The Power of Kings.

In a single night, the promise of peace has been broken, the Crown City along with it. Putting their home behind them, the five friends set forth to find answers in Hammerhead. Asuka had been silent ever since she learned that her adoptive father was killed. She had lost two fathers now, the first one almost made her want to die. Had it not been for Gladio and all the other people Asuka cares about, she might've just ended everything and given up on life as a whole. They were the only reason she bothered to continue living.

The royal retinue makes for Hammerhead in the Regalia; it's still raining, like the sky itself was crying over all the lives that were lost in the attack. Asuka was pretty sure everyone might be crying from this... well not the empire of course, they don't feel anything.

"Don't suppose the Crownsguard is still active" Gladio said.

"Wouldn't count on it, not with the marshal out here" Ignis said.

"I wonder how things are in the city…" Prompto wondered in a sad tone.

"There should be reports before long" Ignis said.

"Yeah, something this big can't go ignored" Gladio agreed.

"And what about us? What do we do?" Prompto asked.

"We make for Hammerhead now, and figure the rest out later" Gladio answered. As the five continue making their way to Hammerhead he noticed something he knew would make Asuka feel a little better "Got a message from Iris: she's with refugees bound for Lestallum".

"Thank goodness..." Asuka said in pure relief, at least her sister made it out. She don't know what she would've done if she lost Iris too.

"Well, at least Iris is okay" Prompto said, giving Asuka a small smile which she returned.

"Yeah. Doesn't sound like everyone else was so lucky, though" Gladio said sadly.

"We'd best make haste. Noct won't be dead forever" Ignis said.

"No going back, only way's forward" Prompto added.

"No going back. Let's go" Noctis said. When Noct and the others arrive at Hammerhead, Cindy is waiting to greet them.

"Hey" Gladio greeted.

Cindy smiled at them, though it was clear she was alost effected by what happened "Glad y'all made it. No weather for drivin', that's for sure".

"Our thanks" Ignis said with a small bow.

"Where's Cor?" Noctis answered.

"Left to see to business, and left y'all a message with Paw-paw" Cindy answered.

Noctis looked a little surprised "Yeah?".

Cindy nods "Boss ain't sat still one second since he heard y'all were comin'".

"Thank you Cindy" Asuka said.

Cindy gave her a sad smile "Ya holding up alright?".

"As well as I can. Our younger sister made it out, so that's some comfort at least" Asuka answered.

"One takes what one can get in these times. Let me know if ya need someone to talk to" Cindy said.

Asuka smiled "I will. Thank you".

With that, they went to talk to Cid in the garage. He was sitting on a chair, not looking like his sarcastic and tough old man self anymore. Now, he just looked like an old man who was regretting parts of his life, like he wished he could go back and change it.

"Crystal and the king's ring—what they been after all along…" Cid said in a tired tone.

"So all talk of peace was merely a pretext" Ignis summarized.

Noctis looked down "They played my father for a fool".

"Don't kid yourself. Reggie wasn't born yesterday. Lucis got dealt a losin' hand, and your old man played it the best he could. He saw this comin' a mile away, and he wasn't gonna go down without a fight. In the end, though… Well, it just wasn't enough" Cid said and Everyone remains silent for a moment "You need something else, you talk to Cor. I can't even remember the last time I saw Reggie. Feels like a lifetime ago".

Cid gets up and walks outside, holding his old hip. Asuka looked at a picture on a table which showed the king and his followers when they were still young. Her father was among them, and he looked even tougher than Gladio. Something he older brother noticed too as he put a hand on Asuka's shoulder. She nods at him, letting him know she would be ok, and they followed Cid outside.

"Cor left a message, said he'll wait for ya in the tombs. They're to the northwest of here, just a short ways past the outpost. Find that first" The old man instructed them.

Suddenly, Noctis' phone rings and he answers "Hello?".

"Sheesh! Thought I'd never get through. Good to hear your voice, Highness. You recognize mine, don't ya? It's Dino!" Came an all to familiar voice.

"Right. The jeweler" Noctis said.

"Got that right, the best around. Listen, I been worried about how youse guys are doin'. How's about you drop by Galdin and mingle for a bit?" Dino asked.

"We'll think about it" Noctis said before he hung up.

They refueled Regalia and began driving towards the outpost. They wondered what Cor had planing for them. Whatever it was, they all hoped it would help them get some payback on the empire. One way or the other, those back stabbing animals would pay for what they did, and for everything they took from them. That was not a threat, but a promise. They would not get away with this.

Soon enough they arrived at the outpost, and several of the kings Crownsguard where there. They met up with a woman named Monica, who smiled when she saw them "Your Highness. I'm glad your safe".

"Monica! Where're all the others?" Gladio asked.

"Most of the Crownsguard didn't make it. It was all we could do to escort Lady Iris out of the city. Dustin is with her as we speak, seeing her the rest of the way to Lestallum" Monica answered.

Gladio looked relived "I owe you guys big time".

"Not just us. We might've never made it if not for a civilian helping us" Monica said.

"Civilian?" Gladio asked in confusion.

"He was not normal. He was wearing a biker outfit and his hair was... well the best I can describe his hair style would be a skyscraper" Monica said, holding in her amusement at the memory of that crazy hair.

Asuka perked up at that "Wait, you mean Paul? Paul Phoenix?".

"You know him?" Monica asked.

"Of course! Paul was one of the only people in all of Insomnia that could match me in hand to hand combat. He was mostly a street brawler, and I faced him a few times in his privet arena" Asuka explained.

"I knew you were sneaking out at night!" Gladio said in an accusing tone, making Asuka laugh nervously.

Monica chuckled a little "Well we owe him a lot, his skills easily surpassed several members of the Crownsguard. Head for the royal tomb. The marshal awaits".

Everyone nods and they head out to find Cor. The leader of the Lucian Crownsguard. Otherwise known as 'the Immortal,' the general spends his days in service of Noctis's father, King Regis, just as when they journeyed together thirty years ago. But one must wonder what he will do now.

"So who is this Monica person?" Prompto asked.

"A servant of the Crownsguard, like Gladio, Asuka and myself" Ignis said.

"She's one of my father's best. Along with Dustin—who's guarding Iris" Gladio added.

"We can trust her. Her loyalty is undeniable" Asuka said.

"Good to know we still have people we can count on outside the city" Noctis said as the royal retinue continue making their way for the Tomb of the Wise.

"Can't keep up with this guy" Gladio said.

"First the Crown City, then Hammerhead, then the royal tomb?" Prompto asked.

"His nickname should have been Cor the Restless" Ignis commented.

"Somehow not as catchy as Cor the Immortal" Gladio said.

"A title well earned. He has survived things that could've killed any of us easily" Asuka added.

"Making it out of Insomnia only adds to his legend" Prompto agreed.

"Well, fortune favors the bold" Noctis said.

Ignis shook his head "The wise make their own luck".

"You think it's a coincidence he's made it out of all those battles alive?" Gladio asked as they got closer to the tomb "Wonder what drew him to the royal tomb".

"A morbid curiosity for the late kings of Lucis?" Ignis guessed.

"Only one way to find out" Noctis said.

They continued on until they finally arrive at the Tomb of the Wise. It sure looked like a spot someone important would be buried in. And Cor was waiting for them inside.

"We're here" Ignis said.

"A tomb fit for royalty" Prompto said.

"May his soul rest peacefully" Asuka added.

"Let's go in and find the marshal" Gladio declared.

They enter the is waiting for them, standing beside a sarcophagus that bears a sword in its hands

"Marshal" Ignis spoke in respect.

"At last, Your Highness" Cor said as he looks at Noctis.

"Yeah, wanna tell me what I'm here for?" Noctis asked.

"The power of kings, passed from the old to the new through the bonding of souls. One such soul lies before you. To claim your forebears' power is your birthright and duty as king" Cor explained.

"My duty as king of what?" Noctis asked bitterly.

Cor narrowed his eyes, not liking his tone "Now is not the time to question your calling. A king is sworn to protect his people".

"And yet he chose to protect only one prince. Was that his calling? Forsake the masses to spare his own son?" Noctis asked in anger.

"How long will you remain the protected? The king entrusted the role of protector to you" Cor said.

"Entrusted it to me? Then why didn't he tell me that? Why did he stand there smiling as I left?" Noctis snapped as the grabbed the edge of the sarcophagus "Why— Why did he lie to me?".

Everyone remained silent as they closed their eyes in memory of all the souls lost while they were sent away with no knowledge of what could happen. No one told them anything, not even their own damn parents. So of course they would be upset about it, Insomnia was destroyed and they weren't even aware of it before it was already done.

"That day, he didn't want you to remember him as the king. In what time you had left, he wanted to be your father. He always had faith in you, that when the time came, you would ascend for the sake of your people" Cor explained, this really wasn't the time for Noctis to reject his calling.

"Guess he left me no choice" Noctis said and holds out his hand; the sword on the sarcophagus phases through the casket's hands, floats into the air, hangs there briefly, and then flies into Noctis, imbuing him with his ancestor's power.

"That's not the only power your forebears left you. Your journey's just begun. Another tomb lies close by. I suggest you head there next. There are tombs scattered across the land. All are on dangerous ground. I'll go with you, for the time being. Not only to help, but to get a measure of your strength" Cor said.

"So just how many of these "powers" are out there?" Noctis asked.

"There are thirteen known royal arms, each enshrined at a royal tomb, though we know the location of only a few. I've enlisted the Hunters. They comb the land in search of the lost tombs" Cor answered.

"Where's the one nearby you mentioned?" Noctis asked.

Cor began to head out "Keycatrich Trench. We know there to be a crypt deep inside the tunnels".

They leave the tomb and began heading for the Trench. On the way they had to deal with some wildlife. Asuka was a little excited to Cor in action and he did not disappoint. No beast was a danger to him, and he was clearly holding himself back so the rest of them could gain some experience. They had to get through some battles, including against some magitek troopers, that were quickly turned in to scrap. While on their way, Cor seemed to have some flash backs of his time in the war.

"Long years ago, we waged a fierce battle here against the empire. It all went to ruin, and after that, the empire moved in like it owned the place" Cor said.

"They believe they own everything. But one day we will show them that they do not own us" Asuka declared.

"That time will come. Don't die until then" Cor ordered.

"Yes sir" Asuka said with a nod. As they continue to make their way, two bipedal mobile combat units come into view "Wow, a little over kill, don't they think?".

"A magitek armor…" Ignis realized.

"Dangerous?" Noctis asked.

Ignis began to explain "This particular model poses a mild to moderate threat—".

"The short version" Noctis interrupted.

"Somewhat dangerous" Ignis summed up.

"Marshal, you'd have to be pretty badass to take that down, right?" Noctis asked.

"Think you're up to it? Let's see what you can do" Cor ordered. Suddenly a Jack unit arrived, identical to the one the royal group faced before "So the Jack units are already finished? The empire don't waste time".

"We scrapped one of them already. They are tough, but just like the rest of the empire's junk, it breaks after you hit it hard enough" Asuka said as punds her fists together.

"So you already got experience then? Good, then this should be easy" Cor said.

"Say, Marshal, how 'bout you show us how it's done?" Prompto suggested.

"No wimping out. Let's move" Cor orders.

"Take care of those big ones. The walking trash can is mine" Asuka declared as she glared at the Jack robot.

"Don't get reckless Asuka" Cor warned.

"Don't worry sir. I know how to defeat these things now" Asuka assured. As the others went to deal with the magitek armors, Asuka was free to go one on one with the Jack robot "Your friend caught me of guard. Didn't think junk piles knew how to fight. But I am ready for you now, come on!".

The Jack robot charges like a bull, while Asuka rushed towards it before performing a flying kick. The kick hits Jack square in the face, stopping the machine in mid-step, but Jack is barely fazed. Jack then spins Asuka around, hurls her skywards, and throws oa powerful blow as she comes back down. Asuka is sent flying, but recovers with a show of acrobatics. Asuka ducks under another attack as it shatters a boulder behind her, and then begins repeatedly attacking Jack with a flurry of punches and kicks. This knocks Jack into a boulder with enough force to crack it. Before it can recover, Asuka delivers a punch to it's face, but it retaliates with a head but to her face, knocking her back, but Asuka was ready for the followed up attack.

The two then trade blows for a bit before Asuka gets the upper hand by remembering her training. If facing an enemy that is bother bigger and stronger than her, then her best chance is to turn her opponent's strength against them. She readies herself as Jack comes in swining. Asuka avoided a powerful punch, but she then slammed her palms in to Jack's arm, using it's own momentum against it and causing it to punch itself in the face. The damaged inflicted by it's on attack, caused Jack's head to start to spark. Asuka used this opening to deliver several powerful strikes, she then prepared a kick. She spun around several times to add more momentum to the kick before kicking Jack's head so hard it shattered from the impact.

With the Jack robot destroyed, the others swiftly dealt with the magitek armors, allowing them to regroup. Before they could say anything, another Jack robot arrived, alongside several magitek troopers. Everyone got ready to fight... until something that moved like a flash suddenly showed up and sliced the magitek troopers apart before they even had a chance to prepare their weapons. The Jack robot looked around until it noticed a man standing in front of it with it back turned. Jack went to grab him but he quickly vanished as a slicing sound was heard. The Jack robot fell apart and behind it stood the man who put his knives away.

"You are wasting time, Marshal Cor" The man spoke in an emotionless tone.

"Raven..." Cor said.

With the man finally standing still, the others got a better look at him. He had brown eyes, which are covered by sunglasses and dyed blonde hair, styled in a very short crew cut and with streaks shaved out of it, revealing strips of his bare scalp. Raven also has a large X-shaped scar on his face, with the lines crossing between his eyes, and a black tattoo resembling a kanji on his left arm. He wears ninja-like attire consisting of leather biker-style pants with large grey knee pads and a matching tight-fitting vest decorated with scrolling gold patterning and gray stripes over the shoulders. He also wears black boots and black elbow-length fingerless gloves decorated with gray stripes, matching the ones on his shoulders. The outfit is accessorized with a large black neck tie, fastened at the rear and hanging over his right shoulder, two daggers with long black ropes hanging from their handles. It was easy to see he was not a normal man.

"Who's that guy?" Prompto asked.

"His name is Raven. He is an Agent of the UN Intelligence. No one knows where he comes from or his real name" Cor explained.

"Is he an ally?" Ignis asked before Raven suddenly appeared in front of them before anyone even saw him move.

"Let's just say I am not your enemy. Our interest alligns, for now" Raven answered in a calm tone.

"Then it's a relief you are alive. How many of your people survived the attack?" Cor asked.

Raven sighed "Only me and my superior. The empire dropped building sized Daemons on top of our headquarters. Only the best agents managed to escape. But we did not last long. After we left the city, a humanoid looking Daemon showed up and began slaughtering us. It was relentless, and didn't fight like any Daemon I had ever seen before... it was... something different".

Asuka thought for a moment before she gasped "Wait. That humanoid daemon... was it twice as tall as normal human and did it have glowing red eyes?".

Raven it looked at her "It did... do you know something about it? If you do, then I highly suggests you come with me and tell me everything you know".

Cor stepped between them and gave Raven a warning look "Raven, the king may be dead, and Insomnia may have fallen. But don't think you get to overstep your authorities because of it".

Raven gave him a small smirk "If you wish to fight me for it, then be my guest. We can see how immortal you really are".

"Stop!" Asuka said as she got between them "He is not the only one who wants to know about that Daemon. I will go with him, the rest of you can go get the second weapon".

Gladio did not like that idea at all, and it was clear he didn't trust Raven one bit "Asuka, are you sure about this?".

"It's ok Gladio, I got this. Besides I don't think making an enemy of him is the best way to go" Asuka assured.

"The girl is smarter than she looks" Raven commented.

Cor sighed "Fine, but you better make sure she comes back in one piece, or else".

"Of course, I have no reason to harm her" Raven said, not the least bit itimidated by Cor's threat.

"Be careful Asuka" Prompto said in worry.

Asuka smiled at him "Don't worry about me. Just be sure you don't get to scared just because I'm not around to protect you".

With those parting words, Asuka left with Raven. They walked to a small spot where some equipment was located. Raven walked up to a table before taking out some pictures and handed them over to Asuka.

"Is this the Daemon you were thinking of?" He asked.

Asuka looked at the pictures and sure enough it was the monster she saw all those years ago, seeing it again made her feel really uneasy "Yes... this is the daemon that destroyed my old home and killed my blood father".

"So you were only a kid back then. Do you know anything about it and why it would attack your town?" Raven asked.

"No, all I know is that it's dangerous. My father was a master fighter, but even he was no match for it... wait, now that you mention it, there was one more thing about it" Asuka remembered.

"What?" Raven demanded.

Asuka looked at him "The sun wasn't fully down when I got home and saw it... which means this Daemon can survive in sunlight. Or at least in weaker light".

Raven's eye widened behind his sunglasses before he nods "Thank you Asuka, your information may be limited, but also surprisingly useful. I will take over investigation from here, and if either of us finds out more along the way, maybe we can share information".

"You would trust me with that?" Asuka asked.

"Trust is a strong word. But you have prove to be a decent source of information, and information is what we need" Raven explained.

"Very well... can I got back to the others now?" Asuka asked.

"You may. But know that you can't pull out of our deal. If you try, we will find you" Raven warned.

Asuka could only nod as she walked away. It was starting to get dark so she needed to find the others quickly. If she couldn't then she could just head back to the outpost and wait for them there. But as she walked she felt eyes on her. She looked around, wondering if Raven was following her... but then she felt something... something she hadn't sensed in years. Suddenly some kind of fog began to gather around her, something that worried her even more. She then turned around and gasped at what she saw.

She saw something resembles a tall, muscular man with dark green skin. He is adorned with various types and pieces of old jewelry and a large golden helmet/crown with very long orange hair. He also has a small round shield. It was no mistaking it. That was the monster who destroyed her home and killed her father right in front of her.

"You..." Asuka said in a shaky voice and a hard glare.

The monster said nothing and only smiled at her. A cold smile that made her blood run cold. Asuka was scared... something she hasn't been in years. But she forced herself to ignore her fear as she ran towards the monster with an angry scream. The Daemon only opened his arms as Asuka threw a punch... only to pass right through him as he vanished. Asuka looked around in panik before she heard a voice inside her head.

"You have gotten stronger. But you are not yet the warrior I seek. You have yet to earn the honor of dying by my hand" The voice said before Asuka felt the daemon behind her, but she was so frozen in place that she couldn't even move "But make no mistake, our battle will come, and when it does, I will kill you. Until then you may know my name" He leans to whisper in her ear "I am... Ogre".

Asuka turned around and screamed as a hand came down towards her. Her eyes snapped open as she found herself laying in her sleeping bag. She looked around and saw the rest looking around her, having seemingly been woken up by her scream.

"You ok?" Prompto asked.

"Wh-what happened?" Asuka asked.

"We found you passed out nearby. We made sure you weren't hurt and brought you here" Ignis answered.

"What happened to you?" Noctis asked.

"I.. I saw it... I saw the Daemon who destroyed my home town... he... Said he would be back... once I am strong enough to fight him" Asuka answered.

Gladio put a hand on her shoulder "If that bastard ever shows up. We will give him a beating he will never forget".

Asuka managed a small nod. But now she knew the name of her father's killer... Ogre. And she knew something was going to happen... something bad.

.

Tell me what you think.