Note: This chapter marks the end of the content we see in Episode:Ignis, outside the scenes in the credits and alternate ending. I did take some liberties with the scene before the Crystal, adding some more details between Noct Ignis' interaction. There will probably be just one more chapter in Zegnautus Keep... hopefully. Just like in the game, this place just keeps going on on on... but I simply must get them through soon, so Ravus can start trying to woo Ignis :-P
Chapter 4 – The One Who Defied Fate
As the group rode in the elevator, Prompto turned to Ravus with a smile on his face and said, "Dude, thanks! For a moment there, I thought I was a goner! It totally would have sucked turning into a daemon. There would've been no more riding Chocobos in the sunshine for me." He then wrapped his arm around the other three men, whipped out his camera and exclaimed, "This calls for a photo! Look alive everyone!"
Despite himself, Ravus found that Prompto's energy, his positive outlook despite dire circumstances, was really growing on him. When he had first encountered him and Gladiolus, he was expecting to find Prompto's liveliness insufferable. In spite of almost being turned into a daemon and losing himself, he was joking around and shooting pictures as if nothing had ever happened. In addition, it was remarkable that Prompto was still as spirited as he was, as Ravus remembered from his sister that victims cured of the Starscourge still felt a residual burning sensation throughout their bodies and a general malaise for up to several days afterward.
"So, Ravus, what you did back there… you saw Luna, didn't you?" Noct said knowingly. "Does that mean you are the new Oracle?"
"I did. She faced her fate without fear nor hesitation. Always with a smile on her face. Even after her death, the work of the Oracle will continue on. Along with her unexpected gift, Luna also gave me a new lease on life. I only hope I can live up to her expectations and do her memory justice," Ravus answered earnestly, then turned toward Noct. "She truly did care for you… I always looked upon you with contempt, as a spoiled brat who did not appreciate the sacrifices she made for you. However, she showed me that I was mistaken. Judging by the brief time we have traveled together, you are as much a product of cruel fate as I am. For that, I must ask for your forgiveness, Noct."
"Ravus," Noct said, placing his hand on Ravus' shoulder. "There's no need to apologize. Heck, I probably would've felt the same way if I was in your shoes. I always knew you were a good guy deep down inside. Luna loved and trusted you, after all."
"Thank you," Ravus said.
Suddenly, the somber moment was interrupted. "Gladio, what's with the long face? Liven up dude!" Prompto nudged him, smiling, after noticing the scowl on his face in the picture he had just taken.
"It's…nothing," Gladio growled. "Let's just focus on saving Iggy."
The elevator slowed and stopped. As the group exited, Prompto prodded Gladio further, joking, "Like I said before, I think someone's still upset about what went down during Operation Bust-a-Base."
"By the Gods, Prompto," Noctis began laughing uncontrollable, cracking a smile for the first time since he regained unconsciousness aboard The Phoenix. "You're right! Somebody got his ass handed to him! Hahaha!"
"Shut it, you guys. I wasn't feeling very good that day," Gladio shot back.
"Suure," Noct said in jest.
Ravus smirked but prudently chose to keep out of their argument for now, knowing that he was not yet close enough with the group to join them in their quips. The White Wolf was confident in his abilities and combat prowess and knew that he could beat Gladiolus again a million times over. Until the larger, physically stronger man learned incorporate wit and strategy into his approach in battle rather than relying on brute strength alone, Ravus was sure he would continue to best Gladio in battle.
Unlike my cunning fox, Ravus thought to himself, once again fantasizing about the dance Ignis weaved around him in battle, gracefully deflecting and punishing every blow he threw at him. His sleek, lithe form, the warmth that radiated from him whenever he leaned in close as they traded blows. The intoxicating scent of oak moss, patchouli, and an underlying hint of lilies, blended together with the sweet musk of his sweat that wafted over him as Ignis leaned over him, one of his spell-daggers stuck in his magitek arm. The scent that caused Ravus to come back to his senses and free him from the grief-stricken rage that ensnared him upon seeing his beloved sister lying dead next to Noctis.
Clearing his mind of his daydream, Ravus looked at the corridors that lay before him. There were three different directions the group could go, straight ahead, to the left or to the right. The problem was, where would Ardyn have taken Ignis?
"What are we waiting for?" Gladio said, losing his patience. "Which way, Ravus?"
"Hmm," Ravus pondered and then suggested. "My guess is that Ardyn would have taken your friend into the dungeons. Let us head that way first."
Ravus started heading toward the left but was stopped by a familiar bark. Turning to the corridor directly ahead from the elevator, Ravus saw Pryna at the end of the hallway, panting, gazing at him expectantly with her deep blue eyes. She turned around eagerly and sat back down, as if she were beckoning him to follow her.
He turned and looked back at Noctis and his friends, who were looking at him in anticipation. Once again, it appeared as though he was the only one who could see and hear Pryna.
"Let's go!" Noct said, the worry for Ignis apparent on his face.
"Of course. On second thought, let us proceed straight ahead. Something is telling me your friend is that way," Ravus said quickly.
"I hope you're right," Gladio muttered.
As Pryna led them through the many convoluted twists and turns of the labyrinthine Zegnautus Keep, Ravus was again struck by how empty and desolate the megafortress was. It was surreal to see the Keep, usually bustling with the activity of scientists and the magitek infantry like a hive of bees, utterly devoid of life. The corridors were silent except for their echoing footsteps and the buzzing of the lights powered by magitek energy. Again, as in the Flora research sector they had passed through earlier, the atmosphere felt heavy with an underlying sense of dread and terror. Clearly, the corruption of the Starscourge had extended encompass all of Zegnautus Keep, perhaps even all of Gralea. All because of Niflheim's lust for power.
Ignoring his unease, Ravus pressed onward after Pryna. At this point, he was blindly following the white dog. He thought he knew Zegnautus Keep like the back of his hand, however, Pryna led him through twists and turns he swore he did not even know existed. It appeared as though the rumors of secret passageways accessible only the highest of the Imperial hierarchy were true, and somehow, Pryna was able to access them. If he lost sight of her, he knew they would be hopelessly lost within the labyrinth. What was even more remarkable was the fact that despite the air being heavy with the Starscourge, no one, no thing, was confronting them to attack them, as if they were being held at bay by an unseen force.
The group emerged into the vacant hangar bay of Zegnautus Keep. Ravus was somewhat disappointed to see that it was just as empty here as it was the rest of the megafortress, as he had avoided landing The Phoenix there due to the heavy security that was normally present in the hangar. Numerous MAX units and tanks flanked either side of the hangar, silent sentinels over the dead megafortress.
"Whoa, this place is huge!" Prompto said. "I so wish we had more time. Imagine, me in one of those MAX units, it'd be so cool!"
"This place is unnerving," Ravus said to himself. Seeing the hanger filled him with a sense familiarity and of impending doom, almost as if he had suffered some terrible fate here in another lifetime. "Let us not linger here for too long. The central elevator is just beyond here."
"I agree, no time to lose. This place gives me the creeps," Noct said, cautiously scanning the environment for an ambush, as if he was expecting a fight.
"Wusses," Gladio taunted.
"Ah, the central elevator. From here, we can easily access any part of the Keep we need to," Ravus said.
"Hey, guys, do you hear that?" Prompto said.
The sounds of an arduous conflict raged above them, reverberating throughout the chamber that housed the central elevator. Blades seethed through the air and clashed against one another. Additionally it sounded as if the very elements were fighting against each other above them: flames erupted and exploded, lightning crackled through the air, and fierce blizzard winds lashed through the air. The zings of warp-striking and phasing were spliced throughout the cacophony of the battle.
"What, warp-striking? But how?" Noct said in disbelief.
"The top level… that is where the Empire is housing the Crystal," Ravus said.
"I've got a bad feeling about this. Hurry!" Gladio said.
Not wasting any time, Ravus and the group ran alongside Pryna into the central elevator. They remained silent in anticipation as they ascended.
After what seemed like a decade, the elevator stopped. The group ran down a corridor flanked by bright white lights, Pryna leading the way.
At the end of the hall, it appeared as though a war had taken place right before the Crystal's presence. Piles of smoldering debris, shattered concrete, twisted metal, and broken glass bore testament to the fierce battle that had just taken place moments before.
As Pryna cantered across the battlefield and sat in front of the Crystal, Ravus turned his attention to the combatants who had caused so much devastation in the wake of their battle. Ravus' heart skipped a beat as he let out a gasp in distress. One of them was none other than his beautiful, cunning little fox, Ignis.
He stood, hunched over, holding his eyes, panting as if he had just fought through hell and back. To his dismay, he saw that Ignis was wearing the Ring of the Lucii, the very thing that had rejected Ravus and taken away his arm. Although it looked as though the Ring had bequeathed Ignis with its powers, it had done so at a terrible price. The purple flames that licked at his eyes faded away, leaving those striking emerald eyes scarred and shut. Additionally, it appeared as though those flames had coursed through Ignis' veins like invigorated but cursed blood, scorching his skin and leaving behind an ashen pallor laced with smoldering embers. The normally prim and proper chamberlain was completely disheveled, dirty blonde hair hanging down, and framing his face. Ravus bemused that this wild, fiery appearance suited him, if it wasn't for the fact that he was near death.
Ignis fell to the ground on his hands and knees from sheer exhaustion. Ravus bared his teeth in anger as he saw the identity of the remaining combatant on the field, none other than the menace, Ardyn. The red haired fiend staggered forward, stretching his hand out toward Ignis, saying "The best laid plans, eh? It may have eluded me for now, but rest assured: I shall have my revenge." With that, Ardyn toppled forward and dissipated into a black and purple cloud of daemonic miasma.
Ignis collapsed to the ground, sobbing and moaning in agony, tearing a hole into Ravus' heart as he did so. Seeing the others looking at Ignis in shock and concern, Ravus buried his emotions, kept his voice straight and said, "You three go tend to your friend. I will guard the rear to ensure we are not attacked by the Empire or otherwise." While Ravus wanted nothing more than to rush forward and join them in helping Ignis, he figured prudence would be the best approach in his hunt for his desired mate. He did not want to frighten the fox or his friends in his eagerness. Instead, he chose to stand back and observe the intricacies of the relationships Ignis shared with his fellow comrades.
"Ignis!" Noct yelled, warping forward and leaning down next to Ignis.
"…Noct? But how?" Ignis asked softly, as Gladio and Prompto caught up to Noct.
"Ravus. He lent us a hand, if you can believe it," Prompto replied.
"What the hell were you thinking?!" Gladio cried. Ravus was surprised to hear Gladio's grief-stricken plea. Gladio gazed upon his Ignis with tears in his eyes, trying to choke them back. Ravus did not like the way Gladio looked at Ignis. He could have sworn that Gladio was looking at Ignis like an old possessive lover, like he belonged to him. However, Ignis did not seem to respond or reciprocate his impassioned plea, though maybe it was because Ignis was delirious with pain.
Perhaps it is my mind playing tricks on me, Ravus thought to himself as he continued to watch the interaction.
Prompto began crying too, "How could we let this happen?" Prompto, unlike Gladio, appeared to have a respectful, almost childlike, grief toward Ignis' plight. Perhaps he thought of Ignis more like an older brother or even a parental figure. With as much responsibility as Ignis took in looking out for the groups' physical well-being, Ravus would not be surprised if that was the case.
The most poignant of interactions appeared to be between Noct and Ignis. He propped Ignis up, held him and caressed him. Gazing at Ignis with tears in his eyes, he cried, "How could I let this happen? This is all my fault."
Ignis, gasping in pain, tried to gaze into Noct's eyes despite being unable to see. Many emotions flooded over Ignis' face as he lay there on the edge of death, tears streaming down his ashen face from his scarred eyes, being cradled by Noct, the object of his devotion and loyalty. After seeing Ignis fight tooth and nail against him in Altissia, Ravus suspected that he had been willing to fight to the death for Noctis against Ardyn. Although they did not outwardly express it, the way they spoke to each other, looked at each other and the body language the king and his chamberlain displayed toward each other spoke more words than volumes could. Instead of feeling anger as he did toward Gladio, Ravus felt a fondness toward the strong bond of love and devotion the two shared with each other.
Despite the myriad of emotions his face displayed, the only thing Ignis had the strength to say was his name, "Noooct…"
Noct, sobbing, wiped away Ignis' tears, and brushed his hair out of his face, much like a gentle lover would. Noct looked Ignis' face with a sense of hopelessness and despair at the misfortune that had befallen his beloved chamberlain. Noct said in between sobs, "If I'm really some kind of savior, then why can't I save the ones I love? I'm sorry."
Noct turned toward the rest, not daring to let go of Ignis for this intense brief moment and said, "You guys have stayed with me this whole time… and all it's done is caused you pain." Noct picked up Ignis' ashen hand, caressing it for a moment before taking the Ring of Lucii off of it. With conviction, Noct firmly put the ring on, a blue light shining from it in response. Noct looked up in determination and declared, "Not anymore. All that ends now."
Turning to the Crystal and extending his hand toward it, he both pleaded and commanded, "Please… lend me your strength! Help me protect my friends!"
With that, Pryna howled and there was a flash of light that expanded in front of the Crystal. In an instant, Lunafreya was standing where Pryna was just a second before, holding the Trident of the Oracle. The blue light of the Crystal flowed out from behind her, enveloping her. Smiling, she extended her trident toward Ignis and Noct. The Crystal's light curled and laced along her trident. As the light channeled through her trident, it became flecked with sylleblossom petals. The light and sylleblossom petals flowed toward the pair and swirled around Ignis. Amazingly, his ashen skin and scorched eyes melted away, healing him of the worst of his wounds. Other than some of the deeper scars and nicks around his eyes and face, Ignis was completely healed.
Ravus rubbed his eyes, unable to believe what he was seeing. As before on The Phoenix, time seemed to slow down and stop, the atmosphere around him cooling and darkening. The Crystal's light and Luna, however, shown as brightly as they had before, making them all the more striking.
"My dear brother," Luna said, smiling. "Before you lies the humble, blessed servant of the King chosen by the Crystal, he who was ready to sacrifice everything to save his King. The blessed servant, after seeing the vision I sent him of what was to befall his beloved King, had the courage to fight against destiny and defy fate. Little did he know that the King is not the only one he would save from a terrible fate." Luna winked with a giggle and, briefly, a vision that would haunt his nightmares invaded Ravus' mind.
He saw the King and his retinue in the hanger they had traveled through to save Ignis. Everything appeared the same except his dear Ignis was blind, his beautiful eyes permanently scarred shut, following the others with an ornate cane extended before him to guide his path. The group stopped before the large hangar doors. Ardyn's ominous, mocking voice boomed over the Keep's speaker system, "Your Majesty, your precious Crystal awaits you. To liven things up, I thought I'd take you on a stroll down memory lane. Of course, memories decay with time."
As the hangar door slowly opened, Ravus cried out in despair as to what emerged from behind them. It was a deformed visage of himself, clothing tattered, towering over the others, half human, half daemon. Corrupted by the Starscourge, the left half of the defiled Ravus was covered with what look to be pitch black obsidian. A huge horn crowned the left side of his head and his magitek arm was replaced by a massive, clawed arm with massive spikes extending from his shoulder and elbow. The scaly black scourge that covered the left side of his chest pulsated like a heart. From the right, more human side of himself, the black Starscourge flowed down from the corners of his eye and mouth, evidence to the misery he was surely experiencing. "No!" Ravus yelled as he saw himself, moaning and then screaming in daemonic agony, staggering out of the hangar doors toward Noct and his friends, pleading, "Kill me…end it…"
"Is that Ravus?" Gladio asked incredulously.
"Or what's left of him." Prompto replied in horror.
"Dammit," Noct muttered as he warp-striked Ravus, barely even scratching the daemonic mockery of himself.
"Ardyn…curse you…" the daemonic Ravus growled as he staggered, then zipped across with hangar with unnatural speed, easily knocking the four off of their feet. Gladio staggered up first, wound up, and launched himself in a cyclone with his great sword. Noct linked in at the end of Gladio's attack with a jumping slice from his Engine Blade. Prompto shot multiple times from afar, but despite these strikes, the daemonic Ravus seemed to be undaunted. He plunged clawed arm into the ground, causing black and purple energy to snake up from the ground and strike Noctis. The scourge covering Ravus started to gleam purple as the fight continued.
"We're in for a long fight," Gladio said grimly, leaping quickly back to avoid a strike from Ravus' clawed arm. Gladio punished his attack with a crushing blow down on his arm with his great sword, causing daemon Ravus to scream out in pain.
Seeing Ignis helplessly stagger about, blindly slashing at the air with one of his daggers, tripping over his own feet at times, himself as a heartless daemon on top of him, unable to control his actions and attacking the helpless retainer and the others…it was all more than he could bear to watch.
"Enough!" Ravus cried, vainly covering his eyes with his hands and wishing not to see any more of the horrible vision.
Thankfully, the vision left as soon as it had come. When Ravus opened his eyes, Luna was still there, standing before the Crystal. She said, "The humble and blessed servant who defied fate to save his King also saved you, my dear brother. He has also changed the course of destiny for many others, nay, that of all of Eos. Fate has been ripped away from the whims of the Astrals and given to mankind.
"I, along with the Crystal, have listened to Noctis' command to heal his friend, not only for him, but also for you, Ravus. For I am not the only one who deserves contentment and romance. I will finally get to be with Noctis while he enters into Reflection within the Crystal. I see how you look at Ignis, my dear brother. You may be able to hide your emotions from his friends, but you cannot hide them from me," Luna said with a laugh and winked at Ravus.
"Perceptive as ever, my dear sister," Ravus chuckled, knowing how his sister could always tell how he was feeling just by looking at him. "Thank you, Luna. I am forever in your debt."
"Continue the work of the Oracle, Ravus. Heal the afflicted and keep the scourge at bay until Noctis' return," Luna said.
Time began to flow again.
Nodding to Gladio and Prompto, Noctis released his grip on Ignis. Gladio held him up eagerly in Noct's place, with Prompto grasping Ignis' shoulder in support. Ignis slowly opened his eyes, squinting against the light he was able to see again suddenly.
Luna stepped aside Noct warped to platform in front of the Crystal, embracing him and kissing him on the cheek. Noct, unable to see Luna, turned back to look at Ignis one more time. Ignis nodded in approval, knowing that Noct had to go into the Crystal to ascend as the True King. Noct gave a determined nod back in response, then turned and entered into the Crystal with a clear mind and purpose. Luna giggled and entered into the Crystal, following Noct.
Ravus walked forward toward the group. Ignis, still exhausted from the battle, slipped into unconsciousness. Gladio and Prompto looked at the Crystal in shock, seemingly unable to comprehend what just happened.
"Uh, so, Noct just disappeared into the Crystal?" Gladio asked, still holding Ignis closely. As Ravus expected, there was no mean of Pryna or Luna.
"I guess so. Man, that sucks. What do we do now?" Prompto replied, getting up and peering into the Crystal, trying to see if he could see Noctis.
"Is it not obvious to you?" Ravus said to the duo, walking past them to look at the Crystal. "Just as my sister did, Noctis has embraced his calling and willingly entered into Reflection. Only by his hand, with the Light of Providence gained from within the Crystal can the True King cleanse our star from its scourge forever. As it is, Ardyn is not dead, merely indisposed. I suggest we leave this place and head back to The Phoenix quickly."
Seeing the shadows moving around the perimeter of the chamber, kept at bay by the Crystal's light, the others quickly acknowledged their agreement.
Ravus bent down next to Ignis and extended his magitek arm, offering to Gladio, "Allow me to carry Ignis. It would be my honor to bear the weight of one who showed such devotion to the King."
"No, I've got him," Gladio said brusquely, snatching Ignis up and away from Ravus, holding him close to his chest. He glared down at Ravus as he said, "He's our friend. I've been with him through thick and thin and we practically raised Noct together. Carrying him is the least I can do."
"So be it," Ravus replied, ignoring the larger man's display of dominance. "Keep up and don't get in my way."
Ravus led the trio into the central elevator, explaining, "We will have no choice but to go through the hangar again. There is a more straight-forward path from there back to the Flora research sector."
"So, Ravus, we're, like, really in your debt," Prompto said. "Since Noct is gone, I really don't know what we're gonna do now. Well, maybe Ignis will know once he wakes up."
Prompto paused briefly in thought, then continued, "Hopefully you won't mind Gladio, but since you helped us out so much, is there any way we can repay you, Ravus?"
Gladio shot Prompto a look, but said begrudgingly, "Yeah, I guess I should've trusted you. You've proven you're a man of your word in any case. If it wasn't for you, Ignis would be gone. I'm down to repay the favor."
"Well, if I may impose, come with me to Tenebrae," Ravus replied. "I worry that the Empire will brand me a traitor and attack Tenebrae. I could use capable fighters such as yourselves to stave off the impending attack. When I fought beside him, I observed that Ignis is an accomplished tactician. He could guide us in building up our defenses around Tenebrae prior to the attack and planning strategies for the upcoming battle. Perhaps with your help, Tenebrae can finally throw off the shackles of Imperial control and become her own country again. If you choose to accept my proposal, you will stay at Fenestala Manor as honored guests, not only now, but anytime you visit Tenebrae in the future."
"Oh man, Gladio, we would get to stay in Fenestala Manor? The landscape there is so cool, just think of all the photos I could take there! And we'd get to enjoy all of that famous Tenebraen cuisine!" Prompto exclaimed, barely able to contain his excitement.
"Well, I guess that means we're in," Gladio said with slight resignation. "I just hope Ignis agrees with our decision."
"I'm sure he will, Gladio. Remember, he's still trying to recreate that dessert for Noct. What better place to learn how to make it than in Tenebrae? " Prompto replied.
"Hah, the King will have a nice surprise for him once he decides to come outta that Crystal," Gladio mused.
"Then, it's settled." Ravus said. "We shall depart for Tenebrae posthaste once we board The Phoenix."
