Chapter 10: Back to Altissia

Amy and the boys spent a few weeks finishing up tasks and hunts before they made their way to Altissia on Cid's vessel. As the days went on it was getting easier to get back in the swing of hunting. She forgot the terrors that Joel had put her through in just one night. Even the nightmares had gone away turning into "special" dreams with the one who took her virginity. It wasn't until the third week that the memories of that night came flooding back in an instant.

"Um…be right back…" she said to the boys one morning after they had packed up hunting.

They camped near the Vesperpool, but she ran straight for a large bush and unloaded everything that was in her stomach including the amazing breakfast Ignis had cooked. She stood there a little afterwards trying to catch her breath. It couldn't be Ignis' cooking. He always cooked things perfectly. Then again… she also rarely got sick. While she tried to think of what could make her sick she realized… she was two weeks late. She was never late. Her cycle worked like clockwork. Maybe sometimes a day or two off but that was it… never two weeks.

"N…no… I can't be…" she whispered as she put a hand on her stomach. Tears unwillingly came to her eyes as she realized that if she was pregnant it was not by the charismatic Chancellor, but the horrible and manipulative Captain that she thought was like a brother to her.

"Amy, are you alright?" Ignis' voice came from behind her. She didn't turn around. She took a breath hoping that he wouldn't hear the fear in her voice.

"Yes… I'm… fine." Her voice came out wavier than she had hoped. She knew he could sense it now. Even before he turned blind he was keen to these sorts of things.

"You don't sound fine." He told her softly. "You know you can tell me what's wrong."

She turned around with the tears still stinging her eyes and hugged him tightly. He was too sweet of a man to go through what he would have to go through in Altissia.

"First, I haven't… been completely honest… Ardyn wasn't the only person who was with me… He was the only one who was caring and safe about it… I was on edge when I came back… because Joel was the one who forced himself on me. He saw the hickey and decided that I was 'dirty' for losing it to a man like Ardyn willingly. He wants to take over this world and wanted to make me his queen but I refused. After he saw the love mark he dragged me into his bed chambers, forced me on the ground with MT soldiers and put them to sleep so I couldn't move. Then he had his way with me afterwards saying that once I have his child… that… he'd take the baby away and kill me."

Ignis frowned and came over to hug her. "Why didn't you tell me this?"

"You have so much to worry about I didn't want to add more to your burden…" she cried into his strong shoulders. "You've already fussed over me so much."

"This is something you should not keep to yourself, what if he showed up and tried something under our noses?"

"He… I don't think he can. He's still under Ardyn and he would never let the bastard near me with everything in his power. He promised me that. He may have planned out certain things I cannot reveal… horrible things… but for some reason, Chancellor Izunia cares about me and… I care about him. Which is why I am calling neutrality on the issue. Ardyn is the one who found me and cleaned me up. He's honestly more of a gentleman that you would first think. Problem is… I don't want to slow you four down if…"

"If…what?" he asked looking down at her with deep concern.

"There's… a big possibility that Joel may have gotten me pregnant." She said looking away. Ignis frowned and sighed.

"If you are then maybe you should stay in Caem with Iris. It will be safer there where you're not vulnerable to Joel finding you."

"Yes… but if I'm not there he could do something worse. I don't want to be responsible for one of you four getting killed…or…worse…" she protested. Though what was worse than killing? Ardyn was the one who would blind Ignis and make Noctis throw his best friend on the train. "I think… I should ask the person holding Luna to allow me to stay with her. At least then there's guards. I can explain the situation and they won't let Joel near me or Luna."

"If…you're sure."

She nodded with a smile. "Yes, I'm sure. But I want to spend at least one day in Altissia with the four of you before we do the business. It's still a little more than a week before Luna is scheduled to talk to the Hydrian. We have time to explore. I found some awesome places to check out while I was there. Amazing ingredients for recipes too." She said to him happily. She didn't want him to worry about her. She wanted him to be happy and be able to enjoy her smile as much as she could before his sight was taken away.

"Alright, if you want to be sure I can take you to a medical office. Just tell the others you have come down with a stomach virus and need to be looked at."

"Yes, thank you Ignis. I would like that a lot," she nodded.

They caught up with the others, packed the car and went off towards Cape Caem where a small clinic was. Ignis took her while the others socialized. About an hour later, she got the news she was dreading. She was indeed with child. Ignis suggested that she at least tell the others and she agreed. They were honestly pissed at her for not telling them about Joel, but didn't abandon them. Gladio was the one who was the angriest because he wasn't there to protect her.

"Gladio, you had Iris to protect. You can't be in two places at once." She reassured him.

"You were stuck in Altissia and we were countries away. You're saying the Chancellor wasn't there to stop it but he found you?"

"Well… he is the Chancellor… He had other things to do plus I'm sure Joel would have figured out ways to get around it. I was visiting Luna after all. The place was protected but Joel had his way in I'm sure of it. Pretty sure he would have killed the woman in charge if I wasn't there to stop him…"

"Yea but… Maybe specs is right about leaving you here with Iris… I mean it might not be safe for you…" the King suggested.

"If I don't go with you something bad might happen… he might kill one of you and destroy this world anyway… I should be safe with Luna. Besides, I have Ardyn's number to let him know what's going on. He won't let Joel anywhere near Luna or me. You guys have other more important things to worry about that you know I can't tell you about."

"And you're completely sure that it's not Ardyn's?" Prompto asked.

"Completely… he… there's a reason he can't risk having a child right now. Not one I can tell you." She explained.

"Right, well, we should go talk to Cid and be on our way." Ignis suggested. "The quicker we can get her to safety the better."

They made it to where Cid was waiting at the elevator and headed down to where the boat was waiting. It broke Amy's heart to not see Talcott waiting for them because she knew it was all her fault.

"I guess it's goodbye for now." Iris said to Noctis as they traveled down. He nodded with a smile but Amy hugged her tightly.

"Stay strong Iris. No matter what." She whispered so the others could not hear.

She smiled back at her. "I will don't worry." She nodded. It seemed as if Iris knew they might not see each other again. If everything went according to plan… the ten years of darkness would mean that she would never see anyone until… that fateful battle between Noctis and Ardyn. When they came down, Cor had a sullen look on his face.

"There's something I need to get off my chest." He told them.

"What's that?" Noctis asked.

"I'm sorry. Sorry I wasn't there for your father. I swore an oath to protect the king, but I wasn't strong enough to uphold it." He explained looking down.

Amy stayed silent clutching Kyoko. She couldn't say anything and she was sure it would weird Cor out if she tried to hug him. She had to remain neutral and silent.

"Ain't nothin' nobody could've done to stop what happened." Cid said. Amy winced. She could have done something…

"Yeah, I realize that." Noctis said. Ignis noted Amy's tense demeanor and put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Not even you could have done that." He whispered to her.

"But you need to realize just what you mean to the boys and even Amy by your side. I may not like that she's risking her life too but she's shown strength and loyalty to you."

Amy looked up. She didn't expect to be brought into the conversation like that… She didn't think… she was worthy to be seen like that.

"Yea, I do." Noctis nodded without a thought.

"Even if they can't solve your problems, you can't hide what's goin' on from 'em." Amy frowned and placed a hand on her stomach. Ignis was right to encourage her to tell them the truth. "It hurts like hell." Cid went on. "Remember, those ain't your bodyguards, they're your brothers and hell even a sister. Trust in 'em. Always."

There was silence for a bit until they decided to go aboard. The doctor Amy saw gave her special pills so that she would not get sick on the long boat ride. She was thankful because she wasn't sure how bad her nausea would get. The pregnancy made her motion sick and it took all she had to keep it together so she didn't get sick in the Regalia. Cid was thankful it worked because he didn't want his beautiful boat to get puked on. Seeing Altissia through the way of the sea was so different than through the airship. She enjoyed the beauty so much more. She wanted to take it all in before the battle would destroy its charm. She spent the first day with the boys and stayed in the hotel room with them since they were anxious about Joel finding her and stealing her away again.

The next day, Noctis did the negotiations with the First Secretary Claustra and part of their agreement included Amy's safety while she was to stay with Luna.

"Well, I guess this is goodbye for now. We got a week to prepare." Ignis said to her.

"Yea… Don't worry I'll be good company to Luna." She nodded towards Noctis.

"I know, just be careful ok?" the royal ordered.

"I will. Don't worry. I'm still free to text though they suggested no more phone calls…" Amy frowned.

"That's ok. As long as we know your safe." Gladio nodded.

Amy hugged the boys one by one and went to join the guards that led her to Lunafreya.

"Amy!" she exclaimed coming to hug her. "I'm so glad you're ok!"

"I am too." She said giving a sad smile. "So… I doubt Ardyn would have found my phone… did you call him?" she asked.

"He seemed to be the only one I could trust with your safety... I didn't think that I should tell my brother where I was or where you were…" she frowned.

"Thank you Luna." She nodded. "I know Gentiana and you do not trust him and you have a very big reason to. I don't even know why I do… He's just… he's actually sweet to me. He helped to calm me down and took me back to Noctis and the others."

"That's good to hear. So Noctis is in Altissia?"

"Yes." She nodded. "I would have stayed behind to help him with the events to come… but considering my situation… I can't fight."

"Condition?" Luna asked quietly sitting down gracefully across from Amy.

"Well…" she frowned placing a hand on her stomach. "Something horrible that came from what that bastard did… I don't blame the…child… I just fear for our safety. He promised me that he would take my child after its born and kill me if I were to get pregnant."

Luna frowned. "Then… why did you not stay across the sea? I'm sure others could have protected you…"

"I… thought of a better plan. I will stay with you and Ravus after this event is over with. If I have to I'll force Noctis and the others to think I died as well. It's the only way to keep you both safe."

"What about the captain? I'm sure he will try something… The place we have agreed upon will be protected by daemons. Not humans."

"If…if it comes to that… I have a plan. It may be dangerous, but I asked Noctis to teach me how to use an arsenal so that I can carry Kyoko without him knowing…"

"But… he said when he dies…"

"I know Luna, trust me… he won't expect it and I will ensure that he takes that order off before I run him through."

Luna nodded. "If you're sure. I just want you to be careful."
"I will. He won't dare to harm me if he really does care about having a stupid heir. Might as well use the situation to my advantage."

The two women talked for a while and soon went to bed. In a few days is when Luna was to make the covenant with Leviathan. Amy was going to stay away from the crowds and confront Joel. He was a liability. She couldn't risk him destroying this world during the ten years Noctis was in the crystal. She spoke to Gentiana and asked her to ask Shiconen something. Something that would ensure the Eos was saved. She had a plan even if she thought it might not work.