Momentis
Part VII: The End

Final Fight(s)
by Philippe de la Matraque

In all honesty, Ignis felt unmoored. Noctis had to do what he had to do. Ignis knew that and half-wanted it, because the rest of the world needed it. But the other half wanted to stop Noctis, to just let him be king of a darkened world. But it wasn't just the darkness. The number of daemons was increasing, black flecks were falling from the sky, and Ardyn would be emboldened. And he would make staying alive in the dark harder for all of them. So it had to happen.

And then there was Insomnia. It had been his home for most of his life. He knew the streets, the buildings, the Citadel. In his mind, the streets and neighborhoods looked the same. The sounds didn't match up though. Insomnia used to be a busy, bustling city of commerce, education, and culture. Now, he heard only the footfalls of his companions, the daemons they had to fight in nearly every street, and the occasional group of MTs.

Cor and the Glaive had asked for help before the big battle to come. Some, Ignis found frivolous—collecting batteries for Cindy?—but others had merit. They had cleared a number bases in the last few days. They slept either in the Glaive headquarters or in bunks in the subway tunnels. Those were the only times sound and memory worked, because he didn't have memories of those places. He could relax and just listen to the voices of his companions and worry about the eventual final battle.

Outwardly, he hid his unease. He encouraged the others and helped in the fighting any way he could. He was more used to fighting alone these days. Now he had to track all the movements so as not to hurl a lance into one of his friends. Prompto tended to stay back at least. Most of his weapons were ranged. Gladio moved in close predictably to use his great swords. Noctis was a wild card. He could warp about at dizzying speeds. It was somewhat disorienting to a man without sight. And when he used the might of the Armiger, Ignis felt it best to simply wait it out.

Each day they delayed, the knots in his stomach grew tighter. And yet, each morning, he woke up glad to have Noctis with them for another day even as he knew the inevitable end would come.

Finally, the errands were done and the bases defeated. They could move forward. Ardyn, however, had other ideas and more delays. He had said his 'pet' would welcome them. It stood outside the gates to the Citadel complex. Ignis couldn't see it, of course, but he could feel the heat and hear the growls and snarls from each of the three heads as they moved. Cor joined them for that fight.

Then Ardyn admitted to using the same wall King Regis had risked his health on as another taunt. There seemed to be no way to the Citadel. And it sounded like an army of daemons were coming from behind.

But something incredible happened. Luna appeared, radiant in her white gown and carrying her trident as she had that day in Altissia. She glowed with an inner light, and Ignis could see her, though she was surrounded by the familiar black of his blindness. She bade the heavens to clear the way, and the gods obliged. Ignis could only see Luna, but he could hear the lightning of Ramuh, the shriek of the Leviathan, the pounding fist of the Titan. Shiva and Bahamut may have made an appearance, but not a loud one. Then there was the tinkling of falling glass which Ignis took to mean the wall was down and the way open.

Luna remained for another moment. A shadow of Noctis's shape moved in front of her, and then she was gone and all was black again. Noctis opened the gate and they ran down the avenue that would bring them to the Citadel steps. Waiting, however, in front of those steps, was the sixth god, and he nearly roasted Noctis right at the start. Ignis began to wonder if Noctis's fight against Ardyn would be anti-climactic compared to his 'pet' and Ifrit. But it wouldn't. Noctis would win, and then he would die.

Once again, the gods came to their aid. Shiva turned the burning fire to the cold of winter. Ignis felt it refreshing at first, but it became freezing cold before it dissipated. Shiva bade Ifrit rest and find peace, then spoke to Noctis. "King of Kings, the grace of the gods is with you always."

And Noctis replied. "I made a promise…one I intend to keep." Ignis felt pride and loss warring within him to hear Noctis so resigned. Or was it determined? It was hard to say. Once again, the moment seemed upon them. They entered the main hallway on the first floor of the Citadel, and a roar sounded before they were halfway in. One of the old kings now fought them before they could even reach the elevators. That won, they rode the elevator prepared for the finality of it. But no, The Rogue, first queen of Lucis, stood in their way. Ignis couldn't identify which king they had fought first, or last, as yet another blocked the throne room. Gladio provided the killing blow to the first, Prompto the final shot to the Rogue, and it seemed Ignis had his foe of the third. He used firebound daggers to weaken him, dodged several sword swings, threw a spell and finally skewered him on his lance. Apparently, the king found a second wind, because they had to fight him all over again, and this time it took all four of them, working together, to bring him down.

Only then could they reach the throne room. Ignis wanted to get it over with as the waiting was becoming unbearable. It wasn't that he wanted to hurry Noctis's demise, but he knew what would happen. That horrible anticipation had built up in him for ten long years. Each delay twisted the knife. And yet, he wanted Noctis to delay another moment and another. It was an untenable.

Noctis did delay. He asked Prompto for one of his photos, to take with him. They had a moment to reminisce then with the photos—or simply memories, in Ignis's case—before Noctis opened the door. But he did open the door.

"What is that?" Prompto exclaimed with a sickened tone once inside.

Ignis felt perhaps he was fortunate in not having to see the visual taunt that the others suffered. But he could clearly hear the verbal barbs from Ardyn, coming high in elevation. He was on the throne.

Noctis made his intent clear. "This is my Ascension."

And then Ignis knew no more.

Author's Note: I didn't want to totally rewrite the whole Royal Edition ending but more get into Ignis's feelings and experience of it.