The start of a beautiful friendship! :D

Dawn had come. The city was still once more. Dust was thick in the air, creating a haze that the sun highlighted.

Nyx Ulric had dealt the Empire a crushing blow with his new powers, and their attention had all but entirely turned to him. The immediate threat to the Oracle had passed.

Even so, Ignis was uncomfortable letting her stand in the middle of the road in such an open area as she said her farewells. But… he was under her command at the moment, so he'd stopped at her request.

"We should move." Libertus echoed Ignis' thoughts. "It ain't safe here either."

Lady Lunafreya didn't make any sign she'd heard him.

"Hey… don't worry about Nyx." Libertus hesitated, looking very much like he was blinking back tears. "He can take care of himself."

Hollow words of denial. They all knew Ulric had likely already passed.

"Come on…" Libertus coaxed once more. He began hobbling back towards the car.

Lady Lunafreya stared at the city for a moment longer before turning to him. "No. We must part ways here."

Ignis took a step towards her. "With respect, Highness, my duty lies with the Prince as well. I need to locate him, just as you do." Noct would need him now more than ever.

Libertus, though – his injury would make him a liability, particularly since he was still without magic.

Ignis faced the Glaive. "Libertus, there will be many terrified refugees from the city. They stand a greater chance of surviving their trips with those such as you to assist them."

Libertus nodded. "You take care of our Queen, Scientia."

Lady Lunafreya still looked doubtful. "I need to travel in secrecy."

"Then my services are all the more required – your face is far more easily recognized than mine."

The Oracle paused. "Very well. Then let us not delay further."

The atmosphere in the car was heavy. Ignis suspected the Princess was much like himself in the regard of not instigating small talk, but this was something more.

There was only so long adrenaline could push back the impact of the day before, particularly now that they had nothing to do but dwell on their thoughts as the landscape passed by. And it didn't help that this bloody flu still wouldn't give him a moment of peace. He head's pounding had – if anything – increased since they'd left the city, and his body still felt chilled. It wouldn't take much to heat up the car, but he didn't want to make his traveling companion uncomfortable.

"Nyx and Libertus – they said your name was Scientia." Lady Lunafreya spoke for the first time, her voice soft yet audible in the confined space of the car. "Ignis Scientia?"

Unexpected for her to know his full name. "Yes."

The Princess was silent again for nearly half a minute. "I knew I recognized you. Though… you were quite bit younger in the picture I received."

"Pardon?" He had no idea he'd been included in Noct's letters to the Princess.

She simply nodded. "Noctis has mentioned you on occasion."

"Ah. I dread to think…"

The corners of her lips turned upwards. "I assure you, he said nothing too terrible. A few complaints about your insistence that he eat vegetables, but that was the worst of it."

Ignis sighed. "There is no battle more challenging than trying to convince His Highness to eat his greens."

That got a full smile, but she fell silent again. Ignis concentrated on not breathing in her direction.

This was possibly the best time to bring up what they needed to discuss. "Best we not take the car into a more populated area – it's bound to attract unwanted attention to us." They could leave it outside of towns when they stayed the night without much difficulty, but getting gas when they needed it was going to be more of a problem.

She didn't seem surprised. "We'll need supplies."

"Yes."

"Do we have any funds?"

"A small amount." Thank the Six the gil he'd planned on taking on the trip to Altissia was in his jacket and that he'd had the foresight to transfer it into his stolen Kingsglaive uniform. It wouldn't last them long, but it was a start. "I advise that we spend the night in Longwythe and prepare for the journey ahead." They would reach the rest area well before dark, but the added hours of daylight would be a welcome and needed bit of extra relaxation after the night of horrors they'd just experienced.

Lady Lunafreya turned to gaze out her window. "A wise idea."

They left the car behind a bolder that lay a ways off the road. Ignis imagined it wasn't the most pleasant of walks for Lady Lunafreya with the heat, but she voiced no complaints – he could only imagine the overly dramatic bemoaning that would have occurred had it been Noct and Prompto. Personally, Ignis was finding the heat almost comfortable with the chill still under his skin. His fever seemed to be dying down, but it wasn't entirely gone yet.

As they approached Longwythe, it became clear that they wouldn't have much in the way of selection – the "town" held only one inn, a diner, and couple of shop venders – but it would be enough.

Ignis paused just before the inn. "Best you remain here while I secure us lodging for the night."

"Will you not attract attention yourself?" The Princess eyed his stolen uniform.

"Undoubtedly. But news of Insomnia's fall will have reached this far. I'll be a simple refugee – not nearly as worth mention as the Oracle."

She conceded his point with a bow of her head. "Very well. I will stay."

It was downright odd having someone who actually listened to him this much.

The innkeeper did a double take concerning his clothes, but that was the extent of it. No questions – even when he requested a room for two – and given the placement of the inn's door, Ignis easily led the Princess to the second floor without her being seen.

He handed her the key as they reached the right room. "I will secure us some basic supplies if you wish to get settled."

She accepted the key. "Thank you."

Ignis sighed in relief as he made his way back down the stairs. There would be no rest for him yet, but at least he knew the Oracle was safe for the time being. Now he could focus on their other problems.

The room had cost 300 gil, leaving him with only 700 to pay for everything they else they would need. It wasn't enough.

Information was likely free, however, so he would start with gathering that from the proprietor of the diner across the street – he'd usually found the best informants to be where food was served.

"Hey!" the innkeeper called after him as he was about to cross the street. "Hey, son!"

Ignis stopped, turning to face the older man. Here came the questions, then…

"Ya look like you could use a new coat. Or a patch for that one." He gestured to the tear in the shoulder that Ignis himself had caused with his throwing knife when fighting the Glaive that owned the uniform.

"Indeed," Ignis said cautiously. Odd conversation starter.

The man tapped the counter he was leaning on. "Well, you're one of them Insomian elite fighters, right? We got a few pests 'round here we'd be happy to pay ya for takin' care of."

Intuitive man – assuming that he needed funds. It wasn't particularly hard to guess, given that he'd be automatically catalogued as a refugee. Refugees weren't generally wealthy.

Pests. Aggressive wildlife and daemons. He'd be getting no rest in the next few hours.

The advice was appreciated, though. "My thanks for the tip."

The innkeeper smiled. "The lad running Kenny's Diner will have the details, if you want 'em."

Ah. So his assumption about the diner had been correct.

Ignis set into a brisk walk across the road. The sooner he got this done, the better off they'd be.

Fun fact time! If you see the Luna bonus scenes from Brotherhood, Noct actually HAS sent pictures of the chocobros to her.