Howdy everyone! I have a bit more ready to go, so here it is. There will be a couple chapters of "filler" I'm afraid. I figured our guys and gals needed a break from the action for a bit. Hope you don't find it too boring. Thanks as always for spending time with this story, and hope you like it!
Much of the demand for refugee ferrying was dying down. Now that the flame dome was gone, all roads out of Insomnia were open again. The man who had taken it upon himself to ferry the refugees across the bay was just about to close up shop and do a final run out of town himself when the dark-haired woman appeared. A stooped hooded man clutched her arm.
"Oh thank goodness," the stooped man exclaimed. "I thought we had missed all the boats. I thought my daughter and I wouldn't make it."
The woman glanced at him uncertainly, then back to the ferryman.
"I'll take you across," the boatman said. "Welcome aboard."
With the man focused on driving, the loud sound of the motor drowning out most conversation, and the night obscuring their faces, Iris deemed it safe to speak.
"Was your disguise really necessary, Ardyn," she demanded.
He simply shrugged. "Your stalwart defenders are no doubt searching for you as we speak. And it is not in our favor at the moment if they catch up to us so soon. I believe travelling incognito is our best option." He supposed shapeshifting would have been better than the old put on a hood cliché, but he didn't want to waste his powers unnescessarily. And with Iris by his side, it wouldn't matter who he looked like anyway—they would still be spotted if they weren't careful. Saving his strength was necessary at this stage.
"But saying I'm your daughter…" Iris continued.
"I have a son much younger you know," Ardyn mocked.
"Shut up about that! Haven't you seen Aranea's reaction when you bring it up? She is revolted by it."
"The fact remains, Lux is related to her and myself. It is what it is," Ardyn replied philosophically. "And besides, what would you have preferred I introduce you as if not my daughter? I suppose I could have said you were my wife, but I don't think you would have liked that any better," Ardyn taunted with a raised eyebrow.
Iris's face clenched in distaste. "I'm beginning to think travelling with you was a bad idea," she replied.
"You gave me your word," Ardyn replied firmly. "I suppose you could betray it, but I would think less of you if you did," he taunted.
"As if I really care about that," Iris replied. "However, betraying my promise is something you would do, and I'm better than that. I will deliver on what I promised. I keep my vows, unlike you."
"Fair enough. However, you must admit I have kept my promises to date. I have had plenty of opportunities to betray you and yours since I returned, but I have not? Despite how you all have treated me, I have still stayed true to your cause," Ardyn replied, sounding wounded.
"But what about before that," Iris replied. "You killed Luna and—"
She broke off when Ardyn firmly but gently put his hand over her mouth.
"Eavesdroppers," he whispered, with a pointed glance to the boatman.
Iris looked his way sharply. He was still piloting them to the other side of the bay and seemed to be ignoring them. However, Ardyn was right. It wouldn't do any good to draw attention to themselves right now.
"That's better," Ardyn whispered when he saw her relax. "Lambast me all you want in private—just not when there are witnesses."
They were silent the rest of the way across.
After a hearty thanks and an offer of payment (refused by the pilot), Ardyn and his cooperative captive began walking down the beach to where Ardyn said he (hopefully) still had a car parked. As he strode forward, Iris hung back a second to speak to the boatman.
"Thanks again. I'm Iris," she said with a hearty handshake.
"Nice to meet you Iris," the boatman said formally.
"If anyone asks, can you tell them you brought me across," she asked hopefully.
"Got other family members that you want to make sure know you made it out," he asked knowingly. "I sure will. You got a last name?"
"Iris should be enough. If a guy named Gladio asks, he will know who you mean."
And then she hurried to catch up to Ardyn, who evidently had not noticed the exchange, to her relief. She didn't trust Ardyn at all. While she would cooperate with him up to a point, she would put fail safes in place on her own. She had just provided one breadcrumb. She would continue to provide more.
How the hell was she so exhausted, Holly thought bitterly. She wasn't even in combat—all she had done was tap a foot pedal for a few hours, but it felt like she had run up 10,000 steps. Her legs were stiff, and she was winded. It seemed apparent that Cindy was tired too. A fire hose was pretty heavy, and Cindy had been wielding it like a boss for the past couple of hours. Now that the flame dome had disappeared, it seemed like they could take a break. Did this mean Gladio and Noctis had won? Was Insomnia safe?
Cid and Talcott guided another party of refugees across the bridge.
"It should be wide open from here," Cid rasped. "There be a refugee camp down by the Noctis Memorial Park on the bayside. Hammerhead is also a hop skip and a jump away. If you head on there, the folk will take good care of ya."
The group continued on their way with profuse thanks.
Cid leaned back against the truck. "Ooh my achin back," he groaned.
"You should take a break Paw Paw," Cindy replied firmly, climbing down stiffly from the side of the truck.
"Hmph. Easy for you to say now that the far's out," he replied, but made no move to cross the bridge again.
"I, think we got most of the people, and the way is open now," Talcott replied.
"What's going on in there," Holly asked.
"Dunno," was Talcott's answer. "The fire is gone, but I don't know what that means."
"We've gotta hope the boys are ok," Cindy replied.
As if on cue, they saw two people striding down the bridge. It was too dark to see them in great detail, but based on the silohuettes, one appeared to be buff, and the other smaller. Once they got in range of the headlights their identities were obvious.
"Gladio, Prompto," Cid chortled with glee. "Good to see ya. So did ya vanquish those foes yet?"
Holly could see Gladio's uncharacteristically slumped shoulders, and ice wrapped around her heart. Something bad had happened.
"What is it," she demanded, rushing up to him.
Gladio grunted, then gave them the lowdown.
"Paw Paw," Cindy replied, scandalized at the torrent of profanity that erupted from Cid's mouth after he heard what had happened to Iris.
"It's what we all feel though," Talcott piped up. "We need to find her. What do we do now," he asked Gladio, seeing him as their group leader.
"I was thinkin we'd start with Lestallum," he replied. "Ardyn hung out there a lot back in the day, so he may have taken Iris there."
Holly thought for a moment. "Lemme make some calls. If he's popped up there, my girls will know."
"How," Prompto replied in genuine confusion. "I mean, Lestallum is pretty big. Did you have us tabbed when we first showed up?"
"Actually yes," Holly said. "Us powerplant folk are always watching out for strangers, particularly if they are attractive ones. We had you four pegged within five minutes of you entering town."
"Even me," Gladio asked smugly.
"You were the last one we noticed," Holly added jokingly, loving the chance to put the smug bastard in his place. "But once I got a good look at you, that changed," she added with a smirk.
"I guess that explains us, but what about Ardyn," Prompto replied.
"Despite what a rotten bastard he is, he's still got something going on looks-wise. Some of my girls will notice him. If nothing else, Iris lived there a long time. She would be recognized. Let me make some calls right now."
She ran off to do just that, just to come back disappointed. "Nobody's seen them, but that doesn't mean they aren't on their way there."
"Sounds like we're off to Lestallum," Cid piped up. "Saddle up the old firecracker. We're headin west."
"If we come up dry there, the Vesperpool is also on our search list," Prompto remembered to add.
"Okey dokey," Cid replied. "Not sure how well the truck'ell do out thataway, but we'll do our best."
With that, Prompto, Gladio, Holly, Cindy, Talcott, and Cid stuffed into the beleaguered truck and made their way to Lestallum.
Iris and Ardyn made it to where Noctis and company had previously parked the rental cars before their foray into Insomnia. Only one car was left—the small generic white rental car that Ignis had driven.
"It seems that Noct has ventured off in the other one," Ardyn observed.
"How do you know it was Noctis," Iris asked.
Ardyn simply shrugged and said, "process of elimination. I mean, it's possible that one of the refugees hotwired the car to escape. However, I think the other car would also be gone in that case. And Iggy, Aranea, and Ravus would have taken this one if it were them. So based on who's left…"
"Ok ok," Iris cut in. "And his name is 'Ignis'. Only friends get to call him 'Iggy' and you are not his friend."
Ardyn put his hand to his heart. "Oh! I am wounded," he replied with a flourish. "And here I thought Ignis and I were such good friends in the afterlife. Why, he even came to me for advice and guidance."
Iris paused. She didn't think Ardyn would have made something like this up. However, for it to be true was even more disturbing.
"Speaking of hotwiring, would you kindly do the honors," Ardyn gestured to the rental car with a flourish.
"What makes you think I know how to hotwire a car," she replied defensively.
"Why, I figured with ten years of darkness and scarce resources, hotwiring a car would be a useful skill. How else did you become such a legendary huntress without transport? Unless…oh I see! Cor! He was the competant one, wasn't he? He did all the work while you just provided moral support," Ardyn taunted.
Iris hissed in fury at the insinuation that she was useless, shoved Ardyn aside, and hotwired the car with brisk efficiency. Then she stood back, arms folded, and glared at him. "I'll have you know I carried my own weight with Cor when we hunted," she replied in fury. "I'm not an incompetent idiot regardless of what you think of me."
Ardyn laughed. "Of course you aren't. Ifrit wouldn't be so fixated on you if you were. He doesn't waste his time on non-entities."
Iris stiffened at the reminder, and bitterly realized that Ardyn had just manipulated her into hotwiring a car for him.
"So do you want me to drive you around too," she snipped. "After all, that car is a stick shift, and a frail woman like me may have trouble with that," she added mockingly.
Ardyn smirked. "I don't doubt you could drive this thing to hell and back if you had a mind to. However, in deference to my present role as captor, I believe I should be the one to drive." So saying, he meandered to the passenger side, opened the door, and gestured Iris towards it. "Your chariot awaits, milady," he mocked.
She had no choice but to plop down in the car and let him drive them to wherever he was taking them next.
The Disc of Cauthess was just as Noctis remembered it. Arid, sweltering—it would make his already rank clothing sweaty and even grosser. He imagined he smelled like a toilet and unwashed human wrapped in one disgusting package. Perhaps he should have stopped at one of the hotels for a shower and a change of clothes. He looked over to Luna. He could tell she was suffering too due to their hygiene situation.
"There is the Cauthess rest stop up ahead," Noctis stated. "I think we should clean up there before continuing on."
Luna looked to him in surprise that he was trying to hold up the journey. "I doubt Titan will care if we show up looking like hags," she replied firmly.
"Or smelling even worse," Cor added.
"That's not why I'm doing it," Noctis declared. "We will be of no use to anyone if we get sick from exposure to the filth and garbage we have already dealt with. The least we can do is take an hour or so to clean up."
Cor glanced at him in amusement. "You sounded just like Iggy just now. It's your mission. We will follow your lead," Cor replied, glancing to Luna for corroboration.
"I'm still worried about Iris, but you have a point Noct," she replied. "A quick shower and change of clothes wouldn't go amiss," she agreed.
Noctis swerved into the parking lot of the rest stop. Cor made a bee line to the shop to obtain information, supplies, and the key to the caravan. Luna looked around, memories triggering. She had stopped here ten years ago to perform healing blessings on her way to Titan. An old woman had been waiting in line since dawn to see her. That had been Luna's burden—rest stops were never a chance for her to truly rest. There were always people needing healing, and she could never forsake them.
It was also the place in the photo that Noctis had given her—the one remnant of their "true" lives that had dispelled the illusion in the afterlife. This is where Noctis had camped with Ardyn.
The irony of that was not lost on Noctis. He glanced at the now rusty caravan bemusedly. Based on its rust and age, it had to be the same one. It added salt to the wound that he had to delay their pursuit of Iris and Ardyn by resting at the very place Ardyn had journeyed with them. He shook his head in disgust. Why had his destiny and Ardyn's intertwined so closely? By all rights Ardyn should be dead and Noctis be at peace. However, they were both alive, and decidedly not at peace. Noctis wasn't sure which fate was worse.
Cor emerged with his clothes and the caravan key. "Not much of a selection," he griped, holding up a "I visited the Disc of Cauthess, and all I got was this lousy tee shirt" shirt, and a pair of "Cauthess" sweatpants.
Noctis snickered. "Cor the Immortal and tourist," he commented, having a hard time keeping his face straight.
"You should be grateful I didn't go for the 'I'm with stupid at the Disc of Cauthess' shirt instead," Cor replied, and strode into the caravan.
The array of clothing at the rest stop was indeed limited. Luna grabbed a pair of "Cauthess" shorts, and and a tee shirt with "All Hail the Archean" on it. "Don't say anything," she demanded of Noctis, when she saw him glance at her purchases.
"I wasn't going to say anything," he replied with a smirk. "But I've gotta say, as Oracle you should get all six of the 'All Hail' shirts."
Luna just put up a "talk to the hand" gesture, and entered the caravan after Cor.
Noctis did get his comeuppance though. He was forced to join the "goofy clothes" club too. He uncovered a ChocoMog Tee like the one he had worn ten years ago. He even dug up a chocobo hat to go with it. It wasn't quite revenge though. Noctis was thrilled with his find. He came running into the caravan. "Hey Cor," he demanded to the now clean, tourist-dressed badass. "Did you know they still made these things?" He waved his new clothes excitedly to Cor.
Cor tried to keep his face grave as befitting his speaking to a King, but failed miserably. "It's probably the same ones," he finally added with a smirk. "It's not like we were manufacturing tee shirts in the ten years of darkness."
"Oh," Noctis replied. "But they are still in good shape."
"As long as they adequately armor us from foes I'm happy," Cor replied, with the gruff gravity he was striving for earlier.
For being an old caravan, the inside had been repaired adequately. There was plenty of hot running water, and the bed even looked clean. Luna looked at it longingly for a moment—she really was tired. However, she knew a nap was out of the question. After gobbling up the hot dogs and sodas Noctis had procured for them from the onsite food stand, the cleaned party was ready to move on.
"Hopefully Titan still takes us seriously when we get there," Cor replied with a pointed look to their clothes.
"That assumes he's there," Noctis replied. "If he's not, I don't know what we will do next," he confessed.
"We cross that bridge when we come to it," Luna said bracingly, forcing them onward.
I don't know about you guys, but as soon as they added the Chocomog Tee to the game, that became my signature outfit for Noctis. There is nothing more absurdly satisfying than beating up Ardyn with our hero wearing a brightly-colored tee shirt and chocobo hat-to my warped mind anyway. I loved the chance to put Noctis back into that costume here. Anyway, thanks a bunch and see you next time!