Greetings everyone! I felt bad for leaving a major cliffhanger last chapter, so here's more. This story will be going on for awhile longer (no ending planned yet and I'm having so much fun having characters who never interacted in the game interact now that I can't bear to have it come to an end). Hope you still like and keep with it. Okey dokey. Here we go and thanks for reading!
The rain didn't register at first. The warriors just figured that it had started raining and thought nothing of it. However, one by one they came to the realization that rain under the circumstances was quite unusual. Even Ifrit was caught off guard. He stiffened, then looked down the street behind them.
Ignis had just taken Aranea in his arms, still unkissed, when realization set in. And it was enough to break them apart, confused. Noctis and his allies's curiosity got the better of them. They turned to see what Ifrit was staring at. None were prepared for the water-bound dragon slithering down the street with deadly speed, ready to hurl herself at Ifrit.
"Leviathan," Luna breathed.
The Hydrean ignored her, and indeed all the humans. She couldn't care less about them. She swept forward like a tidal wave, ready to confront Ifrit. If the humans were in her way, that was just too bad. The warriors saw the danger and leapt aside as the water encroached. If their reactions were any slower they would have been drowned.
She splashed to a stop within striking distance of Ifrit. "I would say stop this, but I know you won't listen to me," Leviathan said coldly.
Ifrit stared back balefully before snarling back, "hmph. If you knew why did you waste your time saying it." He wasn't lunging though. It was evident that he doubted his abilities to take her on at the moment.
However, Leviathan didn't look to be 100 percent either. There was steam coming from vents on her side. Luna wondered if she had had some difficulties penetrating the flame barrier.
"This is your last chance, Ifrit," Leviathan said coldly. "Stop this now, or I will end you."
Ifrit laughed contemptuously. "Really! You would slay one of your own? Don't you know the world will end if you do?"
"Why do you care," she replied tartly. "The way I see it, you want to destroy it yourself anyway."
Ifrit didn't like being told things he didn't want to hear. He lunged, flaming fists aiming for the water goddess's face. She slithered aside so that the fire punches struck her side, creating holes of steam that lingered. If this fight didn't end soon, she would be turned to steam, and Luna feared for her survival, as well as their own.
Cor and Noctis looked at each other. "Do we, help her," Cor asked him, uncertainly.
Noctis looked from the divine fighters to his allies, a torn look on his face.
"She wouldn't thank us if we did," Ardyn drawled. "Besides, weren't you all about to give up like cowards before anyway? It appears Iggy and the mother of my child were," he added snidely, a twinge of jealousy in his tone if you squinted. He studiously ignored the fact that he had basically been about to give up too. Normal rules of conduct did not apply to him, in his humble opinion anyway.
Noctis sighed. "He's right," he said, resigned. "We are too drained right now to be able to do anything here."
"So what do we do, fall back," Gladio replied snidely, contempt for that idea obvious.
Ravus struggled to his feet. "I, think Gladio is right," he said, weakly. "Ifrit won't let us run at this point."
Luna may have healed him, but his armor was totally useless—riddled with holes. His arms were now totally bare—the arm pieces having broken off in the heat. He was still gripping his sword though, ready to fight if need be. "And I won't let him run," Ravus continued ruthlessly. "I will cut him to pieces, starting with his manhood, for everything he did to Iris and Luna."
Gladio looked at him suspiciously, finding his graphic intentions in response to Iris's plight unusual. It was his job to defend Iris's honor himself. However, he conceded that Ravus was also planning to avenge his own sister, so didn't press it.
However, Ardyn was right. Leviathan seemed to have no time for them. If they tried to help her she would probably just knock them aside as well. She was making it obvious that they had no place in this. She was engaging Ifrit pretty solidly though. She had wrapped her watery form around him and was squeezing like a boa constrictor. Ifrit was obviously suffering—his eyes were bulging as his life was being choked from him.
Iris watched in morbid fascination. Would this be enough? Would she kill him? She fervently hoped so. This fiend deserved to be taken down by a woman—the very beings he seemed to hate and objectify.
With a feral roar that shook the nearby buildings, Ifrit wrenched free, grabbed frantically with his flame sword, and slashed out blindly. It seemed almost sheer luck that he made contact, slicing Leviathan cleanly in half. There was a loud hiss, as though cold water had been poured on a hot pan, and Leviathan's head half slithered out of range.
However, she wasn't done. Now that she had only half of her body, she was faster, more agile. She swept forward with almost dizzying speed, ready to finish him. Ifrit must have seen his death in her watery gaze. He retreated, leaping into the sky. Before Leviathan could give chase, Ifrit slammed through the rapidly fading fire dome. Right before he disappeared, he turned his gaze again in Iris's direction. It was hard to tell from that distance, but his gaze seemed to say to Iris, "don't think this is over."
"He, ran away," Prompto said in disbelief.
"Where is he going," Noctis asked the Hydrean.
"Somewhere to heal his wounds," Leviathan spat back. "And given your inability to deal with him, I doubt you will do any better next time," she replied bitterly.
Gladio sputtered in impotent rage at the insult.
"Your confidence in us is quite heartwarming," Ardyn taunted with an edge of bitterness in his tone.
"Where would a being like that go? The Disc of Cauthess," Ignis asked sharply.
"As if Titan would allow that," Leviathan replied sarcastically. "He will keep Ifrit away from there, but there are other hot places where he can recover."
Luna looked up in horror. "He, won't go after Agneya will he," she asked.
"Not likely," Leviathan replied condescendingly. "Agneya doesn't exist to him. He will not see her as being worth his time at all."
"Hmph. If you know so much about him, why don't you track him down then? He is after all one of yours," Gladio demanded.
"I do not take orders from humans, as well you know," Leviathan snapped back.
Luna had had enough of her pettiness. "You will take orders from the Oracle and the Chosen King though," she replied, with cold, deadly implacability. It was as though she was calling in a favor that Leviathan was compelled to perform.
This stopped Leviathan mid-spate. She turned to look at the both of them.
"You do have a point, Oracle," she conceded. "However, my powers are, limited at the moment. It took all I had to extinguish the flames of this bone-dry city. I will need to replenish at the Altar of the Tidemother before I can do anything further."
Ardyn rolled his eyes. "Just as helpful as always, aren't you, Hydrean," he taunted, just to get splashed as Leviathan slashed out with what was left of her tail. He merely smirked bitterly in response.
"I have assisted," Leviathan continued. "If you will notice, Noctis's kingdom is no longer in flames, and your people can escape. My intervention also saved your lives. And don't say you would have vanquished him. I would never believe you."
"Um, yo. We already did that, uh last time," Prompto piped up.
"He still came back, didn't he," Leviathan countered, causing Prompto to droop, crestfallen.
"So what happens now," Noctis demanded. "You let him run away, heal up, and return to wreak havoc?"
"No. I will help you," she said, as though granting a great favor. "Track him down, and lure him to Altissia. There is where I am most powerful, and can finish him off completely for you."
"But I thought we have an 'inability to deal with him'," Ravus countered coldly.
"You do. However, you have enough powers to draw him out and lure him to me," she replied, just as coldly.
"I'm so glad you see humans as useful pawns to you," Aranea snapped back.
Leviathan didn't even grace her with a reply. With a crash like harsh waves hitting the shore, she abruptly turned and flowed away, evidently to return to Altissia.
"What a bitch," Aranea said in indignation. "So in order for her to help us we have to traipse around looking for Ifrit then lure him to Altissia? Are we really going to do her bidding?"
"Unfortunately I don't think we have much of a choice," Noctis said. "I mean, anyone else have any ideas?"
Alas, nobody did.
"These gods sure are helpful, right Noct," Prompto piped up sarcastically.
"Dunno. They were pretty helpful against Ardyn last time," Noctis said.
Ignis looked around warily. "Where is Ardyn," he asked, voice hard.
The group looked around sharply. There was no sign of him, or of Iris.
"Wait! Come back," Lux was shouting, running down the street.
"Woah kid," Aranea said, running after him, catching up to him pretty quickly. "What's going on," she asked, as bracingly as she could, but with a tense edge to it.
"That man, took Iris," Lux ground out in horror.
"Ardyn, abducted Iris," Ignis replied in disbelief, but he was already digesting, calculating what had happened and the possible reasons why. None that came to mind were good.
"That man, is Ardyn," Lux replied in surprise, but kept his counsel, especially considering the violent response surging around him at that man's name.
"That son of a bitch," Gladio exploded. "I knew he was no goddamned good! We should have killed him when we had the chance! When I catch up with him I will rip his heart out and eat it!"
"Get in line," Ravus cut in, icy fury in his voice. "I'd like to have a go at him first. And for every hurt he has given Miss Iris, I shall return the favor, 100 fold."
Ok. Gladio had let the first one go. This comment could not be left unchallenged. "Why are you so pissed about this," he demanded. "I mean, she's my sister."
Ravus looked away uncertainly for a moment then turned back, defiant. "I happen to have an interest in your sister's well-being as well. Unless you find that problematic," he concluded, a decided challenge in his voice, and in his bare, surprisingly toned, folded arms.
What he meant was clear to everyone present. Luna and Prompto gaped at him. Gladio was stunned silent.
"We'll talk about all this when we find Iris," Gladio finally said. "And make no mistake: we will," he added darkly. It was unclear if he meant they would find Iris or would have words about Ravus's intentions towards her. Either boded ill for Ardyn or Ravus, respectively.
"Ardyn won't get far," Noctis cut in coldly. "We will get Iris back and deal with him."
It didn't matter if they were weak and wounded and that Ifrit was out there. One of their own had been abducted, and they would give their all to rescue her. And, in Ignis's opinion, the path to both Ifrit and Iris would likely be identical anyway.
For knowing what they needed to do next, the weak, battle-weary party was temporarily at a loss.
"What the hell do we do now," Prompto demanded, flustered.
"We find Iris," Gladio said tersely.
"We are in agreement on that, but that still doesn't help us know where that cocksucker of an Ardyn would have taken her," Ravus cut in bitingly.
Prompto gaped like a fish, scandalized. "Your baby sister is here. Shouldn't you try to, you know, watch your language?"
Ravus shrugged. "My 'baby sister' says a lot worse when her devoted followers aren't around. Isn't that right, sister," he taunted.
"Fuck you, Ravus," Luna replied, totally straightfaced in way of response.
Prompto turned to Noctis to gauge his reaction to his "regal queen" speaking like this, only to get another indifferent shrug.
"I've heard it too, in the other reality," Noctis stated calmly. "There is something to be said for a lady in public, a potty-mouth in private," he commented with a suggestive smirk to his wife, causing her to blush.
"Whatever," Ravus cut in coldly. "Right now we need to track Ardyn and Iris down."
"Agreed," Noctis replied, back to business. Then he looked to Ignis. "I assume you have a plan, Specs," he replied with a calm assurance. He knew Ignis too well. While the others were blustering and plotting dire retribution against Ardyn, Ignis was coolly and quietly thinking of what to do next.
He was not disappointed. "Indeed," Ignis replied. "My best guess is that Ardyn is using Iris to get to Ifrit. I remember him saying once in passing that Iris could be handy as bait for him."
"He's using Iris to draw Ifrit out of hiding," Gladio cut in in horror.
"If we could trust Ardyn, and if we were in place to protect Iris, it may not be a bad idea," Ignis commented idly, only to put up his hand in placation when it appeared Gladio and Ravus were ready to attack him for even thinking that. "I'm not saying it is a good plan," he replied briskly. "However, you must admit Ifrit's reactions to her indicate he's not indifferent to her, which could be used to our advantage if we were ruthless enough to move forward with it."
"Not indifferent? I think you mean that he wants to rape and kill her," Ravus bit in with cold fury. "We all heard what he said to her, and I saw her reaction when she fled from his captivity. She was trembling in my arms for Godsake! Do you think I ever want her to go through that again?" He looked sharply to Luna. "You were in his depraved hands too. What did he do to you," he asked sharply, ready for more vengeful anger.
"He didn't treat me as badly as he did Iris," she replied. "And I gladly put up with it to keep Iris safe. I could have escaped at any time, but I didn't want to leave her alone with him."
Ravus didn't seem mollified by the response, but Gladio was, slightly. He disrupted anything Ravus would have responded with by saying, gruffly, "I am grateful for that, but it should not have been necessary".
"Ardyn is ruthless enough to do something like that," Noctis cut in calmly. "Using Iris as bait for Ifrit is right up his alley. So if we find them, we probably find Ifrit too."
Ignis nodded in agreement that Noctis caught on so quickly.
"But where is that," Aranea cut in.
"And are we strong enough to fight him right now," Cor also added, cutting to the heart of the matter.
Noctis's shoulders slumped for a moment before he rallied. "I am king. It is my job to take care of this. We will all work together, but when we find Ifrit, I will engage him on my own."
"Not happening," Cor said.
"Bullshit," Luna replied at the same time, causing her and Cor to look at each other wryly.
"We aren't arguing this now," Noctis said decisively. "For now, the priority is finding Iris."
"Ardyn knows Ifrit more than we do," Ignis said. "He also has a better idea where Ifrit would go than we do. If we all hunt in one pack, we will never find them in time."
"So, you are suggesting we split up," Gladio stated, more statement of fact than question.
"Indeed," Ignis replied coolly. "Then we can check more places at once. If one unit finds them they can keep them in sight until the others converge upon their location."
"There are like, so many ways that approach can fail," Prompto replied. "I mean, what if one of us bumps right into Ifrit, or can't keep Ardyn and Iris in sight after finding them?"
"I am open to other suggestions," Ignis replied coolly.
"It's up to you Noct," Cor said. "We can all search for them together and be as full power as we can be; but risk taking too long to find them. Or we split up as Ignis says, and be weaker individually, but have a more spread out search radius. They are of equal risk and reward if you ask me. You are king, and our leader. The decision is up to you."
Noctis looked around to the group. "I've gotta go with Ignis on this one. We split up."
"I'll go with you," Luna replied, with a pointed glance to Noctis.
He smiled in understanding and said, "I figured you would. We will head to the Disc of Cauthess. If nothing else, Titan may know something about where to look for Ifrit."
"I'll go with you too," Cor replied. "You still need a bodyguard after all."
"I'll check Lestallum," Gladio replied. "That prick always seemed to have a soft spot for that place. I wouldn't put it past that bastard to be chilling there while we do all the work."
"I bet Cindy and Holly can take us there," Prompto piped up.
"That's the idea," Gladio said. "I take it you are coming with me?"
"You know it," he replied. "Unless, Noct you need me with you?"
"Gladio needs you more," Noctis replied, just to hear a snort from Gladio and a mutter that he, "didn't need anyone since he was five years old."
"I will stay and explore Insomnia," Aranea stated. "Knowing Ardyn I wouldn't put it past him to have doubled back and have hidden in plain sight. For all we know, he is watching us from the sewers right now. Lux, you can come with me. I'll keep an eye on you," she said encouragingly.
"Hmm. You do have a point there," Ignis said. "I shall accompany you two if I may," he replied.
His response fooled nobody. "As long as you remember your mission is to find Iris, that should be cool," Noctis replied coyly. "You and Aranea can make out later."
"Wha," Aranea sputtered, face turning red. "How could you say something like that," she demanded, flustered.
"Whatever our feelings are for each other, you can be sure Iris comes first," Ignis replied firmly, ignoring Aranea's searching look and Lux's confused expression.
"Hmph," Ravus said. "Since Tenebrae is not yet represented in our search, I shall check there. I will go alone."
"Just remember the rules," Gladio said. "You find anything, you report in to us. Don't go it alone."
"Of course," Ravus replied, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"We're forgetting the Vesperpool and Cape Caeum areas," Ignis replied prosaically. "Since we will be closest, Aranea, Lux, and myself will check the Cape Caeum area if we are unsuccessful here. Gladio, Prompto, since you will be closest to the Vesperpool, you go there after Lestallum if you do not find her there."
Gladio and Prompto nodded in agreement.
"What about Altissia," Prompto asked. "We are forgetting there."
"That is one place I think we can rule out," Ignis said. "Ifrit is not about to make our lives easier by going right into Leviathan's den. We stand a better chance starting elsewhere in our search."
"And with Galdin Quay gone, there is no ferry that could get them there," Cor added. "It is not practical to reach Altissia at this time. We will need to figure that out once we find Ifrit though. We need to meet him there somehow."
"With no ferry, that also means High Secretary Claustra can't help us then," Noctis replied.
Aranea nodded. "I am still uncertain about her allegiances as well," she replied. "She must have heard something of what is going on, but has yet to reach out to anyone. I am not sure if we can trust her in this case."
"Surely she would not ally with Ifrit," Luna replied, scandalized. "Even when I was in her custody, she never gave any indication that she was really 'allied' with the Empire. Her true loyalty was to her people. I doubt that has changed."
"If protecting her people means being the right hand of the devil instead of being in his path, then she may well choose that," Cor replied. "I have to agree with Aranea. Claustra is not an option right now. We will need to make her an option once Ifrit is found, but we can't force her hand just yet."
"If Titan cannot give us any insight, Luna and I will find a way there to talk to her," Noctis replied firmly. "Seeing the King of Lucis alive and well, well more or less well anyway, should count for something."
Cor nodded. "Works for me. Onwards everyone."
With the plans laid, the respected groups began their search, plotting dire retribution against Ardyn and Ifrit when they found them.
Just a heads up-this may be the last bit I have for a little while-still catching up on real life from vacation and have relatives coming in this weekend. Not sure if I will have enough to give out for the usual weekend run, but I do have where I want to go next swirling around in my head, so I hope to be able to have more ready to go soon. Hope you guys and gals stick with it and see you next time!