The man laughed at the sight before him, the 2 older children standing in his way, thinking that they could somehow stop him. '' How amusing. Do you not realize how powerless you all are?'' He took 2 steps forward, stepping completely out of the shadows, his hand raising up to reach past the children standing in his way. Gladiolus didn't hesitate for a moment, swinging his sword with the intent to cut of the offending hand. Ignis moved slightly slower but held no hesitation either as he threw one of his dagger towards the intruder's head.
Ardyn growled at the attacks, not wanting to waste time with either of them, he ducked under the dagger and caught the Amiticia boy's blade in the hand he had dare to attack. '' You should have simply listened to me. Perhaps this will serve as a needed lesson, never attack your betters!'' Ardyn's free hand snapped forward, past Gladiolus' guard and hit the boy on the center of his chest. A crack could be heard before Gladiolus collapse to his knees, chest on fire and breathless.
Throwing aside the sword, he turned his attention to the other boy. Ignis tightened his grip on his dagger, trying to hide the slight shaking that had started when Gladiolus had fallen so easily, he cast a quick glance behind him where Noctis and the other boy, Prompto, were still standing and made his decision. '' Noct! Run!'' Ignis shouted before rushing toward the intruder. He held no illusion of victory but at the very least, he hoped to buy the prince and Prompto a few seconds to leave the room.
Noctis jerked as he heard Ignis' command, still holding on to Prompto, the prince did as he was told and started running towards the doors leading outside. Noctis told himself he wasn't abandoning either of his friends, he was going to find help and come right back! The prince reached out to push against the door when he felt something slam into him and then a sharp scream of pain.
Prompto had stared in horror at the man when he had stepped out of the shadows and started talking. His body shivering in fear even if he didn't know why exactly he was so afraid, his fear and panic increased when the Intruder made it clear that he was after Prompto but why? The young boy could do nothing but watch as Ignis, Gladiolus and even Prince Noctis put themselves between him and the scary man. He couldn't do anything as Gladiolus tried to protect him and was injured for it nor when Ignis shouted at the Prince to run before running right towards the Intruder. He felt Prince Noctis turn and drag him along as he headed towards the door. His eyes were still staring at the intruder.
It was because Prompto couldn't take his eyes off the crimson haired man that he was able to finally do something. Ignis, aiming his daggers at the Intruders eyes, rushed in trying to make the man concentrate on him rather than the younger boys. Ardyn didn't pay him any attention, moving his head out of the way of the dagger, he grabbed the boy by the wrist and squeezed, feeling the fine bones grind together under his grasp. Ignis gritted his teeth together at the pain but refused to utter a sound that wouldn't undoubtedly make Noctis turn around. His hand unable to grasp the dagger any longer, it fell out of his grip and into the awaiting hand on the Intruder. The man grinned as he took aim and allowed the dagger to fly right at the turned back of the Prince. Ignis move and prevent it but the man was much too strong and steady and his attempts failed. The adviser could do nothing but watch as his own dagger flew towards the boy he had sworn to protect and cherish. It was then that Prompto moved, the blond no really aware of his own movement only that he had to protect the raven haired boy from being injured because of him.
Prompto tore his eyes away from the Intruder and shoved Prince Noctis with all his strength, feeling the hand that had gripped him so tightly let go and then burning pain radiating from a single spot on his lower back. A scream of terrified pain filled the air as Prompto fell forwards unto the Prince with a whimper.
Ardyn sighed as he watched his dagger dig into the blond boy's back, carelessly throwing Ignis to the side and stepping over a barely conscious Gladiolus, he approached the fallen Prince and his injured prey. '' What a pity, had you only stayed in your place then this wouldn't hurt so much.'' He approached the 2 children with slow steady steps, amusement at the situation slowly turning into boredom. Behind him, he felt the other 2 boys struggling to get up and help their downed Prince.
Said prince had been stunned by the shove and fall, his legs were partially pinned under the heavier boy's body and Noctis was trying to stem the bleeding from Prompto's back. Ardyn knelt down beside the 2 boys with a chuckle; he raised his hand reaching to grab the prince by the collar.
When Noctis had realized that Prompto had been injured,, his mind had blanked out for a second; he moved without realizing it, barely aware of his foot being pinned under Prompto as his mind had zoned in to the blood pouring around a familiar dagger. The scarlet liquid slipped through his fingers despite his best attempt to try and stem its flow and his mind remembered the last time he had seen so much blood being spilt. Noctis whimpered his mind far away to another time and place and he didn't feel the Intruder's hand grab him until he was lifted up and pain from his foot snapped him back into the present.
Ardyn grinned at the small prince and was about to throw him aside when Noctis brought blood covered hands to grasp at the hand clutching him. As the blood came into contact with Ardyn's skin, the man howled in pain as a burning sensation, one he had no felt since his fall from grace; filled his senses. He dropped the prince and staggered several steps back, his other hand clutching the injured area as he stared in shock at the marks appearing across his skin.
At all the area's where Prompto's blood had touched Ardyn's skin, the skin blistered as though burnt, small black wisp's of his corruption struggling to heal the area only to disappeared within moments of emerging. '' Impossible!'' Ardyn muttered as he stared in shock.
By this time, Ignis had regained his footing and while he didn't understand what had cause the Intruder to let his Prince go nor what had injured him, he knew that this was an opportunity that could not be ignored. Summoning the first dagger he had thrown from its resting place in the wall, the adviser made use of the Intruder's sudden carelessness to try and help his prince. He tackled the Intruder, trying to angle him away from the prince and the injured boy on the floor and stood firmly between them once more.
Ardyn stumbled several step until he found his balance and with it came a conclusion as to the fate of the boy Niflheilm had received Intel about. It would be too dangerous for his plan to leave the boy be or to bring him back as Verstael had requested when the scientist had found out about the boy. Prompto Argentum would have to die and his body destroyed.
Ardyn shook off the pain from the burn still stinging his arm, drawing up to his full height, a hand snaked beneath his robes to grab the gun he kept there. Ignis stiffened as he spotted the metal weapon in the hand of the Intruder. Ardyn grinned painfully, and pulled the trigger. The sound of the gunshot resounded through the room, almost painfully loud obscured only by the sound of breaking glass.
Faster than any of the boys expected, a figure broke through the glass door and stood in between the injured trio and the Intruder. The moment Ardyn pulled the trigger, a flash of metal moved and the bullet aimed at Ignis's heart found its target instead in the wall beside the boy.
''Ignis, gather the boys and tend to their injuries as much as you can. Others are on their way.'' Cor Leonis kept his voice calm and stern as he faced the crimson haired intruder wielding a gun within the Citadel. Struggling to get up, Gladiolus Amicitia was on his hand and knees with a pained look. The future shield was the closest to the Intruder though far enough that Cor felt confident in his ability to guard him despite the distance. There was only one Intruder remaining after all.
A/N: Thank you everyone who commented and gave me their opinion on what to do with Ardyn! I appreciate all the feedback.