Author's note: So I just finished Episode Ardyn and OH BOY was I right about what happened with Ardyn in the past, fortunately it wasn't necessary to do any major changes to my overrule story. So that was the reason for my little hiatus, I needed some information on the Lucis Caelum bloodline. I know the novel Dawn of the Future is coming but I don't intend to wait for it, been waiting two years for these freaking game to finish it's story. Besides, for what I can see the novel might change some things about the ending.

But I digress, enjoy the chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy

Chapter 3

Angelgard's Warden

"Aaaaaannnd that should do it" said Cid while doing the final arrangements to the Royal vessel. The little boat had been beaten up by some goblins as soon as Noctis touched shores, just minor damages.

Iris breathed on the soft sea breeze trying to calm her nerves on the battle that she was soon to fight. She turn around to see her friends and around fifteen Kingsglaives paking their equipment to head to Insomnia and help put everything in order. Lucky for them Cid was there to disassemble some generators, even for a man of his age he was quite active thanks to the Sun's warm.

"Alright, lads." Cid approached with a smile on his face and throwing the keys to Gladio "The little ship is ready, I took the liberty to load some good equipment and armors for you"

"Thanks, pops" said Prompto giving him a thumbs up but he only got a sour look form the old man.

"Make sure not to die there, Blondie. Wouldn't want to give the bad news to my granddaughter" With that, Cid just went to help the glaives with some machines.

Iris and his friends started boarding the boat but she was called by a familiar voice.

"Iris, wait" Said Libertus Ostius, he was one of the oldest Kingsglaives and a good friend "Here, take this, you might need it"

Libertus handed her a set of two blades that she didn't recognize.

"Does where Nyx's. I'm sure he would be honored for you to carry it to battle"

Iris took the blades and put them on her vest "Thanks, Libertus."

The man nod and turn around to face the Kingsglaives "Glaives, attention!" Libertus ordered with commanding voice and the soldiers quickly made formation. "We had served the crown so far with loyalty during the Long Night. But now, we are face we another task, we will put everything ready for the return of the King. Now, salute the warriors who will bring him home"

Libertus turned to Iris and the others and all the soldiers salute them "For Heart…" said Libertus.

"And honor!" The soldiers responded.

Iris returned the salute and the boat's engine started.

This was it, is was her moment to show her comrades what she learned during all those years in the darkness, she will make them proud.

A few minutes later Gladio stopped the engine for the four of them to get their gear ready. Potions, eathers, Phoenix downs, elixirs and a bunch of physical buffers. There were four metal cases on deck and Iris opened one of them.

"This are the exosuits?" The woman asked.

"Not quite" said Gladio "This are the exosuits V3, Cid couldn't have them ready before we headed out to Insomnia, the one you had there is Noct's. Use it, it adapts to the user's size.

Iris noded and they put on the armor. Indeed, there were quite different from the old model, less robust, the color was change to jet black with some details on gray, the boots were equipped with speed boosters and impact reducers to protect from falls and allow better hand to hand combat. Their helmets materialized on their heads as soon as they thought about it.

The engine was started again and they arrive to Angelgard in a couple of minutes. Iris stepped out of the boat and her friends followed.

"Wow" said Prompto "I don't think I ever been in a place this scary, is like this island was dead from the very beginning"

"Even I can feel something is not quite right with this place" Ignis confirmed.

Has the vanguard, Iris and Gladio walk at the front while Prompto scouted the place with the scope on his assault rifle.

The island was a wasteland of rock and cinder, completely unfit for anyone to live in, the massive rock formations had the shape of devil's horns and a little further they saw an open area.

Gladio watch Iris and nod before slowly approaching the circle. The place was all surrounded by giant swords, a testimony of the great battle the Glaives fought against the Great One Bahamut.

Iris took a few steps further from the group and summoned the Sword of the Mystic. She look at his friend and then she hit the ground we the point of the blade. The metallic sound spread throughout the wasteland and Iris used it has encouragement.

"My name is Iris Amicitia. I had come along with my comrades and friends to reclaim the soul of King Noctis Lucis Caelum and return him to the human plain." Iris almos hesitate when she pronounced the next words "He doesn't belong to the gods anymore"

For a few seconds nothing happened but the atmosphere grew heavy and he temperature started to fall drastically and then, something massive came down from the sky and spreading dust and rocks all over the place.

That thing was a giant made of metal, his face looked like a mask and had more arms that Iris could count.

"Kingsglaives of Lucis" said the giant with a powerful voice "I'm Hecantocheires. You are trespassing on the realm beyond at this very moment."

"Must be another Astral from another dimension" said Ignis with caution.

As it like the Astral heard the blind man he said "The barrier between worlds had been severely damaged by the battle between he King and The Usurper. I was called forth by King Bahamut himself to serve has a guardian so no mortal or spirit coul cross between realms."

Iris took one step without forth without hesitation "I'm very sorry to ask you this, Hecantocheires. But we had travel here to free King Noctis from the claws of death, this is one of a lifetime opportunity and we are not going to stop by anything"

"Then, your destiny had been decided" The Astral's metal surface started to glow red and all his hands turned into fists.

The four heroes summoned their respective Royal Arm and prepared for battle.

-O-

Something was outstandingly bad with this dream like palace. Regis and Noctis thought this when they tried to enter the Ballroom but ended up in the Garden, but it wasn't like they will accomplish anything if they stood there.

Regis had been silence the whole time after their experience with the mirror, he wasn't a man of showing his emotions, he couldn't allow it for his son and his kingdom, in here that limitation was non-existent, he was finally free of his duties and yet here he was with Noctis.

Both men continued throughout the beautifully crafted wood where he had spent so much time and had so many good memories.

They both stopped when they saw something from the corner of the eye, when they turned around they saw a little girl in a black dress running while giggling. Apparently she was trying to hide and decided to climb a tree and sit there in silence, she actually was quite good on hiding, Noctis thought it looked like a little ninja.

"It seems like little Iris knew the garden way better than me" said Regis while looking to the little girl, Noctis gave him a strange look "What, you don't recognize her? Well, I guess the memories from our childhood are the hardest to recall"

It was then when a boy version of Noctis emerged from the trees, obviously looking for Iris. Yes, Noctis remembered those days, when both of them will play at the palace, she was like the sister he never had and now that he think about it, she might had been his first real friend. Sure he had met Luna a few years before, but Iris was maybe the first person ever who he could spend time with, she was always there when Noctis was down. Sometimes he was just trying to kill time with a boring book or video game and then she just might barged in like she live on the damn place and drag him out to play with her, it was quite the hilarious situation.

The little Noctis looked lost while the little Iris was struggling to hold the laughter until the branch she was sitting on broke with a loud crack and she fell right on top of the prince knocking both to the ground in a mess of limbs.

"Ouch. Where the hell did you come from?" Little Noctis asked while trying to regain senses.

"I was right on top of you, Dummy. I don't know if I'm really good at hide and seek or your senses are awful" Iris look at Noctis with a corny grin.

Little Noctis got on his feet giving a sight "Well at least this is funnier than just stand around not doing anything all day."

"Well that's your problem, you never go out of this place and make friends. Don't you ever feel alone in here sometimes?"

"Of course but I try not to think about it, besides, you always come here so I think that's more than enough"

"Oh, I'm more than enough, you silly prince and don't you ever forget it"

"Aye Aye Ma'am." Said Noctis imitating the Kingsglaive salute and surprisedly that made King Regis chuckle.

The two children disappeared leaving both men alone again.

"Did you just laughed?" Noctis asked looking at his father while raising an eyebrow.

"It's been a while hasn't it? Sometimes I forget that you were a boy once. I'm actually happy that Iris was there for you when I wasn't."

Noctis just look away feeling his face getting warmer "She was a good friend"

"But what was different about her? Why didn't you pushed her away?"

"Well she was Gladio's sister, she always was around. I remembered one time she just barged in the middle of one of my training sessions and we both escaped from the room to play with Umbra, Gladio was so pissed off he made me run around the garden for three hours"

"A what punishment this she had?"

"Punishment? Little twat went into hiding right before Gladio found us"

Then Regis started laughing at the top of his lungs "You were tricked by the power of a woman, that's so typical."

"Right, right, Mr. Tonberry we have to keep going." Both men kept walking.

"Tonberry?" Regis asked.

"Sometimes Iris and I would call you that, you looked like a tonberry with your back bended a your big cape" Noctis responded with a grin.

Regis look at his son with his eyes wide open "By Leviathan's wrath, you kids were little devils weren't you?"

"Only when you weren't watching" Noctis shrugged.

"What does that mean?"

"Come on, let's keep going"

"Noctis, what does THAT mean?"

The younger King had to hold his laughter while walking a few steps from his father.

-O-

"HOLY CRAP!" Prompto yelled when he was quite literally bitch slapped by one of Hecatoncheires arms.

Iris and Gladio manage to block two of the Astral's giant fists while Ignis sliced off three arms with a single cut of his blade.

Iris tried to attack one of the giant's leg but she was punch in the back , she felt like she was hit by a truck and if it wasn't for the exosuit she probably would had had a few broken bones.

The Astral started to punch Gladio that tried to block every blow with his shield but he already felt overwhelmed by the almost bullet speed of the punches and his knee bended due to the pressure.

Prompto jump back to the fray throwing his star on top of the Astral and warped in the air, it was amazing how the young man was already used to warping so easily. The blond then unload the whole magazine of his assault rifle on the giant's face making a repetitive metallic sound.

Hecatoncheires retaliated with one of his fist and Prompto use a barrier, that save him from the whole impact but it did send him flying again. Iris laid one of Nyx's blade on the floor and throwed the other one to Prompto. She warped mid air and grab his friend by the hand just so they warped back to the floor where the first blade was.

"Thanks" said Prompto.

"Don't worry about it." Iris activated the radio on her helmet to communicate with her three companions. "Guys, are you on for one of my plans?"

"As long as it doesn't involve me getting punched again"

"Can't guarantee it. Anyway, Ignis you remember that one-hit move you tried to teach me with a katana? Can you prepare one, please?"

"On it" Ignis respond while putting his sword on the sheath.

"Prompto, keep Hecatoncheires busy for ten seconds, and Glady, follow my lead"

"Oh boy, I knew you would said that." Prompto sight and put another magazine on his gun. The young man approach the Astral while shooting "Hey knucklehead, you want a piece of me? Come get it!"

The Astral made a jump onto Prompto and Iris shot lightning at him to slow him down, while that was happening, Ignis was holding a stance like he was about to draw his sword, a red aura started to engulf him.

Gladio came near Iris and both of them acquired a the same stance, holding their greatswords like they both were imitating the other.

"Ready?" Iris asked.

"You know it"

Both of them launched themself at the Astral that was about to punch Prompto and blocked the attack with both their swords. Prompto didn't waste any time, he materialized his bazooka and shot the Astral right in the face.

Iris use what little distraction the smoke gave her and past one of Nyx's blades to Galdio.

Both her brother hand her throw the blades on to the air, just above Hecatoncheires. Then they warped and with the force of gravity as their ally, they came down on the enemy with both their swords making a giant crosslash attack.

The metal on Hecatoncheires body showed a massive scratch in the shape of an X and the Astral looked dizzy.

"Do it now, Iggy!" Iris said.

The aura around Ignis suddenly disappeared and the blind man took a step forward that was actually a jump and with a single swing of his blade he slashed the body of the Astral, the blade went through him like a ghost and the wind stopped blowing for a second. Hecatoncheires just stood there for a few moments and then his body was separated in half on the waist and just to seconds later it fell to the ground and disappeared in a whirlwind of light.

Ignis couldn't quite appreciate the result of his deed but he could sense the surprise on his companions.

"Ignis…" asked Prompto.

"Yes?"

"Are you on steroids or what!?"

"It's called Zantetsuken. Quite powerful if you do it right, deathly if you make one single mistake."

"And that's why I didn't want it to learn it" Iris said crossing her arms "It's not worthy"

"Well it was worthy now, wasn't it?"

"Hey, guys. Come check this out" Gladio interrupted and when the other three turn around they saw a giant pillars of light that reached the sky right on top of the spot where Hecantocheires's met his demise.

"So this should be the entry to the Great Beyond, right?" Iris inquired "Hecantocheires said he was guarding it"

Ignis noded "It seems that way, but we should be careful, we don't know what kind of dangers we will encounter there."

"Iggy might have a point" said Gladio "First Garuda, then Phoenix and now Hecatoncheires I don't know what exactly did Ardyn do, but it clearly mesed the world's rules up, now we have Astrals from other worlds appearing out of nowhere, some are serving Bahamut and some are not. They might have dragged us into some kind of conflict of some sort."

"You mean a war of gods?" Prompto asked but nobody answered. They were all thinking the same thing, they might not survive this. It was a fight that was clearly out of their hands, a true battle with the gods themselves.

Iris clutch her hands into fists and started walking toward the light but stopped when her brother called to her.

"Glady. I don't want you to throw your life away because my own selfish desire. This was my oath to Noctis, one that I made years ago, and none of you guys have to carry that burden with me"

"Iris, we are in this together, we came here because we also want to get Noctis back" said Gladio "We made an oath too, we have to protect the King no matter what"

Iris smile to his brother "Is not exactly that oath I was referring to. But thank you, if it is your wish to accompany me I'll be glad to have all of you, besides, I don't think I can really take on an Astral by myself."

Ignis jump a few steps and gave Iris a thumbs up "Don't worry, Iris, we'll be there to take all the punches for you. You just have to worry about getting Noctis back"

Ignis sighted "I hope you're not meaning that literally, I don't have any intention to receive any punches, I'll use you has a meat shield first"

"Aww, I love you too buddy." Prompto laughed.

Iris gave her brother a reassuring look and the four of them stepped into the light.

Author's note: And that's a wrap. I really love writing ffxv fight scenes, the choreography and the moves feel so smooth and coordinated, I know I'm not the only one who thinks that way.

You might had already noticed but I'm mixing some aspects of others FF to spice things up, next chapter will be more story/drama driven.

If you enjoyed or hated this chapter, please review, every single opinion will only help to improve my writing and English, and I will appreciate it very much.

On a side note, Episode Ardyn is out right now which means that the Final Fantasy XV game is completed (officially), so please buy the Royal Edition and Episode Ardyn. If you can overlook the some failures in storytelling and development I'm sure you are gonna have a great time with this game and it will help Square Enix to keep developing games for this fantastic saga.

Walk tall, my friends