Return Of The Brother.

With the help of Imperial Commodore Aranea Highwind and her adopted daughter Kunimitsu, the makeshift miners hit pay dirt only to learn raw ore won't suffice. Cindy refers them to Holly, an engineer in Lestallum who knows how to treat mythril. So with that, the group managed to catch a ride with Aranea and headed back to Lestallum. During the trip everyone took some time to rest for a bit. After their latest ordeal, they needed it.

"Rise and shine, Prince Charming. We're here" Aranea said. Noct wakes up as the ship's door opens on a night time view of the EXINERIS Power Plant in Lestallum "Sounds like a spot of trouble's popped up at the power plant. Wish I could help, but I'm powerless to do anything I'm not ordered to. I'll leave the keeping of the peace to you".

"Of course" Ignis said simply.

"We got this" Prompto said.

"Good luck, boys" Aranea said.

"Hope we see each other again soon" Kunimitsu said.

"You bet we will. You and I still need to have our rematch" Asuka declared.

Kunimitsu smiled as the group jumped of the ship. Several hours later, Asuka, Prompto and Ignis are standing with the engineer Holly outside the gate to the bridge leading into the power plant; Noctis is inside the gate wearing a safety suit.

Prompto whistles "Lovin' that outfit, Noct!".

"Why don't you wear one?" Noctis asked.

"Well, that's the only one. And if anyone stands a fighting chance in there, it's you. Forget about fashion and go" Ignis said.

"Yeah, we'll all be rooting for you Noct" Asuka said.

As Noctis proceeds on toward the power plant Holly contacts him over the radio "Testing! Do you read me? Just wanted to thank you for offering to clear out those daemons! That'll give me time to treat this mythril for you. There's a hunter who went in right ahead of you. I imagine there're too many for one to handle… but two of you should be fine! And a little heads-up: we're getting some unstable readings from the generators inside. Too much power and the whole place could blow, so be quick!".

"Will do" Noctis answered.

"So who is this hunter that went on ahead?" Asuka asked.

"A tall and strong man. He looks more than able to handle himself" Molly answered.

"A tall and strong man huh..." Asuka mumbled.

They waited for a while. It got a little tense and the reactor almost hit a critical point. But in the end, Noctis and the Hunter managed to take out the Daemons and saved the power plant. Once they got back out, they removed their safety suits... and the Hunter was revealed to be someone the group had been missing for a while.

"Gladiolus!" Asuka yelled happily as she jumped at her brother, wrapping her arms around his neck in a big hug.

Gladio smiled and hugged her back "Good to see you too sis. Missed me?".

"You jerk! Of course I did! I was worried about you!" Asuka said as she gave Galdio a punch in the gut... only to shake her hand "Ow! Is it me or have you gotten stronger since last time I saw you?".

"In more ways than one, Sis" Gladio answered.

"Hey, big guy!" Prompro greeted happily.

Ignis smiled at his friend "So the hunter who went on ahead—".

"The one and only. How ya been, fellas?" Gladio asked as he had an arm around Asuka's shoulders, who was really happy to have her brother back.

"Not bad" Prompto answered before he noticed the new scar on Gladio's forehead "Whoa…someone did a number on you, though".

"You should see the other guy. Anyway, I'm back and better than ever" Gladio declared.

"And you better stick around this time" Asuka said.

Iris and Dustin suddenly arrived "Noct? Gladdy!? I can't believe it!".

Gladio smiled "Hey. Thanks for looking after her, Dustin".

"So, Gladdy, did you apologize to Noct for storming off like that?" Iris asked.

"He made it up to me in there" Noct assured.

"The power plant? Oh, so you got your hands on some mythril! In that case, I'll go deliver it to Cid. You'll probably want to freshen up first anyway. Come and meet me in Caem when you're ready!" Iris said.

"You got it sis" Asuka said as she waved her sister of "Oh we will freshen up alright. You and I have some catching up to do, Brother".

"Looking forward to it sis" Gladio said with a smirk, knowing full well what Asuka had in mind.

They headed to an area where they wouldn't be disturbed. Their friends watched from the side lines as Asuka and Gladio were getting ready. They were going to have a little fight. Asuka was eager to see how much stronger her brother had become since she last saw him. And no better way than to test him herself.

"So ready to get your sword out?" Asuka asked.

"Acctually, how about we do it unarmed this time?" Gladio suggested "A good old bare knuckle fight".

Asuka blinked but smirked "Oh, getting more confident are we? Alright big brother, but don't storm of when I beat you".

"Don't worry, neither of those things are gonna happen" Gladio assured.

Both of them got in to their stances. Asuka's special martial art stance, and Gladio a simple boxing stance. They looked at each other for a moment before Asuka made the first move. She rushed forward before leaping to deliver a spinning kick to Gladio's head. The older brother raised his arm and blocked the kick, causing a small shock wave. Asuka landed back on the ground before throwing a powerful punch. Gladio did the same and their fists clashed, causing another small shock wave that could be felt all the way to their friends. Asuka unleashed a barrage of punches and kicks, but Gladio managed to defend himself with tight blocks before throwing a counter punch, forcing Asuka to block, but the impact of the punch made her slide back.

Asuka smiled, Gladio really had gotten stronger. This will be fun.

Gladio returned to his defensive stance. Asuka knew she couldn't break through his guard, so she needed to make him attack her. She began resorting to faints, putting some pressure on Gladio's guard but pulling back before he could figure out a counter. Gladio finally went for another punch, but Asuka was ready this time, and dodged the blow before grabbing Gladio's arm, getting ready to throw him down. However, Gladio wouldn't budge and instead used this chance to pull Asuka in to a strong bear hug.

"Trying your old trick of using your opponent's strength against them? That might've worked before, but I am not the same man I was before" Gladio said.

"Alright, I get it. You win" Asuka said through struggling breaths and Gladio let her go, allowing her to breath "You are much stronger than before. You got me good".

"Don't beat yourself up over it. You are still the better hand to hand fighter here. You would've floored me if not for my strength. And even then I had to make sure not to give you any openings. A few good blows to my head and you would've won" Gladio said.

Asuka smiled "It's good to have you back brother".

Gladio smiled back "Good to be back".

"An impressive display. Now, how about we catch up normally. Over some dinner?" Ignis suggested. And no one argued with that.

Shortly after Asuka and Gladio's little clash, the group sit around a campfire; Gladio and Ignis are each drinking a cup of coffee; Noct and Prompto are on their cellphones, and Asuka was enjoying a full belly.

"I'm stuffed" Gladio raises his cup in Ignis's direction "My compliments to the chef".

"My pleasure. Did you enjoy your time with the marshal?" Ignis asked and Gladio nods.

"So, uh, what's that thing on your face?" Prompto asked.

Gladio points to his new scar "This?".

"Yeah, X marks the spot" Noctis said.

"Just a scratch. The other guy got off a lot worse" Gladio assured.

"Worse than looking like some kind of thug?" Noctis asked jokingly.

"Speaking of which, who was this other guy?" Ignis asked.

"They call him… The Blademaster" Gladio began to explain.

Gladio told them he called Cor to take part in the legendary trial of Gilgamesh. Gladio feared he wasn't not strong enough to be the King's Shield after having lost to Ravus at Aracheole Stronghold. Cor took Gladio to the ruins in the depths of Taelpar Crag that were discovered thirty years ago. Cor is the only one to have emerged alive from the trials, even if he lost to legendary sword master Gilgamesh as well. Gladio got to know Cor during their trek to the bottom of the ruins, and after great many trials, including a failed battle against Gilgamesh, Gladio was able to gain the strength he needed. And in a second duel with Gilgamesh, which resulted in Gladio getting his new scar, he emerged victorious. Gilgamesh recognized Gladio as worthy of protecting the Chosen King when Gladio admits the only thing he fears is not being strong enough for his role. Gladio inherits the Genji Blade from Gilgamesh, Cor's old katana Gilgamesh had kept as a trophy, and returns to the others with it.

"So that's how you got it" Prompto said after Gladio finished telling the story.

"Whaddaya think?" Gladio asked.

"Sounds amazing" Asuka said.

"Very perpendicular. Really complements the one you got when you saved Noct from that bully" Prompto said, remembering how Gladio got his first scar after protecting Noct back when they were younger.

"Yeah. Only difference is, this time, I ended up taking a pretty bad beating, too" Gladio said.

"Not unlike the licking the marshal received back when he was a lad" Ignis said.

"Musta had a lotta guts to go up against Gilgamesh back then" Prompto said.

"Yeah, Dad said he used to be a real firecracker" Noctis agreed.

"The more you know…" Prompto said.

Ignis looks down, as though pondering "If the Blademaster sequestered himself during the Founder King's reign, then he's haunted those halls for some two millenia".

"That's a long time" Prompto said.

"All those years waiting for the Chosen King to arise. You sure know how to take your sweet old time" Gladio said.

Noctis smiled "What can I say? I'm worth the wait".

"Gimme a break" Prompto said in good nature.

"And I, as well" Ignis said.

"Just because you've got a Shield to protect you now doesn't mean you get to slack off" Gladio said before leans back in his chair, then looks at the Genji Blade propped up beside him and smiles "But if you do, I'll be ready".

"Still, maybe I should take on a big trial. Who knows how strong I could become" Asuka said before standing up and performed a few punches "Maybe then I could be certain that I would win my rematch against that ninja chick".

"Still holding a grudge against her for beating you?" Gladio asked.

"A fighter has their pride. I can't just accept defeat against a rival. I need to get stronger so I can beat her" Asuka declared.

"Glad to see somethings never change" Gladio said.

"I don't know. Looks more like She and that ninja girl have become good friends now. One day they might even hang out and do some more girly stuff" Prompto.

Asuka threw a kick and her foot stopped just inches away from Prompto's face, causing him to yelp in surprise and fall out of his chair "So I am not girl enough for you?".

"Wait! No! That's not what I meant at all!" Prompto said quickly.

Everyone laughed at the scene. Yup, the gang was back together and everything was back to normal. Well, mostly back to normal.

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Shorter chapter to welcome Gladio back.

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Tell me what you think.