"So...observe them tomorrow and make our decision based on that?"
"Agreed, when they tell us their going on the Hunt of theirs we tell them Cor's getting involved, and I'll tell you why I want you involved when I tell them Cor"
"Fine"
The next day it was obvious that while they had acknowledged the fact that it had been two years since they had come back from the future it wasn't affecting them too much
"Well?"
"Tonight, and I think we won't warn the guards about Ignis' fighting skills"
"But..."
"This is primarily a test for the four of them, but I think the Glaives and Guard should have a lesson as well about underestimating an enemy they think is weakened by a disability"
"Hm...you have a point actually, none of them knows that Scientia can fight blind, all of those sessions have been in private, and we really should tell the group why we distanced ourselves once the test is over with"
"Agreed, they're definitely confused, but doing better about it than if otherwise"
"So I just thought of something, what's going to happen in about a year and a half?"
"We'll come to that when it happens, if Drautos is still involved by then we'll make sure that the damage is as minimal as possible, in the meantime I think it's time I let the Council know that the evacuation plans are not just a passing fancy but being made mandatory, something that should have been done a long time ago if I were to be honest with myself"
"Very well, so shall I gather the Guard while you gather the Glaives?"
"Yes, and don't worry no one will know about the time travel instead I will simply say that I want to see if my son and his companions are ready to suddenly be abducted due to their association with the Crown"
"Good excuse, and a very valid one too, when was the last time a test like that had been done on them anyways?"
"Not involving the three of us in the know? I think it was Noct's freshman year"
"Good point, time for a refresher for everyone then"
And so the Guard and Glaives were gathered and told about the fact that they were to test the four time travelers to make sure that their skills were up to par
"Sir, is it necessary seeing as how Prince Noctis graduated from school early and Prompto Argentum is a known Crownsguard member?"
"Yes, those four are seen together frequently and the fact that Noctis is Prince and still living on his own despite graduating early..."
"Means that this test is needed"
"Exactly, who knows what someone who finds his address might do to any one of them"
"Fine, what's the plan?"
"You're to blind Scientia from the start, preferably he's to wake up blinded, but it is not to be a permanent thing, the blinding is to be temporary only, as for the others...do what you feel like in disabling them also temporarily, the rest of the planning is up to you including when you strike"
"Then I suggest you leave your Majesty seeing as how this is the only place big enough for all of us to meet and make plans"
"Very well I leave it to you"
And so the group makes their plans and waits until early the next morning, they struck at one am deliberately and executed their plans for blinding Ignis, deafening Noctis, tightly bound Gladio in three different bindings including a magical binding and for Prompto, they gagged him and made sure he didn't have access to the gun that they knew was close by at all times (they were unaware of the Armiger). The four teams thought it would all be easy, but they underestimated each one of the time travelers, all four of them put up a fight, even Gladio bound as he was managed to actually temporarily break the bindings and get in a hit, as for Ignis when Ignis was suddenly grabbed he opened his eyes only to find himself blind once more, he thought that the enemy would think him easier to deal with being blind, either temporarily or permanently
(Thinks) "So they think blinding me will work to their advantage, well then they're sorely mistaken on that part, time for them to learn what someone who used to be blind for ten years can do"
And so Ignis fought and he knew he was having some success too with what he was hearing
"Ow!, he got my eye"
(Slightly unintelligibly) "my nose, he broke my nose"
"Someone take him out, he's not a weak link at all"
Suddenly Ignis feels something in his neck and before he passes out he hears someone say something in relief
"Finally got the tranquilizer in him, took more than I thought it would though"
When Ignis woke up again he found himself chained in a cell, with Prompto, Gladio and Noctis also in the cell and chained up as well, they were also very much unconscious
"Gladio, Prompto, Noctis, Burstshell!"
The effect was immediate seeing as how all four of them had trained themselves during their travels to react to various situations and codes, Gladio, Prompto and Ignis may have had more codes they were trained to in the ten years of darkness but all of them remembered the codes they had learned and practiced during their travels after the fall of Insomnia before Noctis wound up in the crystal. The four quickly learned about their chains
"Oh great, Specs, you know what happened?"
"Not entirely your Highness, last thing I remember was being in a fight before they drugged me, though I do know I managed to get in a few good hits that the enemy wasn't expecting seeing as how they blinded me temporarily"
"Probably thought that would make you useless, lesson learned the hard way I'm guessing"
"Hey Noct, were you bound?"
"Not...exactly, I don't remember much of what happened before waking up here, but I think I was in a fight, talk more later though"
"Right, so Iggy they thought you useless when blinded huh? I wonder if they'll learn their lesson"
"Indeed, now I don't know what they'll do to me should they decide to separate us"
"We'll figure things out Iggy I promise"
"No Noct, if...if it comes down to it I want you to abandon me"
"Specs!"
"No, listen to me Noctis, you are the Prince of Lucis, your safety must always be a priority"
"I...I understand, if...if I must I will abandon you Ignis"
Gladio then speaks up
"The same goes for me Noctis, if at some point either here or during an escape I fall you are to abandon me and continue the journey on your own, hopefully using the lessons I thought you myself"
And then Prompto speaks up
"Agreed, especially if...well you guys know"
"Yeah...yeah I know, very well if need be I will...I will do what I hope I never have to do and abandon you three and make my way back to Insomnia"
They weren't sure if there were any cameras or microphones but if there were they hoped that no one had caught the subtle hand movements that had accompanied the conversation, the signs that they had used to communicate their true intentions
*When separated I'll create a distraction, doing my best to take them down all at once, but if not, I'll make sure that the three of you escape*
*Okay, let dad know location?*
*Yes, and don't forget special tracker as well*
*Same here, I'll stay behind with Iggy if given the signal, otherwise I'll be the shield I'm supposed to be but I'm not going all the way to Insomnia*
*Precautionary measure*
*Exactly*
*I'll stay with Noct then until we get back and let them know of any injuries I know and be part of rescue team, Noct you know it's not possible for you*
*I know, letting Cor, dad and Clarus know what I can when reunited, staying put at Citadel, rendezvous at secret location once cleared?*
*Yes, especially if not all return, need to make new plans in that case*
*Right, whoever survives does what they can to change the future when the time comes*
*What about the chains?*
*I'll take care of those*
And so as soon as someone comes in they enact the plan they had thought of, with Ignis managing to get the other three unshackled and then staying behind as promised, as for the other three Gladio had been given the signal to go as far as he could or felt was safe enough and then he remained behind, or at least that was the plan, but as soon as Gladio, Prompto and Noctis escaped their location they discovered a really huge problem of confusion
"Um...what's going on Noct?"
"I have absolutely no idea, Gladio confirm with me that I'm not seeing this"
"You're not"
"Okay, then we are indeed in Insomnia"
"Yeah"
The three look at each other and then run to the nearest street to get their bearings
"Okay I see the Citadel"
"Yeah, think we can make it?"
"Oh yeah"
"Then let's go"
And so the group uses various paths but finally they reach the Citadel and see Regis, Cor and Clarus waiting for them on the steps and Noctis is the first to speak up
"Dad! I need you to gather the Glaives, Ignis..."
Regis holds up a hand
"Will be brought back here soon safe and sound, he's alright Noctis, all of you are safe, you were never in any real danger I promise"
"Wait, what?"
"I'll explain once Ignis arrives, he should be arriving here within the hour"
An hour later and Ignis arrives at the Citadel unharmed but confused and then the four time travelers were debriefed on the fact that the entire scenario was a test for the four of them
"A...test?"
"Yes, I know that you four are strong enough to take care of yourselves in any situation theoretically, but my heart still wanted to make sure you were ready for the upcoming journey that you must take"
"So...did we pass the test?"
"This time yes, there may be other tests though that you might fail"
"We know dad, but...we're as prepared as we're ever going to be for the fall of Insomnia, you've gotten the evacuation plans all set and drills are being run right?"
"Not...entirely Noctis"
"Dad?"
"The Council, they're pushing back in regards to your plans, the four of you know just how important this is, according to you while there were survivors many more could have evacuated had these plans been in place correct?"
"Yeah, the main section of the city was destroyed since that's where the Citadel is located but..."
"Casualties still happened"
"Exactly"
"I'll get it done no matter what, now then since today was an unannounced test you have the rest of today and all of tomorrow off if you can manage it, but definitely the rest of today"
"Understood"
The group does what they usually do in those situations and heads to Noct's apartment to wind down and simply talk about the day, especially the fact that it was a surprise test