Howdy everyone! Snowed in today (happy spring LOL), so I figured I'd post a new chapter. I'm writing more but very slowly. I will keep updates on the short side to hopefully give me time to write more. No pressure haha! Anyway, thanks for reading and feedback as always.

Ignis didn't want Ardyn eavesdropping again, so he remained silent until the party was back in the elevator going back upstairs. And he broke his silence to a flurry of shock and anger.

"What do you mean we actually team up with Ardyn," Gladio snapped.

"It would be the most efficient way back," Ignis replied calmly. "He is the one obstacle right now to us returning, and if we give him the chance to help us, it will only be to our benefit."

"He betrayed us all," Prompto replied. "How can you even think about trusting him?"

"I didn't say 'trust' him," Ignis said. "What I had more in mind was 'using' him. We take him up on his offer, use it to get back to the 'real world', and at the first sign of treachery, we deal with him."

"How," Gladio replied. "He ran circles around us last time. Do you really think we could handle him if, no, when, he goes off the reservation?"

"I admit it's a risk," Ignis replied. "However, we have the advantage of knowing how he operates now. We also have Cor, Luna, and Ravus with us this time around, which we didn't have last time. It is not exactly the same cycle."

"I don't think Ravus will be too happy with this," Prompto commented.

"And I don't want Luna to stay in contact with the man who hurt her," Noctis ventured, his first comment to the conversation.

"Sometimes your protectiveness can be a little much Noct," Luna replied with some asperity. "And I do stand by what I said in there. He was actually pissed off that Ifrit was back at it. As strange as it sounds, I think he would help us deal with him at least. I, don't know about the Lux part, but I do believe he would help us with Ifrit. And we could sure use all the help we can get with him."

Noctis wrung his hands. "I guess it falls on me to deal with Ardyn again if he causes trouble," he said, resigned. "And believe me, I will," he added darkly.

"Who's going to tell Ravus? He will flip," Prompto ventured.

Luna sighed. "I'll do it."

Lux milled aimlessly around the Citadel, a silent shadow. It sure was lonely with just Belenus around. He wished Iris, Aranea, and Cor were here, he thought sadly. Then he shook off that thought. Cor was dead, and if Iris were still here, Belenus would have hurt her. For some reason, he saw her as a threat. Lux didn't think she was. She was too nice and would never hurt him.

Weakness, he thought bitterly. It was just an excuse for not having to hurt her himself. But, he had hurt people. Everyone in Gralea and Galdin Quay. Why could he do that, but not hurt people face to face? Should he cultivate that? As king he had to be strong and brave and eliminate any potential threats himself. He couldn't lean on Belenus forever. His own father had killed bad people. Couldn't he do the same?

He wandered back to the throne room to take another look at the crystal. The only time he felt strong, and kingly, was when wielding its powers. He studied it intently, as though it could reveal the secrets to his existence.

"Evening, 'Hardened Killer'," Belenus cut in from behind him.

Lux whirled around to see his companion striding in the room, a strange look on his face.

"Wha, what do you mean," Lux asked uncertainly.

"Oh, I mean the fact you were able to take care of Iris yourself. It was really quite brave of you to stab her to death. To be honest, I didn't think you had it in you."

"Oh! I, didn't want to do it, but I had to," Lux replied, almost floundering. Why was Belenus bringing this up now?

"I know you didn't want to," Belenus replied with mock gentleness. "Which is why you didn't, did you," he concluded, voice hard and deadly.

"I totally did," Lux replied defensively.

In answer, Belenus swept forward with astonishing speed, grabbed Lux's shirt at the waist, and ripped it, revealing the boy's still-healing knife wound. Lux reflexively covered it with his hand, then staggered back in fear.

Belenus smirked triumphantly, then held out the matching bloody shirt he had found, swinging it tauntingly. "If you want to keep secrets from me, you need to do better than that," he replied bitterly, icy rage in his tones. He took a menacing step closer. "I knew you were weak. You can't even kill a frail girl! Even now she is off revealing your secrets. What don't you get about silencing dissent! You are a King. It is your job to strike first! And instead you stab yourself like a suicidal moron just to protect that bitch!"

Lux was terrified. He knew he was weak. Yet somehow, showing weakness to Belenus was his limit. He held his ground and his panic inside. "Part of silencing dissent is getting the person and their friends, right," Lux replied, icy malice in his tone. "By letting Iris go, if we follow her, she will lead us right to her friends, so we can get the rest of them in one fell swoop."

Belenus's rage cooled mid-spate, and he stared at Lux slack-jawed. He sounded just like Ardyn. Maybe the kid was cleverer than he looked. Maybe he was a threat on the order of Ardyn.

Lux warmed to his theme. "I stabbed myself to make it seem like I was protecting Iris and to get her to trust me. From here, we can just find out where she went and track down her buddies too. I, was going to tell you, but I wanted to give her a, a head start so she wouldn't think she was being followed. Being as powerful as you are, I figure you can find her easy."

"And you're right," Belenus replied excitedly. "Give me leave to go find her."

Lux gave him a level look. "Granted," he said coolly.

Belenus didn't have to be told twice. He strode out of the room, eager to begin his hunt.

After Belenus left, Lux plopped down onto the throne, exhausted. The manipulated had become the manipulator, and he felt guilty and dirty for doing it. "Please Iris," he whispered. "Don't let him find you. Find people to do what I cannot. Find people who can hurt him."

"I can't believe I'm hearing this," Ravus said to his sister, disgust and betrayal evident in his tone. "How can you even think of teaming up with the man who murdered you? How gullible are you?"

"No more gullible than you, being taken in by him disguised as Noctis," Luna replied bitterly, hurt that her brother could be so contemptuous of her and her decisions. So hurt that she wanted to hurt back.

"At least he was in disguise at the time," he snapped back. "From what I hear, he wasn't even in disguise when he—stabbed you."

Luna folded her arms defensively. "So now you are blaming me that I had the temerity to let Ardyn kill me," she replied in stark disbelief.

Ravus broke off, appalled. "Of course not! I, just don't understand how you can support the man who hurt you. He will only try again, and I don't know if I can help you. I, don't need to encounter your death twice."

Luna subsided. "I understand how you feel. However, we have no other way back. Unless you prefer to stay here forever and watch the world return to ruin, I don't think we have a choice. And it's not exactly the same this time. We know a lot more now, and there are more of us to watch him. And, I still think he will help us against Ifrit. I saw his reaction when his name was mentioned—as much as he tried to hide it, I could tell he was furious at the mere mention of his name. I think we can trust him against Ifrit."

"And when Ifrit is gone, what then," Ravus demanded.

"Then we all watch him carefully. Noctis and Ignis won't let him start anything. I'm sure of it."

Ravus's shoulders slumped. He knew when he was beaten. "And I won't allow it, either," he stated.

"I'm, sorry I called you gullible for being taken in by his disguise," Luna replied sadly. "I, wish it hadn't happened, to any of us."

Ravus awkwardly patted her hand. "For what it's worth, I'm glad all of us ended up here together. It would have been, difficult, to not see you again for another few decades."

"That's strange," Luna said ruefully. "I wish you, and Noctis and everyone else had had a few more decades out there before meeting me here."

"I will do my best to tolerate Ardyn," Ravus replied, abruptly changing the subject before he started crying. "However, I will be on a very short leash. The instant he even thinks about acting up, I will kill him."

"So will I," was all Luna said in reply.

Noctis and Ignis returned to Ardyn's cell. It was on them to deliver the news and give themselves one last chance to back out of this plan. They all knew how dangerous it was. And the price of failure would be enormous. But the potential rewards were a lot higher.

"Back so soon," Ardyn taunted when they reentered the cell.

"Was your offer to take down Ifrit serious," Noctis demanded.

Ardyn smirked. "Yes, but, did I lie just now," Ardyn taunted.

"Enough," Ignis cut in coldly. "Unless you want to rot alone in this cell forever, you need to cut the flippancy and be frank with us right now."

Ardyn sighed. "There is no reason for you to trust me, ever. And it is true that I would leap at any opportunity to escape this infernal prison. However, I for one detest Ifrit. And to see him undo my handiwork is, in a word, galling. If, hypothetically, you were to release me, I would do everything in my power to end him, even if I have to ally myself with you all to do it. Take it or leave it," he challenged.

Ignis and Noctis looked at each other. It was apparent that they both believed him.

"We will release you then," Noctis stated firmly.

"And it is only fair to warn you that any betrayal will not go well for you," Ignis added coldly, a deadly threat in his voice.

"Oh I am shaking in my boots," Ardyn replied in mock terror. "But I shouldn't fear I suppose. I have no intention of betraying you, at this time anyway," he added darkly.

Maybe Ignis and Noctis were being idiots. But right now Ardyn was their only way out, so they had to take it.

Aranea wasn't ready. Her climb out of the pit in Gralea, combined with endless walking and subsisting on meager rations had taken its toll. Even now her arms protested every time she lifted her spear. She stamped her foot in frustration. She was a toughened warrior. Why the hell was she so weak now?

Of course she wouldn't admit it. To even hint at frailty was anathema to her. And in her current state, she would be unequipped to take down the being who killed Cor in his prime.

There was no help for it. She would have to practice. She had to return to square one and become a hunter again for awhile. She rounded up her supplies and made her way to the gates of the gas station complex.

"Wait," Iris called out in desperation, running to catch up. "You aren't, going to Insomnia now are you," she asked.

Aranea should have known she couldn't sneak away. "Nah. I'm doing some hunting to try get my strength ba—I mean, to get stronger to be able to take on Ifrit better."

"Oh. That's a good idea. Would it, be too much trouble to let me come with you? I, fear my time in the Citadel compromised my strength a bit."

Aranea thought for a moment. If she was going to have Iris by her side in the final battle, then she needed to be at 100 percent too. "Sure," she finally said. "Grab whatever supplies you need, and meet me here in an hour."

Iris ran off to do just that, returning with her supplies, and Talcott 45 minutes later.

"I, heard you two are going out hunting," Talcott spoke excitedly. "Any chance I can tag along with you? I'd, like to get more fighting experience so I can help you guys out."

Aranea studied the young man, a recruiter sizing up a potential cadet. Any potential "good" fighter had a certain look to him (or her), and Talcott didn't have it. His arms were too flabby—a heavy sword would probably be too much for him. His "fighter's stance" that any tough guy seemed to possess instinctively was absent in his case. He was surveying his surroundings with wide-eyed innocence and interest rather than with wariness. Any threat would catch him unawares. She could not be responsible for him getting hurt.

"Sorry kid," she said regretfully. "But, I think your skills are better served here."

"Please," he said desperately. "Give me a chance.

"I'm sorry, but no means no," Aranea replied firmly. "Iris, let's go."

They turned to walk away, to suddenly hear a woosh and a clatter to their right. They turned sharply to see the Hammerhead sign impaled with 1000 needles, as though a Cactuar had hit it.

Talcott was standing there, hands still out, a triumphant grin on his face.

"How did you do that," Aranea demanded.

"I, read a lot about beasts and daemons as a kid," Talcott replied. "From reading up on them enough, I am able to mimic some of their powers."

"You're a Blue Mage," Iris demanded in awe.

"I, dunno about that," Talcott replied. "I, am just able to replicate some abilities I have read about. I've never had a chance to use them much though. I think if I practice more, I can be of help to you guys. Please, take me with you."

Aranea sighed. "Well, since you are capable of at least a rudimentary defense, I feel more comfortable bringing you with us now. Suit up."

"Yeppers," Talcott replied brightly, thrilled for the chance of an outing.

"But know this," Aranea added darkly. "We can't be spending the whole time saving your ass. You can't pull your own weight, you are back here faster than a Voretooth taking down a baby Garula."

"Got it," Talcott replied, then led the trio out to the wilderness.

"So, all of you are in agreement that you'd like to go back," Bahamut addressed Noctis and his allies.

"I believe we've made that quite plain," Noctis replied firmly.

"You remember that if you go back, Ardyn does as well," Bahamut cautioned.

"We know," Noctis replied.

Bahamut sighed. "Tell me. Are you not grateful for the existence we gave you here?" He was not accusing, but sounded, sad, as though hurt that they were rejecting what he had freely given them.

Luna stepped forward. "I, we, know all what you did for us. We are very grateful for it. We know how much effort it was for you to do this, and are honored that you saw fit to adjust reality just for us. However, I suppose our human failings of curiosity and not wanting to stand still prevented us from sticking to the existence you graciously gave us."

Bahamut seemed slightly mollified. "I, admit I did not think of that when I rearranged reality for you. I, should have. Humans have always been difficult to fathom. I, suppose that is why the Six of us are so divided on our opinions of you."

"I, do hope you do not think less of humans now as a result of us," Ignis replied hesitantly.

"No. I, will always love humans," Bahamut stated.

"Hmph. You have a weird way of showing it," Gladio muttered.

Everyone ignored him.

"I can, do as you ask," Bahamut replied. "However, know that when I do, you will go back with the same appearance you had at the end of your lives. Ignis will still be without sight. Ravus will still be missing an arm. And it will be as though you had all 'lived' through the ten years of darkness, so have aged accordingly. Can you live with that?"

Ignis shrugged. "I lived for ten years with compromised vision. I can do so again," he stated.

"As long as I get my bionic arm back, I can manage," Ravus commented.

"I age like a fine wine," Prompto added flippantly. "I'm down for ageing."

"If anyone here aged well, I think it's Noct," Gladio replied.

Luna smirked. "Now, this I have to see. I don't care what I look like when I come out, but I have to see Noctis."

After seeing nods from the rest of the team, Bahamut was satisfied. "Very well. Venture forth, Warriors of Light."

So...resurrected at last. But Ignis is still blind, Ravus is still missing his arm, and Ardyn is in the mix. There is no such thing as a free lunch though-let's see what our heroes and heroines can make of it. Till next time! Hope you stick with it!