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Chapter 26

Pre-Sail Jitters

Following a shared bout of laughter at the expense of Prince Awkward, Iris excused herself to inform the others of the Royal Retinue's arrival. Once she left, Talcott tugged on Noctis's hand. "You should see the room now, Prince Noctis!" he exclaimed, an enthusiastic grin stretching across his face. "We found a cool dart board with all the darts and hung it on the wall! Uncle Dustin taught me how to play. I'm not very good at it, but it's still fun!"

Mia watched the guys follow their chatty young guide to where they would be lodging for the night before making the solo journey to her own temporary accommodations. Compared to the west wing guestroom (aka the boys' room), it was similar in size and design; there was also a bathroom adjacent to it. The only difference was the girls' room was more spacious because there wasn't as much furniture as the other. There were two beds instead of four, each covered with a colorful quilt and pillows. A dark wooden dresser was placed between the beds with a faded blue rug on the floor. Pushed up against the opposite wall was a small bookcase, a patched loveseat, and a round coffee table. A spare white sheet was draped over the circular window to act like curtains.

Mia assumed the bed with the moogle plush doll belonged to Iris so she sprawled out on the other bed. Pulling out her phone, she sent her parents a quick text, notifying them she made it to Caem safely. She then proceeded to stare at the ceiling in a daze. She looked forward to not being squished in a car between two people for the rest of the day. As much as she enjoyed the company of her friends, she could only take so much invasion of her personal space… especially when they were doing it on purpose.

A soft creak alerted her to the door opening. Unsurprisingly, it was Iris, holding her bouquet of flowers in one hand and a small white vase in the other. "What do you think of the room?" she asked as she placed the bouquet and vase on top of the dresser.

"It's quaint," Mia replied, propping herself up on her elbows. "There's lots of space for additional furniture if you wanted."

"Yeah," the girl sighed longingly. After arranging the flowers to her liking, she made herself comfortable on her bed. "It's still a work in progress. I'm hoping the next time I'm in town I can buy some things to make it nicer, like pictures or posters to hang on the walls. Talcott wants some 'cool stuff' for the other room, too." It seemed like Iris planned to make this her forever home, a fresh new beginning after everything she's been through. Not just for her, but for Talcott as well. "Anyway, you guys arrived at the perfect time. The boat will be ready to sail by tomorrow morning."

"That soon, huh?" Mia mumbled as she fell back onto the bed.

"Are you nervous?"

"I'd be lying if I said no," the elementalist admitted after a pause. "I haven't been this nervous since the first time I left Lestallum with my brother. I can't wait to see new sights and meet new people. But at the same time, there's no telling what we'll encounter out there."

The younger Amicitia idly kicked her feet back and forth. "I understand how you feel. Insomnia was the only place I knew… before the attack. It was terrifying being forced so far away from home." Mia frowned at the melancholy in her voice but Iris quickly returned to a lighthearted attitude. "But thanks to Gladdy, Noct, you, and everyone else, I've broadened my horizons." Her smile was bright and brimmed with confidence. "So, I'm positive this will be an amazing experience for you."

Mia welcomed the optimism. Iris was right; there was little value dwelling in what-ifs. This was her perfect opportunity to see what lay beyond Lucis. She'd probably never get another chance like this. Setting aside her pondering, she turned her head and caught Iris ogling her bouquet of rosies. "You know, your brother was pretty adamant about finding those flowers," she commented out of the blue. "He said they're your favorite."

"That's my brother for you," Iris chortled. "Always going the extra effort to make me happy."

An impish grin stretched across the elementalist's lips. "But I bet the person who gave them to you made you even happier."

Her reaction was exactly what Mia expected: a stiffened body and wide eyes. Try as she might, her cheeks bloomed red. "Wh-what?" Iris stuttered.

Mia rose to a sitting position and swung her legs over the side of the bed. "You know your brother knows, right?" she disclosed, her grin ever present. "About your feelings?"

A flustered Iris placed both hands on her face, attempting to hide her burning cheeks. An attempt made in vain when even her ears reddened. She was the epitome of a girl in love. "Am I that obvious?" she whined, sounding almost horrified Mia was aware of her crush. She was also whispering, as if someone was trying to eavesdrop on their intimate conversation.

"As an outsider looking in, it was obvious to me," Mia shrugged. "Though you probably don't have to worry about Princey realizing it. He's an idiot."

Iris was unable to suppress her laughter at the woman's deadpan delivery. She'd known for a very long time Noctis was rather… oblivious to these sorts of things. Letting her hands fall into her lap, she let out another long sigh. "I know my… feelings are one-sided," she started softly. "We've been friends since we were little kids and I know he won't see me as anything more than a younger sister." A small smile flitted to her face. "But I'll always care for him. As long as I can be someone he can trust and confide in, I'm happy with that."

Mia found a deeper respect for Iris. Iris had accepted her longtime crush on Noctis was unrequited, but in the end, they were still close friends. Ruminating over the girl's feelings, she felt a little envious toward Noctis for having someone like Iris by his side. Iris blinked when the elementalist reached over and offered a comforting squeeze of her shoulder. "You're far more mature than I will ever be," Mia declared with a self-assured nod. "Princey is very lucky to have someone who cares for him as much as you do."

"Thanks, Mia," Iris smiled. "But I think Noct is luckier to have a badass magic user on his side."

Mia rubbed her chin in playful thought. "He is, isn't he?" she agreed as she dramatically flipped some hair over her shoulder. "He should be grateful." After the two broke into a fit of giggles, the elementalist stretched her muscles toward the ceiling before heading for the door. "C'mon. We should go check on the boys. They're probably getting into trouble."

She heard Iris sigh behind her. "I wouldn't be surprised."

Arriving at the appointed room, the girls were greeted with a peculiar sight. Noctis sat on an ottoman, posing in a rather exaggerated position. Standing behind and slightly to the right of him was Ignis, stiff as a statue, with his hands clasped behind his back. Talcott and Prompto faced them, the former holding a familiar camera and the latter hovering over his shoulder. With a flick of Prompto's wrist, Noctis switched his stance to something equally as awkward. Meanwhile Gladiolus read a magazine on the orange couch, seemingly disinterested in whatever was happening.

"Our resident photographer is instructing his young ward on how to frame the ideal photograph," Ignis explained after spotting the inquisitive expressions on their visitors' faces. "His Highness and I are the models." A smirk threatened to break his stoicism when they uttered "oh" in unison.

"Composition is key!" Prompto exclaimed, beaming at the two women. "It's the difference between pros and amateurs—well, among other things." The blonde returned his focus to the camera's screen, keenly examining the arrangement his protégé created. "Not bad, dude," he commented. "But because we added Iggy to the picture, you have to move the little dot between them to balance out the two figures—" He gently pushed Talcott's hands slightly to the right. "—Like this, see?"

"Oh, I get it!" Talcott nodded enthusiastically before snapping the picture. Prompto gave him a congratulatory pat on the head. He might make a professional photographer out of the boy yet.

Iris voluntarily relieved Ignis of his modeling gig while Mia sat with Ignis, content with watching them have fun. After another short session, Prompto clapped his hands together, grabbing everyone's attention. "Let's move the setting outside!" he suggested. "I also wanna take some shots of the lighthouse!" Iris and Talcott were all game for it and waited for Noctis's decision. Prompto quickly stuck out a hand once he saw his friend open his mouth to seemingly rebut the plan. "Think about it, dude! Hair blowing in the breeze, the dreamy backdrop—we'll be seaside supermodels!"

The prince contemplated the idea for a minute before letting out a short laugh through his nose. He was in the mood to humor his photograph-frenzied friend. "Seaside supermodels it is, then."

"Oh yeah!" the blonde cried, fist-bumping the air in celebration and retaining the pose. "Seaside supermodels!"

The thought of the two becoming fabulous supermodels was amusing to picture. Imagining them in exaggerated, uncomfortable positions wearing impractical and nonsensical outfits brought a smirk to Mia's face. Apparently she wasn't the only one who pictured it. Ignis covered his chuckles with a hand while Gladiolus snorted loudly from the couch, which in turn caused her to bite her bottom lip. The other four were left to stare at them, bewildered by why the three eldest were fighting back laughter.

While the elementalist was usually down to humor Prompto's photo-taking antics, she declined the invitation to go. The "Youngin's", as she so aptly put it, consisting of Noctis, Prompto, Iris, and Talcott, said goodbye to the oldies (Noctis's whispered words, not hers) and left. With the room quieting, Gladiolus readjusted his laid back position on the couch. He was perfectly fine with returning his attention to his magazine and half-empty bottle of beer. Mia didn't know what Ignis decided ended up doing. She exited the room shortly after.

Iris permitted her free reign of the house so she decided to look around more. She discovered the new Caem residents had made numerous home improvements besides the apparent dining area. The kitchen, while still fairly small, appeared to have everything in proper working condition. There was hot water flowing from the faucet now, as opposed to only cold previously. The white quartzite countertops were shiny and near spotless. The doors of the faded, light green cabinets no longer creaked when opened; plus they were now stocked with food and a mishmash collection of dishware.

After half an hour of snooping, Mia found herself alone in the house. Checking the guys' room confirmed that it was indeed empty of a royal shield and royal advisor. "Thanks for the heads up, jerks," she mumbled to herself as she turned on her heels. "Maybe I can meet up with them or something."

With a new plan in mind, she made her way to the ladies room to grab a jacket just in case. Which turned out to be a good idea—a chilly sea breeze blustered past as she exited onto the front porch. Shivering from another breeze, Mia stepped off the porch and began her search for whoever she stumbled into first. The clang of metal drew her attention a little ways down the cliff from her position. Squinting her eyes helped to discover it was Gladiolus and Ignis sparring against each other. Ignis was absent one blazer, leaving him in his dress shirt with the sleeves folded just below his elbows. Gladiolus, unsurprisingly, discarded his shirt to the side. Mia would shamelessly admit she enjoyed the view as she spectated from afar.

The two men engaged in an impressive sparring session, neither of whom showed any mercy just because they were brothers in arms. They were equally skilled, switching between their respective weapons with almost no effort. When Gladiolus initiated an attack with his greatsword, Ignis used his lance to jump backwards. Replacing his weapon with twin daggers, the brunette prepared a counter attack, which his foe blocked by swapping to his shield.

It was fascinating for Mia to recognize the differences between her friends' dual fighting styles. Gladiolus's greatsword focused on slow yet powerful blows to show his opponents no mercy. His shield, on the other hand, allowed him to become the team's sentinel, drawing their enemies' aggro onto him to open opportunities for his comrades to strike. Ignis utilized the extreme close-range of his daggers for relentless swift strikes, wearing down his enemy's defenses. If it became too dangerous to fight up close, his polearm kept him at a safe distance away (of course, that didn't mean he was any less deadly). Now that she thought about it, they all had a duality to their combat styles. Besides his trusty pistol, Prompto possessed an arsenal of firearms that varied from simple, heavy duty gunnery to unique, ace-in-the-hole tricks. Even Mia herself was learning to fight without magic. The odd one out was Noctis, who seemed to do it all; the consequence of his Lucis bloodline, no doubt. He might not excel in one or two weapons like his friends, but he was the most powerful being out of all of them. A force to be reckoned with indeed.

The elementalist snapped out of her thoughts when Gladiolus stopped attacking. "'Rusty,' my ass, Specs," he snorted, rolling his shoulders to keep them loose. "As if your skills would deteriorate in less than a week."

"Better safe than sorry," Ignis remarked as his weapons disappeared into the aether. "We had time to spare, I might as well train." He turned his head to where Mia was watching, finally acknowledging she was there. "And it appears we have an audience."

"The show was nice," Mia commented dryly, using their apparent intermission to approach them. She glanced over to Ignis. "I don't think I've ever seen you train before."

"Not to your knowledge, no," he replied with closed eyes. "But I do when time permits. I cannot afford my skills to wane, especially when we're about to embark on a journey in foreign land."

"Point taken."

"And what about you, dear apprentice?" Gladiolus interjected as he eyed the woman. "You up for some trainin'?" He took her shrugging off her jacket and whipping out her baton to its full extension as an affirmative. Nodding once, he summoned his greatsword. "Alright. Let's begin."

Despite his weapon being almost twice his size, Gladiolus had perfect control and knew just how much power to put into each movement. He wielded it like it was nothing more than that piece of driftwood back at Spelcray Haven. Like he had done in their previous session, he interchanged his orders for her to either attack or defend. Mia adapted to the commands, at one point noticing her body moved more smoothly this time around. It gave her a surge of pride knowing she was getting familiar with movements that were once foreign.

Eventually he stopped instructing her on what to do and picked up the pace, leaving her to distinguish the shift in his stances and react accordingly. A twist in his torso meant he was winding up for a horizontal swing. When his front foot dug into the dirt, Mia knew to dodge sideways to avoid the vertical hit. While she was able to recognize his more obvious stances, she had trouble with the subtle cues. Whenever his weapon pierced her defenses, Gladiolus informed her where she would be injured if he followed through with the attack.

"Not bad," he commented. "You had some mistakes here and there, but overall you did a pretty good job."

"Thanks, coach," Mia panted, throwing him a thumbs up. "I know you're still going easy on me but I'll accept the compliment."

"He's not wrong, Mia," Ignis chimed in, an impressed smile on his face. "I see vast improvement in your close combat abilities." The elementalist felt warmth on her cheeks; whether it was from the workout or his praise, she wasn't sure. "That being said, your main method of fighting is magic. You should disengage from a close-ranged fight whenever possible." Stepping toward them, the brunette exchanged glances with the Royal Shield. "May I take over?"

"You do you, Iggy," Gladiolus shrugged, backing away for the Royal Advisor to take his place.

Mia swallowed the lump in her throat as she felt Ignis's serious gaze on her. Needless to say, she was more nervous squaring off against him than she was with Gladiolus. She reasoned it was because they've never been on opposing sides in combat, sparring or otherwise. And the fact that he fought very differently than his brawnier comrade. She didn't know what to expect from him.

"First things first," Ignis cleared his throat before motioning to the empty space between Mia and himself. "If I was your target, how close can you be and still reliably cast magic?"

The elementalist actually had to contemplate her answer. It took a few seconds to summon enough energy for a minimal spell (longer for more powerful ones, but she was working on that), and then some to project it forward. Taking the cast time into consideration, Mia moved a couple steps backwards. "I'd say here, I guess," she surmised. "Ideally, I'd be further away, but I'm confident I can cast my magic without interruption from about right here."

Ignis emitted a low, thoughtful hum. "Very well. In any case, in a close quarter situation, this is your optimal distance to your target. While this doesn't necessarily apply to open field settings, it is still useful information to have should you find yourself in an area with limited space. I recommend you burn it into your memory. That way you're more aware of your positioning during combat."

Mia absorbed his advice in silence. Her fighting range was something she never really thought about until he brought it up. While Gladiolus was helping her strengthen her CQC abilities, Ignis reminded her it was to be used for specific situations. Her primary role on the team was magic support for both offensive and defensive purposes. The backlines were where she would be most effective.

A flash of light diverted her eyes to the two daggers materializing in Ignis's hands. "Your next task—" Ignis began as he shifted to a battle-ready stance. Mia's whole body stiffened in anticipation. "—Is to avoid my attacks and maintain your optimal distance to me. Are you prepared?"

Doubtful, she thought, but replied aloud with, "As I'll ever be."

She barely had time to gasp before Ignis rushed at her. On pure instinct, she lunged horizontally, avoiding a would-be slice to the side of her stomach. Her heart pounded against her ribcage and the grip on her baton tightened. She actually felt the air rush by her when he attacked. She was about to retaliate when she remembered the whole point of this exercise wasn't to fight him. She needed to distance herself from him. Gritting her teeth, Mia recovered from her sloppy dodge and hauled ass in the other direction.

"You can't just run away!" Ignis easily matched her pace and then some. Mia skidded to a halt when he overtook her, thus effectively blocking her escape route. Damn his speed and much longer legs. "It's not as simple as fleeing," he admonished with a sigh. "If your enemy gives chase, it becomes a race of endurance. Your magic is dependent on your stamina, correct? You yourself should know what happens when it is depleted."

"I do," Mia sulked. "It's not fun." The urge to shrink away into oblivion increased the longer she remained under his serious gaze. However, she understood why he was doing this—learning how to disengage from combat was just as important as emergency CQC. Placing her hands on her hips, the elementalist frowned. "Then, what do I do?"

Ignis spent the next part of his lecture on the various methods she could use to break away from a close-ranged fight. Mia listened with rapt attention. She trusted his guidance the most, not just because he was the strategist of the group, but because his fighting style was a mixed-range combination similar to her own. Be that as it may, it didn't take long before she came to realize why Noctis would rather rudely cut his advisor off to deal with the actual matter at hand. The lecture, while extremely detailed and thorough, were at times longwinded. At the moment, she welcomed the wordiness. He never glossed over any detail and offered additional comments whenever she had an inquiry. His explanations were also followed by a demonstration, which she mirrored so she could get a feel for the motions.

One technique seemed too easy to be considered a skill: hopping backwards.

"It may sound fairly plain, but it works," Ignis chortled after Mia raised a dubious brow. "If you can force the enemy to dodge an attack, hopping can provide a quick leap in distance before they can recover." He moved to stand in front of her, daggers equipped once again. Mia tried to match his stern expression but found herself slightly more intimidated since she had to tilt her head to make any kind of impact. "Let's say I've entered your space," he posited. "Keeping you at close range as much as possible. What would you do?"

"In theory, I still have magic flasks at my disposal," she responded. "Perhaps I can counter you by tossing one between us and use the distraction to escape."

Ignis nodded in satisfaction. "Demonstrate," he commanded before rushing her once more. More familiar with his actions, the elementalist blocked his sequence of attacks with her baton. His movements were slower than their previous session, she noticed. He wasn't immediately trying to retaliate. She assumed it was because he was giving her ample time to devise a counter attack. After another successful parry, Mia pulled a fictional fire flask from her pocket and threw it at his feet. Ignis acted accordingly, pushing away from his adversary to escape the imaginary flames. Applying the method she was just taught, Mia leapt backwards.

Where the uneven terrain was her downfall. Literally.

The back of her boot hit a rise in the earth and caused the elementalist to trip. Her legs sweeping out from under her, Mia yelped. Her behind collided harshly with the ground first and the rest of her body followed. For a moment, she just sprawled out on the dirt in shock, her mind still reeling from what just happened. Then the pain set in. The next thing she knew, Ignis knelt next to her, brows furrowed together with concern.

"Are you alright?" he inquired.

"I'm dying," she deadpanned, groaning as the throbs on her backside magnified. "Slowly. Painfully."

"My apologies," he chuckled softly. "If it's any consolation, your strategy works." Standing, he dusted off his pants before offering a hand to her. To her embarrassment, Mia knew he was holding back his laughter as he added, "But perhaps I should've mentioned the terrain you fight on is another facet of battle you need to be wary of."

"A heads-up would've been nice," she grumbled, purposefully sullen to get her point across. A smile twitched onto her face when he chuckled another apology. Accepting his assistance to pull her off the dirt, Mia rubbed her sore backside. "There's no better learning than through pain, I guess."

"Are you truly alright?" he pressed again. "You didn't hit your head?"

"I'm fine, Specky," Mia reassured him with a smile. "The only thing that hurts is my behind." Ignis studied her face for any lying tells but eventually relented. Just as she began to think he was done worrying for her wellbeing, he lifted his hand to her face. A breath hitched in her throat when his fingers grazed against her skin, where they stopped just behind her ear. She was too flabbergasted to question his actions when he retracted his hand, revealing the small twig that got caught in her hair. "Oh," she lamely said. A sigh of relief (or was it disappointment?) escaped her. "Thanks for that."

"I think that's enough training for one day," the brunette remarked, tossing the twig aside. "We have a long day tomorrow—let's not overexert ourselves."

"Okay," Mia concurred. "I need a break. More importantly, my butt needs a break."

A mirthful smirk broke through Ignis's stoicism. "I wouldn't have put it so brazenly, but yes."

While Ignis excused himself to retrieve his blazer, Mia removed whatever remnant dirt was left on her clothes. Hopefully that was the only twig stuck in her hair. Distracted by her appearance, she was oblivious to someone walking up behind her and whispering in a singsong tone, "You're blushing." The deep rumble in their voice made her jolt and spin around so quickly she almost got whiplash. The culprit was revealed to be Gladiolus, who stood obnoxiously close. For whatever reason, he was grinning ear to ear. "I saw that."

He received a light slap on the arm for scaring her. "Saw what?" Mia glowered.

If it was possible, his grin widened, which only brought about more apprehension for the elementalist. Gladiolus bent forward so his face was level with hers. "Just so you know, my student," he snickered. "Iggy doesn't go around pulling twigs out of just anyone's hair."

Mia's mouth hung agape, unsure of how to respond. What was he implying, that she was somehow special to Ignis? That can't be it… can it? Gladiolus simply snickered at her expression—a mix of alarm and bewilderment—as her mind raced a mile a minute. She wanted to ask what he meant but Ignis returned. Ignis raised a brow at the woman's flustered face but instead of questioning it, he eyed their muscular friend, who was chuckling to himself. "Where did you run off to?" he inquired.

"Got a call from Cor," Gladiolus replied casually. "He'll be here tomorrow to see us off." Glancing to Mia, he added, "Said he's lookin' forward to meetin' you."

"Don't frighten her, Gladio," the brunette admonished, though his tone gave no indication the message was ominous.

Mia stared at the two with a distrustful look. "Is there a reason for me to be scared of him?" she probed slowly. To her dismay, both Shield and Advisor simultaneously glanced at the invisible watches on their wrists. It was clear they weren't going to give her a definitive answer. Huffing, the elementalist moved to stand between the two men and playfully pushed them arm's length away from her. "Haha, you guys are so funny," she drawled. "But really, is the Marshal someone I need to be wary of or—" She never finished her sentence because her so-called friends quickened their pace toward the house. "H-hey! Don't you walk away from me!"

In the end, Mia never received a proper answer and she eventually gave up. Deciding not to fret over it eased her mind as she separated from her friends. She'd deal with her first impression with the Marshal whenever it happens. Once she returned to the east wing of the house, she made a beeline for the shower. The warm water soothed her aching muscles and thus she took her sweet time washing away the grime and sweat that had accumulated during her training. Speaking of training, Mia reflected on the lessons she learned from Gladiolus and Ignis. Because of them, she felt more confident fighting in close quarters and understood the importance of positioning. When that knowledge inevitably saves her life, she'll make a mental note to thank them.

Squeaky clean, the reinvigorated elementalist begrudgingly stepped out of the shower. It was a safe assumption she wouldn't be going anywhere for the rest of the day so she decided to sport casualwear. She pulled on a snug pair of black capris leggings and a short-sleeved, teal-colored shirt with a subtle floral print. She also tied a gray jacket around her waist, just in case she got cold later. As always, she accessorized with her brother's dog tags and magic bracelet.

Mia towel-dried her hair to the best of her ability before plopping onto her claimed bed, sighing to the ceiling. If she wasn't so lethargic, she wanted to find Noctis and the others seeing as how they haven't returned to the house yet. Alas, the more she rested on the comfy mattress, the less she desired to move. Sound logic dictated that she deserved to rest. She set an alarm to go off before dinner and happily drifted away into dreamland.

She awoke sometime later to the sound of a person shuffling around the room. Opening one eye, she discerned the blurry figure to be Iris. "You were out for a long time," she remarked.

The girl was not expecting her to speak and she jumped. "O-oh," she sighed, holding a hand to her chest to calm her racing heartbeat. The elementalist couldn't help but chuckle softly. "Sorry, Mia. I didn't mean to wake you."

"It's fine," Mia reassured her, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "I'm glad you did. I probably would've slept through my alarm. Have fun with the boys?"

"Yup!" she beamed. "Prompto took a ton of pictures at the top of the lighthouse, though a majority of them were retakes because the wind was blowing our hair everywhere. We also visited Jared's grave. Noct and Prompto wanted to pay their respects. They even picked some wildflowers for him." Mia made a mental note to do the same in the near future. "So, what'd you end up doing?"

"I had an instructive training session with Ignis and your big brother."

"Ouch," Iris grimaced, which amused the elementalist. "Gladdy's pretty tough as a training partner. And I heard Ignis isn't very merciful either."

Mia flippantly flicked of her hand. "It wasn't too bad," she persuaded. "Then again, I'm not a seasoned fighter. They were easier on me than they would've been if it was Princey or Snapshot."

Iris giggled in agreement, "Well, it sounds like they dodged a bullet."

After their bout of laughter, there was a knock. The door opened slightly, just enough for Talcott to poke his head into the room. "Hey, Iris?" he called out to his guardian. "Are you ready to start dinner?"

"Yup, I'll be there in a sec," Iris told the boy, who nodded and left the door ajar.

Fully awake now, Mia slipped on her sneakers. "Let me help you."

Iris was quick to deny her assistance. "Thanks for offering, but we got this covered. You and your family cooked dinner for us, so I want to return the favor." Tossing Mia a cheeky grin, she added, "Tell Ignis he's not allowed to help either!"

"Whatever you say, boss," Mia acknowledged with a salute. She followed the girl out of the room and headed straight for the other set of stairs. She figured she could pass the time waiting for dinner by hanging with her friends. "Knock, knock," she announced without actually knocking on the door and letting herself in anyway. She witnessed Noctis staring intently at the dart board hanging above the orange couch. Beyond him were Ignis and Gladiolus, the former sitting posh on an ottoman while the latter sat backwards on a metal chair. Prompto leaned cross-armed against the wall adjacent to the door.

"'Sup?" the blonde greeted her first.

Mia smiled mischievously. "I'm here to bother you." Her comment was met with Noctis immediately shushing her, causing her to huff. "Wow, that's rude, Princey."

"I can't hear you, Mia," Noctis countered lightly, not bothering to even look at her. His eyes were locked on the board as he practiced his throwing motion for the final dart in his hand. Two darts were already embedded into the board, one in bottom left of the outermost ring and the other in the white panel below the center. "I need to concentrate."

"On what, exactly?"

"Tryin' to beat me at darts," Prompto answered with a snort. He tossed a cocky sneer at his best friend. "Bet you won't hit the red!"

"Shut up, Blondie," Noctis scowled. "I'll make you eat those words!" Exhaling a slow breath, there was a brief pause of tension before the prince let his final dart fly. The point sunk into the thick red ring that surrounded the bullseye. Noctis smirked triumphantly. Prompto threw his head back and groaned. A round of applause echoed throughout the room.

"Nice," Gladiolus complimented.

"That'll be difficult to beat," Ignis mused aloud.

"Gotta one-up him now, Snapshot," Mia grinned.

Still relishing in his feat, Noctis hopped up onto the couch to pluck his three darts out of the board. Prompto in the meantime wore his serious face as he stretched and rehearsed his own throwing motions. They were taking this competition way to seriously. Shaking her head, Mia used the opportunity to move away from the door. She sat cross-legged on the bed behind the two competitors, allowing her the perfect perspective to see the dart board. It didn't appear like they were keeping score so she assumed the winner was whoever hit the bullseye or came the closest.

"Alright, lady and gents!" Prompto exclaimed, seemingly ready to start his turn. "Let the professional show you how it's done!" His first throw landed on the thin middle ring. Not the greatest, but it was apparently better than Noctis's first throw (according to Gladiolus). His second attempt landed in the red ring, so close to a bullseye. Noctis's confident smirk fell slightly. He was starting to get nervous, judging from his constant fidgeting. Everyone waited in anticipation for the designated gunner's last attempt.

"It all comes down to this," Mia narrated as she held an invisible microphone to her mouth. "Will Prompto the Crownsguard's Sharpshooter win this nail biting championship? Or will it be Noctis, the dorky King of Lucis? We're all on the edge of our seats as we are about to witness history in the making!"

"No pressure, dude," Noctis whispered not-so-softly, hoping with all his being Prompto misses his mark. "Nooo pressure…"

"You can't break my groove!" Prompto dismissed his attempt at sabotage. "I got this locked down, bro!" After his proclamation, he threw the dart… and fist bumped the air when it sunk firmly in the direct center of the bullseye. "Hell yeah! See?! What'd I tell ya?!" So into his celebration, he shoved Noctis, who clicked his tongue in disgust.

"Whatever," Noctis grumbled, petulantly crossing his arms as he pouted. "This was a stupid game anyway." Leaving Prompto to revel in his victory, the prince tossed his darts into a cardboard box and plopped himself onto the couch to sulk.

"Aww, poor little Princey," Mia cooed, a Cheshire-like grin stretching across her lips. "Will ice cream help His Highness feel better?" The vehement glare she received only made her cackle. Prompto joined in on the fun and soon after, Gladiolus. Ignis smartly opted to stay out of Noctis's line of fire. Before the prince could retaliate with some strongly worded insults for his so-called friends, Iris entered the room.

"Dinner's ready!" she announced, blissfully unaware of why the Royal Retinue was snickering at their prince. Regardless of what transpired, the mention of food riled everybody into following after the younger Amicitia sibling. Everything seemed to be forgiven... for now.

Mia was plagued by her recurring dream again. From her aimless walk through the void to futilely escaping an subaqueous prison, the sequence remained the same. Then the boy knight, the mysterious figure that still eluded explanation, appears. He offers his assistance like the numerous instances prior and when she accepts his outstretched hand, she regains the ability to breathe.

That night something new happened.

Instead of pointing to whatever existed behind her, the boy knight proceeded to hold onto her hand, smile omnipresent, and spoke.

"She has awakened."

His voice sounded so young but held a sense of maturity. His words were so soft she wasn't even sure he uttered anything.

Caught off guard by the actual communication, Mia stammered, "Wh-what? Who's awake?"

Refusing to answer, the boy knight flipped her right hand over so that it was palm up. Mia observed him as he hovered his other hand over hers. Streaks of light converged in the palm of her hand, forming a small orb. The orb then reshaped into a glowing white feather, one so purely ethereal it was enchanting just to stare at it. The boy knight chuckled at Mia's wonderment before firmly pressing the feather between their palms. Mia cried out in alarm when she felt a searing heat. It was like the feather was branding into her skin. The heat was unrelenting yet he did not release her hand, no matter how hard she tried pulling away.

"Who are you?" Mia demanded to know, gritting her teeth to suppress the torment. "Why are you doing this to me?!"

The boy knight closed his eyes. "When prophecy comes to pass, she summons thee."

Hazel eyes snapped open and stared at the dark ceiling above. Mia sat up slowly, allowing the bedsheets to pool to her waist. The moonlight filtering through the window provided enough illumination for her to stare at her right hand. There was no indication her hand was burned but the painful sensation still lingered. Gently clenching her hand shut, Mia fell back onto her pillow and recalled her dream's newest development. The boy knight spoke to her, though by doing so only provided more questions than answers. What was the significance of that feather? What prophecy? And mostly importantly, who has awakened?

Too many questions swarmed her brain, so much so that sleep was impossible at the moment. After glancing over to Iris, who was sleeping soundly whilst clutching her moogle doll, Mia slipped on her shoes and jacket and left the room. The house was predictably quiet, save the muffled snores from the other bedroom. No doubt originating from Gladiolus, she thought with a chuckle. Mia decided to step outside, hoping the cool air would calm her rattled nerves. Out on the porch, she discovered she wasn't the only one awake at this blasphemous hour.

"Princey?" she called out in disbelief.

If his raven hair wasn't a dead giveaway, his face sure was. Turning to meet his unanticipated companion, Noctis blinked in surprise. "Mia? Why are you awake?"

"That's my line," she countered as she came to stand next to him. "I expected you to be in a dead sleep like you always are at this time."

He snorted, "Well, you're not wrong."

Leaning forward, Mia folded her arms against the slightly tilted railing. "So why are you up?" she pressed before teasingly adding, "Have a nightmare or something?"

Noctis didn't respond immediately, which caused her to wonder if he actually did. "I wouldn't call it a nightmare," he answered after the pause. He then ruffled his hair as his brows knitted together. "But it was definitely… a dream. A bizarre and confusing dream that makes no sense."

"I know how that feels," she sympathized, laughing through her nose. "Mine's a recurring one and I still can't make heads or tails of it."

"Bet yours didn't involve that creepy kid we saw in Steyliff Grove." Noctis jumped when Mia shot upright and snapped her head to him, eyes wide with stunned awe. It took a few seconds for the prince to process her reaction before the realization dawned on him. "Wait, seriously?" he gawked, matching her astonished look with one of his own. "Did we have the same dream?"

"I don't know but thank the gods I can talk to somebody about it!" Mia avidly exclaimed. Maybe Noctis could provide the insight she desperately wanted. Eager to get her answers, she grasped his wrists and began a speedy interrogation. "You've dreamt about the boy knight, right? Tonight was the first time since the dreams started that he said something to me! He mentioned something about a prophecy but hell if I know what that means. Has he said anything to you—"

"Whoa! Mia, calm down," Noctis placated, flipping his hands around so he was the one holding onto hers. He didn't release her until he saw her shoulders slump, acknowledging she became aware she was spewing words a mile a minute. Noctis offered a consoling pat on her shoulder before lightly flicking her forehead. "I did not understand anything you said in that spiel, by the way."

"Sorry," Mia pouted, rubbing where he flicked her. "It's just that I've been racking my brain for an answer and yet I still come up with nothing. I was hoping you'd be able to help with that."

Noctis ruffled his hair again and shrugged. "I doubt it. The only thing I remember is I'm standing in a bright room when the kid—or boy knight, whatever—shows up. And every time, he says the same confusing thing." He cleared his throat before quoting the boy knight, "'Those that are once lost cannot be reclaimed. Will the Chosen One be the exception?'"

"Sounds… ominous," Mia drawled after hearing the riddle. Noctis made a noise to agree with her. Blowing stray hair out of her eyes, Mia bent at the waist so that her chin rested atop her folded arms. "Even though that's all you remember, it's enough to know our dreams aren't the same." The only variable they shared in common was the boy knight. Everything else—the setting, the subjects conversed, their actions—were entirely different. She needed more time to put together a logical explanation to all of this. "Not as eye-opening as I thought it would be…"

The prince nudged her. "But it's a start, at least."

Mia tittered, "True." Their conversation soon faded into silence, both parties opting to collect their thoughts while enjoying a little stargazing. In the quietness of the night, Mia mulled over a variety of topics, eventually ending on their next destination. She tilted her head toward Noctis, who caught her gaze. "Tomorrow we sail for Altissia," she began. "Nervous?"

"I guess," was his vague answer. "But we don't have a choice. Luna's there."

"Excited to see your betrothed?"

He took longer to answer this time. "…I dunno," he admitted. The elementalist raised a brow as she watched him fumble his words. "I mean, I guess I am. Excited, I mean. But…" A pinkish hue dusted his cheeks as he attempted to express himself. Amused, Mia patiently waited for him to sort his feelings out. Noctis ran a hand down his face and sighed. "I'm excited but also nervous. It's been a long time since I've seen her."

"How long is 'a long time'?" she inquired curiously.

Noctis scratched his cheek, as if embarrassed. "Like, since the first time we met… twelve years ago."

Mia calculated the math in her head before giving the prince an incredulous stare. "You met Lady Lunafreya in person once when you were eight and that's it?" He nodded. "And your only form of communication for twelve years has been that tiny journal?" When he nodded again, she exhaled a breath in disbelief. "Damn."

"It's not like we had many options," he mumbled. "Ever since the empire took over Tenebrae, the journal was the only way we could stay in touch. If it wasn't for Umbra, we probably wouldn't have talked at all. I need to get to her, no matter what." Noctis studied his friend, who firmly pressed her lips together. "You look like you have something to say."

"I shouldn't," she shook her head. "It's none of my business."

"Mia," he frowned. "I'm not gonna bite. Just tell me."

His stern gaze told her she could be straightforward with him. After brief contemplation, Mia faced him fully. "Don't take this the wrong way, okay?" she prefaced cautiously. She sighed when he agreed. "I can tell you care for her and the feeling is mutual. That being said, meeting each other only once—when you were eight, for that matter—isn't enough time to know a person. Even if you were communicating via journal, twelve years is a very long time. A few words or sentences every so often are insufficient compared to expressing yourself to someone physically in front of you. Like what you're doing with me right now." Mia paused to gauge his pensive look before continuing, "All I'm saying is, if I were you, I wouldn't have preconceived expectations when you meet again. You can't project the child version you remember of Lady Lunafreya onto the woman she has become."

What she said must have struck a chord with him because Noctis heaved a heavy sigh. "I was afraid of that," he admitted softly. Mia watched as he crossed his arms and leaned his back against the railing. "It's been on my mind since the engagement was announced. After we left Insomnia, I heard Luna's voice on the radio. She didn't sound the same as how I remember." He then lowered his head. "That's when I realized… maybe I don't know Luna after all. She might be completely different than I remember her being. How would she react if she saw me now?"

"Having doubts is nothing to be embarrassed about, Princey," Mia consoled with a shrug. "No one stays the same after twelve years. You're not the same as the eight-year old you. And neither is Lady Lunafreya. Your likes, your dislikes, your personality—everything, really—it gradually changes over time. If there's a silver lining, it's that you get to discover new aspects of the person you care about, and vice versa." In an attempt to lighten up the mood, she added, "Especially since you haven't seen each other since you went through puberty."

She got what she was aiming for: an amused snort from the prince. "Can't forget about that." Without warning, Noctis leaned his weight sideways onto the woman. The elementalist whined but made no attempt to shove him away and simply just allowed him to lean. "It's strange," he said in a hushed tone. "I haven't told this to anyone except you. Wonder why that is?"

"Because you love me," she snickered, which made him sputter.

"Why you gotta make it weird?"

"It's not weird if it's true."

"…I'm starting to regret telling you anything."

"As you should," she grinned, laughing out loud when he groaned again. When Noctis alleviated his weight off of her, Mia reached out to grab his forearm, thus stopping him from moving away. He tossed an inquisitive look over his shoulder. "In all seriousness, I'm glad you opened up to me, Noct," she continued with a genuine smile. "It's not good to bottle up your feelings and hold it in." She then pointed to herself. "So, if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm more than happy to lend an ear."

Despite the limited lighting, Mia could clearly see Noctis turn bright red. He tried to hide it by turning his back to her, but it was too late. She'd seen him blushing and burned it into her memory. "I'm going back to sleep," he muttered, shoving his hands in his pockets and heading for the door. Giggling to herself, Mia didn't stop him. He'd shown enough emotional vulnerability for one night.

The following morning, Mia woke up earlier than intended thanks to Iris wanting to cook a meal for the party before they left for Altissia. She didn't mind, as it allowed her to mentally prepare for the trip ahead. After her habitual routine, Mia changed into a fresh set of clothes. Her outfit consisted of a sage-colored tank top under a dark olive green flowy vest, dark jeans, which tucked into her pair of brown boots. Pulling her hair up into the usual ponytail, the elementalist grabbed her bag and decided to wait for the rest of her friends on the first floor.

In the kitchen were a sizable serving of eggs, toast and ham. Mia was drawn to the delicious smell of breakfast, her stomach grumbling with need. Ignis was the only one present besides her. He held a can of Ebony in one hand and an empty plate in the other. "Good morning," he greeted as he handed the plate over to her.

"Morning," she returned his greeting. After accepting the plate, she filled it with food to her liking and claimed a seat at the dining table. She did a quick survey of the area. "Where's Iris?"

"She and Talcott left for the lighthouse to deliver some food to Cid and the Marshal," Ignis replied as he joined her at the table. "The others will be down momentarily. At least, that is my assumption. His Highness was in the midst of getting ready when I left."

"You probably should've stayed to confirm he didn't fall back asleep."

Her quip caused him to smirk. "I trust Gladio can keep him awake in my stead." They bided their time for Noctis, Prompto, and Gladiolus to arrive but it seemed one (or a combination of them) were taking longer than anticipated. "I'll go see what's taking so long," Ignis announced once they finished their meals.

"Then I'll go on ahead," Mia responded, rising to her feet. "Check if there's any last minute things I can help with."

He nodded to the plan. "See you there."

Bag strapped to her shoulders, Mia began her breezy walk to the lighthouse. She halted at the base, staring up at the structure in all its ancient glory. Butterflies fluttered around in her stomach as she exhaled a deep breath and entered the building. There were various oddities and mechanisms stored within the building but the main attraction was the circular lift situated smack dab in the middle. The shut gate barricading entry signified the lift's platform was not at present level. She was about to push the call button when the machinery whirred to life. The noise coming from above told her the platform was descending from the catwalk at the top of the lighthouse.

The elevator gate retracted, revealing an elderly man holding a toolbox in his hand. He had shaggy silvery hair and hazel eyes, shadowed by a red baseball cap atop his head. He wore a white polo shirt with a blue strip across the chest and on the edges of his collar. Loose dark jeans tucked into black boots and a silver chain hung from one of his belt loops. Emblazoned on his red leather jacket and baseball cap was the Hammerhead logo. Mia recognized the grumpy face. It was Cid, owner of the Hammerhead garage and Cindy's grandfather. The two were briefly introduced during dinner the night prior. He had stopped by to grab some food but quickly returned to the lighthouse to finalize repairs for the boat.

Recognizing her, Cid spoke first. "All by your lonesome?" he inquired, to which Mia nodded. "Where's Reggie's boy?"

"Still getting ready," she replied as she stepped onto the lift. "What were you doing at the top of the lighthouse?"

"I was tryin' to see if I could fix the lantern," he answered, hitting a button to resume the descension. He grunted irritably. "But the darn ol' thing needs more work than the boat."

Mia couldn't help but smile. "If we had the time, we'd be happy to fetch whatever parts you needed. I'm sure Princey—er, Prince Noctis—would agree." She wasn't sure if he would consider her lack of formality with the Lucian royal disrespectful so she quickly corrected herself.

Cid didn't seem to mind. On the contrary, he looked pretty amused when he heard her nickname. "Those boys mean a lot to you, huh?"

Mia blinked at the sudden seriousness in his tone but answered with complete confidence, "Of course they do. They're my friends."

After passing a brief section of darkness, the lift shook to a stop. A dim light greeted them at the bottom as the safety gates rattled open. "Let me give you some advice, kid," Cid began before he stepped off the platform. Mia gave him her full attention. "Treasure the bonds you've made. Fight for 'em if you gotta. Fight like hell. I pray you never learn how it feels to lose a valuable friendship."

The pained expression he tried to hide behind his gruff exterior… he was speaking from personal experience. Mia didn't even want to imagine what a falling out with Noctis or the others would be like. The thought alone brought a bitter taste to her tongue. Gripping the strap of her bag, Mia locked eyes with the old mechanic, showing him that she took his words to heart. "I'll fight for them," she vowed. "No matter what." Cid smirked, pleased with her answer, and exited the lift.

Following after him, the elementalist couldn't help but be fascinated by her surroundings. It was like she walked into a giant tent instead of a rocky cove way below the Caem lighthouse. The cove was covered by earth-colored tarps, held together by metal wiring and supported by the metallic framework. Lanterns hung from the apex of the tent, providing light along the catwalk leading from the lift to a room below. An abundance of packaged boxes, crates, and fuel cannisters lined the perimeter of the tent. In the open area, two wooden crates were pushed together, acting as a makeshift coffee table. Cushioned stools and a mustard yellow couch surrounded it. On said couch were pillows and blankets; presumably this was where Cid had been sleeping for the past couple of nights. Opposite the stairs, Mia could see the little harbor where the boat was docked.

At the bottom of the stairs, Mia spotted a man she didn't recognize. Despite simply standing there with his hands behind his back, the man emitted an imposing aura. He had cropped brown hair, sharp blue eyes, and closely shaven facial hair. Attached to his hip was a katana in which the black scabbard was decorated with silver embellishments. If his outfit was anything to go by, he hailed from Insomnia—a black collared jacket, a black skull-printed shirt, black trousers tucked into black boots with red soles.

What was it with Insomnians and the color black?

"You must be Mia," the man stated as he faced her. The elementalist stiffened, not expecting to be addressed. She was also uncertain as to how he knew her name. Sensing her confusion, the man introduced himself, "I'm Cor Leonis. Gladio has told me about you."

"Good things, I hope?" Mia forced a laugh, suddenly nervous to be in the presence of a Crownsguard legend.

"He says you're adept at a different kind of magic. One not bound by the crystal." Affirming Gladiolus's report, Mia presented her bracelet to him and gave an abridged explanation of how it worked. It was difficult to tell if Cor was impressed or not; his stone-faced expression did not change in the slightest. He was harder to read than Ignis. Regardless, Cor grunted his approval. "You've proven to be a valuable asset to His Highness and his retainers so far," he remarked gruffly. "Please continue to be an ally for our future king." To her shock, the Marshal bow.

Mia's eyes widened in shock. Why was this highly respected man bowing to her?! Flailing her hands in front of her to get him to stop (which worked), she pledged, "I will do my best… sir."

After that horribly awkward exchange, the elevator's gears started turning again. As the platform rose, Iris and Talcott entered the tent from where they'd been admiring the boat. They ran up the stairs to be the first to greet the Chocobros. Iris stayed on the landing while Talcott waited on the catwalk. When the elevator opened, Talcott ran up to them.

"Look, Prince Noctis!" he exclaimed as he pointed to Cor. "Even the Marshal came to say goodbye!"

Peering over the rail, Noctis chuckled, "So he did."

Mia waved at her friends once they gathered at the bottom. Like her, they were ready to get the show on the road. Noctis silently looked over to Cor, acknowledging him with a subtle nod of the head. Cor situated himself off to the side of the stairs, arms crossed and eyes downcast. His brows furrowed together in what appeared to be frustration. "Before you leave, there's something I gotta get off my chest," he announced.

Everyone pivoted toward the Marshal. Having their full attention, Noctis inquired, "What's that?"

Dropping his hands to his sides, Cor faced the prince fully. "I'm sorry," he uttered solemnly. "Sorry I wasn't there for your father." Noctis pressed his lips to a grim line as the older man pressed on despite how hard it was for both of them. For all of them. Still, Cor was too ashamed to meet the prince's gaze. "I swore an oath to protect the king… but I wasn't strong enough to uphold it."

A long, sullen silence followed, none of them knowing what to say in this situation. It would be inappropriate for an outsider like Mia to even try to console him. She usually filled the void with some snarky remark but Cor was genuinely apologizing for something that was beyond his control. He wasn't the cause of the tragedies that occurred in the Crown City. It didn't seem fair to him to carry such a burden. As skilled a warrior he is, he was still human.

"Ain't nothin' nobody could've done to stop what happened," Cid interjected as he walked in, breaking the heavy atmosphere.

"Yeah, I realize that," Noctis remarked.

Taking a break on the couch, Cid gestured to his retinue. "But you need to realize just what you mean to the people by your side. Even if they can't solve your problems, you can't hide what's goin' on from 'em. It hurts like hell."

Cid glanced to a framed picture on the makeshift table. Being the closest, Mia could just make out the subjects of the photograph. The image depicted four men with the Caem lighthouse in the background. There was a man she didn't recognize, but the two figures in the middle were of a young smiling Cid and an even younger version of Cor, still retaining that stoicism. Lastly, the dark-haired man leaning against the recognizable Regalia bore similarities to Noctis. That could only be Noctis's father, the late King Regis. Cid's eyes lingered on the picture for a moment. When he eventually looked up, his expression was bittersweet. Seeing the prince and his friends together must have reminded him of memories long since passed.

Cid then leaned forward, scanning each royal retainer with an attentive gaze, before stopping on Noctis. "Remember—those ain't your bodyguards, they're your brothers. Trust in 'em. Always." Ignis, Gladiolus, and Prompto simultaneously straightened their backs, pledging their allegiance with pride. After rising to his feet, Cid motioned to the elementalist. "And that includes her. Never forget: a woman's intuition is a powerful weapon."

Mia grinned, "Damn right it is."

With the tension shattered, everyone seemed to pipe up almost immediately. Cid returned to the boat; apparently he was sailing with them to Altissia, seeing as how no one knew how to steer a boat. While making final preparations, Noctis glanced to Cor. "Have any advice for me before we leave?" he asked.

"You can never have too many tools," Cor replied. "Learn to wield not only weapons, but magic as well."

The prince snorted. "Then it's a good thing we have an expert with us."

"Who said I'll help you?" Mia sneered, happening to overhear the conversation.

"Why do you think I was talking about you?" Noctis countered.

She cheekily stuck her tongue out at him. "'Cause you love me, remember?"

Unbeknownst to them, their little quips drew an almost inaudible chuckle from the Marshal.

"Y'all waitin' for an invitation?" Cid grumbled loudly. "Get your asses on board!"

"Aw, yeah! Time to go!" Prompto cheered as he headed for the boat.

The royal boat was in fact a yacht, painted sleek black with a thick white trim. The shape of the yacht was a little odd compared to the rare few Mia had seen docked at Galdin Quay. While the bow was constructed with a generic design, a large hatch was attached to the stern, which sloped toward the water. Mia wondered what the purpose of the hatch was until she realized it was the perfect width of the Regalia. How they managed to get the car on the boat, she had no idea, but an amused smile spread to her lips. Why wouldn't the Regalia accompany them across the sea? She was a valued member of the party, after all.

Standing on the docks, Iris forced an optimistic smile as the Royal Retinue approached. She was trying her best not to look dejected. "I guess it's goodbye for now," she said.

"We'll be back before you know it," Gladiolus reassured her. As the two embraced, he added, "Stay out of trouble."

His sister rolled her eyes. "That should be my line, Gladdy."

Iris and Talcott proceeded to say their goodbyes to the rest of the party and gave hugs to those who wanted one. Once Cid okayed the royal vessel was primed to sail, the two stood on the dock to see them off. The young boy hung his head, scuffing his shoes against the ground. He was probably sad to see his idol leave, not knowing when he'd return. Iris comforted him with a loving pat on his head.

Mia was the last to board the boat. This would be her first time sailing, and being on a floating vessel for that matter. Needless to say, she was a little hesitant.

"Need some help?"

Snapping back to reality, Mia stared at the gloved, outstretched hand belonging to Ignis. She accepted his assistance and was hoisted onto the deck. She could feel the boat bobbing up and down with the waves. Being the gentleman that he was, Ignis held her steady until she adapted to the unfamiliar movement. "Thanks," she sighed after he released her. "Hopefully I don't get seasick."

Escorting her away from the edge of the boat, Ignis reassured her, "I have medicine if you start to feel queasy."

Cid revved the engine, causing the vessel to bob even more. The sudden movement evoked a squeak from the elementalist, who held onto the wall of the open cockpit for dear life. She threw the Royal Advisor a withering glare after he chuckled at her jitteriness. Calming herself, Mia pushed off the wall to carefully traipse the deck. Noctis stood near the front of the boat on the portside closest to the dock. Ignis and Prompto joined Cid in the cockpit, admiring the technology the seasoned mechanic managed to restore. Mia couldn't see what Gladiolus was doing—she was too preoccupied with her death grip on the rail.

"Hey! Your Majesty!" Talcott called to Noctis.

The dark-haired royal peered over the side. "What's up?"

"Please come back soon!" As the boat began to pull away, Talcott and Iris ran to the end of the dock, waving their hands in the air. "We need our king!"

Talcott's utmost trust in him brought a smile to Noctis's face. "Yeah!" he shouted back, cupping his hands around his mouth to magnify his voice. "Count on it!" Waving goodbye one last time, Noctis turned his gaze forward. There was nothing but a vast, cerulean ocean ahead… and whatever adventures lay beyond it. He balled his hands into fists, determination set in his icy blue eyes. There was no turning back.

"Altissia, here we come."

Author's Note

Apologies for the delayed update ... at least it didn't take me three months this time? The holiday season really kicked my butt this year. SO. MANY. SOCIAL. GATHERINGS. It's just been an unusually busy time for me, which sucks when all I want to do is sit and write but I get interrupted every so often. But I managed to get this out before the new year, so yay?

Since this is my last update of the year, thanks for sticking with this story thus far and I hope 2019 brings happiness for you all!

Responses to Guest Reviews

Guest1995: Oh my goodness, I have been WAITING for the gang to reach Altissia for long and it's finally here! There's a scenario that's been in my head for a very long time and I can finally start working on it. Thanks for your continued support!

Milk: Thank you so much for your review! I'm glad I've figured out the basic points of the story, too. The hard part will be filling in the blank spaces, but I'll get there slowly but surely.