Having stolen Makoto's country, Crystal, and cherished companions, Xigbar waits implacably in Tartarus.
Chapter 13: Redemption
Makoto and his friends are sitting in the dining car of the train as it heads for Nyx.
Music Cue: Trouble (Persona 3)
"We should be drawing close to Nyx." Sabaru stated as they all nodded to him.
"I can't imagine what it'll be like." Scrabian Knight said in worried.
"Swarming with daemons, but you knew that." Makoto pointed out.
Scrabian Knight grunted. "Don't remind me." He muttered.
"Once we arrive, we'll make for the Keep." Spot said.
"The Keep?" Makoto wondered.
"Zegnautus An imperial megafortress said to be impregnable." Spot explained.
"With Ventus and the Crystal inside it." Makoto guessed and knowing how worked he was for him.
"What goes in, must come out." Hoppy said as everyone look so silent for a moment. "So, are we buying this story that the Crystal can purge daemons?" He asked.
"The proof is in the purging, but it does stand to reason. We've observed that as the nights have grown longer, the daemon hordes have grown stronger. If they are in fact averse to the Crystal's Light, it could save not only Lucis, but the world." Sabaru stated.
"We'll find out once we take it back." Quiver declared then suddenly, the train comes screeching to a halt. "Huh? What's happening?"
Music Cue: That Which Escaped Darkness (Persona 3)
They all get up and move into the cabin car; as they walk past the series of large windows here, they all suddenly crack and the train car shakes.
"What now?" Finn wondered then they heard Biggs on the loudspeaker.
City's trying to keep us out…with the daemons.
Then Small imp-like daemons, called snaga, begin swarming across the windows, they all back away from it then Biggs speak over the loudspeaker again
Gotta run! Don't worry about us.
One of the daemons busts through the glass and lands in front of Noctis and the others; he holds out his hand to tell Gladiolus to move back, then attempts to conjure a weapon into his hand.
"Let's get to work… " Makoto declared as he's about to summon his weapon, but nothings working and look at his hand in confused.W
"What's wrong?" Wheezy asked.
"The weapons…they're stuck!" Makoto panicked as the Finn pull Makoto away from the now charging daemon and kicks it in the face. They all began to run for their lives from them, they all make their way through the train, pursued by the daemons.
"Only a matter of time before we run out of room to run!" Sabaru warned.
"Got a better idea?" Makoto asked in hurried.
"We trade the train for the Regalia!" Tibber suggested.
They all agreed to him to hop aboard their car and Makoto began to drives the freight car and out onto the train tracks; an automated message then rings out.
Threat upgraded. Activating level 4 security measures. Sealing all gates.
"Put the pedal to the metal!" Finn shouted Makoto as he start the car to go faster.
"And don't crash!" Spot warned.
Makoto nodded to him, as he drives the car through the tunnel and onto a tracks bridge in the city proper; as the royal retinue races down the bridge, an artillery shell suddenly strikes near the car, causing a small explosion.
"What was that!?" Sabaru exclaimed.
"They're trying to blow us off the tracks." Makoto answered while driving the car faster and they saw the Artillery continues striking around the Regalia.
"One clear shot and it's over." Tibber informed.
"It'll take a bit more than that to stop His Majesty's trusty steed." Sabaru protest.
The artillery strikes begin hitting their mark; an imperial drop ship can then be seen falling out of the sky.
"Dodging one thing to run into another." Spot stated.
"The Regalia can take the punishment. Just focus on your driving." Sabaru warned.
Then they noticed more artillery strikes the Regalia; the vehicle is now on fire.
"You can do it, girl. You can get through this." Makoto said in worried to his car as the Regalia closes in on the gate, several more strikes land directly on the car.
"It's closing! Floor it!" Quiver panicked as Makoto keep driving the car faster.
Just as the Regalia makes it through the rapidly closing gate, another strike lands square on the royal contraption, briefly engulfing it in flame; Noct brings the car to a screeching halt on the other side of the gate near the debris of a train car that stretches across the width of the bridge, one end propped up above the tracks; the Regalia now sits sizzling on the tracks, all its windows shattered; it has taken its final run
Finn sighed sadly. "That's all she's got." Finn answered, as Makoto looked down.
Music Cue: Living with Determination (Persona 3)
"It'll do." He reluctantly said.
They all get out of the car and begin to walk away; Makoto turns to look back at the car with a somber expression, recalling a memory from childhood of his father stepping out of the car and embracing him, he smiled at it. "Dad... Thanks for everything." He softly said as he catch up with the others.
"Are we seriously marching into the capital empty-handed?" Wheezy asked.
"And with no assurances the Crystal can beat back the daemon hordes." Sabaru stated.
"Guess we'll find out the hard way. No turning back now, right?" Wheezy assumed as they all make their way toward the wreckage of the train car that sits propped across the bridge. "This thing could come down at any time…" He said cautiously.
"Let's be quick." Tibber determined.
Makoto makes his way under the wreckage, but before his friends can follow, the train car collapses, separating the latter two from their charge.
"Hey, guys!" Makoto called out in worried.
Look at you. All by your lonesome.
Makoto recognized that focus from the broadcast and it was none other than Xigbar.
Music Cue: The Voice Someone Calls (Persona 3)
"You again. You know, for an imperial chancellor, you are one sick son of a bitch." He muttered as Noct makes his way through the wreckage of another train car. Then he saw Daemons begin emerging and attempting to swarm him. "Daemons…" He muttered and then he called out to Xigbar. "The hell do you want? Leave me alone! This is getting out of hand." He shouted as he began to ran away from them.
Makoto manages to make it into a now derelict building where he stops to catch his breath; after a moment, he drops to one knee, reaches into his pocket and pulls out something clenched in his fist; he slowly opens his palm to reveal the Ring of the Crystal; Makoto's hands begin to shake as he stares at it and he grunts rapidly, as though wracked with pain; continuing to shake and grunt, he unsteadily slides the ring onto his finger, roaring in pain and his eyes briefly glowing red as he succeeds in this struggle; catching his breath once again, Makoto stares at the ring of his ancestors, flexes his hand, and rises from his knees.
Music Cue: Ring of Lucii (Final Fantasy XV)
"The time has come." He declared
Then A snaga falls from above, lands in front of Noctis, and comes at him, Makoto began to use his ring against it. After killing the snaga and making his forward, Makoto gets a good look at an illuminated cylindrical structure connected to the bottom of the floating Zegnautus Keep.
"Look like it's connected below. Might be my ticket to the top." He suggested.
In this area are doors Makoto can't immediately get through, Makoto find a generator in the area; activating unlocks one of the doors that wouldn't open; when trying the newly powered-up door, Makoto smiled knowing that he can finally get in upon locating and entering a dormitory in one of the buildings in the area, "Should be easy to rest." He declared while making his way across the rooftop of one of the abandoned buildings, Makoto is attacked by four snaga at once, prompting the reveal of the second arcana spell; as operates a control panel that opens the door to the building containing the elevator that will allow him access to the Keep. "That's the way to the elevator taken care of." He declared as he makes for the Keep, the third arcana spell makes itself known; as Makoto reaches the building housing the elevator leading up to Zegnautus Keep.
Music Cue: Tartarus (Persona 3)
"Dead quiet. Where did everybody go?" He wondered as he approaches the elevator, its doors open, revealing more daemons. "Not these bastards again." He complained as he killing the daemons and entering the doors close and the elevator begins to ascend toward Zegnautus Keep above. "This city gives me the chills." He shivered as Makoto steps out of the elevator into Zegnautus Keep. Then he heard Xigbar broadcasts his voice to him once again and he began to taunt him.
How does it feel to be powerless? Can't help your friends if you can't help yourself.
"Gotta hurry and find them. Wherever they are." Makoto determined as he continues making his way through the halls of the Keep
Can't you simply taste the air of foreboding?
When rounding one corner, Xigbar can be seen at the other end of the hall walking away from a downed magitek trooper that suddenly stands, taking a zombie-like posture.
"These don't look like typical MTs." Makoto noticed upon being discovered by one of the rogue axemen. And then heard Xigbar again.
Must be tiring, having to run all the time.
After Noctis uses an arcana spell on a rogue axeman, he heard Xigbar saying to him look disappointed.
That magic is a royal disappointment.
As Makoto walks past a gated-off hallway, one of the zombie-like magitek troopers suddenly reaches through the bars and grabs him; he manages to break the MT's group and it falls backward on the floor in a disheveled heap.
"Something different about them... something off." Makoto noticed as he checking a lounge area, he finds an empty uniform laying on the floor with a cardkey.
"Missed some streaker running around here?" He smiled.
Now possessing the cardkey, Makoto is able to open a door at the opposite end of the hallway leading to the lounge; while walking across the bridge this door blocked access to, Xigbar can be heard laughing.
It's all coming along swimmingly, isn't it?
Makoto growled at him while navigating the halls. "Can't afford to get spun around." Makoto said as he rounds a corner after making the statement above, he sees what appears to be Ventus run down the hall in the opposite
"Hey! Wait! Ventus!" Makoto called out to him, and he began to chase him. In one of the Keep's rooms, Makoto finds a machine that upgrades one's security clearance.
"What have we here? "Clearance level"? Nice." Makoto sarcastically said as he began to make his way down more hallways he can now access, Makoto continues catching sight of what appears to be Ventus going the other way. And then heard Xigbar again from the broadcast.
Poor Ventus must be feeling the heat right about now.
Very soon after Xigbar's comment, Makoto comes to a gated-off room with what appears to be Ventus sitting slumped over in a chair inside, but unfortunately the door won't move, and then he make his way to a nearby storage room, Makoto finds a narrow passageway leading into the room where Ventus appears to be; he begins squeezing his way through; while doing so, he hears Ventus's voice
Makoto! Help me!
Makoto realized that Ventus is in trouble and he ran off to save him into the other room and is immediately beset by an uttu daemon and two rogue axemen, After killing his attackers, Makoto squeezes between some stacked crates to find "Ventus"; when he touches him, however, Xigbar's illusion is lifted, and "Ventus" is revealed to be a dead magitek trooper, which falls out of the chair, which irritated him.
"Another trick! Back to square one…" He complaint and then he heard Xigbar's voice again to taunt him
That's one of my personal favorites. You should have seen the look on your face. You'd best hurry. Next time, it might really be your friend.
Makoto continues navigating the halls, and then heard Xigbar's voice which irritated him even more while he's on a search for Ventus.
Are you certain it wasn't the real thing? Wouldn't want to make a mistake. Oh, it's just so unfair!
Makoto keep hearing his chuckles and takes an elevator to an upper level and proceeds across a bridge leading to Zegnautus Keep's central elevator.
Your heart's desire, so close now. Soon it will be within your grasp. I suggest you take the central elevator. It will take you to your goal.
"Aren't you helpful now." Makoto muttered while he's on a search for Ventus and find the Crystal, while walking across a nearby catwalk to a control panel, and he has to be very careful not to fall down as he sees a cargo area on the other side; an enormous gargantuan daemon walks by within, Makoto makes it back to the central elevator area, he uses the Generator Keycard to restore power to the elevator; as Makoto then begins to walk back across the catwalk from the generator panel to the platform the elevator rests on, Xigbar broadcasts his voice again.
The higher youclimb… …the further you fall.
A gargantua daemon suddenly lands on the platform, just beyond the end of the gargantua raises its sword; Makoto begins to retreat back across the catwalk, but the daemon brings its sword down, shattering the catwalk and sending Makoto into the depths of the Keep.
Music Cue: Somnus Legatum (Final Fantasy XV)
Makoto comes to laying on his back at the bottom of the Keep's central shaft, surrounded by debris and the bodies of human imperial troopers; he slowly gets to his feet; as he takes a few steps, Makoto comes upon Tak's body in horror to see his body, unceremoniously left here at the bottom level of Zegnautus Keep; as rumored, the last of the Oracle's bloodline is indeed deceased, his severed magitek arm still clinging to the haft of King Arthur's glaive; the blade stands impaled in the floor beside Ravus's corpse; Makoto gazes at Namine's brother in silent sadness knowing that he's the only family left for Namine, but now that they're gone, it's up to him to end the nightmare for them; after a moment, he reaches out toward the haft of his father's sword; at his touch, Tak's severed arm falls to land on the first son of Twilight's chest; he pulls his hand back from the weapon, taking a moment to first kneel beside Ravus and look upon his face a final time; finally, he stands, takes grasp of his father's royal arm, and pulls it free, and then look at Tak's body again in sadness. "Rest easy. Your work is done." Makoto respond as he begins to walk out of the room across the narrow catwalk that serves as the only way out, a magitek trooper sprawled out on the floor of the catwalk rises to attack Makoto.
Music Cue: Tartarus (Persona 3)
"Well Dad, let's see what your sword can do." He declared as he can now wield his father's sword sword in combat. Together with the Ring of the Crystal, it affords him a better chance of survival while his other abilities remain sealed. As Makoto leaves the room, Xigbar's can be heard laughing, much annoyed him even more, as Makoto makes his way through the next room and into the next hallway
Can't you simply taste the air of foreboding? Did you hear that? There's something out there…
Shortly after Xigbar's ominous notice, the walls around he begin spraying a green mist]. "What's this smoke?" Makoto wondered and he begins coughing and falls to one knee. "Where's it coming from?" He cough. He tries to go from here down a hallway to the right, he will begin coughing, as it is being sprayed full of the green mist, he making his way instead in the opposite direction down the hallway, and then he heard Xigbar's voice again
A-ha! Well, you can't say I didn't warn you.
"Getting thicker by the second. Need to stop it." Makoto cough from the poison gas, as he manages to locate a room with giant fans; operating the nearby control panel, he activates the fans, causing the poison gas to be sucked out of the area, he take a deep breath after clearing it.
"It's clearing… That was close." He said in relief and then he has been attacked by two snaga daemons, he began to battle it and then heard Xigbar's voice again
Oh you're such a tease.
As Makoto makes his way further, he comes to a storage room with yet another machine for updating security cards. Continuing onward, Makoto fights his way through a room of several rogue axemen and shock trooper magitek troopers.
You really are helpless without your friends babysitting you.
Makoto leaves this room and makes his way across a bridge.
I have grave doubts about your friends.
Soon there after, Noctis opens the door to a room with an elevator.
Tragedy could strike at any moment.
Makoto presses the button to call for the elevator; while he is waiting for it to arrive, a large bat-like daemon called "Foras" descends behind and begins attacking him, he dodge it's attack quickly.
"Whatever the hell that is, I don't think I want to mess with it." Makoto muttered as he began to fight against with his father's sword, moments later the elevator appeared and began to escape, however, the Foras daemon will continue stalking him through the halls of the Keep, Makoto gets off the elevator and begins making his way through the next hall before him, the lights go out, much for his irritation knowing it was Xigbar's doing.
"Power must've gone out. First keys, now power. What next?" He complaint and then he heard Xigbar's voice broadcasting again.
What was that noise? Is it scary being on your lonesome?
Makoto soon finds a power breaker and flips its switch, restoring some light to the area, then he saw Foras daemon begins manifesting in the halls of this area and attacking him, and heard Xigbar's voice laughing.
I love surprises! Oh, you'll fall for anything.
Going up a staircase to another level, the lights begin to flicker, Makoto must find yet another breaker, which he locates in a room with four magitek troopers resting within modules in the walls; he flips the switch, restoring some power. He is then immediately attacked by two of the magitek troopers; and in the halls outside, Makoto will again be beset by the Foras daemon. With power restored to the area, Makoto is able to take a nearby elevator up to the lab area of the Keep; as he begins making his way through the labs, Xigbar's voice is once again broadcast to Makoto
The empire made considerable inroads into the science of daemons. Well, after I showed them the way, of course. We'd managed to make daemons…right here.
"Make?" Makoto wondered, as he locates a room full of control panels and learns how to navigate this area, as Makoto continues making his way through the labs, fighting magitek troopers and daemons along the way. Then Xigbar's voice came back again.
Ever wonder where daemons come from? Once upon a time, they were children of nature... beasts and men. Aw, and you've killed so many. The infantry units you callously dub "MTs" all began as babes in this very facility. Imprinted with serial codes and incubated until they were strong enough to fight. What a pity. Innocent souls fated to suffer…at the hands of a foreign king. Well, not so "MT" after all, are they?
Makoto continues progressing through the lab areas, he comes across and reads the West Gralea Quarantine Report, and he began to read it.
West Nyx Quarantine Report
Including cases around the village, the number of missing now stands at 1,657. Early reports from the MRF attribute the disappearance to an infectious disease, and investigations continue as regards a potential connection to the daemon outbreak. At the time of writing, the quarantining of West Nyx is complete, and other sections remain infection free.
"A "vanishing sickness." Huh." Makoto curiously said. Within the same room as the report, Makoto is attacked by several snaga daemons before he can make his way through a door into the next hallway. Then he heard Xigbar's laughter echoes through the area.
Oho, Well done, my boy. The most fascinating tidbit about your dear Ventus…
"What—?" Makoto exclaimed.
Turns out he's not empty either. He's got quite the "skeleton in his closet."
Makoto look confused for what he said as he comes across and reads the Magitek Research Facility Damage Report in this lounge area
Magitek Research Facility Damage Report
Following their outbreak in the north and west, daemons have swept through the MRF, causing extensive damage to equipment. Control was subsequently lost over unprogrammed MTs, and strategies are being deliberated on the collection of rogue units. 125 patients undergoing testing at the facility have vanished in a manner reminiscent of the first disappearances
"All the patients up and disappeared? That makes no sense." He protest as he locates another machine that is able to enter an enormous open area with a wide, round platform at its center; a round, ornate single-room structure sits at the middle of this platform; along the walls of the large open space are countless small-paneled metal doors that make the walls resemble rows of lockers.
"The hell is this place? What're they keeping inside?" Makoto wondered as he look around. "Not sure what that is, but I got a hunch it's bad. Don't like it one bit." He said as he approaching the door of the structure in the center of this place. "Bet there's something here. Which means it's locked. And if there's a lock, there's a key." he stated.
On the back of the structure, Makoto finds a control panel with a switch; when he flips the switch, the platform begins rising.
"Wasn't expecting that. Things are lookin' up." Makoto shrugged then heard Xigbar's again.
How will this story end, I wonder.
Then an automated alarm rings out. A swarm of magitek troopers begin leaping out of the panels along the walls, much for Makoto surprised as he began to fight them on his own, as he battles the incoming magitek troopers, Xigbar's taunts him further.
Where are your friends? You don't think they ran off without you? You still haven't found Finn? Only a matter of time before Sabaru bumbles into a trap and for the Super Pets who come with you might get lost around here. You must feel very much alone right now.
After the battle, Makoto follows a catwalk leading away from the central platform and locates another machine that upgrades one's security clearance, Makoto is then immediately beset once more by magitek troopers. After defeating the second wave of magitek troopers, Noct is confronted by a wraith daemon and more magitek troopers, which cause him to look exhausted without his friend's help.
Your buddies have bright lives ahead of them. Don't take it personally if they choose their own over yours. Not so tough without your borrowed toys, are you? You really are helpless without your friends babysitting you.
After the battle continues a little while longer, Xigbar's laughter rings out. The imperial chancellor's taunting continues as the battle goes on.
Where does it hurt? You can tell me.
Once the wraith and all the magitek troopers have been destroyed, Makoto is able to pass through a door into a new hallway, where Xigbar's laughter is soon heard; from here, he enters a room filled with control panels; on the other side of this room is the entrance to a hallway littered with the bodies of magitek troopers as Makoto enters the hallway. Then he heard Xigbar again.
In case there was any doubt: it's a trap.
Translucent, electrified doors close at either end of the hallway and begin closing in on Makoto; the magitek troopers also rise and begin attacking.
"Didn't see that coming!" Makoto exclaimed.
A little pain never hurt anyone. On you go. Hurry. While you dawdle, people are dying.
"I've really gone and done it now." Makoto frowned, then suddenly he heard Sabaru's voice suddenly calls out from the other end of the hallway in the direction Makoto had been going.
"Makoto? Is that you?" Sabaru called out to him on the speaker.
"Hey! Makoto! Can you hear us?" Finn asked on the speaker.
"Guys!" Makoto called out and look around to know where they are.
"Where are you?" Spot asked on the speaker.
Makoto then saw Finn who is able to see through the doors at the other end of the hallway and take stock of Makoto's situation; the doors have almost finished closing in on him now
"Makoto is in trouble!" Finn panicked.
"What do we do now!?" Hoppy freaked out.
"There must be off button somewhere." Spot assumed.
"Wait! There ought to be a kill switch nearby... find it!" Sabaru stated.
"How do you know that?" Wheezy asked.
"I believe it's the reason we were brought here." Sabaru answered.
They finds the switch and is able to open the doors for Makoto, he leaps into the room with them and lets himself fall backward on the floor.
"That was close." Scrabian Knight said in relief.
"The hell'd you get here?" Makoto asked his friends.
Flashback has started
Finn is pulling Sabaru along with the Super Pets up to stand beside him on top of the train car that collapsed and separated them from Makoto
"Is there a way forward?" Sabaru asked.
"There's a way, but I don't see us going forward without facing off with the daemons." Spot stated.
"But now Makoto is facing them alone. There must be some way we can help him." Hoppy said in worried
"Perhaps I could be of service." The familiar voice said, and it was none other then Xigbar saunters out of the wreckage of another train car.
"What are you doing here?" Wheezy asked with a serious look.
"Why, I come bearing gifts." Xigbar explained as he snaps his fingers; as he does so, Finn's sword materializes in his hand and a dagger materializes in Sabaru's hand, much for their suprise.
"See? Gifts! Now, I believe a "thank you" is in order." Xigbar said.
"For what... another one of your stupid tricks?" Scrabian Knight assumed as he glare at Xigbar.
"Here I am, helping for a change, but I can see I'm not wanted." Xigbar explained as he gestures a farewell, turns, and walks away.
"I'm loath to trust him." Sabaru said look unconvinced to his words as well as everyone.
"Same…but at this point, we need all the help we can get." Finn said, as he looks at his sword for a moment before dispelling it; they all begin to make their way down on the other side of the wrecked train car as they all makes their way through the train wreckage in the area.
"I ought to have been more cautious. If anything were to happen to Noct, I…" Sabaru frowned, knowing he became worried about Makoto alot.
"Can't move forward if you're always looking backward. Quit thinking about what you could've done then and start thinking about what you can do now." Finn reminded.
"You're right. What's done is done." Sabaru agreed.
"So if you can conjure our weapons again, does that mean Makoto can, too?" Quiver proclaimed.
"I have a feeling the chancellor isn't so generous." Spot guessed.
"How come?" Finn asked?
"He may have feigned friendship, but he's proven a foe before. We'd best be careful." Spot stated as they all enter Zegnautus Keep. And they all noticed that everything is silent.
"It's dead silent." Scrabian Knight noticed.
"More like undead silent. Place is crawling with daemons." Finn stated.
While they make their way through the Keep, Xigbar broadcasts his voice to The group
Right this way, gentlemen.
"Proceed with caution." Sabaru warned, they all agreed to him as they all make their way in the direction Xigbar intends.
Keep going… A little closer… Yes, that's a good boy.
A wall suddenly begins to slide open; Finn holds his hand up to halt the group
"Wait! I found some kinda secret passage." Finn stated.
"Lead here by our "guide"" Quiver air-quote knowing that it was Xigbar's doing.
"Long as it's a step in the right direction, I'll take it." Finn declared, as they all headed off to somewhere.
"Where are we now?" Hoppy asked as look around the area that looks like a mess.
"Whatever it is, it's a mess. Watch your step." He warned. As they all enter a control room.
"Hey, Guys. Think we might've found the control room. Got lotsa…monitors and stuff." He examined it.
"Which may help us monitor the rest of the keep. Does anything look operable?" Sabaru asked as Spot begins examining a control panel.
"My owner teachs me alot of technology, but I'll see what I can do. What have we here?" Spot examined as he look at the monitor. "Huh. Looks like they wiped everything." He assumed.
"All of it?" Wheezy asked.
"Yep." Spot respond and then he saw something on the ground and it looks like surveillance tape, he pick it up. "Wait... I've got something. There's one surveillance tape they forgot to erase... almost like they wanted us to see it."
"Then we'd best have a look. Whatever's on that tape may help us locate Makoto and Ventus." Sabaru suggested.
Spot play the tape; and they all began to watch it to find out about what happened and it show Tak stands before the emperor Iedolas in the Throne room, with King Arthur's sword in hand; dark energy like that which rises when the daemons appear is rising off the emperor's hands.
Music Cue: Final Fantasy XV Music
"What of the Hydraean's power? What of my precious ring?" Iedolas demanded. As Tak began to speak to him about it.
"By the hand of the Oracle, they are with the King now—their rightful owner. And someday soon, he shall use them to purge our star of its scourge." Tak explained which cause Iedolas look angrier.
"But the Crystal is mine… I am the one True King!" He cried out.
Tak shake his head. "Nope, it is Makoto and none other." He insisted, then Daemons begin coalescing behind him; he turns his head slightly, taking notice of them. "Certainly nog a puppet of the darkness and the daemons it has borne." He replied
"You are the puppet…and you must die." Iedolas threatened as he called out his daemons to destroy him, the daemons begin to attack Tak; he skillfully begins fending them off, wielding Arthur's sword; a sudden blast of daemonic energy hits him from behind, though, pushing him out of the throne room and toward a railing; a second blast descends on him, but he is able to deflect it with the sword; a third blast, however, hits him squarely in the chest and launches him over the railing into the depths of the Keep; the picture on the tape descends into static again briefly before regaining focus, now with Tak once more; he's pulling himself to his feet, holding to a railing and using King Arthur's sword for support; he can barely stand; suddenly, what appears to be Makoto walks into the room; Tak turns to him with a smile look.
"At last you have arrived, Makoto. The gods have shown you their favor. As Blood of the Oracle, I present you your father's glaive." Tak said as he hold the haft of the sword out to him, gripping it with his magitek arm. "Now go forth, my king. Shine your light unto the world." He encouraged him
Makoto begins to reach for the haft of the sword, then suddenly conjures a red-bladed facsimile of the Sword of the Father; he swings the sword at gak, cutting off his magitek arm just below the shoulder and seemingly injuring him elsewhere as well; Tak takes a few clumsy steps forward, then collapses onto his back as look at him in horror to see what he have done to him as Makoto leans down and picks up the Sword of the Father, Tak's severed arm still gripping it, then carries it over beside of Tak who is slowly losing conscious; he shoves the blade into the ground, leaving it standing over Tak, and then began to speak
"Spare me your sycophancy. I've indulged your false heroism for far too long." Makoto said as he kneel down over Tak.
Tak realized that his voice doesn't sound like him, but instead sound like Xigbar, which make Tak know that the Makoto who killed him is not him, but Xigbar. Then Xigbar appearing as himself again.
"You tried to save the world in my stead, but it wasn't enough. The Crystal chose me... not you." Xigbar recalled, he stand and places his hat on his head before reaching into his coat and pulling out the letters Tak had written to Namine. "Rejection hurts, doesn't it?" He smiled, and then Tak collapsed and then dead.
The group watch the video in horror to see that Xigbar killed Tak, Namine's brother.
Music Cue: Crisis (Persona 3)
"Was that Makoto?" Spot asked in horror.
"No. Just that scumbag chancellor posing as him." Finn muttered.
"It sounded like Tak tried to return His Majesty's sword." Hoppy noticed.
"Yeah. Guess he finally got over his grudge. Even called Makoto "[his] king."" Finn sadly agreed as they look so silent for a moment to see Tak has been killed by Xigbar, and he didn't have a chance to redeemed himself to Makoto. "Let's move. If that's what he did to Tak, there's no telling what he'll do to Makoto." Finn said as they all agreed to him.
They head off to find Makoto and Ventus as they enter the control room where the Crystal is displayed on the monitors.
"Hey, there it is." Finn said.
"What is it?" Hoppy asked.
"The Crystal... right here on the screen." Finn answered, and they all look at it knowing that it's here.
"Then we're close. Do you see any sort of control panel?" Scrabian Knight. As Spot examined the control panel.
"If it's anything like the Citadel, there should be a barrier barring access." Sabaru suggested.
"Then we un-bar it. You just tell me what to do." Spot declared. As Sabaru agreed to him including everyone.
Spot begins to touch some of the instruments; he is stepping back from the control panel, having just entered a command; he looks at the monitors in anticipation; the barrier blocking access to the Crystal turns off; suddenly, the foot of a daemon lands heavily on the floor behind them; they turn to face the creature; it's the Foras daemon.
Music Cue: Danger Zone (Persona 3)
"Thieves cannot escape the hand of justice. The Crystal is mine… Never shall I lose my grip! The Crystal, the Light, the power… All of it… Mine!" The Daemon cried out in angry, As the emperor's face is briefly superimposed over that of the creature; the daemon roars, preparing to attack; Finn and the group conjure their weapons and fight back; after sustaining enough damage, the daemon growls, folds its wings over itself and vanishes in a puff of dark smoke; Finn is breathing heavily, Spot began to look exhausted. Including the others.
"I can't hear it anymore. Is it dead?" Sabaru asked.
Scrabian Knight shaked his head. "Not yet... thing just disappeared. Ain't never seen one that talked like that before." He pointed out.
"Nor one so fixated on the Crystal." Spot added.
"I thought Xigbar said the daemons were afraid of the Crystal." Quiver pointed out.
"It may be like moths to a flame... or it may be one of the empire's "alternative facts." Hoppy assumed.
"Whichever it is, that monster's still on the loose." Wheezy cautiously said.
"And we need to find it before it finds Makoto and Ventus." Finn said as they all make their way past a hallway, a door at the other end slides open.
"If that son of a bitch even—" Finn muttered then Spot stopped him as he began to hear something.
"Wait! Can't you hear that?" Spot suspiciously asked.
"Hear what?" Finn wondered, Spot began to clearly heard something and recognized that voice.
"Noct's voice. I heard it clear as day. This way... follow me!" Spot commands as they all went off to find him.
Flashback has ended
Music Cue: Tartarus (Persona 3)
"After we were separated, we received "help"—from the usual suspect." Spot reluctantly answered.
"That bastard's playing with us. But at least we're together." Finn smiled.
"All but one of us." Hoppy frowned. And then head Xigbar's voice again
Reunited with your retainers at last. How very touching. Must be a fine feeling, having friends. Look how happy you are! I pray you find your dear Ventus soon.
Makoto and the others discover Ventus in his prison cell shortly after reuniting with one another. They free Ventus from the device he was being restrained to, and he falls to the floor; Ventus bends down to help him; he has multiple bruises across his body; seemingly, he has undergone some degree of torture, as he slowly get up and look so happy to see his friends again despite the bruises he has.
"I knew you guys could come... Are you guys worried about me?" Ventus asked.
"Of course, we are. Why?" Makoto replied.
"Of course. That's why you came, like I believed you would." Ventus explained, but noticed Makoto frowned about what happened at the train. "That's why I told myself I couldn't die. Not until I could see you and hear you tell me I'm not a fake... that I'm the real me."
Makoto sadly sigh "I'm sorry." He apologized as Ventus comfort him.
"Don't be. Everything's alright now" Ventus smiled as Makoto smiled back at him.
And thus they all make their way back toward the central area of this level of Zegnautus Keep after rescuing Ventus, then Sabaru stopped and look around, which make everyone stopped.
"Everyone, do you hear that? I've heard this sound before... on the train, just before your weapons failed you. It's nearby, and it may hold the key to restoring your power." Sabaru stated
They agreed to him and they make their way across the catwalk leading to the central area of this level of the Keep) Ignis: It's here. [Noctis stops at the large closed metal doors in the center of the enormous room.
"This thing?" Makoto asked as Sabaru agreed, but unfortunately the door is locked. "It's locked.
"It's coming from within. Is there no way through?" Scrabian Knight asked.
Ventus sighed. "There's a way." He said as the others look at him; he hesitantly steps up to the door's scanner and raises the back of his right wrist to it; the doors slide open; Ventus resumes speaking, staring off into the room, unable to make eye contact with the others. "So, MTs… They've got those codeprints…just like I do." Ventus explained, as the others doesn't seem to react about it.
Music Cue: Living with Determination (Persona 3)
"Dothey? Never looked." Makoto pointed out, as he noticed the codeprints on Ventus's right wrist.
"Yeah… So, as it turns out…I'm one of them. Not exactly something I could tell people growing up in Lucis." Vsntus said, as fighting back tears, but continues speaking. "Still… You guys are like…the only friends I've ever known. I just hope that things can stay the way they were." He sobbed.
"Whatever. Who cares where you were born?" Makoto comfort him.
"Yeah, and beside it doesn't matter if you are one of them. You're still on the team that's all." Spot said.
"I don't see you turning against us. Not now, or ever." Sabaru pointed out, which make Ventus smiled.
"Thanks guys. Still…I can't change where I came from. What I am." Ventus said.
"Since when does where you come from matter to you? You never once treated me as a prince." Makoto replied as he playfully punches Ventus's shoulder.
"He's got you there." Hoppy joked.
"Never so much as a "Highness."" Quiver added.
"We're done here. C'mon, everyone." Makoto announced.
"You're one of us, right?" Scrabian Knight asked with a smile.
"Unless you'd rather not be." Wheezy replied as Ventus smiles, nods, and follows them.
Inside the room Ventus opened, they find the emperor's abandoned clothing laying upon the throne; he, too, has become a daemon; they also find a large bank of computers, the cause of Makoto's lost powers; Makoto rams his father's sword through the machines.
Music Cue: Tranquility (Persona 3)
"So…did it work?" Ventus asked.
"With the device down and out, Makoto's power should be up and running.
"Go on, try it." Tibber encouraged him. As Makoto nodded.
"Alright. Moment of truth." Makoto said as holds out his hand and conjures a sword; Ventus claps in celebration.
"We're back, baby." Finn smiled.
Music Cue: Mass Destruction -Reincarnation- (Persona 3)
"Let's roll." Makoto command, as the fully reunited and re-empowered they leave the emperor's throne room, then the gargantua daemon that caused Noct's earlier fall suddenly lands on the platform in front of them; it's quickly joined by other daemons, who begin manifesting. Much for Makoto's annoyance.
"New friend?" Ventus assumed as Makoto nodded to him.
"You really need to pick 'em better." Spot joked as they began battle Makoto's new friend and the other daemons together as a team, moments later after defeating Makoto's "new friend" and the other daemons.
"I see you decided to rock the ring." Ventus noticed as he saw Makoto using it.
"Had to. No weapons, no friends, no choice, really. Y'know, somebody here's got to fight to rescue the Crystal… …not to mention rescue all of your asses." Makoto said seriously, which makes his friends look impressed for his maturity.
"Spoken like a true king. About time." Finn smiled.
"Yeah, that took alot of guts to wear it." Wheezy remarked.
"The ring represents a great burden, but you don't bear it alone." Sabaru said.
"You can say that again. Especially now that you all have your weapons back." Makoto replied as the ten friends make their way through the Keep.
"Hopefully, Biggs and Wedge both made it to safety." Sabaru said in worried.
"Who and who?" Ventus tilted his head.
"Our train drivers." Spot answered bluntly.
"And soldiers. They can fend for themselves." Makoto added as they all make their way through the Keep.
"So, where'd you guys park the Regalia?" Ventus asked, which cause them to look down sadly.
Finn sighed sadly "Outside though "park" ain't the right word." He explained.
"She's broken down, alas." Sabaru reluctantly said which make Ventus look sad about their car?
"Took one for us, saved our lives." Makoto frowned as the four continue making their way through the Keep.
"Now then, the Crystal." Spot said
"I'm guessing the way is locked." Wheezy stated.
"Well, I guess it's a good thing somebody has keys to the whole fortress." Ventus proclaimed.
"You're no better than a burglar." Makoto smirked.
"Aren't I?" Ventus shrugged and then they all are confronted by the Foras daemon.
The ring… It's mine…
"Truly be…the emperor?" Sabaru exclaimed.
"Does seem kinda keen on the ring." Finn noted.
"So we fight him?" Ventu assumed.
"We take mercy." Makoto declared as they all readied their weapons, they began to fight the Daemon together, moments later they defeated Iedolas as a Daemon and he began to say words to Makoto and his friends
The empire shall span…all the lands… By the Crystal's Light…we shall flourish… I shall arise…as ruler…of the world!
Makoto and the others began to leave the are and makes their way through the hangar area.
"One helluva hangar." Finn comment.
"Look at all this space." Ventus said.
"So, the central elevator's through here." Makoto assumed.
"And out of the loading bay." Spot stated as the large doors at the other end of the hangar begin opening, and they heard Xigbar's voice again.
Your Majesty, your precious Crystal awaits you. To liven things up I thought I'd take you on a stroll down memory lane. Of course, memories decay with time.
Tak's body walks through the doors, now grotesque and daemonic, transformed into a monster, much for everyone's horror to see what happened to him.
Music Cue: Danger Zone (Persona 3)
"Kill me… End it…" Tak begged in pained.
"Is that Tak?" Tibber exclaimed in horror.
"Or what's left of him…" Ventus guessed, which cause Makoto to look sad knowing that they have to fight Namine's brother as a Daemon.
"A sorry end for the high commander... for anyone. He was a man with hopes and dreams." Finn mourned as Tak's body begins to discorporate.
"It's horrible." Ventus frowned.
"What kind of fiend makes daemons of men?" Sabaru said in outrage as Tak's body finishes discorporating and is gone; Makoto looks sadly at the floor where his body had been, and then thee room suddenly fills with daemons; they begin to attack, after the battle goes on for a moment
Music Cue: Calamity (Persona 3)
"We're getting nowhere!" Finn complaint while fighting against the daemons.
"And they just keep coming!" Ventus stated.
"Makoto, you must go alone." Sabaru suggested, much for Makoto's disbelief.
"What?" He exclaimed.
"If you can obtain the Crystal's power, we may yet turn the tide. Elsewise, we are all like to perish here." Spot explained?
"Spot's right. It's our only chance." Hoppy declared.
"But what about you?" Makoto asked in worried, but then Ventus push him to get going to reach the Crystal.
"We'll manage somehow! Just get moving!" Ventus encouraged him. Makoto hesitate to leave them behind, but understood.
Makoto then ran off to find the crystal while his friends hold of the daemons for him, The elevator to the loading bay comes up to this level for Makoto; he takes it down to the loading bay and begins running for the elevator on the other side and then he heard Xigbar's voice again.
You could still get to the Crystal…if you went on your own. Your friends will have to stay behind. You'd better think fast. I don't envy you your decision.
Noctis continue to run as daemons begin manifesting and pursue him. "So this is the way to the Crystal?" Makoto assumed and then heard Xigbar's voice again.
Betraying your friends for the greater good... the mark of a monarch! Step forth, Your Majesty! If you wish to obtain the Crystal's power, you must be prepared to lose all else.
Makoto stops and looks back, seeing his friends absolutely swarmed by daemons, but fighting on; he turns to face the elevator, allowing the hangar gate to close behind him, separating him from his friends once again; he runs toward the final elevator. "Don't die on me." Makoto pleaded after he enters the elevator and it begins to rise and then heard Xigbar's voice again.
Do you suppose your dear friends are still alive? Those who died for you... do you ever wonder what went through their minds? Can you even recall their final words?
"Makoto sighed sadly "I'll come back for you all. I swear." He said as he exits the elevator and races down the final hall leading to the Crystal. "How far's this go? The Crystal had better be here. Everyone's counting on it…counting on me." Makoto whispered as he look at his hand and grip it knowing that he's going to reclaim. As he runs into the room housing the Crystal; Xigbar broadcasts his voice to him once more
Your journey is over, Makoto
Makoto finally saw the crystal, as he walk towards and stands before the Crystal and holds his hand out to it. "Please… Help me stop the daemons." He pleaded.
Music Cue: In the Light of the Crystal (Final Fantasy XV)
Suddenly, the Crystal becomes very bright and seizes Makoto's hand; it begins to slowly pull him inside itself; as Makoto struggles in futility to get free, Xigbar swaggers into the room.
"Unharmed by the Light. The Chosen King, indeed. Allow me to regale you with a tale. In an age long past, an incurable scourge ravaged mankind. A tiny menace that twisted men into monsters, the likes of which you've seen. In Luputa lived a savior who could cure the afflicted. His body would come to host myriad daemons, that countless lives be spared. But a jealous king, one not yet chosen by the Crystal, ostracized and demonized this healer of the people. Making a true monster of him. I gave you my name earlier, but you should know that it was not the name given to me at birth. Xigbar Laputa is my proper name. You'll never guess whose name was. Makoto, killing you as a mortal will bring me scant satisfaction. Claim the Crystal's power. Arise as its champion. Only once the Crystal and King are no more…can I know redemption. Come back soon. I shall keep your friends company until you are ready." Xigbar narrated as Makoto scream when the crystal pull him inside of it. And then disappeared completely.
After Makoto has been completely pulled into the Crystal, Ventus, Sabaru and Finn arrive but the Super Pets are not with them, but are unable to do anything to help him; Xigbar turns to them, gestures nonchalantly at the Crystal and begins to walk away; Finn swings his sword through Xigbar's head, releasing a puff of dark smoke from where the blade strikes; Xigbar falls back a little, but maintains his balance and holds onto his hat to keep it from falling off his head; he then continues walking away; Ventus shoots Xigbar in the back before he can take more than a couple of steps, releasing another puff of dark smoke and hurling his body onto the floor; Xigbar's hat rolls away and lays still for several seconds before Xigbar's hand suddenly reaches down to collect it and place it back on his head; once more unharmed, he is again standing; he smiles at Sabaru, revealing corrupted daemonic features as he does so, but they go unnoticed since Sabaru is blind; he walks away, leaving Makoto's closest friends unharmed but devastated. Believing this sacred stone would purge the world of daemons, Makoto reached out to it, only to be pulled inside.
Makoto finds himself floating in an ethereal void, he floats down into the palm of an enormous humanoid figure clad in dragon-like armor, and he look so shocked to see him.
Gather strength, O Chosen. The fate of this world falls to the King of Kings, His Providence consecrated in the divine Light of the Crystal. So it is ordained... the revelation of Bahamut.
Makoto asked Bahamut about where he was
The heart of the Crystal, wherein lies the soul of the star, and it is in this place that the King will gain the power to fulfill his calling. By the covenants awakened, the Six have seen the coming of the prophesied hour... a time when the Crystal shall have shed the entirety of its Light unto the ring. Only then, once the sacred ring is replete, can the True King complete his ascension. And only by the True King's hand can the immortal Accursed be banished and the Light restored to this world.
Makoto became so worried about his friend as he asked Bahamut about them.
They stand against the darkness and abide in hope, sustained by faith unfaltering that their King shall arise and bring deliverance.
Makoto frowned but then asked Bahamut about the Accursed he mentioned.
A wolf cursed with life eternal, whose immortality stems from the selfsame scourge that wrought the daemons. One so impure of body and soul was deemed unworthy of the Crystal's Light, and forbidden to ascend. His mind twisted by spite and bent on revenge, the Usuper came to bring darkness down upon our world. Only the True King, chosen by the Crystal and guarded by his forebears, can end the Accursed's madness.
Makoto then asked him about Providence.
It is the sole means to ending the immortal Accursed. A power greater than even that of the Six, purifying all by the Light of the Crystal and the glaives of rulers past. Only at the throne can the Chosen receive it, and only at the cost of a life: his own. The King of Kings shall be granted the power to banish the darkness, but the blood price must be paid. To cast out the Usurper and usher in dawn's light will cost the life of the Chosen. Many sacrificed all for the King; so must the King sacrifice himself for all.
Bahamut suddenly pulls his hand away and Makoto descends into the ether.
Now enter into Reflection, that the Light of Providence shine within.
Makoto is floating about in a meditative position; as he recalls memories from throughout his journey and from his childhood, the white light in the Ring of the Cryatal on his hand grows ever brighter before briefly engulfing around him.
The Light waxed full. Go forth to the kingdom, where the Usurper awaits. Reclaim the throne, and fulfill the calling of the True King.
Makoto's youthful features have hardened; he's sitting inside a small stone structure and appears to slowly become aware of his surroundings as the white light emanating from the Ring of the Kings fades Angelgard Stone Prison as he slowly rises to his feet and walks down a short series of steps to a beach outside where he finds Umbra waiting for him, a note is on the ground as Makoto picked it up and reads it.
"Be waiting…in Hammerhead." He said, knowing that it was his friends who's waiting for him. And he know that he's ready to fight back against his enemy, Xigbar the Wolf.
To Be Continued...