Zegnautus Keep. The Prince had disappeared into the crystal, and the Regalia was beyond repair. To top it off, Ignis was still blind, Prompto hadn't had proper food or rest for the past week, and Gladio was already at his limit just keeping the group alive. With nothing but daemons and hostile MT's waiting for them, the party receives the most unexpected help in escaping the keep—from Prompto's adoptive parents, the Argentums.
Rated M for violence and coarse language.
/ Chapter 1: Goodnight, Sweet Prince /
If you came here expecting a touching reunion between a family, then you had best take your leave. Surely you, from the haven of whatever dimension you peer into ours from, have an inkling of how complicated this dear boy's situation must be. Does it bring you joy to see their friendships torn, and joined once more? I for one, certainly enjoy such tragic tales.
There will be a happy ending to this, of course.
After all, how could I possibly wish harm upon these fine young men? But I know you. You thirst for the moment someone is brought out of despair, just as I do. Such a shining moment is part of any wonderful tale, wouldn't you agree? Needless to say, a wretched misery is required for the tale to satisfy such a palate. Perhaps only you would understand my delight in setting the darkness for the dawn to break.
Well... if that is the entertainment of your preference…
Then, my dearest audience:
I would be more than happy to oblige.
Magitek Research Facility Report
Following their outbreak in the north and west, daemons have swept through the MRF, causing extensive damage to equipment. Control was subsequently lost over unprogrammed MTs, and strategies are being deliberated on the collection of rogue units. Meanwhile, 125 infected patients undergoing testing at the facility have vanished in a manner reminiscent of the first disappearances.
Hurt and heal, night and day. Yes, this world revolved with opposites like Light and Chaos, and you always needed one to truly appreciate the other. The bitter doom the Prince's companions must've surely felt as they were left to fend off hordes of daemons must be offset by a sweet rescue.
Sure enough, that sugar-coated moment had come for the three Crownsguards as panicked footsteps could be heard fast approaching. They couldn't have gotten through that hangar door, nor the endless spawn of daemons by themselves. Especially in such short notice. Perhaps they'd even thank him once they've figured out he was the one responsible for pointing a helping hand their way.
"Gentlemen!" Ardyn turned away from the crystal to address the three who had rushed to the chamber. He had immersed himself in his thoughts for a tad too long. Is it because the fated hour is finally drawing near?
He motioned to the crystal as if he were doing introductions. "Your Prince."
This seemed to set off a fuse in Gladio, as he swung his greatsword right at the Accursed's neck. Any normal human would have had their head rolling. However, Ardyn didn't care much for the attack. As though a gust of wind had dared to blow against him, he simply concerned himself with keeping the hat on his head.
Prompto followed with a shot directly to the chancellor's heart with no hesitation. The man collapsed to the floor, but instead of blood oozing, a foul cloud drifted from where a wound should've been. Even this man's blood could only be described as a miasma.
Silence.
There was tension in the air, and no one would dare to utter the words they were all thinking: Is he dead?
That was all wishful thinking when the man rose again, hat in hand. Ignis couldn't see, but he could feel it. The man—no, the daemon in front of him had a presence that was thick with evil. Just being under that accursed gaze was enough to make his heightened senses scream at him.
Slow and fluid, the words dripped out of his mouth like poison:
"Until next time."
And with that, walked off only to become one with the shadows of the keep.
"...What the fuck?" Gladio finally growled, tossing his weapon to the ground in frustration. The two jumped back, startled. The noise of metal upon metal echoed through the chamber. "Just… gah! Dammit."
"There's not much we could do with an immortal enemy." Ignis tried to console him. The tossed great sword had already vanished into light. "And what of Noctis?"
"He's... gone." Prompto answered. "There's no sign of him anywhere."
"But his magic still flows within us." As if to make a point, Gladio summoned the weapon he carelessly threw once more to his hands.
"So it stands to reason the Prince is unharmed."
"T-then what should we do?"
"Our options are limited." Ignis continued. "Especially considering our firepower. We are in no condition to fight. Our best course of action would be to ask the people who aided us with the daemons just now. They seemed to know you, Prompto."
"That's because-"
The familiar click-click of a gun poised with the intent to kill halted the conversation. The three slowly turned around to meet with a woman, possibly in her late 30's. She wore a hunter's garb, but with a red cloak that amply hid the majority of her features. Under the dimly lit hall, her hair appeared to be light brown tucked into a sideswept ponytail. She had the sort of face where, if it wasn't for the fact that she was holding them all at gunpoint, she would be the sort of lady you'd expect to bake cookies every Sunday.
"M-mom?" Prompto stuttered, hands raised in surrender. "Wasn't that Dad back there at the hangar doors? What are you guys doing here? What's going on?"
Gladio and Ignis shot puzzled glances at each other somehow at the mention of "mom and dad" from the blonde. After the whole revelation about his origins the rest of the party had already made peace with the fact that his parents might not even exist. 5 years of driving Noctis to and from Prompto's house, and there was hardly the presence of anyone else living there. Ignis always thought it was strange, but Noctis pointed out his own father was the same way; so he never brought it up again. And yet here she was, the fictitious Mrs. Argentum.
"I could say the same for you, young man!" The woman approached him angrily and dropped the gun, heels clicking with fury against the steel platform. Ignis dodged the charging woman without thinking, allowing her to be face to face with her son.
Prompto reeled back like a kid that was expecting the grounding of his life, eyes shut and expecting to be hit, but opened in shock when the woman wrapped him into a hug.
"Thank goodness you're alright." She sobbed, face nestled into the crevice of his neck. "I never wanted you to have to come back here again."
"…I know." Prompto whispered. He didn't want to come here either.
"Are you hurt?" The woman looked up to tearful eyes when she realized he began trembling in her arms.
"No, I'm fine, I'm fine…" Prompto repeated, suddenly feeling overwhelmed. By emotions, by fatigue, by… well, everything. "I'm just so happy to see you… But Noct, he's… The Crystal just… I… I-I'm…"
"Prompto!" Gladio shouted.
The blonde seemed to wilt on the spot, and everyone jerked in reaction but the woman was the one who caught him. The mother and son slumped to the ground, and after a moment of silence, she looked up and spoke.
"You must be Ignis and Gladio. Prom has said many good things about you." She lowered her head in a half-bow, while clutching her son in her arms. "You have my gratitude as well as my apologies, Sir Ignis. Lord Amicita. Thank you for taking care of my son and I'm sorry for my earlier rudeness."
Gladio was taken aback for a moment. This was the last place he expected a formal address.
"Don't sweat it." Gladio replied. "I'm just glad to see someone other than those creepy MT's all over the place."
The woman twitched at the statement, but held a thankful smile regardless. Realizing what he had just said, Gladio opened his mouth in apology but was cut short by his comrade.
"Miss Argentum," Ignis started. "Would it be improper of me to ask for your name?"
"Not at all." She gratefully allowed Gladio to take carry Prompto. "My name is Somalia Argentum, but please call me Soma. I'm sure you have many questions, but I would like to take care of my son first."
"Of course." Ignis said. "We share the same sentiment."
"But the Crystal…" And Noctis. Gladio wanted to add, but stopped himself.
"The crystal will not go anywhere." Somalia dusted herself off and motioned the two to follow. "I'll have this place secured, please get some rest as well. Let's talk over a meal. I'm sure you could all use one."
She trotted ahead, picking up her gun along the way and speaking to fully robed soldiers whose only reply was a nod. They stood at each end of the entrance, and Soma glanced back at the Crownsguard with anticipation.
"An elegant woman." Ignis remarked, following the sound of her heels.
"Yeah, not what I was expecting from the big mama bird of our chocobo over here." Gladio grunted, shifting Prompto over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and followed along.