WELCOME BACK! REMEMBER: STAY HOME AND STAY SAFE EVERYONE!

Wow, chapter three was so long ago, back when I was working. With Final Fantasy VII Remake, it really made me want to jump back into Final Fantasy games alone. So, I gave FF14 Online a try…. I was falling asleep two hours in. But, after creating Lexus on there, I decided to do some writing to release the creative juices!

NOTE: Don't take many locations inside the city or citadel into CANON consideration. I tried to find as much information, if you know how tight I can be to writing fanfictions. So, this is just how I think this works out. ENJOY!


Lexus was given a chance in her life, to change it for her own. It's this that made her realize that someone might not always be there to save her. If her uncle hadn't arrived- she didn't even want to think of it.

The teenager slept in her bed, curled up in her blankets and head snuggled into her pillow. Without warning, the door slammed open with the bellow of her uncle.

"Rise and shine, soldier!" He called, going to her curtains and shoving them apart to let the early sun rays hit her face.

"What!? What?" Squinting her eyes open, she shut them back immediately with regret burned by the light. "Ack! A simple knock would have sufficed!"

"No can do. So, you remember last night?" He asked standing over her, with hands on his hips.

" How could I?" She groaned, rubbing her eyes. How could she forget a nightmare of a birthday like that?

Lexus blinked at him now seeing his garbs. He usually wore a simple black shirt with his bar logo on it and tattered jeans with sandals. Today he was dressed in a black tank with some logo on the corner she'd never seen before and black sweats with sneakers. The beanie hat still hung on his head, covering his forehead to where his hairline would be.

"Uh, what's with the get up? Going on a jog?" Lexus asked.

"Close, but we're actually going to start your training. Wear something physical and join me outside." Roland turned and left shutting, the door to let her change.

Physical, huh? Deciding something light, she got on some thin joggers and tank top with some usual sneakers. Looking at herself in the mirror, she half turned making sure it was alright. Lexus moved closer seeing her hair was a mess, she grabbed a brush and got the tangles out putting it in a ponytail to keep it out of the way. Deeming herself well dressed, she walked to her desk getting her phone. Lexus spotted the handkerchief and charm she got yesterday resting on her desk. Taking in some hair, she took the handkerchief folding it and tying it around her neck hiding the embroidery made on it long ago. The memory made her spirit feel a bit deflated, but she couldn't explain to herself why she'd need it today.

"Come on! I doubt you're putting your makeup on!" Her uncle called from below.

"Of course not!" She barked back, focusing on her hair.

Once done, she attached the charm to her phone and left the room to meet with her uncle.

The day started out jogging wherever her uncle was taking her. Lexus was not physically out of shape, but with the chilly early morning air and erupt awake from sleep, she was slower than her pepped up uncle. They crossed streets, passed cafes, and almost raced traffic. Which was denied by an out of breath Lexus.

The jog lasted until the sun reached midway past the sky, leading it to be near noon. Lexus assumed they were jogging endlessly with no destination, so she wasn't too surprised when he let her take a five minute break, right outside the gates of the Royal Citadel. She leaned against a street light, her eyes gazing up at the tall enormous building. The building where King Regis and his son lived. The bright light streaming high up, the source of the protective shield surrounding the city. The people felt safe and praised how secure they were seeing that dome of a shield everyday. Lately, the teenager has been seeing it as a cage more than anything. It was the one thing that made her mother want to move the family to Insomnia, but now Lexus was stuck here instead.

She sighed and wiped the sweat off her forehead, feeling her hair grow loose from the ponytail. The guards standing by the gated entrance gave the two a look, one of them turned and left toward the guard station to the left. It's not like they were trespassing, were they not allowed this close to the gates?

"How much further?" She asked, reaching up to redo her hair.

Her uncle grinned, "Oh, our jogging is done. Just waiting." he said.

"For my break to be over?" Lexus asked, wincing as she rubbed her aching calves.

Before he could answer, one of the guards that had walked off early stood before them. She felt her sweat start up again, nervous sweat. Were they about to be kicked off or threatened? Her uncle seemed pleased, a comical smile as the guard approached him.

"Did my message get through?" He asked, Lexus' brows knotted. Message?

The guard nodded. "He's waiting for you inside. Do you know th-"

"Ah, just a small escort to the front doors if you don't mind." Roland waved him off, and gave him a hefty pat on the shoulder. Lexus stood rigid, despite the questionable friendliness between the two. "Don't want to be seen as a trespasser, right?"

"Understood." The guard turned and walked toward the gate as it opened for them to enter.

Roland turned to her shocked and confused niece, and raised his brows expectedly. She blinked and shook herself from the shock to follow her eager uncle and the guard through the gate.

The television didn't do justice on how majestic the courtyard was. Her eyes scanned at the large building towering above them as they grew closer than she ever imagined to be. They crossed the roundabout, where vehicles alike circled to pick up and drop off the royal family. Her blue hues traveled down, her brain noting to be careful where to walk, as she found a monument into the center of the roundabout. She paused to take a better look as the sun beat on the carved stone; the royal insignia was seen with the King's name in-scripted at the bottom. King Regis Lucis Caelum. Her brain has registered, she wasn't in some museum, she was on literal royal property!

"Lexy!" Her head shot up, seeing her uncle call her as he climbed the stairs- the royal stairs! He walked up each step as if walking up his own staircase at home!

"W-Wait up!" She called, stepping around the monument and running over to the bottom of the steps. She hesitated, but jogged up as fast as possible as if she'd be in trouble for taking too long to climb them.

The guard was speaking to two others that stood in front of the two large archway doors to the citadel itself. Her breathing was ragged, be it from mental panic or her useless run up the steps. Roland grinned, hands shoved into the pockets of his sweatpants.

"Some place, ain't it?" He asked, as if he was looking at some nobody business building.

Lexus gaped at him, "Are you aware where we are right now?" she questioned in hushed panic. Her eyes jutting at the talking guards, thinking raising her voice was not ideal.

Roland shrugged. "Yup."

"You realize we are right outside the Citadel?"

"Seems so."

"And that you just somehow convinced a royal guard to allow us entry to the courtyard!?"

He chuckled, the proud grin still plastered to his features. "I wouldn't say convince, but whatever floats your boat."

"Roland!" The two looked at the doors, seeing a man dressed guard clothing- Not just any royal guard. It was the Crownsgaurd uniform! "You're late!"

Late?

The man with well combed back dark hair and a small scar or two across his chin eagerly walked over, pulling Roland into a hug. Lexus stepped back, visibly confused to the point her head was swimming. Why was this man hugging her uncle? How does he know her uncle? Why did this man say we're late? Late for what!?

"Ah well, you try to get a teenager out of bed to go jogging for a few hours." He joked, giving a few hard pats to the man's back.

The man pulled back from the hug, his amber eyes staring fondly at Roland as he looked him over. "You've aged, friend."

Roland punched his shoulder, Lexus nearly gasped at the notion. "I'm retired! I'm allowed to look like shit!"

The man laughed and nodded, "True! True!" he agreed.

His bright eyes turned to Lexus, making her go stiff at his eyes boring at her. She saw the two scars on his chin, but then noticed a distinct one where his… right ear should be. It was just… gone, only ragged scarred skin left. He didn't look her over with any threat or intimidation, but as if seeing another family member for the first time.

"So, this is the infamous Lexus I've heard about." He stepped toward her, she refrained from stepping back as he stood over her. He tilted his head this way and that, then grinned widely and placed a gloved hand on her shoulder.

"Roland, you ass!" He suddenly cursed toward her uncle. "She has no clue, does she? Poor thing is shaking like a leaf! You'd think she was blasted by Shiva herself!"

Roland sheepishly chuckled, the man laughed deeply. It was all jokes and fun, but Lexus couldn't take it.

"What the hell is actually going on right now!?"


After entering the citadel and having a fresh glass of water, Lexus was semi calm enough to listen to the two men before her. They sat down at the cushy benches along the wall of a large openly spaced room. Armor stood between each bench, the sun shining through high windows illuminating the room. The room was a bit chilly, assuming one of the windows were open, though it was warmer outside by this point of the day. She felt a small breeze above her, now realizing the room had air conditioning. Roland and the man, who she still had yet to learn his name, were standing by with her, not saying a word to let her relax. She drank the entire glass, not noticing how dehydrated she was from the morning run.

"You really worked her out this morning, Roland." The man chuckled, taking the empty glass from her.

Roland nervously nodded, looking apologetically to his niece. "I guess I was really focused on us getting here.

Lexus looked between them, and cleared her throat. "Um, I still need to ask- Why are we here and how are we allowed to be?" Her eyes fell on the man standing before her. "And, who are you?"

The man bowed his head at her, "My apologies, I'm just as guilty from the excitement of your visit than Roland was." He stood straight and folded his hands behind his back. "I'm an old friend of Roland here, Ajax Oswin, at your service." He bows deeper at her, as if she was royalty herself.

"...Old friend?" Her questioning eyes fell to her uncle who now held a look of remorse.

"I never told you, as requested by your mother. I was part of the Crownsgaurd years ago, I've been retired since I nearly died. As given by the King himself." He told rubbing his neck, treating this like he had forgotten to clean the dishes.

Lexus took in his words, then shot up to her feet in utter shock. "What!? W-What- Why would mom… I mean, it's sort of a… Kind of a… big deal to know you're uncle was a Crownsgaurd!"

Roland nodded in agreement, taking a step toward her and placing a hand on her shoulder. Not wanting her to panic like before again. "I contacted my old bud here, Ajax, and he owes me a favor."

Ajax subconsciously touched where the scarred part of his ear would be. "I would've lost half my head if it wasn't for your uncle, here. So, today is my payback to him."

Lexus frowned, "And that would be?" she asked.

The guard- Crownsgaurd member walked to the center of the room, and turned to them with his arms extended out like a performance. "Training!"

It was silent for a moment, only the sound of the city distant out the windows and breathing was heard. Lexus pinched her brows, her brain trying to break itself over this confusion once more.

"Wait, wait, wait… Wait!" She glanced up, pointing a finger at her uncle.

"When you meant you were going to train me from last night, I didn't think it meant at the friggin Royal Guard's Private Training Room… place!" She barked, recoiling as her voice echoed in the empty large hall. "And-And I still don't believe you are a Crownsgaurd!" She accused Roland.

"Was." He corrected, folding his arms. "I was forced to retire after an attack was assaulted on Insomnia, before you were born."

Lexus frowned deeper, her eyes scanning her uncle trying to find any ailments or handicap as to why he would be forced to retire.

"Looks like he got out unscathed, right?" Ajax asked, walked back up to them. He nodded to his old friend, "She deserves to know, Roland." he told. Lexus gave a glance noticing the smile gone from Ajax.

Hesitant, Roland's hand reached up, and gently removed the beanie from his head. At first, Lexus expected the bald head her mother always talked about him having. But, saw something else- Her hands raised up to cover her mouth, handing open at the sight. Roland was indeed hairless up top, but also what Lexus saw as a dent- no, small caving of his skull where his head should be full and round. It almost made her stomach lurch, seeing the chunk of her uncle's brain and skull just… like a dent in a car door. He showed no sign of ever struggling to do daily chores or normal life. He baffled the teenager.

"I can live a normal life, but that's it. A normal, calm, relaxing life." The beanie was gripped tightly in his fingers, despite the usual laid back tone and smile on his lips. It was like he was fighting back the horrors this injury caused and how he got it.

"The city was attacked, during the Founders Day celebration. A man arrived, summoning Ifrit to destroy the city. The Royal Guard, Crownsgaurd, and special forces fought and evacuated the people. Ajax and I were assigned to evacuate. But, a road was blocked and we had to get a few last people out to safety. The only way was toward the battle itself."

Lexus took her seat at the bench, soaking in the tale her uncle unfolded. Roland's free hand reached up, feeling the dent in his skull as he inwardly winced at the memory. Roland sighed and placed the beanie back on.

"I won't give you the gory details, not before Ajax is about to throw down some good old self defense training." Roland assured, he turned to Ajax and patted him on the arm. "Clarus still here?" He asked.

Ajax nodded, throwing a thumb over his shoulder to the door. "Should be with his son right now, they finished training here themselves when you arrived."

"Ah, he should be in a good mood then." Roland joked and sauntered out of the room, leaving Ajax to the bewildered teen.

Ajax cleared his throat, raising a challenging brow at the teen. "Well, what do you know about defending yourself?" Lexus blinked, realizing her uncle wasn't going to return anytime soon. "He informed me what happened last night, and-"

"Shameful, right? Not able to defend myself?" Lexus asked.

Ajax raised a brow, "Quite the opposite." he stepped to her and started pointing at her arms, legs, torso, and even lifted her arms and poked her calves. She felt like a doctor doing a check up. "You have thin arms, not enough muscle or strength. Judging by how out of breath you were, you seem to be out of shape-"

"Excuse me?"

He continued. "Walking to school, to work, to home- it's not enough to build up the stamina needed to prepare for one's strength."

"Wait-"

"Before we start- twenty laps."

Lexus blinked, her mouth dry. "W-What?"

Ajax went into his coat pocket and took out his phone, a beep was heard when he pressed his thumb to the screen. "Twenty laps- now."

Lexus tripped over her feet and started her sudden running around the room.

"In 10 minutes." He added. Lexus started pushing her legs faster at that.


Lexus had gained a new routine in her life she hadn't ever expected. Sure, she wanted to defend herself, but it felt more like she just applied for a private gym membership at the Citadel. She and her uncle visited the training room once a week. It was a repeated process; Get up early on her day off, morning run to the Citadel, do physical routines with Ajax. It lead from doing more laps, to push ups, leg ups, sit ups, and all the ups. She did stretches, lifting, bending, the whole package!

It was starting to dawn upon her after two months if she was ever going to learn to defend herself. Finally, that day came when she walked into the training room to find a rack of weapons along the wall by Ajax and another man with him. He was tall and not as flexed as her uncle, but wore dark gold royal robes. He was a man of higher standards! Maybe one of the advisers or a royal consort?

Roland stepped up, almost hesitant to approach in the usual friendly manner he had done so the past number of sessions. Ajax bowed to the man as he turned and walked toward the two. Roland snagged Lexus sleeve and tugged her out of the way, bowing to the man as well. Lexus felt nervous and roughly bowed her head as well. The man paused, giving the girls a look before taking his leave from the room. Once the door shut, Lexus sighed and turned to Ajax and her uncle.

"Sorry for the scare, I needed Clarus' permission to have the weapons present." Ajax explained as they approached him.

"That was Clarus?" Lexus asked, trying not to eye up the weapons too much. She heard his name thrown around between the men.

"Yeah, pretty much my boss I guess." Lexus raised a brow, Roland shook his head.

"He's Clarus Amicitia, head of the Crownsgaurd, and shield of King Regis." Roland explained.

Lexus let the words sink in, then jolted when her brain kicked into gear. "Was he going to kick us out!?"

Ajax usually would've laughed off a notion, but his sheepish look away confirmed her worries. "He just didn't understand why someone like you was coming here." He raised his hands, waving them in front of him. "I explained it all though, he understood when I told him everything. Usually his son trains with Prince Noctis here."

Lexus felt a small bolt of that jealousy she felt all those years ago. She had forgotten the prince was someone to consider running into here. "Would the Prince kick us out if he needed to train."

Ajax finally laughed, "Oh, if he ever gets his ass here!" he bellowed.

"What do you mean?" Roland asked, inspecting the weapons. No wonder he was quiet.

"Ah well-" He turned to his friend. "From what I've heard, his Highness isn't the pest student with training. Living on his own, as a normal citizen. Someone has to remind him of his heritage and future to be king."

Lexus was surprised, wanting to make sure she heard that right. "Wait, he doesn't live here?" She asked, pointing at the floor to indicate the Citadel."

"Ah, no." Ajax told, realizing he may have spoken too much. "At fifteen he moved into his own home, living a normal life as a normal teenager."

Normal? Even the prince gets to live the life how he wants? He can live in a big protected home, with his father, servants, guards, everything handed to him! Here she stood, living with her uncle, abandoned by her parents, betrayed by her friends. Does he get to have good friends? She wouldn't put it past her if he only got good grades just for being stupid royalty! Lexus felt her anger grow, wanting to punch or hit something-

"I can only imagine how Scientia is doing-"

"Can we start already?" Lexus interrupted, stomping over to check the weapons, wanting to test their weight to her growing strength. Ajax gave Roland a look, who shook his head.

Ajax was very patient with Lexus growing anger. She was unknowingly taking it out on him as she was struggling to understand each weapon and to hold them properly. She nearly cut herself trying to work the daggers and swords had to be terrified of ever slicing her arm off. She nearly stabbed the floor or fell over working polearms and any firearms were denied by Roland right off the bat. Last thing anyone needed was Lexus accidentally firing a gun in this room- with her current temper.

After all the weapons X'd out were placed back, Lexus let out a frustrated groan, her hands running through her hair. "I get the point- I suck at weapons! Why can't I just learn to use my fists or kick!?"

Roland stood to speak up, wanting her to calm down, but Ajax held a hand to him. "You'd have to be much stronger to use physical strength. That's why we're using your physique and the advantage you have to use a weapon if-"

"If what? A monster ever comes running down the street? I just wanted to learn self defense!"

"And learn you are-"

"I haven't learned a single thing about defending myself!" She barked at him, though Ajax kept a calm demeanor for her. "All I've gotten was exhausted, muscle cramps, and time wasted here!"

"Lexus-"

Ajax stopped Roland a second time as he was about to scold her. "I understand, Lexus. Maybe it's time we take a break, I'll get us some tea and-"

"I don't need tea!" She barked, turning away like a child. "I just want to go home."

Roland looked to Ajax, who gave a knowing look. "Just amuse me, one cup of tea and we can end our sessions as you please." He nodded to his friend. "Mind fetching the tea, old friend?"

Roland sighed and left the room, to 'fetch' the tea. Lexus took a seat at one of the benches, arms folded and back towards the room. Ajax breathed a sigh through his nose, hands behind his back as he took careful steps to the temperamental teenager.

"Something on your mind?" He asked, when greeted with silence he tried another tactic. "Was it something I said?"

Feeling guilty for him thinking that, Lexus sighed, bringing a knee up and hugging it. "No, I'm sorry."

"No, no, perfectly fine! I understand being a teenager is hard and you have been working a lot. It's not what you expected this to be, huh?" He asked.

Lexus tilted her head, giving a glance over her shoulder before staring back at the wall. "Why do I need to learn these as if I was going to be a Crownsgaurd myself?"

Ajax glanced at the weapons, he looked back to the teen. He raised his hand, a dagger materializing in it. "Lesson one."


Thank you Cutie Kyuubi, basecannon, KazeWolfy, Whitwhit1893, SilverFang4190, XfreakXninjaX, EnjoytheSilence03, , Yami no yousei, ElfinCleona, wolf-hanyou-girl999, HoneyClouds, RinnaZevran1987, snm1991, LilRoze, Insanity's Haven, Nazzy21 for the follows and favorites!

LadyAmazon- Probably won't be awhile til she sees her boys Prompto and Ignis again. Ever see that friend from like, back when you were five and they've changed so much barely recognize them? That's pretty much gonna happen.