#off_the_moon

[groovytimetravelflower]

Not Just a Feeling Chapter 27

Read the whole thing HERE on A03.

Don't forget to reblog; Because it makes me smile and do a little dance. :3

HOLY SHIT GUYS DID YOU KNOW TUMBLR HAS A WORD LIMIT? Or rather, a paragraph limit. But then each paragraph is only allowed to have 4,000 words? That's wild. Anyway... Sorry for the break down of paragraph structure towards the later half.

Summary:

Dratos shows his true colors. Noctis gets critically injured, but in the final moments before he passes out... he remembers. WARNINGS: Graphic violence. Evisceration. Graphic description of corpses. Several character deaths mentioned. (none permanent)

Ch. 27: Flashbacks

The room was dark. The sky outside stormy and over cast. The sun having set some hour ago. The room was illuminated by a tinkling crystal chandileer above their heads, and strategically placed wall lights. In contrast to their purple-white glow, ever so subtly the bottom level of the throne room was illuminated with a more golden yellow tinge. Imperial Prince Prompto himself exuding a warm gradient of light- not unlike a fire. As he glared at General Dratos challenginly.

"This conversation has gotten quite out of hand." Dratos declared firmly, addressing the Throne room at large.

King Regis was sitting on the throne itself at the top of the stairs. Prince Noctis was standing before him, just on the edge of the uppermost platform. The wings of the throne room were occupied by the Council of Lucis. Who were all stirring with unease. One of their own, who had spoken wildly out of turn, was currently being escorted from the room by Gladio and the Crowns Guard.

The mood of the entire room was soured by was the possiblity that the scourge had progressed to a point it could blott out the sun. What was more; the Imperial Prince was accusing the Astral being at the top of their Panthon for the situaton. Something that did not quite make sense to them. Many of them bordered on the edge of being offended- other were simply confused as to how they had even gotten to this point.

They agreed with Dratos as he spoke. "We are supposed to be talking about the VERY REAL Insurgency Plot." Dratos argued. "Not matters of Astrals and what they may or may not be thinking." He sounded logical in his argument. So it was no wonder that the council members muttered agreements under their breaths.

Noctis could feel in his gut, however, that Prompto was right. He could not offer a clear explination for why. His mind was being flooded with memories he couldn't hold onto. Rain was falling in Noctis' mind. Just as if fell outside the windows onto his kingdom. The water threatening to drown them both. Noctis was THIS close to finally getting his memories back though. He could feel it. All the pieces were there. Something about the crystal. Something about the 10 years Prompto was talking about. Something about the sun going away...

"Who are we to even speculate on such matters? I am not the Oracle. And neither are any of you. At least-" Dratos appraised Prompto with a sideways look, then sneered. "I do not think you are."

He can feel the magic Prompto has. Noctis realized. Though that made sense. As the leader of the Glaive, and part of Regis' inner circle the man had been given some power. Though, Dratos was not fully connected to his father as Clarus and Cor were.

"Is it not more prudent to get to the heart of the matter?" Prompto asked rather pointedly. Prompto was all but goading Dratos into challenging him.

Dratos scowled at Prompto. He looked back up towards the throne, then back to Prompto. "If that's how you feel." Dratos stepped down. He seemed done with this argument. Ready to drop the issue.

Everyone in the room relaxed just a smidge.

What happened next only took seconds- but it was more than enough time for Dratos to make his move.

Noctis didn't realize it happened at first.

One second Dratos was down on the bottom level of the throne room- and then the next he was standing infront of Noctis. The magic of a warp strike crashing around his ears.

"You should know better to leave yourself this open- kid." Dratos whispered into his ear. Then twisted the blade he had stabbed into Noctis' gut. Pulling the knife, an a good portion of Noctis' innards out with a sick, wet splurch.

Dratos shoved him back. Noctis only registering that he had been stabbed in his gut- as the blade pulled out. Creating a cresent of red splatter on the floor of the throne room.

Noctis stumbled. Several people shouted his name. The closest being his father. Who stood up from his thone. Someone caught Noctis before he could fall to the ground. Even though there wasn't anyone visibly there. A hand that wasn't his own pressed over his wound. There wasn't much more flesh to hold in though. Just blood. Everywhere. Hot- and his intestines ripped open and spilling out. The blade had been a jagged and vicious thing. Ripping Noctis clean through- and pulling out his innards on its exodus.

Noctis felt the magic his father kept in his wards discharge. Releasing an electic spell. Clarus's black robes flashed past- and there was the sound of a heavy impact- The stone brick of the wall cracked. Glass shattered. Gladio screamed- and it sounded like his humanity was fraying at the edges.

Noctis felt distanced from all these things. As he was pulled under by the torrential rain that had been threatening to drown him. He was lowered quickly to the ground- and in all the chaos around him the face of the invisible person haunting the throne room appeared before Noctis. A man with wavey maroon hair and golden eyes. Who summoned some kind of medical kit out of thin air- and despite the world falling into chaos and all out war around him started clinically tending to his wounds.

ARDYN.

Noctis realized with a jolt that he remembered the man. Noctis was drowning physically in his own blood. Mentally in the rain waters flooding his mind. However in that singular moment. When he was breathing in both water and blood- Noctis remembered.

Ardyn moved to tend to Noctis' guts, spilling out his front and onto the floor. Noctis reached forward and stopped him. Latching a hand around Ardyn's writst. Ardyn jolted a bit and turned with surprise. The two of them making eye contact as the world errupted into chaos around them.

Time seemed to freeze. Just for the two of them.

Noctis tightened his bloody grip on Ardyn's wrist. "You son of of a bitch." Noctis whispered what very well might be his final words. A pained smile forming at the edges of his eyes. "You did it."

Ardyn held his gaze for just a second then spoke plainly, a pained expresson on the older man's face. "I have acheived nothing if you die here!"

"Doesn't matter." Noctis let go of Ardyn's hand and fell back. He was bleeding out on the throne room floor. But his Dad and Cor were standing inbetween them and danger. Clarus was fighting Dratos head on. Gladio and Ignis were trying to flank the traitor on the other side. Down below, Prompto was dealing with the Glaives who were showing their true colors.

Noctis closed his eyes. He could feel the world underneath him. The Crystal, whole, above them beating as its' heart.

Everyone was alive again.

EOS was alive again.

That was more than enough to work with.

Noctis opened his eyes reluctantly. It was cold. Bitterly so. It was overwhelming, after going so long without any sort of sensation at all. Noctis wrapped his arms around himself. Though it didn't change much. He was wearing nothing but a t-shirt, and it felt like it was mid-winter.

Noctis looked around. Trying to get a bearing for his surroundings. There was no light however. Just pitch darkness, and more cold. He held up a hand and summoned his magic. Producing a flame in his hand. Fire exploded into the room. Nearly taking his eyebrows off. Noctis flinched and dropped the spell quickly. Slapping himself to make sure he had not set himself on fire. Afterwards Noctis stood in the dark. Singed, still cold, and blinking spots from his eyes.

Noctis looked down at his hands. Opening and closing them curiously. He had not used that much energy, he thought. Just the normal amount he usually used. That little bit of magic had been nearly 100x as powerful as it usually felt though. A simple flame turing into full Fire explosion. That could be... dangerous.

Noctis could feel that he had more magic at his disposal thanks to the crystal. It seemed that his magic was also more powerful overall. Noctis felt super charged. So much so, that he worried he might explode just trying to contain all of the magic inside of himself.

The crystal did this. Noctis figured that must have been why Bahamut had kept him in there for so long. Incubating- or whatever the fuck that had been. Noctis had been floating for so long- he had honestly started to forget that he even existed at all.

Noctis sat down on the ground, and he closed his eyes. Just as his father had taught him. Meditating to have better control over over his magic. He inhaled, then exhaled a few times. Consentrating. Using just a single grain of his power- Noctis carefully summoned light itself. Glowing and ethereal in the dark. Less destructive than fire- however more taxing than a simple flame.

Light was something he had always been able to summon. That was what made him the 'choosen' King and not just another reagent. Light was usually too much of a drain on his magic reserves to bother with though. Flashlight clips were easier to handle- and did not require concentration. Not put him at risk of going into stasis. Tools were just more practical- but in their absence... Noctis placed a hand on his chest- and began to glow. Light radiating from him in a halo-like aura. Illuminating the area around him in a large radius. The Ring of Lucis on Noctis' finger responded. Becoming the same color purple as the crystal. The same color Noctis' eyes glowed when he channeled his divine gifts.

Noctis cast the spell, and felt it hold steady. Barley even using a fraction of his power. Though it did take concentrate to keep it steady.

Noctis looked down at his glowing hands. Surprised by how little magic it took. Usually he could hold this light spell for a minute or two- but at this rate he could probably hold it for hours.

There was so much more magic at his disposal. Ardyn better be ready to pay for everything he has put us through. Noctis thought to himself. Tightening his fist. Resolve firm and solid within his chest. The cold no longer bothering him like it had before. His light magic enough to keep the chill at bay.

With light to see by, Noctis found himself in a stone tomb of some kind. Or maybe a prison? It felt like one. Thankfully the door was open. Noctis climbed out and upwards through a carved and worn set of steps.

When he emerged, the first thing Noctis noticed was how dark it was. There was no sun in the sky- and no stars. Noctis looked around for electric lights on the horizon. Even in the most rural parts of Lucis you could usually see someone's house in the distance. There were not any that Noctis could see though. He was the only thing casting light right now, and it was kind of errie. There were swords everywhere, embedded into as well as a rock spiraling upwards. Noctis recognized them from the divine paintings, and his own more recent encounter.

"Bahamut?" Noctis ran his hand along a giant blade. Each one was taller than he was- clearly meant to be weilded by a giant, "Is this Angelgard?" Noctis asked himself. Looking around the rock. There were so many blades inbedded in the rock. It looked like an ancient battle field. He walked forward. There were two smaller, different shaped weapons before him. Placed such that Noctis could not miss them. Both were embedded in the rock, and then propped up by smaller stones. As if whoever had placed them did not want them to fall over.

Noctis inhaled sharply. Realizing that he recognized them. That was Gladio's sword. The one he had gotten for defeating Gilgamesh. The second weapon was Ignis' Drain spear. What were they doing here?!

Noctis quickly approached the weapons. Then reached out with his magic. Searching for his friends through their magical connection. All he found was echoing silence.

Noctis felt his whole world spin. They were both gone. Gladio. Ignis. Everything in their Armiger was still there - but the life force that Noctis had used to connect them to him was just- GONE. In their absence were two very large voids. Echoing holes where his loved ones used to be.

Noctis lost concentration on his light spell, falling to his knees. Shocked at this revelation. He stared. At the shape of both weapons. Barley able to see them in the dark. How long had he been gone? What in the world could have cause this to happen? He fearfully reached forward. Gripping the shaft of Ignis' Drain Lance. As if it could give him some kind of answer. He looked to the side. Then reached out. Placing his hand on Glaido's sword, like it was his friend's shoulder. Two graves. These were graves.

Noctis burst into tears, sobbing outright. His shoulders shook, and his breath came in uneven gasps. He pressed a hand to his mouth and reached out for the last member of his party. He felt that he already knew the answer, but he had to make sure-

Prompto was gone too.

A wail echoed out into the darkness. As Noctis released all of the breath in his lungs. As he realized that he was too late. That everything he was fighting for was gone. All of the people he cared about were dead; and even more than them, possibly. Magic pushed out from Noctis in a shock wave. The dark world around him began to respond to his grief. The seas churned and threw up large waves. The earth rumbled, cracked and then buckled. Lightning traced across the sky. Cold winds howled. Picking up across the landscape. In the far distance Ravatough bubbled, and a corpse sank deeper into it's molten core.

Noctis looked up towards the heavens. "Why? Why did none of you watch over them?! They meant everything to me! Did you not think I cared about them? That I didn't love them enough?!" Noctis sobbing once again, knowing he was not making much sense.

He didn't know how long he knelt there, cried his soul out. His new massive amounts of magic twisted around Noctis, and above him. Interacting with the physical world. A storm began to form overhead. It started to rain. Thick heavy drops hit the ground and ocean around him. Mirroring his tears.

Noctis looked at the weapons before him. Illuminated by a flash of lightning. Gladio's sword, and Ignis' spear... where was Prompto's gun? Noctis looked around in sudden despiration. He summoned light once more to get a better look at the area. He found no trace of his final friend though. Making him wonder what had happened. How Ignis and Gladio had been brought here- but not Prompto?

Noctis found his answer soon enough. His father's boat was waiting for him, moored to the side of the island. Somehow intact despite the churning ocean.

Noctis stepped onto the boat, since it had clearly been left for him. Finding it clean, but covered in a layer of grime and dust. There was a letter left for him. Stored in a clear plastic bag, and taped to the console with a clear effort to keep it from the elements. Impossible to miss.

Noctis' name was written on it. In Prompto's hand writing. Something he recognized through years of them doing homework and passing each other notes in class. Noctis sat in the driver's chair of the yacht, and peeled the plastic container off of the console. Opening it up to read.

Noctis, HEY! <3 I'm... not going to lie. That's the best I have. I have tried to write this letter a few times, and I feel pretty pathetic at this point. Like the best I have is: Hey! how's it been? Like any of this has been easy. Like there's nothing going on... The truth is though, that things have been kind of hard. I'm not smiling as much as I used to. It's hard to stay positive and happy. Given everything that has happened in your absence. Though maybe that comes with being in charge of things, and getting older. As of me writing this letter. It has been eight years since you were taken into the crystal. I am actually turning thirty this week. Which is... hard to think about. It feels weird you know. Looking back and realizing how young all of us were when all of this first started. Even though we were all legal adults, it was fairly obvious that we were still just kids. I don't really know where to go from here... So let me just fill you in on everything going on. Not long after you were taken into the Crystal, the scourge entered into it's second phase. There's a lot of science involved in this, and I know you hate science. So the long story short is there is a layer of demonic scourge obscuring the sky. I know it looks like the sun's up and disappeared. But it's still there. Behind all the demon funk. Or at least it should be. I've been attempting to build rockets or air ships that can get high enough to get samples, but so far it's been a bust. Materials are hard to come by, as you'll soon find out- and I haven't had much success. The Marshal thinks that whatever power the crystal gives you is supposed to burn away or destroy this barrier. I certainly hope this is the case. Without the sun around to destroy the demons, they have gotten worse, and defeating them only makes the barrier above the planet's atmosphere stronger. That particle stuff that comes off demons floats up and then it stays up there. It's like the water cycle, or nitrogen cycle. Only in this case it's demonic gunk. If that makes any sense. I'm not sure what happens when it comes down. Honestly I hope we never learn what that looks like. So; without the sun we all held up in Lestalum. With the energy plant we had enough electricity to power lights and keep the demons at bay. We started setting up fields and growing things. Thing were looking good, but there really wasn't anywhere else for people to go. We got refugees from all over. Even from Niflheim. Ignis tried his best to manage things and make sure people got what they needed. But in the end... it wasn't sustainable enough. Lestalum eventually got to over crowded and the city kind of collapsed in on itself. That's how Ignis passed away. I'm sorry. You're probably wanting more details but it's really hard for me to recount everything that happened. It was a lot, and there's a lot of details I'm glossing over here. I'm sorry I hate to tell you this way- but I know you'll find out anyway. About Ignis and Gladio dying, I mean. That's why I left their weapons up on the hill. As a memorial of sorts.

Noctis had to put down the letter. he set it on his lap and wiped away the tears on his face. Then he buried his face in his hands. He didn't want to read the letter anymore. It's contents shook him to the core. He tried to set it aside, however Prompto's handwriting called to him. Noctis reluctantly picked up the note. He sobbed as he read his friend's words.

I feel the holes they left in our magical connection constantly. Like bullet wounds that are constantly bleeding. It's hard to know they're gone. It hurts, but I can still feel you. Somewhere. Through our connection. Gentiana told us when you first were taken, that Angelguard was where you were going to 'return'. Though I'm not sure what that means anymore. She assured us at the beginning that you would be coming back. That you would be bringing the power to get rid of demons for ever. The truth is though, I think that the scourge might be affecting the Astrals as well. I haven't seen Gentiana ever since she delivered that message. Something seemed... off about her. Like she was happy? I don't know if that makes any sense. How can a god be happy about any of this? Pyrna and Umbra stuck around for a while after you disapeared. They were a great comfort. But they disapeared after about a year after you were taken. Refugees from Altissia said that the Leviathan guided their escape to the main land- and Rhamu saved me and Gladio one time when we got into a bind. Dude just called lightning down for us. Just like he used to for you. It was pretty awesome for him to intervene like that. Its because of that... maybe I thought Gladio would be safe. Maybe. I don't know. Glaido went off on his own. He was angry after Ignis died. You know how he gets, trying to push ahead and solve everything head on. I tried to stop him, but he wouldn't listen to me. I'll spare you the details but... he's resting peacefully now. Those few sightings of the Astrals have been few and fewer as time goes by now. I don't have any way to measure magic, or know if whatever the scourge is doing can affect something like a God. The Scourge has got the whole planet under lock down though, so... I think it's safe enough to assume it might be messing with them as well. We need you Noct. Badly. Along with whatever power that Crystal and Bahamut gave you. Myself, the Marshal, Iris and Aranea are setting up a camp on top of Mt. Ravatough. It's warmer there thanks to the lava, and it's safer because no one else can get to us. People have gone crazy without any kind of sun, or social safety net. You need to watch your back. Don't trust anyone you come across, and don't make too much light because it will- ironically- attract attention. Demons aren't the only things you need to be worrying about I'm afraid. I'm leaving this letter and boat here for you, because it's not safe enough for us to travel this way anymore. The boat should be good for use to get you to Galdin Quay. I will be putting a radio link up in Hammerhead. It will be locked in Cindy's office. There will be a key under the paving stone with the heart imprint. I will be awaiting your call. Ever at your side, Prompto Argentum.

A wave swelled rocking the boat Noctis was on. Giving him a very fitting sinking feeling. The rain summoned by Noctis' emotion was still falling. Pattering on the roof of the yacht. As Noctis mourned the fact that Prompto would never receive any sort of call from him.

Prompto. Who had been waiting for him for- eight years. Who had passed the age of thirty without his best friends there to wish him the best. Who had spent even longer in the dark. With nothing to hold onto but hope. Noctis looked out of the boat's main window, and looked across the choppy sea. He couldn't even see past the end of the boat. It was so devoid of any kind of light, or life. There was a new hollowness settling into his chest. One Noctis was familiar with. It was the same emptyness that had haunted him anytime he thought about his father dying. The kind that made him want to curl up in a dark place and just disapear for a long time.

Noctis felt all of the resolve Bahamut had instilled in him waiver. He didn't know if he could do this anymore. Not without his friends. Noctis contemplated going down into the boat's living quarters. Just finding a place to lay down and forget that all of this was going on.

No. Noctis had done too much disapearing. So much so that all of his friends had suffered for it. He had kept them waiting this long, and he shouldn't make them wait any longer. He wiped tears from his eyes. Then reread the letter. Eventually he folded it up and placed it back into the envelope, and then again into the plastic bag which had kept it safe for all these years.

Prompto was gone. Gladio was gone. Ignis was gone as well. The Gods were missing. Noctis clenched the letter in his hand, and his face screwed up in pain. Was there even anything left worth saving?

Noctis bowed his head. Clutching Prompto's letter in both hands. He stayed like that for a long time. He eventually sat up though, and moved on. He tucked it into a jacket he summoned from the Armiger which would help protect him against the cold and rain. He kept the letter up against his heart. Where he could feel it as a reminder. Though the holes left in his soul were reminder enough.

Noctis did not leave the island with purpose. He felt more like he was running. Leaving something behind, which he did not want to face. Even if going forward meant facing possibly even worse things. The water was choppy as he drove the boat. The only lights he could go by were the ones provided by the ship, or any he summoned for himself. There was no stars. No Moon. It was errie. Thankfully the boat had a reliable compass, and he knew where Angelgard was compared to the shore- Noctis having spent days fishing on Galdin and looking out at the island.

Waisting more time. Noctis reprimanded himself. He tightened his grip on the steering yolk.

Galdin Quay was a mess. Noctis could see the demons from the shore, even before he got to the dock. Balls of red or purple glowing energy faintly in the dark. Noctis found a spare flash light in the boat, one brighter than just his regular pocket light- which seemed to have disapeared at some point. The light spell he cast on himself gave him a good radious of his immidiate area. However, the flashlight he could direct infront of himself- to help see ahead. He also didn't need to concentrate to keep it alight. Noctis shined it upon the once grand hotel resort as he walked down the pier. The roof of one side of the building appeared to have fallen in. Which was not a good sign. He hoped that the dock leading to shore was still clear. The air around them was fridged, and the water spray he had felt on the boat meant that a dip in the water was probably asking for hypothermia.

Noctis came to the end of the dock, and something he stepped on was not wooden but soft. Noctis took a step back and looked down. There were clothes lying on the floor. Noctis recalled back to his time in Niflheim. The missing person disease. People turning into demons. Noctis realized. It must have spread with the sun disappearing. Something metal caught his attention. Noctis frowned, then reached down. Picking up a ring. A golden ring with a D and G stamped into the side, but interlinked. Noctis recognized the symbol.

"No. Dino." Noctis stood back up and shined his flash light down on the clothes. Even if his general light spell offered more than enough to see by. Sure enough he recognized a few other pieces of jewelry. All with the same stamp. Dino's Jewlry making brand. Which he had shown to Noctis exitedly when Noctis had brought back some saphire one time for him to make into a peice of jewlry. Dino at the time had jokingly offered Noctis a share in his up and coming buisness. So long as the Prince was willing to keep supplying him. The guy had always been a bit pushy... but Noctis could only think of the man fondly.

Noctis looked down at the clothes, and then upwards. A goblin skittered away into the ruins of the building. Having been watching him from above. Noctis felt conflicted. Did he... he definitely should bury the clothes, right? Dino despite his pushyness was someone Noctis would call a good friend. He was one of the few people who didn't treat Noctis like royalty. Dino was just as pushy with him as he was with he was with everyone else- Noctis wasn't just going to leave the guy hanging.

This area was clearly not safe though. So Noctis quickly scooped up all of Dino's clothes. They were worn by the elements- almost rags by this point. Having been sitting out for who knows how long. All of the man's jewelry pieces had stood up to the test of time though. Noctis bundled everything together and put it into his Armiger. Intending to give it a proper burial when he had a moment.

Galdin Quay itself was filled with Goblins. Which crawled out of the wood work the second he put a foot on the stairs. Noctis didn't stick around to see if there was any end to them. Running down the dock, and then warping to the beach when it came into the range of his light. Choosing to fight smarter, not harder.

It was so dark, and impossible to see anything more than five or six meters ahead of him. The flashlight added another two meters, but that was the extent of his field of view. Noctis had to navigate mostly by memory. In the distant dark he could see the shapes of demons moving about. Bombs glowed with different elemental colors. Glowing purple limbs of something spidery walking around. Noctis avoided encounters as much as he could, and made his way up the sloping cliff side. Finding that his and Gladio's shared love for foraging was coming somewhat in handy. As Noctis had already climbed, explored, and hiked over most of the area, so new how to navigate the space.

All of the plants were dead. Noctis didn't notice it at first. Knowing how rocky and sandy the area around Galdin was. When he came across his first dead tree, Noctis began to take notice though. As the tree had not fallen down, so much as wilted. Laying over like a melted wax candle. The ground on his feet was mostly dirt, but it felt spongy in sections. As he walked across fields of pale, dead grass. This trend continued to get worse as Noctis got higher into what he remembered being lush green hills. It was very disheartening.

The walk up from Galdin to Hammerhead was rough. All up hill, and not really anywhere Noctis could go to avoid the demons patrolling the area. He summoned his sword and fought them off when he had to. Using the Ring of Lucis when he got over whelmed. The first time he had to do that he gasped at how fast the. The ring greedily feeding on everything in the area- including his own magic. Noctis actually struggled to get it to STOP asbsorbing mana. Sweating from the effort. Noctis decided not to the Ring of Lucis after that. Deeming it not worth the risk.

Noctis stepped off to the side of the road to stop at the Haven. He hoping to rest there before moving on. Only to find the first signs of people- and the first human corpses.

Noctis found the barriers first. Shelled out cars, barrels filled with rocks and sand. Like someone had set up a road block on the road way. Noctis carefully stepped around them, smelling something foul and rotten in the air. The first body he found was on the ground, huddled by one of the barriers. Left there. Like the person had been killed, and too much of a hassle to move. Their flesh was mostly intact, but it has liquified just like the plants. Melting off the bones and looking sunken in. Noctis covered up his face and backed away. Before throwing up. Disgusted by the sight and smell.

Against better judgment he looked at the body once more. He wasn't exactly a mortician, but he suspected the man might have been shot. Noctis didn't know why scavenging birds were not picking the thing apart, or why the usual animals had not torn it up. As nature tended to take care of exposed carcass in such a way.

Noctis had seen plenty- probably too many- of corpses over the course of him working for Dave, locating dog tags. This was not the worst corpse Noctis had ever seen. However it was strange- in that it was so old but still completley untouched. Expecially given that it was lying out in the open.

Not even any flies, or insects had tried to eat the corpse. Noctis looked upwards and around him. Now that he thought about it. He had not heard or seen any sign of animals since coming to shore. Noctis was not sure what to make of that.

Warrily Noctis continued up the hill. It did not take him long to find another corpse, a woman who was laying with a dagger still in her hand. A dark bullet wound in between her eyes. Noctis found two more similar sights as he went up the hill. Stomach already empty of what little contents it had, but sour as he continued to walk up towards the Haven.

On the Haven itself Noctis found what these people had all died for. There was an encampment set up on the Haven. With tents and attempts at more permanent shelter. A place for people to stay. Safe from the demons that haunted the area.

There was no salvation for anyone here though. Noctis didn't dare step into the Haven's circle. There was a body fouling it's presence. The rotted figure of a singular man, sitting in a chair near the camp center. He looked to have been holding a rifle at some point. However his arm and said gun had fallen off at some point. They were stagnant goop, at his feet. The figure was slumped. Giving Noctis a good look at the hat the man was wearing. Which looked like a fake yellow crown someone might wear for a children's play.

The words 'King of the hill' were spray painted on the sand bags infront of him. A solid barrier between the man and those coming up the hill. Noctis backed away from the sight, and then down the hill. Feeling like he didn't need to know any more of this story.

Noctis continued North, and after came to the Longwythe Rest area. The town was just as abandoned as Galdin Quay had been. Though it's abandonment seemed more recent than others. It had barriers set up on all of the roads, and it looks like efforts had been made to live in the area for as long as possible. If the movable lamp posts around the area were anything to go by. Noctis knew they were the type that could keep demons at bay. A good portion of them had been shot out- unfortunatley. There was broken glass everywhere.

The Hotel had also been burned down. Noctis stared at the partially destroyed building, and the half melted hotel sign. A place Prompto and Noctis had sat up in front of nearly every time they visited the area. Noctis had really enjoyed looking over the desert towards Longwythe Point. Which... seemed to have moved? Noctis tilted his head to the side. The light from his flashlight traveled far in the flat desert. He could just make the outline of the mountains in the distance. The familiar rock formation Noctis remembered being in the center of the desert was not where it was supposed to be though... It was near a half mile to the North West, and there rocks were also in the wrong orientation.

It seemed impossible for a mountain to just get up and move. Noctis started walking towards the area, but then stopped himself. No. He couldn't go off exploring and wandering where ever he wanted to. Not like he was used to doing. He... he needed to focus. He had to get to Hammerhead. He needed to find Prompto- or what had become of his friend.

Noctis tried a few of the vehicles in the Hotel parking lot. Eventually finding one that worked, or at least that he could he could start. Though it needed gas, and a tune up. Badly.

"You're no Regalia. But maybe I can do something for you at Hammerhead? Permitting Cindy is willing to help." Noctis asked the small car he had lifted. Optimistic that even though everything else seemed to be dead... that was a thought he did not want to finish.

Noctis pulled out around the barrier which had been put on the road leading North. He drove quickly through the desert. Demons flying by him in the sandy expanse. It was an hour and a half drive to reach Hammerhead Station. Noctis took his phone out of the Armiger and turned on his music. Letting the playlist Noctis had built up over his journey distract him from the fact that the small car was empty save for himself- and that he was very much alone in the world at the moment.

Hammerhead came up in the distance after what felt like an eternity. Noctis' stolen car lights landing on similar looking barriers to the ones he had seen in Longwythe. Only these were even thicker. There were concrete barriers surrounding the whole junction. As well as barb wire, and other measures for defense.

A good portion of them looked to have been damaged in some way. There was a bloody smear dripping over one of the walls. Like something tangled up in barb wire had been removed. Something that was alive enough to bleed.

"... Okay." Noctis slowed his car and gave the sight a cautious look. Not taking this as a good sign. He couldn't progress any further in the car, because of the heavy barriers. So he pulled the car off to the side of the road and parked it. As Noctis got out of the car, he noted that there was no lights still to be seen. Hammerhead was dark. That wasn't a good sign.

Noctis drew his engine sword and chunked it over the barrier. Warping to it, and then using his magic to suspend in the air as the threw the weapon again, past the barriers, and warping into Hammerhead itself. Noctis landed in the rough sand opposite the road to the gas station, and it was like walking into a war zone. There was carnage everywhere. It looked like someone had driven a modified car through a good portion of the barriers coming from the west. They were all bent, knocked over or had tire marks on them. Noctis found the remains of said car near the edge of the gas station. It looked like it had been blown up. Cindy's Rig was parked in front of the gas station pumps. Like it was being used as an impromptu barrier. There were chairs and places to take cover on the stylized roof of the station.

Someone had made a final stand here, and it looked like it had been a shoot out to end all shoot outs. There were bullet holes everywhere. In the side of Cindy's truck. In the ground, and walls. There were several other places that looked like they had been blown up. Either by mines or rockets.

Strangely enough, Noctis did not see any corpses. Nor any blood. Only the more permanent marks of the battle. When Noctis crossed the road, he noticed there was a patch of rough litter on the pavement on one portion. Noctis looked down at his feet. Scraping his boot along the aggregate. He summoned his light once more. It revealed a brown discoloration underneath the sandy mixture. Someone had made an effort to clean up the blood. Noctis realized he might know who would make such an effort.

"Prompto." Noctis said out loud, and then looked around hopefully. Of course Prompto would never let this place go to ruin. His respect for Cid, and his love for Cindy were too great. If anyone was going to go through the effort in a world which had given up; it would have been him. Noctis walked into the gas station proper. Which felt eerily empty. The space seemed to be demon free, remarkably. Perhapse the barriers were keeping them out?

Noctis shinned his flash light over the small collection of buildings. Most of the windows had been broken, but patched up to keep the elements out. There were bullet holes in some of the plastered walls. Noctis found that that the station store seemed to have been repurposed into a weapons depo. Takka's eatery looked to have been converted into some kind of Hunter head quarters as well. It was stacked full of crates, and even what looked like bunk beds.

It was here Noctis found the memorial. It was anchored to the side of Takka's shop. Just under the awning where it would be protected from the elements. There was wooden board, painted in the traditional Lucian Jet Black, and just a foot off the ground. The same kind of thing that you would see in the Capitol City when the citizens could not get approval for something more official. Usually when there was a car accident or something similar. The board was covered in pictures. Prompto's pictures. Noctis gasped, and fell to his knees in front of the memorial. Taking in the familiar faces.

A good portion of the pictures were of Ignis. Gladio seemed to have been added on as a second addition. Gladio's pictures were printed on normal printer paper, instead of photo paper. Almost as if Prompto had run out of proper film. There were other pictures of people too. Monica, and other faces from their travels. As well as pictures that looked to have been added by other people. They were pinned either to the board, or glued to the wall. A collection of smiling faces that were dearly missed by people. Noctis reached out, and ran his hand across the words 'In memorium.' painted at the top of the board in Prompto's familiar hand writing.

There were melted candles on plates and in cups placed all around the base of the memorial. As well as a few scattered tokens. Noctis smiled fondly at the cans of ebony, opened but weighed down with sand. There was a moogle doll as well. Probably left by Iris. It was laying on its side. Noctis picked the poor thing up, and noticed that it had a patch in its side. Where it seemed to have been shot- and then repaired.

Noctis blinked. Feeling his eyes grow wet. He didn't hold them back. Allowing himself to cry once more. How could he not? He had visited not one, but two graves now of his fallen comrades. Both left behind by Prompto. Who would have been the only one left to make them. With Noctis doing what? Floating around in some crystal.

Some best friend he was. Some King he was a well. His entire country was shot to hell- its citizens tearing each other apart.

Noctis sat down on the ground and cried. Grieving once more everyone he had lost. Everything that had happened. All because of some fated design by the Gods to rid the planet of the scourge. Noctis didn't understand. He felt the resolve which had been refined within the crystal, cracking within him.

How was this helping anyone? Why wait until things had gotten this far until doing anything about it? Noctis could have face Ardyn WITHOUT going into the crystal. With all of his friends at his side- it would have been a hell of a fight but doable. Why did Noctis need to be super charged with magic to do this?! Why let everything fall apart so much before sending him back?!

Noctis held the moogle doll in his arms. Finding some comfort in it. The sky above him swirled with black clouds. The rain did not reach the ground of the desert though. The dry nature of the desert holding out even though the world had fallen to ruin. A lightning bolt traced across the sky, and thunder rumbled. A Dry Lighning storm breifly illuminating the dark world. Causing demons to scream in pain and scatter. A nightmarish noise. He hated it.

Noctis eventually ran out of tears. Wiping off his cheeks and standing up. He wandered around Hammerhead, somewhat in a daze. Clutching the doll to his chest like he was a child. He walked over to the garage, and found the door to Cindy's office. It was the non-working part of the garage. Where they would often all hang out and share beers when the shop had closed down for the day. The key was underneath a cement rock- that had heat shape imprinted into it. A stone that always laid just beside the entrance. It had a key underneath it. Just as Prompto's note said it would.

The place was covered in dust. With only a few bullet holes in the front of the building to indicate that any sort of fight had been had. It didn't look as abandoned as some other places. Prompto had clearly made an effort to clean and organize everything, but he could never hide fact that a bloody battle had been shot into the window, and even the desk facing the door. The radio from Prompto's letter was located on Cindy's old computer desk. As well as pinted out instrucions taped to the desk. Telling him how to hook the system up to the car battery, and then turn it on.

Noctis followed Prompto's hand writting. Hooking the radio up to the battery, and then turning the radio on. He had seen Cindy and Cid use the device a couple of times. Talking to truck drivers on the roads and passing through the valley. Noctis picked up the radio receiver, and clicked it on. The machine turned on- there was nothing but static. Noctis held the receiver up to his mouth and after a long moment... said nothing.

Noctis wasn't going to fool himself. He knew that no one was waiting for him on the other side. He knew Prompto was dead. He could feel his absence like a bleeding hole inside of him. Noctis turned the radio off, and wipped tears away from his face. He picked up the moogle doll, and left the office.

As Noctis left the office, he spotted the graves buried in the sand outside the back of the garage shop. Outside of the walls, and far enough out that they would not pollute the ground well of the station. There were at least a dozen of them. Marked with stones. Two of them had metal poles sunk into the ground- and hanging from them were yellow Hammerhead Jackets. Cid and Cindy, he presumed. Noctis wanted to walk over to pay his respects. However there area between the grave and settlement was a Red Iron Giant. One who did not particularly look happy- probably from the lightning flash earlier. A fight Noctis did not feel like engaging.

Noctis went back into the settlement, and after a bit sat down inside Takka's old cooking shop. In the booth that they used to always sit at when they would stop by. Noctis remembered all the times that his friends would eat Takka's food, and fawn over how good it was. Even Ignis, who was always super critical of other chefs, loved the food here.

Noctis never ate any of it. Reminding them all each time that he did not like beans, or vegetables, or spicey food.

"If I ever get a second chance, or life, or something in the beyond." Noctis swore to the moogle doll he had set on the table in front of him. Fresh tears coming to his eyes, "I am going to eat every vegetable, every bean. Just- just to have another memory with them." Noctis found himself crying once more. This time over every moment, and every second he had ever taken for granted with those that he loved. He pressed his hands to his face. Then curled up on the booth's bench. That hole inside of him deep and endless.

Noctis didn't know when he fell asleep. He woke up to the sound of a car engine. He sat up, disorientated. Until he recognized the decorations around Takka's dinner, and the containers of guns and hunting gear reminded him that it probably had not been a proper dinner for a while

The sound of a car engine got closer. Noctis sobered up, and he moved to hide behind one of the barriers that had serviced the hunters inside said building durring the shoot out. Lights cut through the dark, casting a stark-white edge on the Hammerhead station signs. Before disapearing. The car was going up and down a hill. The vehicle was coming from the North West. From the Prarie Outpost? Or maybe someone coming from the Duscae Region?

Noctis quickly made sure that he wasn't glowing. Giving away his position. Remembering Prompto's warning about being careful around other humans. The dark settled back around Noctis, cold and empty.

He watched through the window as the car drove through the desert. Eventually coming right up to the barriers of Hammerhead. The car was put into an idle. Someone stepped out of the vehicle, and moved one of the barriers. Lifting one end and swinging it open like it was a fence gate. Not apparently bothered by the fact that it was a solid concrete highway barrier that probably weighed half a ton. Once the barrier was out of the way. They went back, drove the car through, and then closed the barrier behind them. In a similar manner.

The Car slowly pulled up into the car stop. On the open side, closer to the buildings. Noctis ducked lower behind the barricade set at the window. Heart pounding in his chest. He placed a hand over his mouth. As he realized that he recognized the car which had pulled into the station. An old soft top convertable. Red, with a white stripe. A silly little moogle antenna attachment.

Ardyn's car.

Noctis listened as the car came to a stop at the gas pump. The engine turned off, and the door opened once more. There was the sound of feet on asphalt. Then the clicking of the pump. Ardyn was filling up his tank. How were the pumps still operational after all this time? Prompto. Prompto would probably need to refuel whatever vehicle he drove when visiting the station. With it being so clean and up to date- he probably came by often.

Noctis was taken out of this trail of thoughts as Ardyn finished filling up his car. The demonic man did not get back in his car though. Instead he started walking towards Noctis. Who... honestly did not know why he was still hiding behind the barrier. Noctis had come back to confront Ardyn after all. To end it all. No. Noctis did not need to be afraid of the man. He did not need to fear confrontation.

Noctis rose to his feet. Intending to walk outside. To get this over and done with.

Ardyn's voice stopped Noctis before he could open the door.

"I'm terribly sorry." The man spoke quietly.

What? Who are you speaking to? Noctis did a confused double take. Ardyn was almost to the far side of the building. Not even looking in his direction. He did not even seem to know Noctis was here. Noctis shifted and leand to the side, trying to figure out what angle Ardyn was playing at. It was then that he realized: Ardyn was standing in front of the memorial Prompto had built.

Ardyn was standing infront of the memorial. Looking down at the empty cans of Ebony, candles, and pictures. He had taken his hat off, and had it laid over his heart, "I just thought you ought to know your friend has passed." Ardyn sounded sincere. Even looked genuinely greived. Noctis had seen the man talk with double meanings before. He always seemed to be hinting at his words having an extra layer of meaning. Add that layer of confusion to them. Teasing them.

However Ardyn- in this moment- did not look like he was trying to fool anyone. His voice was lower, and plain. His shoulders hung with an invisible weight. Ardyn was not play acting, or trying to fool anyone.

"There wasn't much I could do when I found him. I gave him a proper burial." Ardyn explained to no one, still looking at the memorial. "Cremation. I might have done better but... he should find his way to rest with you." Ardyn seemed to almost promise. Ardyn stood there for a long moment. Then he summoned something to his hand. The same light crystalization Noctis produced when summoning a weapon. Only his light was red, instead of the blue.

Noctis felt his heart rise up into his throat as he recognized the weapon. It was a gun. A pistol. Prompto's pistol.

Ardyn knelt down, gently setting the gun down in the memorial. With the candles, and the empty cans of ebony. Ardyn took something else out of his Armiger, and then added it to the memorial. Using one of the thumb tacs already present to add to the board itself. Noctis couldn't see what it was properly from his current view point. Noctis quietly pushed open the door to the dinner. The bell chime of the door giving his presence away.

Ardyn tensed, but didn't turn around. Noctis quietly approached the man, to get a better view.

Ardyn was crouched on one knee sitting in front of the memorial. An unreadable expression on his face. Having realized that he had been caught adding onto the piece.

Noctis could see the second object Ardyn had placed down from this new perspective. It was a picture of Prompto. Smiling stupidly in a selfie. Noctis recognized it as one of the pictures that they had taken for the trip's photo album. Noctis was also in the picture. Looking photogenic and almost like a super model. The contrast made them both laugh every time they looked at the picture. It was their favorite photo. Noctis felt tears well up at the corner of his eyes, and he had to swallow back a sob.

"You got here faster than I thought you would." Ardyn remarked, looking over his shoulder, but not turning to face him. "It hasn't even been a full day- not that one would be able to tell easily."

Noctis stepped closer. Just out of striking range. He looked down at the memorial. At Prompto's gun. "A day? Since he... ?" Noctis couldn't even finish his question. Wanting to know more, but also dreading any sort of information that could fuel his nightmares

Ardyn considered him quietly for a moment. "Yes." Ardyn shifted, staying kneeling before the memorial. As ilent indication that he wasn't going to fight Noctis. At least not in this moment. The man let out a long sigh. "He was ill. Some sort of viral Gastroenteritis. By the time I found him it was too late." Ardyn flicked some dust off his hat, and placed it back on his head. "For what its worth; I am sorry for your loss."

Noctis didn't know what to say. He felt the empty vastness where Prompto used to be within his soul. Along with the other two which were just as big. Noctis wanted to ask where Ardyn had burried Prompto- but he already had the answer. Cremation didn't leave anything but ashes, typically. Ardyn hadn't brought them with them so they were probably scattered by now. Noctis felt his hand start to shake. Less than 24 hours. Prompto had waited so long- if Noctis had just been a little quicker at getting back...

Ardyn shifted, raising up one knee, then pushing himself up resting both his hands atop of it. "Shows you exactly what kind of intentions the Gods have." Ardyn's words drew Noctis' attention. He watched, as Ardyn placed two hands on his back and stretched it out. Partally turning to him.

"They were apparently waiting for everyone to pass on before letting you free." Ardyn explained, guesturing down at the memorial. "He was the last human alive. Him and the Good Marshal. They held out for just about ten years." Ardyn sighed heavily, "Leonis passed first. That was when I found Prompto."

Noctis felt like someone had just punched his gut. "Oh." Noctis felt exhaled breathlessly. He raised a hand up to his mouth, and felt tears start to run down his cheeks. Prompto had waited ten years for him. An entire decade. Waiting for him to come back. Noctis pressed his face into his hand and began to weep silently. Mourning his friends once more.

Ardyn didn't say anything. He crossed his arms and stood vigil. While Noctis mourned Prompto, the Marshal, and all the others he had lost. Just processing that everyone he knew was dead sobered him. It was a chilling realization, that helped dry his tears. Though it loomed over him. Noctis would deffinitley be having a break down about it later.

Noctis wipped off his face and looked up. The shape of Hammerhead's iconic feature loomed over them. He could only just barley make it out in the dark. "You know. My father used to say that all of his good stories started in Hammerhead." Noctis recalled. His voice breaking the silence. Everything around them was still. Even the distant sound of demons in the distance had dropped off. The rain storm Noctis had summoned earlier had disipated at some point while he was asleep. "Every time they would go on an adventure, or get into trouble. They would always set out from here... and when things came to an end, they would always come back to here again. The place where beginning and endings meet."

Noctis turned to Ardyn, "I suppose it's fitting then, that we both met here. Where my own journey began."

"We are not supposed to meet here though." Ardyn turned to him, and then kept turning. Looking to the East. Towards Hammerhead. "This is not what was planned though. The end is supposed to be where it all began. In the tower where the crystal stands." Ardyn declared. Sounding sure of himself, and this fact. Like Ardyn knew something about prophecies and their intentions.

"I see." Noctis looked to the East as well. "So none of this kicks of, until go back to the Citadel. To the Throne room?"

"Yes, that is where the final battle should be." Ardyn affirmed with solid conviction.

"Well then," Noctis looked back to Ardyn, and tilted his head to the side, "We can head that way together. If you want. By the looks of things," Noctis slowly turned back to the dark world around them. "We have as much time as we want."

Ardyn was quiet for a moment. Thinking this over.

Noctis chose to considered Ardyn himself. Noctis was so angry at him. Ardyn, was the one who had killed Luna. Destroyed everyone and every thing Noctis ever loved. The planet was dead- and Ardyn was the sole reason. So Bahamut had said. When he showed him visions of Noctis and Ardyn killing each other. Noctis the light Ardyn the dark. It had been very clear to him then. He had spent a lot of time in the crystal building up his resolve. Refining it to do what needed to be done. Ardyn was no longer human. He was the demon of demons. The center and cause for all the darkness in the world. That is what the gods had told Noctis. That it would take all of their power, and his own life in order to rid the world of what this man had become.

Ardyn did not look anything like that though. He just looked exhausted. It looked like he had not been taking care of himself. His hair was longer, and it was no longer styled. He his beard needed a trim. His once fine jacket was torn to shreds. It looked like a demon had attacked the man at some point. Or someone with a heavy blade had tried to run him through. There was also a bullet hole directly in between his shoulder blades. Ardyn looked like someone who had given up, and had just waiting for the inevitable. Which given the state of the world; Noctis could kind of understand.

"I don't know what you would want to put it off for." Ardyn told Noctis, his voice thick with something. Anger? Resentment? he was avoiding looking at Noctis directly. "We are the only ones left." Ardyn reminded him.

Noctis still couldn't quite process that. The planet was huge, almost infinetly vast. Even after running around every inch of Lucis for a whole year, Noctis had only seen an infatessable part of it. How could every single thing, every person be dead? He looked upwards at the dark sky. "Maybe that's the idea. That after I kill you, the planet will be reborn or something?"

That sounded something like the Gods would do. Only... Noctis looked out across the dead desert once more. Everything was so stagnant. That not even the wind was blowing. The desert, despite there being no sun, was still for some reason. However it sat around them. Like a humid, hight pressure system.

The fact that the Gods had even let things get to this point in the first place gave him doubts. Noctis felt some of that resolve the Crystal had insitlled in him begin to shift. Will the world start to live again? Noctis wondered. Not with humans, that is for sure.

Ardyn shrugged. "I just want to pass on at this point." Ardyn admitted, somewhat morbidly. He looked out over the desert though, and gave his opinion.

"I don't think there is a seed to plant anew. At the very least there is no spark to give it life. You can feel it right?" Ardyn held out a hand, palm facing the ground. "How stagnant the air is? The circulation of magic around the planet, the life stream. It's gone." Ardyn passed his hand along the horizon. "For all the power the crystal has given you, I don't think there's much you can do at this point."

Noctis looked down. He did have a lot of magic power inside of him at the moment. So much so that it was a little hard to see past it to look at other things. He thought he could see what Ardyn meant though. Everything was... gray. It felt hollow. Rain had fallen, and lightning had crashed- but that had been Noctis' own doing. Noctis didn't know if his current power would be able to do anything about it either. It felt like the wrong type of energy. He could blast and slash and burn all he wanted, but growing something... that was more the Oracle's speed.

Noctis thinks. He frowned. Would that be something Luna could do? He had never heard of any stories about the Oracle creating or growing things. He knew for certain it was NOT something he could do... his powers were more about elemental and space manipulation. Meant to wage war, or defend against the enemies of the gods. That was the purpose of the King of Lucis afterall. Meanwhile the Oracle was meant to deliver the God's words to the people. To spread their good will.

"The world is most certainly dead. And I'm the one who did it as well! Is that not such rich irony?" Ardyn said with a strained tone. He sounded like he wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. Like he was going mad- or had already been driven mad. "In my quest for revenge I forgot who I was. What I was-" The man stepped away from Noctis, looking off to the side. Ardyn looked distressed, like this was something which had been eating away at him. "I've changed. I'm not human anymore. I've lived to long. 2,000 and some 50 years- absorbing the shadows. I'm just a leaking bag full of demons." He guestured down at himself.

Noctis frowned. He hated it when people talked down about themselves. Prompto had used to do that too on occasion- trying to play it off as a joke. He had stopped though, when Gladio had told him rather firmly and plainly that none of them thought it was funny, and he needed to stop thinking of himself as worthless.

"Wait. Is this not what you wanted?" He asked with confusion. As he recalled that Ardyn was supposed to be the villian in this story.

"What? No! Flames no! I-" Ardyn reached back, and fixed his hair so it was over one shoulder. It was long, and somewhat tangled. He ran his fingers through it almost absently.

Ardyn's gaze grew distant, almost haunted. Like he was remembering something through someone else's eyes. "I did want revenge, yes. I wanted to destroy everything my brother ever built. That was not my original goal however. I wanted- I" Ardyn choaked- as if he didn't know anymore. His hands began to shake. "I've gone MAD at some point- and I don't think I will ever be sain again."

Noctis stepped towards Ardyn, and reached out. He firmly placed a hand on Ardyn's shoulder. Then squeezing tightly. Not saying anything, just silently conveying that he could feel Ardyn's distress, and he was there for him. Ardyn seemed appreciative of the anchor. He exhaled. Then inhaled deeply. Almost like it was the first breath he had been able to take in a long while.

"I am sorry. I'm a mess; not much of a final boss to defeat or anything." Ardyn joked, though it was soaked with guilt. Opening and closing his hands anxiously. "Believe it or not. I once wanted to keep the world from falling to darkness. From becoming THIS." Ardyn gestured to himself. Then dropped his arms. suddently looking three times as tired as before.

"I never should have accepted that metal bastard's deal." Ardyn lamented with a sigh.

Noctis pinched his brows together. "What deal?"

Ardyn looked at him. Surprised. "You don't know?"

"No." Noctis shook his head. "Tell me?"

Ardyn began to explain it all. The falling of the meteor. The start of the star scourge. Bahamut's descent from the heavens. The gifting of the Crystal to humanity. A promise for a King to one day be chosen, and wipe the scourge off the planet. His brother had been gifted the ability to bend time and space. To fight the demons threatening humans. Ardyn had been given the ability to sooth the disease, and take the illness upon himself. Curing the afflicted. The Oracle was supposed to be the one to choose which of them would rid the world of darkness. A woman who eventually became Ardyn's wife.

Ardyn explained this all to him, and Noctis listened. The two of them standing and occasionally stepping around the parking lot. Ardyn was very good at telling stories. Noctis was enthrawled. It felt like this story had been weaving itself for eons. The two of them having been spun along by their fates. Now they were finally meeting each other. Only instead of colliding in a brilliant fate changing-battle; they both found themselves quietly orbiting each other.

Just taking a moment at the end of the world. To assess everything.

Ardyn explained eventually how this all came to an end. How the Oracle had told Ardyn he had been selected for the stone- but then his brother had shown up to take the throne for himself. How his brother ended up killing the Oracle. Pushing Ardyn over the edge. Ardyn had given into his darker powers, just for a moment. Which was enough for the Gods to cast him out. Reason enough for his brother used to declare hiself the choosen King. For the world to declare him a monster. Ardyn had proven to be un-killable, however. He had eventually been locked away on Angelgard for some two centuries time. Until a Niflhiem Scientist dug him out.

"You are the Adagium." Noctis realized, "Your brother was Somnus The first King. That means you are my like great-great grand uncle or something."

"Or something." Ardyn said with dry amusement. "I guess I can classify you as my Nephew. Or something along those line."

Noctis took a step back. Still processing everything. "That means our entire kingdom... it's based off a LIE then." Noctis thought back to every lesson he had learned. Every story he had been told growing up. Every assurance that he had been give. That ruling by divine right was the way of things. But all of that was... it would UNFOUNDED. A stright up LIE. A strange sense of anger started to rise inside of Noctis. Thinking of how much his life had been dictated by the nobles, the gods, everyone around him. How so many people had placed responsibilites and pressure onto him. All because of some Astral's century long political game.

Something deep inside of Noctis shifted unhappily. Above them the clouds began to form, rumbling threateningly.

"I don't know quite about that." Ardyn looked up thoughtfully. Holding his hat to peer up at the show of power Noctis was putting on. "I think that Bahamut was playing all of us. He told me that I was right. Then he told my brother that he was right. Then he gave us knives and watched all of this play out like some kind of sick fight to the death." Ardyn shook his head, as if he thought it was all obvious in hindsight. "There are no winners here, save for him. Whatever he gets out of this planet coming to an end."

"I think they forgot about me for a while." Ardyn said quietly. His squinted up at the dark clouds. Noctis couldn't see them, except for when lightning occasionally flickered through them. "The Gods, I mean. I was locked away in the dark, and because I was out of sight, I was out of mind." Ardyn stepped to the side. He wrapped his arms around his chest and sighed. "Until my dear Verstael found me and broke me out. That about was when the scourge started spreading again. You were conceived not but ten or twelve years later, I belive."

"The first Lucian King to be born after you came back. They chose me because you were a threat again." Noctis picked up on what Ardyn was putting down before him, "He saw an opportunity, and sold it to us as fate. Just like he did with you and your brother"

Ardyn wrapped around his chest. "And now here we are. I suppose."

The two of them fell silent once more. Sudden exaustion overcame Noctis.

This conversation had taken a while, and it had been a long day. Noctis looked around, wondering if he would get a chance to properly rest before they had to get back to following their doomed fates. The sight of the moogle doll inside the resturant caught his eye. It was still sitting on the dinning booth table.

"Hey, lets go sit inside. So we are a little less out in the open." Noctis offered, waving his arm.

Arydn seemed uncertain, but then followed Noctis. Noctis lead the way with the most confidence he felt since... ever. There was no more pretense to keep up. No one to impress. No one to prove the expectations of. It was just himself, and Ardyn left in the world. Noctis felt a buzz of freedom at the base of his neck. The same kind that had him eagerly diving out of Insomnia the second his Father had given him permission to get out of town.

Noctis was, for the first time, fully in charge of his own life. Something he had desired for a long majority of it. There was no false pretense this time either. Noctis did not have a wedding he needed to attend to. Or a future Kingdom that needed to tended to. Noctis could do whatever, go wherever he wanted. He started with opening up Takka's, and inviting Ardyn inside. He frowned as the man passed. Wishing that it had not taken his Kingdom to fall, and everyone else to die for him to acheive this freedom. Something that most citizens in his once-kingdom were born with.

Noctis did not let this thought get him too down. He followed Ardyn into the dinner. "Take a seat." Noctis offered, "I was about to start making camp before you drove up. So let's eat something."

Arydn looked around the dusty building curiously. He took off his hat, and sat down at the main bar. "I don't think I've eaten anything in the last ten years." He remarked, "You still have food?"

"Uhm." Noctis did a quick scan of his Armiger. Ignis usually kept a store of food within a specific place. So that he could keep inventory of what they needed to restock when they went shopping. Noctis looked into the nebulous space, and found the 'cupboard' space bare of it's usual supplies. Noctis was alarmed by this. That had not been a thing since Noctis had FIRST given access to the Armiger to Ignis. Some of the first things Ignis used the Armiger for, were to store were protien snacks for Gladio. The big guy had been going through his first growth spurt at the time.

Noctis despaired for a second. Wondering how rough it would have been so see those seemingly infinite supplies dwindle down to nothing. Especially if food was so hard to come by. Not all was lost though. As Prompto seemed to have food stored nearby. Not in the same space as Ignis had kept it in- but near enough for Noctis to notice it. Prompto had a collection of root vegtables and other crops. Along with seeds and cuttings, and even fertilizer- he must have had to start farming his own food at some point. He wondered how long his friend had been subsisting off such a slim selection though. It didn't seem like there was much variety.

"I have some stuff..." Noctis admitted tentativley, "Let me see what I can do."

"Well alright then." Ardyn settled into the booth. Resting his elbows on the table and watching Noctis with a curious glint in his eye. Reminding Noctis that Ardyn was dangerous. Not just because of what he was, but who he was.

Noctis made his way into the back of the restaurant. Takka's kitchen was something Noctis was actually familiar with. Anytime they rented a caravan in Hammerhead- you could find Ignis talking about spices or recipe details with the man. Sometimes Ignis even cooked things for the guests. Noctis had offered to clean up and do chores for the man once- and then afterwards it became a somewhat permanent expectation.

Takka and Cid had laughed up a riot at the sight of Noctis, the Lucian Prince, bussing tables the first time it happened. Noctis just rolling his eyes. Informing them that he had spent the last 2 years of his highschool working in a sushi resturant, cleaning and helping prep the stations. So yes. He could help. Thank you very much.

Looking back- Noctis only had fond memories of the moment- and their gwaffing laughter. Noctis was always grateful the two older men were willing to let Noctis get his hands dirty. Instead of putting him up on a pedistle and insisting that he have everything done for him. The nannies, maids and workers at the Citadel had been like that. Fawning over him. Noctis had not even been allowed to dress himself- until Ignis came along. Everyone around the Citadel insisting they do every small task for him- that Noctis never so much as lift a finger. Tie his shoes. Bath him clean. Speak on his behalf. It was suffocating. All of their overbearing 'helpfullness'.

Ignis gave him the first breath of fresh air he was ever allowed to breathe. Telling Noctis' nanny that she was very clearly that she was dismissed for the day and slamming the door in her face. Ignis had not been his retainer for more than three days, before he realized how Noctis tended to go quiet and glassy eyed whenever the adults were around. And start kicking them out when they were supposed to have time together.

All Noctis had ever wanted was to just be a normal person. However thanks to the Gods and their lies, he would never have been seen as one. That was why Noctis always appreciated people like Dino, Cid, and Takka- who never did anything but treat people like equals.

Noctis checked first that the gas stove would still light- it did, but he had to hook up the propane bottle first, which had been disconnected for saftey reasons- by Prompto he assumed. Noctis checked the water after the stove. The pipes made a concerning noise at first- but then cold water from the underground water resivour came out. The well worked on gravity pressure, so it didn't need electricity.

Noctis wondered breifly- if he could restart the main generator for Hammerhead's station and turn the lights on. The stations were supposed to be fully independent. That way people had places they could still travel to in case of an emergency. Noctis remembered the council talking about decommissioning some of the Crowe Stations which were 'underperforming' once. Thinking them out dated and not worth the upkeep. Something his father had been incredibly angry about- and Noctis now understood why. His journey, and all of Lucis would have looked very different without the Crowe Stations and the road networks connecting them.

A lot of Lucian citizens traveled around nomadically, depending on the season and what kind of work was available. Not to mention the hunters who were constantly on the road, and who relied on they having some sort of place to rest, resupply and not have to be worried about being jumped by all manner of creatures. The Crowe stations had been built as places for people to gather and find shelter from both the demons and the elements. Without the Crowe Stations all those individuals would have no support system. Noctis on his journey to reclaim the kingdom after Insomnia fell, would have had no support system.

Noctis stepped out the back door of the resturant. Figuring that if Prompto had kept the kitchen, Cid's office, and everything else maintained- that the generator should be opperational as well. He walked over to the old machine. Looking over the dials and read outs. None of which looked promising.

One afternoon Cid had to do maintenance on the Hammerhead station generator. Prompto, always eager to learn how things work, had agreed to assist him. Noctis and Gladio had watched. Making bets on how long it would take for their friend to be told to piss off. Noctis might not have been directly involved in the work- but he had still been paying enough attention to what Cid had been saying. None of these readings were what Cid said they should be. The Generator didn't have enough power to run the station. If he tried to fire it up it would probably just short out.

How to get more power? Noctis turned around. He looked over at the concrete foundation where the water, gas and utility equipment were all located. There was a hatch on the ground, marked with several 'danger electricution' signs and markers. The Crowe Stations didn't work off the main electric grid, being hooked up to elemental nodes. Similar to the ones you could find around the Havens. Cid had explained to Prompto that under the hatch was where the generator hooked into the electric node. It was the fuel that supplied power to the generator. Noctis walked over to said hatch, broke the lock with a dagger, and then carefully broke the heavy rubber seal.

The node to the Hammerhead station was underneath. Down about an arm's lengthy- and surrounded by insulation. The nodes were black cyrstals with glowing energy inside. This one had not glow to it though- it was beyond depleated. Noctis had never seen a magical node with no energy insid of it. Heavy screws were drilled in to the base of the node. The rods that drew the electical power for the generator. There was no static discharge coming off the node. No magical thrum of energy. Noctis looked at it, tilting his head to the side. He carefully reached out with his powers.

The electric node was dead. No longery carrying or emmitting any energy. Noctis could feel how it had slowly run out of whatever power source had kept it sparking since the dawn of time. The literal life of Eos, if you believed the older cultural folk tales surrounding such things.

Noctis chewed his bottom lip. Then reached out. He placed a hand on the smooth surface of the crystal rock, and closed his eyes. Feeling just the faint echo of what used to be there. He could sense this node- how it went deep into the earth, and was faintly connected with the others. Noctis suddenly aware that this node was a point- a star- and the whole of the electrical nodes on Eos. They were like a constellation. A road map of some kind. The stars were all dark though. None of them were lit up. There was no more energy for them to discharge.

Ardyn was right. Eos was dead. This was proof, if anything. Noctis licked his lips, and pushed out with his magic. Giving it to the elemental node. He had so much power from the crystal- and the crystal was supposed to be the heart of the planet. Right? So what if he just... reconnected them? The node sparked, as Noctis thought of all the energy he had harvested from nodes similar to this one. How his father had taken him to the foundation of the citadel where clusters of these crystals could be found. Teaching him him to take up the energy safley from magic nodes when he was a child. Craft that energy into spells.

If Noctis could just give that power back... even if it was just a fraction- Noctis thought of that process. Of taking the magic from the node. What that felt like. He started to reverse that feeling. Giving energy back into the node instead.

His eyes closed with concentration, feeling a modicum of his super powered magic start to transfer. Noctis could feel it working. However he was unaware that what he was doing was having an effect on the station behind him. Hammerhead's lights slowly flickered on. Then began to flash. Then surge. A few breakers tripped. But not before one of the bulbs exploded and shot sparks everywhere.

The door to the restaurant opened with alarm. Ardyn holding his hat up to his head. He looked around and then came to the side of the building. Seeing Noctis kneeling in a hole very clearly marked with multiple 'danger, electrocution' signs.

Ardyn shouted and started running over. "What are you doing?!"

Noctis' concentration broke. He opened his eyes to look up to Ardyn- but didn't even get that far. All of the magic he had been trying to feed the node rebounded. Noctis went flying. The force of the electrical energy running through his system. Like he had been hit by a lightning spell. Noctis flew far enough to leave the concrete platform of the station's utilities. Noctis hit the ground and landed on what used to be a cactus. The green plant pale, and rotted away into slime. It's needles were still sharp, however. They dug into his skin in a thousand places.

"Noctis!" Ardyn warped over to him in a red-pinkish blur, reaching out with concern. A spark of electricity crackled from Noctis to him, and Ardyn flinched away. Mostly from surprise. He pulled back, then reached forward again checking Noctis over, "Are you alright?"

"Ow." Noctis groaned. Laying splayed on the ground. He was covered in cactus slime and needles. Sadly, not to diffrent from his usual experience fighting Cactuars- they held a surprisingly large amount of water- and could burst like a water balloon after death. A very painful water ballon. Noctis and Prompto had learned that the hard way, when trying to pose after defeating their first one.

Ardyn helped him up, checking him over. Once he was certain that Noctis was alright he unleashed a slew of reprimands."Child! What increadible foolishness would ever have you touch an elemental node! A NODE! Do you want to be turned to ash!?" Ardyn has the strangest sort of accent when he wasn't thinking about what he was saying. It reminded Noctis of the old dutches TV dramas that Gladio secretly liked to watch. "What were you even thinking?!"

"I thought." Noctis sat up with a grimace, "That I might be able to help?"

"Help?" Ardyn asked with confusion.

"Yeah. Like do a recesitation." Noctis assessed himself. He winced at all of the needles embedded in his skin. He stood up from the ground, shaking as many of the loose needles off as he could. "Like you know. When you give restart someone's heart with an electric shock?"

Ardyn stared at him for a full ten seconds. "That is the dumbest thing- You? A human? Restart the planet?! Chosen King or not I think that is a tad bit out of your wheelhouse!"

"Well at least I'm trying something!" Noctis snapped with frustration. He pulled out a needle as long as his pinky finger from his arm. There were a bunch of smaller needles like hair all across his side and back. He knew from experience that he would need tape, or glue to peel those off.

"Try something?" Ardyn returned Noctis' furstration with annoyance. "Like what? like dispelling this darkness?! Like bringing the sun back?"

"Well... Yeah." Noctis didn't know what else to say. "I don't know about you- but I'm not happy with the way things are going to be left. Shouldn't we at least- you know TRY something? You know? to fix things?" Noctis guestured around them.

Ardyn stared at him for the longest time. "And acheive what? Exactly? You think I want to live like this? As the focus for something so horrible and vile?" Ardyn asked, slapping a hand on his chest, "Just kill me and we can be over with this!"

"Yeah but! Think about it." Noctis tried to make Ardyn see reason, "Even if we fullfill the prophecy- the planet will still be dead. There won't be any life unless we put life back into the planet." He pointed to the remnants of the cactus plant he had splattered on the ground. It was more a puddle now.

Ardyn raise up his hands. As if trying to guide Noctis to reason. "There is no bringing back the dead, Noctis. Expecially something like this. This isn't a person- or a small animal. It's an entire planet. A world. We may have magic- but neither of us are Gods."

"Between the two of us. I think we could do something." Noctis argued. "Just look at how much power I have- and that you have. You said you had Oracle powers once. We can use that as well." Noctis suggested. Ardyn's eyes widdened. Noctis didn't notice he casually flicked a needle he had taken out of his upper arm off to the side. "Like think about it dude. Seriously. Between you and me. We should be able to do SOMETHING. We can forge our own path, or whatever. Do things our way- instead of whatever Bahamut has in store. Clearly he doesn't have anyone's best interests in mind."

"Need I remind you that I am the reason the planet is DEAD." Ardyn stressed. He reached up and pointed to his chest, with a whole hand. "Don't you understand? I am the rope which it was hung on. I'm the blow which beheaded the beast. I am the disease itself that burned the body of the world with fever." Ardyn described getting more upset with each analogy. His skin started turning grey. His eyes turning black. Liquid scourge started dripping from his eyes and mouth. As the man took on a form reflecting more of how he saw himself.

Noctis was distrubed by the change. However he found himself not scared- but concerned. Ardyn didn't look as intimidating as he was trying to be; he looked like he needed help. Professionally. Earlier Ardyn had told Noctis that he was not in the best mental state. However knowing and understanding were two seperate things.

"Yeah, but that isn't what you HAVE to be." Noctis tried to reassure the man. Unaware that he was only making things worse. "You can use your powers that aren't dark and demonic. Why not focus on those?"

Ardyn rolled his eyes, and turned away. Ardyn thinking that Noctis had no idea what he was talking about. Noctis thinking that Ardyn did not want to listen to him. Both partially right, but equally wrong. They were no longer on the same page. The breif moment of them meeting and cooperating so easliy was coming to an end. The light and the dark drifting apart once more.

Noctis offered Ardyn his hands silently. Slime covered and needle ridden as they were. "Let's take some time to figure this out." Noctis offered. "We have all the time in the world- we jut have to not kill each other. That's all."

The dark scourge infused man slowly turned away from the bright glowing Man standing before him. Walking away towards the buildings they had left behind.

"Ardyn?" Noctis asked after Ardyn had taken three steps, "Where are you going?!"

"I will be waiting for you in Insomnia." The man said rather dispondantly. Sounding dead exausted.

Noctis put his hands on his hips and watched the man walk away. He hung his head and scratched the back of his head. Then followed Ardyn through the dark. The Chancellor stepped up onto the Hammerhead platform and then walked over to the gas pumps. He sat down in his car with a heavy sort of exaustion. Not turning it on, or even closing the door.

Noctis walked over, looking somewhat guilty. "Are you sure you want to give up that easily?" he asked.

Ardyn looked up at him, "I gave up centuries ago." Ardyn admitted "I just want this all to be over." Ardyn reached over and closed the door to his car, "I've waited this long though. So I might as well give you some time."

Noctis chewed the bottom of his lip. "Well... I'm not giving up just yet. But- I'll try not to keep you waiting too long? I guess."

Ardyn looked over at him, then down at the steering wheel.

Noctis got the feeling the man wanted to be alone. So he went back into Takka's shop. He took out the tweezers from the Armiger med kit, and started taking took out as many of the cactus needles as he could. Then he used some glue paste to help peel out the rest of the tiny ones.

Part way through the paste drying, Ardyn's car started up. Then drove off. Headed East. Noctis paused and watched it go. Then got back to work. Once all of the needles were taken care of he returned back to the kitchen. The water was still running- and there was enough gas in the propane bottle to cook something. Noctis sorted through what food Prompto had left, and decided to make some potato soup. Which looked like would be the majority of what he would be eating, until he either found something else- or ran our of food. A very real possibility Noctis realized with some dread.

The next few days were the strangest Noctis ever lived.

Mostly because there were no days to go by. It was perpetually dark everywhere he went. The only thing Noctis had to tell time was from an old wrist watch he took out from his Armiger. It was a gift he had gotten forever ago from Ignis, but Noctis had not needed it much, so he had just set it aside. The device was still ticking away thanks to sound Insomnia Engineering. Unlike his phone, which he could not reliably charge anymore.

Noctis was traveling again, but this time he was alone. For the most part. Ardyn showed up occasionally, and then would leave just as suddently. Make remarks about what Noctis was doing. Or tell him something of what he new had happened to people. Unlike Gladio, Ignis and Prompto it did not feel like Noctis was traveling with the man. More that Ardyn was just shadowing him. Watching from afar.

Noctis had been surprised the first time this happened. Though, after a few more encounters, Noctis realized the man probably had litterally no where else to be. As the man was just waiting for Noctis to give up and end both of their existances.

It was a little frustrating at times. As Ardyn always did whatever he wanted, or felt like. He never help Noctis set up camp, never helped him scavange for things, never offered to help Noctis clean up some of the Havens they used for camping. Noctis offered food to the man one time, and Ardyn told him not to bother. As he did not need to eat anymore, and food was clearly scarce. Ardyn did accept some tea though, when Noctis found a pack of Grey while looting through the remains of a camp.

Ardyn watched, but never helped Noctis with his research on the energy nodes. Noctis trying to figure out how to get them going again. Noctis still wanted to try though. So he traveled from Haven to Haven. Using the map Cindy had given them so long ago at the start of his journey. Ignis having meticuously annotating every discovery they made on their way through Lucis.

Noctis was aiming for the magical nodes he knew were located at each Haven. Hoping they would be the key to acheiving his goal. Traveling was harder than he thought it would be though. Given the fact that demons were around every corner. Not to mention every Haven, and every Crow's Nest there was SOME kind of tragedy waiting for Noctis to find. Whether that be people who had resorted to canibablism to keep themselves form starving. To groups who had opted to commit mass suicide to avoid such resorts.

It seemed that at the end of the world there was no place left to go for humans- save for the magical sigils that offered shelter from the dark. By the looks of things, the Havens had been fought over tooth and nail by certain groups. So they could keep themselves, and their loved one's safe from the demons.

Noctis became numb to the sight of death rather quickly. Finding corpse after corpse. Death after tragic death. Whenever he was on the move, Noctis looked at them with a stone cold expression, and clinical percission. Though in the times he would stop to rest it would all come back to him- and he would cry for everyone that had been lost, or feel so nausious that he couldn't eat. Anytime he got upset, the wind picked up around him. His magic churning. Storms forming and soaking him through. Sometimes, when he felt angry instead of sad, the ground would even shift and buckle. The physical elements of the world responding to his greif.

Noctis pushed on. Wanting to try to make sure the wold- Eos itself would have SOME form of a future. He figured out a safe way to feed power into energy nodes. Figured out how not to get scorched, electrocuted, or frozen solid. Just powering one node or three nodes wasn't enough though. So he started trying to store a little bit of power in them- then travel as fast as he could to the next set of nodes, putting power there and so on. Distributing as much magic as he could. Then pushing and tying to get some kind of reaction. Unfortunatley the Nodes could not hold power for long- and it was kind of hard to get physically from one to the other. Not unless he spent a lot of time planning ahead and making things just such that he could travel to them quickly. A task Ignis would have been perfect at helping him with. Though sadly his bespeckled companion was no longer at his side.

It helped when Ardyn offered to drive him around. Which the man did on occasion. His company was a huge relife, even if it was sporatic. Noctis sometimes like Ardyn was a stray cat. Coming around whenever it suited him, and not the other way around. Noctis knew that he would have gone insane without someone to talk too, and Ardyn was a surprisingly good listenter.

Ardyn's presence proved to be a double edge sword however. Despite being the heart of the scourge or whatever Demons seemed to be attracted to the man like flies and vinegar. Ardyn said it was because they were seeking the release of death, which he had once been able to give them. Noctis didn't quite understand how that worked though. If Ardyn was the source of the demons- wouldn't it make more sense for him to be able to control them? Noctis asked this question once, and Ardyn stared at him openly for such a long time, that Noctis was detered from asking any more.

It was a large adjustment, for the both of them to get used to working with one another. Noctis had spent literal years training with Gladio, Ignis and Prompto to be as coordinated as they were- and it was frustrating to go from not needing to communicate anything to having miscommunications and misunderstandings over even the smallest detail.

Ardyn, Noctis was learning, was the kind of person who fought at a slower pace. With much more deliberation than even Ignis. Not to say that the man was slow. Ardyn could shadow step and warp just as reliably as Noctis could. It was just that Ardyn prefered to land ONE, solid strike instead of ten weaker ones. Something that came with the fact that Ardyn could heal through any damage give to him. Meaning that fighting for Ardyn was more about just killing whatever was attacking him- because in the grand scheme of things nothing was a threat to the man.

For this reason Ardyn fought and acted more as an RPG Tank more than anyone else Noctis had ever worked with. Something Noctis liked to tease him for. Expecially since Ardyn also refused to run anywhere. Moving never faster than a leisurly strole when they were hiking or walking somwhere. I'm an old man Noct. Litterally ancient. Ardyn would remind him quite often. Expecially when Noctis would use his magic to keep his stamina up, and run ahead. Leaving the man behind quite easily. Sometimes Ardyn did not even try to catch up. Often arriving after Noctis had already finished off all the demons, or whatever task he wanted to do.

They found their pace, after Ardyn learned about Noctis' Libra ability. The spell which told Noctis the weaknesses or resistances of an enemy. Something Noctis had always had available to him, but that he had rarley used given Ignis often could get to the information quicker. Ardyn would often wait on the defensive, until Noctis supplied him the knowledge he needed. Then the man would switch to a weapon that was more suited to the task. They slowly developed call outs for such things; and from there the two actually began to have more success in fighting off any encounters they ran into.

Unfortunatley despite Ardyn's intermiddent help; Noctis soon found himself stagnating in his research. He could never get more than surface deep with supplying power to the nodes. All of the nodes were linked. Noctis could feel how they interconnected each other beneath the earth. However, he could not seem to access one node from another. The nodes were were supposedly the magic ley lines of Eos flowed up to the surface and manifested. Noctis just didn't understand where all of their power HAD gone. The more he studied the issue the more it seemed like all of the magic had been drained in some form or fashion. Drained into me? Noctis made a note on his research journal one day. When I was in the crystal was I absorbing all of the world's power? Noctis considered this. Why were they rejecting holding that magic now though? There was something here he was missing. Noctis frustratingly went over everything again. Wondering what he could have missed.

One day found Noctis near what remained of Wiz's Chocobo post- North inbetween the Post and the Austor Slaugh. The Disc of Cauthus was off in the distance. The spire end of the meteor glowing errily grey in the distance- but not giving off enough light to see by. It was more just a land mark if anything. It was strange. The meteor also seemed to have dimmed in power. To the point that it was a litteral ghost of it's former self. Like that had been drained as well. Noctis had tried to get to the meteor- however the former path to the disc had collaped- and walking the entire circumfrence of the disc did not offer any promising alternatives.

"I don't think this is working." Noctis confessed to Ardyn with frustration. Turning to look up at the man.

Noctis was crouched on his knees in a ditch. Next to an empty frost node. Ardyn was standing on the hill just above him. Not at the Haven proper- but inbetween it and Noctis' current location. Ardyn couldn't enter the havens, being demonic in nature. "Thinking of finally giving up?" Ardyn asked with a slightly teasing tone.

"Thinking I might need to change tactics." Noctis stood up and streched out his back. He had been kneeling for too long. Ardyn held out a water skin that the two of them had been sharring. Noctis accepted it and took a few, long drinks of the water. Then wipped off his forhead. He felt the greasy texture of ash come off with the motion. Noctis grimaced, and then looked down at his arm. He was getting used to glowing in the dark. His light spell being nothing but background noise at this point. Said glow was being obscured by grey ash. He had not noticed while concentrating that it had begun to fall, accumulating on his clothes and in his hair.

Noctis looked to the south west. Where the dark perpetuatl sky was broken up by the red, violent glow of a volcano. "Ravatough's fallout is reaching all the way here." he observered.

Ardyn held out his hand and looked upwards. "Is that so?" He pretended only just now to notice. The man was also coverd in ash. Though his hat and tattered jacket offered more protetion than Noctis' t-shirt and cargo shorts.

"That volcano is one of the few things that are still alive." Noctis placed his hands on his hips, "I wonder why?"

Noctis had been first starting to explore the ruined world, when the volcano had errupted without any sort of warning. Sending a shockwave through the earth, followed by a thunderous noise. He and Ardyn had watched with amazement as the giant red plum expanded up into the sky. Even weeks later, there was still a gueser of liquid magma rising up from the summit of the mountain. Throwing car-sized globes of molten rock kilometeres into the air.

"I do not think a volcano spilling it's guts is a sign of it being alive." Ardyn remarked. "It is more like a death throw of the Earth, more than anything else"

"I don't think it is dying though." Noctis debated, "Think about it- most of the basic elements have been left intact. The wind might be stagnant in some areas- but it blows in others. The oceans might be freezing, but they still have waves. So there are still currents. Physics hasn't stopped on a larger scale. Hot to cold, cold to hot. Volcanoes work off those principles."

"Yes, yes. But the elements are propbably only responding to YOU." Ardyn reached out with a finger. Digging it into Noctis's shoulder. This was the eight or nineth time they were having this conversation. "The continent of Lucis has experienced a statistical outlier of earth quakes ever since you came back."

"That's not true." Noctis crossed his arms defensivley.

Ardyn raised his eye brows. "Do you remember the mudslide you caused the other day? Because I do. As does whatever is left of that poor racing track. Also-volcanoes aren't meant to errupt continuously- not like that." Ardyn guestured to the red cloud, "Violent erruptions only happen after a build up of gas and water vapor. They might happen in stages, like an explosion every other day, but not continuously spew material like this. Normal continues volanoes just kind of, bubble and leak. Something MAGICAL is clearly going on with the volcano. My money is on you being that something."

"Well. Then that might be something we need to account for." Noctis said with frustration. He rubbed his chin, and got a bit distracted by the rough texture of hair. It still felt weird- having a beard. The first time he saw himself in a mirror he had been properly surprised to find himself OLDER. Even though he had not been consious in the ten years he had been trapped in the crystal, apparently he had still existed in some form.

Ardyn adjusted his weight, and sighed heavily. Frustrated by their small debate. Noctis knew the sound well by now. Ardyn would always make that noise before leaving him. Sometimes only for a day or two. Other times for longer.

Noctis stopped scratching his scruff. "I have a theory I wanted to run by you. If you would answer it."

Ardyn rolled his eyes. "If you must."

"The volcano we agreed to disagree on- but we both can SEE that the Havens are still working." Noctis pointed past Ardyn up the hill with his hand. "Why do you think that is?"

"The Havens?" Ardyn turned around and squinted at the blue and green plum of magic above them. Ardyn had told Noctis when they first started working together- that getting near the things gave him pins and needles. That actually stepping onto the haves caused him physical pain. That was why he had insisted on them staying in a caravan all those years ago, when traveling to the disc.

"My Dad always told me they feed of the magical nodes. Since every Haven is where three nodes meet." Noctis explained, "but that can't be true. The nodes are all dead- and the Havens are still working just fine it seems." Noctis had not noticed any change in them at least. Even the ones heavily contaminated in blood and dead bodies still glowed and gave off their energy.

"Is that what people are saying these days?" Ardyn turned back to Noctis. A curious hint to his tone. "that they feed off the magical nodes?"

"Is that not how they work?" Noctis asked with a frown.

Ardyn rested his hands on his hips, and took a step to the side. "No. No one knows how they work. Every place has their own origin for them. People in Tenebrae think that the first Oracle created them. The Niflheim Empire thought they were devices left behind by the Soulheim erra. Back in MY time people thought they were where drops of divine blood fell durring the Astral war. That means that 2,000 years ago their origin was already lost to history." Ardyn kept his hands on his hips and shrugged. "All I can say for sure is that everyone has their speculations. But even I can not say for sure what their origins are."

Noctis clicked his tounge. That did not help him in the slightest. "If only Gentianna, or one of the other gods was still around. Maybe they might know."

Ardyn was quiet for a moment. Noctis was begning to pick up on Ardyn's non-verbal cues. The way he paused and shifted his hands off his hips, then recommitted to his current standing postion. Noctis could tell he was hidding something- and debating sharring it with him.

Noctis took another drink from the water skin, and waited for Ardyn to put his words together.

"There might be one." The man said after a bit.

Noctis nearly choaked on his water. "WAIT. There is?! Where? Who?" Noctis had no idea why Ardyn was waiting until NOW to mention this. The whole planet kind of needed divine intervention by this point. The two of them might have been powerful- but neither of them were Gods afterall.

Ardyn's expression flickered. He looked somewhat guilty, "I might have... encountered the Infernate shortly after being released from my imprisonment."

"Infernate... you mean Ifrit?" Noctis, said with trepidation. "The Betrayer?" He wasn't quite sure if that counted as 'divine intervention'.

"Yes. Niflheim dug him out of Ravatough some years before you were born. Then kept him on ice for some experiements." Ardyn explained, "until he woke up, that is."

Noctis stared at Ardyn for a full three seconds. "They took him? Was that why he wasn't on the mountain?!"

Ardyn's worry turned into confusion. "I'm sorry?"

"I climbed up and down Mr. Ravatough for nearly two weeks," Noctis explained. Pointing to the red glow in the distance. "Looking to make the covenant with him. But he wasn't there- or at least never showed himself to me."

"You went and climbed a volcano?!" It was Ardyn's turn to be surprised, "Why ever did people always say you were so lazy? Every few conversations you are telling me that you climbed down into ice caves! or up mountians! or hunted down Behemoths."

"I was on a pilgrimage." Noctis reminded Ardyn, "I had to find the Lucis Tombs, and all of the Gods. You would be surprised the wack kind of places my ancestors chose to be burried."

"Enough about that though-" Noctis waved his hand. They were getting off topic, "are you saying that Ifrit is still around? Can we still talk to him?"

"Well... he's not exactly the talkative type." Ardyn dodge the question. He assessed there surroundings, then started walking away from the haven. "We should move somewhere less flamable."

Noctis looked at the dry, dead grass surrounding them. Then followed Ardyn up the hill. They headed North to Aster Slaugh. Which was filled with grimmy, muck filled water. The beasts of several large creatures lay in the wetland. Bones with flesh sloughing off of them and contaminating the water. Dead fish floated all along the surface of the water. The whole place reeked of blood.

"It still disturbs me that there are no bugs around." Noctis remarked. "All this rotting flesh- and not a single fly."

"I don't know what happened to them." Ardyn shared the same sentiment, "There is also a lack of lichen and fungi. All the decomposers just disapeared. Its unnatural." Ardyn insisted heavily, raising up a hand. "Decay is a natural part of the life cycle. It makes thing anew for things to come. It keeps things from lingering and helps them move on."

Noctis looked over the dreadful sight of the swamp thought fully. "I guess there there isn't an Astral Messenger for that sort of thing?" he asked, "Someone we could at least try to appeal too?"

Ardyn grunted "Not to my knowledge. However we do have one of fire- sort of."

Noctis frowened, and crossed his arms. Ardyn stepped up to the swamp water. He pulled back his tattered sleeves up and held up a hand dramatically. With a snap Noctis felt a realease of Magic by the other man. The pulling of physical space from one location to another. Ardyn was actually summoning the God from someplace- rather than calling the God to come to him of their own power. A very interesting distinction that Noctis found interesting. Since that meant that Ardyn could call a litteral god to him like any other item from the Armiger.

The world around them errupted into fire. Most of it disipated in the water logged earth. However much of the dead grass happily caught on fire and burned. A humanoid figure appeared, and dropped from the sky before them. Landing in the shallow water with a splash. The Giant Ifrit rose up to their full height. The Astral was a giant. Somewhere near 6 meters (20ft) tall. Skin ashen, and horns rising up from his dark brown hair like a crown. Then there was the ACTUAL, mythological crown the God wore. Golden, with red rubies encrusted into its design. Elements the God was heavily associated with.

There was an infamous folk story Ignis had read to Noctis when they were growing up. Of a person who stole one of the gems from the god's crown when the God slept. The person found themselves immune to all forms of fire and heat. They thought himself invincible, even against the God whom they had stolen from. When Ifrit came to get back the gem, the human expected the God to fight with only fire and his element. He did not expect the God to draw a bow, and shoot the man dead where he stood. His body crumbling to ash, as the God retrived the stolen jewel. There were other variations of the story. Sometimes Ifrit used a sword instead of a bow. Sometimes the whole crown was stolen. Sometimes the theft granted more than just immunity to fire, but other magic powers as well.

Noctis stared at the Crown. More surprised that it actually existed, more than anything else. Ifrit meanwhile didn't seem to even notice him. The Astral being took just one step forward and then looked down at Ardyn. The shallow water the god was standing in was already boiling at simply touching the God's feet. The air around them became sticky, and humid. The whole area was starting to smell like brimstone.

Noctis realized he should greet the diety properly. He stepped back and bowed respectfully. "Astral of Fire and Hearth. I thank you for coming to us today. I beeseach your help; and your wisdom."

Noctis waited for a response, but none came. There was no movement either. Curiously he unbowed, looking upwards. Ifrit was still looking down and to the side, at Ardyn. As if awaiting orders.

Ardyn crossed infront of him. Indicating up towards the Astral being. "Poor fellow hasn't been able to talk ever since I corrupted him." he explained. Turning to look up at the God once more.

"Corrupted..." Noctis trailed off. Taking in the God once more. Suddently the grey skin seemed less ash related and more like the God had been drained of life. The left side of him was particularly dark- and deffinitley infected with scourge.

"You turned him into a demon." Noctis realized.

Ardyn grimaced, "Yes. He's like a marionette." The man guestured towards Ifrit. The God responded. Moving slowly and with deliberation. Ifrit reached down and placed a hand onto the ground. Then the Astral being sat, cross legged on the ground in front of them. Like this was a simple play date or something.

Noctis stared at Ardyn. Who very pointedly did not look at him, looking up at Ifrit. Looking guilty, like he knew he had done something wrong. Something Ardyn very much HAD.

"You turned a God." Noctis accused with disbelife.

"It was either that or be crushed, and burned." Ardyn defended himself, "Both not good experiences by the way. Though, strangley it takes me longer to recover from being crushed- instead of burned to ash. Still not sure sure why."

Noctis did not even know where to begin with that statement. He looked upwards at Ifrit. "He's looking at you." Noctis observed.

"What? Oh. Yes. He does that." Ardyn squinted up at Ifrit. "He does move around somewhat. But not any more than a demon patrols their area. His actual mind is gone- as is his soul. It's just an empty shell of a body. Filled with," Ardyn searched for the best word. "Tar."

Noctis turned to look at Ifrit. He reached out with his magic. He could feel Ifrit was a magical being, just by being in their presence. Similar to the Colossus, and the Leviathan, Ifrit's body was dense with magical energy. Each of the gods Noctis had met were condensed sources of power. When you looked at them you could FEEL what they were. The vast Earth. The Wild Ocean. Standing next to Ifrit, Noctis felt just as he had standing ontop of Mt. Ravatog looking down into it's fiery furnace. Only Ifrit was ten times more intense, fire and molten materials.

Now that he was looking closer though, it was also obvious that Ardyn had corrupted Ifrit. Darkening the Astral's power, and making his own. Ifrit's energy was twisted, unaligned. Noctis had not seen Ifrit before his corruption, so he had nothing to compare his current state too. He wondered though, how much of the warping was Ardyn's own doing. One would think that a God who had been exiled from the Hexatheon, and who's core element was betrayl would have some unsavory elements about them.

As it was now. Standing next to Ifrit felt like Noctis was standing next to another Ardyn. Or an extension of Ardyn. Or something along those lines. Which was... terrifying. Ardyn had corrupted a GOD. One of the six beings who were supposed to be the anchors for their world. Something that didn't just exist on the physical plane- but in the realms below and above their own.

As Noctis' magic reached out and examined Ifrit cautiously. Ifrit slowly turned, and looked at Noctis. No expression on the God's face. Just a neutral sort of acknowlegment. As if he was now expecting orders from him, instead of Ardyn.

Noctis met the God's orange eyes. They both stared at each other for a long time. "I think he might still be in there." He deduced after a minute. "Do you think you can uncorrupt him?" Noctis asked of Ardyn.

Ardyn went from poking at the ground with his boot to looking at Noctis, dumbfoundedly. "Excuse me? Cure him!? Do I look like an oracle?!"

"Well no. But you used to be able to do something similar." Noctis recalled. "Take the scourge out of people- just take it out of him."

"I used to be a sponge." Ardyn clarified, pointing up towards Ifrit angrily, "That he and HIS KIND used to put us in this predicament!"

"Ifrit was exiled from the pantheon though." Noctis reminded him, "Something like 5,000 years ago right? That was 3,000 years before your deal with Bahamut. He probably wasn't part of his plans."

"He was still exiled for wanting to kill all the humans." Ardyn snapped angrily. Ardyn got really upset anytime Noctis mentioned, or asked about Ardyn's other powers. Noctis was not sure why. He was starting to get the impression that the man was afraid of them- or something. "And let me tell you if I had not stopped him in Niflhiem he would have probably KEPT killing anyone he came across. He was NOT happy to be woken up."

"WeI think that we can handle him if he turns out to be violent- but this is a viable way for us to move FORWARD." Noctis stressed, guesturing back towards, "You can't deny that! If you could just heal him-"

Ardyn threw up his hands and turned on his heel. He started walking away.

"Ardyn!" Noctis shouted with frustration. He followed after the man. "Wait! Just listen!"

"No! I've had enough of your insane ideas! I am leaving!" Ardyn declared, and the man disapeared. No crash of magic- or warp. Just gone. Into the darkness itself. Noctis looked around with anger. Trying to find him. He honestly had no idea how the man was able to do that so seemlessly. It was like Ardyn could just disapear wherever he wanted.

"UGH!" Noctis yelled with frustration. He turned, "He is the most insufferable person I have ever worked with!" Noctis vented towards Ifrit. Who listened dutifully. "It's like. I KNOW he has trama- but if he can even do HALF of what he used to be able to- then maybe we wouldn't be here! He didn't even tell me about YOU! Look at you!"

Noctis threw both his hands up towards Ifrit. The Fire God just looked down at him. Burning brightly in the dark world. Noctis lowered his arms and hung his head. He sighed heavily. Frustration wining and sapping him of all his energy.

"Even with a God sitting infront of me- I- I don't know what to do anymore." Noctis admitted. He felt tears of frustration gather at the corner of his eye. He wipped his face off and looked up.

"Can you communicate in any way?" Noctis beeseached the God. "Is there anything we can do to save everything?"

Ifrit continued to just look at him. Noctis didn't feel any stirring in the God's magic, or pull from within. Ardyn was right. The Infernate seemed to just be an empty shell.

Noctis was getting so tired of meeting dead ends. He scrubbed at his eyes. Feeling tears starting to form. "Damn it all. It feels like I have all the peices here." He cursed, "I just can't connect them! If only Ignis were here..."

That empty, hollow vastness made itself present again. Reminding Noctis that he was in this alone. Noctis sighed. Then he checked his wrist watch. It was currently 12 o'clock at night. Though that meant very little, seeing as the sun was nonexistant. Noctis had woken up around 3 PM that day. Meaning he had been awake for nine hours.

"Alright. I'm done for today." Noctis declared, and then looked at the God sitting above him. "How do you feel about a nap?" Noctis asked.

Ifrit looked down to the side, and then moved. The God placed a hand in the swampy water beside him, and then made to lay down.

"No! No!" Noctis shouted with surprise, "Not in the swamp water!" Noctis exclaimed, "Get up! Get up!" He ordered the God. Ifrit slowly got up from the laying position. Now covered in muck, and fouled water.

"Ugh. Come on, There's a cleaner pool over here that you can clean yourself off in." He directed the god. Ifrit got up and followed him. Taking one step for every five of Noctis'. The ground shook ever so slightly as the God walked with him. Ifrit left scorched foot prints in the eart as he went, and a trail of fire. It was surprisingly easy to direct him though. All Noctis had to do was ask him to do something, or direct the God. It didn't seem that Ardyn had singular control over the being- or perhapse Ardyn was just not restricting Noctis from doing so.

It was the strangest thing Noctis had ever done. Guiding a litteral God over to the fresh water spring which was the source of the swamp. A deeper, cleaner pool of water, which thankfully didn't have anything dead lying in it. Noctis instructing Ifrit to clean himself off. The Astral Puppet not needing any more direction than that, apparently.

Afterwards Noctis walked back south towards the Haven he had been at previously- Ifrit following behind him at a slow pace. The grass catching on fire everywhere he went. Noctis had to stop and wait for it to spread and then burn. So that he wouldn't get caught up in the fire himself.

The Haven they returned to was one Noctis had already been working at. He had cleaned it up so that he could relax and work without corpses being in his immediate vincinity. The previous occupants looked to have died from either malnutrition, or some kind of sickness. A much easier thing to clean up then stagnant vicera, or battle remnates. Noctis had looked at some of the Havens and deemed the mess to much of a hassle to address. The easier ones- like this- he used a stretcher to carry the bodies a ways off, and then burned them with a fire spell.

He already his camp set up at this Haven. Thankfully nothing was damaged from the grass fire Ifrit started. The entire field was one burnt stain now. Noctis had a simple tent to keep out the rain, with his sleeping gear underneath. He was ever greatful that his friends had not taken his othopedic bed roll out of the Armiger. So he could lay down on the ground, without having to worry about his back giving out.

Noctis entered his camp and started his end of day routine. Wipping himself down with a towel, then changing into some cleaner and comfier clothes. He debated making some food, but ended up deciding against it. He had eaten that afternoon, and he had not found any new food supplies for a few days now. Better to conserve what food he did have. Noctis did decide to make some tea though. Using his magic to boil some water, and then filling up his favorite blue mug with the fish design on the side of it.

It was warm with Ifrit hanging around. The God was radiating heat like a furnace. Noctis didn't even need to start a fire. The Astral had sat down next to the haven. Facing the disc off in the distance. Noctis moved his lawn chair to face the same direction. Then settled down in his lawn chair exhaling with relife. It was good to get off his back after such a long day.

Noctis pulled at the laces on his shoes, and then one by one kicked them off. Settling down to relax. He had been reading through Gladio's books. He summoned the one he was currently on, thumbing through the pages. Wishing somewhat that his friend was still around, so they could discuss the novel with each other. Noctis wasn't the most avid reader, admittedly. However he had always enjoyed listening to Gladio talk about what books he was reading, or his ideas on where the stories were going. Gladio had been particularly exited for this novel series. It being from an author he was a big fan of.

Noctis thrumbed through the pages, not able to really concentrate on the text. After a bit he lowered the book, and looked over at Ifrit. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about the Havens would you?" Noctis asked, "Where they came from? Or why they seem to be the only thing left that still works magically?"

The God had been watching Noctis move around his camp, then gone to looking out at the meteor. No expression on their face to give anything away. Ifrit looked at him when addressed, then looked upwards, at the dark sky. Noctis didn't know if that was an answer or not. He laid Gladio's book down on his chest, and leaned back in his lawn chair. Looking up at the sky above him. The ever-dark swirl of miasma was high above them- higher than any clouds Noctis had manifested when he was upset. It kind of shimmered, like an opalessence. It kind of reminded him of the Lucian Wall...

"A barrier!" He bolted up right with realization. He hastily got up, knocking over his chair in the process. He reached for the jacket he had been wearing. It was hanging off the tent with the rest of his clothes, airing out. Noctis searched around in the inner pocket. Pulling out a clear plastic bag- with a hand written note inside.

"Prompto wrote something! Something about what was happening in here!" Noctis explained to Ifrit. Who was still gazing upwards and wasn't even looking at him. Noctis opened up the letter and reread it. Looking up occasionally and squinting up at the sky.

"It IS a barrier? of scourge? It really is kind of like the wall- that means all I have to do is pierce it!" Noctis realized looking around. He had no desire to relax anymore. Not with a new possible direction to go into.

"Come on- I know where we can find some potassium nitrate! That make Really Good range for spells." Noctis declared. Starting to pack up his things. Ifrit all the while looking upwards and not even paying attention to him.

Noctis spend the next few days traveling South East. Eventually coming to the production plant in Coernix Station, on the south side of the disc. There was a ware house there that stored raw chemical materials in it's past life. Noctis was a little worried when he drove up in his small stolen car, and saw the barbwired barricades. Thankfully none of the previous occupants to the station had been as interested in the chemicals as Noctis was. From what he could tell this settlement had also fallen to some sort of shoot out, or raid. Many of the previous occupants lying twisted and fallen in the road or buildings. Most of them with bullet wounds of some kind.

The entire area here was being covered in ash from the volcano. It formed a thick layer on the ground, and Noctis' boots crunched as he walked across a thin crust of the stuff. He pulled out a face mask from his Armiger and wore it as he raided the area. Finding what remnants of food the unknown Marauders had left behind, as well as anything else that could be of use. The Armiger was such a handy spell when it came to scavenging. Anything Noctis could pick up, he could take with him. Storing it inside a space pocket until he needed it. He didn't need to worry about picking to many things up, or the weight of carrying so much stuff around with him.

Noctis picked Coernix, Saxham, the nearby Niflheim Fort clean. Returning back to Hammerhead with more than enough matrials to last him for a long, good while. He used the key that Prompto had left for him, and opened up the garage again. Utilizing the tools he knew were on hand, and providing a few of his own.

Noctis wanted to build a spell that could reach high enough to pierce the barrier- hopefully exposing enough sunlight to do... SOMETHING.

Usually spells only went about as far as he could throw them. Noctis had been taught by his father that adding certain things to spells could give them diffrent secondary effects- and potassium nitrate specifically could make the spells push in a direction. Kind of like a fire work pushed off from the ground.

It took Noctis a few days of failed attempts. However on the fourth day he managed his first proper launch. A fire spell going off just about higher than the roof of the Hammerhead settlment. A major success in his book. After that twice, or three times a day the sky above Hammerhead would light up breifly with explosions, frost clouds, or lightning balls. Getting increasingly higher and higher with each launch.

The first time Noctis launched a multi-cast it exploded three times across with fire. Creating quite a large cacophany of noise. It nearly damaged the metal pavilion above him. Noctis winced, wondering if he perhapse should have moved further away to set the spell off. Instead of just doing it in the garage parking lot.

Ardyn appeared suddently- as he so tended to do. Walking out of Takka's Eatery. Hands covering his ears. "The world has already ended, Noct! What in are you trying to do?! Blow it up?!" He asked loudly. Hands over his ears and yelling over the noise.

Noctis turned. Covered in sulfer and smoke from mixing chemicals for the spell. He took off his ear protection, "Prompto said that the scourge creates a barrier between us and the sun! Kind of like the barrier that we had around Insomnia! I just need to pierce it- and we might be able to get sunlight back!" Noctis explained eagerly pointing up.

Ardyn stared at him with wide eyes. "You realize that the word barrier implies that it will take some force in order to break it?! I doubt a fire work, even a large one, is going to do anything." "Well this is just the start." Noctis held out his hands demonstratingly, "Trust the process Ardyn! It's science." Ardyn scowled, "If you just killed me this would all be over!" he reminded Noctis, "You kill me, and that barrier goes away!"

"But what if we can just get rid of it ourselves?!" Noctis proposed. Still having to should since Ardyn was on the other side of the station. "It's just a wall afterall!"

Ardyn stomped closer. Tired of shouting from across a parking lot. "Yes. A wall up near the stratosphere." Ardyn raised a hand, as if to demonstrate the height. "You do know how high that is?!"

Noctis looked down at his watch. Then looked up. "When the rock I launched falls, I'll know how high this one went." As if on cue a heavy fist-sized rock landed on the ground a few meters away with a solid thud. Breaking against the concrete road into chalky dust and smaller material.

"22 seconds." Noctis marked picking up a journal to make a note. "That should be- about." Noctis picked up a graphing calculator from his work bench, and started caclulating the formula.

"That would be 2.3KM-" Ardyn supplied almost instantly. His late husband HAD been a mad scientist- and Ardyn their partner in crime for a reason. "But what was the initial velocity?"

"The what?" Noctis asked. He set down his graphing calculator, and then opened up a physics book he had scavanged from somewhere. "No- I just need to caculate the falling velocity." He said with confusion.

"Not if there is an initial velocity." Ardyn looked like he couldn't belive that he was having to explain this, "and it curved. It went nearly six meters to the side!" Ardyn pointed. "That is going to add variance. Also- don't you realize how increadibly dangerous that is!? You could kill yourself with falling debris like this!"

"No- look." Noctis pulled back his hair with both his hands. It was getting long, he really needed to cut it. "It doesn't matter. If we can launch something high enough- It should work. I just did a max distance Flaraga, and then I tried to boost it to go up in stages- you know like burst and then burst- but I think I messed up the timmings." Noctis squinted up at the sky. then over at his work bench. A table he had set outside filled with flasks and spell materials.

"If I can figure out how to do a multi-stage thing. Maybe we can get samples? or data? Or whatever we need to break through!"

Ardyn placed a hand over his face. "Noct. You are litterally just launching rocks into the sky. Aren't you?"

Noctis puffed out his cheeks. "The only diffrence between science and not science is writting stuff down." Noctis argued. Closing his physics text book. He set the text book down, and picked up a clip board, which he was taking notes on, "And I'm writting things down- and learning as I go."

Ardyn scubbed at his face with disbelife. "Lucians. I should have expected as much."

"Dude. I'm not exactly a scientist by trade." Noctis reminded Ardyn defensivly. His shoulders slumped, as he looked over his work bench. "I wish Prompto were here... he would know better how to do this."

Ardyn rolled his eyes. Doubting a gunsman who constantly radiated 'baby chocobo' energy would have any more insight than the prince. Well. Ardyn said that knowing fully well that Prompto was also the clone of the most brilliant human to probably walk the earth. Mabye Prompto would have figured it out, eventually. Perhaps even faster than most other humans.

Arydn sighed, then held out a hand, asking for the clip board. "Well first start out with telling me what you have tried." He requested.

The two of them spent the next week going over Noctis' designs and what he had attempted thus far. Ardyn brought a lot to the table. Surprising Noctis by just how much the man knew when it came to physics, and chemical compounds.

"I didn't realize you were a genious." Noctis remarked one morning, as Ardyn was explaing to him how to make a chemical buffer that would allow Noctis to set stages through out his spells more easily. Hopefully giving them the ability to launch the spells in more deffined stages.

Ardyn just stared at him for a long moment. A hand streched out as he was in the middle of writting out a chemical formula on Cid's old chalk board. "Noct, who do you think BUILT the Niflheim weapons?" He asked rather seriously. "Expecially the giant demonic ones that were almost as big as Shiva's corpse?"

Noctis stared, at Ardyn for a moment, then thought about the notes and recordings he had discovered in Zengatus keep. He fidgeted with his pencil uncomfortably. He had always just assumed that the people working on such projects were faceless individuals. Not anyone he would ever actually meet.

"My husband worked for almost fifty years to learn how to make Magic, machine and flesh all cooperate with each other-" Ardyn turned back to the board and very pointedly, finished writting the chemical formula. The chalk stirking the board angrily. "This is not something you can just FEEL OUT, and construct with a basic understanding of math and physics. This is the kind of research someone dedicates their life to figuring out."

"Wait. Your husband?" Noctis only really picked up on the first sentance Ardyn spoke, "You're married??" To a man? was the words he wanted to tack onto the end of his statment. Noctis felt his heart stir with jealousy. Long burried desires threatening to come up again. Same sex marriage was heavily looked down upon in Insomnia. Expecially within the higher nobility. If Noctis had not been the Prince... perhaps in another life... he could have so openly been in a relationship with someone. Well, not just anyone. Three specific people. Noctis felt the holes in his souls bleed regret.

The sound of Ardyn throwing the chalk into the board's tray angrily, made Noctis jump. "WAS married." Ardyn stated bitterly, "He's quite dead now."

Noctis winced realizing he had deffinitley crossed a line anyhow, "I'm sorry."

Ardyn turned, and sighed, "I should not be so bitter. His deaths were my own doing."

"I'm... sorry?" Noctis said with less certainty.

Ardyn wasn't looking at him though. He was doing that thing where he looked at nothing and spoke, "I just... I didn't want him to get stuck like I am. Trapped with no guaranteed end. Living past your lifetime... it tears apart your mind."

Noctis stared at Ardyn for a long moment. Having no fucking clue what the man was talking about. "You miss him then?" Noctis asked.

Ardyn raised up his head, and looked back at Noctis. "Very much so." He admitted, then turned back to the board. "Now, about this formula-"

The next few launches were just trials- building up to a more formal launch. However Noctis saw an immediate progress in how high the spells were reaching. With their first 'practice' launch being almost nearly twice as high as Noctis' highest attempt thus far. That was very promising. However as they refined their launches- they did not seem to be able to make it high enough to affect the scourge above them.

Noctis's magic could light up the dark skies. Sending demons in the sandy desert running, screaming, and in some cases even disolving upon contact with the light. That was only with intense, short bursts however. Noctis could do those. Or make the spells linger for a long time and keep the demons at bay. Similar to the wall of Lucis- but more ethereal than.

After weeks of attempts however- it was clear that while Noctis' light magic was impressive; they just did not have enough height to dispell the scourge barrier blotting out the sun.

One day found them trying three diffrent launches, trying to direct the spell *upwards* to see if that could do anything. All three launches were failures though. Without any sort of stabalizing mechanism the first beam of light created a spot light that shot out into the dark- and illuminated the Adamantoise corpse laying just past the three-corners outpost. The second they managed to direct upwards, but it was at an angle and didn't reach the scourge barrier. Ardyn and Noctis finetuned the directional spell once more- and managed to get a direct cast upwards towards the scourge barrier... only for it not to reach the height they needed.

Noctis was disheartened by this point, to say the least. He sat in Cid's old lawn chair. Looking up at the lower, actual storm clouds gathering above them. Though the rain didn't quite reach the ground. Evaporating before it landed and making the entire area muggy.

Ardyn meanwhile fiddled around in the garage, which had become their main working station. Sand crunched under Ardyn's boots as he approached. A thoughtful tone to his voice. "I don't think these flasks are going to cut it." Ardyn declared, "I think we might need to try something diffrent. Do you have a staff?"

"A staff?" Noctis asked with confusion.

"Magic flasks are good for customizing spells, and are reusable." Ardyn explained, making a cupping shape with his hands, "and how you are stringing them together to go off in stages is very innovative. Expecially since you can enchant these to such high multi-casts. However you can only channel so much into them- and we need more lifting power in order to." Ardyn made a vauge motion with his hands. Like he was holding a pole arm. One he weilded up towards the sky. "I think a staff would be better suited for what we are trying to acheive."

"You mean like a staff-staff?" Noctis asked. His mind going to portrates of Kings, sages or mystics weilding long, garrish sticks. A particular God came to mind as well. Noctis had seen Rhamu's staff up close on several occasions. He still remembered the first time the Astral God sent it through the ceiling of one of the dungeons they were crawling through. Aranea had been very confused how a giant rod as thick as his arm span could be slammed through so many layers of rock and earth without leaving hole or collapsing the whole structure. Ignis had told her to just be greatful and not think about it too hard. Astrals didn't nessesarily exist in the same physical plane as them afterall. Prompto- who had been right at the center of it all when the God intervened, and very much should have died from the mighty impact, walked around dazed for almost the rest of the day.

"I have never used one." Noctis admitted.

"A staff is an extension of yourself." Ardyn held out his hands, to demonstrate length. "They enhance a person's control and help to channel their magic. A wand meanwhile is short. About the length of your forearm." Ardyn pointed from his elbow, then his wrist, "Wands were the predicessor to these flasks. You could charge them with one spell, and then set them off. Sometimes they were reusable. Most of the time they were not. Wands and flasks. They can be preloaded with magic then set off." Ardyn surmized, "So they are very handy for combat- you don't need to concentrate as much. Staffs require concentration to use though. They are not ideal for use in battle. I suspect this is probably why they fell out of use."

Noctis chewed his bottom lip. All of this sounded good. In theory. "I have not heard of anyone using a magic staff before. Like ever. The only person I know who has one is a God. You know?"

"Well. I didn't even know about flasks until about twenty years ago." Ardyn put his hands on his hips, then shrugged. "A lot changes in 2,000 years."

"Okay, so a staff." Noctis scratched the back of his neck. "Do you have one we can use?"

"Staffs are generally an extension of one's self. It would be best if you made your own." Ardyn considered something, rubbing just the tip of his chin, "For how much energy you will need to channel, we are deffinitley going to need mythril."

"Mythril. Damnit." Noctis thought of the Vesperpool, and the Steyliff Grove. The only source of Mythril he knew of. "That's litterally on the other half of the continent. A five days drive at the least."

Ardyn tilted his head to the side, "What about the mythril you and your friends collected?" He asked.

Noctis leaned back in Cid's old chair. Resting his hands ontop of his head. "It went into parts for the boat we used to get to Altissia." Noctis explained.

Ardyn nodded slowly, "Okay then. Where is the boat?"

"..." Noctis looked at Ardyn. Then he looked South.

It felt like going full circle. Returning to Galdin Quay after about three months of stumbling around a world of ruin. Thankfully his father's boat had not drifted off to sea. It was not easy to moore a boat with only one person- and Noctis had not been in the best mindset when he has set the boat's anchor. Gladio's insistance on Noctis mastering basic rope ties paid off though. His father's boat was still safley secured at the dock.

Getting there was a pain though. The once resort had become a nest for goblins. Creatures who were not nessesarly dangerous on their own- but their ability to move objects invisibly made entering the pier dangerous. That coupled with the freezing ocean below made the situation perilous. Noctis ended up having to cast one of his light spells with a flask to scatter the creatures. He then stood with a shield at the ready. Giving Ardyn the opportunity to get the mythril part out of the ship.

Things were going relativley well. Until Noctis heard a series of pinging sounds under his feet. The goblins were taking out the bolts of the walkway itself.

"Ardyn hurry up! We're out of time."

"I'm almost there! This last connection is-" Ardyn cursed "Whoever installed this greased it really well!"

Noctis looked over his shoulder at Ardyn. Who was waist deep in the engine compartment of the ship. The man had his hair tied back in messy bun. He had not wanted to wear his hat that day- because he had bad experiences with Goblins trying to knab the thing.

Noctis heard another ping beneath his feet. One of the poles connected to the pier began to strain. He warped over to Ardyn. The man was grimacing as he tried to fit a socket wrench onto a bolt. Trying to disconnect the mythryl part from the rest of the ship. A generous amount of grease was keeping Ardyn from getting a good purchase however.

Noctis switched to a great sword- and stabbed downward. Butchering the mechanism of his father's ship in order to cut the piece free. Ardyn made a surprised noise. The blade having only sunk milimeters away from his fingers. Not that Ardyn wouldn't have just regrown them, had he missed. Noctis dismissed his sword, reached in, and yanked the piece free with one hand. Just as the pier beneath their feet began to truely collapse. Falling out as the supports below them were no longer connected. Ardyn almost lost his balance and slipped into the water- but Noctis caught him by the scruff of his jacket.

Mythril part in one hand, Ardyn in the other Noctis gritted his teeth at the sky. Gathering his power and then willing himself and everything he was holding to go UP. The physical world did not want to comply with this wish. However, Noctis had enough magic to grab and then PULL it to his will.

With loud crash of magic Noctis and Ardyn disapeared. Then reappeared ten meters above the water. The Galdin Quay pier collapsing into the water below them. Cold and filled with chunks of ice. As dark and unforgiving as the sky above them.

For a breif moment they both floated. Suspended in glittering magic particles. Noctis for the first time since waking up from the crystal- summoned his full Armiger. Crystalized weapons appeared around him in a circle. Each of them shinning a brilliant sky blue. As concentrated as a demon-detering street lamp. Ardyn hissed- and his skin started turning scourge grey and fizzling. Many of the goblins below then started screaming. Noctis tightened his grip on Ardyn, then pointed with the mythril shaft towards the shore. Three of the weapons flew out- forming a line from between them and the short. Noctis focused on the closest- and then warped in quick succession. From the first to the second- and then to the third.

With that they were no longer over the freezing ocean. Free to land, or rather fall. Sand, and shards of magic exploded as Noctis and Ardyn hit the land at high speed. Both of them rolled over once, twice, before coming to a stop. Noctis found himself laying on his back, starring up at the shimmering weapons of his ancestors, which had traveled with him. Dizzy from the impact.

Ardyn, a little ways away from him was quiet for a long time. Then he surmized the experience with a simply. "Ow." Almost as if he wasn't actually in pain- but just wanting to acknowledge that such an event should have been painful.

"Sorry." Noctis winced, gathering his arms behind him, and sitting up. He had deffinitley strained his back doing this. He could already feel it seizing up on him. Around him the bright, shinning weapons around him flickered, and then dismissed themselves. Noctis felt the stasis hit immediatly afterwards. He fell back into the sand with an exausted 'wuf'. The feeling hitting him ten times as worse than normal.

Having more power apparently came with a deeper low. Warping with someone else usually took a lot out of him. Warping with succession was tricky, but doable. He had never chain warped while carrying someone else along though.

"You got sand in my hair." Ardyn complained. The ground crunching as he sat up. Noctis could feel himself passing out. The man's voice growing distant. Even as Noctis struggled to focus on it. "Still, that was an amazing recovery. How did you even DO that?"

"Noct?" Ardyn's voice hiked with concern. A sandy vissage leaning over him, as his vision tunnled. "Noctis!?"

Noctis woke up in the bed of a caravan. He was increadibly confused at first. Wondering why he would wake up so early. Unprompted. It was dark. Like the sun hadn't risen quite yet. He could just make out the sound of Ignis quietly working on something in the kitchennet. Probably doing the dishes- he didn't smell any sort of food being cooked or prepared.

Noctis's back hurt. He winced. Wondering if Gladio could give his back an adjustment before they got started for the day. He was really good at that. Massages as well. Ever since Noctis got injured as a child, Gladio had been studying physical therapy and the means to help Noctis maintain his constant spinal pain. If the Gladio had not inherited his position as a sheild, he probably could have been a chiropracter or something. Noctis greatly appreciated Gladio's skills in such an area. Since running around as much as they did, and fighting constantly would surley have destroyed his back by this point without some form of intervention.

For now Noctis exhaled, and gently began getting up from laying down. Intending to see if he could wake up Gladio- as he wasn't going to get any sleep with his back twitching and curling like it was.

Ignis turned from the kitchen sink. Only it wasn't Ignis. Noctis inhaled, as Ardyn turned around. His hair a mess, but still tied up in a bun. Jacket off, and white sleeves pulled up to his elbows. "Ah. I see you have returned." Ardyn said with some surprise. With that antiquated accent of his. "Splendid."

Oh.

Right.

Noctis felt himself sink. As the bleeding holes in his soul reminded him that his freinds were gone. No longer at his side. They were dead. The world was dead. All of this was just a pointless waist of time.

"Noct?" Ardyn asked with some concern. Setting down their main water flask in the sink. "How are you feeling? Any dizzyness? Nausea?"

Noctis shook his head. "I'm fine." he lied. Pulling his legs up to his chest. Noctis wrapped his arms around his knees and burried his face in his arms. "I just... you know."

Ardyn was quiet for a long moment. Noctis could feel that the scourged man understood what Noctis was going through. Ardyn gently set the water flask down. Then picked up the drinking cup he had been filling with water. Pulling up a plastic lawn chair to sit at Noctis' bed side. There was not a whole lot of floor space for it. However, with there only being two people using the caravan instead of one, Noctis supposed there might be more space than what he was used too.

"I feared when you first passed out, that you might have suffered a concussion." Ardyn admitted, taking a small drink from his water cup, before setting it aside. "Let me look at you?"

"What use is that going to do?" Noctis asked bitterly.

He hated being 'looked' at. People had been looking at him his entire life. He had been born under a microscope. The Gods had declared him as 'the choosen king' about two weeks before he was born. There had been a lot of dramatic glowing of the crystal. His father had gotten a vision of some kind. Luna's mother, the Oracle at the time, had made an official proclimation. Announcing to the world that the choosen King had just been born.

Ever since he was born Noctis had people watching him. Expecting things of him. Every toy he played with as a child was given a purpose. Every frustrated tantrum he had was treated like a judgment. People were always reminding him of what was expected of him. Of how he was supposed to fullfill their wishes. Noctis had not been allowed to live in PEACE- until he turned 17, bought his own apartment, and put three layers of security between his apartment and the world. Just so he had a space where he did not feel like a zoo animal.

"Well. I did used to be a healer in a past life." Ardyn reminded him, a touch of a smile appearing at the corners of his lips, "Belive it or not I was considered to be one of the best."

"You. A healer." Noctis shook his head. He did move though, so that he was sitting at the edge of the bed. Wincing as his back strained. "That's a scary concept."

"All healers are scarry people." Ardyn raised an eyebrow, "Belive you me when I say that anyone who knows medicine also knows where you are the weakest. Now. Hold out your hands? Straight out at chest height." Ardyn requested. He did some basic checks that Noctis was familiar with. He had spent a lot of time in and out of the hospital in his life. So much so that the Royal Medical ward was practically a second nursery.

"Is your back hurting you?" Ardyn observed rather quickly, as he checked to make sure Noctis had not injured himself in their fall.

"Yeah. A demon nearly cut me in half when I was like, five." Noctis explained, "So my back acts up some times. I messed it up pretty bad with that crash."

"Hmm. Let me see?" Ardyn requested.

"Sure." Noctis carefully turned. He wasn't particularly shy of his condition. Unlike Prompto, with his stretch marks. So Noctis carefully took off his shirt to let Ardyn assess the damage.

"Interesting." Ardyn looked over the injury, and asked him some questions. Noctis explaining his pain, and how it usually behaved. He used to take muscle relaxants when it got bad. However ever since Insomnia fell, he had not been able to get a prescription refilled. Gladio adjusting his back, and giving him the occasional massage helped. Ardyn, upon hearing this offered to adjust his back for him. Apparently knowing something of the process.

The man was surprisingly clinical. Ardyn remaining strictly professional- and not making even a single joke. It was very diffrent having Ardyn do this, than from what Noctis was used to. Usually when Gladio adjusted his back, his Sheild's hands lingered. Large, warm and comforting. Running along his skin from area to area. Sometimes giving Noctis goosebumps. Pressing into all the knotts and making them unwind.

Ardyn meanwhile took hold, applied pressure and then released. When Noctis' spine popped. It was beif. To the point. Purposeful. What usually took Gladio half an hour, Ardyn acheived in half the time. Noctis' back felt much better afterwards. However he felt like the room was cold. Devoid of... something.

It made him really missed Gladio. In a way Noctis had never realize he had wanted the other before.

"Better?" Ardyn asked once he was done.

Noctis rolled his neck, and rubbed his shoulder. "Yeah... Thank you."

"Anytime. Night Light. It's good to shake the rust off a little bit." Ardyn joked.

Noctis groaned with complaint, bending over, before snapping back up. "I told you NOT to call me that!"

"But you glow in the dark! and keep the demons at bay! Just like a night light!" Ardyn pointed out all to happily.

Noctis narrowed his eyes at him like an angry cat. Putting his shirt back on. unfortunatley the best way to deal with Ardyn's shennanigans was to ignore him.

Ardyn just smiled, "Hey, if I can't tease my great-great-great nephew, then it really is end of the word."

"Yeah. Whatever." Noctis grumbled. He finished putting his shirt back on, and then sighed. Already exausted. He was still completly out of magic.

"We got the Mythril." Ardyn guestured with his cup. Noctis saw that on the Caravan table there was the prize from the boat. "When we get back to Hammerhead we can work on shaping it properly. Then give this light spell another go."

"... Right." Noctis slowly stood up from the bed. Giving his back a few tentative stretches. Making sure it wasn't going to give out again. "I'm exausted, so let's try not to get in any kind of fight on the way back.

Ardyn drove them back to Hammerhead- because he did not like other people driving his vehicle. The specially modified lights on the car keeping the demons back. Noctis watched the road and dark landscape as they passed. Ardyn explaining to Noctis how they were going to build the staff, and what sort of other things they might need. Mostly just talking to himself. Something Noctis was somewhat used to by this point. Ardyn could talk to himself for hours, not carring whether or not anyone was paying attention. Noctis stared off into the dark landscape as it passed. Eventually drifting off and taking a nap.

Ifrit was waiting for their return. Sitting against the side of the Car Garage casually, a sword resting on one shoulder. None of the other demons dared to approach the corrupted God. So Ardyn had instructed him to stand guard to their work area. That way they had at least some saftey to return too.

Noctis got out and moved the gate for Ardyn, who parked his car just on the other side of Cindy's old rig, at the pump station.

Previously Noctis had done a lot of explaining to Ardyn on how he was chaining flasks and spells together. Now it was Ardyn's turn to explain to Noctis how magic worked when it was channeled through a singular, long form. Apparently it was important that Noctis' staff represent Noctis himself, more than anything. So the two went back and forth on designs, until they were able to come up with something they could feasibly construct- and would be easy for Noctis to attune too.

A week later, the two of them stood in front of Cid's garage. The final form of Noctis' Rod having taken shape. The main shaft was made from the mythril part of the ship, giving it a somewhat mechanical looking element. The center grip of the staff was formed from Noctis' favorite fishing rod. Though, it did not have the reel attached. The top end of the staff itself was a glass sphere, made out of several magical flasks he had fused together. The staff had initially been a bit short, and off balance. Until Noctis pulled out an old spear he never used anymore. Which he cut to length, and fixed to the bottom end of the staff. Putting a heavy, 20cm (8in) bolt on the inside of the end. Balancing out the weight of the mythril. The bottom end of this staff had a decorative point on it- one that kind of reminded him of Carbuncle's horn.

For that reason Noctis asked Ardyn to paint ruby red accents on the staff. The man once again demonstrating that with infinite time, people could pick up infinite skill sets. Ardyn was actually somewhat of a decent artist. Having drawn creatures and demons for taxonimy books in one of his many past lives.

Ardyn started by painting the staff jet black, then going over it with a small paint brush. Giving the staff tiny, intricate details in gold and ruby red accents. Ardyn had transformed the staff from cobbled together scraps to an actual cohesive piece. Creating something Noctis could, and did classify as a piece of art. The final design was subtle, but intricate. Ardyn finished it with a clear coating to protect the paint from scratching, or chipping. Once the paint was dry, he took out a teal blue fabric scrap from his Armiger. He wrapped the grip area around Noctis' fishing rod. Then wrapped a thin strip around the base of the sphere, to make it look a little more grounded with the rest of everything.

Noctis was very happy with this. As the teal blue color was his favorite, and it balanced out the staff. Making it look more neutral; instead of dark and firey-themed. As a final, personal touch Noctis hooked his favorite fishing lure into the blue cloth near the top by the glass sphere. The same hook he had used to catch the Dread Grouper in Galdin Quay. Something that felt like a life time ago. A reminder of happier times.

When complete, the staff looked magical just by itself. It reminded Noctis of his favorite phone and mobile games. For the first time in his life Noctis felt like a proper MAGICAL prince. Weilding a giant and otherworldly looking staff.

I should have done this years ago Noctis grinned to himself, as waved around the staff and tested out it's weight. Striking some of the poses he had seen used in video games. Prompto would have gotten a kick out of that. Taking a million pictures... this thought sobered Noctis just a little bit. He lowered his staff, cupping and looking down at the glass sphere mournfully. Within the glass he could see where the flasks he had fused together intertwinned. From some angles it kind of reminded him of the Lotus flower that had represent Insomnia's 8 districts.

"What's wrong, Night Light?" Ardyn asked, walking over. Holding a cup of tea. "You look dimmer than usual."

Noctis pulled a face, and Ardyn snorted with amusement. Before taking a sip of his drink.

"You're worse than Ignis!" Noctis declared, turning his back to the man.

"Yes, Ignis really knew how to add some FIRE to a conversation. Didn't he?" Ardyn asked cheekily.

"Oh my gods." Noctis rolled his eyes, "Are you going to teach me how to use this thing? Or should I just smite you now and spare myself the pain?"

"Why not both?" Ardyn asked a bit too merrily. Anytime the man was happy, Noctis was miserable. This was a reoccuring theme that did not sit well with his stomach. "Come on, I belive there are a few cactus around that you can take your revenge on." Ardyn offered a bit more seriously. He took Noctis out of the Hammerhead settlement, and he had Noctis practice freezing dead plant life with his staff. That way he could get used to using the new weapon properly.

Over the next week Ardyn instructed him on the basics of how to use a magic staff. Focusing on making sure he knew the fundementals, and concepts that he could build off of. Channeling with a staff was very diffrent than using flasks. With flasks you filled them up, and then manipulated the magic with objects. Releasing the spell all at once. With a staff he manipulated the magic while releasing it at the same time. This took a lot more concentration, and casting spells was a LOT slower.

Using a staff was better than manipulating magic barehanded though. Noctis had learned to cast fire storms, and other large spells that could turn the tide of a battle with his hands. Spells his father had considered a nessesary evil, since they litterally turned the tides for battles and wars. Manipulating magic with just his hands was taxing. You could not control how MUCH magic you put out. It was either all of it, or none at all. That was one of the reasons why their Storm Glaives needed to alway have a support team- because they were pretty much guaranteed to hit stasis after casting their spell.

Having a staff allowed him to control how much mana he released. It was a lot easier to aim and control the magic as well. The best way he could describe it was casting magic with a staff was like digging a hole with a shovel, instead of just his bare hands. Noctis could acheive the same things; just faster and with a lot less exertion.

By the end of the week Noctis was already figuring out how to cast full scale fire storms, ice gails- and even call down lightning from the sky. Using the endless supply of demons as target practice. It was almost ridicously easy to do these things, given how much magical power Noctis had on hand. It felt sometimes like the elements were at his disposal.

He had so much RAW POWER to throw around.

None of it could give Noctis his friends back though.

"I wonder if you could teach me more of the spells that you can do." Noctis lamented one day. He was practicing casting simple light spells with his staff. Specifically he was trying to make a floating orb. Like he had seen mages and wizards do in games. It seemed like a simple enough spell- though it was turning out to be trickier than he had thought it would be. So far all Noctis had managed to make were flashes of light. Nothing sustainable. With his missle-like flask spells, he could make fire-work like explosions... but in order to do that he needed the right mix of components. Could he combine components with his staff? Somehow?

Noctis summoned light into the glass orb of his flask. Concentrating on it. Getting a feel for how it felt when he called it with his staff. Trying to figure out if he could command light into a shape or form.

"What do you mean?" Ardyn asked, not looking up from his reading material.

Ardyn was lounging on Cid's old lawn chair, wearing a pair of pink reading glasses. He was reading what looked like an instruction manuel for a car- something he had probably gotten from Cindy's office. Ardyn only seemed to read non-fiction books, genuinley. The first time Noctis caught the man casually reading a text book on plant biology he had done a very confused double take. Noctis supposed this might have been why Ardyn knew seemingly everything however- and also had a million diffrent talents. Since he casually just seemed interestied in learning about things things.

"I know you're turning yourself invisible whenever I annoy you." Noctis informed him. Making the sphere of his staff glow a soft, white light. He had thought the man was warping for the longest time. Just into oblivion. However some curious foot print tracks in the sand yesterday had given him a hint as to what Ardyn was really doing.

"Is that what you think I'm doing?" Ardyn asked. The pitch of his voice was amused. As if Noctis was close, but not quite getting the mark. It made Noctis doubt himself. Just for a moment. A glance behind him- and Noctis could see Ardyn's smirk.

The man was messing with him. "I know because of your foot prints." Noctis stood firm in his belife. Letting him know that he wasn't going to fall for such a trick. Again.

"Hmmm. I will have to levitae next time then." Ardyn hummed, turning the page of his book.

The light Noctis had summoned flickered with interest. "You can float?"

Ardyn looked up, raising one eyebrow, "YOU are. Right at this moment."

Noctis looked down at the ground, and then lowered himself down to it. The magic he had gathered for his light spells disipaiting. "That keeps happening." Noctis adjusted his feet and found his footing again.

Ardyn hummed, which had a nasially sort of twinge to it, "You need to gather your magic above you, not below you."

Noctis looked back at his staff, and then raised it up, concentrating on the glass orb once more. It started to glow again. This time his feet did not leave the ground.

Ardyn waited a moment before asking. "So what sort of 'my' magic were you wanting to learn?" he asked curiously.

"You can, like, do stuff that I can't." Noctis spoke, his concentration waivering on his magic. The light in his staff fluctuated. "Like turn invisible- and then there was what you did on the train that one time- switching places with Prompto."

"Illusions and tricks of the mind." Ardyn turned a page on the book he was reading, as if this were a boring topic for him, "I could teach you some, but the majority of those ability lay within the my Oracle aspects of my capabilities. I don't know how much you would be able to replicate."

Noctis light in his staff died out. He paused, then turned slowly. "I thought you couldn't use your Oracle powers at all?" he asked with confustion.

Ardyn was quiet for a long moment. Starring at his book without looking at it. The darkness that kept the world in a choke hold rippled unhapplily around them. It was a warning that he was crossing a line.

"No. Hey. I didn't mean it like THAT." Noctis tried to do damage control. Ardyn always got sensative when he thought Noctis was trying to strong arm him into something.

"Why would would you even need such things in the first place?!" Ardyn snapped his book closed. Clearly having none of it.

Noctis did not apprectiate the man's tone. He scowled. The mood between the two of them souring.

"Noctis you forget that this. ALL OF THIS." Ardyn rose up from his chair, 'It ends with both myself and you dying. No magic I teach you will change that."

Noctis wrung the grip on his staff between his hands. Gritting his teeth. "I haven't forgotten that." He told Ardyn firmly, "But I haven't given up yet either! We can find another way."

"To accomplish what?" Ardyn asked with frustration, "To live?! You want to be alone for etternity?! Why would you tourture your self as such?!"

"I just want to make sure the world has a future!" Noctis raised his voice. Getting fed up with Ardyn's self-destructive mood swings. "You really want to just leave things the way they are?! Look at everything!" Noctis guestured to the station around them with his staff, "It's just stagnant and unmoving!"

"The darkness will go away once I am dead! I'm the source of all of this- remember?" Ardyn placed both hands on his chest. "This is all because of me! Kill me! and it all goes away!"

"THEN WHAT?!" Noctis raised his voice angrily. Thunder rumbled, and clouds began to form above them. "If you're the darkness- then I am the LIGHT! If we both kill each other what is left Ardyn?! Tell me!"

Ardyn didn't answer he turned away. About to run- just like the man always did.

Noctis took a step forward. "TELL ME!!! What is left?!"

Ardyn didn't meet his eyes. The man looked angry and upset. Ardyn clenched and unclenched his jaw. Then just disapeared. Noctis glared at the space, and marched forward. He reached out to where Ardyn was and tried to grab the man- but found nothing. Noctis looked around, and then raised up his staff. He slammed it on the ground. A concussive wave of magic shot out through the parking lot. It knocked over the chair and table Ardyn had been sitting in. His book flopped to the ground. A few of the other things they had taken to leaving outside the garage also scattered.

Noctis looked around, to see if he could see where Ardyn was. When he couldn't fing the man he then threw his staff into his Armiger with frustration. He walked into the garage, went up the stairs and face planted into the cot he had called home the last nine months or so. Screaming into his pillow.

Outside Ardyn dropped down from the shark-shapped pavillion Hammer head got its name from. He watched Noctis slam the door to the garage- and split into an entirely diffrent direction. Marching angrily through the grave yard Prompto had built for his companions. Then past them it into the darkness.

The next morning Noctis was boiling water for tea- or what he was pretended was tea these days. Given the lack of food, his diet was starting to get as weird as his father's had been. Noctis picked up the kettle, and turned off the gas stove. Then gently poured the hot water over Gyshal Greens he had found at the remnants of Wiz' post. He wasn't eating the fun-advertized chips, or the gimmiky vegtable food stuffs they sold. Litterally by this point, Noctis was supplementing his food with animal silage. He sighed waiting for the leaves to steep. What he wouldn't give for one of Ignis' world famous recipies right about now- or even just his toast.

The door to Taka's dinner opened. Noctis looked up as Ardyn stepped in. The man had deep bags under his eyes, and there were new cuts in his jacket and clothes. Like Ardyn had run into something nasty and LET it attack him. A very concerning pattern that had been developing off and on for a while... which neither of them wanted to address.

"Hello, Night Light." Ardyn greeted Noctis tiredly.

"Hey." Noctis reached over, and picked up Ardyn's bright pink coffee mug. "Tea?" he offered.

"Please." Ardyn sat down at the dinning bar. Noctis poured him a cup.

Noctis spoke as he served Ardyn, "About yesterday. I'm not going to make you wait forever..." He promised, "Just give me a bit more time. Please. We aren't out of dead ends yet."

Ardyn turned the cup around by the handle. Using just his ring finger. He sighed, taking hold of the handle. "Okay."

Noctis pushed himself that day with his light magic. Almost into Stasis- however he managed to cast light outside of himself, and sustain it for a short period of time. The trick apparently was that he had to multi-cast the light with another element. Creating bolts of lightning that didn't just light up the sky, but lingered like an over exposed photo. Cold mists that glowed errily. As well as fire that crackled a sky blue, rather than red. Spells that did a LOT more damage to demons. Cutting through them like a knife through butter.

Noctis slowly started with small light-infused spells, and then built up to large and larger phenomena. He learning his limits, but then slowly got better manipulating his magic with his staff, and found that he could go further. Noctis could feel himself GROWING as a magic user. In a way that was not artificially elivated by something else. Such as the Crystal, or the Ring. Noctis had never really considered Magic a skill he needed to train. Like his weapon fighting, or fishing skills.

The more Noctis progressed however, the less Ardyn seemed keen on watching or joining in. Noctis was begining to pick up that Ardyn's mood went up and down. Kind of like Noctis' own did sometimes. So when Ardyn said he didn't feel like getting up just yet, Noctis let him rest in. Knowing exactly how that felt. He also didn't say anything when he came back from a day of working on spells, to find Ardyn still burried inside of his bed. One arm sticking out of the covers. Gray and lifeless, just like many of the other corpses that dotted the landscape. Noctis had experienced similar depressive episodes himself. However it was strange being on the opposite end of one. It was strange. To wake up. Get himself ready for the day. Make a small breakfast. Then bring a cup of 'tea' to Ardyn's bed side. The only indication that the man was even moving being the fact that the previous cup had been emptied.

It was disheartening; because Noctis knew Ardyn was suffering the longer things dragged on. Noctis was making a lot of progress. He could see it. Feel it even. The distance between him and the sky still seemed impossibly far though. Noctis' magic only seemed to be able to reach so far... perhaps it was time that Noctis try to get closer himself.

Noctis had flown once. Durring his fight with the Leviathan. Suspended by a combination of Lunafreya's magic, as well as his own. He could also hover, for breif moments. When he summoned his Armiger, or warp mid-air. Suspended by the summoning of magic. After some expirimentation, Noctis learned that by concentrating magic underneath himself he could float, and even somewhat hover a little bit. It was tricky, to balance. Overall it was more like Noctis was making himself less bouyant than anything else.

The first few attempts he made at going higher ended up giving him scrapped elbows, and having him fall face first into the desert sand. Until Noctis got wise, and pulled out the old camping matts the hunters who had stayed in the Hammerhead Station store had been using once upon a time. Noctis placeing them out in the desert to use as a fall pads. After a few days of trial and error, Noctis managed to figure out the trick.

It was like a light switch being turned on in his head. One morning Noctis was carefully hovering between landing cusions, trying to get the hang of things. Then he realized that what he needed to be focusing on was not nessesarily where he was- but where he wanted to be- and Noctis then was flying. He was free from the confines of gravity. Acheiving the same floating freedom he had durring his fight with the sea goddess. He found himself laughing and then letting out a whoop as he pulled upwards and outwards. Noctis was soaring above the desert, a singular glowing light in the dark. He swooped downwards picking up momentum. Flying above the earth just about as fast as a car. Grinning ear to ear with this new found wonder.

Then without warning, he hit stasis.

Noctis was very lucky to have been traveling low to the ground. He was very unluck to have been traveling fast. Noctis hit the ground and tumbled. His staff fell away and disolved into light. Noctis kept rolling though, trying to keep his arms in and his head from hitting anything. He came to a skidding halt at the bottom of a hill. Dizzy. Bruised on every inch of his skin- and featuring a fresh coating of cactus needles and slime. He had to lay there just for a minute, catching his breath and trying not to pass out.

He wasn't quite successful with the latter. Jolting awake after an indeterminite amount of time. Noctis groaned as he sat up, and took stock of himself. It was not fun to limp back to Hammerhead- summoning and then using his staff as a walking stick. Noctis knowing very well how luck he was to not have broken anything- expecially his NECK. His back needed another adjustment. Noctis didn't want to bother Ardyn however, so after he clean himself up he just laid down in his bed, and tied to sleep it off.

Noctis had to take a week to recover, and afterwards he was a lot more careful of where and how he was flying. Instructing Ifrit each time before he took off to follow him, and catch him if need be. Noctis hoving just above the gian god's hands as he practices moving from one point to another. It took a LOT of magic in order to fly. Noctis couldn't pause mid-flight to recover his magic either. He needed to purch on something in order to replenish his supplies. Meaning that even though he was free from the ground- he was still not able to go too far from it.

Noctis could get a considerable amount of height by just going up- however he was warry to do so. Going high up risked him just falling to his death- and even with as much height as he could have possibly gainted- it was negligable when you considered that he needed to reach the tops of the very atmosphere of the planet. Noctis could fly, but he wasn't going to be able to fly up and then CAST a spell powerful enough that it could cover the distance. He could probably cast just as far from the ground- where he did not have to worry about falling to his death after hitting stasis.

Noctis had freed himself from the ground. However That damned barrier of scourge was just so unreachable. It wa increadibly disheartening. Noctis found himself training and practicing with less and less enthusiasim. Instead flying off to diffrent points in the desert and just looking up at the dark sky bitterly.

Noctis one morning found himself marking off a full year on his calander. His watch providing him with a date that was rather arbitrary by this point. Noctis had been keeping track of his progress on the pin up calander Takka had kept in his office. He marked the day off. Then rested his forhead against the wall. Closing his eyes.

He stayed like that, until the tea pot behind him began to whistle.

Noctis set down Ardyn's tea cup on his bed side table, where he put one every morning. Or their equivilent of one. He then gently moved one the chairs from a nearby desk, to sit at the older man's bed side. Ardyn had taken over Cindy's old room in the garage- while Noctis had taken over Cid's. Most of everything in Cindy's room was bright yellow, with accents of a burnt orange. The same color as it's previous owner's personality. Ardyn had made the room even brighter by adding pink pillows, fluffy blankets with patterns; even most of the stuffed creatures on the bed were Ardyn's. Noctis recognized only one of Cindy's. A chocobo that Prompto had gifted her at one point. It was sitting outside of Ardyn's nest, on the window sill.

Ardyn stirred as Noctis sat down. Peaking out to giving him a somewhat confused look. Considering it had been a few weeks now, and Noctis had done nothing but bring him tea and exchange a few words. Noctis figured the fact that he was sticking around to talk warrented the confusion.

Noctis clasped his hands together, and after a pause got straight to the point. "I need to go make another food run." He stated.

Ardyn stirred some more. Actually sitting up to look at him. Starting to fully wake up. He frowned looking around the room somewhat dazed.

Noctis sat back in the chair. Running a thumb across his other hand's knuckles. "I've got about... a month's left? I already raided everything from here to the Cornex Station. So... I'm probably going to just to straight to Lestallum." He explained.

Ardyn gave him an indesipherable look. "Oh." He said somewhat quietly, and shifted. Setting aside a stuffed cactuar, he sat himself up. Shifting a mountain of heavy blankets and pillows with little to no issue. His hair was greasy from not being washed, and he had an actual beard now. Similar to Noctis' own. Ardyn scratched at the new growth. Looking somewhat confused. Almost like he didn't know how long he had been lying in bed for.

Noctis closed his eyes. Having to prepare himself for his next words. "After I come back. I want to go to Insomnia."

Ardyn's eyes widdened with surprise. "I'm sorry??"

"My dad has a library full of information, on magic and the crystal. Litterally two centuries worth of notes." Noctis explained his reasoning, "If we can not find out a solution there then..." Noctis trailed off, then swallowed, "Then perhaps we might have to do things the way the Gods intended."

They were running out of options. As much as Noctis hated to admit it. That was what was becoming apparent to him. He had wanted to walk his own path for once, just once in his life. However it seemed others had once again made it impossible to do so.

Ardyn looked down at the foot of his bed for a long time. He turned back to Noctis, and was about to say something.

Noctis didn't notice, he stood up. Interupting Ardyn, "I'll be back in a week or two." Noctis informed Ardyn quietly. With more steadyness and confidence than he actually actually felt. "Just... if you're not going to wait for me here. I will find you in Insomnia." He promised. Then shortly after left the room.

Ardyn watched Noctis go. Then fell back into his pillows. He crossed his hands over his chest, and stared up at the ceiling. When he he heard the door downstairs close, Ardyn shot up. By the time he got untangled from the bed, summoned his coat, found his shoes, and walked outside; Noctis was already packed and ready to drive out into the dark. Taking the small car he had picked up at some point with him; instead of Ardyn's much more comfortable and reliable convertable.

Noctis looked up from the driver's side door as he walked up. Clearly surprised to see Ardyn up and about. Given that he has spent the last number weeks wallowing in his bed.

Ardyn reached out and squeezed the younger man's shoulder. Closing his eyes for just a moment. In another life he would have offered his estranged nephew a blessing of protection on his journey. Or perhapse a bit of luck. Instead all Ardyn could offer was as, rough. "Be careful, Light." His voice groggy from disuse.

Noctis nodded, and then after a while, drove off into the dark world once more.

Ardyn watched Noctis go from behind the barriers surrounding Hammerhead. Then he went back into the work shop. Taking a shower and shaving. His hair had gotten so long. He had to tie it into a braid, after he cleaned it- just so it would not be in the way.

Once Ardyn was clean he retreived the pink mug he had been using as his personal cup. Sipping the cold, sour mixture Noctis had been pretending was tea for the last few months. Considering his options. He could continue to wallow in shadows, or he could get up and do something. Ardyn did not want to go back to Insomnia, to be honest. He had spent ten years in the city by himself. Only leaving occasionally to see what a mess the world had become. Being so stagnant, and with nothing to do had driven him only further into to maddness. Though perhaps at some point that maddness had become sanity again. Given how civil he had been when meeting Noctis... how long had it been? Ardyn wasn't sure by this point.

Ardyn decided to not go back to Insomnia alone. By this point he did not care the throne. If anything, he thought that it probably should not have been allowed to exist in the first place. Ardyn shrugged on a coat that was mostly tattered holes by this point. Then walked to the far side of the Hammerhead. Off to the side where a parking lot and a small plot of earth had once been, and now was Ifrit's designated space.

One of Noctis' side projects for the first month he was in Hammerhead had been to make more of a home for the Corrupted God. Noctis had collected a bunch of scrap from the desert, and remains from a hunting camp out west. Figuring out how Cid's welder worked, and fashioning a chair of sorts. The Infernate now had a proper place to sit, or lounge. One that was completly (mostly) fire proof.

It was a sign of madness in Ardyn's opinion. To even worry about such a thing. Ifrit had been as perfectly comfortable on the ground, as he was on the lounge chair Noctis had made for him afterall. Noctis was a King though, and Kings were made to look after their people. It was not Noctis' fault that the only 'people' Noctis had to rule over were Ardyn, and an empty puppet of a God. Noctis treated Ifrit with a lot more kindness than Ardyn ever bothered too. However, sometimes it came off like Noctis saw the Astral akin to a family pet more than anything. A spoiled pet- in Ardyn opinion. Noctis seemed to have forgoten at some point that Ifrit too bore the weight of sins. Having once tried to kill every human on earth.

Ironic that Bahamut, who had supposedly stopped Ifrit, had succeded where the Infernate had not. He wondered why that was. What between now and then had changed the Dracoian's mind?

As Ardyn approached, Ifrit opened his eyes. Then sat up from where they were resting on their make shift cot. Lounging as they did when not called by them.

"Been a few days. Care to try again?" Ardyn asked, and then held up a hand. Mentally directing Ifrit to move.

The God reached down with one hand, and held it out for Ardyn to step onto. Ifrit easily picked him up. Moving back to laying back on his cot. Holding Ardyn in his hand, where he could sit and work.

Ardyn exhaled and then shook out his arms. He then reached out. Touching the main jewel of Ifrit's crown. Where the God's mind was supposed to be centered.

He reached out into the God. Feeling all of the dark and scourge Ardyn had placed there. It was like reaching into a pot of raw sewageoiling. Ardyn back pedaled the second he touched it. Removing his hand from Ifrit.

"No. No no." He backed away from the feeling immediatly. He hated this. Touching things. Reaching out to them. He hated how vulnerable it made him feel. Reminded him of how many times people had used his want to heal and help others as an opportunity to hurt him.

Ardyn didn't want to be reminded of what he had become. How much of a monster he was. This had been a mistake. Just as it had been a week or so ago- when he had first thought about doing this. Ardyn sat back in Ifrit's palm. Retreating into himself once more. The God continued to hold him in the cup against his chest. Not expecting anything of him. Just silently waiting.

Ardyn bristled at the perceived attention. "You're probably laughing in that prison I've put you in." Ardyn lashed out at the God angrily. "All this started with me corrupting you afterall. Or rather Bahamut corrupting me. I guess."

Ardyn fell silent. Remembering when he had first been given his powers. He had always wondered why the power to heal and help people had felt so... invasive. When Bahamut had gifted him his powers it had felt like the God had hammered a rod of pure golden light inside of his soul. One that attacted darkness, like a magnet attracted metal shavings.

When Ardyn absorbed darkness and illness, he needed to hold onto that center of light. The more he absorbed, the got harder and harder to sort through everything to find that light. It was hard to remember that he had been fully human at one point. Ardyn found himself starring down at his hands.

Ardyn clenched his hands tightly. "I just need to find that core again." he told himself. Then reached out, and place a hand on Ifrit's crown once more. "Okay." Ardyn closed his eyes. Meditating. Trying to find his center.

He could feel the dark energy inside of him. An endless well of condemed souls. He could also feel them inside of Ifrit. Which he had placed there. Ifrit right now acted as an extension of him. The whole damned planet was. Ardyn could feel how he had infested and infected all of it. From the ground below, to the barrier blanketing the sky above. He was an overflowing spring that could no longer be contained. Drowning everything around him.

Ardyn hated it. Why won't Noctis just kill me and end this all? He dispaired. There was so much darkness- and no where to put any of it. The Scourge was just like the dead plants and bodies that littered the earth. It was removed from a natural cycle, with no where to go. No way to turn it into something new.

Ardyn sighed, and pulled away from Ifrit after only a minute or two. "I don't think this is happening today." He told the Infernate appologetically. The God lowered him away from his forhead. Setting Ardyn down on his stomach instead. Ifrit appraised him for a moment, then when not given any orders, turned his head upwards. Looking towards the sky.

Ardyn followed his gaze. Feeling like he had several peices to some sort of puzzle, but no way to connect them.

He tried again later, after he felt up to it. He didn't sit with Ifrit this time. Instead he folded his knees and knelt in true, proper mediation. Trying to clear his mind. Hoping that in the stillness he would be ablt to find that core of light inside of himself. The abilities Noctis kept asking about- that Ardyn knew could be a path forward for them.

Over the next few days Ardyn spent a lot of time meditating- and at least once a day attempting to cure Ifrit. Noctis had grown so much in power- but Ardyn found his own development being frustratingly stagnant. He felt like he was trying to keep a leaking ship from sinking, with only a single bucket.

Ardyn was actually surprised when Noctis came back so soon. He had said he would only be gone a week- but it felt only like five days at the most. Though granted, Ardyn did not exactly keep a consistent sleep schedule. Noctis usually kept track of time and days with his watch. Ardyn usually saw no reason to and just let time pass him by, as it always had.

With Noctis returning, and Ardyn not having any results on his end, it was time for them to go to Insomnia.

It was a little akward. The Choosen King returning home- but not to do his intended duty. Driven to the location by the very being he was supposed to kill. Noctis was quiet for the entire drive, clearly wrapped up in his own head. Ardyn was quiet as well. Trying not to expose his attempts at trying to find his older selves; and give the boy false hope. Ardyn still didn't know if it was possible afterall- or something he even wanted to see through.

Having Noctis kill him was still the better option in Ardyn's mind. He had existed long enough- and had no desire to stay around any longer. Noctis' change in additude upset him though. The words he had wanted to speak before Noctis had left. They had been encouragment for the boy not to lose hope.

Noctis standing on the steps of the Citadel was a sight to behold. Expecially considering Ardyn and Ifrit were standing WITH him, instead of against him. Noctis walked up the steps and opened the heavy doors with familiarity. Together they walked down the main corridor of the citadel. Dark with it's vaulted ceilings, and angelic depictions haunting the corners. The main inner junction of the Citadel was a piece of artwokr no matter how you looked at it. Four Angelic statues held crystal chandilers like grapes. The stone masonry made you feel like the roof above you was opening up to the heavens. Accented by gold metal, and black pain.

Ifrit's presence was enough to scare away any demons lurking about- but Noctis summoned his staff with a spinning motion. Then slammed it down on the ground with an effort of power. Delivering a shockwave of magic into the floor, up the walls, and down all four of the main corridors. The crystal chandileer lights above them flickered. Responding to the return of their true owner. The lights above them began to glow, and so did many lights around the building. Powered by magic that ran through the tiles and walls, rather than electical cables. The light made Ardyn wince as it illuminated him. Several demons could be heard screaming in the distance, dying. With a single surmation of effort, Noctis had exorcized the Building with his light magic. Save for the two demons standing on either side of him. Both of whom were smoking black miasma ever so slightly.

Noctis looked up, past the main junction. Where the stairs to the throne room were situated at the Northern most wing of the Citadel. Noctis picked up his staff, and turned. Walking away from it and further down into the corridor. Moving upstairs and into one of the towers of the Citadel. Where a library of ancient texts possibly held the answers he needed.

Ardyn was a little glad for them skipping over the grandest room of the Citadel. He felt it would have been really akward to explain why there were corpses hanging from the ceiling. Corpses Ardyn made sure to hastily remove the second Noctis went to sleep that evening. Tired from traveling from Hammerhead all the way back home, Noctis reclaimed his childhood room within the royal chambers and went to sleep early. Giving Ardyn the opportunity to sneak down stairs and clean up his previous sins.

Honestly, Ardyn didn't even know what his past self had been thinking. Hanging Noctis' loved ones from the ceiling of the throne room.

You weren't thinking, you were mad. Being torn apart by your own mind. A voice that sounded vaugley like his dear Verstael spoke to him. As Ardyn lowered Lunafreya's body in the secrecy of the night. Ifrit providing the elevation he needed to do so without dropping the corpse and splattering her across the floor. Something he would loath having to clean up.

Ardyn grimaced, back in Hammerhead he had not been haunted by his ghosts so much. He really didn't care for them. Even if it meant seeing his loved ones again in some form. He wrapped Luna's body in a white shrowd, and carried her off. Quickly before Noctis woke up and wondered where he had gone.

There was a hidden anti-chamber behind the throne- used as an escape route durring the attack on Insomnia. Ardyn had originally found King Regis there. Still laying in his own pool of blood. Ardyn set Luna to rest there. Along side her brother Ravus, King Regis, the Sheild Clarus, and Nyx Ulric. Five bodies once hanging from chains, now wrapped properly in shrowds and ready for eternal slumber.

"Not a formal Entombment." Ardyn told the lot, nervously. Here he was not even 8 hours into being back and he was already speaking to them again. A bad habit he had picked up in his ten years of isolation. Mental sanity was such a fragile thing. "... I think it will do though." He decided.

Ardyn turned to leave, but stopped short of the door. The bodies behind him weren't going to rot and decay. Not with how Ardyn had magically stitched them back together- and the fact that the eternal night seemed to have stopped decay all together some how.

Ardyn chewed on his bottom lip. The five would never be properly at peace. Just like the rest of the damned world. The least he could do was give them proper funeral rites. Yes? Yes.

Ardyn turned back around, and summoned a box of candles. He placed one at each of their heads, and then their feat. He then rummaged around his Armiger until he found flower petals. Or the best equivilent he had. Why Ardyn had a box of fake flower petals in his Armiger- he wasn't quite sure. He tended to pick up and pilfer anything that seemed interested. He did vaugley recal one of Verstael's assistants planning a baby shower at some point. Maybe these had been for that?

Ardyn lit the candles, scattered the petals. He wanted to say something sarcastic and witty; however if he was going through the trouble of doing this properly- he might as well DO it properly. Ardyn inhaled, and began to sing the hymm of the dead. He was a bit rusty, but you could never truely forget something you had trained for and done countless of times. Ardyn as a healer had also been in charge of putting those he could not heal to rest. He had sung this song for a countless number of people. For the poorest of wayfairing strangers. Over soilders who died in battle. Now he sang it for the highest of nobility on Eos. A King, his Sheild, and the Oracle.

The marble anti-chamber, with it's round walls provided surprisingly good accustics. Ardyn found himself leaning into the song with a bit more feeling. Perhapse even just a bit more than that. If he could do at least ONE thing properly, he hoped that it would be this.

The lament came to a end. Ardyn letting it go with a singular long note. Afterwards he stood in the silence. A silence that wasn't echoing, or empty. Rather one that felt properly... dead. Somehow.

Ardyn felt satisfied enough with the result. He doffed his hat to the corpses. Then closed the chamber behind him as he returned back to the throne room, then upstairs to the royal chambers. Noctis was still asleep when Ardyn peaked his head into the room he had claimed for his own.

The room was glowing ever so slightly, thanks to the light spell Noctis cast continually on himself. Thus why Ardyn had given Noctis the nickname 'night light'. Since he basically walked around as a glorified one.

Noctis' watch beeped, startling both of them. Noctis opened his eyes at the noise, tense. He then relaxed and reached over. Turning off the alarm. Before sitting up and looking around groggily.

"Good morning, Night light." Ardyn greeted him jokingly, "Did you sleep well?"

Noctis grumbled, rubbing his stomach. Complaining about the nickname, as well as Ardyn being such a 'morning person.'

"It feels like we are missing something." Noctis said a few hours later. As his search of the Royal Library and the Citadel's archive came to no immediate answers.

"My boy. I don't think anyone in the history of Eos has ever tried to resessitate the entire planet." Ardyn pointed out. Closing the scroll he was looking at and then placing it back on the shelves. Picking the next one at random. A lot of them were written by the Lucian Kings themselves, reguarding magical experiments they had done over the years. Verstael would have cut off an arm and a leg to be in this room right now. Ardyn looked up at the shelves and shelves of knowledge colleceted over the years. A deep pang echoed in his chest as he thought of his late husband. They would have spent weeks archiving and reading all of this- just for the sheer act of learning what they could find.

Noctis scratched the thick hair growth along his jaw. Ever since coming out of the crystal, the King had sported a beard similar to his father's. However in the last few days it had been getting longer, and scraglier. Almost as if Noctis was not bothering to keep up with its maintenance. Maybe he was thinking of growing it out? It was a fair bit colder here than in Liede. Ardyn had to put on another layer of clothes before they came into the library.

"Niflheim was all about doing weird stuff with morality and lives. You know, with clones and what not." Noctis remarked, "What does it take to bring a person back to life? Or to create one?"

Ardyn put the scroll he had pulled out back into it's place. He didn't need some ancient document to answer this question. "It take three components. A body, a mind, and a soul."

"A body. A mind and a soul." Noctis repeated, and then wrote that down in the journal he had been taking notes in.

"A body. That would be the planet." Noctis pointed down to his feet, then scrunched his nose, "Can a planet have a mind?"

"I would say the mind is the collective consious of the people on the planet." Ardyn infromed him, "Your magic- the magic of the crystal- is deffinitley more what I would define as the 'body'. Because it handles more physical elements. You can move earth, summon elements, bend space, that sort of thing. The Oracle powers meanwhile deal primarily in the connetions between people, and with the gods. Almost all of it it is up here." Ardyn pressed a finger to the side of his head.

"Meanwhile Crystal magic is done through the heart." Ardyn moved his pointed finger from his temple, to the center of Noctis' sternum. Tapping it twice. "Oracle magic and Crystal magic are two very distinctly diffrent things."

Noctis frowned, placing a hand over his chest. "Oracle magic can heal people's bodies though. Those are physical ailments."

"Yes. It takes a lot of WILL to do so." Ardyn explained. He took a step back and explained, making vauge motions with his hands. "When Luna heals people she doesn't sooth any actual injuries. She more has to... to force reality to be what she wants it to be. That is partially why her and her brother are so head strong. The magic takes a lot of will power... and alot of self-confidence." Ardyn added on somewhat guiltily. He thought of his own, secrative failures to access the power set again.

Ardyn could no longer center himself enough to access the magic. Find that core Bahamut had drilled into him so many years ago. Ardyn didn't want to BE himself anymore. He was too unbalanced. All the Oracles he had ever met: Lunafreya, Queen Sylva, Area. They had been head strong and unwaivering. The deffinition of unshakable. Mean while Ardyn... Ardyn was sandstone. An uneven surface, worn away by time. Cracked, chipped and shot full of to many holes. He had crumbled into dust long ago.

Noctis considered this. "Okay. So if the Oracle is the mind, and then I'm the body. Then what is the soul?" Noctis tapped his pen on the table, thoughtfully. "They say the Crystal is the Heart of the Planet. Is that it's soul?"

Ardyn considered this, and then shrugged. He wasn't sure to be honest. "Maybe?" Verstael had been the only he knew of to ever deal in SOUL. The scientist had figured out how to move a dying person's soul from on body to another. That was how he had created his Immortalis project. Ardyn, as involved as he had been in, had never actually seen his husband's notes on how he had figured out how to do this though. Perhaps it was something he should look into...

"Where is the Crystal by the way?" Noctis asked tentativley, "I can feel it nearby- but it's not where we usually kept it."

Ardyn was increadibly greatful Noctis had slept soundly the previous night. "I moved it. It's... hanging in the throne room. You know. For dramatic effect."

"Oh." Nocits chewed his bottom lip. "Do you think that... anything has changed about it?"

Ardyn considered this. He had not really been paying attention to the crystal the last night. To busy trying to get the corpses down. "I don't know for sure. Should we... go check?" "No." Noctis answered quickly, sitting up nervously, "No. I don't want to risk it. Risk... getting sucked in again." He admitted.

Ardyn winced in sympathy. He had woken up Noctis from more than a few nightmares. Ardyn's own experience inside the crystal had been just as dreadful. The face of his first wife tourturing him in the name of the gods. An endless white dimension. "Fair enough."

"But maybe we can reconfigure the Lucian wall." Noctis suggested. Laying his arms out across the table. Making an apeal toward Ardyn. "Think about it. The Wall didn't just repel demons, but destroyed them, and then protected large areas of land. Maybe we can modify that somehow? To like, cover the entire world?"

Ardyn considered this. "The Lucian wall is a spell that feeds off one's life force." Ardyn recalled, "Even with all your power, creating such a spell could very well KILL you."

"I mean, I am fated to die killing you anyway." Noctis pointed out, "This is just... instead of me blasting you with a bunch of energy maybe I just have to like... kill you in casting this spell? Maybe?"

Ardyn considered this, "I am all for complicating matters; but this sounds like two many hands on a single dial."

Noctis fell silent, but Ardyn could tell that he silengly agreed. Noctis played with a corner of paper on the book he had been skimming. "I know you want to die. I am not planning on leaving you alone for eterninty." Noctis restated his goal. Though this time there was a good amount of... uncertainty to them. Ardyn frowned. "I just want us to find out own way. You know? Do this withouth Bahamut getting what he wants."

Ardyn was quiet for a long moment. He looked out the dark window then over to the glowing man across the table from him. "Noctis. May I say something that is on my mind for a moment?"

Noctis rested his head in his hand, "Sure."

"I don't think bringing back the planet is the answer here." Ardyn introduced this topic, scratching his neck. "In the sense that: Life has a cycle. You live. You die. Your body decays and then new life comes from that process. I am starting to think that we don't need to bring the planet back- we need to RENEW it."

"Okaaay," Noctis dragged out the word throughtfully, "The planet is already dead. Look at it." Noctis guestured out the window.

"Dead; but it's not decaying." Ardyn made the distinction, "Nothing is rotting. Not the dead, nor the plants. Not even the buildings are crumbling- It's been ten years and none of the buildings here have even fallen victim to even the weather- and look at some of them! They were damaged quite badly."

"It is almost like the planet is being held in this state of." Ardyn struggled for the correct word, "stagnation."

Noctis was quietly thoughful for a moment. "I think I see what you mean."

"I think what we might need to focus on is to make sure that when the two of us pass- that the planet is not held in this perpetual suspension of... unchange." Ardyn struggled for the correct words once again. Trying to get the concept across. As there was not exactly any modern term for it. There had been 2,000 years ago. Back when death was only seen as the first step in a process. It just seemed that the world, just like humans, had forgotten what the rest of that process was.

"How do you think we should do that?" Noctis asked thoughtfully.

"I... don't know." Ardyn admitted, "That seems very much like a Astral's territory if anything."

"IS there an Astral of Rot?" Noctis asked, and then pushed back from the table. He was in a rolling chair, which navigated the marble tiled floor easily. Noctis rolled to a book case- almost as if he knew what he was looking for already. The King pulled out a heavy looking tomb- which had clearly been added onto several points through out history.

"Astral of Rot." Noctis crossed one leg, and opened the book on his lap. Starting to paging through the book.

"I had no idea there were so many messengers." Ardyn said with some surprise. The book Noctis was looking through was almost as thick as his thigh.

"Well they come and go-" Noctis explained, "There are other worlds than our own. As well as dimensions, the Six are tied to this plane specifically, but the others kind of go where they please-"

"You think it's possible to summon one?" Ardyn asked, doubtfuly.

"Maybe. It wouldn't hurt to look." Noctis continued thumbing through the book.

Ardyn waited paitently. For all of sixty seconds, "Does that book not have an index?"

Noctis quickly checked the back, then flipped back to the front, "No- and they aren't alphabetical either."

Ardyn rolled his eyes. Of course. Lucians were far from a reasonable and scientific people. They were centuries behind on following logic and reason- they didn't even use the metric system. He went back to looking through the library documents in general. Seeing if he could find anything else of interest.

"No astral of Rot listed." Noctis declared after an hour, thumbing back to a book mark he had made with his finger, "The closest thing is Etros- maybe? But she's a god of Death. Like Shiva. It says that she's just established and inisted on certain burial customs- so people pray to her to aid the dead on their way." Noctis read off, "There's more than one note here that she does NOT like to be summoned or called upon however. King Pious apparently tried to, and ended up with-" Noctis leaned in, squinting to read the words, "Consumption? I've never heard of that before."

"Oh. That is an old word for Turberculosis." Ardyn supplied readily. Noctis blinked at Ardyn, a blank look on his face. "My husband- the Chief of Research in Niflheim- his father helped aid and develop the vaccine for Turberculois."

Noctis blinked at him once more, "I... I'm sorry. What's Tuberculosis? Is that something that effects bones? Like Scoliosis?"

Ardyn stared at Noctis for a long moment. Marveling at the realization that Noctis had grown up not knowing about the infamous 'white plauge'. "You live in a very lucky age, my boy."

The two of time continued to go through the Royal Archive. Which annoyingly wasn't set up with a Dewey Decimal System- rather things seemed to be organized by the whims of the Kings through out the ages. The two gathered interesting documents on the central table. Noctis reading through them, while Ardyn perused books, and asked Noctis if a document sounded helpful or not.

The study and research method felt familiar to him. Ardyn was reminded of the simpler times when he would help Verstael look up things in a library archive, or just from within the man's own mountians of notes. Ardyn hummed to himself. As he trailed his fingers along a shelf. He came across a set of three books, all bounded with the same thick black leather. They were newer than most of the other books. Almost modern compared to some of the ancient scrolls and books. Curious, he grabbed the first, and pulled it out. The first thing he saw upon opening the book was a diagram of the crystal, measuring it's dimensions. All with modern annotations.

"Well," Ardyn purred, "I seem to have found something interesting."

Noctis looked up from the document he was currently reading. Ardyn showed him the skematic he had found. Noctis's eyes lit up. The whole King's body flashed, increading in intensity. "Dude! these are the skematics for the crystal chamber!" Noctis put the book he had been reading down. Reaching for the one in Ardyn's hand.

"I belive so." Ardyn handed Noctis the book, then went to collect the other two books.

Noctis set all of the other materials aside to prioriatize the crystal diagram. It took them a long time to digest all of the information. One book was filled with diagrams, blue prints, and lables. Another was filled to the brim with material lists, component descriptions, and assembly instructions. Meanwhile the third seemed to be an operations manuel of some kind. The three being needed together in order to create and work the entire assembly.

Halfway through puzzling this out- Noctis' watch alarm went off. Announcing the end of what they usually designated as their work day. Noctis turned off the alarm and kept reading.

"I have some unfortunate news, we blew up this holding chamber for the crystal when we invaded the city." Ardyn infromed Noctis, once he had a better understanding of what they were dealing with. Most of the harnessing of the Crystal's energy seemed to be based upon the design of said chamber, "That was how we stole the crystal in the first place. Apologies."

Noctis had yet to remark on the destroyed state of his city, and the Citadel itself. He was quiet for a long moment. He pushed himself up from the table- as if pushing himself into action.

"Then why don't we see if we can fix it?" Noctis declared, "Yes. We are going to give that a try next." He decided.

Over the next two days they skimmed through the wreckage of the old crystal chamber. Refrencing it with the designs within the books. The magic of the crystal was apparently reflected by a dozen mirrors and then directed upwards. With a spell focal inbetween the sky bridges of the Citadel. That is where the King of Lucis came into play. They created the focus- out of their life force- and it acted as a prism. Which transformed the energy of the crystal into the wall itself.

"Wait the ring isn't involved in this at all?!" Noctis asked, sitting in the ruined chamber where the crystal used to sit. Legs crossed with the diagram for the chamber in his lap. He held up his right hand. Which had the ever-present black ring attached to it.

"Of course it's not." Ardyn was standing behind Noctis. Making a list of components they were going to need to replace, using a clip board to write on. He looked at a broken mirror panel, and then diagram. Grimacing. He had no idea where they would get so much adamantium.

"What the fuck is this thing even for then?!" Nocits asked irritably, trying to take off the ring. It didn't budge even the slightest.

"It's a collar clearly." Ardyn flipped to the next page of the material manuel, "Meant to keep you and your family in check."

Noctis tried to pull the ring off once more. Still with no success. "Damn it." he cursed. Noctis turned from where he was sitting on the floor, and held out his hand to Ardyn. "Cut my finger off."

The blunt, and rather serious deman made Ardyn blink with surprise.

Noctis doubled down on the decision. "I'm serious. Cut it off. This damned thing has done nothing but give me greif!" Noctis exploded with frustration. Ardyn felt Noctis' magic lingering around them twist. Above them the sky started to turn cloudy.

"Luna died trying to get it to me. It killed my father! Slowly! Do you know what it's like?!" Noctis vented, tears gathering at the corner of his eyes. "To watch someone you love die?! From the VERY day you are born?! Knowing nothing can be done about it! To be told that you have some grand destiny live up to!? Then not be allowed to do anything BUT meet everyone's impossible expectations?!"

Ardyn looked at Noctis' upset expression, and then set his clip board aside. Taking on a tone he had not used in what felt like eons. Sympathetic, and caring. "No. I can not imagine what that is like. However. I am not cutting your finger off. I don't think that would actually do anything- given that it so clearly wants to stay on." Ardyn assured Noctis. Letting him know that Ardyn was hearing what he was saying.

Noctis fell back against the floor. Glaring up at the broken mirror chamber above him. A couple dozen of him starring back at himself.

"Perhaps we should call it for today." Ardyn suggested. He didn't sleep, or eat normally. Nor was Ardyn the best at keeping track of time. However, Ardyn knew that Noctis had not slept much since they had arrived in Insomnia. Just the eight hours after they arrived, then a short nap yesterday and the day before that. Insisting that they had work to do.

"Over working yourself only leads to mistakes." Ardyn advised, "When was the last time you ate? We didn't have breakfast, and you skipped lunch. How about some dinner?"

Noctis avoided looking him in the eye. Ardyn didn't know why. He frowned. "Noctis? Is there something you're not telling me?"

"I... don't have any food left." Noctis admitted.

It took a moment for this information to sink in. It was a cold, dark feeling. "What was that Night Light?" Ardyn honestly was hoping that he had heard his nephew wrong, "What do you mean? You're out of food!?"

"I'm just- it's not that hard of a concempt." Noctis snapped. Pulling himself up from the floor. For the first time Ardyn realized just how irratable Noctis was being- had been for the last few hours. It had not been directed at him- more at their work than anything.

"There is no more food." Noctis reitterated, "It is not that hard of a concept to understand. Just... another reality we will need to work around."

Ardyn stared at Noctis, then off to the side. As if the blasted, destroyed panels of the crystal chamber could somehow provide input in on this conversation.

"But you went to Lestallum to get food." Ardyn recalled, "You... you were gone and then came back- and said that it was time to go." Ardyn had never SEEN any of the food though, now that he recalled. Though that wasn't exactly a red flag. The two of them practically lived out of their armigers. Ardyn ususually only saw food when Noctis cooked it, or made them tea.

Ardyn felt a sour feeling grow in the back of his mouth. Noctis had not made tea since their arrival at the Citadel. "You went to Lestallum to get supplies." Ardyn reitterated. Not sure what to say.

"Lestallum is covered in ash." Noctis informed him bitterly. "Mt. Ravatough is still spewing lava apparently. It's... everything west of the chasim is completly covered in lava." Noctis ran a hand through his long hair. Less brushed out than usual. Ardyn's eyes flickered from Noctis' unkepmt hair, then his untrimmed beard. Realizing how much it looked like Noctis had just... given up. "At this rate maybe the volcano will engulf the whole world- I don't know."

"That's..." Ardyn was still trying to process this, "You said you had a month's worth of food left before you went."

Noctis didn't look at him. "I lied." he said quietly.

The room was silent for a long time. Ardyn stared at Noctis.

Noctis swallowed. "We are running out of time." He spoke quietly. Then picked up the book containing the diagrams for the crystal chamber. "We are going to try and repair the crystal chamber- and dispell the majority of the scourge with the wall. If that doesn't work..." Noctis trailed off, "We will just have to settle for doing things Bahamut's way."

Ardyn continued to stared at Noctis. That cold, dread feeling inside of him hit some sort of bottom. Ardyn suddently felt himself grow hot. Angry. Furious. He dropped his reading material list onto the floor. Noctis flinched, then glared up at him. Ardyn didn't notice however. He walked out of the room. Out of the Crystal Chamber. Out of the Citadel.

Ifrit sat up as Ardyn kicked open the front doors of the Citadel, and came down the steps two at a time. The God had taken up post sitting at the entrance. With him there, none of the demons dared to even enter the Citadel grounds. Not that Noctis' lights made them even want too.

"We need to find food for Noct." He ordered the God. Ifrit stood up to his feet faster than Ardyn had ever seen the puppeted God do before.

Insomnia had been ruined a year before the night had settled in. At first some of the Crowns Guard and citizens had stayed to fight. To reclaim their home from the demons. They had some success with this- however when the long night came, they all subcummed to the dark shadows that Ardyn infected the city with. Either being killed by the demons who invaded the Captial City, or becoming one of them.

Ardyn raided one of these refugee camps first. He found pantries filled with food. All of the perrishables were mush, of course. However there were plenty of cans, and jars, and dry goods that had been untouched by a lack of insects. Hopefully it was all still good. Ardyn had not properly cooked anything for himself in the last fifty or so years- and food poisoning applied diffrently to a stomach that was 90% scourge liquid most of the time.

Ardyn gathered as much as he could find, storing it in his armiger. He then made his way back to the Citadel. Ifrit returned around the same time. An 18 wheeler truck over one shoulder. He turned it over and emptied it out. Boxes and boxes of cup noodles fell. Littering the front court yard. Ardyn stared at the addition. Then picked up one of the cups.

"Thank you." Ardyn beeseached the god. Who tossed the truck away- over the wall of the citadel and into oblivion. Until it crashed against something loudly. Ardyn walked back into the Citadel. Carrying his spoils in with purpose. He walked right up to Noctis- who was still in the crystal chamber. Slamming the cup of noodles down onto the surface Noctis was using as a desk.

"Here." He told Noctis firmly. Defiantly. "We aren't that desperate. Yet."

Noctis looked at the cup noodle, then looked up at Ardyn. "I thought you would have been happier... getting things done sooner."

Ardyn knew how much of a hypocryte he was being. He did not care. "Not at the expense of you suffering." Ardyn declared, and realized in that very moment- that this was true. Ardyn was sick of seeing people suffer. As sick of it as he had been back when Somnus was going around murdering anyone with the scourge.

Ardyn had never liked watching people suffer. Had always wanted to prevent it as much as he could. Even when he had been mad and vengeful, there had been a part of him he had to quiet. A part of him reminding him that doing all of this was WRONG- and it WAS wrong. What Bahamut had planned- for whatever reason to kill off the world. Letting everyone fight and squabble themselves to death. Forcing people to either eat or be eaten. It was WRONG. Cruel. Unjust.

Ardyn felt that angry, burning feeling inside of him simmer. A metal rod inside of him that glowed red hot, refusing to be quenched.

The next few days slowly involved them making camp in the royal chambers of the Citadel, and piecing back together the crystal chamber- or trying to at least. Niflheim was very good at destroying something when they needed too- and almost all of the electrics were needing to be replaced. Ardyn found himself on his back for most of the day. Gutting wires and electronics and replacing them as he went.

"I wish there was some kind of spell that could just REPAIR things." Noctis bemoaned. He did not have as much knowledge about mechanical componenets as Ardyn did. So he was stuck puzzling together the adamantium mirrors. There were a dozen of them- each broken into a thousands chunks and shards that all looked exactly the same. They didn't have any Adamantium to build new mirrors. So the two were going to try and glue the ones here back together. It was a giant 3-d puzzle with no sort of artwork or clues to go off of.

"You haven't encountered such a thing before?" Noctis asked, turning a piece of metalic glass over in his hand. He picked up a piece he had already matched it with.

"Not really," Ardyn placed a small in between his teeth, so he could use both hands to jiggle out a half-melted wire from the panel he was under.

Noctis turned the two glass pieces in his hand over, and then pressed them together. He started to concentrate, focusing on the gap between the two. Summoning magical fire- it was metal and glass. If he melted the edge enough they would fuse. Right? Just a small bead of fire...

Noctis concentrated. The peices in his hands heated up faster than Noctis anticipated. Too fast. He gasped and then yelped, as the pieces became too hot to hold. dropping them to the ground as his hands singed.

Ardyn, alarmed at the noise came part way from out of under the console. "What are you trying to do?!"

"I- tried fuse them together with fire." Noctis hissed. He pulled out a flask and summoned ice energy to it. Trying to dispell the heat from the burns.

Ardyn clicked his tounge and crawled out from under the panel. Given his large stature, and the smallness of the panel, it was a rather unflattering afair.

"Let me see your hands." He commanded, and then winced. His back not agreeing with him as he stood up.

Noctis guiltily handed his hands over, still using the magic flask as an ice pack. Ardyn was not surprised to see the burn lines, he shook his head, and summoned some burn cream from his armiger. Then bandages. It did not take him long to treat and wrap Noctis' hands. Though they would probably be aching for a day or so.

Noctis looked at his bandaged fingers, once he was done. Opening and closing them. "You are really talented at healing, you know that? Not even Ignis wraps bandages as well as you do."

"You can thank me by going down to the Citadel Garage- or any garage- and getting me one of those rolling matts they use to get under cars." Ardyn grunted, placing a hand on his lower back. He blew a stray hand out of his face, "And a better hair tie." His hair was getting longer, and it was in the way too often. Perhaps he should just cut it... Ardyn ran his hand through the marron locks. Thinking of Verstael. Ardyn hated getting his hair. He had too many trust issues to let someone near his neck with sharp blades. Verstael he had grown to trust though. His ex-husband had use to trim and style his hair for him...

The sound of something coming out of a subspace brought Ardyn back to reality, "One of these?" Noctis offered. Holding a mechanist's rolling cart with his newly bandaged hands.

Ardyn stared at Noctis, "I have been down there for nearly three hours- and you have had one of those this entire time?" He asked, indignantly. Weilding his wrench tool like a weapon. "I'm not young you know- my back has been killing me!"

Noctis used the cussioned board as a sheild. "I'm sorry! It just didn't occur to me!" He appologized somewhat childishly.

Ardyn was not going to forgive him for this however. Noctis would know that the wrath of the darkness was not to be taken lightly. He threw his wrench- not with enough force to be dangerous. It bounced off the cart, but Ardyn warped to it and tackeled his nephew to the ground. Noctis made a squacking noise- somewhere between a chocobo and a startled teenager.

A breif wrestling match ensued- which of course Ardyn won due to his longer limbs, and heavier weight. Giving Noctis the ultimate punishment- that of a head noogie. Digging his knuckles into Noctis' scap and twisting it back and forth. Noctis yelped, and tried to wiggle out of his arms. Just like Somnus would back when they were teenagers. Ardyn couldn't help but laugh. Releasing Noctis, who warped away immediatley.

"You're so mean." Noctis complained. Pressing his bandaged hands to his head.

"Vanquish me then." Ardyn challeneged humerously. Standing up and placing his hands on his hips.

Noctis pouted, and then picked up one of the mirror shards. "No. We talked about this- I don't want to risk fighting when we are in here. So that it doesn't set off our destiny or something."

Ardyn looked down at Noctis, and then relaxed his shoulders. Noctis reminded him of Somnus in so many ways- but when he said things like that it reminded him that they were very much NOT the same people. Ardyn sat down beside Noctis, and started helping him piece together glass pieces.

Suggesting ways they might be able to use their magic to perhapse fuse them back together. In the end neither of them were successful. Having to cut some some large back boards and then glue the puzzled together mirror shards to said boards. Then hoping that the restored reflective surface was whole enough to work with.

It took them a week of squinting at glass shards just to do this, mind you. With the easiest part of the reassembly just fixing the more mechanical and computer components of the control room. For as back water as Lucis seemed sometimes- even Ardyn had to admit that their engineering and mechanical components were better than Niflheim's. The Empire mass produced everything, with the idea that if something broke it could just be replaced. Meanwhile Lucians made sure their machines were simple, uncomplicated, and would be able to do whatever they needed to for as long as possible. Replacement parts were easy enough to come by, and even as damaged as the console was, what parts were intact were still working.

"Now all we have to do is get the crystal in place." Noctis said with some worry. Once the Crystal chamber was reassembled- as best as they could get it too be. All of the mirrors were covered with spider web cracks. The machine panels were still mostly covered in scourch marks- and Ardyn had to repourpose several of the dozens of office computers found around the Citadel to frankenstein an operating system. Giving them feed back and the ability to run sequence programs.

Noctis had been avoiding anything that might trigger their 'destinies' at any cost. One of those being to give the throne room a wide birth. He didn't even want to see the Crystal- if at all possible. Though Ardyn thought this was a bit silly. They had gone so long putting off their destinies by simply refusing to fight each other. He didn't think that being in a certain room, or seeing what was essentially a big rock would change anything. It was quite a big stretch to think that something would suddently cause them to turn on one another.

"How did you even get the crystal in here?" Noctis asked, following Ardyn up to the door, and then stopping a good arms length meters back.

"I had Ifrit carry it." Ardyn said simply, then corrected himself, "Well put it in an airship with a crane, back in Niflheim. THEN from the air ship to here, I had Ifrit carry it into place."

"You're using a litteral God- as a fork lift?" Noctis asked with a tone of reprimand.

"Only when needed." Ardyn looked, just as heavy foot prints came from the hallway. Summoned mentally, Ifrit ducked his horns so that they would not get caught in the chandileers of the main hallway intersection. The vaulted hallways were tall enough for Ifrit to walk upright through them, but there were a few lower hanging hazards the God had to be careful of.

Ifrit approached them, and then stopped. Waiting for further orders. Ardyn nervously looked up at the God, then to Noctis. Wondering if the young King noticed that the demon marks on the God had... shifted somewhat. Not reteating, just forming a diffrent pattern. Ardyn had been experimenting with some things while Noctis slept. Still trying to uncorrupt the god. Only in a diffrent manner. Ardyn could not longer absorbe the scourge like he used to. So he had tried... shifting it around. To just push it out of the got and elsewhere. Unfortunatley the process was a lot like digging a hole in sandy water. The hole just refilling anything he took out.

Noctis didn't seem to notice; or if he did he said nothing. Ardyn looked from Ifrit over to Noctis. "Okay. Are you sure you don't want to come in and help?"

"I'm going to stay back here, unless I have to." Noctis said somewhat appologetically, and took another step back. Wrapping his arms around his chest.

Ardyn nodded, respecting this decision. It wasn't like anyone other than Ifrit was going to be doing any work. He opened the door to the throne room.

The smell hit them both immediatly. The stench of something foul, rotten and sulfurous. Ardyn blinked as tears formed at the corner of his eyes. A chemical reaction that was automatic.

Noctis cursed, and then almost gagged. "What the fuck?!"

Ardyn recognized the stench immediatly. He took a few paniced steps into the throne room, and then looked around. Fearful that he had not properly cleaned up. Forgotten a body somewhere. All of the chanes were empty though. The five figures he had collected, and then talked to durring his period of insanity were not present.

"That's the smell of death!" Noctis noted. "What died in there?"

Ardyn's gaze immediatley went to the hidden entrance on the second level of the throne room. Behind which laid 5 corpses. Perhaps the door was not as air tight as it appeared to be.

Noctis had a hand over his nose. He stepped forward, just to the entrance of the throne room. "Ardyn. What in the world did you do in here?"

Ardyn turned sharply, before Noctis could enter the room. "No!"

"What?" Noctis asked with surprise. Stopped by Ardyn's outstretched hand.

"Wait here." Ardyn commanded, pushing Noctis backwards. "It's for your own good." He explained, then slammed the throne room door in Noctis' face.

Noctis stared at the heavy doors of the throne room. He scowled angrily and, reached for the golden handles. Pushing the doors inward. Ardyn was on the second level of the throne room already, opening the hidden door on the middle platform of the area. Looking at something. He didn't notice that Noctis had disobeyed him. To busy looking into the anti-chamber.

Noctis warped up to the man. Catching up in a flash of light. "Ardyn what are you-"

"Noct!" Ardyn jumped at his sudden arrival, and then reprimaned him. "Light! I told you to stay back!"

Ardyn tried to block Noctis from seeing what was in the next room. Stepping in the way and throwing out an arm. Noctis strood stock still. Having already seen enough.

On the second level of the throne room was a hidden anti-chamber, leading to a hidden elevator. Created as an escape for Kings and nobles, should an emergency arrise. Noctis was well aware of the chamber's existance. So he was not suprised to see it.

He WAS however surprised to see 5 figures wrapped in white cloth, and lined up beside one another. A familiar shape was laying across the chest of the nearest figures. One Noctis would never have forgotten the look or shape of. A black cane with gold accents, the shape of a lion's head as the handle. His FATHER's cane.

Despite the foul stench of the room, Noctis inhaled sharply. "Is that- my Dad?!" Noctis pushed past Ardyn. Shoving his way through. Not that Ardyn made to much of an attempt to stop him. Initially. Noctis tried to throw himself at the figure laying on the floor- but Ardyn stopped his nephew. Wrapping his arms around Noctis' wait and shoulder.

"Don't touch them!" Ardyn hissed, before Noctis could fall over the very clearly rotting and decaying corpse. Wet and sticky with blood and other juices. Bloated from rotting gas. The white linnen respectfully hidding the worse parts of rotting decay, but starting to stain yellow in some areas.

Noctis clenched Ardyn's arm across his chest a loud keening noise forming at the back of his throat- one which evolved into a sob. Ardyn slowly lowered him to the ground. As giant tears began to form in his nephew's eyes. Noctis couldn't form words. He was inconsolable. Wailing out with a mournful cry.

"I'm sorry." Ardyn appologized, holding onto Noctis. "I didn't want you to see this."

Noctis couldn't speak he was sobbing so hard. He wanted to go to his father and hold onto him- but instead all he could do was cling to Ardyn. Who pulled him into his chest, and rested his chin ontop of Noctis' head. Supporting him.

Noctis greived, and around them the Citadel reacted to his greif. Magical lights and sigils flickering on and off. A storm began to form overhead. The sky split with thunder, rain began to fall. The earth rumbled beneath them, several building around Insomnia fell from the tremors.

Noctis sobbed openly and continually. All Ardyn could do was hold on and comfort Noctis the best he could. There was the sound of heavy foot prints behind them. Then the room illuminated with a warmer tint, as Ifrit crouched down to look at them through the door. Drawn by Noctis' soul calling out for help.

Ardyn had given Noctis some control over the puppeted god afterall. Ifrit couldn't help Noctis though, not as he was. The God ended up sitting on the second level of the throne room. Just watching them through the door.

Ardyn consoling his nephew the best he could. He wasn't sure how long they were there. Long enough for Ardyn's nose to get accustomed to the stench of the room- though Ifrit's firey form might have relived some of the miasma.

"W-what happened?" Noctis asked after a bit. Once he was more collected. "H-how did he end up here?"

"I... actually found him in here." Ardyn explained warrily, "He was killed by Captain Dratos, who was one of our spies. A Niflheim General in fact. It seemed like he stayed back, so that Lady Luna could get away."

"Who are these other people? I can see one is Clarus- Gladio's father." Noctis looked to the other shrowded forms. Ardyn had laid weapons across most of their chests. Luna and Ravus' were bare however. Ravus had not had a weapon he particularly favored- and Luna's trident was much to valuable an item to keep lying around. He had that in his armiger.

Ardyn debated not telling Noctis. The way Luna and Ravus were wrapped they probaly wouldn't be identified. Not unless Noctis uncovered them. Ardyn enterntained the idea for just a second. Then decided against it. There were some lies that just weren't worth the fall out. If noctis even so much as peaked under the veils- and Ardyn had lied to him- what trust the two had would be gone forever.

Ardyn sighed. "The one on the far end is Luna, and beside her is Ravus."

"What?" Noctis sobbed, digging his nails into Ardyn's arm. "W-why are they here? How did they get here!?"

"I... didn't really have anywhere else to put them?" Ardyn was not lying, but that wasn't quite the whole truth. A half-lie. "The man in the middle is name Nyx. Luna gave him the Ring, durring the invasion. The Luci recognized him, and he defeated our Diamond Weapon. I figured... he deserved a burial as well."

"You've just been collecting bodies and entombing them under the throne?" Noctis wipped his face off. Ardyn thought Noctis would be angry. Instead he seemed to find a sliver line of humor in it all. "Pft. Our ancestors would have found that fitting."

Ardyn didn't really know what to say about that. He wasn't really as into the skull and death iconography that the Lucis Caelum name seemed obsessed with. He had enough going on in his life that brought morbid themes to the front. Personally, Ardyn had always prefered flowers.

Noctis extracted himself from Ardyn's arms. No longer desiring to be held. Ardyn stood up with Noctis. Then was surprised, when the chosen King of Light bowed to him. A formal guesture that was a huge significance. Even if they were the only ones around to witness it.

"Thank you." Noctis said, "For making sure my family was put to rest."

"I ... you are very welcome." Ardyn felt increadibly uncomfortable with this. He eyed up the bodies. All of which he had hanging from the ceiling of the throne room for almost a decade. Ardyn talking, debating and even yelling at them. Tokens of how far into maddness he had fallen.

As Ardyn looked at the corpses, he observed something curious. Noctis nocticed it as well. "These are the first corpses I have seen that are properly decaying." He observed.

That was not just it though. Ardyn looked down the lines of bodies. Each of them were at similar states of decomposition. Bloating up and emmitting a foul stench. About a week's on.

"Maybe it was because they died before the sun disapeared?" Noctis came to his own conclusion, and seemed to accept it at face value. Noctis didn't understand that his father, and all of these people had died 11 years ago. To him, being trapped in the crystal, it had only felt like two or three years. Noctis also had no basis of what a corpse should look like, or what the states of decay were. To him a dead corpse rotting away just made sense.

Ardyn as a healer, and someone who had worked with Verstael, was intimate with what happened to bodies after they died. He found it very significant that each of the corpses were at the same state. Despite having died months apart, and years ago by this point. It had been only a week since he had taken them down though...

Noctis sniffed, and wipped off his nose. It looked like another waive of greif was about to wash over him. Ardyn silently offered him a hug, and Noctis accepted it with a surprising amount of enthusiasim. Ardyn winced as his nephew squeezed on one of the sensative, constantly bleeding wounds left over from his imprisonment. Thankfully. Noctis didn't linger for too long.

"I know where to get some inscense, in one of the store rooms." Noctis produced a hankie from his armiger. He wipped off his face and cheek properly, "I don't know about flowers though. Where did you get these petals from?"

"They're cloth." Ardyn explained. "I had them in my Armiger from something or other."

"I wish we could have some actual ones." Noctis lamented, "Luna loved sylleblossums."

"Right." Ardyn wasn't quite listening. Still looking at the mystery presented to him. How the corpses had started decaying AFTER the long night, and not before.

Noctis did not notice, oblivious to the Ardyn's clandestine actions. The young King was more occupied by gathering materials, and spending some time to properly send off his loved ones. He lit incense and candles for the dead. Then found a dozen vases of fake sylleblossums scattered around the place; or similar looking blue flowers. Scattering petals and fake plants for the dead. A Lucian custom almost as old as the Crystal itself. Noctis muttered prayers as he went. Though who Noctis was praying too, Ardyn wasn't quite sure. The only God still around was a possessed puppet.

Ardyn meanwhile was occupied by the conundrom sitting before him. That being the fact that the corpses were rotting or decaying in the first place. It was an investigation he couldn't involve Noctis in. Not without confessing to his previous hobby of desicraiting human corpses.

Ardyn knew it had to be something about the funeral rights. It was the only thing that had changed, or that could have affected them. It wasn't Ifrit being close by. Ardyn had raised the corpses up using the God like a fork lift years ago, in the same manner that he had taken them down with.

So clearly it had to have been the funeral rites. What about that ritual had changed them though? It had somehow freed them from the perpetual, unchanging nature the world seemed to be in. What hard Ardyn done??? He knew for certain it had not been Oracle magic- he still couldn't access the light within him. It wasn't his demonic energy either. If that was the case the corpses would have turned into demons. His Lucian powers? Ardyn wondered about that but... he didn't think that was the case. Usually Ardyn had to very specifically reach for any sort of magical powers.

Something else was going on here. Ardyn could feel something turning in the back of his mind. This was something new. He had done something new. Something that wasn't dark, or light, or any thing else.

What WAS it though?

Noctis took the rest of the day, and most of the next to properly mourn his lost loved ones. Creating a memorial infront of the secret chamber's door. Against the wall of the middle throne room. Noctis collected pictures of his father, and his best friend. Of Luna, and a young picture of Ravus that featured Queen Sylvia as well. For Nyx he looked at the Glaive records, and found a locker number. Which contained some pictures that he could add to the memorial. Nyx standing with a woman and a heavy set man that was clearly from Galahd. Noctis also performed a small ceremony, and in death giving the man all the honors a Lucian soilder would receive for dying in battle. Even if there was no one left to recognize him for it.

Ardyn let Noctis mourn however he wanted. Keeping his nephew company, providing emotional support. While also silently investigating the situation. Ardyn wanted to find some answers. In order to do that, he needed to find some corpses. Not exactly a task he looked forward to- and one that turned out to be immediatley impossible. Insomnia had been ground zero for his demonic powers spreading out to infect the entire world. There was nothing left of the citizens but clothes, by this point. Arydn snuck out and checked some of the quieter corners of the city- but he couldn't find a courpse anywhere nearby.

Ardyn would probably have to leave the city. Not something he could do in the eight to nine hours Noctis usually set aside for proper sleep. Which was a bit frustrating. There were countless corpses beyond the walls. Noctis and Ardyn had passed by nearly a dozen a day, back when they were traveling around. Learning to ignore or avoid their presence. Ardyn couldn't leave to go experiement with them now. Not without Noctis asking a hundred questions. Not when they were so close to testing their next hypothesis.

The day after Noctis finished mourning they had Ifrit carry the Crystal into the repaired chamber. The Giant hefting up the giant rock easily, and carrying it over one shoulder, like a very unweildy duffle bag. Setting it within the crystal holding chamber gently, and then taking a handful of lumbering steps backwards.

"It isn't glowing as much." Noctis observed. Still warry of getting near or touching the thing. Lest he get sucked back in again.

"It doesn't feel empty though." Ardyn noted. The Crystal was significantly less brilliant, but still glowing with energy. "It still has life to it."

"I've absorbed most of it's power though." Noctis concluded with a sour tone, he looked down at his hand, opening and closing it. "Perhaps you aren't the only noose Bahamut put into place."

"Hmm." Ardyn did not agree with this statement, but he had no desire to bicker with Noctis today. "Let us see if we can turn this on."

The same technology the Lucians used to control and activate the crystal was actually very similar to the one that Verstael had developed to fully block said powers. There was something about audio frequencies that seemed to affect the crystal, or other magics. Ardyn adjusted a dial on a noise emmitter, which played a frequency neither of them could hear. They could both feel how it affected the crystal within the chamber.

"It's reacting." Noctis said with some eagerness, as they felt the energy build up.

"Wonderful. Let's go through the boot up sequence." Ardyn suggested, backing off on the dial. Taking strain off of the crystal.

Noctis picked up one of the manuels, one that was almost as thick as Ardyn's thigh. He paged through to one of their book marks. Reading off instructions.

In doing the boot up sequence they discovered a few of the mechanics that needed to be fixed. As well as some fine tuning that needed to be done to compensate for the mirrors being broken. After three days of bending over books and figuring out how the machine was supposed to work- and then reverse engineering it with what they had. With a lot of frustration they FINALLY got it working properly.

Their first test was going to just be a bean. Straight upwards. Seeing how much energy they could get out of the crystal in general, and if it would be enough for what they wanted to do. Noctis was hoping they could get the light beam higher than any of his own spells. Which usually capped out around the middle of the troposphere.

This was a relativley simple, if not brute force way to go about things. Ardyn didn't think it was uncalled for though. Most science started out by just poking something, and then waiting to see what would happen.

The day of the experiment found Noctis on the sky walk of the Citadel, and Ardyn down in the control booth. Both with walkie talkies for communication.

"Skies are clear." Noctis' voice came in a little staticy, and followed by a click.

Ardyn almost rolled his eyes. Wanting to point out the skies were always clear- unless Noctis was upset for some reason. He figured he should be happy that Noctis was in a good mood today though. He pressed down the button on his communication device, "Rodger Rodger. Starting up booting sequence. Over."

"You don't have to say over." Noctis replied with a staticy sight, "You know that right?"

"I'm sorry can you repeat? Over?" Ardyn asked with a grin. Feeling Noctis' face palm over the radio.

"Just start the boot up." Noctis requested. "PLEASE? Over."

Ardyn, satisfied that he could still annoy someone, began the boot up sequence. The crystal hummed, and began to build up energy. Ardyn glanced over at the reconstructed mirror chamber. Letting the crystal warm up. It took some time- nearly three times as long as the instruction manuel had taken note of. The crystal was heavily depleated of energy. Though it still held quite a bit. Ardyn reached over and checked the next sequence he was supposed to enter. Wondering if it might be better just to stick Noctis inside the chamber instead. Since he had so much raw power.

The radio clicked on, then off. Ardyn looked at it, and waited. Then picked up the walkie.

"Repeat. Over?" Ardyn asked into to device.

"It's nothing." Noctis replied.

Ardyn frowned and then shrugged. "Starting first phase. Over." He called out, and then stared typing a code phrase into the computer he had hooked up to the terminal. He ran program 'test one' which would direct all of the mirrors. The mirrors began to mechanically adjust behind him. Being manuvered by a series of levers and arms.

"I have light." Noctis announced, "But it's nothing stronger than a spot light."

"Give it a minute. Over." Ardyn reminded Noctis. He looked upwards. Where a thin tube above the crystal chamber stretched all the way up to the center point between the 4 Citadel towers. "Does it seem in focus? Over?"

"Uhm..." Noctis' reply was heavily static, "The diagram you gave me says you need to make an adjustment to make the occulus thing. To close it more? Yeah more closed on the thing."

Noctis was such a wonderful lab asistant. Ardyn his eyes. He turned and put a hand on the manuel controls for the mirrors, and slowly started easing up on a lever. Which manipulated the mirrors at the top of the chamber. A series of mirros that over lapped like a camera lense. "Tell me when, over." Ardyn spoke into his walkie.

"No, no. A little more. Okay- When!" Noctis replied, "Yeah, that's better. That looks like what you said it would!" Noctis said with enthusiasim. "It's much taller now as well!"

Now they needed to wait for the crystal to power up completly. Ardyn reached over to the dial that powered up the crystal. Wondering if he could increase the level more, or if he needed to wait.

The walkie clicked again. "Ardyn. We might have a problem." Noctis said with concern.

"Rodger. Over?" Ardyn asked with concern.

"The light is attracting demons." Noctis explained, "All over the city- I can hear them making noise- and a few of them are already in the air."

Demons? Being attracted TOO light? Ardyn had no idea why that would be a thing.

"I'm going to try and keep them away with my own light." Noctis decided.

"Well hold on- I can power down." Ardyn reminded him. He didn't want to be too risky.

"No. Just keep the sequence going." Noctis told him. He didn't sound paniced or rushed. Ardyn had seen the impressive light storms Noctis had summoned before. Noctis, with his new powers, could basically banish most demons on sight. He didn't think that Noctis would be in any particular danger... but being overwhelmed was a very real possibility.

Ardyn chewed his bottom lip, "Tell me immediatly if you need me to power down." He commanded, "Over."

Ardyn waited a tense moment, in which he got no reply. "Noctis. Respond. Over?"

"Yeah we're good. Over."

Ardyn sighed with relife. He closed his eyes. Opening up a second pair. Ifrit was posted at the front of the Citadel, where he usually stayed. Ardyn made him look around, but he didn't see any immediate threats. Ardyn commanded the God to go to the top of the tower, and help Noctis.

He then opened his eyes back in the control room. Ardyn placed a hand on the power dial. "Going to power level two. Over." He announced, and turned up the sound box that controlled the crystal.

Behind him the crystal responded and starting letting out more magical power. The repaired mirrors reflected the energy around, until it escaped upwards in a singular beam. Above him, inbetween the four towers of the Citadel, A bream of purple light flickered, increasing in both height and brightness.

Noctis looked back at the beam, and then looked forward. He was flying above the Citadel's sky walk. Getting a better view on what was going on. His magic staff held in his hands. Demons flew around the citadel in a circle. Flocking like birds after a battle. More rising up from the city and coming in from the surrounding area.

A large figure alighted ontop of the citadel. Glowing just like Noctis was, but with fire instead of pure light. Ifrit had been sent to assist him- but the God was stuck on the ground. While Noctis was in the air.

Noctis looked to Ifrit, then up at the distant growing collection of demons. They were circling around the beam of power rising up. As if attracted to it. However none of them approached after a certain point. Being kept away from the beam by the light itself. The beam wasn't light though- Noctis realized. It emmitted light to some degree, but its nature was pure, unfiltered magic. The demons were attracted to the MAGIC, he realized. They weren't directing a beam of spotlight upwards, but one of pure magic instead.

Static came in over the radio, but Noctis didn't head Ardyn over the wind. After a moment, behind Noctis, the beam of magic from the crystal raised in intensity once more. With a buzz, magic radiated off the beam. Almost enough to make Noctis lose concentration and fall out of the sky. Yet at the same time the pure magic replenished Noctis. Allowing him to stay in the air.

Noctis had to adjust himself with his staff. Looking upwards to see how high the beam of magic was now reaching.

What he saw stunned him.

The purple beam of light reached higher than any distance Noctis had ever managed. Actually touching the black barrier above them. The black was MOVING though. That unreachable darkness which kept out the sun- it was bending down TOWARDS him. Towards the beam of light, specifically. Swirrling in a circular motion. Like a whirlpool or a rapid. The dark tendrils a mix of cloud-like substances and also thick goo. It looked like a black mouth was opening up. Intending to swallow the magic whole.

Noctis had never seen such a thing happen- had not known it was possible. He reached for his walkie, but fumbled it. The communication device fell away towards the ground. Noctis had to dive to catch it.

"Ardyn! The barrier is reating to the crystal!" Noctis told him exitedly.

There was staticy reply "What?"

Noctis pressed, "The barrier is coming down TO the Magic."

Ardyn's walkie clicked multiple times with static. Something seemed to be interfering with the connection.

Noctis looked up wards once more. The barrier was swirling down, around the beam. A funnel cloud of shadows moving at a slow, viscus pace. The beam the crystal didn't seem to be dispelling the shadows in any way. Maybe it wasn't strong enough? This was more of a reaction than Noctis had ever gotten, however.

"Bring it up another level!" Noctis ordered into the walkie. He gathered his staff in both hand, and collected his magic beneath him. Flying- cork screwing around the beam of purple magic. Flying higher and higher.

The barrier creeping lower and lower.

I'm going to be able to reach it. Noctis thought. Hope rising within him. Light began to build in his magic staff, he glinted in the dark. A singular commet rising up along side the crystal beam.

Below him Ardyn head Noctis' walkie click, but didn't hear any words. The connection going bad. He cursed, and closed his eyes. Borrowing Ifrit's once more. He didn't see Noctis on the sky walk. The God looked upwards, and Ardyn witnessed Noctis flying for the first time. What??? Was the first thought that came to his mind. Noctis never having told him about his new found ability. How?! That's so dangerous! What does he think he's doing?!

Then Ardyn's attention shifted from the bright light of Noctis. The dark, swirrling shadows. Reaching down like a cyclone TOWARDS the Citadel. A terrifying sight to behold- even form himself.

Bright light flared up above Ifrit. Noctis casting one of his spells. The demonic God had to advert their gaze, and Ardyn below similarly found himself blinking away an after image.

Noctis flew as high as he dared, and then cast a spell upwards. Brandishing his staff, a shot that went off from its end. Like a fire work being launched into the air. It arced like a missle. Then exploded in a cascade of of sky blue flames. Light emitting from it so brightly, that the citadel and surrounding grounds was brifly illuminated. For the first time since he had made it his goal- he was able to STRIKE at the shadowy barrier surrounding Eos.

Nocits cried out in victory. Only for the satisfied "AH-HA!!!" to turn into a yelp. As the shadows that were destroyed by the light began to fall. Cascading down towards him like water. The darkness had been reaching for the beam of magical enegy in a controlled funnel. Noctis' disturbance of this caused some sort of distruption- and all of the scourge and demonic shadows began to free fall. No long creeping slowly but falling with a startling velocity.

Noctis did not have time to react- as the darkness fell down onto him like a wall of water. He braced for impact- and it was like being hit with a wall of nothing- yet everything all at once. Noctis lost concentration on his flying spell. Darkness was falling- and he was falling now with it. Being pressed downward- like a bug being hit by a flyswatter.

Noctis felt the air get knocked out of him- and he was choaking on darkness. Unable to breath. Scourge burning his skin. Two firey arms reached out and caught him. Noctis gasped. As he was rolled onto the sky walk of the Citadel. Then sheltered in a small bubble of protection.

Noctis choaked and vomitted out demonic scouge. He then looked up, seeing the God Ifrit leaning over him. Sheltering him from the down pour of black tar. Crouched over him, face as expressionless as always. Noctis pulled himself up to his knees, and fumbled for the walkie clipped around his wrist.

It took a whole second for him to find the button. "ARDYN! ARDYN SHUT IT DOWN! SHUT IT DOWN!" He cried out desperatley. Only to get no response. Noctis stared at the walkie. The space filling up with the static of the small device. Noctis looked up, and out from beyond the bubble Ifrit was creating. Darkness fell past Ifrit like rain.

Noctis stared at it. Static and rain. The world falling away from him.

Beneath him he felt the Crystal- a presence he had been familiar with ever since he was born. Be hit by the falling shadows. It hummed, and grew brighter. Then with a mighty CRACK it shattered.

Noctis cried out in pain, gripping onto the front of his shirt. Like it was his own heart that was breaking. He passed out from the pain- but didn't register that he had. Not until he woke up.

Noctis came to in increadible pain. His back had seized up, and his shoulders and hips hurt from laying on a hard surface for too long. He could feel his mana reserves depleated to a new low. It felt worse than stasis. Almost like what connection to magic Noctis was completly shattered.

Noctis opened his eyes, and found a firey glowing form next to him. It was Ifrit. Sitting beside him dutifuly, and waiting. Looking down at him. Noctis rolled over onto his back, and looked up. Darkness swirlled above him. The scourge barrier was still there. Noctis wanted to cry. He did so.

A frustrated wail breaking the darkness. As he pulled at his hair and slammed his fist onto the walkway of the sky walk. Continuing the motion until his wrist was broken, and his hand was bloody. Each impact flashing with a diffrent face. Someone he he had failed. His father. Luna. Iris. Ignis. Gladio. Prompto. Now the crystal. The duty his family had been sworn to for 114 generations. Failed. All hope shattered- just like the dozen mirrors he had spend the last week or so putting back together.

Noctis cried. Realzing that as the choosen King- as the culmination of everything the Gods had ever wanted. After all the expectations, all the trials. Noctis had Failed. He was a failure. Thoughts that did not nessisarily make logical sense- but things that felt very true to him. Noctis cried. For the first time since he had come out of the crystal, the sky above him did not cry with him.

After a long moment Noctis collected himself. He pressed a hand over his chest. As it ached like he had suffered a heart attack. He tried to pick himself, but didn't get far. He could see his staff lying a meters away. What felt like a kilometer. He reached out and tried to summon it to him. It didn't come to him. He stared at his intact hand and then tried again.

The pang in his chest where the crystal had been ached. He looked at his hand, and the staff. Noctis could not even FEEL where his magic had been previously. If felt like he was entirely without. Like he was beyond just stasis. Like his magic was gone entirely. Shattered, like the crystal below him.

Nocits had to crawl. Unable to walk. With the staff he was able to pick himself up to his feet, and stand shakily. Bloody, tearful, and exausted.

Noctis looked over at Ifrit, who observed his struggle without judgment. Noctis reached out a hand. Tentativley commanding the God to reach out to him. Thankfully that connection still worked. Somehow. Noctis was able to have Ifrit pick him up, and then carry him to the crystal chamber. Ifrit did so dutifully. Not even bothering with stairs- just jumping straight down the tube that ran through the center of the Citadel. they landed in the crystal chamber. Noctis grimaced at the sound of broken glass underneath the fire god's feet. Realizing that his work from the last few days was broken once more.

"Ardyn?" Noctis called out, his voice rough from pain and disuse. His entire mouth felt dry, and he was dehydrated. Noctis did no know how long he had been passed out. "ARDYN?!" He called out.

There was no response. He slid out of Ifrit's palm, and stood at the center of it all. A hand pressed over his chest, and using his staff heavily for support.

The crystal chamber was broken again. The mirrors had splintered off in chunks. A lot of the equipment had been knocked over. It was all feasibly repairable- it was actually in a lot better condition than they had originally found it in. Given the lack of fire damage.

However the main component was broken. Amethist shards were scattered across the wreckage. Purple and black. Glistening against Ifrit's divine fire. No glow to them, no magic. The heart of Eos had been broken and shattered. Noctis almost tripped on a peice of the geode. As he shuffled into the room. He looked at it, then continued his search for anything vaugley resembling Ardyn, or a human shaped corpse.

"Ardyn. Please." Noctis felt tears forming at the corner of his eyes. "I-I don't know if I can do this alone.

A dark mass pooled on the floor. Scourge. The magical whine of a demon being formed filled the room.

Noctis stared at the forming demon. He brandished his broken and bloody hand at it. Ready to blast it with light. Only his powers didn't come to him. He winced, and placed the hand back over his heart. The demon goo manifested into a form- turning from liquid into a solid mass. A pale grey arm slapped onto the ground. Covered in wet scourge. Noctis stared at the hand. Recognizing it. What formed next was a torso, a neck- and falling out of the darkness. A cascade of long maroon hair. Noctis watched, as Ardyn pulled himself out of the shadows. Crawling out of them. As if from a shallow grave. It did not look easy. It did not look painless. Ardyn looked to be in pain. As he struggled to recreate every one of his molicules. Grutning, and pulling at the effort as he crawled. Black scourge dripping from his eyes, and from between gritted teeth.

Noctis, halfway through dropped his staff. He stumbled forward and grabbed onto Ardyn's shoulder. Finding the flesh sink in like a partially rotted corpse. Noctis grit his own teeth, readjusted his grip, and then pulled.

Helping Ardyn drag himself out of hell.

The effort left them both breathless. "Noctis?" Ardyn, and reached forward, when there was nothing left to reform but his legs. He reached out with a hand. smearing black ooze across Noctis' face. "You're alive?! Thank whatever heavens to exist."

Noctis stumbled backwards- pulling Ardyn the rest of the way out of the scourge pulled. He collapsed with exaustion, and then grimaced. Bending over and placing a hand over his heart. Ardyn, laying on the ground infront of him stared. The older man had not come back into the world with clothes- the man was completly naked. Noctis didn't care however. He pushed through the pain, and pulled the man into a hug. Just so greatful that he was not alone.

Ardyn was quiet for a long time. As Noctis hugged his scourge covered form, and let out a singular, wet sobb. "What happened Light?" Ardyn asked, placing a hand on Noctis' back. He sat up. Getting his bearings.

"It's gone." Noctis didn't remover himself from holding onto Ardyn. Wet tears falling from his eyes. Where they landed on Ardyn's skin they ran off. Leaving a patch of more human looking, and healthily clean patch of skin. Something neither Noctis nor Ardyn noticed.

Ardyn returned Noctis' hug. Then took stock of the room. Ifrit standing in the middle of it all. Having to crouch just to fit within the ceiling. The consoles weren't damaged, but the mirrors were broken again. As was the Crystal- the heart of their world was scattered across the room. Chunks as dark as night. There was no magical buzz in the air. Now presence to speak of. The Crystal was dead. Their planet officially so.

"Creator above." Ardyn whispered with a low voice. Holding Noctis tighter. Not knowing what would happen next.

Nothing happened next. The two were alone, with a broken crystal and a broken God. Alone once more in a world without hope.

The next few days were speant with the two of them licking their wounds, and assessing their defeat. Assessing their defeat.

Noctis was in constant pain- the crystal leaving a litteral hole in his heart, that physically caused him pain. After a few days his magic did start returning to him. Like he was recovering from a particularly bad stasis episode. Noctis said that what magic was returning to him was HIS, but only his. He was no longer connected to the crystal, or the world.

Ardyn wasn't quite sure what the diffrence was. It was clear that he was not suffering in the same ways Noctis was. Ardyn had more than one type of magic within him; most of which he did not rely on the crystal for. His armiger was hard to access though. Ardyn really had to concentrate in order to take anything out- something he normally could do without a thought.

In contast Noctis's only source of magic was the crystal. He could no longer warp. Accessing his armiger was painful. It made his chest tight, and his arm feel numb. symptoms much to close to a heart attack for Ardyn's comfort. Enough that Ardyn advised against using magic at all for a time. Noctis seemed to almost permanently be in statis. The only thing that came back to him without difficulty were his light powers. Though he dared not summon it. In fear of exausting what reserves he did have.

Ardyn was exhausted. Dying and reforming himself from scratch always took it out of him. Something felt off about this reformation though. He was constantly leaking scourge from his eyes and mouth, and sometimes his organs felt like they lost his shape. At one point one of his arms just fell off. Noctis and Ardyn both watched as it puddled into scourge, and then paniced when it became an Iron Giant. Something that would not have been an issue to either of them previously. However, with neither of them being in a good enough condition to fight; they both ran in fear. Straight ro Ifrit, who swatted the thing away like a fly. Both of them thankful that the God seemed immune to just about everything.

Unaffected by the onslaught of darkness he had endured, as well as the shattering of the crystal.

Ardyn after this started bandaging his limbs when they felt 'weak' and began wearing more tight, form holding shirts. Ones that he could easily bandage over.

After a month it was very clear that Ardyn was recovering faster from their injuries than Noctis was. He started to return to the scene of the event. Picking up the crystal fragments and examining them. Trying to figure out what went wrong. Examining Ifrit to study how the God had been unaffected. Trying to figure out what it all meant.

Noctis meanwhile spent an increasingly longer amount of time laying in bed, and sleeping. The few times he got up for something other than nessessities, he went and sat at the shrine he had made in the throne room. Where he lit candles and silently mourned for everything he had lost.

Noctis had struggled with depression multiple times through out his life. He recognized himself hitting a low point again. Though he took no efforts to keep himself from spiraling. Without Ignis, Gladio or Prompto around, he saw no point in trying. Ardyn tried to talk with him, explain to him what he was finding out about the crystal shards. However any attempts Ardyn offered fell flat.

It was Noctis' turn to spend days and hours in bed, depressed. Unresponsive to anything. Meawhile Ardyn seemed to hit a burst of inspiration, and made several advancements studying about magic- now that he could touch and examine the Crystal without consequences. Something Ardyn would sit at Noctis' bed side, explaining away. The exact opposite of what Noctis wanted- which was to be left alone.

A full month after the shattering of the crystal. Noctis found himself being pulled up out of bed by Ardyn. The man made him clean up, get dressed. Then Ardyn sat Noctis down at the dinning table in the royal chambers.

Ardyn offerering Noctis his blue fish mug like a peace offering. "There's an idea I want to try." Ardyn informed Noctis anxiously, "I would have to travel back near Hammerhead, I think the outpost to the north west the closest location of what I need." Ardyn explained, then leaned forward, "I want you to come with me. I think getting out of this castle would be good for you. I know it drives ME crazy. I don't think locking yourself up like this is going to help you any. Mentally."

"Ardyn." Noctis was exausted. He set his blue mug aside, not wanting the chicken broth inside. Just the smell made him nauseous. He knew this was because he hadn't eaten anything solid for four days now. Noctis hung his head, rubbing a hand on his forhead. "No. Ardyn. I don't think we should try any more ideas."

Ardyn looked at him with a worried expression. "-But Night Light..." he tried to argue.

"NO! I think it's time we end this." Noctis told the man firmly. He had been thinking about it for the last few days now and... it seemed like the best option. Just to kill him, and himself. To get this all over.

For the last few weeks Noctis had been feeling the strangest desire to enter the crypt where his father, Luna and other family memeber were. To simply lay down with them and... stop existing. For the first time he finally was begnining to understand Ardyn's deep desire to end it all. Just get things over with. Surley the man still wanted the same thing? That he didn't want to continue pushing on with no where for them to go?

Ardyn stared at Noctis for a long moment, his golden eyes reflecting off no tangible light source. Noctis had stopped glowing in the dark ever since the crystal had been shattered. "But what about... about finding our own way?" he asked quietly.

"At this rate I don't even know if there will be anything left of us soon- not if we keep hitting dead ends." Noctis shook his head, "I can't stand it Ardyn. It's too much."

"That is science though. How you discover things." Ardyn protested, "You think me and my late husband discovered how to make a clone on the first try? No. It took litteral years of failed attempts before we even managed to get a human zygote to take the scourge and keep growing. Not to mention the machnes we needed to build in order to keep them under control. It was from those failures that my husband was able to define how human souls formed. Just from this failure alone I have already learned so much and-"

"Ardyn!" Noctis slammed a hand onto the table. Frustrated and annoyed. His mug tipped over. Liquid chicken broth spilled across the table. "I don't know what any of that means! I don't know what half of what you have been telling me for the last week means!" Noctis admitted, he pulled his hand back, as well as his harsh tone. He reached out, and picked up some napikins off the table. Half-heartedly dabbing at the mess he had made.

"I'm not a genious like you. I don't just learn and retain everything I read or hear it's it is all very exausting for me."

Ardyn looked down at the table they were sitting at. He clenched his hands. "I'm going back to Hammerhead tomorrow." He informed Noctis with resolve.

Then he stood up from the table. A determined and angry scowl on his face. "I am not giving up yet."

Noctis looked at the man with annoyance. His own words being thrown back at him. Ardyn gave him a determined look, and then left the dinning room. Leaving Noctis alone in the dark.

The next day Noctis slowly walked down the steps of the Citadel. Ardyn was mostly done packing up his car. Ifrit was sitting off to the side, on guard as always for any demons who might approach the building. Ardyn placed a duffle bag in the trunk, and then closed the boot door. "I should be back in a week." He told Noctis, "The first trip and hypothesis I want to test should be fairly quick and easy. After wards we can talk and go from there." "Ardyn." Noctis used his staff to take a step closer to the man. Coming to the bottom step of the Citadel. He looked up at the man, "I am not going to go with you." "I know." Ardyn frowned, "I think you should. But I will not force you, either." "No." Noctis shook his head, "When you come back. I'm going to end this." Noctis decided. Looking increadibly tired. There were dark circles under the man's eyes. "You know. One way. Or another." Ardyn's eyes widdened, then narrowed. "Come back with a solution... or come back when you're ready." Noctis told the man. He then turned and started back up the Citadel steps. A hand placed over his chest. "Noctis." Ardyn called after him. Noctis paused, and turned around, using his staff as a walking stick. He looked over his shoulder, down at Ardyn. Ardyn looked up at his nephew, clenching and unclenching his hands. "I won't make you wait long." Ardyn promised. Noctis nodded, and then slowly continued making his way up the steps of the Citadel. Ardyn turned, and looked at their silent observer. Ifrit, who was sitting on the steps nearby. "Keep him safe." Ardyn ordered. The God didn't nod their head. Just observing with a neutral expression as always. Ardyn drove out of Insomnia, and reached Hammerhead within four hours. Finding their base camp pretty much exactly how they had left it. Though the cubbords were completly bare of food, and the living space they had carved out felt lonley. Noctis was no longer around to provide a constant source of light and companionship. It felt lonely without his nephew around. Ardyn rested, then headed Northwest afterwards. Towards a glowing pillar of smoke rising out of the sky. Between Hammerhead and the Niflhiem base there was a Haven. One where people had fought tooth and nail again and again for a place safe from the demons. There had been not one, but multiple a battles at this haven.

Noctis upon initially discovering this; had deemed it a waste of time to clean up all the corpses. They were exactly where they had fallen in death. Scattered about the hillside and starring lifelessly at anyone walking by. Ardyn started with five. The same sample size he had back at the Citadel. He laid out the corpses, lit candles, and tossed some flower petals. He sang the Hymm of the Fallen. Then he waited. Making notes of the corpse's conditions, and any changes within 8 hour intervals. Within 2 days, three of the corpses began to show obvious signs of bloating. Within 4 days they were showing signs of proper decomposition. Ardyn made notes in a journal, and on day 5 pulled out five more corpses from the war zone. This time he tried a diffrent burrial method. One more common to Niflheim, instead of Insomnia. This involved crossing the limbs over their chests, and making sure their feet faced the Eastern sunrise. He burried them in shallow earth. Lucians wrapped their dead and entombed them- but the Niflheim people traditionally wanted to return to the earth afterall. Though most of them in the modern day were cremated. Four days later he had similar results. Ardyn stood between the Lucian style graves, and the Niflheim ones. He tapping his pen against his chin. "I can bury the dead." He concluded. "WHY can I bury the dead. People have been burying others for YEARS- but they haven't decomposed.... Have they?" He asked with a whisper. He walked back to his car, and pulled out his personal world map. Where did he know where there corpses? Where had people been burried by others? Prompto. Prompto had burried his friends back in Hammerhead. There was a whole grave yard out back. Ardyn drove back to Hammerhead, and after clearing out some demons that liked to linger in the area, he started digging. The first person he uncovered was a young woman. With blonde hair. It looked like she had died from several gunshot wounds. Probably going down fighting in her own way. Her corpse had been wrapped and bandaged respectfully. Meaning that she had been given full funeral rites. Her body had not decayed though. Not in a normal pattern. It was mushy, and the flesh was dripping off the bones. Same as all the other corpses. Ardyn wrinkled his nose at this, and then started digging up the other graves. An old man, with a yellow Jacket was in the next grave. Dead from a similar bullet wounds. He also was not decayed. The third grave held a teenage boy. Probably not more than 15 or 16. Also not decayed. None of the graves that Prompto had made had been successful. Not in the same way that Ardyn's had been. He considered this for a while. Recorded several things into his notes, and then reburried the corpses. The last thing Ardyn wanted was for Noctis to come out this way and see what Ardyn had done, afterall. Hopefully he wouldn't notice the distrubed dirt. Otherwise Ardyn was going to be killed without the consideration of a prophecy. "I need someone burried older than these people." Ardyn mused, when planning out his next step. He sat in his car, and looked over his map. Thinking. "... Ignis was burried in the tomb of the mystic." Ardyn recalled. Noctis had mentioned it at some point. It being in the letter Prompto had left for him. The Tomb of the mystic was in the Disc of cauthus. He folded up his map, and drove West. Noctis had not been able to find a way onto the Disc when he was wondering about before, but that was mostly because Ardyn not offered any of his abilities to aid in the endvor. He drove up to the ruined gates of an old Niflhiem base, and then entered within. There were some demons that gave him annoyances, but once they were cleared out Ardyn had full access to the air ships. His Imperial ID code working even now, after the Empire had truely fallen. He flew up and out. Then over towards the Disc.

The crater with the Metor was a sigh to behold. The Metor had a fainter glow. Dimenished in power, just like the crystal had been. Ardyn landed his ship in a relativley flat area. Then hiked down into the steaming crater. Looking for any sign of a royal tomb. If Ignis had been burried inside of the place it shouldn't have been too hard to find. Given Prompto and his friends would have been in distress when traveling this way. Ardyn eventually found the tomb. But he found the Titan first. Ardyn froze when he first came over the rise. Then stared. Mouth open. From this position he could see to the bottom of the crater valley- and the dead God at the bottom. "What?" Ardyn askes, his voice echoing in the canyon. He scrambled down the hill. Jumping over a gap and warping every now an then. At the top of one point he did a double take, as he spotted the tomb, and the path to it. Ardyn continued to jumped further into the crater though. The area next to the Meteor was hot. If Ardyn was mortal he might have been spontaneously combusting. However he shrugged off the heat, shadows rippling under the surface of his skin. He approached the Titan's corpse. Ardyn was as tall as one of the God's eyes. Which were were glazed over, and colorless. Cloudy with death. Ardyn dared to get closer. Eventually able to reach out- and rested a hand on the bridge of the God's nose. The corpse was surprisingly cold. Almost lke ice, compared to the heat around him. Ardyn looked up, and stared into Titan's dead eye. Then looked down the length of the Titan. Having to back up to even get the God into perspective. "Did I do this?" Ardyn asked. He genuinley didn't know the answer. He knew Gods could be felled. He had seen Shiva's corpse. Verstael had explained how using technology, they had managed to murder the goddess. That had diminished her power- but it had not gotten rid of her. Gods existed on more than just a physical plane. Their bodies could be killed, but just Like Ardyn they could reform themselves after a time. Any one who had seen Shiva's corpse could tell that the Goddess was still alive. You could still sense her presence. Hell all of Niflheim being shrowded in perpetual ice-cold fury proved that she still lingered. This was not the case this time. The Titan was dead, and gone from the world. Ardyn couldn't sense a lick of magic or life withint the god. The question was HOW? What had cut the God's connection from this world? Ardyn hiked around the Titain- something that took a few good hours. He could not determine a cause for their death however. Though a Large chunk of the god's body was undeneath the giagantic meteor. Ardyn did not think that was the cause of death however. The way the Titan was laying. It was almost like the God had positioned itself so that the Meteor would NOT fall, even after he was gone. Ardyn hiked up to higher ground to hopefully get a better view. Stopping by the tomb on the way in. The doors were a bitch to get open. Some rocks having fallen at some point to partially obscure the opening. Ardyn managed though. He reward was a carcophagous. As well as two corpses, covered in grey refugee blankets. Ardyn walked over without ceremony. Lifting up the shrowd of the taller figure. Ignis Scientia lay there. A hand crossed over his chest. A Dagger in on of his hands, laying over his heart. His other hand held a spear at his side. A dark and bloody mark circled around his neck. His head was twisted to the side. His neck broken from where a Lestalum mob had decided to hang him. Ardyn checked the other corpse, who probably was a friend or companion of the man. Ardyn did not recognize her. She had been hung as well, however.

Neither of the corpses had decayed. They looked fresh out of the mourge... relativley speaking. Though unlike some of the more 'recent' corpses, the two had signs of being picked at by wild life. Both of them had had their eyes torn out, and what Ardyn recognized as beak markings on their face. When the two of them had died, there were still animals around to scavange their corpses. Removal of said scavengers however, had resulted in the corpses staying in their current form. Ardyn stepped back and placed a hand over his mouth. He walked over to the door. He looked down at the Titan below him. What did this mean? The sun disaprearing had... stopped decay? Was it the scourge doing it? But then why was Ardyn able to kick start the process again? He didn't feel like he was using his demon powers when he performed funeral rites. Infact the two attempts he had experiemented with thus far- Ardyn had been fairly certain he had not been using any magic at all. "None of this makes sense." Ardyn paced back into the tomb, and looked down at the two covered bodies. As if they could provide answers. "No. That isn't right. I just don't know the methods and mechanisms yet." Ardyn turned away once more. The ability for Iron to rust had existed long before anyone understood oxidization afterall. This was something new. Ardyn could feel it. Some new kind of magic? or something else. He stayed there for a while, meditating on this matter. Then he climbed back down the hill. Going to see if he could bury a God. Ardyn contemplated how to go about it the entire time he climed down the hill. Wondering how exactly to go about burrying said god. He felt like it was a monumental task. The Titan was a being of the earth. Should he be burried? Or exiled from it? To be released to the sky- but sky burials required animals to scavange them. There were no such animals now. The Titan was the patron god of Lestallum. Did he follow their customs? Or those of of Old Lestallum? Or the customs of the people who lived in theis area back from Ardyn's original time period? Ardyn appeared before the dead god's face again. Starring at the cloudy white eyes. Ardyn took a few steps back, and then summoned a bottle of aged wine. A traditional component of Lestallum burial practices. He closed his eyes and steadied himself. "God of Earth and Determination." He said with significance, "I bow before you. Oh Landforger. Oh Starcatcher." Ardyn held out the bottle and bowed low from the waist. He adjusted the bottle to lay sidways, rose up to look at the Titan, and bowed even lower. "I bring you this offering. That you may rest in peace."

Ardyn felt something shift around him. It wasn't magic. It wasn't darkness, nor light. Ardyn felt it in his gut. It just WAS. A sudden rush of wind came from the mouth of the Titan, blowing his hat off his head. Ardyn closed his eyes and held his breath. As the smell of iron earth, wet clay, and fertile feilds washing over him. Ardyn felt a voice rumble within his chest. Backwards, and deep. The sound of an Astral God. Accursed. Why have you and the Chosen King not fullfilled your duties? Ardyn opened his eyes, and looked at the Titan's corpse. It had not moved to indicate it was alive. Ardyn felt fingers creeping up his spine. He suspected that the wind had not even been real. The Titan was speaking to him from beyond this world. This mortal realm lies in wait for it's fate. Ardyn received the same flashes he had always seen when viewing the prophecy. Noctis summoning pure magic to smite him, and all of darkness into oblivion. A true choosen King. Even though the throne was illgotten and cursed. Time stands still, until the phrophecy is fullfilled. The Titan observed. Ardyn's grip on the bottle tightened. It cracked, leaking red liquid down his sleeves. "Well the phrophecy is shit!" He told the God angrily, "You! and Bahamut! and Shiva! All of you tricking me and- Noct! You have no idea what you've put him through?! He was just a child when he was chosen! A babe that you all fated to die!" The Titan's Corpse didn't responde immediatly. Ardyn felt that metal rod of anger begin to boil the dark energy within him. He sized up the mountain sized cadaver. Planning on sectioning it and feeding it to a volcano. Mt. Ravatough was still burning strong, afterall. Thus is the Prophecy. The Titan fed Ardyn images once more. This time of the Gods. Five of them, excluding Ifrit. All standing around a twisted Island. Anglegard. Then; the image of a commet, hurtling through space. Dark miasma trailing from its cracks and crevices. A threat they did not have a solution to, not as individuals. We are beholden to it. We swore oaths to see the prophecy through. In Ardyn's mind he could see Bahamut speaking to the other gods. Offering them a solution to the commet. To the threat of the oncoming scourge. Not knowing that we were being led astray. The last image in Ardyn's mind was that of Bahamut. Their draconic claw out stretched. Four more enteties joined. Each of the gods agreeing to the plan. A fish tail for Leviathan. Titan's own earthen hand. A charge lightning staff from the Storm god. A smaller, pale human hand. That of Shiva as Gentianna. Newly dead, and still bitter about it. Their powers combined and then- light manifested true- the Crystal. The heart of Eos. The Gods deciding to gift it to humans. To declare a chosen King, and make a sacrificial lamb. The plan seemed simple at the time, straight forward. Darkness laid within Bahamut's eyes. Not a God of Order, but one of chaos. Ardyn could see himself, and Noctis. Reflected in the crystal. The image fell away from him as he came back to himself. He grit his teeth. "That still makes you responsible!" Ardyn reminded the God. He lashed out. Kicking his boot onto the Titan's nose. Punctuating his words with a few more blows. "When someone shits in your bed, you don't lay in it just because you promised to sleep there! You hear me?!" He kicked out in anger. The rocky earth of the God's flesh cracking with each impact. Satisfying Ardyn's anger little. "You should have done better! You're gods! Mortals depend on you!" Indeed. The Titan did not seem opposed to Ardyn's berating. If anything the God seemed to think it deserved.

Ardyn inhaled and then exhaled. No longer satisfied with causing the God physical harm. Not if he felt it deserved. Ardyn wanted to destroy the being. Ardyn wanted to claw through every plane of existance, and tear them from their thrones. So that no human or creature in any relm would worship them. Bahamut did not tell us his intent was to kill all the humans with this plan. The Titan told Ardyn. Ardyn blinked something about the word striking a chord in him. By the time I realized Bahamut's true intentions... it was too late. We ran out of time. Ardyn sneered. "You are a God! Are you not!?" he pointed out. "If are so truely worthless, then what power do you actually hold?!" Existance as a God is not so simple, Accursed. The Titan's presence was fading. Almost like this conversation was exausting the Titian. Ardyn knew he was exausted from it at the least. He could feel Titian growing distant from the world once more. There are rules... even we must obey...

Ardyn grit his teeth. "Well you will stay here and EXPLAIN them to me then!" He reached out with all of his power, his being. Trying to make the God STAY. His armiger activated. Hot pink blossomes around them. As crystalized glowing weapons shattered into existance around him. The Weapons which were all but useless in this situation though. Ardyn summoned his shadows. A well of darkness spilled out from him and began to fill the crater around them. Drowning the God's corpse in scourge. This had no effect either. Ardyn grit his teeth and dug into the depest parts of himself. Trying to find whatever source of magic he had used to summon Titan with in the first place. In anger Ardyn grabbed a hold of that hot iron rod deep inside him. The part that burned with fury about this situation. He wielded it- and were his eyes not closed- he would have been startled by the by the breifest emergance of golden flickering flicker across his fingers. The same gold that Lunafreya was known for summoning. Fullfill the phrophecy Accursed. The Titan sighed, slidding further and further away from him. It is the only way to make time move forward again.

The Titan slipped away, and Ardyn yelled out with all the magical power at his desposal. None of it was enough though. The crater flickering with shadows, red crystals, and just the breifest hints of gold. Ardyn growled with frustration as- even though he was clawing at the God's presence they still slipped away from him. The effort leaving Ardyn breathing heavily. As each part of his magical powers hit stasis.

Ardyn starred at the Titan's corpse. Who once again was nothing but a dead rock. He fell to his knees. Unable to lash out with magic, Ardyn vocally screamed. This time with rage. He rose back up and threw the remaining bottle of alchol at the God's eye. The membrane was suprisingly resilent, and wasn't affected by the glass. It actually bounced off with a comedic boink as if the Titan's eye were as solid as quartz. Ardyn caught his breath. He marched away. Pulling his hair back as he walked. Hands soaked in wine, Ardyn pulled a hair tie out from around his wrist. Gathered his locks, and pulled them into a high pony tail. It swayed back and forth, as Ardyn came to the rise of the Hill. Where the path led up and out of the Titain's valley.

Ardyn stood on one of the rock pillars. Standing above the God. He pointing down at the corpse below him with his chin. "Landforger!" He proclaimed, "Starcatcher! Collossus O' Titan. I CONDEM YOU!" Ardyn spat. His voice echoing off the canyon walls, and hopefully perhaps further. "You have failed your task on this planet. Not protected it's people. Not heard their cries for help not had the DECENY to answer their prayers!" Ardyn inhaled through his nose. He could not feel any stir of magic, or indication that what he was trying to do was working. He tried to call upon that unknown source of other magic he seemed to carry with him. All that met him was a quiet sort of silence, however. Ardyn pushed on. "You were sent to this world to protect it, and here is stands in Ruin. In death and departed from such. Done by your own negligant hands!" He accused.

"You will fester in this crater that once was considered your palace. Your corpse never again know the outside of this tomb. For it will stand as a testament to your failure and sins! Forever more!" Ardyn guestured across his chest, shoulder to shoulder, and then he threw his hand, back first towards the Titan. Almost like he was going to flick the God off. What he was doing was casting his feelings onto the 'grave'. A rite older than Old Lestalum. One that went back to even before Ardyn's time. "Be this the end of your days! Let it be truth!!!"Ardyn declared with force. The silence after Ardyn's delcaration had a heavy sense of finality to it. It was solid, and firm. Ardyn turned, satisfied with the burial right. As he marched past the Tomb where Ignis and Monica laid. Marched out of the Titian's crater, towards the Air ship he had landed in. Behind him, the weight of the Metore gave in onto the God's corpse. Crushing it.

As satisfying as it was to take his anger out on one of the Gods. Ardyn was still very much empty handed. He was no step closer to finding out how he was causing corpses to rot. Nor a way to dispearse the scourge. Time. Ardyn's mind kept circling back to that single concept. The one the Titan had mentioned it, somewhat. That time was standing still. Time was what stagnate.

Time. But then what am I doing? Make things move forward again? Ardyn thought. As he walked through his test feild. Five corpses set out every few meters, in varying states of decay, and also burial methods. Most were in shallow graves, or in cloth, or ashes in pyres. A clip board in his hand filled with notes. What about me burying people changes time? Ardyn did not know HOW he was doing this. Or WHAT was causing things to change. He knew that Noctis burrying people did not have the same effect. Noctis had cleaned up enough Havens that Ardyn could, and did, go back and look at the bodies his nephew had interacted with. Aside from those Noctis had burned with magic, they were untouched and still stagnant.

So Ardyn was doing something. Was it some kind of magic? He didn't feel like he was using Magic. Not in any form he understood it as, at least. Every corpse he burried or did a funeral right for started to. He was... releasing the corpses? Putting them to rest? Putting them back in time? Ardyn didn't quite know which distinction to make. He circled this note, and massaged his temples as he walked back towards his camp. Set just close enough to the Hammerhead Haven to keep demons away, but close enough that he wouldn't be bothered by the haven itself. Time.

Ardyn performed a funeral right on a building. Something he had to improvised- because how exactly did one do that? Put a building to rest. Ardyn just wanted to see what would happen. The building was a damaged shed inbetween Hammerhead and Galdin Quay. One of those things that should not have been standing this long. Not for ten years, as damaged and bent over as it was. Ardyn closed it up and told the house that it was no longer needed. Then once a week he travled down it, and made notes. Seeing if there was any progession on rust, or the soundness of the structure. As far as he could tell, there was no change. Not yet at least. This was one of those things that would probably take time.

One day he was checking up on it- when some demons attacked Ardyn. A bomb wandered too close to the shed, and of course it exploded. Knocking the whole thing over. Darkness gathered around Ardyn. That rod of metal burining in his core. "You. Have. RUINED this experiement!" He told the demons agrilly. Summoning his sword to smite them down. The Demons all actually flinched at the use of his power- but they only attacked him with more vigor because of it.

Ardyn, as the center of the scourge, could ironically not control the demons. They sought him out with desperation instead. Attracted to him like a magnet. They knew that he was supposed to be the one to release them form their torment. Even though he could offer them no such thing. All Ardyn could do was attract demons, or turn people into demons. He couldn't put them to rest. Which was increadibly ironic, given his current topic of study.

Ardyn grumbling in anger as he sorted through the mess of the building after the battle. Seeing what he could salvage for the Stupid demons. Whilst sorting through the wreckage, Ardyn picked up a cup that had been within the house. Intending to move it out of the way where he was less likley to step on it. As he did so, he grabbed it from the inside, around the rim. Resulting in Ardyn's fingers coming in contact with something fuzzy in texture, and sticky at the same time.

Ardyn dropped the cup immediatly with shock. Not knowing what he had touched. The cup fell to the ground and rolled away. He stared at it, then checked his hand. Making sure there was nothing on his hand. Carefully, he picked up the cup and looked inside. To his discust the cup was filled with mold. Like whoever had left this house to rot so long ago had not bothered to clean out their coffee cup properly. "Yuck." Ardyn dropped the cup into the pile of trash, and took out a disinfectant wipe. Cleaning off his hands. With a defeated sigh, he started walking back towards Hammerhead. Time.

Ardyn spent two months out in Hammerhead, burrying bodies. Then another month pretending like he had any sort of lead to go on at all. At the start of his sixth month mark, Ardyn admitted that his research was not amounting to anything.He knew that he could bury bodies and cause decay. He could replicate it quite reliably. Even do it on a crowd of corpses all at once. The mechanism by which this operated eluded him, however. Ardyn also did not know how this ability could be applied to getting rid of the scourge. He could give everyone on Eos a funeral, but then what?

This was when having someone like Verstael around would come in handy. His late husband had such a unique way of seeing the world. If Ardyn had given him this problem Versatel would be having him do this, and then that and then suddently the scientist would know exactly what was happening, already have a plan of action they could take, and they would be marching against the Gods straight out of this situation.As it was now, Ardyn was just traveling around in circles. Lost.It did not help that isolation was starting to get to him again. Ardyn was an extroverted person by nature. He was best working around or with other people. He need someone to run ideas by. Someone to walk through expriments with. Doing everything up in his head was just... not ideal.That was part of the reason why he had wanted Noctis to come with him.Noctis. Ardyn twisted a pencil inbetween his fingers as he thought of his nephew. Noctis, sitting alone in the Citadel. Waiting for him. Just as Ardyn had isolated himself for ten years. Waiting for Noctis to come back out of the crystal. The image made Ardyn uncomfortable. He didn't want anyone else to have to go through that.

The poor boy was probably going to drive himself as insane as Ardyn was."What are we going to do?" Ardyn leaned forward in his char, asking his microscope. Which he had glued googly eyes to some years ago. Of course it did not answer him. Rather rude of it to. Given their years of working together.

Ardyn sighed, leaning back in his chair again. "What should be done?" he asked himself.Ardyn went to visit Niflheim before he returned to Insomnia. He was originally from Lucis; but he now considered the cold and frozen wasteland home more than anywhere else. Shiva's wrath was still bombarding the region. The weather was worse, without the sun to defrost the ice on occasion. He was stuck to traveling by air ship for the most part, and by skiis anywhere else.

The first place he visited was Verstael's corpse. Well, the final one. The Immortalis machine really was a marvel of engineering. You could see where it had cut through the terrain on it's one and only journey through the mountains. Forever marring its terrain. The Immortalis project was humanity's best attempt at becoming a God. One that might have just proven successful, had Ardyn not set it up to fail."Hello love." Ardyn placed a hand on the icy drill. Looking up at the destroyed magitek core.

Ardyn had visited this place before, shortly after Prompto's victory. Making sure that his husband was truely dead. As much as Ardyn would have loved to have his husband at his side in the moment, he was ultimatley happier that Verstael was resting peacefully. Untormented by the bleakness of the end of the world.Ardyn moved some snow off a metal shelf, and then stepped up. Into the maw of the dead beast before him. He carefully navigated the metal surfaces. Standing on a drill head, and then pulling himself up, into where the Magitec for was. The machine that had once held his husband's soul.

Ardyn kneeled in the space. Reaching up, he took off the scarf from around his neck. A dear thing, that Ardyn had actually stolen from Verstael. Back when they were still getting to know one another. One of the first times Ardyn followed the man back to his home, and wiggled his way into his personal life. Ardyn had nicked the scarf from his wardrobe, and Verstael had declared him a thief."Not stealing, if I return it." Ardyn said to himself. Repeating his words from so long ago. He reached into the maw of the best, and secured the scarf around the broken Magic tech core. Pulling it tightly, so that not even Shiva's winds would be able to undo them. Once done, Ardyn placed a hand on the broken core. He inhaled and closed his eyes. Starting with a low and familiar note. The Hymm of the Dead rising up in his chest. Ardyn dragging out each note and putting as much of his heart into the song as he could. He didn't know if his strange new magic could.

Ardyn blinked away tears when he was done. Then leaned forwards. Pressing his forhead against the broken magictech core.He returned to all of Verstael's other corpses as well. Making sure they each got a proper send off. That way his loved one would not be left stagnating in the world after everything was done.

Seven months after leaving Insomnia, Ardyn returned. Driving his red convertible across the Eastern bridge from the Lucis continent, into Insomnia.The Capital city walls loomed over Ardyn as he drove through them. Tall and impossing stone walls that stretched for Kilometeres in each direction. Insomnia's walls were always something to behold. It was crazy to think that man alone had built the structures walls, and not some God. They stretched higher than the sky scrapers, and so far into the distance at some points they overshadowed the horizon.

Ardyn passed through the city gates into the dead city. Insomnia was errily silent as he drove across the highway, avoiding areas that had been damaged. It had always been creepy, given the ever lasting dark. However this time there was something off about it.There was a shrowd of white fog that lingered inside the walls. A ghostly vapor which glowed eriely. White, with a hint of blue. That was the color of Noctis' magic. Ardyn didn't know what to make of this at first. He stopped just at the top of the highway ramp and got out of his car. Looking at the thick soup-like clouds. He could feel it's chilly presence from atop the highway. Ardyn placed a hand on the road barrier and looked down ward.

The fog lurked beneath the entrance highway and submerged most of the city. Ardyn had no choice but to drive into it, and the mere idea of doing so left uncomfortable needle pricks along his skin. Something felt increadibly wrong. He wasn't quite sure what it was though. He decided to push on, and get to the Citadel as soon as possible. He put up the roof of his convertable, closed the windows, and proceded to drive through the familiar streets with caution.The fog was cold. Cold enough that Ardyn had to turn on the heater for his car. It threatened to ice the wind sheild as well. Thankfully he was prepared for such weather. Coming from the cold depths of Niflheim, Ardyn had installed a heated wind sheild and wipers on his vehicle. To help aid in some of the annoyances living in a snowy climate gave them.

The city of Insomnia was not so prepared for the cold snap. Ice covered glass windows, settled on cars, and even lingered on the streets in lower points. The cold of the magical fog gripped everything it came in contact with. Ardyn would have suspected Shiva being the cause for it, but there was no wind. Every time he had encountered the Ice Goddess she had blown strong winds into his face. Even when the meeting had been a 'friendly' one. Shiva was a blustury presence.A heavy, unmoving fog did not feel like Shiva's magic. It deffinitley felt more like Noctis. The magic had a presence to them. Similar to how Noctis' foul moods summored storms, this felt like something his nephew had conjured. Magic prickled at Ardyn's skin threateningly, but never attacked. Recognizing him on some level.

Ardyn gripped his steering wheel tighter. The feeling still making him anxious. The city was as quiet as a gave, and that disturbed Ardyn as well. He realized why after ten minutes of navigating through the abandoned streets (he had to drive around the wreckage of the highway). There were no demons about. What dark and twisted life had been haunting the streets and buildings was just GONE. Pushed out of the space. Ardyn could feel the scourge underneath the ground. Lingering in buildings that were closed off from the fog. None of it was allowed out in the streets though.Noctis had exersized the entire city-state with a glowing fog. Ardyn didn't quite know what to make of this.

The Center district finally came into view, and Ardyn passed by a yellow, overturned food truck. Then turned to make it to the Citadel gates. He had to get out of the car in order to open the metal gates. Ardyn shuddered as he opened his car door. Stepping into the thick of the cold fog. The magic wasn't hurting him, but it was uncomfortable to be in. Ardyn felt like he was walking through cold jelly.Noctis' magic was thick. He was greatful to get back into his car, which offered some protection. Ardyn shivered, and summoned a jumper, and then a new scarf. Layering himself up, before moving foward. Having to get out of the car again to close the gate behind him, of course. Though if there were no demons there probably wasn't much of a point in doing so.

He drove up to the front of the Citadel. Where he usually parked. Ardyn popped the trunk, and pulled out the car cover he kept there. Drapping a tarp over the car to- hopefully keep the effects of the ice cold fog away from it. Something which probably wasn't nessessary- but Ardyn always made it a point to take care of the things he loved and cherrished. Expecially his darling car.No one came out to greet him durring this process. So Ardyn let himself into the Citadel. The doors opened with a loud creak, and despite Ardyn trying not too, they echoed loudly when he closed them. Heavy as they were. The unbearable fog was not as present inside of the Citadel, thankfully. Though that might have been thanks to Ifrit, who was sitting on the far, far side of the Citadel hallways. A walk that took Ardyn a few minutes to make at a casual pace. Even from this far away though, Ardyn could feel the firey warmth the God's proximitiy gave off.

"Where is he?" Ardyn asked the God as he walked up.Ifrit simply looked down at him. Not able to answer, since he had no consiousness.Ardyn rolled his eyes and walked around Ifrit's foot. The God was taking up most of the area infront of the throne doors. Ardyn opened the black, heavily decorated doors to the throne room. Just polking his head in so that he wouldn't have to walk all the way upstairs, only to come down again.

By now the bodies inside the hidden chamber had decomposed enough, that it did not stink terribly. There was, however, a fairly distinct lingering odor. Noctis had turned the middle level of the throne room into a memorial back when he had first mourned the bodies. This was still the case, and many of the candles were actually lit currently.Knowing Noctis usually only kept them lit when he was visiting the memorial. Ardyn opened the door further, and peered upwards.

Noctis was on on the throne. Looking like he was made of it. Or it was made for him. The way he glowed made him look more divine than any other being Ardyn had met over his long life span. His aura a silver line of light blue, his hair almost white with magical energy. Ardyn could see that his nephew's powers had returned to him in full. However, something was diffent. Ardyn just could not tell what.Noctis stirred, opening his eyes. Waking up from the nap he appeared to have been taking. His magic shifted- and his magic was everywhere. It was the fog below them, the air around them, the sky above them. Ardyn inhaled, as he realized that Noctis was more a part of the environment around him, than just a person before him. Noctis shifted, and so did the climate all aroudn them.

Noctis looked down at Ardyn for a moment. Then sat up in the throne. "You've come, I see." Noctis greeted tiredly, but waking up to a more alert state."Indeed." Ardyn remarked, and began making his way up to the throne. "You've done some redecorating I see." Noctis frowned, looking confused. "You've exorsized the entire city by the looks of things." Ardyn clarified, as he came to the second platform, and kept walking. Guesturing towards the broken half of the throne room wall.

Noctis looked out towards the dark world beyond the room, and then back down to Ardyn. "Oh. Yeah." Noctis shifted on the throne, "I... wanted to try something." He admitted. By the pinched expression on his face, whatever he had been trying to accomplish had not worked. Even if finding a way to keep an entire city state free of demons was a monumental feat, Noctis did not see it as such. Ardyn stepped up the last step to the throne's platform. His boots clicking on the marble with each step. He approached the throne. Noctis looked up at him as he did so. Ardyn exhaled, finally feeling like he had arrived. This was it. The end of the road. "Hello, Night Light." Ardyn greeted with a fond smile.

Noctis scoffed, and looked away. The image of a displeased King. "I told you to stop calling me that." "But it suits you so." Ardyn argued with amusement, not for the first time. "So." Noctis appraised Ardyn, changing the topic, "Did you find a solution to the scourge?" Ardyn's shoulders sank. "No." Noctis similarly deflated. Not very appropriate for someone sitting on a throne. "Oh."

"It is frustrating." Ardyn clenched his hands. "I was able to find some things out. But I can't add them up in any meaninful way. I don't know if I can bring them into any sort of a solution. Not from where I currently stand at least." "Yeah. It's the same for me." Noctis agreed with the same frustration. "I looked at the crystal. Tried to reassemble it." He announced, "You were right." Ardyn's eyebrows rose with interest.

"The crystal IS similar to the nodes. I actually think that might have been what I was missing. The nodes connect to the crystal, and then the crystal back to them.- or at least it used to." Noctis sighed, "Now it is just as dead as the nodes are." "Yes, I guess that is what they mean by it being the heart." Ardyn had concluded this already.

Noctis closed his eyes, and shook his head. "I don't think there's any way to salvage this situation." There was an undercurrent of defeat to Noctis' voice. A dark void that Ardyn did not like seeing the younger man inhabiting. Ardyn hung his head, and then took off his hat. "I'm sorry Noctis." "You don't need to apologize." Noctis gave him a sharp look, almost a reprimand.

"I'm sympathizing." Ardyn clarified. Then reached forward, holding out the hand which was not holding his hat. Offering his nephew a hug. "I'm sorry that all of this has been put onto you." Noctis debated Ardyn's offer, then relinquished. He stood up, and took a step towards his open arms. Ardyn wrapped his nephew in as comforting of a hug as he could provide. Something that Noctis sorley needed, judging by how he melted into Ardyn's shoulder. Leaning on him, almost in exaustion.

"What I wouldn't have given to have just been your actual grand uncle." Ardyn joked as they pulled apart. He patted Noctis on his shoulder fondly. "You act as a true, proper King. It would have made Somnus increadibly angry." Noctis gave him a confused look. Ardyn clarified, "My younger brother was quite selfish, and childish when he did not get his way."

"Well. In the end, he is still going to get what he wants." Noctis pointed out, then sighed. He turned back to the throne. Looking up at it's grand, design. "If there is anything you still want to try..." he trailed off. Giving Ardyn an opportunity to back down. To continue delaying their fates.

Ardyn placed his hat back onto his head. "I have put anything I wanted to acomplish to rest." He assured Noctis. Noctis lowered his chin. "I suppose 2 years of delaying the inevitable is long enough to say we tried."

"Has it been that long?" Ardyn asked, and then counted on his fingers. He really was not the best at keeping track of time. "Two years, in a couple of days." Noctis affirmed. The sighed "We have all the time in the world to take. Too bad we can't just turn it back though."

Time. There it was again. Ardyn felt something stirr inside of him. The beginings of an idea, "Turn... back time?" He asked under his breath.

Noctis, not having heard him, reached to his side. With a shimmer of blue light, he summoned his engine sword. Swinging it once to refamilar himself with its weight. "Are we sure about this?" Noctis asked, turning around to look at him. "Once I start, i'm not sure if I will be able to stop."

"Of... course," Ardyn tried to sound certain, but was distracted. Turn back time... ? Was that even possible? Ardyn had heard of that being done in fictional stories. In real life though? Could it be done. Noctis nodded, and then concentrated. He summoned his Armiger. 13 weapons manifested themselves. Not just around Noctis, but around both of them. The arms were each as bright as a demon light. Almost as if they were made of pure light itself. Ardyn winced at their sudden apperance. The weapons slowly began to rotate around him and Noctis. Both of them were trapped in the circle of light. There was no where for either of them to hide.

Noctis stepped forward. Ardyn blinked at his nephew. Barley able to see through the light around them brightness. "You need to summon all of your shadows." Noctis reminded him, "I need to summon all of my light." "Right." Ardyn knew that had to be the case. Noctis needed to kill the heart of the scourge. Making sure he, and the demons were truely obliterated from the world.

Ardyn closed his eyes. Darkness was not hard for him to gather. It came to him, like water flowing down hill. Honestly it was keeping it away that was the hard part. One by one he started lowering his, and the darkness came to him. Attracted by Bahamut's curse. Black ooze began to seep out of his eyes and mouth. His intesines became crowded, bloated with the souls of the damned. Tearing themselves to shred and turning to mush. His form became smokey, blurry. Ardyn becoming darkness itself.Similarly, Noctis became light itself. He summoned forth pure, raw power. Feet leaving the ground as he did so. His hair started to turn white, his form radiated it. Outside the fog grew brighter. The foot print his magic reached bubbled and grew. The weapons of light around them began to spin faster and faster. Forrming a wall of litteral light to contain them in. Contain the magic Noctis was calling forth... his nephew' outline becoming harder to distinguish. As glowed brighter and brighter.

Ardyn did not need to concente nearly as much. The darkness and demons coming to him in droves. He looked up at Noctis with awe.Noctis. Noctis was not gathering energy. He was creating it. Producing it from nothing, seemingly.He's an endless amount of energy. Ardyn thought to himself, like a quasar.Quasars were only hypothetical though... as were their counter parts; black holes. The two types of singulaties. Ends that their understanding of quantum physics came to, mathematically. Verstael had said that singularites such as black holes and quasars were proof that they still had much to learn in the matter of science. Because how could such things be possible? A point where all mass gathered to, and a point where energy originated from... things that clearly could never exist.Unless they can. Ardyn watched Noctis only produce more and more energy. Meanwhile all of the shadows, the demons and scourge came to him. Rolling down hill. Spinning into him. A bottomless hole that could never be filled.Ardyn felt like he was just on the edge of something. He was a black hole... Noctis was a quazar.

Time.Ardyn stared up at Noctis. eyes wide, despite the black scourge leaking out of them. Despite the fact that all of the light Noctis was gathering around him was activley burning him to his very existance.A lecture his late husband and him went too years ago came to mind. Some couligue of his late husband's. The son of a friend of Verstael's father who was being sponsored by their family. A physicists who had developed equations of relativity.Ardyn bored, and hodling a champagne glass. Standing as his husbands arm candy, while dusty scientists talk.When you start warping space. You theoretically also warp Time. Time. Ardyn reached out, and upwards. Noctis opened his eyes. As Ardyn' hand cupped each side of his face. Noctis gave him a confused look. Though he did not lose concentration. Ardyn tightened his grip, seizing control of Noctis' raw power- and with every molecule of his being, PULLED.

Noctis woke up with a groan. He cracked opened his eyes. Finding himself laying on the floor of the throne room. Looking up at the dark chandileer above him. A dizzy feeling in his head. As well as a pain in his lower abdomen. His skin felt itchy there as well. Like ants had bitten him in a line. He shifted uncomfortably."Noctis." Someone pushed his bangs out of his face. It was his dad. Noctis blinked, and found that his head was resting in his father's lap. He looked up with wonder. Reaching out to touch the man's face. Noctis ran a hand down his father's nose bridge, then placed a hand on his cheek. Feeling the scratchy beard hair that his father had always kept trimp and proper. "... Dad?" he asked. Not sure if the moment was real or not. Regis smiled fondly, eyes gathering water. He reached up and held Noctis' hand against his face. "Noctis. My son." "You're alive." Noctis remarked.

Regis' brow furrowed. "Why, Yes. I am. Did you? Remember something?" Noctis pulled himself up to a sitting position, and pulled his father into a hug. Holding his father tightly. Just holding him. Ever so greatful to have his father back. Alive, and not burried underneath the throne. Unmoving and decayed. The memory static that had been washing washing over Noctis' mind was gone. Everything was clear. Noctis had a second chance. He had his father back.

"Be careful." Ardyn's voice came into advisement. Noctis looked to the side, and found his Great Uncle kneeling beside him. "Your flesh is still weak. Dont move around too much." "Ardyn. You brought me back to life." Noctis sat back. He placed a hand on his stomach. Realizing why it hurt so much now. He had been evicerated by Dratos- he had just been magically stitched back together. By ARDYN of all people. "Lucky for you, eviceration is a slow death." Ardyn stood up, and placed his hands on his hips, "Never actually LOST you. Though it was close." He tried to joke, the touch of a smirk on one side of his mouth. "Ardyn." Noctis looked up at the man, "You healed me. Using ORACLE magic." Ardyn looked down and to the side. Then looked back at Noctis, with something of a pained look. "It took took some time, but I found my center again." he explained. "Second chances, and all that sort of stuff."

"Thank you." Noctis told the man, "For everything. I mean it. this is," Noctis looked around him. They had gone back in time. By no small margine. "I can't even begin to say. Just; thank you." Ardyn seemed at a lost for words for a moment. Somewhere between greatful and embaressed. The man decided to settle for reminding everyone that he wasn't always the hero. "Anytime, Night Light." Noctis groaned. "Don't call me that." "Night Light?" Regis asked with confusion.

"It's a pet name. For my favorite grand nephew." Ardyn happily explained to Regis. He reached down and ruffled Noctis' hair. Who protested and swatted Ardyn's hand away. Ardyn just chuckling with amusement. Once Noctis got Ardyn off him, he took stock of his surroundings. His stomach hurt. A lot. His skin itched where it had been reknitted. He was sitting on the ground in front of the throne. There was a concerning looking puddle off blood of to one side, which Noctis suspected was his own. Clarus was standing three steps to the side. Sheild at the ready. Talking with several of the council members who were down below. As well as several captains of the crowns guard. Everyone was on high alert- and judging by how fast people were talking, and coming in and out, emergencies were being dealt with. There were some Glaives standing guard nearby. Noctis recognized Nyx, Crowe and Libertus. They looked like they had been in yet another fight. Crowe was still coverd in blood from the chin down. Nyx was fostering an injury of some kind. Nearby were also nearly a dozen Niflheim Guards in armor. Who were standing guard so firmly that one would think that they were statues.

Clarus mentioned something about demons, and protecting the citizens from them. Noctis slowly raised his gaze. As his senses returned he found not one, but two things lacking. "The crystal's been moved... and the wall has fallen." Noctis observed, then turned to his father. Sitting beside him. He only just now noticed the drained apperance of his father. The dark circles under his eyes. The pale expression. King Regis wasn't just sitting on the ground for him- he was very clearly in stasis.

"Dad? What happened?" Noctis asked with worry. Regis grimaced, "Shortly after Dratos made his move, so did Bahamut." his father nodded towards Clarus, "We are coordinating the Guard to take care of the demons, and advising Citizens to turn their lights on. The power Grid is going to be strained, but not all hope is lost." he wince and shifted his bad leg to a more comfortable position. "Hopefully, here shortly I should be able to resummon the wall..."

Noctis stared at his father. "But you can't do that without the crystal." he pointed out. "Your friend, the Niflhiem Heir, is making a considerable effort." Regis looked over to the side.

It was only then that Noctis realized there was a hole in the wall of the throne room. Remarkably similar to the one from the previous time line. Only this one was very new. That hole had NOT been there before he had been stabbed. "The- you mean Prompto?" Noctis asked with confusion. Memories of his past life mixed with the memories he had of this one. Prompto had been raised by Ardyn in this life. Noctis turned to Ardyn. Who was not paying attention to them. Rather texting someone on a phone. How in the world was Prompto going to get the crystal back? He... he couldn't even dead lift 200kg. Much less touch the crystal that divinley punished those who DID touch it.

"Noctis- wait." King Regis was unable to keep his son from standing up. "Don't, I just. Give me a moment." Noctis waved off his father. Trying to stand up. He got about halfway, before the pain in his stomach kept him from going further. Noctis put an arm around his stomach, and then reached for Ardyn. Who stopped typing and moved to help him stand. Noctis was still shaky on his feet. Hunched over due to the pain in his abdomen.

"Clarus." Regis called for his sheild. Unable to stand on his own. Clarus turned from the council, and then took the three steps it took to be at his King's side. Helping him up. Such a sorry state they looked. Two Kings, their kingdom under attack from within- and neither of them able to stand of their own power. Noctis wet his lips, "I am going to summon light." He informed Ardyn.

"Noct... I don't know if this is a good idea." Ardyn cautioned. Looking back as Clarus helped Regis to his feet. The King was clearly pushing himself more than his son was. His Dad looked like he was about to pass out from stasis, but insistently following his son anyway. "You are not in a good condition to push yourself. Neither of you are." "People are already dying from the demon attacks, aren't they?" Noctis asked him with gritted teeth. Ardyn pressed his lips together in a thin line. Not denying the possibiility.

"What kind of a King am I? If I can prevent more, but don't?" Noctis asked darkly. Then summoned his staff with a flash of light. Most people in the room were watching the Prince and King struggle to his feet. They regretted doing so now, as they blinked spots out of their eyes. Then muttered with surprise. As they saw the Prince with what they assumed was a new royal arm. A STAFF, which had never been listed as a weapon before. Painted with the Lucian colors, and with red and blue accents. Noctis placed the staff on the ground with a solid noise. Then used it to support himself. Just as his father often did with his cane. Noctis stood up a little taller, and took a step forward walking with Ardyn's help. He took one step, then a second. Gaining confidence as he walked. Pushing through the pain, more than anything. Noctis stepped into the center space before the throne. Where often someone addressing the lower levels would stand when addressing people. Where Noctis and Ardyn had decided to end their previous lives. Noctis set his stance, and waved Ardyn off. He then turned to face forward. Addressing everyone in the room. "Everyone." Noctis shifted his staff, so it was laying in both his hands. Parrallel to the ground. He began to summon his power. Letting it flow through him and into the world. Above him, the unpowered chandiler flickered back to life. "I am going to summon light now." He informed them all. "I'll try to keep it up until dawn. Prioritize getting citizens to safe areas, and keeping them safe." His orders had most of the people nodding with firm understanding. There were a few of the posher nobles who exchanged looks with each other though. Noctis wished he had time to remember their faces. "Noctis." Regis, stepped forward. Clarus helping him do so. He placed a hand on his son's shoulder. Squeezing it tightly. The worry of a father who had already lost his son once that day in his eyes. "Please." "I'll be alright dad." Noctis assured him. Placeing a hand over his father's and squeezing. Clarus helped Regis step back. Noctis turned forward again. Regaining his concentration. The unpowered chandiler flickered- and began to illuminate the room with it's usual intensity. Below the noble's feat the magical running lights in the tiles started to pulse once more. As did all of the lights within the Citadel, which were usually powered by the crystal itself. Instead of their usual purple glow, the lights took on a colder, blue hue. Noctis supplying them with power in the crystal's absence. Noctis did not need to draw on the crystal for power, afterall. After it had shattered Noctis had discovered that at the core of his magical abilities was the ability to produce his own magic. Feeding it into the world. Like a spring from the earth. He inhaled as magic that was his own filled him. The pain in his stomach leaving him just for the time being. It was still there though- and Noctis could feel that he would regret what he was about to do later. Noctis still pushed on. Gathering magic beneath him. He opened his eyes. Looking upwards as his feet left the ground. Whisperes and shocked gasps errupted across the throne room. As many of the Lucians in the room had never seen magic like this before. Not in a few generations. Weighted down by the strain of the wall- and Bahamut's 'gift' of a ring. When Noctis had been born; the Oracle and the Gods had declared him to be the chosen one. The fabled King of Light. A person who would banish the darkness away for good. Over the course of both his life times; Noctis had been forced to fullfill the expectations of that role. To fill a mold others had decided for him. Little had they known that all of that had been a lie. That Noctis had only been choosen out of convenance. That the God who set up the prophecy conspired to kill them all. Despite all of Bahamut's conspiring however; Noctis had still been born with this gift of light. A power that was now HIS to define.

Its time to show the world what the King of Light truely is. Noctis thought, and then cast his magic forth. He warped upwards. Flickering into nothing in just a flash. One moment there, the next gone. Leaving a light blue after-image in his wake. Regis stumbled forward, a hand reaching out towards the after image of his son. Not having expected Noctis to suddently disapear. Clarus caught the injured King before he could fall. Ardyn stepping in to give him a hand. The latter reassuring Regis that Noctis was alright. That his son was more than capable.

Noctis blinked back into existance above the Citadel, and continued to rise upwards. Higher and higer. A figure of pure light rocketing upwards. Not unlike a firework. He rose like a beacon in the dark. Until he was on level with the clouds, and all of Insomnia lay before him. Plauged with demons spawning in every shadow and dark alley. Threatening the saftey of Citizens. Who could do little but turn on their lights and hide in the innermost parts of their houses. Noctis gathered his magic, making a sweeping circle with his staff. The unseasonal storm which had been plauging the City all day responded around him. Already a manifestation of his power- Noctis felt the whole atmosphere shift and warp at his command. What should he do? Fire? No. that was best for short bursts. Fog? That had frozen everything over. A final element crackled at the end of his staff; and Noctis unleashed his spell. Giving it form. The stormy sky above Insomnia split open. Branches of lightning traced across the sky. Not touching the ground, but curling around around in twists and turns. Reaching across and then back up into the sky. Instead of the light disapearing in a single flash, it lingered. Brilliant and sky blue. One set of bolts traced across the sky, then another. A rolling orchestra of thunder accompanying the lights.

Down below demons screamed, burned by the sudden apperance of intense light. Many of them disipated immediatly. While other were to slow and burned into smoke. Noctis' lightning illuminated the city from above in rolling waves. Illuminating the city below him in swathes. As bright as a mid-day sun. People, cowering in fear now pointed up towards the sky with wonder. Watching as the lightning rolled and lingered unnaturally. As if it were being captured by a camera. In the darkest of nights for the city, they had been saved by a miracle. One that was clearly visible. As Noctis Lucis Caelum became the eye of the storm hovering directly above the Citadel.

A briliant light within in the dark sky.

[groovytimetravelflower]

Not Just a Feeling Chapter 21

Read the whole story HERE on AO3. Don't forget to reblog to share with your mutuals!

Summary:

The most unlikely team up of the year finally gets Regis the evidence he needs to affirm that Dratos is the leader of the Insurectuonists. Little does he realize it costs Cor a good amount of sanity.

Chapter 21: Alarm Bells

"He said what?" Cor Leonis' voice carried down the hall sharply. Making several people pause with concern.

Beside the Marshal, King Regis inhaled, but kept his face a calm slate. Beside the King, Clarus closed his eyes, and pinched his nose.

Cor picked up on their reactions, and lowered his voice. "Sorry."

"Emperor Aldercapt does not seem to care much about the tariffs." Noctis explained with a stage whisper. The King, his son, and most of their inner circle were gathered in one of the side meeting rooms of the grand hallway. Separated from onlookers by the adjustable wooden panels, but not anything truly significant. Most of Lucian politics did not have the privilege of privacy. Not outside of a few select offices at least.

The two groups had converged in an aside to speak before the Lucian council, their nobles, and the Niflheim party were to meet back up for the peace talks very shortly.

Prince Noctis often spoke with little to no expression on his face. It was hard for people to know what he was thinking, one way or another. His neutral tone often gave people the impression that he was bored, or entitled. "We showed our hand too early." He told his father, "He knows what we want, and where he can hurt us. He was going to push for them the tariffs to be higher, unless I offered something he actually was interested in."

"So you offered to give Prompto magic." King Regis recounted. He adjusted his weight, leaning on his cane, thinking. "An interesting bargain."

"Interesting? No. That seems a little hasty to me." Cor remarked bluntly.

"I concur." Ignis joined his side. The advisor was very clearly unhappy with Noctis' decision. Ignis had been standing at the back of their group, his aura so cold it could burn. "We don't know how trust worthy Prompto is at the moment."

"Ignis." Noctis was offended on behalf of his blonde friend. Who was not present at the moment.

"Prompto was already part of your team." Gladio agreed with his prince."I don't see any reason why he would not be again."

"A lot has changed, Gladio." Ignis spoke coldly, "HE has changed. The way he spoke when he was with the Emperor- he was quite clear where his loyalties currently lay."

"He's the Niflheim Heir, Ignis." Noctis reminded his advisor, with some frustration. "How would you feel if I did not have my country's interests as a priority?"

"He was part of your inner circle?" Clarus asked Noctis for clarification.

Noctis turned to the older man, "Yes. I can not remember it, but I can FEEL that we were connected before." Noctis explained, placing a hand on his chest . "I told my dad this morning, that I was feeling phantom connections, just like he does with Cid. We were already floating the idea of having Prompto reconnect with me." He looked to his father for confirmation.

"I mean it's not a question for me." Gladio put his two cents in, "Prompto is one of us. New backstory or not. This is a fairly win-win deal. We get to stay with Noctis, for a price that we were going to pay anyway."

"The journey's conclusion will end in the same spot." Clarus agreed with his son wisely.

Ignis looked clenched his fists tightly. "Your Majesty. If I may speak a few words." he requested. Not to his prince, but directly to the king. His voice a solid damn holding back an aquifer's worth of emotions.

Regis appraised Ignis, then indicated that he could speak.

Ignis did so, with a barley concealed quake to his voice. "We have played into Niflheim''s hands before." Ignis explained tersely. "I do not trust that this will end well. They never offer deals without backing people into corners first. If they are happy with this deal, then we are losing out on something. There is always a price to pay."

"I agree." Cor spoke up, "If we make linking Noctis and Prompto as part of the treaty, we will have to do a formal ceremony. That would put the crystal within the same room as the Niflheim court. If that is not an opportunity for it to be stolen- then I don't know what is."

"Convenient." Clarus grunted in agreement, "Put every target you could ever want in one room."

"We were all going to be in the same room either way, for the peace treaty signing." Regis reminded them all, "I see not what difference having the crystal with us will make. Other than that they will have to get through ALL of us to take it." He appraised their group, and adjusted his grip on his walking cane. "None of which are what I would consider easy targets."

Clarus the Shield of the King chewed his bottom lip. Worried. The small group fell silent for a bit. All considering the newest development they were faced with.

"The Emperor knows about the memory stuff." Noctis said after a moment, "He asked me if I remembered- and he only agreed to this deal AFTER Prompto confirmed that I did not yet remember everything."

"He was testing you. To see if your offer was genuine." Regis judged, then exhaled. "Where is this Prompto now? I still have yet to meet him properly."

"He elected to stay with the Emperor, and the Niflheim continent." Ignis explained tersely. He was not happy with this decision, in some fashion.

Noctis gave his advisor an annoyed look, but in the end did not say anything. Probably electing not to start a disagreement of some kind.

Above them, what meteorologists were calling the storm of the century continued to falling on Insomnia. What was expected to be a typical, hot summers day was experiencing an out of season thunderstorm. With rains that were already flooding some of the lower roads in the city-state. Thunder rumbled overhead in the clouds. Tracing from one part of the storm to another. Reflecting in the tall glass buildings Insomnia was known for.

As thunder rumbled above them, there was a knock on the entrance of the small meeting room.

"Excuse me your majesty." One of Regis' secretary said quietly, with a bow, "General Dratos is here and wanted to speak with you."

The older members in the room visibly tensed. The younger half did not notice.

Noctis turned to the secretary, and held up a hand. Addressing the woman with his usual casual formality. "Thank you, let him in."

The woman bowed and then left. Two seconds later General Dratos leaned around the entrance, "Hey." He greeted, eyes taking in every occupant of the small meeting space. He stepped in properly, Gladio stepped aside, and let him join in the circle they were all standing in. "I wanted to touch base before you all went back into the meeting. Looks like I was just in time."

"Of course." Regis said with reservation, "Clarus told me that you had found a lead on the insurrectionists."

"Yeah. I got Clarus' text." Dratos put his hands on his hips, "He was just given a court martial, and is in holding."

"You found someone who is part of the terrorist group?" Ignis was a bit impressed.

"Well. Someone I highly suspect." Dratos left a little room for doubt. "His name is Libertus. He's a Glaive. Came in as a Galahd refugee. Nothing on his record officially, but he's been on my radar as a trouble maker for some time."

"After the peace treaty meeting resolves we will be meeting in the throne room." Regis informed his son, "Where we will weigh the guilty party."

Noctis inhaled, "Oh. Okay." Noctis looked at Ignis, "We should be free to sit in. Right?"

"We did not have anything slotted for this afternoon." Ignis adjusted his glasses, "Other than catching up on an ever growing mountain of paper work."

"We will be there." Noctis confirmed with his father.

"Good." Dratos nodded with satisfaction, "How are things going on your end?" He directed his question towards Cor.

Cor could not side step such a direct question. So he elected to be short on the details. "I have picked up some leads."

"Yes. Did you manage to get anything off that binocular camera?" Ignis asked the Marshal. Who silently cursed Ignis' penchant for details.

"Binocular camera?" Noctis asked Ignis with curiosity. Not having been told about any such device.

"I had an encounter with the Chancellor when I went to prepare lunch. He had a strange sort of camera- I gave it to the marshal to see what he was taking pictures of." Ignis explained.

"You didn't tell me about that." Noctis pointed out, accusingly.

Ignis sighed, looking tired. "There is a lot going on today."

"Regardless." Dratos turned to Cor, "anything interesting on this camera?"

"A few things." Cor said with reservation, "Though nothing I have is beyond speculation at this point."

"I would like to see the images for myself, if possible." Dratos was nothing but friendly. Though all of the adults had troubling expressions. "Are you going into the meeting with them?" Dratos asked.

Cor was not. He would be the only one not in the meeting. Essentially left alone with Dratos. Cor looked sideways to Regis. "No."

"We should talk then." Dratos offered in a friendly manner.

"I have something I need Cor to follow up on, actually." Regis intervened, "General Dratos, I would like you to gather some of youre Glaives. People Libertus knows. Friends who can speak on his character. As well as any one other than yourself who can attest to our suspicions."

"Can't just have a trial that is nothing but our own hearsay." Clarus agreed, backing up Regis' decision, "It would be best to have as many perspectives as possible."

Dratos looked at Regis, and tilted his head just to the side. He didn't reply immediately. When he did it was with a simple, "Alright."

"Thank you." Regis said with his own hesitance, he turned to Cor, "If you could go look into that matter we discussed, I would greatly appreciate it."

"Of course." Cor bowed, and then headed out of the room. Glancing over his shoulder as he went. Dratos followed him out with his eyes, and then turned back to Regis.

"So what's the plan for this trial?" He asked Regis.

"I am going to meet this Libertus for myself, and then weigh his character."

"Anything beyond that?"

"If Cor can not get solid proof, then we have nothing to charge him off save for speculation." Regis pointed out.

Dratos looked annoyed for a moment, then shook his head. "Alright. Whatever you say your majesty." Clearly he thought they should be doing more, however he was not a fool to outright argue with his King.

"Let us go take our places." Regis suggested, "The council will no doubt have eight other things to complain about before we get properly started."

The group filtered out of the room and into the hallway. Noctis and friends leading the way, and not noticing how their fathers kept them away from Dratos. Who followed up the pack with a confident stride.

Sure enough a good portion of the Lucian council and their nobles were already taking their seats in the peace talking chamber. They made their way to the end of the Lucian table. Regis standing next to his chair before taking a seat. Clarus set down their things and also elected to stand. Noctis sat down and Ignis started getting all of his things in order. Talking with Ignis quietly.

Dratos walked up to the table. He lingered for a bit, said hello to a few of the council members, and then waited. Giving a pointed look at Regis.

Regis gathered himself.Taking his place at the head of the table, as the King. "Ladies and Gentlemen. I am sorry for the short notice, but we are going to have a meeting in my throne room after this."

The council men and woman all immediately looked to him. A few of them quickly checked their schedules. "What is the matter about, your majesty?" One of the Council members asked.

"General Dratos here has suspect that he has found a traitor within the Glaive." Regis announced. "Apparently there is a group of insurrectionists who wish to assassinate not just me, but the Niflheim Emperor as well."

The table immediately became abuzz with surprise. The council members looked over at the General Dratos, who quickly became the center of attention. The General preened at this.

"Yes." He confirmed, happy to take all the credit, "We had reason to suspect that a traitor group would be wanting to interrupt the peace talks." He began explaining to the counsel everything that had been going on.

Above, them six statues watched over the meeting hall. Cloaked figures with their hands clasped in front of their hands. Their marble spines fused to the columns which held up the high vaulted ceiling. If someone were to look up, which they so rarely often did. They would have noticed the shadow of a man quickly jumping, and then climbing up the draped figure. Ducking behind their head into a generous hiding space.

Cor Leonis pressed his back to the giant statue. Waiting to see if anyone had noticed his assent. No alarms were called, so he carefully walked around the should of the statue, coming over to the opposite edge. Where he would have the perfect view to over looked the peace treaty meeting. Relying on the shadows the statue provided, and the lower light provided by the unnatural rain storm.

He approached the area, but was not able to move into position. As he ran into something solid, but much softer than the marble surface. "what the-" He reached for his weapon immediately realizing someone invisible was present.

A voice hissed back at him, "Watch where you are stepping!"

Cor stopped mid-draw of his blade, "Chancellor Izunia?"

"No." The invisible voice dripped with sarcasm. "It's your consious- who else would it be?! Go find your own hiding spot! You're going to give us away."

The good marshal gave the invisible space in front of him a blink. There was not even so much as a shimmer to the air before him. Or the usual distortion associated with invisibility spells. He had been wondering how he had been followed around by the Chancellor, without Cor so much as even picking up a hint. Faced with Ardyn's capabilities, now he understood why that had been the case. Ardyn's spell was undetectable.

Cor kept his hand on his blade for a moment. Thinking about this- and the conversation Ardyn had with Regis not but a handful of minutes ago.

Cautiously, Cor put his sword back into it's scabbard. He then crossed his arms, somewhat childishly. Challenging the other. "No."

"Would it not be better if we cooperated?" Cor proposed, "We are after the same target after all- and I suspect the same goal."

Ardyn rolled his eyes. The man just had to make a good point. Either way, the last thing he wanted was them being found out. He snapped, and adjusted his magic spell. Suddenly the Marshal was invisible to everyone else in the room, except for Ardyn. Cor felt the magic snap around him. Like a rubber band. He flinched at the feeling, looked down at his arms, and then directly at Ardyn. Whom he could now see. To each other they were red, ethereal ghosts. Still see through, but visible. Like the Armiger weapons when partially summoned. Only with a red tinge, instead of blue.

Cor judged the man before him, and this demonstration of power. So far every time Ardyn had demonstrated his magic powers he proved himself to easily be on par with King Regis - if not the Astrals themselves. "Thank you."

"It should last for two hours. So enjoy it while you can." Ardyn shifted, so that the Marshal would have room to look down at the meeting below. They were both now positioned on the shoulder of the giant statue. Overlooking the meeting hall below them. Ardyn had been watching their meeting from above thus far. Though that had not been his original intention.

Ardyn fixed his gaze on his target. Chewing on his thumb nail. "Look at him- he's taking the credit for everything."

"Regis often lets him." Cor was watching Ardyn, more than the meeting. Ardyn could feel the man's eyes on the back of his neck. "Just to be clear. I am following Dratos."

"Yes, I am doing the same." Ardyn was not actually watching Dratos. He had done enough of that. now he was looking for a way to undermine the man's actions. how to take him down and prevent him from achieving his goals. "I don't know why you would want to sit in on this meeting. It will be nothing but rich nobles bitching back and forth for hours."

"You could say that again." Cor grunted in agreement. Crouching down to kneel next to Ardyn. Who was sitting comfortably on the shoulder of the statue.

Ardyn looked at his new companion, a slow grin taking over his face. "You don't want to sit in on this meeting. It will be nothing but rich nobles bitching back and forth for hours."

Cor raised an eyebrow at Ardyn. "You could say that again."

"I see why my nephew keeps you around." Ardyn appreciated the man's humor. He turned back to their objective. After learning that there were traitors, and a possible coo soon to be taking place. The entire Lucian council was buzzing, like an ant mound that had been kicked. King Regis and Noctis were both sitting in the middle of it all, the unmoving centers of the storm. Dratos was eating up the chaos. Answering questions, though he claimed not to have answers to most of the things which were being asked.

"He's got something planned." Ardyn observed. He knew how this man operated. He knew how smug the man got when everything was going his way.

"I agree." Cor affirmed. They watched in silence for a bit. Ardyn could feel the Marshal watching him again. The man had questions he wanted to ask. The Marshal surprised Ardyn a little bit. As unlike most humans, Cor did not seem afraid to ask them.

"So. Prompto is your son?" The marshal opened up the discussion tentatively.

Ardyn felt his mouth dry up. Was. Was his son. He settled for an ambiguous half-truth. "In a way."

"He seems like a good kid." The Marshal was still testing the waters, "I was the one who did his Crown trail test." That had only been two days ago. Though it felt like months at this point.

"I recall." Ardyn ran his fingernail along his front tooth. Keeping his eyes on Dratos, as he smugly watched the Lucian Council panic.

"During that entire trial, I felt like I knew him from somewhere." Cor confessed. "I knew I did. I just didn't know from where, or how."

"Hmm." Ardyn didn't really have anything to say to this. He thought of the fresh grave he had found in Prompto's camp a literal life time ago. The Marshal and Prompto had been the last two humans alive. They ought to have been close. Ardyn did not know anything about what their relationship had been like. If it was strong enough, the Marshal would probably have some phantom impressions. The Emperor and Verstael had experienced those with Ardyn.

"I guess it was because I already knew him." Cor worked out. He turned to Ardyn, "You and Noctis. You both changed time itself. Somehow."

Ardyn's eyes moved from General Dratos, to Prince Noctis. Who stood up from his chair. The council members and everyone in the room turned to him. Listening as Noctis calmed down their buzz of panic, and instructed them on how they would be moving forward. Finally able to take charge of a situation for once, instead of being blown around by the whims of fate.

"Yes." Ardyn confirmed. Dratos was not happy about Noctis' containment of the panic. The man was watching each of the council members reactions. Gauging who he could probably manipulate. Regis was watching him do this as well. No expression on his face, but Ardyn could feel the frown in his eyes.

"I guess you would be the best person to ask." Cor continued to speak quietly. "If it's possible for us to fully remember what happened?"

Ardyn's mind immediately flashed to the image of his dear Verstael. Younger than Ardyn ever remember him being in the first time line. Standing in the snow, with tears in his eyes. You came back to me. The moment his scientist realized that Ardyn had specifically sought him out in this life time, because he did in fact have someone who loved him. Quite dearly.

"Some people have had flash backs." Ardyn explained quietly, "But Ignis is the first to have a total recall- it seems to be linked to the memory enchantment somehow."

Cor made a thoughtful noise. Ardyn glanced at the man beside him. "It is unlikely that you will ever remember everything."

Cor huffed with amused confidence. "Well I don't know if you know this about me, but I tend to defy the odds."

Ardyn gave Cor a once over. This was the man who had defeated Gilgamesh. He supposed the man did have a reputation. "I look forward to it then."

A Lucian servant came running through the maze of black wooden walls. Apologizing as they brushed past people and other servants. They came into the main hall of the peace room, and announced that the Niflheim party would be arriving soon. The conference room erupted into a few brief seconds of chaos. As all of the Lucians got their things into order and took their spots. Those who were not meant to be in the room left. Save for Dratos, who lingered until King Regis himself dismissed him.

The Niflheim Nobles were not in a too dissimilar position. Their allotted meeting room down the way was a bustle of people putting on helmets and everyone lining up into a predetermined formation. Emperor Aldercapt had arrived back, and was preparing his people his people to reenter the political arena.

Cor shifted to watch where Dratos was going. Ardyn stayed where he was though, looking at the line of Niflheim nobles. Emperor Aldercapt walked down the length of them. Heimdall, wearing his eyeball shaped helmet marched behind him. Correcting everyone who had a robe or metal decoration out of place.

Walking behind Heimdall was a shock of familiar blond. Ardyn held his breath. Prompto was walking with his hands behind his back. Watching Heimdall work. Learning how to make sure that people were ready. Purple eyes trailed upwards towards the vaulted ceiling, and then around at the statues that held up the ceiling. They quickly focused on Ardyn. Who otherwise being invisible, was sitting out in the open.

Why did I ever teach you how to see through illusions? Ardyn lamented to himself. Knowing that no amount of magic in the world could probably keep Prompto from finding him. Ardyn knew the answer to his question of course. The first step to teaching proper illusions was to be able to spot them. In passing on some of his magical knowledge to Prompto; Ardyn had given up his ability to remain unseen for the monster he truly was.

"Dratos isn't leaving." Cor whispered.

Of course he wasn't leaving. The man was an opportunist. This was the perfect chance to gain information on what the Emperor's guard consisted of. Dratos stood at the entrance to the meeting room. Arms crossed and standing to the side. Politely letting the Niflheim party move past him. Soldiers in front, and moving to stand in the hallways and intersections. Securing passage for everyone. Unarmed, at least not openly. More than anything they posed a physical deterrent to any would be assassins.

Dratos as a possible threat got not one, but two guard escorts to stand directly in front of him, shielding those who passed from an immediate attack should he try anything. Dratos politely allowed this. Watching the parade of people pass him by.

All of the Niflheim court was playing up the eerie ghost-like appearances. Moving silently and steadily. With their white robes and metal masks. Dratos' eyes fixed on Prompto the second the blonde child came into view. Taking in the sight of the Niflheim heir. His upper lip curled with open distaste.

Ardyn's fists clenched tightly. A well of protective anger rising within him. If that man so much as touched his son- no. No longer his son- but still. There would be blood.

Prompto's gaze immediately landed on and locked with the Lucian General. Recognizing him as a possible threat. His head tilted to the side with recognition. However, Prompto did not stop or hesitate. Walking along side the Emperor. Safely surrounded by men in full armored suits and guards.

Prompto turned back to keep his eyes on Dratos as he passed him. Walking backwards for a few steps. Dratos similarly maintained eye contact back. Not even trying to be subtle.

Emperor Aldercapt noticed, and whispered something. Never giving General Dratos so much as a glance. Prompto turned and straightened to walk forward once more, directed to do so by the Emperor. The herald announced their arrival, and everyone slowly began to file into the meeting room.

Dratos remained in the hallway, his arms crossed. As the imperial soldiers took up guard posts across from the Lucian ones. On hand should anything happen.

Prompto's entrance sparked a wave of reactions from the Lucians. This was their second or third time ever seeing Prompto- and he was hardly in what any of them would consider 'proper' formal attire. He was wearing his white robes of course, but they were decorated in pins, and buttons and metal trinkets Prompto had picked up over the years. A far cry from the ceremonial Regalia that was required for such a meeting in their minds.

Several of them looked to King Regis, to see if he would say anything. One of them turned purple, holding in an outburst. Another noble actually snapped their pen stylus in half. Ardyn assumed from this man's seat position this man was either the lowest in the council, or the highest ranking noble house. Ardyn took note of the man curious. He kind of looked like an older Ignis. Perhaps they were related? Either way this man's desk quickly became a mess of ink and broken plastic. His assistant rushed in quickly to clean up the mess, trying not to draw attention to themselves. Keeping their head bowed and presence meek. Everyone at the table ignored her, and the mess. She also looked very similar to Ignis. They had the same nose and eyes.

Prompto did not miss the stir of reactions. He took his spot at Emperor Aldercapt's right hand side quietly. Not as anxious as he typically would have been. Prompto, now with his memories returned, walked with a straighter posture. With a little bit more presence. More like himself; or who he used to be. He looked down the table at King Regis. Across the two long tables. Two sides of a war finally coming together to make peace. The majority of everyone sat down. Leaving the Rulers as the only ones standing.

King Regis greeted the Emperor, and the Emperor in turn replied.

"Joining us this afternoon will be my official heir," The Emperor remarked, gesturing to Prompto.

Prompto gave the Lucians all a thoughtful look, assessing the crowd. Nearly all of them were looking back at him with disapproving and angry looks. He in turn gave them all one of his patented sunny bright smiles. "Hi!"

At his casual greeting, wave of disapproval rippled through the room.

Ardyn.

Was so proud.

"Dratos is moving." Cor hissed, and prepared to jump and follow the man.

"I know. I just- let me take a moment." Ardyn requested. He wiped a fake tear from his eye, and placed a hand over his heart. Just appreciating the chaos his baby dove was going to shine upon the nobles below them. After taking a moment, he stood up and joined Cor.

Both Ardyn and Cor both jumped from their current positions down to the feet of the next column's statue. Then jumped further down to the floor of the meeting hall. They landed in the maze of fake walls. Near the main exit of the meeting hall.

Dratos had taken out his phone, and was dialing a number. Striding across the large entrance area and towards said doors.

Crouching behind one of the walls. Ardyn reached out and placed a hand on Cor's shoulder. "He can still hear us." Ardyn warned with a whisper. "And you are very much still solid." He reminded. Then quietly strode out of their hiding spot. Standing on the balls of his feet, so that his shoes would not make as much sound. If he were alone, he would have erased any sounds they made, but Ardyn liked a good challenge every now and then- and reconfiguring the spell such that they could talk to each other without anyone overhearing them would make the illusion he had created heavier. It might be detectable to anyone sensitive to magic. Dratos could very well detect such a thing at this close of a range. The man was rather perceptive, for a brute.

Thankfully, Ardyn had two thousand years of experience in following people invisibly to aid him in keeping silent. He had perfected his illusions early on in order to sneak up on his brother. Somnus had always found the ability incredibly annoying, and Ardyn so did adore frustrating his younger brother. Ardyn had also had a habit of sneaking up on his late wife, Area. Who had found his penchant for sneaking up on people much more charming. Always delighted when Ardyn would show up out of nowhere to give her hugs or kisses. Ardyn's current husband, Verstael, was a lot harder to surprise. Mostly because Verstael loved to join in on the cat and mouse game himself. He would often set up traps or things for Ardyn to knock over accidentally, or which would make noise. Verstael even got the jump on Ardyn on occasion. Hiding behind shelves and jumping out at him, or sneaking up on Ardyn when he wasn't paying attention.

Ardyn could not help but grin that stretched across his face as he followed Dratos out of the meeting hall. Just thinking about his husband could really make his day.

General Dratos moved through the crowded halls of the Citadel at a brisk pace. Making people move for him, rather than him moving around them. Ardyn kept up the pace, ridding the wave of the parting crowd. Dratos did not notice Ardyn or pick up on his illusion magic. Though Ardyn stayed on guard. Ready to be found out at noticed at any moment and bail if need be.

The Marshal had a lot less experience with being so openly sneaky. He tried to keep up with Ardyn, but got uncomfortable with being too close to his target. Eventually he defaulted to a more conventional stalking pattern, following back behind them by a few meters. Occasionally moving off to the side to break line of sight or avoid groups of people. Not used to being an invisible ghost.

"Hey. Are you busy right now?" Dratos asked, as the person he was calling picked up the phone. Ardyn danced to the side, closing in to look at the caller ID, before backing off. He recognized the number on the phone. This person seemed to be Dratos' second in command. They talked a lot, and Dratos spoke with them to keep them up to date a lot. Ardyn already had him listed mentally as someone to kill sooner, rather than later. Just to hinder the man. "Okay. Can you gather everyone in the briefing room?"

The person on the phone said a few garbled words. Dratos made a few affirmative noises. Then hung up the phone. Ardyn continued to shadow the man as they walked through the Citadel. Cor followed behind at a distance.

Dratos made his way into the training quadrant of the Citadel. The people they passed turned from your typical bureaucrats to military personal. Dratos came to some double doors, which exited the Main Citadel. Ardyn caught the door at the last second. He waved Cor through quickly. The Marshal ducking under his arm and stepping outside. Ardyn exited last, and gently closed the door behind them. Hoping that Dratos would not notice the lack of a door slam behind him.

They were in luck, because the door led outside. Where a torrent of rain and thunder poured down. A covered walk way connected the Glaive training grounds with the main Citadel. It was open to the air on the sides, and the sound of pouring rain hitting the metal roof easily masked their presence. Ardyn glanced up at the sky. Feeling Noctis' magic causing the storm above them. He hoped that the Prince's magic would not cancel his illusion spell. The air was charged with a static-like magic that could disrupt his invisibility, if he was not careful.

Cor moved to stand behind one of the columns that held up the roof, and made some hand gestures at Ardyn. Who interpreted the signals as Ardyn sticking close to the General, while Cor stayed back. Though what Cor was actually asking for was for Ardyn to follow him around to a side entrance he knew of. Ardyn, completely misreading the hand signals, gave the man a thumbs up, and then moved closer towards Dratos. Not noticing that behind him Cor frantically waved his hand and tried to get his attention, before face palming.

Dratos walked down the covered walkway. Looking out in the rain to the Glaive training grounds. It was an impressive building. Ancient- actually older than the Citadel itself. What once had been a coliseum where Lucian criminals were publicly put to death- now acted as an ovular arena that offered Glaives and Crown Guard their own personal play ground to hone their skills. No one was in the arena at the moment. Not with how bad the rain storm had gotten. Usually the arena was dusty sand. At the moment it was a knee high pool of cold water.

Ardyn got ahead of Dratos, and pressed his back to the wall of the door at the end of the walk way. Ready to once again catch the door when the General came through.

Dratos never made it too the door however. There was the sound of metal arcing through the air. Then magic breaking physical space. Dratos twisted and caught a blade before it could hit him- only to be thrown down by the weight of a fully grown woman warping into the blade.

"You fucker!" A woman in a Glaive Uniform snarled at Dratos. Throwing a punch at his face.

Dratos blocked the blow. Raising up the arm not currently grappling with the thrown blade. Sheilding his face with his arm. The woman's fist ineffectually hit the armor he was wearing. Though the blow had been solid- and indefinitely would have given him a bruise if it had connected.

Two more Glaives warped in. "Crowe!" the man with black hair and braids scrambled to pull the woman off his general. Knowing fully well that there were consequences for attacking a person of higher rank. Especially one as high as General. The other Glaive who had warped in helped him, but did not seem as brave in grabbing at the woman.

The woman named Crowe swung again. Her fist connected with the metal armor again, and this time Drato's armor dented from a magically enhanced blow. Ardyn resisted the temptation to whistle. This woman was clearly out for blood.

The door beside Ardyn burst open. Another Glaive came out, and joined in the efforts to get Dratos out from under the woman. Ardyn recognized them as one of the men Dratos had been talking to that afternoon. The other two were not involved in the traitorous plot, as far as Ardyn was aware.

It took all three men to pull the woman named Crowe off of Dratos. Who rolled away as soon as he could, and disengaged. Not retaliating in any way. Ardyn crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. Watching the scene play out.

"You fucker!" The woman shouted and cursed. The man who had called her by name tried to sooth down her fury. Though Crowe looked far from done. Her hair was coming undone, and the eye liner around her eyes really accented her burning fury. Ardyn wished Prompto was there to take a picture.

Dratos rolled to his feet, and raised up his hands, to show that he had no interest in fighting. "Whoa, hey." The man broke out the charm that he was known for. In this life for rallying soldiers behind him. In his past life leading them to their dooms against the very same Niflheim weapons he commanded.

"Crowe, calm down." He advised calmly. "let me at least explain what is happening before you lash out." The man asked. Even though she had already decided to become violent.

The woman calmed down, and the three men holding her back slowly and cautiously let her go. Crowe used her ring finger to swipe her bangs out of her face. Looking calm and collected for someone who was so very obviously furious.

Dratos clenched and unclenched his hands. Making his appeal. "Look. I am just as upset as all of you. I just went and tried to speak to the King and Clarus, but they are caught up in all of that bureaucratic bullshit." Dratos gestured behind the woman towards Citadel. His tone presented him as someone who was also a victim here. Dealt the same shitty hand as them. "They didn't even give me the time of day."

Dratos' companion stepped back from Crowe, and gave the other two Glaives assessing looks. Demonstrating a good bit of acting, as he spoke with an angry and upset tone as well. "So then what is happening? They just arrested Libertus!" This bit of acting calmed the woman down somewhat. As her fellow soldier agreed with her. Even though from an outsider's perspective it was VERY obvious that this soldier and Dratos were both play acting in order to appeal to them.

Dratos shook his head, "Everyone in the briefing room first. I'll explain everything there." He gave the woman and the men beside her, "I know it doesn't feel like much right now, but I'm sorry." He apologized.

"Come on, lets go." He ordered gently, and reassuring. Holding the door open for them all. Dratos' companion, and the other Glaive slowly made their way into the doorway. Looking back over their shoulders.

Crowe's lip curled. One of the soldiers stood beside her, looking nervous. Dratos held the door politely. Waiting for her to comply. Crowe maintained eye contact with him, before spitting to the side on the ground.

This was an incredibly vile insult in Galahd culture. It was the crassest way to call someone out on their bullshit. Meaning that she didn't trust of believe a word that Dratos was speaking. She walked forward though, and entered into the building. Her friend anxiously following behind her.

Ardyn did not catch the door behind them. Knowing it would be too noticeable if he did. Instead he skipped away from the wall, focusing on his new priority.

Cor moved for the door to follow Dratos, and did a double take when Ardyn passed him up. Heading back the way they had come from. He watched with confusion, and then threw up his arms with disbelief. As Ardyn snatched up the throwing knife that Dratos had disarmed from Crowe, and had carelessly been left on the ground.

"Really?" Cor asked.

"I have a kid that collects knives!" Ardyn explained, and held up the knife with a grin. "It's a souvenir!"

Cor shook his head, and pointed, "Follow me this way, there's a side entrance we can use."

Ardyn tucked the discarded throwing knife into his jacket pocket. Skipping after the Marshal happily. They snuck into a side entrance, and walked through the ancient stone corridor to find where their target had gone.

Dratos and the group of four soldiers were easily found, walking into a briefing room. A window gave them all a good view of the flooded training arena. The main source of light in the room was from the map console, as well as some computers against one wall. Long wooden benches stretched as tripping hazards down one side of the room. Someone flicked on the overhead lights, but they did not help much. Needing to warm up.

"So are you going to tell us why you had Libertus arrested?" Crowe crossed her arms and asked with spite.

"When everyone is here, yes." Dratos assured the woman, who rolled her eyes.

Her friend, the male soldier with black hair and braids oved to console her. "Crowe."

"Not now, Nyx." She said angrily. Walking to one side of the room.

Nyx? As in Nyx Ulric? The Hero of the Glaive? Ardyn perked up with interest. As Cor and Ardyn snuck into the room like the ghosts they were. The door had been left propped open. He narrowed in on the man with interest. Though the man only had eyes for his upset friend.

Dratos' ignored Crowe's open insubordination. Walking over to the map console and busying himself by turning the machine on. Not that he likely needed it for anything.

The sound of boots on stone approached the open door. Dratos' second in Command walked in. A large group of Glaives all fallowing behind him. Many of the Glaives gave Dratos one look, and the angry woman standing off to the side another. As if they could tell just from the energy in the air that there had been a fight.

"So most of you have probably heard by now." Dratos informed the room, as the soldiers all filed in. Moving to stand in what seemed to be pre-designated spots on the ground. Ardyn stood in the center of it all, standing with his hands on his hips as people moved around him, but did not run into him. Not by his own doing. It was interesting, but people always seemed to sense subconsciously that someone or something was there, and avoid running into him. He walked among the group of men and woman. Finding the hole in the formation where a missing member might stand.

Cor, who had politely stood off to the side, watched with a confused expression. Clearly have not been as comfortable with being invisible. Or so Ardyn thought, until the Marshal pulled out a phone, and started recording. Not just Dratos, but the whole assembly.

Clever man.

"That Libertus was just court martialed, and taken into custody by the crowns guard." Dratos continued to explain. Looking over his soldiers. He opened his hand to an empty spot in the formation. Or at least what appeared to be empty.

Ardyn was currently standing in said spot. Occupying Libertus' place in his absence. Everyone glanced towards him. Ardyn judged them critically. Libertus' spot was quite far from his girlfriend, or friend- he did not want to make assumptions. Crowe was standing with Nyx on the far side of the room.

Interesting.

"Begging the question, why?" Dratos moved on. Oblivious to Ardyn's presence. He ran a hand through his short hair.

"Some of you also probably noticed the Kings' Dog sniffing about this morning." Dratos told the group, "And that would be why. With the treaty and the Niflheim people being in town. The King apparently started getting worried about people braking rank to assassinate the Niflheim nobles."

The tension room ratcheted up a notch. They all apparently knew where this was going.

Some people were very clearly faking their expressions though. Particularly the two standing next to Ardyn. He pointed at them, and looked at Cor, to make sure he was paying attention. Ardyn walked down the line, and pointed to people he could tell were faking their surprises about Dratos' news, as well as the few he knew had loyalties to the General. Cor watched him, brows pinched. As he recorded the conversation.

"Libertus apparently triggered some flags." Dratos continued with his explanation, "And they searched his locker. Inside they found pain killers he was not prescribed with- as well as some anti-crown flyers.

"Wait. Hold on." Nyx spoke up, a frown on his face, "Libertus might disagree with things the crown does- but he would never actually do anything to betray them."

Dratos rubbed his tongue along the inside of his cheek. "I'm sorry kid. Sometimes the people you think you know, have secrets." Dratos told the man simply, and sighed "I'm sorry. The Marshal said he thinks Libertus has been meeting up with a group that calls themselves the 'treaty haters'. Which have plans to do more than just wave picket signs."

"What!?" Nyx asked with disbelief. Crowe did not seem as shocked to hear this news however.

Her eyes bounced back and forth as she took this information in. Then she stomped her foot. "Fuck."

Nyx took this as Crowe thinking that Dratos' claim was plausible. He looked at her with dispair, then back to Dratos. "No. No. That can't be right! Lib would never!"

"As of now he is under investigation." Dratos surmised with a dry tone. He looked to the others, "Let's face it he's always been a bit vocal on his criticisms of the crown. This might have been coming for a while now."

"I spoke with the King before coming here." Dratos rested his hands on his hips, speaking the group as a whole, even though the information he was saying was purley for them. "King Regis was not to keen on letting Libertus off with out a proper investigation first. So. He should be in holding for a few days."

"Without a trial? Or bail?" Crowe asked critically. They all knew the law. In Insomnia you could not be held prisoner just on the command of the King. Even he had to follow some rules.

"You think they're going to hold a trial for treason? When there is a peace treaty on the line?" Dratos asked Crowe with a shrug, then shook his head. "No. No. The King doesn't want to look weak in front of them. They will do the trial once they are out of the city. Until then he's going to be in holding."

"And that's all?" Nyx asked. Not happy, but satisfied that at least his friend was not going to be killed for treason without a proper investigation.

If only Dratos were telling the truth. Ardyn placed a finger against his lips. Watching the scene unfold from Libertus' perspective.

"If Libertus does not have anything to hide, I trust that he will be fine." Dratos opened his hands. Showing that he had no control of the matter. "I will keep everyone as up to date as I have been. In the meantime, I want to remind you all that this isn't Galahd. This is Insomnia. You're soldiers for the Lucian King, and whatever he decides is law."

Dratos let that sentence hang for a moment, and then made a casting off motion with his hand. "Dismissed."

The group of soldiers broke up. Some giving Crowe worry looks, others looking around. Confused as to why they had even been called for the meeting. Crowe stood in the back of the room. Clenching and unclenching her fists. Ardyn appraised her. She had a fire within her. Not like Prompto. Prompto's fire was bright, a beacon of hope. This woman had more of a burning rage. Anger. Revenge. Something Ardyn was familiar with. Something he could work with. He looked over at the window, which did not show his reflection thanks to his magic spell. No second opinion to be offered there.

All of the soldiers in the room began to leave in earnest. Though a few stuck behind to speak with Dratos.

The woman remained though, her face twisting into anger once more. Until Nyx reached out to her. just placing a hand on her elbow. "Crowe." he implored. The woman looked at Nyx, and the rage inside her steamed and began. As her friend anchored her. "Come on, lets go."

Crowe let herself be led out of the room. Nyx's hand on her back. The man looking over his shoulder as they left. Giving Dratos a brief, and angry look. The two left.

Ardyn made to follow them. Knowing that they were exactly who he needed to kick his plans into motion. Well. Regis needed. Lucis needed? Semantics. Either way, Ardyn wanted to talk to them.

Cor made a questioning motion as he left. Looking from him, and then back to Dratos. Dratos' second in command was lingering behind with two other Glaive. They were clearly going to talk and plan something amongst themselves. Ardyn held up two fingers and then tapped the back of his wrist. Where a watch would be. Reminding the man that he had two hours of invisibility.

Ardyn did not wait for a response. Backing out the door to follow Libertus' friends.

Nyx led the way through the stone walls of the remodeled coliseum. Coming to an over hang that over looked some steps that spectators would once sit on to watch matches. The rain was still pouring strong. Ardyn could feel Noctis' magic swirling above them in the sky. He gave the clouds a curious look, and took his hat out of his coat. Looking to find a dramatic place he could appear from. The archway? Back lit by rain. Or he could emerge from the darkness of the coliseum. Ardyn pointed to one with his hat, then the other.

Ennie. meany. Minee. Mo.

While Ardyn scuttled to get into position. The two friends stopped to talk quietly, unaware of Ardyn even being present.

"Crowe. It will be fine." Nyx tried to reassure his friend, as well as himself.

"Nyx." Crowe, held up both her hands. Directing a little bit of her anger towards him. "I love your optimism. I really do. But you're dumber than Libertus sometimes. You know?"

Nyx did not know how to respond to this, he licked his lips. "General Dratos just said-"

"Dratos is LYING." The woman told him firmly, she glanced over her shoulder to make sure they were alone. Ardyn in the background almost slipped on the wet stone as he tried to get into position. He held his breath. Neither Crowe or Nyx noticed.

Crowe spoke with a quieter tone, "He's lying about all of this Nyx. The Marshal wasn't the one snooping around this morning. Dratos has been buzzing around all morning with his goons. Then all of a sudden Lib is being arrested by some Crowns Guards? and accused of treason?! When we got back from the front lines- and Libertus was going on about the treaty being shit. It was the Captain who gave Libertus that recommendation to go to some arcade. Don't you remember? When we went out for beers? He told Libertus that there were some people there who might share the same political views."

Nyx was apparently not the sharpest tool in the shed. His eyes bounced back and forth, brow pinching. "What. So you think that this is some kind of set up?" He asked. Even though Crowe had JUST laid that out to him.

Ardyn, finally in position, joined the conversation. "I think it's far from speculation at this point. My dear boy."

Ardyn's voice echoed wonderfully in the damp stone hallway. Both soldiers tensed, then drew their weapons. Crowe another throwing knife. Nyx with a proper dagger blade. He stepped forward. Taking up a position between the shadows and Crowe.

Ardyn was still invisible though, so all they saw was shadows. Ardyn let them both look around in confusion for a moment. When both glanced to the side to try to find the threat, Ardyn let his magic fall away, revealing himself.

Up against the back of the stone walk way was an ancient statue. Of a winged messenger kneeling down. It's arms, most of it's face, and part of it's wing had fallen off from age. Ancient as it was. Made to greet people coming in and out of the seats for the arena. Now silently reminding the soldiers who trained in the halls that the Kingdom they fought to defend was already built on blood soaked ground.

Ardyn had climbed up the statue, and was sitting on the edge of the pedestal. One leg propped up, and an elbow resting on his knees. Where he appeared in relation to the Galahd soilders- he knew it would appear like he was a figure with broken wings. Ever so fitting, and dramatic. Exactly how he preferred to present himself.

It did not take but a second for both soldiers to notice him, once he appeared. They both honed in on him. Looking confused as to how they had missed him before.

Ardyn held up his hand, and in a much less threatening manner than the two below him, presented a blade. Offering them the knife in his free hand. It was a throwing knife. A brother to the sister Crowe held. "I happened to notice you lost something." He said with a casual tone. Turning the knife to look at it.

"Who are you?" Nyx demanded an answer. The man was like a loyal guard dog. Standing and ready to fight. Crowe in contrast was a cat. Eyes narrowing and getting ready to pounce with deadly accuracy.

"Oh." Ardyn ho-hummed, "Just a concerned civilian. Returning something that was lost. Or perhaps, taken?" He offered the blade towards Crowe again. The woman's eyes went wide with realization. She knew that he was not talking about a knife.

"You're a spy." Nyx accused. Not so good at connecting the dots, but apparently a decent judge of character. "You've been listening in on our conversations."

"Now, that's an unfair accusation." Ardyn pouted, "Is it a crime to observe? To watch a drama unfold? You are surly no stranger to watching a show, or a play?"

Nyx wasn't falling for his misdirection. "Seems to me that you're doing a lot more than observing." he pointed out.

"Perhaps. Everyone has their part to play." Ardyn rested his weight on his knee and leaned forward, telling them a secret. "My role is that of the wise sage. One who gives wisdom to the Hero, or Heroes in their time of need."

There was a pause on both Glaive soilder's ends. Nyx looked confused for a moment, and glanced back to Crowe, before looking back at Ardyn. "Okay? ... So?" Nyx had apparently run out of accusations to throw at him. He knew enough not to trust Ardyn. Though he did not quite know what to do from there.

Ardyn could not help but smile with amusement. "Your friend Libertus will have his audience with the King." Ardyn informed them, twirling the throwing knife around in his hand. "It will be today, in fact."

Another pause. This one of shock. Noctis' magic picked up in a harsh breeze. water sprayed behind the soldiers in a wave across the stone sitting area. Ardyn felt static buzz through the area. It found Ardyn's magic, and reacted with it. A crackle of electric-like lines branched across his aura. Red lightning which illuminated the shadows around him briefly with an eerie red glow. Down below him, the two Glaives also had a similar reaction happen to them. Blue traces of magic sparking around them. Only just two points of contact though. The limited amount of magic that Regis had granted them with. Compared to the storm of lines that Ardyn's magic produced, it was almost nothing.

Crowe inhaled, eyes wide. She took a step. "What are you?" She asked with confusion, and a bit of fear. Thinking that the discharge was his doing.

"A man of no consequence." Ardyn stated simply. He loved using that line. Bahamut had given him that title when torturing him, after his initial resistance to his fate. The very God who had told him he was special, and chosen him for a higher task. Breaking his ego beneath his heel. Ardyn now lived to defy the Astral's condemnation. Ardyn would forever be anything BUT inconsequential.

Ardyn gathered his feet under him, and pushed up into a standing position. Both Crowe and Nyx tensed. Ardyn stood above them, and spoke down on the mortals.

"The King of Lucis is not a fool." Ardyn told them dramatically, "He knows that matters such as treason are to be addressed immediately. Not locked in a room to be addressed at another time. Your friend Libertus has been wrongly accused of a crime."

"However there is still time to act." Ardyn decreed. His voice echoing through the stone walls of the once colluseam. "With enough persuasion, and perhaps a little intervention. Your dear Libertus will not be the one found guilty."

Nyx inhaled sharply, looking up at Ardyn with realization. "Dratos. He is the real traitor. Isn't he?"

"That. Is for the King to decide." Ardyn left the matter ambiguous. Couldn't be mysterious without a little ambiguity.

Ardyn dramatically raised one of his hands up and out. "I wish you both luck with this."

Ardyn snapped once, the noise echoing loudly through the shadows. Then lightning, hot fierce and bright struck down. Hitting the stone structure of the training facility outside in the arena. Both adults dropped to the ground instinctively. Nyx actually grabbed Crowe and shielded her. Laying across her head and upper back. When they both opened back up their eyes, and their ears mostly stopped ringing- Ardyn was gone.

Well. Not gone. Just invisible once more.

"The fuck?" Nyx asked, his voice louder than necessary. "The FUCK?"

"I don't think that was a human." Crowe said shakily, she was pale. She found her feet, but they were a little unsteady."Did you see that magical discharge? He had magic- alot magic."

"You don't think... that was a messenger?" Nyx asked, and looked up to where Ardyn was still standing. Though all the man would see was the broken angelic statue behind him. "I mean. Lucian stories are always saying weird shit happens like that. Messengers of the Astrals come down to deliver messages. To keep people from being dishonest, or save people. I... I don't know though. That guy was kind of super suspicious."

"I don't know." Crowe admitted shakily, "Fuck. I really don't."

"If Libertus really is being falsely accused, and the King's General is going to betray him- that sounds exactly like when something divine would intervene." Nyx said, but he sounded uncertain, "That guy was super creepy though. Did you pick up on that? He clearly had an ulterior motive."

"I hate Lucis so much." Crowe cursed. She grabbed Nyx by the wrist, and pulled him along. "Come on, we need to go. If Dratos really is the leader of all this- then I don't think it's safe for us to stay anywhere near him or his goons. Especially since he knows I am onto his bullshit."

Nyx agreed and the two both headed down the hallway quickly. Both glancing back more than once towards the statue Ardyn was still standing on.

"A job well done." Ardyn clapped his hands, now that his task was complete. He figured he could trust that the two friends would be competent enough to stir up some trouble, and try to save their friend.

Ardyn hopped down from the statue, and made his way back into the building looking for Cor. He went back to the briefing room- to find the door was closed tightly shut. Ardyn circled around to the outside. Having to put his hat on and duck through the rain a bit. He found the window that looked into the room. Standing under the over hang of the wall.

Dratos, his second in command, and several of his men were all gathered around the map console. The lights in the room had powered down, and everything was dark. One person had a flashlight, and was trying to reboot the machine. By the looks of it Ardyn's electrical strike had knocked out the power to the whole building.

Cor Leonis was sitting on the far side of the room. Crouched on the floor, behind a computer desk. He was completely visible, and was very clearly aware of this. His hand was over his mouth, and he was angling the phone just such that it would be catching some of the conversation happening on the other side of the room. Just around the corner of the table.

Ardyn waved, and caught his attention. Cor did a double take, and then holding out an arm. Silently gesturing to his very not invisible self. It was a lucky thing that he had not been noticed by any of the men in the room. He must have already been hiding by the time Noctis' magic had knocked out Ardyn's illusion.

Ardyn pressed his hands to the glass, and looked over at Dratos. Wondering how best to get Cor out of the situation, without revealing both of their presence. Cor wasn't close enough for him to cast a spell quietly- and Dratos would certainly feel the spell if he cast it through the glass.

Ardyn could stop time. Just temporarily... but no. Cor probably would be frozen as well, and he would have to carry the man. Ardyn did not think they were THAT desperate.

He chewed his lip and held up a singular finger. Before running off into the rain. Cor watched him go and then threw up a hand. Giving up. He glanced back around the desk warily. Having to hope that the power surge would occupy the men for a bit longer, and they would not have to come to the desks for anything.

Ardyn used his hat as a shield as he bounced through the rain back into the building. He skipped down the hallway, towards some some men he had passed earlier. They were gathered in a circle and talking about the lightning strike. Specifically they were looking out at the building which had been hit.

Perfect.

Invisibly Ardyn snuck up behind one of the men, and whispered into their ear, "Hey. is that a fire?"

"What?" The man glanced to the side at nothing, then looked back at the building.

"Whoa- Hey guys!" He pointed out at the training building which had been struck, "Is that a fire?"

"It's pouring down buckets how could there be a fire?" A man asked skeptically.

The third man of the group pointed. "No look- shit the scaffolding must have caught from the strike."

The skeptical man looked at the training building. He blinked. "Oh shit! Yeah! that's burning!"

"That's wild. ... It's really going. Look at it." All three men watched as the top portion of the building caught fire, and smoke began to poor out of the stone and wooden training piece. Burning despite the constant rain. "What do we do?" the third man asked warily. They all looked towards the first man. Who they apparently deemed responsible, as they had been the one to spot the issue.

The first man turned, and they all looked at a red box that was hanging on the wall.

[groovytimetravelflower]

Not Just A Feeling Chapter 20

Go ahead and read the whole story HERE on A03.

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Summary:

The ChocoBros experience growing pains as they come back together. Ignis and Prompto are having a particularly rough time of things. Pushing each other apart the more they try to cling to each other. Too much has changed, and perhaps even they themselves have. They start to work together to find a new equilibrium, though there are certainly hills they will have to all climb over.

Ch 20: Negotiations

Prompto led the way through the Citadel ahead of them. Boot heels striking on the marble floor with each step. Prompto was not walking. Prompto was marching, rather mechanically. Looking for the first time like an actual MT more than a human. His guards were following him both looking nervous, about his anger, despite the two of them being the most armored in their small group. Gladio, Ignis and Noctis were following right behind the Imperials. Gladio was avoiding looking at any of them. Distancing himself because he wanted to deal with his own stuff by himself. Ignis, a sore and angry blister, was pointedly not looking at Prompto.

They came to an intersection and stopped. Prompto looked at all the options, then back to Noctis. Silently asking where they were going next. Noctis indicated which way to go and Prompto started walking again. Anger radiating off with each of his strides.

This was bad.

Everyone was angry. Well, Gladio wasn't angry. He was tangled up in his mind and worried about something. Something Prompto knew about, but Ignis didn't know about- and Noctis COULDN'T know about because there was some damn memory enchantment keeping him from fully understanding what was going on.

They came to the next intersection, and Noctis spoke up, "Guys- I really think we should talk." He had ordered them to stop arguing with each other- but this silence was so much worse.

"I don't see what the point of arguing is." Ignis crossed his arms angrily.

"I am not arguing with you." Prompto put his hands on his hips and looked at Ignis. "I am angry. Because you keep insulting my family."

"Are we not your family?" Ignis bristled.

Prompto judged Ignis head to toe. "I don't know. Are you?" The words were delivered like a hot slap to the face. "Because you certainly seem comfortable treating us more like employees."

Ignis was incredibly hurt by these words. It was exactly as they said, the people closer to you knew how to cut into you. His expression grew reserved, and he squared his jaw. Noctis recognized that Ignis was getting close to breaking, possibly crying out of frustration.

Noctis stepped in between the two mustering his best authoritative tone. "Enough of this arguing. There's a lot going on right now- but the last we need to be doing is taking our anger out on each other like this." Noctis told them. He wished he knew half of what his therapist did. He really needed to work on his conflict resolution skills.

"Guys." Gladio spoke up for the first time since the argument had begun. Finally stepping out of his own brain fog to make. "What Noctis is saying; is that we don't need right now is another train incident."

Prompto and Ignis both tensed at Gladio's words. Then equally looked guilty. Train incident? When had any of them ever been on a train? Noctis tried to remember. All he got was a sick feeling in his stomach.

"That's right." Noctis spoke with certainty, even though he didn't know what he was talking about, "I don't want that ever again. I don't want THIS. You two arguing. We just finally got back together again. Let's not drive ourselves apart? Please?"

Noctis looked to Prompto. Who bowed his head, "Yeah. You're right. I'm sorry. I should not be so difficult."

Noctis then looked to Ignis, making sure he agreed. Ignis adjusted his glasses. Avoiding eye contact. "Prompto." Ignis turned towards the Niflheim Prince. Speaking slightly more formally. "I am sorry. I did not mean to cause any offense with my remarks."

Prompto was quiet for a long time. He did not seem as angry as he had been, he just looked at Ignis. Then seemed to come to a decision. Prompto's back straightened and his shoulders square.

"No. That's not good enough." Prompto told Ignis with surprising firmness. "It is not enough that you 'did not mean to cause offense'. I CARE about these people Ignis." Prompto pointed to his chest, "I care about my brothers. I care about my fathers- and yes that includes Ardyn as well."

Ignis opened his mouth, like he wanted to argue- Prompto did not let him. "So when you insult them, or say mean things about them- it upsets me. You should not have said those things in the first place."

"Like it or not, they are my family. I can not walk away from people without dragging a base's worth of cordage with me- and I'm not planning on walking away. Not from them- and not from you either." Prompto stated firmly. He stepped back, and then gave Ignis, Gladio and Noctis, all an appraising look. His purple eyes heavy with something. The grieving acknowledgment that things had changed between them in some way.

Prompto looked like he had more he wanted to say, but he just waited for Ignis to say something in response. Ignis was curling his hands into first. He clearly wanted to say something- but Noctis could tell that Ignis was also trying very hard not to argue or snap back at Prompto. He could feel the crackle of Ignis' agitation fighting within their magical bond. The icy cold of reason, and the hot anger of indignation.

Gladio reached out and placed a hand on Ignis' shoulder. Not in a reassuring way, but more as a guiding hand. Ignis looked at Gladio, then looked away. As Gladio gently walked him back from his spiraling anger. Ironic that it was the big guy doing this. Seeing as Gladio very easily was the one to lose his temper most of the time. Gladio was not the only one in their group with a temper though. Ignis was cold sometimes, and then hot others. Noctis was an entitled pain in the ass as well. They were all people, and they all had their ups and downs.

Ignis finally backed down, "I will amend my language moving forward then." He acquiesced unhappily. "And find a way to apologize properly as well."

This was... progress. Hopefully. Noctis was glad that Gladio had finally gotten out of his own funk enough to intervene. Noctis really was not the best at conflict resolution. He could order people to do things, or not to do things. However, getting them to see reason was not a talent of his.

"Okay." Prompto's tone was not bright, but it was warmer. He uncrossed his arms. "Can you show me where this green house is?" Prompto asked. Not Noctis or Gladio, but Ignis.

Ignis adjusted his glasses, "Yes. I am a bit surprised you don't remember where it is."

"I don't ever recall going there." Prompto admitted, with a more casual tone. "We never really hung out at the Citadel. I have no idea where we even are." The two stayed at arms length, but they both began walking together.

Gladio followed them shortly afterwards, and then so did Noctis. It was because he was at the back of the group that he over heard the two Imperial Guards- who thus far had been professionally watching the whole exchange in silence.

"Wow, the prince sure did hit the anger stage hard." The first guard, the one with the Eastern Accent remarked. The second guard elbowed his comrade. There was a clanking sound of metal armor hitting armor. "What, I'm just saying." The guard whispered, though Noctis could still hear him.

Noctis held his breath. He waited to see if they would say more, but they did not. Noctis had heard enough though. Anger. Stage. That was usually referring the stages of grieving. Right? Noctis felt his heart pick up a drum beat. He looked towards the front of the group. Where Ignis and Prompto were slowly, awkward, but relaxing once again. The tension of their fight easing as they tried to put their argument behind them.

Prompto was in grieving? Meaning that he had recently lost someone close to him? No wonder he was so upset with Ignis making passive aggressive remarks about his family. Noctis would have been furious, personally. There was toeing a line, and crossing one after all.

Noctis wondered who Prompto had lost, and then felt the stress starting to knot in his back. There was so much going on, and to keep track of...

"And here we are." Ignis announced, as they arrived at the double doors of the green house. They were unassuming metal things. Originally meant to just be a service entrance. The green house had been built as an extension by one of Noctis' ancestors at some point. It was a giant glass dome that curved off the otherwise straight walls of the Citadel. Inside was a pretty large area, with rows of tables and garden beds. All of the plants around the Citadel, in offices and the like, were maintained by a special division of the staff. Who grew or maintained said plants in the green house, and then brought them indoors. Usually rotating things with the seasons.

Noctis had used to enjoy running around the green house as a child. There was a giant tank off to the side that had fish in it, kept for an aquaponics system. He loved to watch the fish swim around. He could also sneak out through the glass windows, a pathway he found one day and used to get away from his nannies when he wanted time to be alone. Iris had almost chased a cat out the windows once, but Ignis had stopped her and given her a stern talking too.

There were four Imperial Guards currently stationed outside of the familiar doors. All soldiers wearing the same armor that Prompto's guards were. Prompto approached them without hesitation, and they granted all of them access without so much of a blink. Not that they could blink. Wearing full body armor and what not.

Prompto suddenly grew nervous. He adjusted his white robes, dusted them off, and made sure his red straps, and pins were properly in place. Noctis thought this was a tad weird. Usually his own dad didn't care if Noctis was fully presentable. Though, King Regis would make sure of such things before they went out in public- if Ignis did not . Prompto seemed to have some desire to appear presentable in front of the Emperor, however.

"Alright." Prompto inhaled nervously, "I will go in first and make the introductions." He told them all, "The Emperor is kind of- well. You will see." He nervously fixed his hair. Making sure his spikes were all pointed.

"Hey um." Gladio spoke up. He was standing two meters back from the double doors. Looking stiff. "I'm going to just... step aside for a restroom break." He told them all nervously. "That alright?"

Both Noctis and Prompto gave Gladio confused looks. Ignis inhaled sharply. "That's right- plants. Wait. Is that what your 'secret' is about?" Ignis looked over to Prompto. Who's eyes widened with realization.

Secret? Noctis remembered Prompto saying that there was something he thought he should discuss in private with Gladio. What did that have to do with plants though? How was Ignis picking this information apart from clues? When Noctis was still in the dark. Was he just missing something? Or did I forget something important? He felt dread drip down his spine.

Noctis reached out and placed a hand on Gladio's arm, "What is wrong?"

The fear and uncertainty tangling around Gladio tightened. Paralizing Gladio into silence. He looked, and felt incredibly scared. Not in the dear in head lights sort of fashion though. No, this was more like Gladio was sinking into himself. Noctis could feel Gladio pulling away from him. He scrambled for something to say, not sure what to even do in this situation.

Prompto stepped up to Gladio, giving him a once over. As if he could physically see what insecurities Gladio was hiding from them. "Hey." Prompto's tone was gentle, and it made Gladio look at him. He reached out, and pressed a fist into his shoulder. "Don't be so hard on yourself. It's magic bullshit. It happens"

"But-" Gladio started, Prompto adusted his hand to grip Gladio's shoulder.

"Do you see me freaking out?" Prompto asked Gladio seriously, and waved his free hand infront of his face. "No. Shit happens- you know this. Usually you don't let this kind of stuff get to you man. Everything is cool." Prompto assured him, "Focus on what you're going to do, and not what happened."

Gladio seemed unsure for a moment, but then Prompto's words seemed to give Gladio some sort of foundation to build off of. He straightened his shoulders and ever so slightly, the thorns entangling him lessened their hold. "You're right." Noctis could feel Gladio becoming more sure of himself. He stopped sinking inward and stabilized.

"Magic?" Noctis was very confused now. He looked at Gladio. Gladio didn't have any magical powers. He went with magic like oil went with water. Sure, Gladio could increase his strength to an impressive degree, and he could warp short distances. However Cor was always telling him that his channeling was shit, and Clarus said he was always too heavy handed. Gladio had never developed any specific powers. Not like Ignis and Noctis had.

Now that Noctis was thinking about it though, the tangling vine thing was new- and seemed pretty unusual. Noctis had never felt something this tangible in their magical connection before. Noctis gave the vines a more critical look. "Gladio are you... developing a magic power?" He asked with amazement. Talk about late blooming. Usually people Lucis Kings shared their powers with developed their abilities within a few months after the first connection. Gladio was almost ten years after the fact.

Gladio's guilty expression was the only answer he needed. Why was it guilty though? Magic was a manifestation of yourself. How could it be a bad thing? Well. Noctis was saying that when Ignis had spent a better part of two months walking around as an active fire/ice hazard. Then sometime later kept teleporting people TO himself rather than himself towards other people. But those were more annoyances than anything.

Noctis turned and braced Gladio on both shoulders. Holding him in front of him. Noctis tried to examine his friend. Tried to find out what had changed.

"When did this start?" Noctis asked with full seriousness.

Gladio looked past him towards the Imperial guards, who were pretending not to listen to their conversation. "I don't think this is the best place to talk about it."

"Okay..." Noctis really did want to talk about it though. Magic was important. He could help with magic- or he should be able too. He looked up at Gladio. He could feel his friend tangled up in thorny vines. He reached out with their magical connection. The thorns tried to prick him, but he placed a mental hand on them anyway. Touching Gladio through that mental connection, and his two physical hands on Gladio. Noctis sent a wave of reassurance, support, and love.

Gladio relaxed just a little, and so did the vines. They almost even parted. Almost. "Later." Gladio promised.

"Okay." Noctis said quietly. Pulling away. It hurt, that Gladio had kept this a secret from him. Ignis seemed to know- and Prompto's seemed to have complete knowledge of what Gladio was going though.

Noctis meanwhile was completely in the dark once more. A feeling he did not like. "We are going to talk about this tonight." Noctis told him, then made sure everyone was hearing his decision on this. Throwing some authority into his voice.

Gladio did not look happy, but he bowed his head. "Alright."

"For now, you aren't coming in?" Noctis asked for clarification from Gladio.

Gladio hesitated, and looked at the Green house door with open trepidation. "It would be best if I don't." He affirmed.

"Alright." Noctis rested the urge to squeeze his friend into a hug. He stepped away instead. Giving Gladio some room. They held eye contact for a moment. Gladio ran a hand through his short hair. Then went to take up a post against the far wall. He stayed back with the guards, and the three of them made their way into the green house.

The green house was large, with rows of tables and flower beds. It was dark, because of the rain currently falling down. Noctis looked up at the stormy weather and grimaced. Knowing he was the cause. Despite the lack of sun, the room was still warm, and humid. On the far side, near the glass windows there was a table and chair set up which Noctis knew had to have been carried in. Since there was usually no such sitting place available. The Emperor was sitting at the table with a tablet. Drawing, Noctis realized as they approached closer.

"Decided to come in at last, did you?" Emperor Aldercapt asked, somewhat deprecatingly. Resting his tablet on his knee and looking up. Noctis felt a sour anger settle into his stomach. He really did not like this man.

Prompto did not seem to notice the belittling tone. To bright and positive to be affected by such things. He indicated for them to wait just a moment, then walked up to the man. Greeting the Emperor with a smile.

Noctis and Ignis hung back, waiting for Prompto introduced them into the conversation. They had just a second, so Noctis turned to his friend. "Ignis. You knew about Gladio?"

Ignis tensed, and then looked guilty. "Gladio mentioned last night that he was having some strange interactions with plants."

"Why did you not tell me?" Noctis asked, above them the storm clouds rumbled, he was tired of being left behind in these things. "You should have told me."

Ignis looked like he wanted to make an excuse, but he just hung his head. "I should have. I am sorry." Ignis adjusted the velcro strap on the back of his glove. Tightening it. "Apparently all I can do today is make things worse." He said somewhat bitterly. Sour with self-hatred.

Noctis felt his mouth go dry. "Ignis. No. I didn't mean it like that."

"Prince Noctis." The Emperor's voice called over to them in greeting. Both of them tensed, standing back at attention, "If you are going to stop by for a visit, I do not think standing so far away would be productive." The older man waved them over. Prompto giving them an encouraging nod.

What a back handed way to say things. Noctis thought to himself. He approached the table. "Emperor Aldercapt." He greeted politely, "Thank you for allowing me to visit at such a short notice."

The Emperor indicated to the chair across from him. "Please. I would enjoy company."

They all shuffled around the table. Ignis pulled out the chair for Noctis, who sat across from the Emperor. Prompto meanwhile sat on the Emperor's right hand side, in between them. Ignis took up his position behind Noctis, hands folded behind his back.

"How about some tea?" The Emperor asked and raised a hand ever so casually. A servant in Imperial white robes, standing at the food cart reached for a kettle. They were kind of freaky to look at. They wore a white tail coat, with maroon accents. Their metal helmet was a mask of chain mail, sitting over their face like a mourner's veil. With a black, formless mask underneath to hide any of their facial features. As they bent down and picked up the tea their veil fell across their face. They also had metal hanging on the elbows of their jacket sleeve.

Noctis tried not to stare, wondering how they did anything walking around as a glorified wind chime. He smiled politely, "I would love some."

"Good. Good." The Emperor nodded. He rested his elbow on the table, and looked past him. Directly at Ignis, who tensed slightly.

"And your name is Scientia." The Emperor said forwardly. Breaking the one of the biggest societal rules that Lucian had. Noctis tensed, and Ignis standing behind him froze. Servants and attendants were not supposed to be spoken too. Ignis was acting as Noctis' attendant in this situation. As his job expected of him too. Sure they were friends, and even partners. However when it came to Noctis' role as Prince, and the rules of high society. Ignis had a very particular place.

Emperor Aldercapt did not seem to care about this, of course. Noctis did not know why he had expected the man too. The Emperor of Niflheim was known for being unpredictable.

Ignis handled the situation with grace. "Yes. Your imperial Majestly."

"You should join us at the table as well." The Emperor spoke casually, but his words might as well have been an order. Suddenly Noctis understood why Loqi had been freaking out when Prompto had been addressing him that morning in the elevator. The Emperor of Niflheim was clearly not afraid to put people into compromising situations at the casual drop of a hat.

"It would not do to have the son of a noble tending at a table. Please. Do sit." The Emperor indicated the fourth and final chair.

Ignis hesitated. "Pardon me, your Imperial majesty." Ignis bowed, low at the waist to show that he meant no offense. "The head of the Noble Court, Lord Ventus Scientia, is my Uncle. I am his nephew."

The Emperor did not seem amused by Ignis' response. All the kindness dropped out of his eyes. Baby blue turning into gray steel. "No. You are Ignis Scientia. The Son of Pyrus Scientia, and Lady Terra of house Firma, of Tenebrae."

"Your father was head of logistics in the Niflheim-Tenebrae war. He established miles of trails through the mountains and valleys getting crucial supplies to operators, soldiers and civilians. He was a noble man who knew the value of a person. We had assassins specifically out for him for some years- and when he died. Only after he died- were we able to finally break the line and infiltrate into the heart of the Tenebrae country properly."

"Now. If you will respect his memory you will sit at this table. Do you understand me?" The Emperor told Ignis with a tone as cold as Shiva's grave. Pointing down onto the surface of said table.

Ignis just stood frozen for a long time. Noctis could feel how stunned he was through their connection. Prompto gave Noctis a look. Encouraging him to something. So he reached back, and grabbed Ignis by the hand. Squeezing it, and jolting him back into reality. "It's alright Ignis. Go ahead and take a seat." He guided Ignis to the final chair.

Ignis took his seat awkwardly. Looking more than a little nervous as he sat on Noctis' right. The Imperial servant came over to the table, calmly serving them four cups of hot tea. Why it was hot Noctis had no idea. It was almost hot enough in the room for Noctis to start sweating. Were it not so humid. Neither Prompto, or the Emperor seemed to mind, however. Both gathered their cups in front of them casually. As if the Emperor had not just forced Ignis into a rather uncomfortable situation.

"Do you who your mother is?" The Emperor asked Ignis, as he added creamer to his tea. "No. I suspect you do not." Aldercapt concluded for himself. Then proceeded to tell Ignis.

"Lady Terra Scientia, originally of House Firma, was Queen Sylina's advisor. Scheduling her appointments and appearances. Where the Oracle herself would go to fulfill her duties. Lady Terra was also very critically minded. I believe she escaped the burning of the Fenestalla Manor, is that not correct Prince Noctis?" The Emperor for some reason decided to include Noctis into this, even though Noctis had no idea. The Emperor continued without his input.

"Yes she did. Because she was in mourning for her husband." The Emperor confirmed, "And do you know what she did? She started a resistance, and almost an entire revolution. Twice. My boy, tell him." The Emperor indicated to Prompto. Sitting back, and putting some sugar into his tea. Two tea spoons, and then he gave it a single stir with the spoon on his saucer.

Prompto spoke up and provided an answer. He words were monotone at first. As if he were reading off from a report. "Currently Lady Terra Scientia, of House Firma of Tenebrae; has a bounty of 20,000 gil." Prompto said, seeming to only just now connect this information with Ignis- sitting across from him. . "She is the most wanted person in Tenebrae, as far as the Niflheim army is concerned."

The Emperor remained quiet for a moment. Taking a long sip of his tea. Ignis was a skilled politician, and had no outward reaction. Internally though, Noctis could feel him spiraling.

"She is still alive?" Noctis asked for his partner. This was news to him afterall- as well as Ignis. As far as they had been told, by Ignis' Uncle, and other reports. Ignis' parents had been dead for years.

"Very much so." The Emperor set down his tea cup, crossing his hands. "And so I was more than a bit surprised to find her son here." The Niflheim Emperor moved the focus of his attention away from Ignis, and across the table to Noctis, "Acting in the capacity of what appears to be nothing more than a glorified manservant."

The man spoke with derision. As if he didn't have his own servants waiting on him. Dragging tables into random rooms of the Citadel, keeping the workers from properly doing their tasks. Noctis kept his back straight, his expression unbothered. He putting a heavy warning to his tone. "Ignis is far from just my steward. His is my advisor, a close friend, and my partner in many ways."

"I am aware." The Emperor picked up his spoon. He ran it along the edge of his tea cup in a circle. "There is a reason my Heir is sitting here at this table, and not Lady Lunafreya." He said decisively.

Wait. The man had known Noctis' sexual preference? Noctis quickly glanced over at Prompto. Who looked at the Emperor with open confusion. Noctis mentally wanted to grab his friend- and make him keep face. Prompto was so bad at this. He really was not cut from the cloth it took to be a politician. The first rule was to never show whatever emotions you were actually feeling. Prompto was much to expressive. Noctis wondered if this is what Ignis felt like; years ago when Noctis was learning his manners, and he kept messing up on the simple but necessary details.

"I want to make it clear, Mr. Scientia. That I do not hate your mother. In fact I very much respect her." Emperor Aldercapt, picked up his tea cup. "So. I am exited to be working with you in the near future." He toasted towards Ignis, and then took a drink of his tea.

Well. That was a loaded statement being place directly into their lap. The Emperor might as well have just placed a pistol on the table. Telling them that Ignis' mother was a major enemy of the Niflheim State. Then saying that he was looking forward to spending time with Ignis. That could lead to a lot of different scenarios. Ones that could put Ignis, or his mother, at risk. Especially given the power imbalance. If Noctis wasn't around, Ignis would have very little say in anything the Emperor wanted to say, or do. Emperor Aldercapt was a very powerful man, with a lot of resources at his back. It was not a stretch of an imagination to say that he could use Ignis as leverage. Given Emperor Aldercapt's record it was also no question that the man would use any advantage he had, given the chance.

Ignis seemed to realize this and became very still. Like a rabbit in the brush. Noctis reached out mentally. Figuratively holding his hand. Above them rain poured down on the glass of the green house, heavy and suffocating.

"Now." The Emperor dropped that bomb on them, and then switched gears. Placing a hand flat on the table. The golden ring on his left hand ticking slightly on the surface. "Tell me what you have been up to today." The Emperor turned to Prompto. "Are you feeling better?"

Prompto sat up a bit straighter at being addressed. He considered the question, eyes darting up then to the side, and then back to the Emperor. "Marginally better, yes."

"I am glad to hear that. Will you be joining us this afternoon for the peace talks?" The Emperor asked almost rapid fire. Pushing for a more casual sort of tone shift. "Or are you still not feeling up to such a thing?"

Prompto seemed to think about it, then nodded, "I believe I am."

"Good. I do not think the Lucians have seen you properly enough." The Emperor looked over at Noctis and smiled, "I do think they will be happy to see an actual face. My people find it amusing that yours do not feel comfortable talking to metal visages. Even though Lucian's are so strict about keeping their true feeling off their faces. There is hardly any difference."

Another back handed remark. Noctis really did not like this man. "It is certainly a cultural difference." Noctis amended politely, "I noticed that your Imperial Highness does not wear a mask."

"Only the upper class of my country find it fashionable to wear elaborate masks. The rest just wear whatever they find practical. I myself like to let my council know that I represent not just them, but my people." The Emperor explained pointedly.

"I see." Noctis thought that would have been a noble intention. If he also didn't suspect the man was saying a lot of nothing.

"But mostly- allergies." The Emperor of Niflheim shrugged with one arm. His casual and honest tone throwing Noctis for a loop for a second. What was the point of giving a grandiose bull-shit answer, then just the simple truth?

"You don't wear your helmet a lot either, do you have the same issue?" The Emperor turned to Prompto. Once again speaking at a rapid pace.

Prompto shook his head. "It messes up my hair."

"Well I don't have much of that left to mess up." The Emperor said with humor. Indicating to his receding hair line.

"You have more than my Father." Prompto pointed out. He seemed used to the fast pace at which Emperor Aldercapt held his conversations. Noctis was not used to the near break-neck speed. By the time they got back around to Noctis he genuinely had no idea what they were talking about.

"It's all the field research he did when he was younger- did you know that his father spent a lot of time out in the out lands? Studying Solheim ruins. The edge of the world, as they call it."

"No." Noctis simply because he did not. He did not know much about Prompto's 'father' other than what Prompto had told him. The 'edge of the world' he had heard of though. It was an ancient ruin, way out in the frozen wastes of Niflheim. It was considered one of the most deadly places on Eos. What in the world had Prompto's father been doing in such a place?

"Indeed. Dr. Bethesdia is our Chief of Research- a brilliant man. Though I doubt he would be half as successful without Ardyn keeping him alive. The man knows too much about demon entrails in my opinion."

To Noctis' surprise, Prompto snorted at this statement. As if it were funny in some capacity. Noctis tried not to stare at his new friend in surprise. Ignis shifted beside him anxiously.

"He is very good at numbers though." The Emperor continued talking, Noctis listened politely. Anticipating when the man would land next. He suspected the Emperor was building up to something.

"He never gets a calculation wrong. I have him do my finances sometimes. Taxes and what not." The Emperor continued.

Stop the conversation. The Niflheim Emperor paid taxes? Wasn't the whole point of taxes to pay the crown? Noctis tried to wrap his head around how that would work. Neither Noctis, Ignis, nor Gladio had to pay taxes on anything- being the literal royal family. Why in the world would the Emperor- arguably the most powerful man in the world- pay taxes on anything?

"It is a shame that he could not come with us on this journey. Of course I understand that he has more important work to do- but I do think that he would have saved us a lot of this financial advisement that, spending projection this." The Emperor shook his head and swirled his tea, taking a drink. "I feel like I am back in grade school."

Here it was, Noctis braced for the landing question. The real meat of what the Emperor wanted to speak about.

"If I may ask, why is your father is negotiating to raise Tariffs of all things?" The Emperor asked Noctis.

Noctis inhaled to give himself a second to process the question. He had expected the Emperor to ask about the tariffs the second he mentioned numbers. It was the main topic of discussion going on about the Peace Treaty after all. The last hill to fight over before they actually signed the damn thing. The direction the question came from was unexpected. The Emperor certainly knew how to throw a curve ball.

"It is quite simple." Noctis explained, "We know how centered the Insomnia economy is on manufacturing parts and equipment. Once the treaty is signed, we will still need to import raw resources in order to manufacture those goods." Noctis explained, "Whatever the negotiated tariffs end up being will shape the economy for quite a long time."

"Yes." The Emperor gave him a critical look. The man was testing him. Noctis could kind of see where wearing a metal helmet would come in handy. Noctis could feel his hands starting to sweat, as he fought to keep his expression neutral.

This was it after all. This is the deal. All the talking and huffing and posturing their councilmen and nobles had been doing up until now was ultimately meaningless. Whatever the two of them negotiated here and now- that is what the deal was going to be. Or at least what the Emperor would expect to be in the treaty. The man was testing Noctis to see if he had enough sway within his own court to make things happen.

"So in exchange for taxing your people's economy- King Regis wants assurances." The Niflheim Emperor spoke, almost as if he were seeking clarification. "That you will be able to take your Shield, and the esteemed Mr. Scientia with you when you leave. That is all?"

"King Regis has also asked for other assurances." Noctis reminded him tentatively, "That should I should be treated well, that should I get hurt that I will receive proper medical treatment." That he would not be locked in a tower and never see the sunlight again. That he would not be shipped off to some lab somewhere and never seen again.

"Regardless it seems very... what is the word to use?" The Emperor shifted how he was sitting, "... we will say cold. It is chilling that your father would so willingly just put a price on your well being." The man said, and then tilted his head just so.

Noctis remained un phased. He knew fully well that his father was not happy with. That he loved Noctis- and the fact that Noctis' future was on the negotiation table was killing him. King Regis did not want his son to be taken from him- if anything he was doing everything in his power to keep Noctis safe.

"How much does King Regis think his son is worth?" The Niflheim Emperor asked the room. Which despite being as humid as a rain forest, became ice cold. The rain falling on the glass around them picked up in it's ferocity.

The Emperor turned to Prompto, and asked with a not-so pleased tone. "How much?"

Prompto looked at the Emperor. As he spoke Prompto almost sounded mechanical in. As if he were a computer program calculating and then recounting the results. "The 3% Terrif increase, with Insomnia's current GDP, production rates, and the projected economic growth- would inflict a ¥1.3 trillion differential on it's economy."

The Emperor of Niflheim looked at Noctis. Quite significantly he said each number, tapping his finger on the arm of his chair.

"One. point. three. trillion." He looked to Prompto, and his voice tempo picked up once more. "I believe in Gil that equates to around 2 and a half million? There about. That is a rather substantial change to the economy. Would you not say so Mr. Scientia?"

The Emperor shifted, and turned to Ignis. Crossing his arms across his lap. Ignis pressed his lips into a flat line. The Emperor asked him. "Tell me. Is your beloved Prince worth that much money?"

The room fell silent, as Ignis was put on the spot and under pressure.

"Tell him the truth." Prompto told Ignis from across the table. A gentle warning in his voice. Prompto was looking at the Emperor as if he were a natural disaster, about to unleash itself upon them.

Ignis closed his eyes, "I would say he is worth much more. That there is nothing worth more in the world- or the stars."

The Emperor met Ignis eyes, and spoke with the strength of steal. "I agree."

"If I had a son, or a daughter. Who were my own flesh and blood-" He clarified, reaching out a hand and placing it beside Prompto's tea cup. Though the man did not look away from Ignis, "Someone I loved dearly. Whom I only wished the best for. I would not- and I would certainly not parse them off for a measly. One. point. three. trillion. yen." The man's voice rose the highest it had ever been. He sounded out raged beyond words.

Noctis could feel his heart beating in his chest. He had never dealt with someone like this before. Sure, he had grown up around politicians and his father's cabinet. However the Niflheim Emperor was a whole other beast.

The Emperor let his anger simmer for a moment. Looking from Ignis, to Noctis, and then to Prompto. Making sure that each of them were on the same page. The tension in the room was thicker than Ignis' pudding.

"I think that two trillion is a much more acceptable number." The man said suddenly, and once more rather quickly. "We will raise the Tarrif increase to five percent." The man declared this, as if it were a done matter.

Noctis felt the muscles in his shoulder tense. "No." He spoke firmly. Looking across the table at the Emperor.

Emperor Aldercapt looked at him. Not offended by Noctis'. If anything he seemed ready and willing to accept a direct challenge.

"Five percent is way too high." Noctis told the man plainly. The manufactures would never be able to afford the materials they needed at that price. Three percent would already be dealing a huge blow to the economy as it was. They both knew this. The politicians had been fighting over the numbers all morning.

"You don't value yourself at a higher cost?" The Emperor asked, almost teasingly.

If Noctis had any say in it- his people would not be having to lose "It is not a question of how much I value myself. It is a question of how much I value my people- and their prosperity." Noctis told the man, "Five percent is to high." He said with as much finnality as he could.

Emperor Aldercapt smiled. It was single handedly the scariest thing Noctis had ever seen. He was looking down- and this man. This man was enjoying this.

Emperor Aldercapt leaned forward and asked. "What if I told you that we are not interested in anything less than five percent?" The Emperor's voice was gentle. Poisonous like a snake slithering through the grass.

Astrals help him. Noctis steadily matched Emperor Aldercapt's gaze. Watching him slither towards him and bare his poisonous fangs.

The man clearly didn't actually care about the Tariffs. That much was clear. The Empire didn't need money. Once it acquired Lucis it would officially span two thirds of the entire globe. The man also probably didn't care if or if not Noctis brought Ignis and Gladio along with him. The way the man had acted that morning- it seemed like he almost expected it from the start.

Meaning that them debating this at all was a mistake.

They had shown their hand too soon. In making demands to secure Noctis' protection. King Regis had shown the Niflhiem exactly where he was vulnerable. What the Emperor valued the most in this treaty was biting into Lucis as much as they could, and tearing it's throat out. They had found their target, and smelled the blood. Now they were out for it.

Noctis cursed mentally. He considered all of this in less than a second, and then realized in that same second exactly what he could use as a counter offer.

"If the Empire is not interested in Tariffs. Then I will offer them something else." Noctis told the man. "Something that does not put the price of my saftey onto my people."

"Oh?" The Emperor raised an eyebrow, interested.

"Magic." Noctis clarified. Ignis's eyes widened beside him, and he could feel the was of surprise through their connection. "How about, in exchange for my father's requests, I give Prompto access to the crystal's magic. He will become an official part of my retinue. Have access to all the powers that my Shield and Partner do."

The Emperor leaned back. He looked from Noctis, then to Prompto. Who looked very much like a rabbit who knew they had been spotted. He actually squeaked, even. Something that once more made Noctis want to shake him. Political leaders should not squeak. Prompto was much to pure to be sitting at a negotiation table.

"That is an interesting offer." The Emperor said, still looking at Prompto. Who fidgeted, and tried to sit properly.

"It could also be a show of faith." Noctis sweetened the pot, "Your Chancellor said that you wanted a symbolic friendship. What better representation than a magical binding of souls?"

The Emperor looked from Prompto, back to Noctis. "Prompto." The Emperor said, even though he was no longer looking at his Heir. Prompto squeaked again, sitting up straighter. The only response the Emperor apparently needed. "Does Prince Noctis remember yet?"

What? Noctis felt like he had just been side lined by a truck. The Emperor knew about the memory enchantment? How? When? what was more Noctis suddenly had a The sun was out. The world was dark. Demons were glowing in the distance.

Prompto fidgeted, then answered. "No. Ignis- Sir Scientia does." Prompto explained, and corrected himself to use the proper titles, "And so... so do I." Prompto admitted hesitantly.

"But not the Prince?" The Emperor Aldercapt asked, watching Noctis closely.

"How- Prompto." Ignis choked, and placed his hands on the table. He looked about ready to stand up and attack Prompto. Keep him from saying anything more.

Prompto's purple eyes hardened, and he looked directly at Ignis. When he spoke the words fell away from Noctis like rain. "He does not yet remember his past life, your Majesty."

Noctis couldn't focus properly. The rain falling above them was getting louder. Too loud. He was sitting at the table- but he was also sitting in a booth. In what felt like a fast food restaurant- only the lights were off and there were barricades set up over the windows and doors. The place felt like home- but it also looked like part of a war zone. Something that unsettled Noctis.

"Then, Prince Noctis," The Emperor's words ground him. Noctis' hands were white in his lap. Gripping so tightly if he were not wearing gloves they would probably cut into his hands. His vision skipped, like an old film. It felt like Noctis was being splashed with water. For a moment the man became Ardyn. tired looking, with longer hair. Just for a split-second. Like water being splashed on him. Noctis knit his brows together.

The Emperor raised up his chin ever slightly. As if he were acknowledging Noctis. "I will accept this deal."

[groovytimetravelflower]

Not Just a Feeling Chapter 18

Read the whole story HERE on A03. Don't forget to reblog to share with a friend.

Summary:

It has been just over 2 decades since Regis was confronted by the Adagium on Founders day so many years ago. The things that happened that day have haunted him ever since. Such as how the man called the ghost of the founding King brother. How the supposed

Regis has so many questions. If only he had not spoiled the first chance he had to properly ask his questions by electrocution the man in his kitchen.

Stars. Ardyn becomes aware of them first. Pinpoints of flickering light and energy. Floating around him in a void. Tinged a rainbow of different colors. Yellow, others blue, red. They float off in the distance. Connected, but not connected. In ways that he can not conceive.

Ardyn has seen this before. He had died again. It's the same vision every time. He drifts in the stars, and there is something... something there. It fades though, as the world solidifies once again around him.

Ardyn first becomes aware of his body weighing him down. Then the pain comes. His skin and muscles are throbbing in distress. His brain is melted. Ardyn can feel it like slush inside of his skull. His nervous system is fried. It's telling him hot and cold both at the same time. Ardyn keeps his eyes closed, and sits through it all. Not something hard to do, seeing as his sight had yet to return to him. He becomes aware of pressure, and he finds that he is laying on his side. His arm is under his head, and one of his knees is bracing his weight. Someone has put him into a recovery position.

Ardyn groans, then opens his eyes. The world is spinning nauseatingly. His inner ear drum must be damaged. There is a wrongness to everything. As it slides down and to the left. Despite Ardyn being on a solid and not moving floor. He is looking at a black dinning table through a door way. Not one he immediately recognizes. He winces, becoming aware of the crystal's power. Burning like a second sun. Somewhere off and above him. He must be in Insomnia then. That would explain all the awful black and gold decor.

"Holy fuck- he's awake." A voice speaks. It sounds like it's out of tune, and muffled. Ardyn's head is still putting itself back together.

"I told you. He is cursed." Someone crouches down beside them. Coming into the frame of his vision.

Somnus? Ardyn thinks blearily. Except it can't be Somnus. His brother is dead. A spirit? This man has white hair though. He looks much older than Somnus did when he manifested as a spirit... he is also wearing a much more modern ensemble of clothing.

Regis.

Right. Ardyn remembers where he is now. He had been following the good Marshal, Cor Leonis. Ignis had given the man his camera binoculars. Ardyn had wanted to see how much information the Lucians had. If they had pieced together that Dratos was the traitor or not.

Cor seemed to have figured it out. As he downloaded the photos and went through them. Ardyn had seen him connecting the dots. Looking over each picture of Dratos, and individuals Dratos was talking too. He had heading out quite quickly. Making a straight to the royal chambers to tell his King.

Cor had just been about to tell Regis, when Ardyn had been found out. Ardyn wasn't quite sure how that had happened. His invisibility was powerful enough to hide from an Astral- he annoyed Ifrit to no end sometimes with it. How had Regis found him? Magic had probably been involved. Ardyn remembered feeling a tingling of static when he had first entered the royal chambers- and judging by the fact that he was currently recovering from being burned to a crisp Ardyn assumed electricity had been involved.

"Are you with us Chancelor Izunia?" Regis asked, crouched over Ardyn as he was. "Apologizes. I was not sure who we were dealing with. I activated my magic without consideration."

"Why are you apologizing?" Cor asked. Stepping into view. He had his sword summoned and resting on his hip. "I would think he got what he deserved. Following me around and into your personal chambers."

Regis looked back over his shoulder at his companion. His voice became clearer as Regis spoke. Ardyn's ears slowly fixing themselves. "You know how long I have wanted to ask this man questions. Generally fruitful discussions do not start with electrocutions."

Cor Leonis raised a doubtful eyebrow, "Not the fun ones at least."

Ardyn couldn't help but find a bit of humor in that. He laughed, but it quickly turned into a coughing fit. His lungs not quite being fully reformed yet. Ardyn tried to raise himself up to open his airway. He was somewhat successful. A whole new wave of dizziness over came him. His entire left side flinched as the room flipped and twirled around him. Ardyn closed his eyes and coughed. Trying to ground himself. Trying to get his body to reform itself quicker. It was rather unbecoming of him to lay down on the floor after all. The last thing he wanted to do was look weak and pathetic in front of his enemies.

The other two men took his sudden jolt as some kind of muscle spasm. Regis reached out a hand to steady his shoulder- or to offer comfort. An understandable human reaction.

"Stay back." Ardyn hissed. Not wanting to be touched in the slightest by King Regis. The progeny of his treacherous brother and the god which had betrayed him to the shadows. The words came out backwards and ghastly. Like a dying man's last breath. His throat was still reforming. The words reverberated not by sound, but inside the very souls of the human men. The same way an Astral's did when they spoke.

The way the words reached them drew reactions from all three men. Regis withdrew a hand sharply, as if he had been electrocuted. Cor took a fighting stance, becoming serious. A hand ready to draw his sword and slash with force. Ardyn continued to lay on the floor, but his head started to spin in a whole new direction.

That had never happened before.

"Reg." Cor said tensely adjusting his stance, "Back away from him."

Regis wisely gathered his walking cane and rose up to his feet. Unhurried in his motions. Moving with all the grace expected of one in charge. Meanwhile Ardyn was still on the floor, vulnerable.

Ardyn could feel both man standing above him. Watching him. It made his reforming skin prickle with agitation. Ardyn swallowed and felt his still unformed throat spasm. He coughed again. This time it was rougher, wetter. Something dislodged from the back of his throat. Blood splattered on the ground, as well as a black cancerous sludge, mixed with undulating tissue. It began to sizzle immediately. Burning away because of the Crystal's proximity. Ardyn could feel himself losing control over his more human appearance. His body was slowly regenerating, but it was regrowing back gray and discolored. Dark scourge started to drip down his eyes and out of his nose. It created black wisps where it dripped onto the floor.

Ardyn had never been killed by lightning before. It was quickly making his list of top ten things he would avoid repeating. Being this close to the crystal was slowing down his demonic regenerative powers as well. In the back of his mind a voice which sounded a lot like Bahamut's chuckled with satisfaction. Ardyn wasn't actually sure if the voice was the actual god or just his imagination. He clenched his jaw.

Ardyn was done with lying on the floor. Looking pathetic and weak. If his demonic regeneration was not going to be sufficient, then he had other options to work with. Ardyn rested his weight on his elbows and bowed his head. He closed his eyes. Concentrating. The magical lights above them flickered. The air around him grew darker. His demonic aura spreading out. Whispers filled his mind. The demonic souls he had absorbed over the eons. Protesting what he was doing.

Ardyn ignored them. Knowing that beneath the darkness he had other powers. Powers which had been buried in the darkness. Powers he had thought gone... until he had dragged them up from the depths of the hell that was his soul.

Light bloomed in his hands. White and golden. It flickered like the lights above them, until with enough determination it became steady. Ardyn pressed it up against his chest and concentrated. He thought of the sinew, muscle and tendons. The cells which made the tissues, which made up the organs. In his mind he visualized a biopsy Verstael and he had done a life time ago- litterally- on a still alive prisoner of war. With an MT similarly opened up on the second table in their lab. The two of them comparing the effect of scourge on bodies. Bloodily stitching together how the disease affected flesh.

Ardyn pictured what his throat was supposed to look like, and then WILLED his body to knit back together. Not with the sticky sludge of scourge; but with actual flesh and blood of the power of light. The magic branched out to the rest of his body. His world stopped spinning as his inner ear righted itself. His burnt flesh stopped flaking away. Pulling taunt and reforming. Ardyn used his mind to imagine how his body was supposed to be structured, and then directed his magic to make it so. Light built in his cupped hands, which he pressed against his chest.

Ardyn reformed himself. Using powers that had laid long dormant within him. Sitting up on the floor, and then onto his knees. A golden aura glowing around him. Shinning from his core outwards. Ardyn inhaled, and then exhaled. Feeling whole and properly put back together for the first time in a long time. A proper human, with flesh and bones. He let the light in his hands flicker, and then faded. The darkness which inhabited him had spread out to orbit around him while he healed. Shadows dancing across the walls like a carousel. As the light faded they came back to him. Seeping into his flesh and soul. The wounds left over from his imprisonment reopened, and he felt scourge sour the blood in his veins. The demons dug themselves in then sighed, settling back into place. Hanging around his soul like a chain. Ardyn rolled his shoulders, and adjusted his scarves. Setting the weight to where it could hang comfortably.

Ardyn opened his eyes. As black as night, and then slowly fading into a proper human white. As he willed his appearance to be more human. Sitting back on his knees now, he looked over to his audience. King Regis and Cor Leonis were both watching him with mixed emotions. King Regis looked to be more critical. As if he were assessing each step of the process and taking notes. The Marshal's guard was fully raised. He looked ready to fight if need be. As loyal of a guard dog in this life as he was in his last one. Ready to fight even minor deities if need be. Though Ardyn would have expected nothing less from someone who went toe to toe with Gilgamesh.

"There. Much better." Ardyn told them both with a confident smirk. His voice actually working properly this time. He gathered his feet and stood up. Something that ended up being a mistake. His world tilted. Vertigo throwing him off balance. Ardyn stepped and reached out. Catching himself on the wall. His suave demeanor breaking as he tried not to fall back immediately to the floor. Ardyn had forgotten how much proper healing magic took out of him. He had been spoiled by the low-cost but sloppy regeneration his scourge powers gave him.

King Regis watches Ardyn find his footing, before he speaks. "So it is true." Regis stepped forward leaning on his cane. "You did start as an Oracle."

Ardyn lets out a single breath of air. Through his nose. "Is that what you were told?"

"I was told very little, actually." Regis said with a serious tone, "Most of the events of 2000 years ago have been erased from history. Or altered to fit a nicer narrative. The founders of our nation worked very hard to keep key details from ever being learned by the public."

Ardyn was not surprised to hear this. He had discovered much of the same in his last life. In this one he had not followed up on that trail. Nothing had changed time wise from before Ardyn's time. No longer wishing to drive himself mad with revenge. It was still very much a sore spot for him of course. He had lost a lot that day. His future, his wife, his humanity...

"I looked into the matter after our last encounter. The conflict between Somnus and yourself. Some things you said stuck with me." Regis continued. "I discovered many thing, but the truth of what happened... it has only left me haunted with more questions." Regis confessed to Ardyn, and then made his request.

"I know that it might be a bit inappropriate of me to ask, given what I have just put you through." Regis gestured to the floor. Ardyn looked down at it. There was a him-shaped shadow on the floor. Caused by the discharge of electricity. The room also smelled of burnt and putrid flesh, as well as scourge. "However, I would desire to ask you some questions. To hear your side of the story. Please."

Ardyn looked at Regis, and. His eyes slid over to Cor Leonis. The man did not seem surprised by Regis' request. Ardyn judged that the man already knew what they were talking about, given their close friendship.

Cor made eye contact with Ardyn, and raised an eyebrow. "Don't look at me. I'm not apologizing for anything."

"Well at least one of you has not forgotten who your enemy is." Ardyn remarked. He stepped away from the wall. Carefully. His balance was still a little off. He made his way out of the kitchen. Into the gaudy dinning room.

"Bring me something strong to drink." Ardyn ordered, using the wall to walk more than he would like. The world was still refusing to not spin. "And I will forgive you for killing me, and maybe- MAYBE answer some questions."

Cor and Regis took his offer in stride. The two of them stayed in the kitchen briefly to regroup. Regis came out shortly. Limping because of his bad knee- an injury Ardyn had given him some years ago. He was carrying a tray in one hand, his walking stick hanging off an elbow. On it was a selection of cold cut finger foods, fruit, and snacks.

"I'm not sure if you have eaten." He offered with a smile. Setting down the tray. Then sitting across from him at the dinning table.

Cor returned briefly. He set down a set of saucer cups. They were flat, round things. With black crackled glaze. Gold accents peaking out from underneath. Cor handed a matching bottle to Regis. Who stood up, and began to slowly serve the drink. It was mostly clear, but with a white cloudiness to it.

Ardyn felt his mouth tinge with anticipation. It had been years since he had sake- decades actually, almost five of them. Rice was not a staple crop in Niflheim. So the main drinks to find there were ales, beer, vodka and the like. They imported Wines from Altissia of course, and the favorite drink of his husband was a Red Ulwatt Tenebrae. Riced based drinks such as Sake were rarely produced outside of Insomnia. When it was the quality often left much to be desired. Ardyn had originally grownup with the drink, of course. Having been born and raised in what would become Cavaugh. It was a drop of nostalgia from a home that otherwise had changed in every possible form.

"Is this suitable for you?" Regis asked. Seeing how Ardyn eyed the liquid. Checking that the drink he was serving was favorable enough.

"It will do." Ardyn kept his eagerness out of his tone. Regis poured the second cup. Ardyn gently picked up the first of the saucers. Holding it by making a C shape with his fingers. Ardyn swirling the liquid within the shallow dish. He took in aroma of the drink, taking in the spiced smokiness of aged alcohol, before taking his first sip. The alcohol was sharp, with just the hint of flavor.

Regis returned to his seat, but kept the bottle on hand to serve. Cor did not join them at the table. He instead stepped to stand behind Regis at a parade rest. More of a faithful servant apparently, then a friend.

Ardyn took his time to savor his drink, setting the saucer down once it was empty. Regis reaching over to pout him another serving. Ardyn picked up one of the cold cuts, making a small sandwich with meat, crackers and cheese. "In my time. History was taught by the elders. They told stories by the village campfire during the nights. We did not have what you would consider a proper education."

Regis considered this, and the noon son positioned outside the window behind Ardyn. "Yes, I imagine things were quite different back then."

"A lot of things change." Ardyn knew this all to well. He took a sip of his sake. "3000 years before the events you are so interested in hearing about, the Empire of Solheim was so large, the sun never set on it's borders. They had proper schools. Proper education. Classes. Colleges. Much like they do today." Ardyn expounded, making a circular motion with his hand. He leaned back in his chair. Taking a bite of his food. Chewing it thoughtfully. "Did you know they used to have computers?" He asked Regis.

The King's brow pinched. Cor made a surprised and somewhat doubtful sound.

"The stories my elders taught us." Ardyn held out his hand. He crossed one leg over his knee and telling his own story, "Said the kingdom possessed the ability to make metal think. That could calculate the trajectory of the stars, and tell you exactly where you were, or how to get to where you were going." Ardyn told the two men before him. He remembered the dusty face of the elder who had told Ardyn this. Many life times ago. The whispered stories they shared with the group of young curious minds. A heavy book resting on their knee, and the wood crackling in the fire behind the man. Everyone looking over their shoulders and keeping an eye out for danger.

"The current age of technology is not to different from the furthest humanity has ever developed." Ardyn picked up his saucer again, and swirling the drink around. "Our ships- the Niflheim air ships. They were created from designs and artifacts found from the Soulhiem kingdom. From the floating ruins found in the sky not far from Graela, and the rocky islands that you can find in Tenebrae. Back then, they were just as commonly in use as they are today."

"Is that so?" Regis said with some wonder.

Ardyn set down his sauced. It clinked on the black lacquered wood. "Yes, and it was the Gods who cut that civilization down."

Ardyn leaned forward. Bracing his dominate hand on his knee, "For as the people advanced, they began to realize that they did not need the Gods to live satisfying lives. This angered the Gods- and to humble humanity the entire civilization of Soulheim was raised. Cities burned, the wilds froze and the earth itself was sundered. Soulheim's technology was destroyed, burned and buried. The once thriving nation left in ruin." Ardyn looked to Regis, making sure that his words were getting across, "These days your people called it the Great Astral War- The Old War- in reality it was actually a slaughter."

Regis's brow furrowed and pinched. He was trying to comprehend the horrors Ardyn was painting. Ardyn knew it was a lot to take in. He was not done with his story, however.

"3000 years after the fall of Soulheim, people here in Cavaugh still feared the wrath of the gods. We did not read in daylight. Or teach openly out in the sun. No. Not where the gods, or those carrying out the will of the Gods could so easily find us."

Ardyn remembered his Elder teacher. How the man had died. An arrow whizzing through the dark. Piercing the Elder square in the stomach. Soldiers from the village marching into the clearing. Grabbing at crying and screaming children. Tossing them in nets and cages. To be punished communally before being returned to their homes. The young adults around the clearing drawing defensive weapons. Helping as many as they could escape. Ardyn had been one of them. That night was the first time Ardyn ever killed a man. He still remembered his father's face. When he realized that the teenager whom his soldiers were falling to was his own son.

Somnus had visited him the next day in the communal jail. Happy to have a chance lord himself over his brother. Why would you ever desire to read, brother? don't you know how much of a danger such a thing was? Was their father not a priest of Bahamut? Was Ardyn not a holy man himself? did he not know how dangerous unrestrained thoughts could be?

Ardyn felt his jaw tighten at the memory. The darkness and shadows in the room around them became heavier. His relationship with his blood family was was such a mess. It was ironic in founding a kingdom, his family who so once hated knowledge came to rely on those few who had escaped their wrath. Those who learned to count, read, and keep track of numbers. Ardyn wondered if Regis knew that the scribes of his kingdom started out as slaves chained to desks, and children had been forced to learn the trade and be further put to work.

Regis' expression slowly became grim. "That is very concerning. I am sorry to hear."

"You said you wanted to know the truth of 2000 years ago?" Ardyn asked. Leaning back in his chair, resting his elbows on the arm rests, and lacing them across his stomach. "It is the same truth as it was 5,000 years ago. The gods do not care for us. In fact, I quite suspect some of them would rather be rid of us entirely."

Regis exhaled. Leaning back in his chair and rubbing his upper lip. The man was thinking over everything Ardyn had said. Ardyn let him. He sipped on sake, and ate some more food. Letting the man digest the new knowledge he had been given.

It was not Regis, but Cor who broke the silence, "So how does this work into what is going on presently?" Ardyn gave the man a thoughtful look. Cor returned it with an icy gaze. Firm and ready for action. Exactly the kind of internal force one would need to take on the gods. Ardyn decided then and there that he wanted the Marshal on his side of things, as much as possible.

"What happened between me and Somnus 2000 years ago was only an inciting incident." Ardyn told them, then asked for his own information. A discussion was not just one person speaking, after all. "How much has Ignis told you of his past life?" Ardyn picked up his drink once more. The alcohol hit his tongue, and Ardyn had to resist the urge to made an appreciative noise. It really had been too long since he had a good taste of his homeland.

"Ignis gave us a summary of everything leading up to his death." Cor reported, almost clinically. "But anything after that is just speculation. Gladio had no new information for us. They have not idea what could have caused time to double back on itself, or why.

"My son has yet to regain his memories." Regis added on. Rubbing his fingers together. A pinched worry to his eyes. "In fact, judging by his reactions this morning I suspect that the Gods responsible for this might be keeping him specifically from remembering."

"You think so?" Cor turned to Regis.

"It is clear that the memory enchantment seems to be focused on him, and the boys." Regis pointed out, "He also is having rather strong reactions."

"That is... not a theory without ground." Ardyn considered this. He had never thought that the memory enchantment might have been specifically targeted. With those connected magically to Noctis just being in the cross fire. That would explain why the others had broken free of the enchantment first.

"Can you give us any information as to what happened?" Regis asked of him, the 'or do you want to' written in his expression. "Or tell us of how it all ended?"

"There is not anyway I can describe it." Ardyn ran a hand through his beard. Scratching his neck. He had not shaved that morning. "The sun went out. The world fell to ruin. First the plants died, and then the animals- even the insects eventually ran out of things to scavenge." Ardyn thought of the deafening silence of that world. Especially at the end of it all. Things had become so still, that even the wind had stagnated.

Eos, the planet, itself had died. Ardyn remembered standing in the dry mud of the Duscae region. Looking out in the distance over the valley of the disk. Demons glowing in the distant dark. The meteor glowing like a ghostly after image. Not as bright at it once had- when the sun first went out. Even it's power was no more. Noctis was standing beneath him in a ditch. Next to an outcrop of old stone. Older than he had been before being taken into the crystal. The beard he sported made him look scruffier than Ardyn. The King wiped the sweat from his forehead, and stepped back from the outcropping. Tired and exhausted. He looked up, and over at Ardyn. A hollow look in his eyes. The younger man finally giving up. I don't think this is going to work.

"The Astrals only sent Noctis to sacrifice himself once everyone and everything was dead." Ardyn surmised grimly. "We were beyond the point of no return. By killing ourselves the planet would be rid of the scourge, but there was nothing left by that point."

Regis sat up at this, realization hitting him "You two worked together. You worked with my son in order to alter time?"

Ardyn did not respond initially. Ardyn had been avoiding unpacking that box for a long time now. Though his mind was nothing but compartmentalized things he did not want to remember or think about by this point.

"In a way." Ardyn saw no use in denying the claim. Noctis had been... involved. Though the actual moving of time had been only Ardyn's doing. He still remembered Noctis' giving him a wide eyed look- just before the massive amount of magic he had summoned was redirected- and the world around them disappeared in more ways than one. Ardyn grimaced, He was already feeling the dull pain of the warp strike he was due when Noctis broke through his memory enchantment.

"Neither of us were happy with the state of things." Ardyn expanded his explanation, "Leaving things like that, it was..." Ardyn just shook his head, then drank the last of his drink.

"So you defied the gods." Regis remarked thoughtfully. He considered something for a moment, picking up the drink bottle, and offering to refill Ardyn's cup. "Or at least some of them."

"One in particular." Ardyn mentally gave the crystal a crude gesture. Outwardly he offered his cup with an outstretched palm.

Regis refilled his saucer politely. Then set the bottle aside. "Yes." Regis picked up his own drink. "Explain this too me?" He requested politely.

Ardyn eyed the man, "How much do you already know?"

"Our first meeting was the catalyst to my research journey." Regis explained, waving the hand holding his drink, as if he were turning the page of a large book. "There were holes in my memories. An enchantment not unlike the ones our sons currently suffer from. The things you said then stuck with me though. It took me about a year to puzzle out the whole truth. Digging through the records kept here, and in Tenebrae."

That was impressive. Ardyn had worked away at the spell on Prompto for years before giving up. Deciding to focus his efforts elsewhere. Even though the locks on the memory spell around the boys seemed to be breaking- Ardyn still was not quite sure how best to absolve them. Judging from his experience with Gladio, it seemed like the memory enchantment had to be broken from the inside out.

Ardyn thought of the camera he had left for Prompto, and his newly healed heart bleed a bit. Knowing that the next time they met, Prompto would no longer look at him with the same bright, hopeful expression. Ardyn swirled his drink bitterly. "I am curious to know how much you actually do know already."

Regis drew himself up, and then offered Ardyn an outline. "I know that the founder of our Kingdom; Somnus Lucis Calem. His true name was Somnus Izunia."

Ardyn's wrist stilled. His drink spinning before coming to a stop. He didn't look up to meet Regis' gaze. Holding himself in restraint of an outward reaction.

"He betrayed you." Regis continued to speak, this time a bit softer. "Taking the throne from it's rightful, chosen King."

Ardyn flashed back to that moment. Holding his bloody wife in his arms. Letting his anger get the better of him, and summoning the dark powers which had been tempting him. Turning into a demon for the first time. Ardyn closed his eyes. It was not long ago that such memories would rile up his temper. Cause him to lose control. Thirst for revenge. That had been a life time ago. He was putting that behind him. Ardyn reminded himself of this and slowly set down his saucer cup.

"Allow me to make something clear. There was NO rightful King." Ardyn informed King Regis. Letting the truth cut through his anger. He had meditated over this for ten years, after Noctis had been taken into the crystal. After finding no satisfaction in finally achieving his 'revenge' as he has do put it. Claiming the throne in a ruined Inomnia had left Ardyn feeling hollow. Something he had more than enough time to sit and think about.

Regis listening to him critically. Maintaining eye contact. Ardyn's honey brown contrasting against the man's ice blue. The same as his once-brother's.

"The Gods played us for fools. Manipulated us for their own ends." Ardyn could no longer keep the rage from his voice. He stood up from his chair. Cor tensed, Ardyn ignored him. He turned, and walked up to the window. Outside it looked like a rain storm had been threatening the city off and on. Ardyn looked up through the clouds, towards the sun. Shinning brightly in the sky once more. A golden gift that humans had never imagined could be taken away.

"They told me that by taking in the scourge I could heal the planet. They told my brother that he needed to cut down and burn those afflicted with the disease to keep it from spreading." Ardyn recounted bitterly. "They told my wife that she had to be the one to choose between the two of us." Ardyn reached forward, and ran a finger along the edge of the window frame. "They set us all against each other- and then left us alone with sharp knives."

Cor, behind Regis frowned, "Your wife?"

Ardyn turned to look at the man, "Yes. Aera Mirus Fleuret. The first Oracle of light."

Cor sucked in a breath of surprise, and looked to Regis. This information did not seem, to surprise the King. "Your healing powers." Regis asked, "Are they different from the what the Oracles uses?"

Ardyn turned and opened his arms. Leaning his head off to the side. "I wear a lot of hats." Ardyn could not help but be a tad theatrical. Speaking of which, with a twist of his wrist he summoned his black fedora. His hair was probably a mess after being electrocuted, and then healing. If there was any benefit to being within range of the Crystal- it was that he wouldn't have to be brushing out scourge from his hair later. Just the blood. Did you bleed when you were electrocuted? Ardyn guessed he would find out later when he showered.

Cor flinched at the sound of a sub-space being activated. His hands immediately jumped to the sword on his hip once more. Cor stared at the hat as if it was the biggest threat he had ever seen in his life.

Ardyn found more than a little satisfaction in spooking the man titled 'the immortal'. He brushed off his hat, and placed it onto his head. Making sure it sat just so- "I can't heal the scourge. If that is what you are asking." Ardyn walked back over to the dinning table. He picked up some grapes from the food tray Regis had offered to him. "No, that is only something the Oracle can do."

Ardyn popped a grape into his mouth and swallowed it quickly. "Isn't that fun?" He asked the other two men with a smile. "Coming up with this convoluted plot? Of Kings and magic and crystals- such an epic story. A chosen King of light to destroy the darkness of the world." Ardyn pointed a finger and waved it like a conductor.

"Yet the one thing at the heart of it all- they gave the power to truly heal the scourge to the Oracle. They HAVE the ability to give us a solution. Yet instead of making that power more accessible to humans. The gods spend 2000 years setting up the most elaborate light show one can think of?" Ardyn asked the two men rhetorically. Then popped he another fruit into his mouth, shaking his head. "Why? To me it is clear that they have no-"

Ardyn's rant was interrupted by the turning of the doorknob to the front of the room. They all tensed, and turned. Witnessing Regis' Shield, Clarus entered the room. The older man was still wearing his councilor robes, and he was carrying a whole stack of papers and a tablet. Despite having the magical ability to store them away at a thought.

Clarus Amicita froze in the door way, noticing Ardyn's presence immediately. "I see. So this is how you found out who our traitor is." He said, looking to Cor.

Cor hesitated, "Not quite, but yes." The Marshal said stiffly.

"Wait." Regis held up a hand, looking over his shoulder at Cor, "You found out what now?"

"That is what I came here for originally." Cor explained, and produced a set of camera binoculars. He explained to his King how Ignis had confiscated them from Ardyn, and he had downloaded the pictures the man had been taken. Wanting to show them immediately to Regis. Getting sidetracked of course by Ardyn's 'shocking' appearance. Ardyn appreciated the man's word choice.

Clarus meanwhile approached the table and put all of his things down beside Regis. Electing not to sit, but instead resting his hands on the back of a chair. His nose wrinkled. "Why does it smell like burnt meat in here?" He asked the room. Cutting Cor's explanation short. He looked at his companions. "Did you two leave the oven on again?"

Everyone fell silent for a beat. Then Ardyn spoke up with great amusement, "See; and people wonder why I don't like family reunions."

Clarus looked at Ardyn with confusion. Regis drew himself up, and folded his arms in front of himself politely. "I apologize for that once more, Chancellor."

Ardyn popped the last grape into his mouth, and picked up his drink saucer. "Honestly. The day I meet a distant relative and don't die- well wait, I guess that has already happened." Ardyn considered his meetings with Noctis in the previous time line, "Or rather it didn't- if it was before the time alteration does it count?" He asked the men across from the table somewhat seriously.

"No." Cor seemed to have a decisive answer already.

"That is certainly an interesting question." Regis settled back in his chair, taking a drink of alcohol, "I would say that it certainly counts to some degree."

"I have no idea what you three are talking about." Clarus shook his head, and then waved the conversation aside. Getting them all back on topic.

"I spoke with Dratos before coming up here." Clarus announced to the room, "He says he might have an idea who our resistance leader is. Or at least a lead."

"Did he?" Ardyn asked with some delight. Cor gave him a long, thoughtful look.

"Did he?" Regis mimicked Ardyn's words, turning to Clarus.

"Yes. A Glaive named Libertus Ostium." Clarus explained, "Dratos says that he's got a history of asking questions about their orders. Voicing how unhappy he is about things. Apparently after coming back from the front lines- he has been attending meetings with a group referring to themselves as 'The Treaty Haters'."

"Do you have his file?" Cor asked with a frown.

Clarus went through his stacks of papers. "Yes. Here." He set the papers on the table so that all three men could look at it together.

Ardyn creeped up to the table, and sat down in his chair once more. Laceing his fingers together to watch the men. Clarus looked up at him with a frown. "Oh, don't mind me." Ardyn requested with a smile, "pretend I'm not here."

"You aren't going to tell us if this information is right or not?" Clarus asked with a scowl.

Ardyn smiled coyly, and played hard to get. "Well I wouldn't want to spoil anything. Now would I?"

"The pictures you were taking. They were all of Dratos, and the men he was speaking to." Cor started with addressing Ardyn, then moved to Regis and Clarus, "He was following the Generall specifically."

"So you suspect Dratos might be bad." Regis realized and closed his eyes. Reigning in his frustration. "This is exactly why I didn't want him as General."

"I know- you said he found this guy? How?" Cor pointed to Libertus' file and looked to Cor.

"Says he's been on Dratos' radar for a while as possible trouble. Just never had a reason to do an investigation." Clarus considered this, and the fact that Dratos might have lied to him. He looked at Ardyn, then back to his King. "Are we sure it's Dratos? We have no concrete evidence- unless Chancellor Izunia is willing to supply some." Clarus gave Ardyn a look which implied that he would not trust such evidence anyway.

"I like you." Ardyn told the man with a smile, "It's a pity you're too loyal to someone else."

Regis raised his hand, stopping Clarus from retorting. "Given what information we do have. I can not dismiss the possibility of it being Dratos." Regis ruled.

"If it is Dratos we wouldn't know. We would have put him in charge of finding himself." Cor cursed under his breath, "So much for us having any advantage of them not finding out we know."

"What to do. What to do." Ardyn tutted, "Such a heavy weight the crown is. Not that I would know."

Regis gave Ardyn a level look. Ardyn opened up his arms. Unabashedly letting the man read him like an open book. Regis pulled Libertus' file closer to himself. Then picked it up. "Tell General Dratos to bring Libertus in for a hearing. After the Niflhiem party leaves. My throne room. We will adjudicate as the council if not this Libertus is a traitor, and test Dratos' reactions."

"A weighing of souls." Ardyn raised his eyebrows. "How interesting. I will be sure to get a front row seat."

"If you are going to be lurking about, warn me. Otherwise we might have another... electrical issue on our hands." Regis advised the man. He had wards set up in the throne room as well. Given their effectiveness against Ardyn, he thought they might come in some use against any would be traitors.

"Wouldn't want you to be guilty of- of what is it called? Avunculicide? Twice in a row." Ardyn picked himself up from the table. He adjusted his hat, and his coat. "Well Gentlemen. It seems you are in need. I will leave you for now. Until our paths cross again." He waved his fingers and then made his departure. Heading out of the dinning hall and into the entry room of the King's Chambers.

"What does he mean 'avunclidide'?" Clarus asked as he left, "-cide means death. Like homicide."

Regis sighed heavily, "It means the killing of one's uncle."

"Why would he say that?" Clarus asked with frustration, "I really can't leave you two alone for forty minutes?!"

Cor only seemed amused by Clarus' anger. "Well. There's a him-shaped burn mark in the next room that can explain why."

"A WHAT?" Clarus asked, his voice increasing with a sharp level.

Regis sighed again, rubbing his temple, "You are going to want to take a seat my old friend. This is going to take a while to explain."

[groovytimetravelflower]

Not Just A Feeling Chapter 18 exerpts.

Below are some scenes that did not make the final cut of the chapter. Mostly because I had to restate the blocking, and change these scene a bit to flow better. Still, these were humorous bits that I wanted to share with you all.

Feel free to read below.

You can read the whole story HERE on AO3.

Anyway here are some cut scenes that I thing you lot would enjoy:

X—×—×—×

Clarus looked at Ardyn, then at Regis, then to Cor. "I can't leave you two alone for a half an hour." He accused very much like a parent wrangling his particularly troublesome teenagers. For their part, King Regis and Cor the Immortal both looked sheepishly embarrassed.

Ardyn found this amusing to no end. Until Clarus turned his dark brown eyes on Ardyn. "And you. What makes you think you can just go gallivanting wherever you please?"

"Me?" Ardyn placed a hand over his heart dramatically, "Well, he started it by stealing my camera!" He pointed to Cor.

Clarus was having none of it, "The second I left the meeting to check in with the guards, everyone was telling me that you've been skipping around and reeking of trouble."

"Clarus." Regis held up a hand to stop his second in command, "We are trying to forge a friendly communication here. Not to interrogate people."

"That's right." Ardyn agreed with Regis smugly, "You are coming in here with a lot of aggression. We were having a wonderful and productive chat just before you came in."

Clarus did a double take, "I have reports and even video footage of him climbing the lattice work." Clarus explained to Regis, "and several of the statues. One of which he drew on with a permanent marker."

Regis blinked slowly. Processing this information. He then turned to Ardyn with a hard expression. Silently demanding an explanation.

Ardyn placed his hands on his hips. "For the record, you guys really need to make sure your cleaners are dusting everything properly- this place looks fancy and polished- but it is anything but."

"The statue I drew on for the record was already marked by several famous climbers through out the ages." Ardyn explained, "It appears that many people have a tradition of scaling your ridiculously large stone statues they can free climb. I merely but the latest to achieve such an accomplishment." Ardyn explained quite proudly. Not mentioning that he had initially warped to the top of said statue invisibly, seen the marks, and then gotten down and climbed up once more. Just to see if he could.

It was the little things in life that made it worth living.

"Wait." Cor frowned, "Which statue did you climb?"

"The really gaudy one to the left of the throne room. With the cloak?" Ardyn described. There were two statues on either side of the throne room entrance, but they were different. Probably of past kings or some important noble or other."

Cor was quiet for a moment, then nodded once. "Nice."

Ardyn smiled brightly, "Thanks!"

"I am glad that you are enjoying your visit here thus far." Regis sounded like he was developing a head ache, "But please. Refrain from drawing such obvious attention to yourself."

×—×—×—×

So much fun! Saddly this tidbit stalled the conversation and made it hit a dead end. So ultimately I cut it, and there is not a small group of trouble makers freeclimbing Lucian statues.

Here! Have another!

This was an earlier draft when they stayed in the kitchen to talk. I decided however to move the characters into the dinning hall, and give them something more refined to drink.

X—×—×—×—×

Cor closed the fridge and came back to the counter. He set down three cans of Ebony coffee and a sealed bottle of water. He offered the selection to Ardyn. Ardyn took one of the coffee cans, and pulled it in towards himself. Cor took the second can of Ebony, and Regis the water.

Regis cracked open his bottle of water, but did not fully open it. "I have been known to walk in the shadows away from the gods, on occasion." He informed Ardyn solemnly. The three of them gathering around the kitchen for a confessional it seemed.

Ardyn appraised the man. "How long have you known?"

"Our first meeting was the catalyst to my findings." Regis explained, waving a hand off to the side. As if he were turning the page of a large book. "There were holes in my memories. Things you said. It took me about a year to puzzle out the whole truth. Digging through the records kept here, and in Tenebrae."

That was impressive. If it were even true. Ardyn had clawed away at that spell for years before giving up. Deciding to focus his efforts elsewhere. Even though the locks on the memory spell around the boys seemed to be breaking- Ardyn still was not quite sure how it was being done. From his experience with Gladio, it seemed like the memory enchantment had to be broken from the inside out. Rather than outwardly attacked. Ardyn thought of the camera he had left for Prompto, and his newly healed heart bleed a bit. Knowing that he would not return home to find his son there.

Ardyn pulled his can of coffee closer. Picking at the can's tab. "I am curious to know how much you actually do know."

Regis drew himself up, and offered the proof as plain as any could see. "Somnus Lucis Calem. The founding king of our nation. His true name was Somnus Izunia."

Ardyn's finger stopped just on the lip of the Coffee can. He didn't look up to meet Regis' gaze. Holding himself in restraint of an outward reaction. How much these words were a gut punch straight into his stomach. The man had done it. Somehow. Figured out a way through the memory enchantment from the outside.

"He betrayed you." Regis continued to speak, this time a bit softer. "Taking the throne from it's rightful, chosen King."

Ardyn flashed back to that moment. Holding his bloody wife in his arms. Letting his anger get the better of him, and summoning the dark powers which had been tempting him. Turning into a demon for the first time. Ardyn closed his eyes. It was not long ago that such memories would rile up his temper. Cause him to lose control. Thirst for revenge.

That had been a life time ago. Now, Ardyn just gently shook head. "There was NO rightful King." Ardyn informed King Regis. The man quietly listened. Ardyn looked him in the eyes. His honey brown contrasting against the man's ice blue. The same as his once-brother's.

"The Gods played us for fools. Manipulated us for their own ends." Ardyn could not keep the bitter rage from his voice, "They told me that by taking in the scourge I could heal the planet. They told my brother that he needed to burn the disease out of existence. They told the my wife that someone had to be chosen between the two of us. They set us against ourselves- and gave us knives to hurt each other with."

"Your wife?" Cor asked with a frown.

Regis answered for him in a whisper. "The first Oracle." Cor sucked in a breath of surprise.

Ardyn looked between the men. Then down at the drink on the counter. "They did the same thing with your son, and myself. In the time before this one." He informed them. Pulling the can of Ebony closer to him. "They convinced me in my madness that what I needed was to seek revenge. They chose your son to sacrifice himself for humanity- only after I became a threat again. Then only after all of the other humans had die out as well."

Both men gave him slightly surprised looks. Ardyn did not know what aspect of this knowledge was new to them. Surely they would have known. That Godly covenants always ended with the ultimate sacrifice.

Ardyn opened the can of Ebony with one hand. The metal cracking loudly in the silent kitchen. "So." He leaned back from the counter, raising the drink, "I may be the poison that is killing Eos. However in my opinion the murderous plot to end everything was well in motion before I came along." Ardyn informed them, and took a drink of the cold coffee. The cold drink hit his tongue. Sugary and sweet. Ardyn nearly spat the questionable liquid out. Instead he covered his mouth and held the can at and arm's length. Giving it an affronted once over. It was Ardyn's least favorite flavor of the brand- apparently printed with a different color in Lucis. Instead of the blue lable, this can had a deceptivley dark green color to it. Usually something which was the chocolate flavor back in Niflheim. Who the fuck drank <i>Creamy Ebony</i>? It was practically just condensed milk mixed with coffee.

"What the fuck is wrong with you people?!" Ardyn asked, and set the can as far away as he could. Like it had bitten him. "Pickles and Cream- and this shit?! This kitchen has attacked me both physically and mentally."

"What is wrong with coffee?" Cor asked with affront. He was holding a half-empty can of the poisonous stuff.

"It's nothing but sugar." Ardyn pointed out, "Do you know how bad such drinks are for you?"

×—×—×—×—×

[groovytimetravelflower]

Not Just A Feeling Chapter 18

Don't forget to reblog to share with a friend! The whole story can be read HERE on AO3.

Summary:

Prompto is back, and the group is experiencing some growing pains. They get the opportunity to see how being the Niflheim Prince has started to influence their friend. Meanwhile Regis and Cor have a random encounter.

Ch. 18: Growing Pains

"Come on, lets make tracks!" Noctis all but warped out of the room. Eager to go see his new friend- or old friend depending on how you looked at it.

Ah. To be young and full of energy. Regis smiled. Glad that his son had found someone that he could so eagerly look forward to seeing. Noctis had always had difficulty making friends and meeting new people. He came off as cold, and somewhat entitled to those who did not understand the weight of his station. Sure Gladio and Ignis were at his side constantly; but even as children Regis had always thought that their close relationship was a little too codependent.

Regis remembered when Noctis had first approached him about the three of them dating. Regis had not been surprised, however he had been apprehensive. After all, no relationship ended on good terms. If anything should come between the three of them, the entire seat of power within Lucis would be affected. That was one of the reasons why relationships between Kings and Shields were strictly forbidden. Because if anything ever happened to the Crown, it was the Shield's responsibility to rule until either the next Crown came of age, or until Bahamut chose a new monarch to lead them.

No issues had come between the three young men yet. Their bond was strong, and it had only grown stronger as the boys moved out of their awkward teenage years and became proper adults. Regis worried that with everything going on with this memory enchantment, their past lived, and the reintroduction of 'Prompto' into their midst, that their connections might finally be put to the test.

The couch shifted as Gladio picked himself up, the last to leave the room. "Will my dad be coming to escort you back to the meeting hall?" He asked politely.

With assassins about, Regis wasn't supposed to be moving about on his own. Clarus had escorted him up to his chambers for lunch, but gone on his way too take care of some thing. Knowing that Regis would be safe enough in his own personal chambers. "He should be." Regis waved off Gladio politely, "thank you."

The boys left the living room, and went out into dinning hall. Then the front receiving room of the royal chambers. Regis felt the main door closing ripple across his wards. The protective magic that Regis had set up in the royal chambers sealing shut tight behind them.

Regis sat for a moment, then he gathered his walking cane. He left the living room for the kitchen. Double and then triple checking that he was actually alone.

Regis dearly loved Ignis, and he loved all the food the boy made for them. However, there was a point where one got sick of fancy meals and spiced meats became. Sometimes people just wanted a snack. Even rich humans. Even rich humans who happened to rule entire countries.

Regis opened the fridge and took a moment to give the universe a chance to stop him. As it always seemed inevitable that should Regis have a spare moment, something would always catch on fire, needing his immediate attention. When nothing presented itself Regis reached past Cor's container of ebony cans- grabbing a can of whip cream. Still waiting for the inevitable, Regis picked up the jar of pickles. He brought both over to the counter. Then he closed the fridge with his walking cane.

Snack acquired Regis took a seat at the kitchen counter. Enjoying the moment of peace. The rain clouds, outside started to part. A statement of how much this 'Prompto' meant to his son. He watched this with interest. Spraying a finger of cream onto one of the pickles, and then taking a satisfying crunchy bite.

Regis managed to eat a whole pickle and a half before his wards sparked. As someone inserted a key into the front door. Regis paused, then relaxed as the wards recognized who was entering. It was Cor. He could feel the man through their shared connection the crystal gave him. The wards welcomed his friend by sparking along. Cor always complained about the spells giving him static electricity. His friend had moved into Regis' chambers three years ago unannounced, and just made himself at home in one of the chambers next to Regis' own. Regis had noticed immediately, but he hadn't commented on it. Knowing that his younger companion was not the best with words and emotions. It had been about two months until Cor explained his sudden lifestyle change. Apparently the promising relationship had been in the few years prior had ended rather abruptly, and with a nasty fight. Cor had crashed one night at Regis', but then slowly moved himself out of his apartment as it became clear that he was no longer welcome there. Regis promised that Cor could stay as long as possible. Because what were friends for? If not for falling back on. The two had been room mates ever since. Something which suited Regis just fine. It had been entirely too quiet ever since Noctis had moved out to go live his own life elsewhere.

Someone else came in with Cor. Regis' wards did not attack them immediately. Since they had been let in by a key. Though his magic hovered around them angrily. Their presence was a prickly bubble of energy in his mind. As Cor made his way through the front hall to the dinning room, and then into the kitchen.

Cor entered in with something raised in his hand- he stooped and pulled a face when he saw what Regis was snacking on. "What are you eating? Why?!"

"You've seen me eat worse." Regis joked. Putting the jar lid back onto the pickles, and the whip cream to the side. He still wanted to finish his snack, but if.

Cor shook his head. "I swear. you have the taste buds of like, a pregnant woman."

Regis frowned. It was not unusual for Cor to make such a remark when they were in private. If there was company about- his friend would not have made a remark. Regis looked over towards the doorway. Where his wards were telling him that "Did you have something you wanted to tell me?"

"Yeah. Ignis gave this to me." Cor placed what looked like a pair of binoculars onto the kitchen counter. "Just right after the meeting broke- I managed to pull some data off of them.

"You came alone?" Regis asked.

Cor frowned, then his eyes widened. He reached to his side. Summoning his katana sword. Behind Cor someone moved. Regis was faster though. In less than a millisecond his wards went off.

Lighting cascaded from the walls of the room. Wrapping around Cor and Regis, and targeting the invisible person who had followed him. Lightning flashed once twice and then a third time. As a Thundaga spell was released. Stored in the copper wires Regis had lined all of the royal chambers with. Gathering energy as time went on, and making the rooms a death trap for anyone who dared to challenge him within them.

As the light show finished, Cor moved to stand protectively in front of Regis. Katana summoned and ready to be drawn with enough force to slice metal. Regis hefted up his walking stick. Welding it as a magical staff.

They both waited for a retaliation. The crispy body on the floor of the kitchen didn't give them much of a challege. Cor grimaced at the smell of ozone and burnt flesh. He reached forward with his katana. Using it to turn over the.

"Oh. Shit." Cor exhaled upon realizing.

Regis cursed as well, "Fuck."

The corpse on the ground was Ardyn Izunia's.

Noctis power walked through the main entrance hall of the Citadel. Cutting a path from the maintenance hallway straight to the large black doors of the Citadel entrance. Mentally preparing himself to be all princely and professional. Holding back the exited eagerness bubbling inside of him. The thought of finally being reunited with Prompto brightening his day. Quite literally, as the storm clouds manifested by Noctis' unease and frustration were beginning to clear as quickly as they had appeared. The summer sun now breaking through the clouds outside in bright rays.

Noctis arrived at the large black doors of the Citadel, and took a moment to gather himself. Smoothing a hand over his chest to make sure his tie and royal vestments were all in place. A wave of déja vu washing over him. Not surprising since Noctis had been in this exact positions not but two days ago. Right before meeting Prompto for the first time. Even though it had not been their first meeting. Did it count if Notis could not remember? This memory enchantment was so frustrating.

Gladio and Ignis followed at his heels of course. Gladio just as happy to reconnect with Prompto, and Ignis trailing behind. A little less eager, though that might just be because of the crowded nature of the Citadel at the moment. Gladio had a reassuring hand on Ignis' back, and Noctis made sure to not get too far ahead. So that Ignis had a pocket space to breath within the crowd.

Noctis could feel how strained his partner was. Ignis was festering in the emotional connection they shared. Worried, and concerned, a little angry. A whole mess of smaller things that he was picking up like dust. Noctis wished that they could all just go back to their apartment sooner rather than later. That morning had been glorious. When the four of them were all together, warm and in bed. Noctis wanted that again, for an eternity if possible. Hopefully the peace talks would be finished today, so that the armistice treaty could be signed on time tomorrow. Meaning the whole world could finally put this war behind them. Then they could have all the time in the world to be together properly. Even though the Counsil would definitely find some other emergency to throw at them eventually.

Noctis could dream for now though. He sighed whist fully, and then pushed open one of the doors before him. The heavy black wood creaking on its ancient hinges. There were two guards stationed at the doorway entrance. Both were Glaive soldiers, who tensed as Gladio gave them critical looks. Aware now that there might be traitors about, they were all making sure to keep track of where people were stationed, and if or if not they should be stationed there. Gladio over took Noctis, leading the way for safety measures. Though these individuals did not appear to be looking to harass them in anyway.

A singular black car pulled up around the front court yard. Coming to a stop at the curbside. A guard stepped out of the passenger seat. Wearing the full armor of an Imperial guard. Complete with a metal helmet, and the dragon emblem emblazoned across their chest. They opened the passenger door, and Prompto stepped out. Pulling along his long white coat, so that it would not trip him, or get wet in the puddles left behind by the brief rain storm Noctis had summoned.

Noctis could not help the smile that grew on his face. Seeing his fourth partner reunited with them once again. Noctis had to strongly resist the urge just not to warp down to Prompto. Instead descending with his hands behind his back, and chin raised. As was properly expected of him in this very public setting. Prompto looked up at the steps. Having plenty of time to see them coming. He smiled briefly. Something which was as bright as the sun shinning through the clouds. He waited for them at the bottom of the steps. His two Imperial Guards taking up position on either side of him, reflecting Gladio and Ignis' own positions behind Noctis.

As they got closer though, Noctis could sense that there was something wrong with Prompto. Even though he was not connected to Prompto as the others were, Noctis could see that the other felt stained. Stressed. There was a red rim around the bottom of his eyes. Which the Prince had clearly tried to amend with some makeup. Noctis felt his stomach twist just ever so slightly. Knowing that meant Prompto had been crying.

Noctis heavily suspected the cause for such a change in his mood. Ignis and Gladio had been similarly upset ever since getting their memories back. Had Prompto remembered? That would explain why he would suddenly change his schedule. Why would he be crying though? What sort of tragedies were hiding in their memories? Noctis wished he could remember. So that his friends would not have to carry the burden alone. It made Noctis frustrated to know that all of his friends were in such a state. With no way that he could help them.

Above them, the dark gray clouds which had begun to disperse began to reform. In the distance thunder rumbled as a reflection of this mood. Noctis grimaced, there was only so much control Noctis could exert over his powers unfortunately. Which was why the weather was being so fickle. Noctis' emotions sometimes were like a static field- one which Noctis could feel pulling and pushing at the world around him. Thankfully his frustration was deciding to just be rain, one of the least catastrophic thing Noctis' magic could cause. Once, when he was a baby Noctis had thrown a tantrum and frozen every water pipe within a fourth of the citadel. Costing the treasury quite the pretty penny in repairs.

Noctis ignored the thunder for now though, he opened up his arms as he finally reached the bottom step of the Citadel. "Your Imperial Highness." Noctis greeted Prompto using his official title. He was fairly sure that Prompto did not go by 'Prompto' publicly. Every time that Prompto had introduced himself he had started with his full serial number, after all. Their respective positions required a lot of formalities to be held. So as much as Noctis wanted to wrap Prompto up in his arms and bury under some blankets for a nap. Noctis knew that he needed to restrain himself.

"I am glad that I could see you again so soon." Noctis continued to greet Prompto formally. As Ignis and Gladio joined him at the base of the steps.

Prompto put on a professional mask as well. "Yes. I am sorry that I was not able to attend this morning's meeting." Prompto looked past Noctis. Practically shooting Ignis with a glare. "I had something come up."

"That is perfectly fine." Noctis wondered why Prompto seemed so angry. He looked over his shoulder a curious look over his shoulder. Ignis was not meeting his eyes- or Prompto's for that matter. He could Ignis through their connection. Ignis was bitterly angry. But also guilty? Why? Had something happened between the two of them? When?

"Things... happen sometimes. Not everything can be within our control." Noctis said uncertainly. Not sure how to address whatever was going on. This felt like something better resolved in private. However, they were in a very public setting at the moment.

"Your generosity is too much." Prompto sounded weird when he was speaking formally. He sounded nothing like any of the other Niflheim Nobles. It felt like Prompto was reading from a script, whilst trying to imitate someone else's speech pattern. Clearly still learning how to act as the Imperial Prince.

Noctis worried. The rain clouds above them grew thicker. Prompto stepped up onto the first stair of the Citadel, pushing past the unaddressed issue. He inhaled, clearly preparing himself to speak. "Unfortunately I do not think we will be able to meet for long. I need to speak with my associates. Perhaps we can meet after this afternoon's meeting? I should have some time this evening."

"Oh. Of course." Noctis kept the disappointment out of his voice. Above them the clouds started to release rain once again. Just a light drizzle to betray his true feeling. Noctis wanted to spend time with his friends. However, he also knew that he needed to support them. If Prompto needed to confer with people from Niflheim then that is what Noctis would help him achieve. "Let me walk you to where the Niflheim Party has their staging area. At the least."

Prompto nodded, then looked up at the thunder, a bit confused. "Thank you."

They all began walking up the steps. Noctis leading the way, and Prompto beside him. Gladio took a few quick steps to lead the party. Prompto's guards stayed behind them. Ignis stood at the bottom of the steps looking down at his shoes. Then trailed behind. Noctis looked over his shoulder, giving Ignis a look of concern. Ignis was still avoiding looking at both of them though.

Noctis stepped just a bit closer to Prompto. Almost brushing their shoulders against each other. "What is going on between you and Ignis?" Noctis asked quietly as they walked.

Prompto glanced over his shoulder, but didn't turn his head, "Its nothing he can't get over."

Noctis frowned. Prompto and Ignis were fighting then. Since when? Ignis had seemed just as worried about Prompto, up until they came down to see him. Also, was this a usual thing for them? Them fighting? Prompto and Ignis had seemed to be getting along just fine so far. Well, there was that moment this morning... when Prompto had taken charge of things. Noctis had a gut feeling though, that nothing about that and this was normal for their group.

The Glaive at the top of the steps opened the doors for them. The heavy wooden doors groaned with the motion. Black doors opening to show the length of the main entry hall of the Citadel. Giving them refuge from the rain starting to fall harder into a proper storm. The vaulted ceiling greeted them as they came in. Along with the columns, statues of winged figures, and golden decorations scattered about. The tiles on the floor pulsed with magic. Enchanted generations ago to provide foot lighting to the lower levels of the Citadel. Something which was helpful when the sky outside was as dark as it was- most of the light in the building came from the windows after all. Thanks to Noctis' bad mood, the Citadel was about to become a very eerie and dark maze of corridors.

They were all officially wet by the time the doors closed. Ignis in particular looked like a drowned puppy. Though most of that was just his attitude. Noctis summoned a wad of cotton gauze from the armiger, and rubbed it between his fingers. He then reached out and tapped Gladio. Drying both of them instantly. Noctis could feel his hair standing on end and fixing itself. As if he had never even gotten wet. The least he could do, given the fact that the rain was his fault in the first place. "Let me dry you off." Noctis offered to the rest of the group. Noctis held out his hand to Ignis. Who gave him a grateful look and an opportunity to demonstrate the spell. Ignis placed his hand on Noctis' upturned palm, and with a squeeze Ignis was once again dry.

"What? You can do that?" Prompto's voice pitched loudly, more than just impressed. "Dude! That's so handy!"

They were standing in front of everyone and their expectations, here in the entrance to the Citadel. As Prince's of nations both of them were supposed to be cool, indifferent. Put their best foot forward. Still, Noctis could not help but grin at Prompto's joyful wonder. "I mean what is the point of having a magical destiny if you're not going to use magic?" Noctis asked. Then held out his hand, palm forward. Inviting Prompto to give it a try.

Prompto reached forward without hesitation. Not even suspecting that Noctis would do something untoward. A show of trust that made Noctis' heart flutter. He Noctis was expecting Prompto to press his hand against Noctis'. Instead what he got was a high five. Noctis flinched in some surprise, as he had not expected that. Just for a flash they connected. Noctis felt his magic touch Prompto- and just for a moment... Noctis felt something hot flash between them. Almost as if... something touched him back?

Noctis stared at his hand. Prompto stared at his as well. Rubbing his thumb across his no dry fingers. "That's absorption. You're absorbing the water." Prompto said with fascination.

"I am surprised you can tell." Noctis remarked. Most people thought he heated it up, or just made it go away somehow. It was a very subtle piece of magic. Noctis had made it up himself- as were most of the spells he used for everyday things. He had not liked the feeling of being wet but wearing dry clothes, since he took quick showers after gym class and fighting practice. He had experimented with heating the water- resulting in some minor burns. Eventually figuring out that he could just remove the water entirely. After that it was just about finding the right medium to cast the spell- with cotton fiber winning out in the end.

Prompto leaned over to look at his off hand, "What are you absorbing it with? The cotton ball? Is that your anchor for the spell?"

"It is medical gauze." Noctis clarified. As if they were two different things- not just the same thing with different names. Prompto seemed to know a lot about spells, and spell craft. It must have been something he had picked up from his previous memories. Perhaps Noctis had explained a thing or two to him?

Noctis turned to the two Imperial Guards in armor, "I can also dry you two off if you would like?"

One of the guards looked at the other, who remained impassive. The first shrugged, "I'll give it a whirl." The man held out his hand. He had an Eastern accent instead of a Niflheim one, which surprised Noctis. As usually that was something he usually associated with the southern reaches of Lucis. Not Niflhiem. Though, he did suppose the Turk's home land had been taken over in the Altissia Conflict some 150 years ago. So perhaps at this point he should have just considered a Niflhiem dialect.

Noctis held out his hand. Giving the man a high-five as well. Though gentler than Prompto's. The spell connected and the man made a curious noise, looking at the back of his hand, and then down at his metal armor. Once dripping onto the floor, and now completely dry. "Well that's something." the man remarked. Then elbowed the other guard. Convincing him to give it a try.

Noctis dried the second guard off, and then stepped back. Picking up proper form "This way please." Noctis took up his duty to guide Prompto through the building. As the rules of hospitality dictated. Even though Gladio was the one actually helming the front of their group. "Ignis." Noctis looked around Prompto's guards and held out a hand, "Come here. I don't want you to fall behind."

Noctis could not bring Prompto through the maintenance Hallways after all. Such a thing would be unbecoming of his station. Not to mention that everyone in the Citadel main hallway was already turning, looking and starring at them. Ignis gave the growing crowdl a wary look, anxiety rising up in their shared connection. Noctis reached out and hooked his arm through his partner's. Pulling him close to his side like they were going to a dance. Ignis scowled. He really didn't like PDA all that much. He allowed for the contact though. Relaxing just a bit as Noctis pushed reassurance through their connection. Assuring Ignis that it would be alright.

Prompto gave the link of arms a curious head tilt, "You two are public then?"

"Oh. If they don't know about us by now, they are blinder than a Marlboro." Noctis explained jokingly. The irony was that while everyone had realized Ignis and Noctis were together from almost day one; no one had yet to even suspect that Gladio and Noctis were also a thing. Noctis could wrap his arms around Gladio in the same way and everyone would be saying they were 'best friends' and a 'proper kind and shield'. Meanwhile if Ignis and Noctis so much as sat next to each other the tabloids started writing fictious stories about their love life.

Prompto snorted a bit with amusement at the joke, but then quickly covered up his face with a hand, "Sorry. I'll try to be more serious."

"Are we ready to do this?" Noctis looked over their group. Gladio was at the front. Prompto's guards were bringing up the reat. He, Ignis and Prompto were all side by side in the middle. Normally he would stick Ignis into the center of their group as much as possible. However, with Ignis and Prompto not getting along, Noctis would have to stand in between them as a buffer. Ignis squeezed his upper arm where, and Noctis felt a steady calm from the man. Ignis communicating that he would be fine.

So they started walking. Through the main hall of the Citadel. Towards the main meeting chamber the peace negotiations were to be held in. Gladio parting the way for them. Ignis, Noctis and Prompto in a line. Then with two Imperial guards behind them. A royal procession of a sorts. The Lucian people they passed paused what they were doing to bowed towards them. Maids, servants, office workers. As well as Crowns Guard and Glaive. The heavy crowd parting before them. As they recognized the status of the people walking through, and respectively got out of the way. Noctis hated all of the attention, and beside him he could fell Ignis felt the same. His advisor was tense, and silently doing a breathing exercise. Though he seemed steady enough to make it through through this. Gladio was at full alert. Keeping an eye out for anyone who might be a security risk. They were out in the open after all, and not hiding their presence in the least.

This was not an every day occurrence. The bowing was only required when there were more official things going on, or formal events. Noctis usually could walk, run or warp around the Citadel as much as he pleased. Some of the staff who had been around when he was a child were not above scolding him for doing the latter either. More formal processions like this were few and far between. They used to make Noctis nervous and overwhelmed. The last few years as he had come of age Noctis felt like he had grown into the position though. He squared his shoulders and held up his chin. The perfect image of a prince. Walking confidently through his home as he escorted a foreign dignitary, and his partner down proudly to their destination.

Prompto beside him faltered. Noctis noticed him falling behind almost immediately, and turned with concern. Finding Prompto, eyes wide and looking at the crowds of bowing people with a sweaty sort of nervousness. Noctis had not realized that this would be an issue for the blonde. It was a reminder that unlike Gladio and Ignis, they were not connected. Noctis could not feel Prompto's emotional state like the others could. He could not predict and maneuver himself to prop up his friend's weak points.

An arm slipped out of Noctis'. Other hand extending around him. Landing squarely on Prompto's shoulder. "Prompto. Breath." Ignis whispered, "It's alright. We are here with you."

Prompto looked at Ignis, and a mix of emotions crossed the blonde's face. One of Prompto's guards shifted behind them. Noctis thought they might, but what they did was move to shield them from being watched by the closest by standard.

"Here. Stand between me and Ignis." Noctis offered, "And Ignis can show you his breathing exercise." Noctis suggested, giving Ignis a look.

Ignis nodded and moved to Prompto's other side. Leaning in to whisper, "Take three steps and inhale, then exhale for two. With me." He demonstrated. Taking a step forward. Their group continued on without any more pauses. Moving at a steady pace to get to their destination. The Citadel was huge though, and they still had a good distance to go. Despite the initial bump they continued down. No one in the crowd really paying attention to the slight pause. Nothing was perfect after all, and it was not like this was an official-official procession.

Sometimes talking helped Ignis with his nerves. Noctis looked around for something they could discuss. He noticed one of the Niflhiem people they passed in the crowd quickly putting on their metal helmet, before bowing as they passed. While another man in white hastily cover their face with their lapel and bowed.

Noctis turned to Prompto, who was tensely radiating anxiety and looking at the back of Gladio's heels as they walked. "I never knew helmets were such a formality in Niflhiem." Noctis remarked casually.

Prompto glanced at him, then immediately dropped his eyes back to the ground. "Yes. They keep people from getting frost bite." Prompto said simply. "But over the years they gained some cultural significance. Showing your actual face to someone is considered a show of intimacy in some circles. You are supposed to wear face coverings for formal events."

"I see." Noctis could see how that worked on a surface level. It also explained why every time he had seen the Niflhiem Nobles they had been wearing their helmets and in full dress.

Ignis on Prompto's other side spoke up with confusion, "Would metal not just make frost bite more of a concern?" he asked, "Metal would be incredibly cold against skin."

"There are thick layers of insulation worn underneath." Prompto explained, still nervous but easing out of it. The conversation was clearly helping. "The metal is more to keep people from getting wind burn. Most wind cuts right through, cloth after all."

Wind burn? Noctis had never heard of such a thing before. He could not see how wind could burn. Especially if it was so cold that it could cause frost bite. Noctis tried to imagine what sort of conditions might cause such a thing... and his imagination fell short. He made a note to look up what it was later.

"How do you tell people apart?" Noctis asked. This had been a question on his mind, ever since they had greeted the arrival of the Niflheim party and he had seen the metallic masks on everyone. "If everyone's face is constantly covered?"

Prompto seemed to think about it for a second, then shrugged, "Their voice. How they stand or act. The mask itself sometimes. People rarely own more than one mask, and within the nobility they go to extra lengths to make them unique. We also often wear other things that mark family relations." Prompto pointed to one of the metal pins on his jacket. A golden one that looked like an upside down dagger. The Imperial sigil. "This, and my red vestments mark me as part of the Aldercapt line. Specifically the heir." Prompto explained, then placed a hand over his stomach. "My belt buckle- do you see how it's a Behemoth? That is my father's family crest. The Besithia family line."

"What does the dragon holding the sword mean?" Noctis pointed to another pin on Prompto's person. That one was also metal, and bigger than the others. It looked sick. Noctis had noticed it first out of all the ones on Prompto's person.

"Oh that one?" Prompto placed a light hand on said decoration. Then smiled cheekily. "It looks cool. Right?"

Noctis could not help but smile back. Astrals. I missed Prompto. Noctis thought, and then frowned. As he felt something turn into water and fall out of his hands. Something on Prompto caught the light, and Noctis' eyes were drawn to the golden ruby pendant Prompto wore around his neck. Noctis wondered if that too was decoration or if it had any significance. Before he could ask though, Noctis was struck with a revelation.

Prompto was wearing ALL of his pins. He was wearing game references, and little cartoony science flasks. There was a homemade button on his lapel which read 'It's a nice day now watch this bastard fuck it up'. A curse word word at the least, if not a low key threat at the worst. Prompto had safety pins lining the cuffs of his jacket sleeves, and along the shoulder seems. Running down his official looking investments.

Prompto had worn the same coat the other day, and he had worn many of the same pins on his suit jacket the day before that. Casual meetings, where Noctis was not bothered by such an odd fashion choice. They were in the Citadel now though- meeting officially. Astrals they were about to go to peace negotiations. Noctis, Gladio and Ignis were all in their full Regallia. Dressed in their black-on-black and gold formal wear. Meanwhile Prompto looked like he had just stumbled out of a convention center with half of the merchandise on his lapel.

Noctis felt his mouth drying up. Thinking about all the political consequences this could have for his friend. As well as what the council would think. No one knew better than Noctis how Insomnia took their formalities seriously. The council were all suckers for tradition. Proper formal clothes had requirements. The dress they wore was very specifically regulated. Ignis' Uncle was even part of the committee which approved or disproved outfits for formal events- that man alone was going to have a heart attack seeing Prompto. Noctis wondered if Prompto would even be ALLOWED into the official meeting chambers... Noctis had shown up once with the wrong colored socks and had been forced to turn around and go change.

"You and the Emperor never wear helmets, I have noticed." Ignis pointed out. What tension the two had between them seemed to be fading as this conversation went on. Their friendship bond proving to be stronger than whatever had come between them. Neither of his friends were openly panicked about the crowd now. Comfortable now in their own little social bubble.

"That is mostly personal preference." Prompto explained, "I don't go outside much to be honest, and so I never really need to wear mine." He tilted his head thoughtfully, "I did not notice that the Emperor doesn't wear his mask much either. Maybe it is for the same reason?"

"That is an interesting hypothesis." Ignis remarked, "What does your mask look like? I would be curious to see it."

Prompto was quiet for a few steps. His expression became somewhat uncertain.

"You can't just go around asking to see another man's mask, Ignis." Gladio teased from the front of their group. "Especially not in public."

Ignis' face turned red and he sputtered, offended that Gladio had turned his question into something so inappropriate. Prompto laughed.

They made into the Meeting Hall of the Citadel shortly afterwards. A large space divided by adjustable wooden panel walls. This was the same meeting hall that the peace negotiations were being held inside. However there was a whole quarter of the wing which had been set up for the Niflhiem party to use. Both as temporary office space, and with a meeting room of their own. Of course none of said space was exactly private. It being open to the vaulted ceiling, and anyone coming down from the second and third floors would be able to look down into the chamber. The Council had to deal with the same conditions every time they met though. So the foreign dignitaries could just deal with it. Noctis led the way through the grid of temporary walls. Guiding Prompto to the center of the Niflhiem section.

When they entered into the main area set aside for the Niflheim Party, it looked like most of everyone was finishing up lunch. The nobles had their helmets off, and were sitting about the room. Two or three to a table, and with Citadel dinning trays scattered around them. Many of them were reading or talking casually. Noctis admittedly had never seen so many people with blonde hair gathered in once place before. Everyone had varying shades of gray to golden yellow. The exception being one woman who had long, braided red hair. Noctis tried not to do a double take and stare. Never having seen such a thing before. Dying one's hair in Insomnia was not really socially acceptable. Especially in the circles of the upper classes that Noctis was surrounded by. The woman's hair color looked natural though- which was even wilder to Noctis. He had never known something like that was possible.

A man stood up from one of the desks when they entered. "You Imperial Highness! Good afternoon." The man greeted, and a good portion of the people in the room turned. When their eyes landed on Prompto they lingered for a bit, then on Noctis' but then everyone went back to doing what they were before. Apparently not finding his arrival too big of a deal.

"Heimdall." Prompto took the lead. Walking up to the man's table. Bringing Noctis, Gladio and Ignis with him. "It is good to see you."

Heimdall was a man of shorter stature. With round shoulders and a square jaw. The man had hair which had turned white from age. As well as hazel colored eyes, which were pinched by crow's feet. If Noctis had to guess the man was probably about as old as Noctis' own father. The helmet resting on his desk was like most of the other Niflheim noble's masks. Silver, with not really a proper face to look at. Heimdall's mask looked like a round sphere, with lines and a design carved into the metal. It kind of reminded Nocis of a giant eyeball. The rectangular slit which he would look out of making it particularly goat-like.

"Welcome as well, Prince Noctis." Heimdall bowed his head, as they approached his table, and he greeted them, "Allow me to formally thank you for hosting us. We are all happy to be here. Looking forward to putting this war behind us." The man spoke with a kind tone, but his words were nothing but hubris. As if it was not Niflheim who had declared war on Lucis. As if they were not the ones who had been attacking their borders relentlessly. Gaining meter after meter of land. Slowly marching towards their capitol and overbearing its people.

"Yes." Noctis swallowed all of these thoughts and smiled politely. Knowing that petty fights were unbecoming of his station. "It is a good thing that we could all meet like this."

"Yes. It is." The man smiled back at him, and Noctis did not like this man one bit. The man knew exactly what he was saying. The buttons he was pushing. From head to toe he was very clearly a manipulative politician with a cruel heart. Noctis would not trust the man as far as he could warp.

"Heimdall is Emperor Aldercapt's personal assistant, and advisor." Prompto introduced the man to them all, "As well as coordinator of all things."

"Not all things." Heimdall corrected Prompto holding up a finger, "Just the important matters. Now." The man placed his hands on the table between them and smiled, "What can I help you young men with?" The man asked, particularly of Prompto. "You don't look like you're here to stay for lunch."

"I had some matters I wanted to discuss with you." Prompto confirmed, "But first and foremost I am looking for my dad. Have you seen him?"

Ignis, beside Noctis tensed. Noctis could feel an anger start to build within his partner. Something that surprised Noctis. He had never known Ignis to have such a quick temper. This anger felt old though. It was far from hot. Rather cold, freezing deep into Ignis' core. Noctis glanced over at his friend, and found Ignis looking up at the candelabra on the wall. As if it had offended him personally.

"You would be better than spotting him than I would." Heimdall pointed this out, as if this were an obvious fact. "I know the Chancellor came with us today, and has been running about. I have no idea where he is though."

"Wait." Gladio spoke up from the back of their group, "You mean Ardyn is just walking around? Unaccompanied? Who authorized that?"

One of the nearby nobles almost laughed but covered their mouth quickly. Another sitting at a different table also seemed to be containing some amusement. Heimdall smiled at Gladio. Showing them a good amount of teeth. "Well that sounds like a Lucian security issue if anything." Heimdall seemed too happy to dig at them given the chance, "Our Chancellor is known for being a free spirit you see."

"Why keep him around then?" Ignis asked coldly.

Heimdall gave Ignis a curious tilt of the head. His expression became someone more serious. As the man picked up on Ignis' mood. Heimdall decided to look at Prompto, and outright ignore Ignis' remark. "If I do see your father I will let him know you wish to speak with him."

Prompto gave Ignis a quick glance then nodded. "Thank you, Heimdall. As for my next question, is the Emperor available?"

"His majesty took his lunch within the green house." Heimdall informed them readily. Apparently the man's location was far from a highly guarded secret. A surprise to Noctis. If anyone casually told someone where Noctis or his father were, the would have been in deep trouble. "He should be available if you stop by."

"I would like too." Prompto informed Heimdall.

"I will text him for you then." Heimdall picked up his phone up off the table. "Anything else?"

"Yes. I need you to run a background check." Prompto looked down at the desk and started searching for something in the papers Heimdall had neatly organized. "On a Loqi Tummelt- He has been part of my guard for this trip."

"Loqi." Heimdall said the name, as if committing it to memory, or jogging one. The man continued to send his text. Without looking up from his phone he opened a binder, grabbed a sheet of paper from a pocket, and handed it to Prompto. The paper was apparently what Prompto needed. He took a pen out from his jacket pocket and started writing. Noctis glanced at the form and could see that Prompto had written across the top 'Notice of Reassignment'. With the rest of the sheet being just a general catch all that one could fill in.

"I want him as a more permanent feature on my security team." Prompto explained, filling out the form, "Potentially as management; he has shown some good potential."

"Hmm." Heimdall made a doubtful noise. He finished sending his text and then set his phone down. "We will see. He is most likely a bastard child. Given his name. One of Lord Loquacious'." Prompto shook his head, "Sometimes I think a significant part our population is just some illegitimate child of that man."

"Well, everyone has their hobbies." Heimdall said very much with the air of 'what can you do?' Once more one of the Nobles behind their group muffled amusement. Their friend whispered something, and the person waved them off. The picked up their metal helmet and put it on. Leaving the area. Heimdall noticed them leave and then looked to Prompto. "I will do a background assessment and interview him for the position. Did you set up a time and date for the interview?"

"Today, around five. After the main meeting." Prompto finished filling out the form. Signing down at the bottom. There was less of a cursive flourish, and more of a mechanical scratching of lines. As Noctis discovered that Prompto signed his signature with his full serial code.

"That will work." Heimdall nodded, he tapped at his phone screen. Opening up a different app and then making a note in a schedule planner. "You will need to be there." Heimdall told Prompto pointedly.

"I will." Prompto promised. Heimdall looked at Prompto long and hard. As if he doubted this. "What? I'm not my Dad." Prompto defended. One of Heimdall's eyebrows raised sharply. Prompto fidgeted like a guilty child, "I will make sure to be there."

"Do so." Heimdall held out his hand. Prompto gave him the form that he had filled out. "Anything else your Highness?" He asked. Going from serious authority figure to helpfully sweet at the flick of a switch.

Prompto thought for a second, "Not at the moment. Did you have anything for me?"

"Here are my morning notes." Heimdall handed him a tablet. Prompto took the electronic book and unlocked the tablet. Apparently already having the password. There was a writing app open on the machine. Prompto scrolled through the notes, a concentrated look on his face. As if he were taking a mental picture of each line. He was to slow to just be scrolling through the words. To fast for him to actually be reading every word. Noctis, watching from the corner of his eye couldn't keep up with the pace at least. After a minute Prompto handed the tablet back to Heimdall, flicking his bangs out of his eyes. "I have no comments."

"It was all pretty standard." Heimdall agreed. Taking back his tablet. He tapped it against the flat of his hand twice before placing the notebook down. "I do have one issue. to bring to your attention."

Prompto adjusted his coat lapels, making sure to stand more professionally and address the issue. For once Promto's overall posture is pretty good. His shoulders actually square, "Go ahead?" Heimdall seems surprised by Prompto's professional response. He gets straight to the point, without commenting on it though. "Your brothers. 60, 58, and 54. Who are coming here to Insomnia?" Prompto's brows pinched. "What about them?"

"There is a flight exclusion zone placed around Insomnia at the moment. Their drop off location has been changed." Heimdall explained.

"I see." Prompto considers this, taking a step back and stroking his chin "To where?"

"A location called Hammerhead." Heimdall informed them. "It is on the main continent, but not too far from Lucis' main west entrance.

Prompto freezes. Ignis and Gladio do as well. Both of them spiking with different emotions, and a healthy mix or surprise. Like hearing the name had reminded them of something. Noctis looked between all of his friends. Wondering why the place would cause such a reaction. What was so special about Hammerhead? His father's friend, Cid, lived in Hammerhead. Noctis had heard a lot of stories about the place from his father.

Prompto cleared his throat to reset himself, "I am aware of it." For some reason this response had Gladio inhaling sharply. Noctis feels something building in Gladio. It is fear. Something sharp and winding. Like a rose push pushing out of the ground and reaching up with it's thorny vines. Gladio takes a full step away from Prompto starring at him, eyes wide. Noctis looks to Gladio with concern. Gladio looks like he is two seconds away from bolting away outright. Ignis feels the emotion as well. He frowns and glances at Gladio, then turns back as Prompto speaks. "Did you arrange transport for them yet?"

"The Chancellor did." Heimdall nodded. Both the man and Prompto unaware of the fear slowly tangling itself within the connection Noctis, Ignis and Gladio share. Noctis had never felt anything like it before. "He is the one who set up the exclusion zone. He coordinated with the Admiral to adjust the flight parameters."

"Good." Prompto agrees thoughtfully, then asks, "Has anyone called Hammerhead's proprietor?"

Gladio's fear has taken root. Noctis can feel the big guy withdrawing into himself. Noctis reaches out and places a hand on Gladio's arm. He sends a silent question through their connection. Gladio shakes his head, and mentally pushes Noctis away. Always wanting to deal with issues himself, and not ask for help. Noctis sets his jaw into a square and squeezes Gladio's arm. He makes Gladio look at him. Communicating unhappy Noctis is at Gladio's avoidance. Gladio looks at him, and then nervously looks back to Prompto. Then up at the ceiling. Guilt blooms across the vines growing inside of Gladio. Like he is realizing that he should be doing something, or saying something. Yet the fear entangling him is preventing him from wanting too. Noctis has never felt something like this happen before. Not just with Gladio, but with any of them. He doesn't understand where any of it is coming from either.

Heimdall seems confused, "No? Why?"

"A Niflheim Ship landing unannounced? In what is still Lucian territory?" Prompto paints the picture, "The people of Hammerhead are toug. They might see the landing as a threat, and act accordingly."

Ignis is looking at Gladio with concern as well. When he sees that Noctis is handling it, he turns back to the conversation playing out before them. "Perhaps we should give them a call then?" Ignis suggests, "give them a heads up?"

Prompto looks to Ignis reaching or his phone, "Do... do you have Cindy's number?" He asks quietly.

Who is Cindy? Noctis thinks, and then feels the thoughts tumble out of his hand, like water. Noctis mentally curses. Realizing that the situation is slipping away from him. Literally. Gladio steps away and makes Noctis let go of his arm.

Ignis frowns then shakes his head, taking out his phone. "No. I can look up the shop number. But we both know Cindy and Cid do not answer caller IDs that they do not recognize..."

"Takka will answer his phone." Prompto says with certainty. "I have his number memorized. If it is still the same one."

Heimdall looks between Ignis and Prompto. An eyebrow raised. "Who is Cindy? or this Takka?" he asks. Ignis tenses, and then openly glares at the man. As if he should mind his own business. Even though they were having this conversation right in front of the man. Before the whole Niflhiem Party. Noctis gives the room a warry once over. Some of the nobles are paying attention. Most of them are minding their own business though, or pretending too.

Prompto looked to Heimdall, and explained, "It is some of my father's bull- you know his stuff." Prompto kept himself from cursing at the very last second. Everyone knew what he was about to say though. more than a few nobles looked over. Surprised or offended. "I will fill you in later."

Heimdall blinks, and then gives Prompto a considering look. "I see. Interesting."

Wait. He knows?! Noctis realized with more than just surprise. Interpreting Heimdall's lack of surprise. How? How did this seemingly insignificant man know about whatever the memory enchantment was? Okay that went a little too far. If Heimdall was the Emperor's assistant, then he was kind of like Ignis. Not a royal but very much in the loop. Still, they had only become aware of this issue two days ago though. When Ignis had gotten his memories back. How was Heimdall almost expecting this then?!

Noctis watched how the man appraised Prompto with fresh eyes. As if having to reevaluate him. He was also looking at Ignis with the same curious look. Hiemdall looked over at Gladio and Noctis in the back of the group. They made eye contact. There was a silent exchange which happened. As they both recognized what was being put onto the table.

"Ignis, you should make the call." Prompto suggested, "Since you're with Lucis. You could just be informing them of the arrangements- you know?" Ignis agreed to this, and started dialing the number Prompto gave him.

"Hello. My name is Ignis Scientia. I am an advisor of the Crown Prince Noctis Lucis Calem the 14th. Trying to get in contact with Mr. Bradham, of Takka's Pitstop?" Ignis spoke into the phone, "Yes. I am wondering if you have a moment please? I have an urgent matter which Cid Sophiar, and Hammerhead should be made aware of. I elected to contact you. Knowing how neglected the Hammerhead Station phone is kept to those not of Cid's immediate acquaintance." Ignis paused to listen to the phone. He turned to the side. Chuckling. "Yes. It quite a lot of names and titles." Noctis could feel amusement build inside of Ignis. Which was such a stark contrast to Gladio's entanglement of fear.

Noctis took a moment to check in with the big guy, who just shook his head and waved him off again. Noctis didn't know what to do. They clearly needed to talk in private. He feared they would not get a chance to do so for a while.

"Believe it or not, I don't. I'm not a royal myself. I just cook for one." Ignis said with good humor. He looked over, and gave them all a wink. Telling them that he had the situation handled. Noctis was surprised by Ignis' smooth handling of the small talk, and what he could assume was some rather rude remarks about his position. Usually Ignis would be frustrated or annoyed by such a conversation. Ignis was usually very straight to the point and precise. This time however he seemed more than happy to exchange words and banter with with 'Takka' or whoever he was talking too. Noctis watched as the conversation continued. It almost seemed like... like Ignis was talking to an old friend.

I have no idea what is going on anymore. Noctis despaired. Ignis and Prompto were working on a situation, but Noctis did not fully understand what it was they were doing, or how they were going to handle things. Gladio was walling himself off with a wall of thorns. Flowers emitting the heavy scent of guilt as he seemed to be consciously isolating himself. Which was the last thing Noctis wanted.

Frustration built up inside of him. This damn memory enchantment was going to drive him mad. Outside the Citadel thunder rumbled, and lightning traced across the sky. Noctis preferred to have information before acting on something. It was the basic principle he acted on. Yet here he was. Unable to gain any information, and unable to understand what his friends were going through. Unable to be of help to any of them.

"Pardon me." A female voice spoke up. "But would his Imperial Highness be able to speak for a moment?"

Noctis turned at the word 'highness' even though he was not the one being addressed. There was a Niflheim noble standing on the fringe of their group. They had put on their helmets once more and fixed their robes. Looking presentably official. Their helmet was shaped like a chess piece. With two distinct tiers at the top. Wrapped around the main tier was a band of plated gold and jewels, with beaded threads hanging down to create a fringe. At the end of each of these threads was a 500 piece Gill coin. The Highest currency coin currently in print. Hanging such that with any slight movement of the woman's head, money could be heard jingling as if it were in a purse. How she had approached them without making any sort of noise was beyond impressive. Prompto stepped back and then around Noctis. "Chief Fincial. What can I help you with?"

"If you have the time. There was something I wished that perhaps you could assist me with?" The woman asked carefully holding up a vanilla folder. Noctis new that tone. This woman was clearly up to something. Noctis looked around the room, and saw that more than a few of the nobles were watching this exchange. Yeah. This was definitely a test or something.

Prompto looked to Heimdall. As if to ask what he should do. The Emperor's Advisor who only offered for Prompto to do as he pleased. Indicating that it was Prompto's decision to talk to the woman or not. Prompto turned back to the Chief, whom Noctis assumed was in charge of some sort of financial division. Given her ensemble. "Okay. What do you need help with?" Prompto asked. Noctis winced. That was way to casual of a response.

"I received the budget request for the next quarter." Chief Fincial explained pretending to look over the files. How she could see anything outside of her helmet was a mystery to Noctis. The only slit in the front of her helmet was a thin, ornate cross. "Which includes Chief Besithia's request for the labs. Now, I admit that I am a better economist than a scientist. I know that before joining us, you were involved in such studies? I hope that perhaps your majesty can give me some context for these financial requests?"

"Oh? Sure. Yeah. I can do that." Prompto held out a hand. Upon hearing Prompto's casual response Noctis, behind Prompto, wanted to face palm. Ignis, behind Noctis, DID face palm. Resting the flat of his free hand onto his forehead. He then turn around continuing to speak into his phone with Takka. Not able to watch the train wreck playing out in front of him.

Prompto was clearly still very much learning how to do politics, and it was tooth-pulling agony for all the more experience of them to watch him fumble to those experienced in it.

Chief Fincial handed Prompto the folder with all the cool grace expected of a noble. Even though her face was covered, everyone could tell that she was pleased. Her plan to put the new Imperial Heir on the spot working flawlessly.

Noctis watched anxiously. Outwardly keeping his face neutral. Clear of any emotions. This was a Niflheim matter, not a Lucian one. Any help he could offer would only harm Prompto's reputation. Prompto, seemingly oblivious to all of this, opened the folder and looked at the papers inside. Reading quickly. He flipped to the next page faster than anyone should have been able too. Speed reading it just like he had Heimdall's reports. Noctis could see from where he was standing the papers briefly. More specifically the numbers. That was... that was a lot of money. Niflheim worked in Gil too. So the numbers would be different from Yen. Noctis tried to remember what the conversion rate was and fumbled on the mental math. Not ending up with a specific number, but it was a LOT though.

Prompto spent two seconds on each page. Then closed the file. He paused for just a second, then asked. "So what do you not understand?"

"What I do not understand is why the R&D budget expenses have jumped quite so drastically this quarter." Chief Fincial tilted her head to the side. Causing an avalanche of coins to fall, "It is nearly three times as much as last quarter. Which was already substantially higher."

Prompto seemed to finally pick up on the woman's ulterior intentions. He leaned his head back at her tone. Looking at the woman as if he were actually perceiving her for the first time. There was a long period where Prompto just looked at the woman. Not a good look on Prompto's part. It showed everyone that she had managed to catch him off guard. Something you never wanted to admit as a political leader.

Prompto moved, and it was like some sort of spell was broken. Because what happened next cascaded faster than a stack of dominoes. "Most of this will be allocated into the Lucian acquisition. Developing teams, and then sending them on research expeditions." Prompto spoke clearly and with purpose. A clinical base line to his tone. "Setting up facilities and paying for equipment."

"Did you read the Stage Three to Four Report?" Prompto threw the question at the woman. Returning the ball to her court.

"I did." Chief Fincial affirmed confidently.

"Review it again." Prompto told the woman flatly, and handed her back her file. "Write any concerns or questions you still have in a report and turn it into to me. I promise I will reply to your concerns as promptly as I can." Prompto ordered with a very clear no-arguments tone. He then tilted his head to the side, "Did you need anything else?"

Chief Fincial took back her file. Holding it infront of her with two hands. "I did not your highness." The woman bowed, coins cascading past her ears. "Thank you for your time." She backed away, then went back to a table. Sitting alone. Noctis could not tell if she was satisfied with Prompto's response or not. Her helmet obscuring any sort of facial reaction. Many of the bobles watched her go. Other continued to watch their new Prince. Sharks in the water. The lot of them.

"Did anyone else have any issues they wished to resolve?" Prompto asked the room. Noctis resisted the urge to grab his friend, cover his mouth and drag him out of the room. Drawing attention to himself was the LAST thing Prompto should have been doing. All of the nobles who had been watching shook their heads and turned back to what they were doing.

Prompto waited a beat. "Alright then." He turned and slapped a hand on Heimdall's desk, "I am going to go speak with the Emperor. I will be back for the talks this afternoon."

"I look forward to you joining us, your Highness." Heimdall bowed. He kept his tone and face neutral. Noctis had nonidea what the man thought of the test just thrown Prompto's way.

Prompto turned to leave the room. Noctis quickly followed, as did Ignis. Gladio brought up the rear.

Prompto glance back as they left earshot of the room. "So How did the talk with Takka go?" Prompto asked Ignis.

They were in the maze of temperary walls which divided up the meeting hall. The same chamber that the Council meetings were held in, as well as the peace treaty negotiations.

"He got me on the phone with Cid." Ignis informed them all, "They agreed not to open fire on the ship before it finished landing. Which is about as good as one can get." Ignis grimaced, "I am afraid from there your... you call them brothers? Will have to do all the work to endear themselves to the good people of the Station."

"Oh that is perfect!" Prompto brightened encouragingly, "60's great at talking with people. He will have them eating out of his hand the seconds after he gets off the ship." Prompto slowed as they came to an intersection between the temperary walls of the meeting hall. He put his hands on his hips and looked around. "I have no idea where the green house is. I had no idea there even was a green house, to be honest."

"So... you have your memories back." Gladio spoke up from the back of the group. The barrier of thorns encasing the big guy were blooming with guilt.

Prompto fixed his eyes onto Gladio. He smiled, "That's right big guy, I'm back!"

Gladio smiled, But it did not reach his eyes. "Yeah. Good to see you too."

"Gladio... are you alright?" Ignis asked carefully. He had not been able to say anything, dealing with the call to Hammerhead. He reached out tentativley towards Gladio. Careful not to get poked by any of the thorns.

"It's alright. I'm fine." Gladio took a step away from Ignis and looked away.

"That's right. They don't know." Prompto said thoughtfully. He was crossing his arms. Giving their largest party member an apprasing look.

"Don't know what?" Noctis asked, even though he knew that whatever it was would just fall through his fingers. This blasted memory enchantment. Noctis was ready to be through with it.

"..." Prompto was debating telling them. He looked at them all, and then at Gladio. Arms crossed and leaning back on his back foot.

Gladio was pulling out the puppy dog eyes. Silently pleading Prompto to not address the issue. Something which probably meant it needed to be done. Gladio always put more work into hidding how much he needed help. Rather than just asking for it.

"I think it's something we should discuss in private." Prompto eventually settled on his decision. "Just me and Gladio, I mean."

Noctis felt a whole mix of feelings hearing that. Above them the sky rumbled and the winds picked up. Cold- despite it being summer. In a desert climate. "I dont think that keeping secrets between all of us is the best course of action, Prom."

"It's not a secret." Prompto moved his hands to his hips. "Its a private matter. Those are two entirely separate issues." Prompto argued.

Ignis scoffed with derision. "You clearly have picked up a thing or two from your new fathers."

"Thanks!" Prompto smiled at Ignis. There was nothing kind about his tone. It almost felt like he was rubbing something into Ignis' face.

Ignis scowled angrily. "That was not a compliment."

"Oh. I can assure you I am FULLY aware of what signals you are giving me." Prompto took a step toward Ignis. Hands still on his hips. They were face to face now.

"Guys!" Noctis stepped between the two. "Stop. I will not have you two fighting like this."

Both of them backed off. Noctis looked for help from his fourth partner. Gladio was still standing off to the side. Wrapped up in his own worries. This was a mess. Ignis and Prompto were mixing like fire and ice. He just... he just wanted them to get along.

Above them the lights flickered. All of the ones in the Citadel did, actually. Like the whole building was expediting some kind of power surge. Only none of the building ran off electricity. The crystal powered everything. Noctis wasn't sure what would cause such a thing to happen. He frowned. Was it reacting to him? It might be. However it felt diffrent... was his dad doing something?

"Let's just put a pin in this for now." Noctis suggested to them all. "Prompto. You said that you still needed to talk to the Emperor? Lets go do that."

Prompto looked past Noctis to Ignis. "Yeah. Let me go introduce you guys to my Grandpapa." Prompto suggested hotly.

Ignis looked about ready to summon a dagger. More likley a mean remark though. Noctis held up a hand and then pointed a finger to his partner's face. Before Ignis could speak. "No. No snide comments from now on." He put his foot down. "From either of you." Noctis turned to Prompto. "I will NOT have you two bickering like children."

Both of them glared at Noctis. Noctis glared right back. Prompto broke first, avoiding eye contact somewhat guilty. Meaning he had known exactlywhat he had been doing. Ignis huffed and looked away as well. Noctis continued standing between them. Making sure they were all good.

"Right. The green house is this way." Noctis pointed, and then led the team forward.

[groovytimetravelflower]

Not Just a Feeling Ch. 16

Don't forget to Reblog to share with others. You can read the whole story HERE on A03.

Summary:

Prompto takes a few hours to process the memories that he has regained. As well as contemplate the differences between his past life and his current life. Song: "Take a Walk" By Passion Pit

Ch. 16: Take a Walk

Prompto walked away from his old house. Wandering down memory lane. Literally. Everything looked familiar. Yet Prompto was seeing everything for the first time. It was like he was walking through a dream.

Prompto looked at the homes where people lived in peace and solitude. Wondering if the same people still lived there. The old woman in that house, and the man who worked as a mechanic in this other one. He had two boys, whom Prompto used to walk to school with. Almost everyone was at work at this time of morning. Meaning that everything was quiet. Peaceful. No one here had to worry about demons lurking around every corner. The cold reality of the sun being gone. The uncertainty of how long their supplies would last.

A nondescript black vehicle pulled up to his side. The window lowering. Revealing the two Niflheim guards who had followed him from the hotel. The one driving was the more reserved. He had taken off his helmet to drive. Revealing a shaved head and meticulously trimmed chin strap beard. His eyes were hidden by dark sunglasses. Which only added onto his stern appearance.

"Your Imperial Highness?" The driver asked. Saying nothing more, but his intention was clear. Prompto had not gone back immediately to the car after leaving the house. Which was against their prior plans. When Prompto had asked them to bring him here, and wait outside until he was ready to return back to the hotel.

Prompto exhaled. "I still need to clear my head. I'm going to walk. Follow me at a distance. If I need assistance, I will pull my safety alarm." Prompto indicated to the safety key chain that Loqi had given him. A pull-tab that would sound a silent alarm and send out his GPS location to their system.

"Understood." The man nodded, "Would you like a plains clothes escort?"

"Do we have anyone in plains clothes?" Prompto knew there were only two men in the car. Both of whom were wearing the full armor required of the Imperial Guard.

The driver looked over to his companion. Who had also taken off their helmet. Revealing bright red hair, which was pulled back into a ponytail. Both things that were very much against regulations. The man had the greenest eyes Prompto had ever seen, though. As well as crescent tattoos under each of his eyes. Making them even more striking.

The bald man looked back to Prompto. "He can strip."

"Hey!" The red-headed guard bristled with offense. Then shoved at the driver's shoulder. "Rude! Don't volunteer someone else! What do you even think I got on under here anyway? A three-piece suit?" The man gestured down to his armor. "It's hot as hell out here. I'd get arrested for indecency."

The two began to squabble. Prompto found the exchange amusing. He had to remind himself not to get too endeared towards them however. The Emperor was always talking about keeping a professional air about himself. Even when no one else at the time was being so. If Prompto wasn't serious about his position. Then no one would take him seriously when it came to important matters. Prompto reached out. placing a hand on the car's window seal. Which got both men's attention. "I don't think a plain guard will be necessary. Thank you for the offer though."

"Hey." The red-headed guard leaned over the driver. Holding up a hand, before pointing. "We'll give you as much space as we can, your Imperial Majesty."

"Thanks." Prompto gave a grateful smiled.

Prompto walked. His feet treading the familiar path of his past life's morning jog. Out the side of his neighborhood and along the water retention park. The black car slowly following him off to the side. Prompto looked up towards the sun. Raising a hand up to keep it from blinding him. He remembered that he had mechanical eyes now. So he adjusted his retinas to pinpricks. Like a camera lens focusing. Even at the lowest setting made the sun a round sphere about as bright as a lamp bulb. Something he still couldn't look at directly.

Prompto could feel its warmth though. The thermal radiation it gave off. Which traveled across the void of space to reach them. It was something which felt alien to Prompto. In many ways. In this life time he had grownup in Niflheim's Primary Research Facility. Which was an underground bunker. Rarely did he ever surface and see the sun in person. If the sun was even present when he did go above ground. Graela being cursed as it was with eternal snow storms.

In Prompto's past life, he had not seen the sun for the last ten years of his life. The only warmth one could find was by sitting close to a fire, or with another person. In his past life, he had long forgotten what the sun felt like. How it blanketed everything with its light. How it provided warmth to everything it touched.

There was a magic to the sun's presence. Prompto, now with his own magic, was more attuned to detecting such things. The Sun's rays were infused with a power that reminded him of a phoenix down- but it was ten times more potent. Like the sun radiated the very essence of life itself.

This must be what burns away the demons. Prompto realized. Contemplating the sensation. It wasn't unpleasant. Not any more unpleasant than the Sun's light and heat could be on an average day. Prompto was a bit intimidated by how powerful the magic was though. It felt as concentrated as a directed spell. Even though the sun was casting it's presence over an incredibly vast space. 360 degrees, in all directions... and not to mention the distance in between their planet and its sun.

Prompto lowered his hand. Looking away from the sun, and instead to the world it illuminated around him. The downtown portion of Insomnia was glittering above him in the distance. The tall buildings catching the sunlight and reflecting it back towards him. sloping up hill and getting taller and taller- until at the highest point the tallest building of them all sat with its four towers. A beam of light shooting up into the sky. Creating a shimmering barrier over the walled city.

All of this had been destroyed. Everything. After Noctis had been taken away. Insomnia well before that. Cor had told him about the efforts he had been making to help the city recover after the attack. With volunteers, and what was left of the Crowns Guard. The Marshal had confided in Prompto about how bad things had been. About the mass graves they had to dig outside each of the city gates. The demons that lurked in the buildings during the day, and swarmed out come night fall.

"Morning." A man with heavy muscles jogged by Prompto at a steady pace. Raising up a hand and continuing on without missing a step.

"Oh. Morning." Prompto replied almost on instinct. He stopped, and stared after the jogger, who continued on. Oblivious to the conflict brewing in Prompto's stomach. As he wondered if the man had survived, or ended up in an open pit within the desert sands.

Prompto kept walking. He visited all of his old haunts. The school he and Noctis had attended. The nearby arcade that the two of them liked to frequent. The sushi shop that Noctis had worked at after moving out of the citadel. Wanting to live as independently as possible. The photography store that Prompto had worked at up until his enlistment into the Crown Guard. Selling cameras and other electronic gadgets to people.

Prompto walked. Taking things in. Trying to clear the static that was filling his mind.

Everything Prompto saw made him feel conflicted. Prompto remembered these places. However, he no longer felt like they were a part of him anymore. Even before his death, they had been distant memories. Almost everything in Insomnia was something he had known he would never see again. Things he had already moved on from.

When Prompto had left on that trip to Altissia with Noctis, he had just been opening a new chapter of his life. As a fully fledged Crowns Guard Prompto was spending more time at the Citadel than anywhere else. Gladio and Prompto had been bouncing the idea of them moving in with each other. Gladio so that he could stretch a little bit more as an adult, and Prompto so that he could be closer to his work and not be constantly asking Ignis for car rides.

When they had left for Altissia, and then Insomnia had fallen. Prompto considered himself lucky. Because the only people and things he had cared about were still at his side. His new life became traveling with his buds across Eos. The Regalia becoming the closest thing they had to an actual home. Not to say that he had not shared in his friends grief for the loss of their old home. Just that to Prompto, it felt like he was already going to lose those things anyway.

When Noctis had been taken, that had hit Prompto incredibly hard. The only reason for him to keep going had been taken away from him. Then he soon found himself being the reason for his remaining friends to keep going on. Ignis had used to say that a lot, when they were alone. That Prompto was his new sun. Which was a lot of pressure to put on someone, but it also secretly made Prompto incredibly happy. That for once that Ignis could depend on him for something.

The three of them, Ignis, Gladio and himself, had become incredibly close after Noctis left. Sticking even closer to each other than before. With Gladio finally being the one to break the tension and make them an official thing. Asking them both to please stay with him. Their relationship was something that they all could take comfort in. Though they were all still miserable without Noctis. Their missing piece.

Life was bearable, until everything had fallen apart. When rioters in Lestallum killed Ignis and Monica. Prompto vividly recalled when they returned to town after a much needed supply run. Appalled to see two corpses hanging from the city's welcoming sign. Both of them people he cared about dearly. Glaido had gone off the rails after that. In a way that made his outbursts after Altissia look like a mild reaction. Prompto hadn't the heart to stop him. He gently took down the bodies, while Gladio rampaged. By the time the swordsman had everything out of his system Lestallum was past the point of no return. The energy reactors had fallen. There was no one left alive who could fix them- and with the lights out, the demons were descending upon the city in droves. Anyone who did not make it out of the city that day died.

They had taken the supplies they had procured, and everything they had on them out to Hammerhead. Burying Ignis and Monica inside one of the royal tombs along the way. Prompto had built a memorial for them at Hammerhead. Which consisted of print outs of as many pictures of the two that he could find, and candles that Cindy supplied for him.

After the dust had settled Gladio had decided to take the fight to Ardyn directly. Prompto had tried to reason with him. Saying that all the scouting parties they had sent out to Cavaugh so far had never returned. That the two of them alone would not be enough. When that didn't work he begged and pleaded for Gladio to stay. Something the shield refused to do. Walking off into the darkness towards Insomnia with a purpose. Only to reappear a few weeks later as the most powerful demon any of them had ever seen.

Gladio was still humanoid, and even looked recognizable like himself. However, his skin had turned dark, his fingers had curled into claws. In human fangs were visible in his mouth. His tattoo had turned into actual wings- but instead of feathers the wings were made out of ivy and flowers. Vines that he could grab and lash out with surprising devastation. He was found roaming the eastern edge of Liede. Near the bridge to Insomnia. Guarding a field of eerie glowing flowers. Which he grew off the corpses of those he killed.

Gladio had not even made it into the city before becoming infected. Supporting Cor's theory that the black foggy miasma surrounding Insomnia was indeed impenetrable without whatever powers Noctis would be granted by the crystal.

They could not just leave Gladio like that; so they all gathered as one to take down what had become of Gladio. Prompto loading up a prototype flare he had been working on. Which would cast artificial sunlight in a large area. Hopefully killing weaker demons, and impeding stronger ones. Their hearts bleeding at the horror their loved one had become. Especially since, for just a moment, Gladio seemed to recognize them. Folding his wings behind him and walking towards them non-threateningly. Until he realized that the were armed. Which was when he became defensive. It had been a hell of a fight. Prompto didn't know if it was poetic that Iris had been the one to inflict the killing blow or not. Prompto was glad it was her though. Prompto did not know for certain if he would have been able to take the shot if it was down to him.

They settled in Hammerhead, and kept the area safe from demons. However, soon humans also became something they had to look out for. With out a singular light to flock to. People became just about as dangerous as the demons. As they last of humanity fought over Havens and resources like starving dogs. Mostly because they were starving that desperately. Without the sun, no crops could grow. Unless there was electricity to produce artificial light. Which became a beacon to everyone for miles. Attracting desperate people and hungry mouths, who took and ate everything in their paths. Snuffing out whatever light did appear.

Prompto and his team managed to escape most of the chaos. By going to the remotest location they could find- the top of Mt. Ravatok. Prompto had once scaled the volcano with Noctis to reach a royal tomb. No one else had known that there was a Haven at the summit. Easily accessible thanks to Areana's ship, and the difficult terrain was enough to deter anyone trying to climb up to them. Much less the lava flows.

They dropped in in supplies they had salvaged, and set up a small settlement. Intending to still wait things out. Just for as long as it took for Noctis to come back. If he ever did come back. Cor, Prompto, Aranea and Iris ended up having to kill the Xu which lived at the summit. So that they could have a bit more room for growing crops. The tall nest walls of the bird kept people from seeing their electric growing lights from afar. The large amount of bird meat had not been unwelcome. Thankfully Prompto's armiger still worked and could store large amounts of things, without fear of it going bad. With their set up of growing plants within the bird nest, and the secluded nature of the Haven. The lot of them could survive for as long as it took for Noctis to come back. The one regret Prompto had was that Cindy and Talcott had refused to leave Hammerhead, and he had let them.

Seven years.

Prompto had spent seven years slowly coming to terms with the fact that he was the only one of their four still remaining. Mourning both of his lovers, and still yearning to reconnect with Noctis. Aranea had quickly given into apathy. She was more about practical survival, rather than waiting for some fabled rescue. However, Prompto Cor and Iris had never given up hope.

Sometimes hope was the only thing that kept them going, in that long darkness. Even in the end, Prompto had never given up on the hope that Noctis would return. Especially as one by one he lost everyone who was still left.

Iris had died suddenly from an air ship crash. She and Aranea had gone out to collect water, pretty much the only thing which was not readily available for them on the mountain. The red air ship had worn down over the years, Something inside of it gave out. Sending them crashing into the vesper pool. It had been a nasty affair.

Aranea had been in the same crash, but had survived. Iris had not been wearing her safety restraints, and her head had smashed into the front of the craft. Aranea never got over this. She suffered greatly from survivor's guilt. Saying that she had been the captain on the flight. If she had just made sure that Iris had been strapped in properly. If she had done the proper checks and caught the problem early. If, if, if. It eventually got to her so badly that she ended up taking a walk. Cor and Promto had woken up to find her bed roll cold, and a note on their camp table. Her lance planted firmly in the ground next to Iris' grave. She had walked off into the dark of Eos with no intention of ever coming back.

That had left Cor and Prompto by themselves. Shaken and grieving. Cor had suffered greatly from the wounds Glaido had given him. He had lost an arm, and there were no medical professionals left that could take care of the amputated limb properly. Most of their remaining curatives and antidotes had gone to him. Until he had refused to take anymore, and lived in constant pain. Cursing how slowly the process was the entire time. His supposed 'immorality' keeping him going. What killed the Marshal in the end was a sickness. It started out as both of them having stomach cramps, and then not being able to keep down food or water. Cor because of his already injured state got it much worse than Prompto did. The two of them were well out of medicine by that point, and both of them were too weak to leave the encampment. Not that there was likely to be any left.

It had been miserable. Both of them knowing that they were probably going to die from fever and lack of fluids, but not being able to do anything about it. Prompto still remembered waking up from his fever. Only to find that Cor had passed during the night. Sleeping next to him in the same tent they had been sharing for over five years at that point. Prompto, still sick, had used the last of his energy to take the man out of the camp and bury him properly. Collapsing shortly afterwards.

Everything was fuzzy after that. Prompto was fairly sure that he hallucinated things for a short period. He swore that he might have seen Ardyn at some point. Or someone who looked like Ardyn taking care of him. Which didn't make much sense. However, the fact that Ardyn had given Prompto his old camera gave some evidence to this. Seeing as Prompto had left the camera in their camp. Prompto wasn't sure why Ardyn would have been there though. Since the cursed man had no reason to be on the volcano. Or to even care about Prompto at that point.

Prompto walked around Insomnia in a daze. As he took in its sights, and the people. He was standing in a city that should have been dead. In a world that he had witness peace by piece. Prompto should have been dead himself. Prompto and Cor had spoken about it with each other. The first night they realized they needed proper medication, but there was no way for them to get such a thing. They had both given each other their final confessions. Prompto is pretty sure he remembered dying as well. Letting everything go and then... Yes. Prompto was fairly sure that he had died.

Prompto was alive however. So was Cor. Prompto had seen him the other day at the trial. Gladio, and Ignis and Noctis had been with him just hours ago. They were all ALIVE. Some how. Some way.

Was this a new world? A new life? One of those? or both? Things were mostly the same, but things were different as well. There were a lot of things which had changed. Prompto had been raised in Niflheim for one. By people who were supposed to be the' bad guys'. However, Prompto could hardly think of them like that anymore.

Prompto's mind twisted with what had been, and what was now. As a part of him was still angry at the memories of his Verstael's notes in his past life. Which conflicted with the love Prompto felt for the man currently. In Prompto's mind it was almost like they were two completely different people. Except they weren't. Verstael Bestia had a lot of personality- and said personality over flowed into his notes and voice recordings. He was still the same narcissistic, self-aggrandizing scientist. Maybe the difference was Prompto. He no longer saw the man as a stranger. He could read into his father's tone, his words and inflections. Prompto understood that his Father worshiped Ardyn much like Prompto worshiped Cindy in his past life. Like his brothers did Aranea in this life. Another thing that ran in the family. Apparently.

When Prompto thought back to all of Verstael's notes and recordings from the before. He no longer felt disgust at what the man had done. The contempt that his past self had held for the scientist. No, all Prompto could think of was how .happy his father sounded. Which in turn made Prompto happy- because he cared about his father. Which made the fact that in his past life Verstael had been talking about turning humans into demonic weapons all the more disturbing.

Though, Verstael had not been doing much of that in this life time. In the previous time line Verstael Bestia had mostly based his research in creating demons, or demon based weapons for war. He had no such projects in this life though. Prompto had been raised in the man's labs. His father didn't have a back log of giant demon weapons, or prisons full of people he was turning into demons. No, most of the individual research Verstael had pushed in this life time had been in regards to containing the scourge. As well as educating people about it. All of Niflheim's citizens knew that the demons and the scourge were a virus. With a life cycle and different stages. With there being education efforts in all occupied zones to make sure that people knew that the demons were not some magical phenomena to write off: They were a global sized virus which needed to be handled seriously.

Verstael Bestia, with Ardyn Izunia as his shadow lab partner, had been the one to identify these stages and come up with proper containment protocols. He had been working on and around the subject for nearly fifty years now. Being the leader in all things demonic, scourge or otherwise related. With the creation of a vaccine for the first stage being finally created not but twenty years ago. Which was huge. Especially when the only thing which had been able to disperse the disease up until that point had been the Oracle's magic.

Which was great, and might have made a good argument for his Father becoming one of the 'good guys'. However, Prompto knew that all this had been on on top of Verstael still inventing the MTs. Mass-producing them for war. For creating other clones and doing other human experimentation. Verstael was still a cold calculating man. He was not the best father- Verstael often fell short of being emotionally available. However at least he was present in his son's lives. Compared to the neglect and absence of both Argentums in his past life.

Or was that just Prompto dismissing the man's flaws, so that he could have the man's approval? He was fairly sure that Prompto was splitting hairs here. He was officially down for the worst parents ever. In both this life and the last life. On one hand his current ones literally had brought about the end of the world. On the other hand he had been abandoned by the Argentums before he was a teenager.

This was the sort of dichotomy that had Promto's mind filled with static. His head feeling like a knot of crossed wires. Which he attempted to sort out as he walked aimlessly around Insomnia. Looking at familiar yet strange sights, muttering to himself, and getting the occasional odd look from people.

Prompto eventually found a window outside of a bank. The building being sleek and modern, it had a reflective tint on it. Which acted as a functional mirror. "I need to ask you a question." He requested his reflection. A person passing by gave him a strange look, but Prompto ignored them.

His reflection shifted. Becoming darker, burnt. Ifrit was something entirely new to this life time. As Prompto had never seen the Astral in his previous life. On Noctis' journey they had only encountered four of the six. Five, if you believed the folk myths that Bahamut existed within the crystal. The Infernal Betrayer was one that they never encountered, however. Ignis had reports that the Astral had been asleep in Mt. Ravatog. However no one in the area seemed to know anything about that. Since the Mt. Ravatog location was more of a hunting post than a civilian settlement. Not even the tipster had known if or if not that information was good. The Astral had also not made themselves known when they had climbed the mountain. So Prompto had no idea what roll the out-casted God had played in the previous time line.

"Of course my Spark." Ifrit said to him. His words rumbling in the back of Prompto's chest. The same backwards sounding speech that all the other Astrals seemed to use. Something he couldn't understand in his previous life time. "Ask of me anything you need."

"Do they care?" Prompto asked a little fearful of what answer he would receive. "My fathers, I mean."

Ifrit's expression softened. It was the same face that Prompto himself wore. Which should have been weird. Except it wasn't. Because Prompto had grown up surrounded by people who had the exact same face as him. Then he had been talking to his reflections, and Ifrit since he was six or seven. Something this uncanny, which would have been a nightmare in his past life, was now something Prompto found grounding. It was something he was familiar with. It was strange to realize how unusual it was- while also feeling like it was an every day occurrence.

"Of course they do." Ifrit told him, "Your fathers are a bit... unusual in how they show such things. However, they love you and your siblings all very much."

Prompto couldn't help but snort. Feeling as if 'unusual' barley scratched the surface of their family. Ifrit's answer helped him straighten out most of the entanglement in mind. It gave him a singular cord to follow. Prompto felt the static in his mind ease. The anxiety in his stomach settling. None of it had been a lie then. Verstael was still his Father. Ardyn was still his Dad. The Emperor was his Grandfather. Prompto had parents- parents who had not decide to abandoned him. In this life at least.

"What is going on here? Have we gone back in time? Or is this a reincarnation?" Prompto felt like that was the next most important question to ask next. Looking at the city reflected behind Ifrit. Which Prompto remembered being destroyed for the last third of his life.

"It leans more towards a reset." Ifrit explained, "Ardyn is the one who cast the spell. After your death, and before Noctis could fulfill his destiny. He did not so much as turn back the clock; but force it to return to a certain point. So artifacts of what has happened still remain. Such as your memories. There are other inconsistencies, you will find."

"Why do it at all?" Prompto asked with confusion. "I thought that Dad- I mean Ardyn- had gotten what he wanted. A world of ruin and the end of the world?" Prompto could not keep the uncertain tone out of his voice. He did not know what Ardyn had wanted in the previous time line. He only had a few pieces of evidence and some heavy speculation. For all that Ardyn talked- he never talked about himself. Or dropped hints as what his ultimate goal were. Ardyn had disappeared after Notis had been taken into the crystal, and holed up in Insomnia. In the ten years that the sun had been absent, Ardyn had not even shown up to mock them- or cause trouble. Which is something Prompto felt like his dad would have delighted in doing given the chance.

Ifrit's expression hardened. His tone serious, "Hardly. Bahamut deceived your Dad, the line of Lucis, and even some of the other Astrals. He promised a solution to the scourge; and they accepted it. Not knowing that humanity would be the price he took."

Prompto was quiet for a moment. Processing all of this. Realizing that in their past lives they really hadn't known anything. There was a solution to the scourge? Bahamut was involved? This was all news to Prompto. "Why? What does Bahamut have to gain from everyone and everything dying?"

Ifrit's burning eyes flared angrily, "All the other Astrals refuse to speak to me about the matter. Though, none of the Astrals them have been on friendly terms with me for some time. Not since I was cast out. So I am not surprised by their silence. However, I am still suspicious of it all."

Prompto frowned, recalling something, "Wait. Were you not cast out for wanting to kill all of humanity?" That was what all of the myths said at least. Honestly, people gave Prompto weird looks a lot- because he was an MT and he talked to himself and stared at mirrors too much. However, anytime they learned that the main Astral he prayed to was Ifrit they, understandably, took eight steps back and stopped speaking with him.

Ifrit was the black sheep of the Hexatheon. The Astral who went to war against his own kind, and tried to turn humanity into ash. He was a figure of betrayal. Of condemnation. Often associated with disasters, or massacres. Any time Ifrit descended to the mortal relm, people died in droves. People who survived disasters would claim to see Ifrit's figure before or during an event. As if he was an omen of some kind.

Which was a far step from the loving, gentle figure Prompto knew Ifrit personally as. Ifrit had explained to Prompto that he was the Astral of fire, and wisdom. With those tales being exaggeration, or taken out of context. Ifrit often offered his wisdom and advice readily. Helped pick up Prompto and his Dad when they were feeling down. He was unofficially their family therapist. Prompto also knew however that you could treat people very differently, depending on if or if not you cared about them. All of his father figures were like that. Verstael only cared about his sons because they were extensions of his own image. If they were not he would never bother with them. Ardyn was famous for being insufferable to anyone who wasn't his immediate family- and even then he was still an annoying on occasion. The Emperor was fairly encouraging and gentle with Prompto, but was openly cold-hearted and callused to others. Only displaying that warmth when they were in private.. Honestly if this new life had taught Prompto anything; it was that there were two types of people in the world. Those you cared about and everyone else. Who were either tools to be manipulated towards your own ends. Or obstacles to be crushed.

"Yes." Ifrit admitted, answering Prompto's question. "I was angry at the time, and I could not see to reason. So the other Astrals imprisoned me under Mt. Ravatok. That was several millennia ago." Ifrit waved a hand. "I have realized the error of my ways since then. What happened in the last time line was unacceptable on many levels. Ardyn carries the same sentiments. Which is why he turned back the clock."

Prompto and Ifrit both locked eyes through the mirror. "My current pact with Ardyn. Is that we would do better this time."

Prompto listened to his Patron's words critically. Knowing that Ifrit could just be saying what Prompto needed to hear in order to keep them on his side. Prompto suddenly felt ill with that thought. As he realized the only people he considered trust worthy were suddenly people he needed to be cautious of- since as far as he could tell they were the reason the world had ended in the first place. So many things had changed. Prompto thought dizzily.

There were hints that the Astral was speaking the truth though. Such as the Emperor of Niflheim and Verstael not being as cruel or twisted in this timeline. Something Prompto suspected his Dad had a hand in. More specifically Ardyn NOT twisting them in such a fashion in this time line. Something his Dad often complained about often was not being 'allowed' to manipulate people using magic, and how doing the 'moral' thing was so exhausting. Arguments that made sense if that was something he had done before.

As the Chancellor, Ardyn's policies had changed as well. Prompto admittedly did not know what Ardyn had been doing for Niflheim in the last time line. However, in this one had made a considerable effort to push for infrastructure improvements. Specifically those in relation to building dams, wind farms, and geothermal plants. All sources of power which would not rely on the sun to produce energy. All things Prompto was fairly certain that had not existed in their previous lives. Almost all of the major cities in the Niflheim continent were set up to be self-reliant to some degree. Just like Lestallum had been. Meaning that Lestallum would no longer be the only city with power should an eternal night fall on Eos again. There were considerably more places that people could seek out in the darkness.

Ardyn as Chancellor had also commissioned a lot of research done into growing agricultural plants without sunlight. Ardyn justified this by pointing out how cold it was in Niflheim- and wouldn't it be nice if we could use some of the unused mines to grow food? Something which had peaked enough interest that now a good portion of fresh produce was grown in Graela using hydroponics and artificial UV lights.

Prompto chewed on his lower lip. Realizing that Ardyn had been giving Humanity the tools to survive. Should the Sun disappear once again.

Prompto had other questions. He stepped to the side to let some pedestrians pass, while asking his reflection, "I assume me being raised was part of the changes you guys made. You know. To give me magic and raise me to be more sympathetic towards your goals."

"Not quite." Ifrit said with a slightly off tone. Which Prompto did not know how to interpret. The Astral seemed... amused? "To be frank, Ardyn raising you in this timeline was completely by accident."

Prompto's expression morphed into disbelief. Which anyone looking in on their conversation would notice that his reflection did not mirror. "I am sorry?"

"The original plan was to change as little as possible." Ifrit grimaced, apologetically. "Your father sort of... improvised. When the Lucian spies took the wrong clone."

"What?!" Prompto repeated, this time with a good amount of surprise. "You're shitting me. For real? That's the only reason I'm here," Prompto gestured to himself. Wearing the full white robes and emblems of Niflheim, "is because of freak chance?!"

Ifrit twisted his hands together, an anxious motion that Prompto often did. The god was still grimacing. "Yes. There have been several things which have changed in this time line, just due to sheer chance. Your fathers adopting and raising you and your brothers is a result of one of those."

"Do not worry though." Ifrit quickly assuaged, "I have done some research and plenty of human couples have children they do not plan for. So it is not something to be ashamed or worry about. They still very much love you, and are your parents."

Prompto stared at his reflection, "I have a lot more concerns before that one!" Prompto told his reflection plainly. Like why nine kids instead of just the one? Raising nine clones wasn't easy. If Prompto was the only one who mattered- why bother with the others? Better yet, why didn't they just swap Prompto with the clone that was taken. Flames... 59 really had taken Prompto's place. Prompto rubbed a hand on his forehead. Realizing that he had just barged into 59's life and flipped it on it's end. Hadn't he?

"Excuse me, sir?" A sharp voice, directed at him got Prompto's attention. Prompto looked up and found a security guard walking towards him. There had been reports of a suspicious blonde starring into one of the first floor windows. Seemingly talking to himself. He had come to gauge and rectify the situation.

The guard stopped just an arm's length away. Hand resting on their belt. "Can I help you with something?"

"Oh." Prompto floundered. Trying to come up with an excuse of some kind. "Oh. I'm on a phone call." Prompto reached up towards his ear. Pointing to an ear bud which was clearly not there.

The guard scowled. Clearly not falling for the lie. "Wait. Blonde hair- and a white coat are you from Niflheim?"

Prompto panicked. He threw out his magic at the man. Which manifested as a shimmering heat wave around the man's neck and ears. A befuddling spell which Ardyn had taught him some years ago when teaching Prompto how to control his powers. It was nothing harmful. Just enough to fog someone's mind and manipulate them. Prompto quickly took out his phone. Showing it to the guard.

"Sorry about that. I will move on and continue my phone call elsewhere. I am sorry." Prompto apologized quickly. Holding his phone up to his ear and moving on down the road. Leaving the guard standing there with a confused look on his face.

Prompto power walked down the side walk. Hoping to blend in and disappear. Something that wasn't going to happen. Since he was wearing white robes and a bunch of shinny metal pins in the middle of Insomnia. The city known for its citizen's wearing darker colors, and leather accessories.

A car pulled up beside him on the walk way, and rolled down its window. Prompto tensed, expecting to have to defend himself- or make a run for it. "Everything alright your Imperial Highness?" Only for it to be his body guards.

That's right. I have people. Prompto relaxed ever so slightly. "Yes. I am ready to go." Prompto quickly stepped into the back seat of the car. Glancing over at the security guard for the bank. Who was coming too and looking around with confusion. Prompto snapped both of his fingers at once. Casting a second spell. One that would obfuscate the car. Just have anyone looking at it give it a quick dismissal.

It was a much bigger, and more permanent spell. Prompto felt it kindle inside of him. Like he was lighting a wax candle and setting it aside. So long as Prompto didn't lose concentration, it would burn for a time.

That's two spells in succession. Prompto thought with some surprise. Which was a big thing for him. His magic was usually very unreliable. Prompto usually panicked and fumbled spells a lot. Especially in high pressure situations. That was an issue Prompto had dealt with in his past life as well. Something years of temperament, and battling monsters had forged out of him. Prompto looked down at his hands. Finding them as steady as a surgeon's. That fine control apparently coming back to him from his past life.

"Where too your highness?" The driver asked, pulling away from the curb and merging into the road traffic.

Prompto considered the question. Looking out the window. Where was he going to go from here?

"I had plans to eat lunch with Prince Noctis." Prompto recalled. Prompto had put his phone on do not disturb when he had been in the hotel room. Reading Noctis text had thrown him for a whole existential loop. Which concluded with Prompto deciding that he needed some time to just himself for a bit. Just a few hours to think. Hours that were coming to an end- it was coming up on noon now. His partners were probably upset that he had not shown up for the meeting this morning as promised. The four of them never did well when they were apart.

"No rest for the royals, I guess." The red-headed guard sighed loudly. Crossing his arms behind his head and leaning back in the passenger seat. "Didn't the Lucian Prince just take a day off because his boyfriend got sent to the hospital. Can't you take one off? You know for grievance or whatever?"

"The peace treaty is set to be signed tomorrow." The bald guard reminded his companion, and Prompto. Who had a flash back to Galdin Quay. When he woke up early with Ignis. The later in search of coffee and to get their day started. Prompto to take as many pictures of the beach at sunrise as possible. Both of them had been in the main lobby of the hotel when the first reports of Insomnia's fall came in. Ignis had gone to collect the news. While Prompto went to wake Gladio up- and secure Noctis' room. Gladio had not wanted to wake Noctis up. Knowing that once Noctis knew, any peace their prince had would currently had would be shattered.

Prompto looked out of the car window, up at the bird cage like buildings above them. The biggest being the Citadel of course. With its four towers, and the crystal manifesting the wall of Lucis like a beacon. Prompto ached to see Noctis again. After ten years in the dark, one night spent together was not nearly enough. He could feel where he had been connected to the Lucian Prince in his past life. A part of his soul which he had given away- and a part of Noctis which still sat inside of his chest. Pulling towards each other like magnets.

"I think I've done enough reflecting for now." Prompto decided. He still wanted to talk to his Dad. To hear his side of things. Prompto knew that Ardyn did not hold all the answers; but the man could certainly answer some of Prompto's. Prompto still wanted to see Noctis first though. "Let us head to the Citadel."

His guards both exchanged a look in the front seat. Both adults concerned for the younger man in the back seat of the car. Not knowing that collectively the Prince sitting in their back seat was 20 something years older than the both of them.

The driver turned on the car's blinker to merge into the traffic. Not about to disregard orders. "As you wish, your highness."

[groovytimetravelflower]

Not Just a Feeling Chapter 15

Don't forget to Reblog to share with a friend. You can read the whole story HERE on AO3.

Summary:

Prompto has a no good very bad, rotten day; and it goes both ways.

Chapter 15: Missing

DUDE, WHERE ARE YOU????

The text came through on Prompto's phone as he was driving. The sound of a chocobo kweh-ing getting his attention. Prompto cursed and picked his phone up from the car's center console. Reading the text, while keeping an eye on the road. He came to a red light, and replied quickly.

sorry omw. :crying emoji: :car emoji: :sweating emoji:

He put his phone down into the center console, and waited impatiently for the light to turn. He was Late. Late with a capital L. Which was not cool. Since people were waiting on him. Fucking work. Prompto's relief had shown up thirty minutes late, and he was not allowed to leave until they arrived. If Prompto hadn't needed the job he would have walked out already, but unfortunately he needed money. Being a full time college student, while also working was such a pain in the ass. Not to mention his night lighting as a musician for some bands- or morning lighting in this case. Insomnia really was the city that never slept. Prompto's schedule was constantly full. If only he could get a regular paying gig... then he might be able to quit working his dead end retail job.

The light changed and he pulled through the intersection. Turning into his neighbor hood. He just needed to stop at his house and change- pick up his guitar. In hindsight he maybe should have kept his things in his car. X-ing the need for him to swing by his house. However, the last thing Prompto wanted was someone breaking into his car and stealing everything he had worked for in the last two years. Instruments were expensive, and so were car windows.

Prompto pulled into the drive way of his house. A small condo in a small patch of suburbia, on the outskirts of downtown insomnia. The kind of house that prospective parents would pay an arm and a leg to raise a family in. Which Prompto's parents had done. Living 'the dream' for about ten years. Until they decided to move into their downtown apartment permanently, for the convenience of it being closer to their work. Something they never elected to tell Prompto about of course. Until he tracked them down shortly before turning 18. Their apology had basically been to gift him the house he had grown up in, which had been paid off; and offer him a position in their retail empire after he completed some basic college courses.

Utter bullshit- and they wondered why he ignored their phone calls. Prompto slammed his car door shut a bit firmly. Only to turn and encounter the next road block to his day.

BARK BARK BARK A cream colored corgi ran up to him from the far side of the front yard.

Prompto groaned. Why did this have to happen today. This dog and its strange insistence on following him around everywhere. It was so annoying. "Go home!" Prompto told the dog firmly. As it ran up to him. Barking and jumping on him.. "I said go!" Prompto pointed firmly.

The dog landed on it's feet and looked up at him. Then barked again. Like it was trying to tell him something. Prompto looked around for the dogs owner, who as always was nowhere to be seen. Prompto assumed the thing belonged to one of his neighbors. Since the dog came around every so often. Prompto had seen it hurt once, on the way home from school. Then a month or so later the dog returned, sniffing around his backyard. Ever since then it appeared at random every few months, and would follow him around. Scratching at his door and whinning to be let in. Or even breaking into his house through the laundry room window. Following him like some kind of persistent nightmare.

"Tch. Whatever." Prompto stepped around the dog carefully, like he always did. "I don't have time for this."

The dog was quick though, and cut in front of him. Barking even more urgently.

"What?!! Get out of my way!" Prompto stepped to the side. The dog once again jumped in front of him. "Hey!" Prompto stepped back. Suddenly worried that the dog might bite him or something.

"What is with you today?!" Prompto asked. The dog never barked this much, nor had blocked his way before. Usually it just followed him around, and whined when he didn't let it inside. Fuck. Prompto did not really have time for this. He darted to the side and ran quickly to the side gate, where he kept his recycling bins. Opening the fence gate and getting it shut before the dog could follow him. The small dog barked again and scratched at the fence trying to get to him. It whined. The annoying high pitched noise Prompto hated so much.

"Go home!" Prompto told the dog once more. Kicking the fence in between himself and the dog. Hoping that it would get the message for once. Not that it had ever taken the hint before. He quickly walked around his house. Coming in through the back door, and taking off his shoes.

The house was exactly what one would have expected from a college man living by himself. A little messy, and with the TV stand covered in game consoles and wires. Though the furniture was a bit nicer, and put together. Prompto had not had any reason to get rid of any of his partent's furnishings, or move things around so much. Meaning much of the mess was just caused by Prompto being disorganized or lazy. Prompto did his best to keep things clean, but he was only one person with so many hours in a day.

What made Prompto freeze as he walked into the main living space was not the usual mess of his apartment though. No. It was the person standing in the middle of it all.

"What the fuck?!" Prompto yelled with surprise, and back pedaled into the hallway. He lost his balance and fell down onto his ass. Elbow hitting one of the shelfs on the way down. Causing a lot of noise.

The person turned: and they looked exactly like Prompto. Terrifyingly so. It was like looking into a mirror and not having it completely in sync with him. It was uncanny- like something right out of a horror film. The other him blinked. As if THEY were the one surprised by the meeting.

"Oh. Wow-" The doppelganger spoke and it even sounded like him. Prompto scrambled backwards in panic. "Fire. Are you alright?" The doppelganger asked. As if they weren't breaking and entering into Prompto's home. Which usually resulted in someone getting shot or killed.

Prompto scrambled up to his feet, and ran for the back door. There was scratching on the wood, and barking coming from the other side. Had the dog been trying to warn him of the intruder? He should have listened to them-

A hand grabbed his wrist. Keeping him from leaving. "Whoa. Hey. Don't leave yet. I wanted to talk."

Prompto didn't listen turning around and striking out at his intruder. Another hand came up and blocked the punch. Almost like Prompto's punch was nothing to his doppelganger. He felt his other arm being twisted- and suddenly Prompto was being slammed into the wall. Winded as he impacted with the surface face-first. His arms were both twisted behind his back, and the other man leaned on him. Holding him in place.

"Calm down." The stranger told him firmly. Prompto felt a bead of sweat trickle down his neck. The doppelganger even sounded like him. This had to be some kind of nightmare. Had to be. "'Breath."

Prompto struggled to get out of the hold, but found himself trapped. Both of his arms pinned in the center of his back. Prompto felt himself start to hyperventilate. "Who are you?! What are you doing here?!"

There was no immediate answer. When the other spoke, it was somewhat quietly. "That is a bit of a difficult question to answer."

"The fuck? No it isn't!" Prompto argued.

"It's a bit of a story. You're not going to like it." The Intruder said with a warning tone. As if Prompto didn't already like the fact that this random ass dude was in his house. Pinning him against the wall.

Prompto tried once more to escape. To no success. He threw his weight to the side. Hoping to throw the other off by surprise. That did not work either. His captor used his momentum against him. Throwing him down to the ground. A hand still twisting his arm backwards. The other is now using their knee to apply pressure to his lower back.

Prompto kicked out. To no avail. His doppleganger's grip was as strong as steel. Prompto panted. "The fuck. How are you doing this?!"

"Easily." His doppelganger laughed as if Prompto was amusing them. "I've been doing this kind of stuff since I was a toddler. We would all work together to pin father to the play mat, and he would call us menaces. Then Dad taught us how to wrestle with each other..." His doppelganger trailed off for a second.

Prompto tried to escape once more, as the crazy man was distracted. Once more to no avail. He panted, and began to sweat nervously. "Wait. You really don't know how to get out of a hold?" His freaky doppelganger asked, "It's like Crowns guard training 101." They seemed confused by Prompto's own inability.

Prompto felt his face turn a bit red. "Look. I don't know who you think I am- or why you look like me- but I am not a Crowns guard, or even a soldier for that matter. So what ever information you're trying to torture out of me or whatever- I don't know anything, or anyone!"

"I'm not going to torture you." His captor said with amusement. As if the idea was almost a joke to him.

"Then what do you want?!" Prompto asked with no small amount of anger.

His doppelganger sighed. "Look. If I let you go, do you promise not to run? Or try to fight? I will explain everything. I promise I won't harm you either."

"..." Prompto thought about this, wondering if he even had a choice. He didn't have anyway to defend himself. Not a gun, or even a knife- and clearly he was out matched by the other man. He grimaced bitterly. Being on the floor was not ideal. Maybe he could find some way to run away when the other was talking?

"Fine. Whatever."

His doppelganger released him, stepping away. Prompto picked himself up from the floor. Rubbing his shoulder with a grimace. The Intruder offered him an arm up. Prompto slapped it away and stood up on his own. Standing just out of arms reach of the other man.

Coming face to face with the intruder for the first time. Giving them a once over, he was incredibly disturbed by how similar they looked. However the more he did look, there were differences as well. His doppelganger had less weight on him, and more muscle. Like he had found the secret to losing the last few pounds of baby fat that Prompto seemed to never be able to run off. The guy was also styled up. Almost to a ridiculous degree. Hair spiked like they were a model in some magazine. Their face also looked a little to perfect. Like it had been air brushed in photoshop. Prompto narrowed his eyes at the other man. Suspecting that they might be wearing make up or something.

"Let me start with introducing myself." His Doppelganger suggested. They held their hand up with a flourish and then pulled down their right sleeve. Showing Prompto his inner wrist. Prompto sucked in a breath with surprise. Eyes widening with both fear and surprise.

"I am MT Unit N-IP01357. Most people just call me 57 though." His Doppelganger introduced themselves. Unashamed of the serial number inked into his skin, "And you I believe are Unit N-IP01359 Unless I am mistaken."

Prompto wrapped a hand around his right wrist and held it against his chest. The barcode he had carried ever since he was a baby, now covered up by a different tattoo. A coming of age gift to himself. He had covered up the barcode which had haunted him since birth with a guitar surrounded by flowers. He had told the artist that the barcode had been something he had gotten because of a video game, but he had wanted something different now. The whole procedure had actually been a lot less complicated than he thought it would be. Tattoos were not as painful as people made them out to be, and the artist had not asked a whole lot of questions. No one ever suspected that there was a tattoo hidden under the musical instrument. In fact a lot of people often complemented him on it.

It seemed that covering up the barcode had not been enough though. Whatever the barcode had meant- whoever had marked him at birth had finally found him. In the form of a look a like. Who was standing in the back hall of Prompto's home. Hands clasped together. Looking down at him with a sort of... understanding pity.

"In a way you were kind of right." 57- Astrals was that really his name?- told him, "We are not freaky twins though, we are all clones."

"Clones." Prompto exhaled. Feeling like he had been punched in the gut.

"Yes." 57 explained, "All MT soldiers are clones. Our genetic father is Verstael Besithia. The Head of Research for Niflheim's army. He is the one who created the MT soldiers, and the cloning process."

Prompto heard the other's words. But couldn't quite believe them. He fell back against the wall, and slid back down to the floor. Beyond stunned.

57 gave him a moment, and then leaned over, resting his "How are you taking this. On a scale of 1-10?"

"I think I'm going to throw up." Prompto admitted weakly.

"Yeah. I felt the same when I learned." 57 half laughed, but the expression on his face was that of pain. Like he was remembering something unpleasant.

"When you... learned?" Prompto asked with confusion. "Are you like part of a resistance group or something? Like a bunch of MTs that are rebelling against him?"

57's expression fell. "No." 57 said quietly, "He's my father. At least..." 57 did not seem so sure of his answer, "I think he is."

Sheesh. That sounded like a mess. Apparently both Prompto and his clone had father issues. Maybe it was something that ran in the family. Prompto asked his next question warily. "Well what are you here for? Come to take me back to some lab? Or back to Niflheim or something?"

"No, nothing like that." 57 assured him, but they did not give him a direct answer as to what he was there for. Instead his double gathered up the tail of his long white coat to sit down against the opposite wall. Prompto watched him settle down. Straightening out his white robes and his maroon shirt. Both Niflheim colors. They looked really fancy too. Prompto felt a lead weight settle into his stomach. The only people from Niflheim allowed in Insomnia were traveling with the Emperor right now. Niflheim Nobles, and parts of their council. That would mean that 57... 57 was one of them. He was one of the enemies of Lucis.

"MTs aren't really ever alive. Not in the way that most people would consider them to be." 57 explained, once he was settled on the floor, "They're incubated long enough for them to develop enough mass, then exposed to a lethal amount of demon scourge. Turning them into an amalgamation of machine and demon. Which can be controlled and puppeted."

"But our father wanted to do an experiment." 57 held out a hand. Resting it on the ground in between them. Explaining things gently, "So he set a number of clones aside, and let them grow. Without the scourge exposure."

"-And that's what we are." Prompto realized where 57 was going with this. He hung his head in his hands. "What was the experiment for?" He asked. He did not want to know. But he also knew that not knowing would give him nightmares for the rest of his life.

"I... I don't know. Actually. Not for sure." 57 admitted, "Before it was for his immortality project. But father hasn't invented that in this time line... so what were we even for?" 57 asked himself. Looking confused despite the fact that he was the one informing Prompto of all these things.

"Time line?" Prompto picked up on those two words. They certainly stood out to him.

"Uh. Yeah." 57 sweated, "That's part of what makes this complicated." 57 adjusted his legs to have them sit off to the side. He clapped his hands together nervously. "Let's just... stick with what happened for certain." He suggested. With a cartoony sweat drop over one head.

"There were Lucian spies, which infiltrated father's lab." 57 continued with his story, "They took one of the clones from the batch. As proof of Niflheim doing children experimentation. Once all the paperwork was done though- they still had a child to deal with."

Prompto covered his mouth realizing where this was going. 57 confirmed his thoughts with a nod, "Yes. That was when they fostered you off to a Lucian family."

"They only took me though?" Prompto asked, somewhat horrified, "Why not all of us? We were babies- literally being experimented on. Someone should have done something!"

57 shrugged, as if he did not realize how big of a deal it was. "I assume they did their best. 10 children is a lot to take care of. Flames knows 9 is chaos enough. Maybe they could only take one." "But that means..." Prompto looked at his double, "You grew up in some horrific Niflheim laboratory. As an experiment. As a test subject."

57 rubbed the back of his neck. "Well when you put it like that.... It sounds kind of bad."

"Dude! Your name is literally a barcode number-" Prompto pointed out, rising up to his feet. Angry on his clone's behalf. If he were in their shoes, he would have been pissed. He pointed to his own wrist. "Which they put on you before you were born! Treating you like some kind of commodity and not a person! There is nothing about that situation which is NOT fucked!"

"Yeah, but it's not like they did anything to us. Well-" 57 redacted his statement, grimacing. "-it wasn't like they were trying to torture us."

"You were nothing but some kind test to them." Prompto laid out, plain and simple. Waving a hand, "There's no way that was cool. You must have got some kind of Stockholm syndrome or something."

"No I don't." 57 sounded like he was in sheer denial to Prompto, "We got a few augmentations, maybe. But they were still our fathers. They read us bed time stories, and helped us do our hair every morning." 57 rose up to his feet. Making his argument. He took out his phone, and opened it up, "Look. These are pictures from our last holiday. We actually go out of our way to spend time with each other- can you say the same thing? When was the last time you even saw the Argentum's in person?"

Prompto looked at the photo on the phone briefly. Seeing a couch full and surrounded by a bunch of blonde men who all had the same face as him. With an older man and redhead sitting in the center of the couch. It was a little freaky, and how happy everyone looked made his chest hurt. He pushed the phone away. He did not know why his doppelganger was bringing his Foster parents into this. It made him unhappy though. A discontented anger rising up in his chest.

57 looked down at the picture on his phone, "We didn't even have a father." 57 was not speaking at him, but at the picture. "And Father and Dad might not be the best, but at least they didn't abandon us when we were ten. TEN. Who abandons a ten year old? Let them live on their own for 18 or more years? That's a much worse situation to be in."

Prompto felt the hair on his arms and neck stand up. He didn't know where this clone was getting such information from. However, he had not right to bring it up. "Do NOT compare normal people- with monsters who cloned children and then turn them into demonic soldiers." Prompto countered firmly, "That's fucked on so many other levels."

"Well. Yes." 57 conceded, but looked conflicted, "They're both terrible, horrible people and- they've done unforgivable things- but that's better than- then nothing. Right?" 57 looked to Prompto once more. As if he could provide an opinion one way or the other.

Prompto had completely lost track of what they were talking about. He was starting to see red.

"I mean. We were left alone." 57 continued, his voice begging for understanding, "More than most people realized. The Argentum's left when we turned ten, only a week after our birthday. They had groceries delivered every Thursday, and they paid all the bills. But they were always busy with work; never coming home."

59 pressed his hands to his ears. But 57 kept talking. Reminding him of the horrible stagnation his life became. The nights spent in a silent house. Him becoming to afraid to turn off the lights. Days spent with nothing to do. Having to learn himself how to do the house chores and take care of himself. Always waiting. For someone. Anyone.

"They would call in and check in on you every night over the phone. But then that turned into once a week. Then they eventually called only on holidays. Eventually not at all." 57 reminded him bitterly.

Prompto felt sick. As 57 laid open his entire life story in front of him. The neglect by his foster parents. The reminder of his abandonment. The wording was all wrong though. Like 57 had been there as well, somehow. Which was what tipped Prompto into anger.

"I have no idea what you are talking about." Prompto told the other shakily. Lying through his teeth. Who was this man? To come into his life and dig up all of the issues he had buried. Things he didn't want out in the open. All for what?

"You never answered my question." Prompto snapped, "Why are you even here?! Why even bring all this up?!"

57's head snapped over to look at him. A look of realization coming over his face. "I'm sorry. I guess I am still just trying to process all of this."

"That's not an answer." Prompto told his double bitterly, "Why are you even HERE?"

57 turned, looking around the living space. "I guess... I just needed to make sure that it was real."

"Real? Is my life some kind of fantasy to you?" Prompto asked, "You think I'm some kind of entertainment? a JOKE?" Prompto felt his face turning red.

"No. No. It is nothing like that." 57 stepped closer to him. Reaching out to assure him.

Prompto took a full step back. "Get out." Prompto told the man, he pointed to the back door. "Leave. "

57 looked like he was going to argue for a moment. Then he backed down, "Yeah... okay. I'm sorry." They reached into their back pocket, and took out a metal container. From which he produced a business card.

"This is my contact information. If you... if you ever have any questions." He said gently, then offered the card to Prompto. Who pointedly looked away. 57 hesitated, and then made his way towards the front exit. Leaving the card on the dinning table as he passed. Prompto followed him, arms crossed.

"I will... I'll give you some time." His clone said gently, and then left through the front door. Prompto blinking away hot tears of anger. 57 looked like he wanted to say something more, but he just wished him a good day, and left out of the front door.

Prompto covered his face after the door closed. He sunk down into one of the kitchen chairs. His shoulders shook, as he began to cry. Overwhelmed with everything he had just learned. A clone. He was a clone. The only one to escape from some horrible and twisted experiment. Something he had suspected for the majority of his life. However now he had confirmation of. He looked down at the guitar on his wrist, and gripped the area. Still able to see the black and white lines hidden there, despite all these years. The number code that he feared would be all that he was one day.

There was the sound of scraping claws on his floor. Prompto looked up, to see a small white dog running in from the back of the house. The dog had probably wiggled in through the window of the laundry room. Like it always did. This was not the first time the dog had broken into his house. He really ought to make sure his home was more secure...

The dog sniffed around the floor and then looked to the front of the house. Letting out a low growl which ended with a sharp bark. Prompto's clone brother-whatever visible through one of the windows as he exited the yard. Prompto had never heard the dog make such a noise before.

They always said dogs were a good judge of character... Prompto wondered if he might have just dodged a bullet or something similar.

Prompto remembered taking that picture.

Something connected in his brain. Like a file drive which had been unplugged, finally rejoining the rest of the hall.

He gasped and fell down to his knees. As the memory hit him. Prompto turning and holding up his camera. Calling Noctis' name to give him just the hint of a warning. Noctis turning and holding up a hand. Prompto always looked horrible in selfies. He was the furthest thing from photogenic. His freckles always made his skin look blotchy, and no matter how much he practiced his expressions- he always seemed to be making the stupidest face. Noctis by contrast looked perfect. Hand raised and a cool expression on his face. Like the Prince was born to be in front of a camera. The dichotomy between the two of them could not have been clearer in the picture. Which gave them a good laugh when they were going through the pictures Prompto had taken that day. That was why Noctis told Prompto to save the picture for the photo album. So they could remember how funny it was.

The moment, captured in time, was one of the 150 pictures that Prompto had saved on the camera. Pictures of the locations they visited, people they met, and them fighting beasts, or them just goofing around. Prompto had them all memorized. He started flicking through the camera roll. Knowing exactly what was going to show up, before it did. Because in the end- the pictures were all that he had left of his loved ones.

Prompto felt tears well up in his eyes. He sat back, against the side of the hotel bed. Cradling the camera in his hands. Holding the precious memories in his hand. Like it was the last candle of hope he had.

The pain of being separated from his love ones tore through his guts like a demon's claws. Tearing him open to bleed out. As Prompto remembering everything.

Growing up abandoned and alone. Forging his own family with Noctis, Gladio and Ignis. The four of them leaving together on what was supposed to be a bachelor party. Only to have it be the start of the rest of their lives. Noctis being taken from them. Ignis being murdered. Gladio leaving him and turning into a demon.

Seven years. Prompto had spent seven years in the dark. With only the vague promise that one day Noctis would return to him. Witnessing the end of the world as it fell to ruin around him. He had Cor and some other at his side. However it didn't help much to sooth the hollow holes in his heart. Especially when they left as well. Dying or disappearing one by one. As if the world wanted to torture him as much as possible.

Prompto cried. It was ugly, and ruined his makeup. He couldn't think- he could only feel. As his chest tightened and refused to let air in. As if his past self called out through time and space- and the Prompto who was here and now cried with him. For him. As him. It was all very confusing. Prompto felt his thoughts turn to static. His magic picked up in response to his emotions. The mirror on his hotel wardrobe cracked, and fell to the ground in fist sized chunks. Then so did all the windows in his room- the restroom's mirrors shattered, and so did the reflective tiles in the shower.

Prompto's guards came in from the hotel suite's living room when they heard him crying. Thinking he might be in danger. They came in guns raised, and tried to clear the room. As glass fell around them.

"I-I'm sorry," Prompto said through his tears, "I just- I just got some bad news." He lied. Because what else was he supposed to say? That he had remembered how horrible his past life had been? That he had been the last human alive in a world without the sun? Something these men had never been involved in.

The guards looked uncertain. Looking between Prompto sobbing, and the broken glass everywhere. One of the guards stepped to the side towards the wardrobe, glass crunching under his boot. He picked up a box of tissues and offered it to Prompto. Who thanked the man, and took the box. Wiping off his face, and then blowing his nose.

Prompto didn't know how long he sat there on the hotel floor. Sobbing. The glass around them breaking further and further into smaller chunks. Responding to his grief. Prompto's head was too filled with static for him to think about anything. So he just wept, until it all worked itself out of his system.

Prompto gradually ran out of tears. His face and makeup a mess. His sinuses still leaking. He could feel the catharsis of expressing his grief settle around him. Something that felt like it was a long time coming. Even though him getting his memories back had come literally out of nowhere.

"Want some water?" The guard who had offered the tissue box asked.

"Yes, please." Prompto's voice was rough. He felt like he had just cried out nearly half of his body weight.

The guard left the room to get some water. While the other one stood there awkwardly, but with a professional silence. The first guard returned, carrying a bottle of water with water. Prompto thanked the man again. Looking at the bottle to confirm that it was intact, before opening it.

"Thank you." Prompto said after downing a little over half the bottle. "You are very kind."

"Well. You know." The man chuckled awkwardly. Kindness was not exactly something seen as a virtue in Niflheim. Especially for people of their profession. There was actually a saying among the nobility: that kindness killed. "Not like I'm just going to ignore some crying kid."

Prompto scowled. He was hardly a 'kid'. No wait. Well. In comparison to his last life. He guessed he was in some regards. He looked down at his hands. He felt smaller than he had been when he passed. He as 22, instead of 30 something. He hadn't yet grown any facial hair. The differences were making his head a little static. As he tried to figure out which 'Prompto' that he was supposed to be.

"If I may ask... what upset his Imperial Highness so?" The first guard asked cautiously. Knowing that he was probably toeing the line. Formalities generally were expected to be kept between the nobility, and those who worked for the nobility.

Prompto considered the question carefully. His fathers were always warning him not to speak about private matters with the guards. As you never know who might be willing to sell what they heard or saw for money. However, Prompto did think that his outburst did require some sort of explanation. He looked around the room. There was cracked and broken glass everywhere. He sighed. How best to word this. "I learned that some people I am close to passed away."

"Oh. Shit man." The first guard leaned back, as if he felt the impact himself, "I'm sorry."

"My condolences." The second guard said with a more professional tone.

"I didn't MTs realize you could have friends," The first guard said, and then slapped a hand to his face. "That's a dumb thing to say. Sorry. I'll shut up now." The guard apologized. Stepping back to give him some space.

Despite saying, he kept talking. "This glass breaking stuff is freaky. We were told that you and the Chancellor had some magic powers- but this is the first time I've ever seen anything like it." The second guard elbowed the first harshly in the side. "Ow! What?"

"You're still talking."

"Oh right. Shutting up now." The guard actually was quiet. Though Prompto got the feeling that the man was still full to the brim with words.

Prompto shook his head. Not that surprised to hear the man's words. He and his brothers had been confusing people ever since they were born. Most citizens didn't know that MTs were created from human clones- or that they were 'human' at any point. He set the water bottle aside, and started to get up from the floor. "Most MTs don't have individuality. However, me and my brothers are very clear exceptions. As you might have noticed."

"Oh. I see." The first guard said hesitantly.

Prompto stood up to his feet. Taking the water bottle, and his camera with him. Prompto looked at the latter. Then looked at the bed. Realizing something. Wait. How did this get here? This camera wasn't just old- it was from a literal other life time. Where the world had ended and everyone and thing had died.

Ardyn. His Dad. That was the only explanation for it being here. However. Such as where he had found it? Prompto typically kept the camera in his armiger. When had he taken it out?

Prompto felt static rise in the back of his mind. Like he was watching a fuzzy video. The miserable exhaustion of being sick. His stomach churning. Threatening to upend its contents. Even though he had not eaten anything all day- had not been able to keep anything down the day prior. Prompto was sick. Cor was worse off. He was laying beside Prompto in the tent they shared. Unconscious, and sweating through the same fever that was afflicting Prompto. Only the older man had it much worse. Ever since Gladio had taken off his arm, he had been prone to picking up colds or the odd cough. They were the only tent still occupied in the camp. They had never taken Aranea and Iris' tent down; and neither of them had been eager to claim the extra space as their own. Despite it being nearly a year now. Prompto flicked through the pictures sadly. Missing the others inside of them dearly. Hopefully... he hoped there was an afterlife. Like all the Etros worshipers always promised there was. He would really like to see his loved ones again. Tears dripped from his eyes, down onto his hands. He wiped off his face, and laid down in the bed. Still flicking through the camera's pictures. Letting the good memories there comfort him. The next morning he woke up, but Cor did not. Prompto couldn't say he was surprised. However, he still grieved deeply. Knowing that he was alone. Officially the last person left alive. It took everything Prompto's weak body had, to muster up the the last of his energy to take Cor out of the tent, and bury him on the edge of camp. With the others. Leaving the camera forgotten at a bedside he had no memory of returing too.

"Is something wrong your Imperial Highness?" The guard who had been slightly rude asked with concern.

Prompto blinked. Returning back to the present. There were fresh tears running down his cheeks. "Sorry. I was, I was just- fuck." Prompto sat down onto his bed. He raised up his arm to wipe his face off. But stopped himself at the very last second. A life time of proper ettiquite- and wearing white fabrics stopping him before he could ruin his coat sleeve. Prompto set the water bottle aside, and reached for a fresh tissue instead. Blotting it against his face.

"I'm a mess." he told his guards, wiping off his face. "Sorry."

"Take your time." The guard who was more reserved advised.

Prompto was glad too. There was a lot of static bouncing around in his head at that moment. He knew however that he had a schedule to keep though. He couldn't just drop everything without warning. He sniffed, and took out his phone. He opened up his messaging app. Sending a text to the person who needed to be aware of the change in schedule the most.

I am sorry, but I will not be able to attend this morning's meeting.

Not a moment later his phone chimed with a chocobo noise. The Emperor of Niflheim replying to his message.

Very well. Is there something going on? Or something you need help with?

Prompto sniffed wipping his nose. Messaging his grandfather back.

I think I am alright. At the hotel. Dad would prob categorize this as 'magic Bullshit'

Very well then. I will excuse you from any and all meetings today. Please, let me know if anything changes. Stay well.

Prompto could not describe how grateful he was towards the Emperor in that moment. Letting him off with understanding and not too many questions. No managers or bosses in his past life would have ever let such a thing slide. Not even Noctis. Who tended to get clingy when anyone was feeling unwell. Prompto placed his phone down and flopped sideways onto his hotel bed. Feeling a wave of mental exhaustion coming over him.

He was going to take ten minutes and then... then what was he going to do what? Prompto's brain buzzed with static. As the new yet old memories in his brain remained unprocessed. Prompto pressed a hand against his face, and closed his eyes. Too restless for a nap. He wondered if it would be possible for him to go on a walk...