stood up from her bowing position, holding both of Ryo's hands with her own. "Thank you so much, Ryo Nakai. You and your sister have done great justice for us all. But... I have one thing I must tell you and everyone else. If we are to protect our Sagittarius Fon from the enemy, you need to know..."

"What's wrong?" Charlotte asked.

Senna gazed into Ryo's eyes. "Lucine Vicio Melodia will be there." She firmly stated.

The entire room froze in astonishment. Jinni and Naoto entered the room at the same time, with Naoto knowing the true power of her weapons. Ryo knew the truth behind what she had meant. It meant that her secret weapon, the Melody Dragon, would be there as well. "Are you sure?" Ryo asked. "How do you know?"

"This morning, an explosion was found near our training grounds for our soldiers," Senna explained. "A message was imprinted near one of the walls, and it wrote that she 'was coming.' With her design, of course."

"Specifically, Lucine will be wanting that glacial crystal," Bame said. "And based on what your sister said previously to us before the mission, once Lucine retrieves that crystal... all of Aries will fall. She will take everyone... and send them back to our desolate planet to rot and perish."

"That's fucking insane!" Naoto shouted.

"No..." Jinni worriedly whimpered, holding onto Naoto.

"I'll stop her." Ziko's voice came from beside the entrance. "She's my responsibility to face. The rest of you will focus on stopping Rion Stormfield."

"No, that's not happening," Charlotte interrupted. "Lucine will kill you."

"Then we'll die together," Ziko said. "That's how it has to be. I know deep down that she's still in there. What Sumire said to me when we first met was true. I was a fool to not see it. Now that she's within my grasp, I have to try."

"Then we need to at least have a plan!" Ryo said, stepping in front of Ziko. "I'll let you do it. But not without our help and support," He pressed against his ear, activating his nanosuit's communicator device. "Chiaki, what's your status? How does Sagittarius Fon look like from your angle?"

"Ever since Rion Stormfield activated the detonator device, the city-state's gone on high alert. Its relic shields are down from the explosions. But... I don't know. Have you ever seen a towering castle like the ones you see in those epic anime shows? Medieval dungeons? Awesome mansions? Yeah, that's what's going on right now from here. Looks like Vayah's mobilizing his army too, and they're dealing with some of the small chaos inside," Chiaki relayed. "It was a smart idea of me to get Senna and Bame away from this place, wasn't it?"

"Towering castle...?" Senna muttered. "Impossible. Emergency procedures have already gone into order. Our city-state has transformed into our hidden architecture; Vicious Castle. We don't have much time! We have to find the glacial crystal before Lucine and Rion do!"

Claude stepped in from Sumire's resting chamber. "Allow me to join all of you," He said. "I'm tired of waiting on the sidelines. I want to be useful for my daughter."

Bame, who was as tall as Claude, shook Claude's hand to welcome him. "Finally, a man of my stature!" He admired, staring at his pectoral and arm muscles. "You and I could work together very well!"

"I'm coming too," Sophie said, standing next to Ryo. "I can fight."

Ryo grinned at Sophie's bravery, and for standing up for what she believed was right. Sophie being next to him empowered Ryo to fight for honor and Ash's name. "All right," He accepted, turning around at his comrades. His allies at Sunlight stood by him with resolve and confidence. Naoto, who had brought Sumire's war-machine mech Natsu, would fight in her honor and affection. Jinni and Nana would come with and provide aid to the injured, while Rux would defend the backlines with cannons and other immobile weaponized machinery.

All of his allies were there to support him and his efforts. This was his first attempt at true redemption. Since the beginning, he fought alone. Everything was dictated and pushed against his will. But now, with a leadership role, Ryo knew what needed to be done to save Aries. He pressed against his chest and equipped his golden V2 nanosuit. The helmet visor collapsed on his head, and with a final smile, his face covered in its regal design.

"We leave in an hour," Ryo said. "Everybody prepare and get ready to move out! Our mission is to stop Lucine and Rion Stormfield!"

"For Sumire!" The Fon army chanted in unison with Senna and Bame. "For Sumire! For Sumire!"

Fifty minutes passed in total, and night blanketed the sky at the Sitan Command Center. Sunlight supported packing individual supplies into their massive ships, and the Fon began mobilizing their weaponry to combine with Rux's cannons. Individual small squadrons were illustrated in the form of maps, and more battalions with leaders were created to invade the Sagittarius Fon city-state, now transformed into Vicious Castle. Naoto utilized Natsu to support the Fon in carrying weaponry and emergency provisions.

Claude and Bame began loading several Fon soldiers into their designated land vehicles. Jinni and Nana held each other in the Sunlight transport vehicle while Ziko planned with his young army for his plan of attack."

"Ten minutes left, Ryo." Sophie reminded him as he sat inside Sumire's resting chamber alone. "Are you going to be okay?"

"Yeah," Ryo said with a firm nod. "Thanks for checking on me. I'll... I'll see you soon."

Sophie approached Ryo and placed her hand on his shoulder. "I know this is hard for you," She said. "It is for me too. I never thought that we'd be fighting together. Ever since we were kids, we were always enemies. Kind of funny to see it go the other way, huh? I guess this is how life is. Must be destiny."

Ryo chuckled. "I'm just glad you're here with me. Let's do this for Meguro-san."

Sophie nodded in understanding. She pumped her fist in the air. "Yeah. For Meguro-san." She said before exiting the resting chamber. Silence filled the air as Ryo watched his unconscious sister recover from the nanomachines placed inside her chamber. He walked towards the glass panel where she laid and placed his hand on the case.

"Hey..." Ryo began, clearing his throat. "I would have wanted you to come with me, but... since you're not feeling well, I'll go through it with the others."

Sumire's eyes remained closed, and her body was still.

"Umm," Ryo began again, unable to process his emotions. "You know when you saw me again in that dark alleyway that afternoon... I would have never thought I'd be here today. And... everything that you've done for me... it all led to this. Sophie's here now, and the others are all fighting for us. Naoto, Jinni, Claude, and even the new friends that you met."

He took a second to think.

"I wish... I wish Natia was here with me right now," Ryo said. "She'd look at you right now and tell you to wake up. She'd yell it at you over and over again because she'd be afraid you'd die without her. That alone will get her to hate you forever, which is something I don't want, but..."

He took another second to pause and think.

"My father once told me one thing when I was young," Ryo continued. "When my aunt died, I asked him what I should do when the whole world isn't on your side. What do you do when you feel like you've lost everything and you want to give up?"

He cleared his throat.

"Well, now I know what he meant when he said to have hope. He meant you, Sumire. You were that person who never stopped having hope in me even when I gave up. And he was right about another thing. Nothing's ever over as long as we're alive," Ryo placed his hand on the glass chamber once again. "This time, I'll fight for you to give you hope. When you wake up, everything you knew that hurt you once will be gone. And this time, I'll truly protect you and end things myself. This is my responsibility."

He stepped away from the chamber and rushed towards the door. He shut the light and peeked back at his sister glowing in the recuperating glass chamber. He sighed and lightly smiled at her. "Love you, sis." He said before leaving.

Sunlight and the Fon departed for their final battle against Genesis. An entire hour passed during their journey to Vicious Castle. Crickets chirped on dead oak trees near the command center, and an owl perched on the rooftop of the edge of the building. The owl flew inside the open window, landing in the main lobby. Its hooting sounds came to an abrupt halt when a startling sound made it rear up on high alert. Its wings covered its eyes before soaring through the open window once more.

Within the recuperating room, Sumire's cold rejuvenating body remained in stasis. In an instant, her eyes opened. Her right fist jabbed through the chamber's panel, shattering it and sending it flying off of its foundation. Liquid and nanomachines sprawled across the floor as she coughed to clear her throat.

She took deep breaths before standing up from her resting spot. The wound on her hip had fully healed, and her body was restored to normal. She checked the opposite room where Corlean slept in the same chamber as her. Sumire peeked back near the exit of the door and placed her left hand on her eye.

"Rion Stormfield..." Sumire whispered. "I'll kill you."