Disclaimer: Not mine

Chapter 3

Isao smiled at his final student. He was too old to take on another and so he brought out a case and handed it to the wizard. He had known immediately what the boy was, he was touched by powers beyond mortals and if he had a role to play in his journey then he was honoured.

Harry opened the case and his eyes widened. "Sensei…"

"The blades are yours. They have been in my family for many years, but I have no children to pass them to."

"I don't know what to say." The blades were old, even he could tell that, surely worth a fortune.

Isao chuckled. "They have been wielded by one like you before," he gently touched the ancient Japanese words etched ever so carefully into the metal of the blade.

Harry blinked, he could speak Japanese, his reading skills weren't as good. And that looked archaic on top of it. He cautiously touched one and yeah, there was magic in this blade. He bowed to his teacher. "Thank you."

"Farewell," Isao bowed back and then went into his house.

Harry watched him go and then went to return home himself. Luna was sure they were nearly there, that he could leave soon. He carried the case, not willing to risk a negative mix of the magic in the blades and that of his storage tattoo.

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Noctis leant back in his seat, staring out the window of his office in the Citadel. He was having to spend more and more time there now that he was done with school and he missed the freedom he'd had as a student.

Prompto was a few floors away, undergoing Crownsguard training under Cor himself. He still didn't know what to think of that, he had done everything he could to ensure his friend understood that he didn't have to do it, that they would always be best friends, but Prompto insisted he wanted to do it. To be able to be at his side at all times, watching over him. He actually thought it was fitting that he use what had been done to him to guard the enemy of those who had tortured him. A way of thumbing his nose at Niflheim. Prompto had even told first Ignis and then Gladio the truth and while Gladio had been a little wary for a bit, they had accepted that Prompto was still the same person he'd always been, just less of a liability than they had assumed should a fight occur. Before his true past had come out, Prompto had thought his offer of the job was a joke but when he'd asked him again a month after he'd Gladio, Prompto had finally agreed.

Ignis was next door, organising reports and his schedule or doing something for his Dad. Gladio was training, always training. He made Noct feel lazy with how much time he spent training. It was also why he was the one Noct felt the least close too. He wanted the same easy friendship that his Dad and Clarus had, but they were a long way from anything close to that. He tried, but Gladio always found something to criticise and it hurt to think his Shield didn't see him as anything but a duty. They argued a lot too which he hated. Gladio and Ignis got along a lot better.

It made him miss Harry even more. It had been almost three years since the wizard had gone to die and he knew he had to accept the fact he wasn't coming back. It didn't help that they were losing the war, he could read between the lines easily enough. They just didn't have the numbers to match the Magitek troops. He hated hearing the MT jokes, knowing that if not for one of his Father's men…Prompto would be one of them. His sunny smiles gone; his body long gone to the Scourge as what was left of him powered one of those armours. The very idea terrified him. He had a feeling Ignis and Gladio shared the same thought with how they pushed the MT jokes to stop. He'd seen the look from his Dad once and had simply grabbed Prompto's right wrist, squeezing gently. His Dad had nodded in acceptance of the fact he now knew, though they had never spoken about that knowledge.

The Glaive were good, no one could deny it, but their size was limited. His Dad could only share his magic so much before the strain became too much. Noctis had been experimenting with his own magic, trying to work out how his Dad shared his and his three friends were always willing testers. So far, Ignis could wield weak elemancy spells, mainly fire, without the flasks Noctis himself needed. All three had admitted to finding it easier to summon and dismiss their weapons and Prompto had even begun pulling objects not tied to him from the Armiger which meant if he wanted to give one of the guys something he simply put it in and told them it was there, and they could retrieve it on their own time. Made passing paperwork between him and Ignis a lot easier. If he could work it out to where the others could warp as well then he could add to the Glaive's numbers himself. The experimenting had also helped his own abilities to where he no longer needed flasks for weaker magic, he'd watched his Dad fling elemental attacks around for years without them and the first time he'd managed it he had seen the pride in his Father's eyes. One day he wouldn't need the flasks at all. He still needed an anchor to warp to, like a thrown blade, but he hoped one day he wouldn't, even if only for close warps. He was too vulnerable in the seconds after throwing the weapon and following it.

Insomnia was safe due to the Wall but the rest of Lucis no longer had that protection. He saw how the Wall and Glaive drained his Dad's life away bit by bit and he hated it, but he knew one day that would be him unless they could end the war. Even then, the Crystal took from every ruler. It was as much a curse as a boon from the Astrals and sometimes he really wondered why it had been given to humanity and especially his ancestors.

When he wasn't worrying about the war and his Dad, he was buried in legislation dealing with refugees. He'd seen where Prompto was living now that he was out of home and he hated it. Prompto was a member of his Crownsguard, a citizen of Insomnia, but he was still treated like a refugee outside of the Citadel based on his looks. Prompto tried to shrug it off but Noct could see it hurt him. And the Glaive were treated little better, coming mainly from Galahd. Xenophobia was not something he liked or tolerated, it reminded him of Harry's stories about the Purebloods and their ways. He did not like that comparison at all. He wanted to see what it was like outside the wall for himself, but he hadn't left Insomnia since the attack that had nearly killed him almost twelve years ago.

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Harry checked his room for the last time, the small house in the countryside of Japan had become home since he had bought it and he was sad to say goodbye. Everything he thought would be useful or that he could not bear to part with was safely stashed away, ready for his trip. He left the house, locking the door behind him, before heading out to hand the key over to the real estate agent who was handling the sale of the house. The proceeds would be added to the trust fund of one Teddy Lupin. All of Harry's money, from the Potter's and Black's, had been split between his remaining friends since it wasn't legal currency where he was heading. Luna had frowned but in the end hadn't argued too much about the money, better it be split among them then end up with someone like Malfoy. Hermione would never accept if asked, even though she could use the money to help fund the building of the home she and Ron were to live in. He still thought Hermione could have done better, they still argued too much for Harry's liking, but it was her life and they had drifted apart over the years.

Once that was done he drove to the area where they had been preparing ever since they had worked out what they needed to do. Luna had handled the runes, but he had been the one to work out the Arithmancy equations needed. They had warded the area thoroughly to ensure their work was not found or interrupted. Harry could read some of the Runes, but he had taken Care of Magical Creatures, Arithmancy, and had picked up the Alchemy elective in sixth year. There had been a similar division of labour when it had come to creating the subspace pockets as their end of year project. The Professors had been pleased with their working together and mixing of the disciplines, especially with Luna being a year younger than them.

"It's ready," she told him, serious and focused in a way he rarely saw.

Harry nodded, eyes skimming the massive runic array carved into the stone, absently rubbing the ring on his right hand, the ring that had come when he called, along with the wand. He tended not to dwell on what that could mean. Though his ability to control and channel his magic without a wand had seriously improved since then, especially as the Elder Wand had apparently vanished into thin air…or him? He settled his blades into place, once more wearing the uniform Noct has designed for him. Dragonhide knee-high boots over black pants, tight enough not to get in the way but loose enough to make it easy to move. He wore a sleeveless red shirt in honour of his own family and Gryffindor. Over that was a dragonhide vest in the same black as his boots, offering extra protection. On his right arm was his ever-present armband, while black fingerless gloves protected his hands and wrists. Over it all went his Dad's old knee-length dragonhide coat, also in black. Luna had copied the design from his armband onto the back of it, to safely declare his loyalties to anyone who saw him. Messy black hair was pulled back into a loose braid to keep it out of his way, he should really cut it, but it was a bit more manageable longer.

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Luna smiled at the sight he made, a true warrior. She was sad to be sending him away, but he was needed there. The King of Kings needed his wizard at his side. Harry would not let that silly prophecy stand; he would ensure the little King survived and their world would know peace from the Starscourge. She knelt outside of the array and drew the rune-covered knife from its sheath, slicing into her own skin, letting her blood pour into the runes. She saw Harry's eyes widen as he saw just how much blood she was giving to feed the array.

"Luna…" he called even as the magic activated, almost blinding her.

She blinked and smiled; it had worked. She slumped down, blood still flowing into the now destroyed array. This was a better death than the one that had been slowly sapping her strength and magic, ever since her incarceration beneath Malfoy Manor. This death had a purpose. She would miss Neville, but he had known this was coming. She closed her eyes, letting the darkness pull her under, finally, she would see her Mum again.

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"Luna…," Harry screamed for his friend, there was so much blood, too much! Light filled his vision and he wanted to scream even as it felt like he was being torn apart. He stumbled, falling to his knees on hard stone. He gasped and coughed before slowly regaining his feet, looking around. Where was he? The sky above was pitch black and all around him were the ruins of once-grand stone buildings.

"Welcome to the Nexus….Master."

Harry turned to see a cloaked figure approaching, felt the stone warm on his finger and he sucked in a breath as he recognised the being. "Death."

The hood was pushed back to reveal a man of indeterminate age, with rather bland features, even as the man bowed to him. "Come, Master, there is much for you to learn before you join the King of Light."

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Prompto blinked in shock, staring, and that was all Noctis could do as well. Had that just….he looked from one corner of the room to where Prom now stood before grinning. He warped over and grabbed Prompto's wrist dragging him from the training room and then out of the Citadel. Two buildings away was the Glaive training grounds and Noct grinned as he spotted the one he was looking for. "Nyx!" he called out and the Glaive turned immediately saluting. "Prompto, this is Nyx Ulric. Nyx this is my best friend, Prompto Argentum."

"Nice to meet you," Prompto offered, still reeling.

"What brings you to our training grounds?" Nyx asked curiously and Noctis grinned.

"Prompto warped for the first time," he announced proudly, and Nyx glanced at the young man in surprise. "So, I figured bring him to the best at warping for lessons on doing it at will."

"Sure," Nyx grinned at the blonde who gulped, making him laugh. "Come on, we'll start out easy."

Noctis waved and left, knowing Nyx would take care of Prompto and that his presence would just make his friend more nervous while learning something new.

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"Yes, your Majesty. Despite their victory all but assured. A sudden and inexplicable retreat," the report was given but not by Drautos which confused Regis somewhat, why was his Captain not reporting on the battle to the Council himself?

"We are at risk nonetheless, your Majesty. We cannot know when they will strike again," Clarus warned.

"Your Majesty, word from the west gate. A man claiming to be an envoy of the empire requests an audience," one of the Crownsguard announced, shocking all within the Throne room.

Regis found himself glad Noctis was not in the Citadel today, if this sudden appearance was a trap he would not be caught with them. He nodded at Clarus who immediately moved off to call his son, just in case. "Very well, escort them in," he said once his Shield was back. They waited in silence, no one sure what to think or say until finally, the guard moved to the doors.

"The envoy from Niflheim awaits without, your Majesty."

Regis hesitated but then nodded and the doors were opened.

"Hello there. Hello! Good day to you... And you. Well met, my dear Lucians," the man greeted them all cheerfully even as Regis stiffened in alarm, Cor and Clarus subtly shifting closer.

"Has Niflheim grown so bold that they send the chancellor himself as envoy? And under no guard, at that?" The King asked.

"It is an honour to be recognized by the great King Regis," he came to a stop with one foot on the stairs to the Throne, still wearing his hat. "Yet, permit me to stand on ceremony and introduce myself nonetheless." He bowed with a flourish. "Ardyn Izunia, chancellor of Niflheim at your humble service." He straightened up, staring at Regis. "And I come to you on this most auspicious of days to offer terms of peace."

"Peace?" he didn't believe that for a second.

"As you no doubt surmised, that recent manoeuvre of ours was no strategic retreat. Call it... A gesture of imperial goodwill. Like you, we wish nothing more than to bring a swift end to this senseless war." He paced the room, hands moving, as he spoke, very distracting and probably why he did it.

"Is that so?" Regis stared down at him, not believing for a second.

"It is, indeed. And we require but a singular compliance. Save your grand Insomnia here. Lucis must forfeit all territories to Niflheim rule."

Regis held his hand up, silencing his Council.

"Ah. Insomnia! The Jewel in the crown of the Lucian kingdom," he smirked as he looked around but then stopped, acting surprised. "How foolish of me to forget. There is just one more trivial thing. It concerns your son. The fetching Prince Noctis of Lucis and the fair Princess Lunafreya of Tenebrae... They are to be wed."

Regis froze at that. He knew Noctis would never agree, he still mourned his dead wizard, his male lover. Was his son even attracted to women? And the two had never met, an arranged marriage was not what he wanted for his son.

"You seem vexed, your highness. I assure you; the Princess holds you in the highest regard."

Regis stared at the man, something about him made his skin crawl, the Lucii cry out in anger. "You give us much to consider Chancellor."

"Of course, please, talk it over," the man bowed and left.

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"They what?" Noctis demanded angrily, pacing his Dad's study.

"Part of the terms is your marriage to Princess Lunafreya," Regis told him again calmly, watching his reactions.

"That's crazy! We've never even met." They had exchanged a few stilted letters when he was a kid, but the Empire had put a halt to that. He didn't know a lot about her, she was the current Oracle, had been since her mother had died when Lunafreya was sixteen. He knew they suspected the Empire's hand in Queen Sylva's death but there was no proof and what would it have mattered? They could not free Tenebrae from the Empires grip. "It doesn't make sense to make our marriage part of the peace."

"Marriages like this are often used in peace deals, although usually between the families of the leaders. However, Emperor Aldercapt has no children of either gender to use in such a marriage. Lady Lunafreya is the next obvious choice."

"Dad I…" he ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

Regis stood and moved to put a hand on his shoulder. "You still love Harry," he finished for him.

"I'm sorry…I know it's been three years…"

"I still love your Mother very much Noctis, and I miss her every day," he assured his son before sighing. "And I do not think this peace offering is what it appears to be," he admitted and Noctis nodded.

"They've practically got the lands outside Insomnia already so why ask for a treaty requiring us to surrender them. You think they're after something else…the crystal?"

"Possibly," Regis sighed, watching his son. "Which is why I am sending a Glaive after the Princess and arranging for the wedding to be held in Altissia, it is the closest to neutral territory that exists."

"Getting both the Princess and me out of the line of fire. Dad…" Noctis shook his head in denial.

Regis stood and moved in front of him, gently gripping his shoulders. "I would do anything to keep you safe Noctis, I will not have you here when Niflheim arrives."

Noctis wanted to argue, he really did, but he could see why his Dad was doing it. If anything went wrong….one of them should survive. He just hated that his Dad was making himself the obvious target. "You'll be safe?" he pleaded even though he knew it was useless, his Dad would die for their people, like any good ruler would.

"As safe as possible. I am reassigning the Guard to protect the people and will keep the Glaive close," he promised. "Until we know exactly what they are after we need to play along."

Noctis nodded. "I guess I'll start packing."

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"You're meant to marry Lady Lunafreya?" Prompto stared at him in disbelief, sitting cross legged on Noct's bed.

"Apparently," Noctis agreed as he grabbed his toiletries, he was leaving clothing up to Iggy.

"But…"

"Yeah, but the wedding probably won't happen anyway."

"Oh," Prompto winced, if it was part of the treaty then for it not to happen, the whole thing would have to fall through which would be really bad for anyone in the city, explaining why they were being sent away.

"Do you truly not wish to wed the Oracle, Noctis?" Ignis asked as he joined them with Noctis half-packed bag.

"If I marry I want to at least know the person, a handful of letters when I was like nine don't count," Noctis countered.

"Indeed. Unfortunately, that is not always the case for Royalty. She is a nice young woman from what I have heard so I do not doubt you will at least become friends."

"Hopefully," Noctis agreed, looking around his apartment. If he did have to go through with it, where would they live? Here? Or back in the Citadel? He didn't want to marry a stranger, but he knew he couldn't say no, too many lives were relying on this peace if it was real. If it wasn't then it wouldn't matter. It was his duty to produce an heir at some point as well, no matter his personal opinion on that. He was only twenty though, he'd thought he'd have a few more years before this.

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"Lady Lunafreya, I have left the rear gate open," Maria called as the young Princess appeared on the stairs, dressed in travelling clothes.

"Thank you."

"Must you go?"

"Yes."

"Then go quickly," she urged, hearing the doors open and Lunafreya moved quickly to the side door only for her brother to open it.

"I do not recall granting you permission to leave your quarters, Lunafreya," he grabbed her arm and dragged her back upstairs.

She didn't bother fighting, not with the MT's that now lined the halls. She could fight, Mother had ensured she was taught, but the numbers were against her and she could never raise her trident against her own brother. "Ravus."

"You are not to leave this room again until the journey to Lucis. It is for your own good," he told her as he opened the curtains for her and tossed her case on the floor.

"My own good?" her disbelief was obvious. She may look small and delicate, but she was anything but. "What is truly going on here? What cause does the empire have to see me wed to Prince Noctis?" she had never met the younger Royal and they had only exchanged a few letters before she was stopped from writing to him. They had been children then, her world much different to what it was now.

"They have offered peace, and your marriage is the olive branch," Ravus answered, and she felt like laughing.

"You expect me to believe that?" Did he think her an idiot? That Mother had not taught her better than that?

"What you believe does not concern me. What does concern me is you sneaking off to go and tell the man who abandoned our Mother about some plot you've dreamt up."

"You are wrong to hate King Regis. Niflheim killed mother, not him. Any troops he could have sent would have been too late and Mother never asked for aid. They murdered her and made you their lapdog," she turned but the door was shut, Ravus was gone. She moved to sit at her dressing table and began changing out of her travelling clothes. She missed her brother, the boy he had been before Mother's death. She truly did not understand how he could serve the Empire when it was them that had killed Mother. She knew why, they wanted a young, impressionable Oracle under their control. She would never be that. Ravus had been old enough that he should have seen through whatever lies they had told him so why did he help them?

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Regis looked down at his son where he stood with his Guard, his friends. Was this to be the last time he saw his child? "The decreed hour is come. Set forth with my blessing, Prince Noctis," he offered the formal, official send-off.

"Thank you… Your Majesty," Noctis bowed, a lump in his throat, wishing there had been time for a more private goodbye but his Father had been very busy since their last talk.

"Take your leave, and go in the grace of the gods."

Noctis straightened back up, looking up at his Dad before nodding. "Right." He turned and walked past his friends, who looked startled; confused, they quickly turned back to the King and bowed before setting off after Noctis. None of them saw the tears in Noctis' eyes as he forced himself to leave before he said something he did not want in any official record. He wanted to turn around and run back to his Dad, plead with him to be allowed to stay but he couldn't do that.

Regis watched sadly as they left before getting up and leaving the Throne room as well.

Noctis and the others walked down the stairs outside the Citadel towards the car where Cor stood awaiting them.

"Well, princes will be princes," Prompto tried to tease, sensing the sombre mood, he knew Noctis was very worried about the treaty and threat to the King.

"So much for royal protocol," Ignis sighed.

"Not like you had to deliver a formal address…" Gladio smirked, elbowing Noctis gently.

"Your Highness!" Drautos called from behind them.

Noctis stopped and turned; his Dad was at the top of the steps, accompanied by Captain Drautos; despite his braced leg and dependence on a walking stick, Regis began descending the steps to catch up to Noctis. "What now?" he whispered in confusion but walked quickly back up, not wanting his Dad to overstress himself with what might be coming.

"I fear I have left too much unsaid," Regis admitted as he clasped Noctis' shoulder, gaze going to the other three. "You place a great burden on those who would bear with you."

"You're one to talk," Noctis tried to tease and Regis smiled slightly.

"I ask not that you guide my wayward son, merely that you remain at his side," he called to them and Ignis bowed.

"Indeed, Your Grace."

"We'll see the prince to Altissia if it's the last thing we see."

"Yeah, what he said."

"Hate to break this up, but Cor's got the motor running," Noctis offered, they had only a few hours before the delegation would arrive, and the plan was for him to be long gone. "Drautos, he's in your hands," he called to the Kingsglaive Captain as he turned to walk away, he would not break down in public and they could nit risk giving something away where anyone could see them.

"And another thing," Regis called and Noct turned back, curious, even as Regis smirked. "Do mind your manners around your charming bride-to-be."

Noctis walked back to Regis and bowed with a deliberately exaggerated flourish. "Your Majesty, as well. Try to mind yours around our esteemed guests from Niflheim." The caution was there, in his tone, begging him to be careful and remain on guard.

"You have no cause for concern," Regis tried to assure the worry he could see in dark blue eyes and for a second his son reached out for his hand.

"Nor do you," he promised, he would do his duty and marry her, no matter where his heart lay. He would try and at least be a friend to his bride, he would treat her with respect.

"Take heed. Once you set forth, you cannot turn back," Regis warned.

"You think I would?" He tried for light-hearted and knew he'd failed.

"I need only know that you are ready to leave home behind," Regis offered.

"Don't know about you, but I'm ready as I'll ever be," Noctis offered, not wanting to worry his Dad further. He turned and began to walk away again.

"Take care on the long road," Regis called and Noctis stopped walking, turning back to look up at him. "Wheresoever you should go, the line of Lucis goes with you," Regis walked down and clasped both of Noctis' shoulders, holding on tight as Noctis raised his own arms. "Walk tall, my son," he whispered before forcing himself to walk back up to the Citadel.

Noctis watched him go before turning to join the others in the car, thankful that Prompto had shifted enough that no one else spotted the lone tear, his friends face utterly serious when he saw it.

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"The ceremony is in less than two hours. We must make ready," Clarus called as he joined his old friend at the window, looking out at a celebrating city.

"Very well," Regis agreed, he was so weary.

"Your majesty. A man of the Kingsglaive is here, sire. He demands an audience."

"Demands?" Clarus barked in disbelief even as the door was shoved open and a man in Kingsglaive uniform entered, ignoring calls to halt before dropping to his knee before the stairs to the Throne, almost skidding on the polished floor.

"Your majesty, please. Give the order to deploy the glaive," the man called, head bowed.

"You…" Clarus tried over to be cut off.

"A Niflheim fleet makes ready for war 20 miles to the south."

"An imperial fleet?" Regis demanded, grip tightening on his cane, southwest was the direction the boys would have to head to reach the ferry, and the Glaive looked up.

"And they have the Princess," the man continued.

"Clarus, post guards outside the treaty room."

"It will be seen as a lack of faith in peace," his Shield warned, and Regis shook his head.

"Which we all harbour. See it done. We may well have to take emperor Aldercapt into custody," Regis smirked slightly at the thought. He had been right to send Noctis away from the city.

"Detain him?" Clarus stared at him in shock. "That would go beyond a new declaration of war," he warned.

"We are still at war, Clarus," Regis reminded him before looking down. "And you, Nyx Ulric. How soon can the Kingsglaive deploy?"

"On your word, at once," Nyx answered, and Regis nodded.

"Go, then. Save Luna."

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Noctis couldn't believe they had broken down already. He knew it wasn't Prompto's fault even if he had been the one driving at the time. But they were going to bake in the heat if they didn't get to Hammerhead soon.

"I think we can forget about hitching our way there… Thought people were friendly outside the city," Gladio muttered as he watched the truck fly by.

"You can only go so far on the kindness of strangers," Ignis offered from the driver's seat.

"Just gonna have to push her all the way."

"I've already pushed myself…to the brink of death," Prompto gasped from where he was collapsed in the small patch of shade provided by the car.

Gladio smacked Noct on the back to get his attention and walked over to Prompto. "Oh, get up." He kicked Prompto's foot. "C'mon, car isn't gonna move itself."

The two youngest got up slowly and moved back into position. "I thought the car was supposed to move us," Prompto grumbled as he grabbed onto the side.

"Wouldn't that be nice—" Noctis agreed from the other side.

"Can it. Ready…" Gladio braced against the back of the Regalia. "Steady… Push!"

"Un. Believable," Noctis mumbled as they pushed, glad that his back had healed fully as a kid or this would be agony.

"Not exactly a fairy tale beginning, huh, Noctis?"

"We let ourselves get carried away," Ignis offered.

"Look, these things happen!"

"Let's just hope this isn't some omen."

"Gladio, do me a favour," Noct called back to him.

"What?"

"Push this thing by yourself."

"All by myself?"

"You won't even notice if we…just…let…go," Prompto agreed.

"Prompto, don't even think about it."

"Save some breath for pushing," Ignis suggested.

"Ignis, c'mon—time to switch!"

"Nuh-uh! We just switched back there!"

They continued to bicker as they slowly moved further and further from home.

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"It's been a long time since I fought at your side, old friend," Clarus offered as the four of them stood their ground, weapons in hand. He thought of his son, guarding the Prince and prayed to the Six that they would be safe.

"Yes, but this time it is not your fight. If you wish to leave, go now," Regis offered, he knew he would not survive the coming fight.

"And abandon my king? I think not. Besides, our magic is bound to you. If you fall, Lucis falls."

"Then let us once more into the fray, old friend," Regis offered a sad smile before readying himself. He had never faced Glauca but he knew his reputation, had read the reports and four on one odds meant nothing against him.

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"Well, I daresay everything has proceeded according to plan. No?" Ardyn smirked as they looked out at the city under attack.

"So it has," Aldercapt agreed. "We have broken the wall. All that remains is to break the city."

"Shall we take our leave, then? The sun will soon set. We need not be here to witness the terrors of the night." Ardyn glanced over as something was drawn from the Citadel, smirking darkly.

"The crystal," Aldercapt whispered before turning to board the dropship. The crystal was finally in their hands.

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"This leads to a hidden passageway. Follow it. Once you are away, make for Altissia. Noctis awaits you there," Regis explained as they plummeted through the Citadel towards the hidden garage.

"Your Majesty. You knew this was coming—" Nyx stared at him in disbelief.

"Yes," Regis admitted, trying to ignore the pain where his finger had been. "But it was the only way to draw their wrath from Noctis."

"Is that the way of our king? Sacrifice Lucian sons to save his own?" Nyx snarled.

"To save the world," Lunafreya stepped in. She knew Noctis' role and she truly felt bad for the boy, but no one could save him from his destiny.

"See Luna safely to Altissia. This is not an order from a king to his glaive. This is a plea from one man to another. Please, Nyx Ulric, keep her safe. For the future of all," Regis looked to the girl he may have called daughter in another life. She would have made a good Queen.

"The future?" Nyx knew he was missing something big; he just didn't know what.

"Here," Regis placed his Ring in her hand. "Take this. It is time it passed to another's keeping." He closed her hand around the Ring, and she nodded as the elevator came to a stop. This was it, his last battle.

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"Captain," Nyx groaned past the fire of the bullets in his chest and abdomen. He didn't have long without help and he knew it.

"Nyx!" Drautos moved to his side.

They both looked up as a car revved and then it slammed into Drautos, not before Nyx recognised the driver and moaned, collapsing to the ground. What the hell was Libertus doing? Then all he could do was stare in horror as the car was tossed aside to reveal Glauca where his Captain had been. No…it wasn't possible. He saw Libertus pull himself free of the wreckage even as Lunafreya ran and tried to help Nyx up.

"It's over. The daemons are unleashed. Lucis is fallen. Surrender the ring." Glauca demanded coldly as he approached.

Lunafreya looked down and took a breath, raising the Ring only for Nyx to grab her hand.

"Plan on giving those kings a piece of your mind, Princess? You got a destiny to take care of here, remember? Besides, didn't anyone tell you? I'm the hero around here." He grabbed the Ring and brought it towards his own hand only for someone to grab his hand. Nyx looked up, shocked to see a man in a Crownsguard uniform.

"How about we all survive?" the stranger grinned before turning to Glauca and blasting him through a wall.

TBC….