Poor sweet Prompto… I should really be nice to the baby. …Nahhhhhhh…

Prompto had three very specific things he knew at the moment.

One: the sun was down.

B – wait, no, two: this Basllisk wasn't dead yet.

And three: Noct was about to do something dumb in order to finish this so they could get to the haven before they were swarmed by daemons.

Prompto still was no Ignis, but he was starting to pick up on some of those details the Advisor was known for noticing. Like that look on Noct's face right now as he summoned his brand new shuriken. After a day of running and fighting. In the rain.

Prompto yanked a potion from his pocket and darted for his friend before the weapon had even left Noct's hand.

The Basllisk fell in seconds under the magically lit slicing and dicing Noct hit it with, and Noct fell with it, weapon disappearing as he crushed his eyes shut and hissed with pain.

"Noct!"

"Your Highness!"

Prompto couldn't help but feel just a liiiittle bit of pride that he'd spotted Noct's situation first and managed to get to him before Monica. He shoved the potion into Noct's hand, squeezing his hand around his to break it.

Noct groaned softly, muttering a thanks at he tried to stand.

"Easy there, buddy." Prompto held onto one arm, helping him up.

Monica slid in on Noct's other side so they were both supporting him. "We should get to the haven."

"No arguments here." Prompto shifted his foot, which was slowly sliding through mud. Crap. Just… crap. With Ignis and Gladio gone, Noct was draining himself with his royal weapons nearly every battle. Monica was an awesome Crownsguard chick, but she hadn't been fighting with them long enough. They weren't in sync, and Noct was trying to make up for that. Ugh.

Prompto threw a worried glance at his friend's half-closed eyes. What else could he do to lessen the burden? He wasn't strong enough to help out more than he already was in battle, and he was already doing the cooking.

What else was there?

He kept asking himself that question as they set up camp, and all through fixing dinner, and then cleaning it up, and then as he finally collapsed onto his sleeping bag.

It was still on his mind as he crawled out of the tent running on three hours of sleep so he could make breakfast.

He stared into the pan in his hand, as though it might give him answers.

"You can't carry the responsibility of three men on your own, you know."

Prompto jumped, having been so wrapped up in his thoughts that he hadn't heard Monica come up behind him. He blinked at her and gave a tired shrug. "Someone's gotta do it. Noct's got enough on his plate."

"And I'd say you've got too much on yours."

He shrugged. "Well, hey, Gladio won't be gone that long. I can manage until then."

He could. He could do this.

He had to.

The first thing Ignis wondered upon awakening was if he was ever going to get rid of the knot in his shoulder. The second was who had closed the door to the room adjacent to him.

Probably Ravus, given the harshness with which it was closed, but no matter who it was, it was time for Ignis to rise for the day. He needed to reunite with Lunafreya and evaluate her current condition.

He was surprised to find Ravus waiting outside his door when he tried to leave.

"She's still asleep," Ravus said. "If you wish to bathe or take a look around the kitchen, now would be the time."

How had it come to the point that the High Commander knew him this well?

Ignis did spare a moment for a brief shower before heading downstairs to find the kitchen. He noted that the Altissian architecture was similar to that of Tenebrae, but different in subtle ways–

Ignis almost called his weapons as he turned a corner and nearly ran into someone. He stopped himself in time, though, as recognition set in. The ebony-haired woman that stood before him had her eyes closed, yet Ignis knew she could still see him.

"A path of sacrifice, those in service to the King and Oracle must walk."

Gentiana.

Ignis tilted his head, trying to figure out why the messenger would choose to tell him this. "Such is our duty, yes."

A sly smile stretched her lips. "You go beyond the call of what others would consider your duty."

"Perhaps others should go further."

Her smile quirked further upwards in amusement. "You try to live by the ruling of your head, but your heart chooses your actions more often than not."

Ignis didn't have a reply for that. How could he argue with her?

Her smile slowly vanished. "You play a great role in the fate of those with royal blood. Falter not, even when tested."

She extended her arm, gesturing to a nearby room.

Lunafreya and Ravus were inside, and when Ignis tried to look back at the messenger to inquire something, she was gone.

Ignis turned his attention back to the Nox Fleuret siblings.

Lunafreya did not look well, her head bowed to one side as she leaned back in her chair. Her am sat on the armrest, palm facing up.

Ravus stepped away from her as though struck, and Ignis realized there was something in her hand.

"I beg of you… please… see the Ring to Noctis on my behalf."

Ignis' blood ran cold at her words, and Ravus turned away from her.

She persisted all the same. "Already… my flesh has begun to fail me."

Ignis' hands curled into fists. He would not – he refused to – accept that Lunafreya would fall before she and Noct were able to reunite.

Ravus barely looked at her over his shoulder. "No, I cannot accept it."

The distress that swept over Lunafreya was nearly palpable as she bowed her head with tears running down her cheeks.

Something within Ignis' chest cracked at the sight. Lunafreya had always been so strong. Like him, she never let those around her see the emotional damage. Even with her body continually failing her, he hadn't seen her emotional strength waver in the slightest. To see her this lost in sorrow now… Ignis wanted to carve the image from his mind.

"By your hand it must be done." The assuredness of Ravus' tone as he spun back to face his sister was nothing like any words Ignis had heard spoken by him before. "To deliver the Ring and inspire the King is your calling. You mustn't fall."

Ravus had accepted Noct as his King? Had Lunafreya's words managed to cause this change of heart?

Lunafreya raised her head. "But… I lack the strength to go on…"

Ravus closed the small distance between them, kneeling in front of her to take her hands in his with a tenderness one wouldn't expect from him. "Find it, Lunafreya. You have the will. Go to Noctis. Show him the truth of your heart. And worry not, for you won't be alone." Ravus looked to Ignis on his last words, causing Lunafreya to follow his line of sight.

Her eyes lit up upon seeing him. "Ignis! You survived!"

Ignis' eyebrows rose a fraction. "You didn't tell her sooner?"

Ravus released his sister's hand and stood straight once more. "She slept most of yesterday, and I was away before then."

Ignis nodded. Understandable.

"Did Aranea make it as well?" Lunafreya questioned.

"Yes. She returned to her men a few hours after we parted."

"And was there a proposal within those hours?"

Ignis frowned at Ravus. "Pardon?"

Ravus pulled his phone from his pocket and brought up a certain message on it before handing it to Ignis.

Definitely charging you extra for the bloodstains on my clothes. Also, my new fiancé is alive and headed your way.

Ignis sighed deeply, massaging his forehead. "That woman is… unique."

Lunafreya grabbed the phone, laughing lightly as she read as well. "That seems an appropriate word for her. Anything in particular this is referencing?"

He was fortunate the others weren't here. He'd never live it down. "It was necessary for us to fake a recent betrothal during our time on the train."

Lunafreya laughed again. "I'm sure that was entertaining."

"Not the particular description I would have used…"

Ravus took his phone back. "I must go."

Ignis took that as a cue to give the siblings some last alone time and relocated himself to the hallway.

It didn't take them long to say their farewells, and soon Ravus joined him in the hallway. Ravus started to walk away after nothing more than a courteous nod, but then he stopped, hesitating. "Thank you. For all you've done for her. I wish you luck from here on, no matter where your path takes you."

No insults. No doubts. Actual gratitude and sincerity.

"I bid you good fortunes in return… Highness."

Ravus' shoulders tensed, and he swiveled around to meet Ignis' eyes with shock in his.

Ignis pulled his heels together, pressing his right hand over his heart in a fist. "Godspeed."

Ravus nodded softly. "Godspeed, Scientia."

Ravuuuussssss 3

And that's it for Ignis and Lunafreya for the moment, guys. Time we follow the other boys for a bit.