Hi Everyone! Busy work week ahead so I wanted to post the next chapter now ;-) We are catching up to what I have written, so I may have to make you guys wait a bit coming up. Sorry :-( Hope my work schedule gets better to give me more time to write. Still have a few more chapters to give out first though. Here's hoping work gets less crazy so I can keep going. Enjoy!

The crystal world was strange. Even though she had entered the crystal world from Gralea, it dumped Luna back in Galdin Quay for some reason. At least it put her back in Lucis, she supposed. She couldn't help but stop and look around her in horror. The last time she had been here it was bright and sunny. Even though she had had other business at the time, she couldn't help but dig her toes into the powdery white warm sand, listen to the crystal blue waves of the ocean, and smell the tantalizing smells of the fresh fish and vegetables being cooked up in the nearby resort.

All of that was gone. The resort was abandoned and falling apart. Daemons were now using it as a nest. The ocean was pitch-black, reflecting the endless darkness of the overarching sky. The white sand was now pewter-gray in the waning moonlight.

She could feel the daemons within her begin to stir, an evil reverse of people who wake up when the sun is shining on their faces.

"Welcome back," she told them, half sarcastically, half seriously. She wouldn't say she missed them, but it definitely felt more familiar with them there. Their absence in the crystal world had been, disconcerting.

"What do want of us now, woman," the Giant asked her, already knowing the drill.

"Would you do my bidding if I asked," she asked calmly.

"Not if you are wanting to return light to the world," it replied.

"I know I can't do that, but Noctis can," she said. "I'd just want you to help me take down the Behemoth King. Think about it: you get an epic battle to prove yourselves against the most powerful of daemons, and humans are spared its wrath. We all get something out of this."

The daemons hissed for a moment, discussing the proposition among themselves.

"We will help," the giant said, appointing itself as their spokesbeing. "However it's only because we have been locked away for 3 years and want to frolic in the darkness for a bit."

Luna couldn't help but smirk at the image of menacing daemons "frolicking", but her smile quickly changed to a relieved one. "I don't mind what your reasons are as long as you help me with this," she said, and began making her way up the road.

The daemons at Galdin Quay decided to get in their way, but it was nothing her own daemons couldn't handle. They emerged as summoned creatures and disposed of them quite effortlessly. It wasn't draining Luna too much either—apparently since they "wanted" to do this, they didn't need much control from her, so they were able to do their thing as she trudged forward.

After a quarter mile or so, Luna realized she didn't even know where the Behemoth King was. Her dream had been vague about that. She knew instinctively that it would be near Ardyn, but where was he these days? She cringed at the thought of seeing her "husband" again. Was he still in Gralea? If so, it would be tough to get there. Hammerhead was nearby, she remembered. Was it still around? Could somebody there give her information?

It was ironic. Even in a dystopian wasteland, she nearly got hit by a car when she tried to cross the street. She had reached the main road and stepped out a bit to try to remember which way to go to Hammerhead, only to jump back when she heard the squeal of brakes to her left.

She jumped back as the rickety pickup truck slammed to a stop inches from her.

"Oh, my God, Luna," a familiar voice called out. Luna squinted in the darkness to identify the driver. She had aged a bit, but she could still recognize her.

"Iris," Luna asked in shock. "I can't believe it! What are the odds," she said, laughing almost hysterically.

"We can't linger," her gruff companion in the passenger seat said. Luna squinted but did not recognize him. His dark hair was cut short, and he was dressed in black. He was already hopping out of the car. "Take the passenger seat, ma'am. I've got the back," he said, leaping into the truck bed.

Iris sighed. "It's always business with Cor. Guess he's right though. Get in Luna."

There was nothing to do but for Luna to comply.

"Not bad, 'boss'", Ifrit commented to his commander.

"Thank you. I surprise even myself sometimes," Ardyn replied smugly.

"Makes me wonder what you need me for," Ifrit asked snidely.

"Oh, you still have plenty of purpose. Don't you worry," Ardyn responded cloyingly. "We can't be a one trick pony after all. Just 'chill' here until I need you," he added sarcastically. Ifrit growled at the insult.

So, even the mighty Behemoth King would do his bidding, Ardyn thought. He hadn't been sure he could command something that strong, but he was more badass than he thought. It had been amusing to see that group of idiots forced to fall back. He had finally given those fools a run for their money.

He knew things had to be pretty "bad" for the Behemoth King to deign to come out, but that was all the better for him. He knew the Astrals and the Kings of Old were watching. How he loved rubbing their arrogant noses in it. So they thought him too corrupt to wield their powers? Oh, how happy they must be to have been proven right.

He knew Noctis's lackeys wouldn't bother him for awhile—they were too cowed by the newest addition to his flock. But did they really think he wouldn't retaliate for their 3 years-worth of annoyances? In their little chess game, they had been pawns moving across the board largely unopposed. With the Behemoth King as one of his "knights", he had shown them who they were playing against. Now it was time to make his way to their side of the board. It was time for him and his friends to pay Hammerhead a little visit.

Except for the fact Hammerhead was shrouded in darkness, it looked much the same as it always had, Luna thought bemusedly. That, and the fact that it was an armed compound now. A group of heavily armed hunters, upon seeing Cor and Iris, hurriedly opened the heavy gate to allow their truck through.

"How is Lestallum doing," the hunters called out to Cor as he climbed out of the vehicle.

"It's doing fine. The defenses are holding, and the power plant has enough supplies to keep it going indefinitely," he responded. "They appreciated our offer of supplies, but said to hold on to them here. They in turn offered us fuel when we need it."

"The roads are in decent shape too," Iris piped up. "There is a pothole somewhere near where the Chocobo Trading Post used to be though. At some point, we need to send a posse to fix it."

From what Iris had told Luna in the car, and the conversation she was picking up now, it seemed that Iris and Cor were the "emissaries" between Hammerhead and Lestallum. Iris did the driving, Cor did the monster slaying. Luna was curious why her brother Gladio was not involved. Her first fear had been that Gladio was not around to do it, but Iris had reassured her that Gladio, Ignis, and Prompto were alive and well. She also mentioned that Cor was Gladio's combat mentor, so could do the job better than he could. This still didn't stop Luna from wondering what the Chocobros were doing then.

Iris also assured her that Pryna and Umbra were safe—Cindy's friend Holly (who ran the power plant in Lestallum) had taken them in, and was taking good care of them. They were having a lot of fun patrolling the power plant grounds, pretending they were guarding. They didn't need to know it was actually the lights of the city that were doing their job for them.

Iris led the way into the overly bright diner. "I'm home, Gladdy," she said brightly. "And you will never guess who I brought with me."

"Um, Cor," Gladio snarked, thinking it was a joke, only to taper off in shock when he saw Luna.

Even Ignis, always calm and stoic, did a double-take.

Prompto just stuttered out "L-Luna?"

Luna surveyed the crew, plus Aranea who was seated next to them. They looked much the same as they had 3 years ago, but they were pale from lack of sunlight. Lines of strain were etched on their faces, and they looked, exhausted. How much had they had to endure these past 3 years?

Aranea was the first to shake free of the shock. "If you're here, does that mean Noctis is back too?"

Luna shook her head sadly. "He is, still in the crystal. I, had to come back."

"Why," Ignis asked.

"I, need to find the Behemoth King. It is a daemon of legend that only appears when things are at their most dire."

"You work fast," Gladio said. "We just got back from trying to take that thing on."

"You've seen it," Luna asked in avid interest.

"I'll say," Prompto said. "We bumped into it in Insomnia. Ardyn stuck it on us."

Luna's soul shriveled at that name. "Ardyn is in Insomnia," she asked, tense.

Ignis was looking at her intently. "Are you, all right," he asked gently. "Do, you need to talk about, anything related to that?"

Luna looked at him in shock for a moment then replied in disgust, "If you think I came back to team up with my 'husband'…"

"No, not that, at all," Ignis replied uncomfortably. "I, just wanted to make sure that any reference of his name does not, upset you. He has hurt you, probably more than the rest of us. I wanted to offer you support if you needed it."

Luna's shoulders slumped in relief. "Sorry, Ignis. I misunderstood. I wouldn't have come back here if I didn't think I could manage it," she replied.

"No need to apologize. I don't normally put my foot in my mouth like that. It, is an uncomfortable experience."

"Happens to me all the time, Iggy," Prompto spoke up. "You get used to it."

"If Ardyn finds out you are here, Luna, he may come for you," Gladio cautioned.

"And given the fact that he can summon daemons to the level of the Behemoth King, I don't know if we will be able to protect you," Aranea replied.

"Thank you," Luna said sincerely. "However, I came back to protect the world, not to be protected myself. I can do this."

"Did the crystal give you, awesome powers? What was it like in there," Prompto asked.

Luna's bravado petered out, and she slumped her shoulders in defeat. "It, didn't. However, it will provide for Noctis." She could tell by their expressions that that wasn't what they wanted to hear. She couldn't tell them the truth of Noctis's powers. Not just yet. It would take everything she had to tell them about her own.

"If you don't have any crystal powers, how do you expect to take on the Behemoth King," Gladio asked. It looked like she would have to reveal the truth about herself sooner than anticipated.

"Let me show you," she said. "Whatever you do, don't panic or attack unless I tell you to." And with that, she summoned her Giant. He seemed to be the most reliable and faithful of her daemons, so she didn't anticipate a problem with him. However, she could be wrong.

The daemon emerged, head brushing against the ceiling of the diner. Luna kept it out for just a second so that the light wouldn't bother it too badly. It was enough. Her companions, plus Iris who had been lingering quietly to hear the exchange, stared at her, wide-eyed.

"You can, summon daemons," Gladio stated.

Luna nodded, bracing herself for rejection.

"I must say, that explains a lot," Ignis said, calmly. "It certainly puts your injuries in the mythril ruins into perspective. I assume you have always been able to do this?"

"Since I was 12 years old. That is, how I have healed the afflicted. Instead of feeding off of others, I have them feed off me. My Oracle powers help me withstand it."

"You're, not like, Ravus are you," Aranea asked, only to pale in horror at what she had just said. "I'm sorry. I, don't know, if you heard about what happened to him, but, we had to—"

"I know," Luna said sadly. Her mother had told her in the crystal. They had already wept over what had happened. She spared a passing thought for her brother, who had given his life to try to protect her, only to be betrayed by the man she hated most in all the world.

"I, can't say if I will end up like him or not. All I can say is, I'm me now, and if I stay that way long enough to end things, then that's all I can hope for. I know what you are all thinking: yes, I'm like Ardyn. However, I still love this world and all of you guys. I will use my powers, such as they are, to wreck anything Ardyn holds dear. I will fight him from the dark, and Noct, when he's ready, will attack him with the light."

"You are calling him 'Noct,'" Gladio said coyly.

After all she said, that was Gladio's observation, she thought in surprised amusement. "I, suppose I am," she responded.

Ignis gave her a level look and asked flatly, "what help do you need from us?"

They weren't shunning her, Luna realized in shock. They were willing to help her, to trust her, just as Noctis had. She wanted to cry, but she had done too much of that already.

"Um, guys, we have a pretty big problem," Cindy piped up from the doorway.

It was then that they heard the shooting from the barricades.

"Do you think Ardyn found out about our plan," Aranea asked sharply, surveying the daemon horde assembling outside the gates.

"It could just be retaliation," Ignis snapped back.

"How strong do you reckon these daemons are," Cindy asked the group.

"Pretty strong ones," Gladio replied. "If the Behemoth King is here, then you may get what you wanted, Luna."

"Do you feel it," Luna asked her daemons.

"The air is heavy with his darkness, but we don't know where he is," the spokesdaemon said.

"What's that mean," Luna asked in genuine confusion.

"It's like a black hole in space. You can sense it's out there, but you can't find it until you are beside it," it replied.

"So, we won't know where it is until it's too late," Luna commented back.

"Maybe, but since you are 'so strong' now, it shouldn't matter when it ambushes you," the spokesdaemon taunted.

"I'm going out there," Luna said flatly.

"Not alone you're not," Gladio said, unsheathing his sword and moving to stand beside her.

"And I'm not letting you out there alone to die, Gladio," Aranea commented.

Gladio beamed at her. "You really do care," he replied.

"Don't read into it—it would just be a hassle to bury that big body of yours," she snarked back.

"Let's go," Ignis said briskly, ushering them and Prompto through the gate to face the hordes of daemons outside.

"Don't waste your time with the other daemons," Luna said. "The priority is the Behemoth King."

"The hunters and I will take care of these guys," Cor chimed in from the observation tower at the fence line. "You take care of the big one."

"Careful, everyone," Iris said brightly, as though they were going out on a picnic.

They made their way forward. Daemons got in their way, but between the hardened combat veterans and Luna's expert daemon summoning, they could take bunches out at once. Luna kept giving sidelong glances to her teammates whenever she had a spare moment to see what they thought of her. Were they frightened? Did they mistrust her? Were they only helping her for Noctis's sake?

They found it, a quarter mile down the road. Its giant black form almost camouflaged with the surrounding night.

"I hope you know what you're doing, Luna," Aranea said.

"I hope so too," was all Luna could say.

They approached the daemon.

"Everyone have their ice armor on," Ignis asked. He was not going to be caught by that a second time.

The team all answered in the affirmative.

"Stay back, guys," Luna ordered. "This is my mess. I will handle it. Daemons, get him," she ordered. Her daemons erupted from her as a swarm, eager to do her bidding, and surrounded the Behemoth King like wolves surrounded a helpless deer.

Except the Behemoth King wasn't helpless. With a menacing roar, it twisted around, using its size as a battering ram, knocked her daemons to the ground.

A few limped back her way, reentering her consciousness. One of them was the death spell daemon, she observed.

"Can you still use magic," she asked it.

"Once, maybe," it labored to speak.

Luna launched the death spell, to no avail. The spell worked, draining the last of her ally's power, but it did nothing to the foe.

"Fall back guys," Aranea ordered. "Luna, come on. We tried. There's nothing we can do."

Ignis was already ushering Prompto, Gladio, and Aranea to a safe distance away.

Luna ignored them, thinking things through. If it was one of the darkest daemons, it stood to reason that daemon magic wouldn't work on it. The Behemoth King countered with an ice spell that froze all of the daemons, except the ice bombs she had deployed. Now, if only they had been the fire bombs, she thought ruefully. But that gave her an idea.

She ran forward, using bottles of "Remedy" on one of her fire bombs—breaking it free of its ice prison. She couldn't help but smirk at the absurdity of her healing daemons, but it worked in this case. Ignis caught on immediately. He led the team back to pour remedies on all of the remaining fire bombs, quickly returning a portion of Luna's army to her.

They swarmed forward and exploded, burning the Behemoth King amid its screams of pain. So, she had been right. The fact that it leveraged ice meant it was weak against fire. The oldest trick in the book, she thought smugly.

It used the ice spell on itself to stop the flames, but the damage was done—its skin was blistered.

"Go for it guys," she ordered. The team didn't need to be told twice. Gladio, Aranea, and Ignis surged forward, weapons ablazing, to fight the mighty daemon. Prompto stayed a safe distance back, taking potshots to keep the team covered.

For all that the Behemoth King was a "legendary" daemon, once Luna had cut it down to size with her own daemons, it was no different from any other daemon the team had fought. It was almost anticlimactic when after sustaining heavy wounds, it faded back into nothingness.

It seemed almost too easy. Luna and her comrades were looking warily at where it disappeared, waiting for it to respawn.

Luna was so fixed on the Behemoth King's disappearing remains that she failed to watch her back. The sudden whooshing of flames surrounding her reminded her forcefully of that mistake. And through the flames stepped Ifrit.

She heard cries of dismay from outside of the flame circle. She knew her allies could not get to her. She'd have to defend herself. She hurriedly launched some ice bombs, just to have them batted brutally aside by her gigantic opponent.

"I've been around enough daemons I know how they work," Ifrit said smugly. "That little play of yours won't work on me." His gigantic hand dashed out and grabbed her—her entire body fitting within his grip. "Now, come with me. I imagine your husband will be happy to see you," Ifrit taunted, then leapt up high into the air, out of the ring of flames, and began making his way, and Luna's, to Insomnia.

"What did you just say," Noctis asked, voice hard.

"Queen Sylva, says Luna has fled the crystal world," King Regis told his son.

"But, why," he demanded.

"From what Bahamut says, she felt she was too corrupted to be able to gain any powers here. She has left to leverage her dark powers against Ardyn."

The string of profanity Noctis uttered merely caused King Regis to raise an eyebrow.

"I'm going to fucking stop her," Noctis snapped with cold resolution. "I'm not letting her play these fucking games again. She's taken too much on herself. Now it's my turn to take over."

"And what will you do," Regis challenged.

Noctis closed his eyes, and with herculean will, he summoned the Royal Arms, infused with the crystal's light.

Regis nodded in respect. That was the one lesson he couldn't teach. The student had to achieve it themselves. In order to manifest the Chosen King's powers, you needed something in the world you wanted to save so badly that you would choose to save the world for it. Noctis had found his, and it was Luna.

He felt a wave of pain. Why was everything associated with the crystal doomed to die? It had taken all of the Oracles, the Kings of Lucis, Nyx, Queen Sylva, even Ardyn's innocence in a way. And now it wanted Noctis and Luna as well. He stared at his son. The training had been hard on him. The 3 years had aged him what looked like 10. Noctis's hair had grown out, disheveled and pewter gray. He didn't shave often, and it showed—what had once been clean-shaven was now covered with a few days's growth of beard. The face underneath was gaunt, hard with purpose. A warrior's face. He looked like, a man who had only had one purpose left in life, and would pursue that purpose to the end. He was undoubtedly King Regis's son, and heir to all of the mistakes Regis had made.

"Thanks dad. For everything," Noctis said softly, striding away, ready for his final battle.

There had to be a way to stop this. Regis had left his son a great burden. Now it was time for him to try to lift it.