Chapter Summary: Adventures in mingling and breaking and entering.

Prompto polished off the last of his gelato with a contented moan of bliss, savoring the cool, rich sensation as it melted away to nothing on his tongue.

It was kinda like eating fancy ice cream. Sure, some of the flavors were a bit hard to pronounce, but it was sweet, refreshing and oh so creamy. And as the cherry on top they served it in these freshly baked waffle cones that you could smell from all the way down the street. In short, it was the perfect way to beat the Altissian heat and blend in with the tourists while you were at it.

They'd all ordered some before snagging a table out front of this posh accessory shop with a great view of the busy foot traffic and the gondolas passing them by on the watery roadways below – or canals as Ignis had named them. He and Gladio really hadn't been kidding when they said this place had more water than it knew what to do with. It was literally everywhere. And Prompto was maybe a little in awe over it.

Altissia, it turned out, was a photographer's dream, surrounded by stunning waterfalls and overflowing with romantic architecture and fashionable people. Prompto wanted nothing more than to surrender to his inner shutterbug and disappear on a lengthy photo safari from the likes of which he may never return.

But for now he did his best to make due with focusing his lens on the sights that could be captured without ever leaving their small table, including a certain estate only a few short blocks away where Noct just so happened to be making nice with pretty much the boss lady of Accordo. At maximum zoom Prompto could just make out the finer details of the guards standing all stiff and stoic at the front gates.

"So, you think Noct's doing okay?"

"About as well as can be expected, I imagine." Apparently content to rely upon his mystical sixth sense about these things, Ignis didn't bother looking up from the crinkled tourist map he'd spread across the tabletop and was likely memorizing the layout of the whole city or something equally as productive. At least he seemed to be enjoying the coffee flavored gelato he'd picked out, even if he was eating it all slow and proper like. He'd asked for a bowl just to avoid the mess!

Prompto could only shake his head at the travesty before him, snapping a quick photo to memorialize the tragic scene. Ignis raised an eyebrow at the candid shot but deemed not to comment on it.

And anyway, if Ignis wasn't worried then Noct really was fine and there was absolutely nothing to get worked up about.

"It's just, he's been in there a while," Prompto blurted out before he could help himself.

"Relax. The princess can handle this much at least." Gladio glanced his way knowingly before biting into his own serving of gelato with a lot less care for looking distinguished about it. Prompto wasn't sure of what he'd ordered but remembered the big guy had went for something little less familiar, claiming he wanted to sample the local flavor. There was about an 80% certainty that Gladio hadn't gotten the wine gelato like he'd joked about earlier.

Prompto had tried to follow the his example and get something more authentic. He'd wound up with the Stracciatella, which basically translated to having a ton of these thin chocolate shavings mixed into the ice cream. It had been absolutely delicious and Prompto was sad to have finished it already.

He wondered at what flavor Noct would pick – feeling fairly confident it wouldn't be hazelnut or plain vanilla – and tried to take comfort in the fact that apparently no one else was feeling even remotely concerned at this point. It was hard to put his finger on what it was exactly about all the political maneuvering that set him off. Objectively speaking, this sort of thing ought to be outright tame compared to the type of open combat he was becoming more and more acquainted with, but somehow it felt more dangerous rather than less.

In either case, at least he didn't have long to dwell on it. Only about another ten minutes or so passed before Noct joined them, still decked out in the snazzy pinstriped suit Prompto hadn't even been aware they'd hauled from one end of Lucis the other over the last several months.

It was always going to be sorta different seeing Noct dressed to the nines, off to talk politics with foreign dignitaries and whatnot. Not that Noct couldn't be all noble and kingly, when he had reason to be. It just didn't happen often. So it was easy to forget sometimes.

"How did it go?" Ignis asked once Noct had done little more than sit and stare aimlessly into the purple gelato he'd grabbed on his way over. It looked like some kind of berry sorbet – so it totally counted as not hazelnut or vanilla.

The question seemed to snap him out of it and he tentatively took a bite of his frozen treat in such a way that made it difficult to tell if he actually liked it or not. But Noct was weird like that with food sometimes. "The secretary agreed to let us proceed with the rite," he answered after swallowing.

Gladio frowned. "I'm sensing a but here."

Noct didn't deny it. "In exchange she wants us to assist with the evacuation effort."

"Oh, that doesn't sound too bad." Prompto thought they could have been asked to do a lot worse anyway.

Only Ignis didn't seem to agree. "No, but it might complicate matters."

"How come?" Prompto asked.

Ignis frowned, focused on the map in front of him in that way of his that always made it look like he was maybe plotting murder. "We should expect the Empire's interference a guarantee. If the rite is to be successful we must see to it that they do not harass Leviathan."

"Which is gonna be tough to pull off with our hands tied evacuating civilians," Gladio explained. And okay, that might be a problem.

"So, we split up?" Prompto tried.

"Likely our best option," Ignis admitted, even if he didn't seem too pleased about the idea. "Though I'm reluctant to leave Noct to face Leviathan alone."

"I won't be entirely alone," Noct muttered toward the table.

"Oh, Lady Lunafreya." Prompto had maybe almost forgotten that she'd be there. But this was good! Noct would finally get to see her again… in the middle of what was probably going to become a waterlogged war zone. He couldn't help but cringe at the reminder of what the rite had been like inside the Disk. But then maybe Leviathan wouldn't go as hard as Titan. Ramuh had been pretty easy on them by comparison, so it could happen. Right?

Gladio frowned, as if reading his thoughts. "Ain't that putting an awful lot on the oracle?"

"I know," Noct bit out, sounding pained. "She's already done so much…"

"Were you able to find out some clue to her whereabouts from the Secretary?" Ignis prodded gently.

Noct's grip tightened on his cup of melting gelato, the plastic creaking. "Just that she's in their care for the time being. They plan on handing her off to the Niffs right before the big address."

Which, okay, that sucked. Couldn't they at least let Noct talk to her before Leviathan tried to drown them all?

Ignis hummed thoughtfully. "So she's likely somewhere in the city."

Gladio pushed his chair out from the table, letting wrought iron grate against cobblestone brick. "Guess it's time we got to that sightseeing, then."

Noct looked up at that. "What?"

"Trust me, it's never a good idea to keep a lady waiting." Gladio winked.

Noct blinked back owlishly, robotically turning to Ignis as if that would somehow get the world to start making sense again.

"We do have some time before the rite is to begin. It would be to our benefit to get our bearings in the city," Ignis dutifully reported as he too pushed away from the table, neatly taking up the map as he went. "And perhaps we'll have the unexpected fortune of running into a long lost friend along the way."

Now this was one idea Prompto was immediately behind 100%. "Aw yeah, one royal reunion coming up!" he crowed, hopping to his feet.

The grin that Noct let slip at the thought of seeing Lady Lunafreya, in spite of whatever stuffy politician's back they'd have to go behind, was more than telling. Still, Noct wouldn't be Noct if he didn't at least try not to look too excited at the idea. "I get the feeling the secretary's not going to be on board with this," he pointed out.

"Then we'll simply have to be discreet," Ignis said. "No need to make a splash."

Gladio nodded sagely. "Yeah, don't gotta ask forgiveness if you don't get caught. Just keep your nose dry."

Noct rolled his eyes. "Great. Why do I get the feeling we're gonna be in over our heads?"

"Hey, we can totally be stealthy," Prompto argued, even if their track record at sailing under the radar maybe wasn't the best. "What's the worst that could happen?"

Noct groaned, looking much like he'd rather be asleep somewhere than dealing with this – in other words, pretty much back to normal for him. "Don't jinx it," he ordered. "This doesn't need to get any more clique then it already sounds."

"Of course." Ignis nodded along, consolingly. "No more clique then reuniting a prince with a princess locked away in her metaphorical tower, so to speak."

Now it was Gladio's turn to groan. "You guys are such dorks."

Prompto snickered. "Besides, isn't it usually the dragon's job to keep the prince out of the tower?"

"Merely historical inaccuracies, Prompto." Ignis sniffed, head held high.

"Guess we'll just have to make sure the history books get it right this time." Noct finally rose to join them, rounding the table slouched in his snazzy suit with his hands stuffed deep in designer pockets and somehow managing to make it look halfway dignified.

Prompto slung his arm over Noct's shoulders the moment he was within reach. "So, where should we start?" he asked with a grand gesture at their scenic surroundings.

Noct shrugged without shoving him off. "Everywhere?"

Gladio snorted. "One heck of a plan."

Ignis sighed as he once again pulled out his map. "Utterly hopeless."

And as they went about exploring probably the most breathtaking city in all of Eos, Prompto couldn't help but bask in the moment. There was still so much to do, both with finding Lady Lunafreya and sending the Empire packing. But if there was one thing this insanely out of hand road trip had taught him it was that you had to live up the small victories – even if they were no bigger than a short break from fighting for their lives. Otherwise you might never get the chance.

Many, many hours of fruitless searching later Prompto came to the conclusion that there was such a thing as celebrating too soon. Completely spent, he all but collapsed into the back of a gondola mercifully bound for their hotel. "Ugh, finally."

"Thought you were sick of boats," Gladio teased, unsympathetic to his suffering as he moved to claim a seat on the low wall of the gondola.

"That was before I got sick of walking!"

Honestly, sailing to Altissia hadn't been so bad at first. But after about thirty minutes or so of passing by the same scenery over and over again it got kinda stale. Still, he'd gladly sign up for a hundred more mind numbingly boring boat rides if only it meant he'd never have to take another step. "I don't think I've walked so much in a single day in my entire life."

"And it may take days yet to complete our objective," Ignis oh so helpfully reminded them.

"Aw man." Why did the truth have to be so painful?

And okay, maybe Prompto should have anticipated this considering Altissa was absolutely huge, but that was hardly the worst of it. No, the bigger problem here was that the city was made up of so many layers. Or maybe levels was the right word? Levels upon levels of streets and canals and bridges and stairs – oh so many stairs – which exponentially increased the amount of walking it took to cover a single city block, not to mention the abuse to his poor mistreated thighs.

Noct grunted his agreement to this sentiment from where he'd melted bonelessly into the armchair in the middle of the gondola. "This is gonna be harder than we thought."

Gladio huffed. "Come on, a little leg work never hurt anyone."

Uh, Prompto's legs begged to differ! He was seriously starting to suspect Gladio saw this all as some kind of demented training exercise. It was like climbing Ravatogh all over again. Except this time they were after something a little more important than the ultimate Cup Noodle topping.

It was hard to say just how horribly Noct was going to take it if they came up empty handed. He had been in something of a funk since they ran into that giant snake-lady on the way to Caem. And even if he was acting more like himself now Prompto couldn't fool himself into believing he wouldn't take another turn for the worse if they weren't able to make this reunion happen.

Not that it would necessarily come to that. It was just that with so much ground left to cover and no leads to follow it'd be a wonder if they managed to track down a single clue before they ran out of time. And if Prompto had noticed then the others surely had too. But exactly none of them were in a hurry to admit it.

The sour thoughts had Prompto slumping further into his seat. At this rate Noct wouldn't be able to speak with Lunafreya at all before the rite.

There was just no catching a break for them it seemed. He did his best not to dwell on their rotten luck, fiddling with the nighttime settings on his camera and lining up an experimental shot of the water wheel coming up on their left. When he looked back at the results he couldn't help appreciating how the electric glow from the skyline in the background reflected off the dark surface of the canal in a shimmery mirror image.

If there was one consolation to all this it was undoubtedly the photos. Throughout the day he'd captured a steady stream of snapshots documenting their trek across the gorgeous city. He smiled to himself as he scrolled back through them now, reliving the brighter moments of their frantic search. But the smile dropped from his face as soon he started to notice something more than a little unexpected that kept popping up in the photos.

He stared, not quite comprehending what he was seeing.

He tried blinking. When that didn't work out he scrubbed the heel of his palm roughly over his eyes and stared some more. He even tried switching the camera on and off again.

The fox was still there.

Or Prompto thought it was a fox anyway, with its long bushy tail and big pointed ears. Though it was kinda hard to tell for sure with the blue-green shimmer to its snow-colored coat and the ruby red horn poking out of its forehead. Also, what sort of fox pulled up pretty blue flowers to carry around clutched between their teeth? Though he maybe should have been a bit more freaked out by the fact that he didn't remember the little guy being in any of the photos when he'd actually taken them. Which was actually pretty good grounds for concern since Prompto totally would've noticed had such a cute critter been around and made extra sure to lavish the precious fluff ball in all the attention it would have allowed while he was at it, starting with scratching behind those adorably oversized ears.

Maybe the fox thing was magical? That could explain why he hadn't seen it. Either that or it really was invisible and only showed up on film for some reason…

Abruptly, Prompto decided to share in the lunacy and let the magic experts sort this one out. "Um, guys," he started, flipping his camera around for the others to see, "pretty sure we've got ourselves a fuzzy stalker."

Noct looked skeptic at that, before he glanced down into the camera's tiny LED screen. "Oh, looks like Carbuncle's been around. I told you he was real," he tacked on before turning back around in his seat.

Prompto sucked in a calming breath. "I have decided to believe your words. Now where do I get my very own real imaginary childhood friend?"

Noct snorted out a laugh.

"I'm serious," Prompto pressed. "I need to know."

Because, really, why did royalty get all the cool magical companions anyway?

"I believe I recognize that building." Ignis said, startling Prompto who hadn't noticed him move in close to look at the photos.

Gladio narrowed his eyes as he leaned over his shoulder. "Yeah, on the West side of town, I think."

"Hmm, I wonder…" Ignis began, handing the camera back. "Does Carbuncle appear in this area only?"

"Uh, let me check." Prompto rapidly scrolled through his photos, noting every shot of their photobombing fox. "Yeah, now that you mention it, I don't see him anywhere else… he's always handing around the same building too."

Gladio eyed Ignis expectantly. "What's up, Iggy?"

Ignis shook his head. "Perhaps nothing, though I hesitate to dismiss such a pattern as mere happenstance."

"You think he's trying to tell us something," Noct realized.

"Well, Carbuncle is a messenger after all," Ignis reminded them. "And from what you've shared of the little fellow it doesn't seem particularly out of character for him to lend us a hand, or paw as the case may be."

Well, Iggy did have a point. And it wasn't like having a dream guardian drop by to give them directions was even the weirdest thing to happen to them lately.

"Do you think he knows where Luna is?" Noct asked carefully.

Ignis smiled. "I suppose there's only one way to find out."

The building in question turned out to be some kind of high-end condominium complex complete with gated entry. So they couldn't have just waltzed on in even if it wasn't the middle of the night.

"If Lady Lunafreya is here then it's certainly a less conventional choice, though the Altissian government likely had little option with the Empire breathing down their neck after denying them the oracle, however briefly," Ignis observed as they took up position in one of the adjacent alleyways.

"So how do we know which window is hers?" Prompto asked. Because checking each one sounded like a horrible idea.

"Unless I'm mistaken, Carbuncle has already provided us with that information." When Ignis got nothing but blank looks to this he elaborated, tapping once against Prompto's camera, "The flower he was carrying in the photos, I would wager it came from the planter box off the fourth story balcony."

And looking back at the photos in question now the blue flowers in the planter box up there did match up. Coincidentally, they were also hanging outside one of the few residences with the lights still on.

"Not too shabby." Noct grinned.

Prompto glanced around. "So, is it weird I don't see any guards around?"

"That's because they're hiding in plain sight." Gladio motioned toward a table under the streetlight across the street.

There were two women sitting there, playing some card game by the look of it. Neither seemed to be overtly watching the building but now that Prompto was paying attention a few things did stand out about them, like how it was just the slightest bit unusual for them to be hanging around a place like this after dark. Sure, there were a few other people out and about, but as the twilight hours progressed the Altissian streets got a lot more lonely, especially out here away from the bars and other late night establishments that operated out of the more tourist-centric parts of town. And while their outfits didn't necessarily scream security detail, they were dressed in sturdy clothing with plenty of places to stash an unseen weapon or two.

"Looks like we'll have to be stealthy after all." Noct stretched, fingers flexing over the hilt of a dagger summoned from the armiger. "I should be able to warp to the balcony before anyone sees."

Ignis delicately nudged the blade aside before Noct could toss it at the balcony and leave them in the dust. "If I may, perhaps we might err on the side of caution, just this once."

"Fine. What do you have in mind?"

It was a testament to how quickly this could all go South that Noct didn't argue. The politics of the situation were a bit over Prompto's head but it was probably a bad idea to get on the wrong side of the people giving them the okay to hold the rite and who also just happened to be in charge of Lady Lunafreya's well-being at the moment.

"I believe a diversion is in order. Nothing too explosive," Ignis rushed to add when Noct looked a bit too eager at the idea.

"Could always stand back and let me work my magic," Glaido suggested, flexing one of his biceps for emphasis.

"Ugh. Seriously, can we just not?" Prompto so didn't need to be subjected to any more of Gladdy's flirting. Besides, the man should really start using those unfairly roguish good looks and charisma for achieving world peace or something.

Undeterred, Gladio smirked. "What, too hot to handle for ya?"

Prompto made a face. "More like I'm gonna be sick."

Instead of taking offense Gladio just grinned wider. "Well, you're always welcome to give it a shot."

And with that all of Prompto's thoughts came to a screeching halt. "Uh, say what now?"

Before his brain could manage a proper reboot Gladio was smacking him across the back, causing him to flail and nearly drop his camera. "Come on, what'd ya say, champ? Think you can handle keeping the ladies occupied?"

"What, me? B-but I –" Prompto took it all back. Sending in Gladio was fine.

He watched on, horrified, as Ignis seemed to consider the idea before granting a single nod of approval. "You are the least likely to draw suspicion should you be spotted."

"And You did say you wanted to mingle," Noct threw in with way too much glee at his expense for someone he thought of as a best friend.

Prompto's mouth hung open uselessly as he tried to form a coherent response beyond his mounting panic. He was really starting to regret teasing Iggy so much about Sania and Leviathan. Otherwise he maybe could've been convinced to transform and do a flyby overhead or something? That was bound to be less of a disaster than sending Prompto out there to stammer himself silly.

Actually, having Lady Lunafreya abducted by a dragon in true storybook fashion sounded like it could maybe solve, like, half their problems. Prompto should definitely propose that instead.

"Can't we talk about this?" he tried weakly.

"Relax, you'll be fine," Gladio reassured, very unreassuringly.

Ignis adjusted his glasses, likely a move to cover up his own amusement. "And if anything does go awry Gladio and myself will be close by."

Oh good, witnesses.

"Come on, blondie, let's circle around." Gladio's hand clamped down on his shoulder, pretty much banishing all hope of escape and steering him back toward the dark mouth of the alley.

"Right. I'll keep watch from here," Ignis promised as Prompto was helplessly pushed along.

A few hurried twists and turns latter and Prompto was peering out into the street once more, this time a reasonable distance from where Noct and Iggy were still hidden. The two guards hadn't moved, seemingly still absorbed in their card game, and not for the first time Prompto marveled at how Gladio made this sort of thing look easy.

Some of the panic must have been plain to see on his face because Gladio sorta took pity on him. "Relax. Don't overthink it."

"That's really your best advice here?" Prompto complained.

Gladio shrugged. "It's not that complicated."

And of course the big guy would see it that way. "This is the worst."

"It's not like you have to score their numbers or anything. Just keep their attention off the building for a bit."

Right. Prompto steeled himself. His chances for charming the guards weren't exactly the best, but maybe Gladio had a point and that was okay. He just needed to remember why he was doing this in the first place. It wasn't like Noct was going to get many more openings to see Lady Lunafreya like this one. And the Astral showdown was right around the corner.

Without giving himself the chance to back down he marched out into the street and plastered on a wide grin that hopefully looked more suave then terrified. The guards in disguise looked up at his approach, looking anything but pleased to see him.

Prompto could feel a cold sweat breaking out down the back of his neck at the chilly reception. "Ah –"

"You," one of the guards cut him off before he could get even a word out, "what do you think you're doing skulking around here in the middle of the night, huh?"

"Oh, um, y-you see –"

"This is a residential area," her friend barked, rising from the table threateningly. "What's the camera for, punk. You scoping out a heist or something?"

Prompto stared down dumbly at the supposedly incriminating camera still clutched in his hands like a lifeline. He'd sorta forgotten about it in all the excitement.

Slowly he brought his eyes back up to the angry guards, both looking about ready to tear his head off, and decided that this called for a change of tactics.

Without overthinking it he turned on his heel and bolted.

"Hey, get back here!"

Three pairs of eyes watched on from the shadows as Prompto sprinted away from the building, the guards hot on his tail.

"I suppose that's one way of getting the job done," Ignis admitted after a beat.

Noctis could only imagine Gladio wasn't showing the same restraint if the distant yet audible slap of skin on skin was any indication. The man was likely indulging in the mother of all facepalms. Prompto wouldn't be living this one down anytime soon.

Trusting his friends to handle themselves, Noctis made one final sweep of the area to make sure there were no eyes on the building before exchanging a quick nod with Ignis. Then he was in the air, blinking into existence at the end of his warp four stories up.

He snagged the balcony railing before hauling himself up and over in one seamless motion. Immediately he ducked down behind a couple of oversized lounge chairs, keeping out of sight from anyone down below or through the unit's sliding glass door that was left ever so slightly ajar.

The anticipation that Luna could be just inside – that he'd actually get to see her after so many years forced apart – was almost more than he could bear. It took everything in him not to march up to the door, rip it off its hinges and rush to her side.

Instead he held his breath and listened.

There wasn't much to hear. Most people would be asleep by now and whatever commotion Prompto and the guards were making on the ground was muted, practically indiscernible from the steady roar of the falls surrounding the city. But just over that he could make out a hushed conversation.

He edged closer to the sliding door keeping low and silent. With his ear against the sliver of an opening between the glass and the wall the voices were more distinct but still faint. He couldn't make out much of the words beyond their angry cadence and unease began to worm it's way underneath his skin.

He needed to get closer. Eyeing the empty room on the other side of the glass, Noctis carefully slid the door away from the wall. When the conversation kept going undisturbed, he risked working the door open just a bit further. Just until he could slip inside without brushing against the glass.

Once inside he moved to a short hallway where he could see light spilling out over the floorboards from under another door, this one firmly shut. He was close enough now to pick up on what was being said, and the voices were undeniably heated. But it was the hard edge to the first words he'd heard from Luna in person in over a decade that had him freezing up where he stood.

"You must have known coming here to be a fool's errand."

The voice that answered was almost foreign in its despondency but undeniably familiar all the same. "I'd thought you'd be happier."

"I beseech you, brother, do not again defy what is ordained."

"And what?" Ravus snapped back, regaining some of the venom Noctis knew him for. "Place my faith in a child who plays at the crown and forces beyond his comprehension? He is a fool and he is weak. Just like his father."

"You judge him so harshly. Noctis is the Chosen and will rise to his calling."

Ravus growled. "Even now you defend him. After all we have endured you would throw this chance away, all for that whelp king, even if it means…"

"I have accepted my fate," Luna spoke into the sudden silence, something final and unyielding about the words making them land like sharpened steel. "You would do well to do the same. There is nothing more you can do."

The splintering crack of wood giving under some unseen force nearly had Noctis jumping out of his own skin, unconscious of his hand's vice grip on the door handle. Ravus. In his anger he must have slammed his metal fist down on a table or something, maybe even through a wall by the sound of it.

Yet when Ravus spoke his voice was barely over a whisper, making the pain laced within each word all the more palpable, "How can you say that? Knowing I have felt the anguish in your heart, sister. The longing for a life denied you."

"Ravus…" Luna uttered his name like a plea, sounding just as wretched.

There came an awful scraping noise as the man pulled his fist free, shards of wood clattering to the floor.

"No. I cannot accept it, not when I have been granted the means to make it otherwise."

"The chancellor's gift?" Luna accused. "Brother, such a path shall bring only further suffering."

"Very well," Ravus said coolly, crossing the room with heavy steps that forced Noctis to retreat lest he risk discovery. When the high commander's shadow cut through the light escaping beneath the door Noctis was already moving the sliding glass back into place but he still caught the man's parting words. "For this I do not require your blessing."

Noctis dropped down off the balcony just as the doorknob began to twist. A wave of emotion caught in his throat as he focused on reaching the ground with the shortest warp possible. He couldn't chance giving himself away. As things stood that would only complicate matters for everyone involved, no matter how much he wanted to stay and demand answers.

What was Luna's fate? How did Ravus mean to change it? And just what did Ardyn of all people have to do with any of this? The questions burned at the back of his throat.

Ignis, of course, knew something was up well before his feet touched down on the pavement. Noctis could feel the feather light touch of his concern against his consciousness, hesitating.

He locked the errant feelings down tight. Not now. Not here.

Otherwise he just might lose his will to walk away.

Ignis seemed to understand. He pulled back, giving him space to collect himself. Then turned and lead the way through the darkness without a word, taking him to the others.

They found Gladio and Prompto hiding out in a small alcove not far from one of the gondola docks.

"Dude, that was so not what I meant when I said I wanted to mingle!" Prompto complained with more volume than he probably should have considering they weren't trying for any more attention tonight.

Gladio didn't seem concerned. "I don't know, hotshot, I think one of 'em might've been into you."

"Really?"

"Oh yeah, she would've definitely gone for the strip search."

"Ugh, seriously." It was about at this point when Prompto finally noticed them. "Oh, you're back."

"What happened?" Gladio asked when Noctis didn't immediately fill them in.

Before he could bring himself to say anything Prompto was invading his space, hounding him for details. "Yeah, did you see Lady Lunafreya? Was it romantic? Oh, was there kissing? Come on, dude! You gotta tell us everything."

"Luna was there," Noctis said. "And she wasn't alone."

"Who did you see?" Gladio pressed, suddenly serious.

"Ravus. He mentioned a gift from Ardyn. Luna seemed pretty upset with him about it." Which was putting it mildly.

"Wait, wait. Back up. Ravus went to see Lady Lunafreya? Does that mean the Empire knows where she is?" Prompto sounded faintly panicked.

Noctis frowned, thinking back on all he'd heard. "I got the feeling he wasn't there on business."

That didn't mean Ravus wouldn't leak Luna's location to his ruthless masters the moment he was out of sight, but unless Noctis got the wrong impression Ravus was genuinely worried for her.

Ignis hummed in consideration. "It seems Ravus cares for his sister's well-being after all."

"So, does that mean he's on our side now?" Prompto asked.

Gladio scoffed at the idea. "Even if the Prince of Tenebrae does have a heart I wouldn't go holding my breath for him to lend us a hand."

Noctis winced, unable to forget Ravus' grudge against him. "Yeah, pretty sure he still hates me."

"Regardless of the size of the chip on his shoulder, it may prove useful should not all of Ravus' goals align with those of the Empire," Ignis reasoned. "Though, the chancellor's involvement is another matter."

"No telling what that nut job's after," Gladio grumbled.

"It is his unpredictability that concerns me," Ignis agreed, looking distinctly unhappy about it. "We'd best be on our guard."

Prompto wilted at the threat of the chancellor's imminent company. "Greeeeat. Think anyone else will pop out of the woodwork that may want to kill us?"

Ignis shook his head. "Have no doubt, the Empire will arrive in force."

"Doesn't matter," Noctis decided. "They won't get what they want."

"Noct?"

The guys all turned to him and Noctis spoke the words he'd been holding in since before they'd left Isomnia. "When this is over Luna comes with us."

"I know," he forced out past the weight of emotion sitting tight on his chest, "the covenant is important and so is finding the Ring. But I won't just stand by and let her become a prisoner again. Not the Empire's or anyone else's."

He would make sure of it.

Ugh, finally. It seems I can't manage an update anymore without an embarrassingly long wait between chapters but this time a lot of things just made it especially challenging. I actually had this chapter written some time ago but suffered technical difficulties and lost it entirely. It was then even longer before I could get my laptop up and working again to start over. To say the least it was pretty discouraging and between that and a lot of "real world" drama it's just taken a while to get this together. All that to say this story is still chugging along, even if at a seemingly glacial pace at times. （；^ω^）

A big thanks to my writing buddies and everyone who's been so encouraging. In spite of all the frightening things going on in the world I hope you all are staying safe and having the best day possible!