By the time the sun was beginning its descent into night, they had arrived at Fort Saint-Malo, getting ready for the rescue mission. The scouts were already on the tree line, writing what they see and relaying it back to the command, who was stationed behind a hill so that the Changelings wouldn't know they were about to be attacked. The cannoniers were slowly moving their heavy cannons in position, moving little at a time and covered in branches, leaves, and twigs.
As for everyone else. they were given the plan by Leon.
"At about sundown, the heirs to Chrysalis's throne and their top personnel will fly to the capital, leaving Anthea in the guard of the foot soldiers. I assume they want her in the area as a negotiation chip. So, the plan is simple: while we wait here, Princess Starburst, Prince Illusion, and Crystal Clarity will enter the castle using the old sewer drain that goes into the lake. Once inside they will locate Anthea, and rescue her. Before they disappeared into the sewer system again, they will fire a green flare. The second that flare hits the ground, all cannoneers, all shooters will open fire and leave the Changelings into a green pulp with a bombed-out castle. May our ancestors protect us."
With that call for protection, everyone took off to where they needed to be. The many soldiers slowly crept through the forest, headed to their positions, which at the end of their attempt to reach the tree line, they positioned themselves, with the plan to use their muskets to stop any Changelings from escaping. They were given one escape route since their attack spray would be a semi-circle, however. it would have taken them through a snowy mountain pass where if the cold didn't get them, the many large, nocturnal birds of prey would.
***
"Oh man, this smells like shit?" Claire complained when they entered the sewer tunnel.
"It is where the shit went when it was used. Good thing its dried now," Illusion said.
"Let's get this over with," Starburst sighed as the three lifted their palms, their hands illuminated like a floodlamp to light the way. Through the old stone tunnel they went, their presence forced the rats and mice, and roaches that called their tunnel home to scurry further into the tunnel in fear.
***
While the three were in the castle, the rest were preparing for the attack. The cannoneers were loading the first shots quietly, careful not to discharge prematurely and force the three to get Anthea out under a barrage of cannon fire.
"This will be a quick attack, but more of a destructing of a good amount of the Changeling forces. Right now, they are sluggish due to the lack of sunlight. So, we can take them out with little to no casualties." Leon said, trying to reassure a worried Turquoise.
"And why I couldn't go in there and rescue her?" he asked.
"As I told you before: you're too muscular to get through the castle's many nook and crannies. Trust in the plan."
"Yea, trust the man!" Golden Delicious said, carrying a musket in his hand, and shoving it in Turquoise's hands. "Cmon lets go!"
"Good luck!" Cotton cried out as the two men started their climb in the foliage towards the tree line and to the action.
The three in the castle were relieved to not be in the sewer, but they couldn't express it. there was no telling how many changelings were in the castle, and they were not in the mood to find out. They entered through a large floor drain at what they assumed was the old showers. each one leaped and climbed to the showers and pulled out their knives. They slowly made their way from room to room, hiding in the shadows or electing to take out any changelings by itself.
The whole time they went from room to room, slowly trying to reach one of the towers, where the dungeon was. It took them nearly an hour, but they arrived. Starburst opened the door to a sliver and peeked inside.
"Five of them. They seem to be resting," Star said.
"So take out the guards and get her?" Claire asked.
"You know I can be invisible, right?" Illusion asked.
"Well, then get her out!" Star commanded.
The two girls hid in the shadows of the hallway as illusion disappeared and went inside the room. The stone walls were dark and sooty, the air was musty, and the many chairs and tables were black and rotted. The changelings were asleep, the lack of sun driving them to rest.
Illusion worked slowly, creeping to the front of the cage where Anthea was asleep as well. Illusion shrugged and pulled out his blade. It lit up the room waking the guarding changelings. before each can react, Illusion started swinging. The first one beside the door got stabbed in the throat, instantly the gooey insides were steaming against the hot, golden blade. The next two changelings guarding the gate to Anthea's cage were slashed, the sizzling sound intensified. The other two were already up and charging at the blade, which was the object lighting up the otherwise dark room.
With one swing, both creatures were decapitated at the waist.
Illusion reappeared with a smile as he sheathed his sword, dimming the room once more.
"What happened to sneak her out of here?" Star questioned.
"Too boring." he laughed as he unlocked the cage. He picked up Anthea, and Claire walked over to check her.
"She is okay, just sleeping," she said.
"Don't know how she can sleep heavy these days, we all were sleeping with our eyes open in the wilderness," Star commented as she pulled out her flare gun. "How will we get out before the flare drops?"
"I dunno, teleport?!" Clare hollered. "I have enough strength to take us back to the sewer, but we have to move once we get there."
"Star, if you would?" Illusion asked.
Star walked over to Anthea's cell to the small silt that was large enough to let her tiny arm through. She aimed to the sky and fired the green flare, lighting up the sky. she raced over to Clare, everyone held hands and dissipated in a violet cloud of magic.
***
"Here we go!" Leon shouted as the flare streaked across the castle sky. The cannoneers raised their string, while everyone else raised their muskets, aiming at the changeling that they spotted and wanted to take out. The changelings watched the flare fly above them and landing softly in front of the citadel.
The quiet sky erupted in a volley of cannon and musket fire at the fort. The old stone walls were no match for the cannonballs, and crumbled before the iron artillery, knocking down whole sections of the walls and towers. The musketeers took out the Changeling at the walls and quickly reloaded to pick off any changelings trying to fly to safety.
***
The three in the sewer started running as soon as they reappeared, not knowing what would happen to the tunnel the second the cannons started flying. Sure enough, they heard the booms from the cannons, and the sound of the stone castle above them explode. As they reached the entrance, they heard the sound of the sewer collapsing behind them, as the weight of the castle crashing down on the ground became too much for the archaic tunnel. When the jumped out of the entrance and into the ground, they were greeted by three horses that were left there. Behind them, the smoldering ruins of the castle, the musket, and cannon fire stopping.
They rode the horses all the way back to the main camp, only to see it being torn down by the citizens in a frantic pace.
"Looks like you all made it in one piece! good!" Leon cheered. The rest of the main force still back at the fort packing up.
"What's going on, Leon?" Claire asked.
"well, since the changelings know where we are, we have to move and make camp somewhere else. It's going to be a long couple of days ahead of us!"