"Shit, how are we supposed to get down there safely?" I asked, once again peeking over a ledge. "I don't think jumping down there would be a good idea."

"Yeah, there has to be another way," Prompto agreed. "Hopefully Noct and Gladio are doing alright."

"I can't see Titan being happy about being woken up," Ignis responded.

I sighed and nodded. "So they're probably having to deal with that rage."

"We'd better get down there soon, then," Prompto nodded, rushing ahead. The three of us continued looking for our way down, and I could only hope Noctis and Gladio were okay.

Noctis's POV

The heat was overwhelming, and it didn't help that Titan was far from happy we were down here.

"I'm sick of this endless walking," I groaned as I stopped to catch my breath.

Gladio shoved my shoulder and grabbed me by the collar of my shirt. "And I'm sick of your endless whining. Calm the hell down," he snapped.

"Get off my back," I tried to pull away from him.

"Are you a man of royal blood or aren't you?" Gladio grit his teeth, his grip on my shirt tightening.

"Of course I am," I scoffed as I shoved him away from me, "I couldn't forget it if I tried. What about it?"

"I ain't saying that you've forgotten, but you gotta know something. You're not the only one who's having a tough time. We're all on edge." He walked ahead a little bit.

"We Amicitia are the king's sworn Shields. Guard the king with our lives. That's the way it's always been," He turned back to look at me. "I've embraced my duty, and I take pride in it. When you can't focus, I focus for you. It's my job, so let me do it, alright?"

I glanced down at my feet for a moment. "Alright," I responded as we continued following the trail.

"Sorry, but I had to get it out," He started walking ahead of me. "And remember, don't rush ahead on your own."

"Hey Gladio," I began. "Your dad... I'm grateful to him."

Gladio nodded. "Just doing his job." A noise broke through the otherwise calm air. "Isn't that your phone?" he asked.

I grabbed it from my pocket and looked at the screen for a second before answering. "Ignis," I stated calmly.

"You're safe. Good, Listen, imperial troops are near-" He sounded worried, but the call cut off quickly. Sure enough, a couple of imperial dropships flew just ahead of us.

"Got cut off, but it sounds like we're about to have imperial company," I told Gladio.

Gladio grunted in annoyance, "About to get even hotter in here." I ran ahead, reaching a sort of clearing where magitek swordsmen and imperial infantrymen were waiting, and so was Titan. "We finally made it," Gladio sighed.

"I know," I responded. Titan spoke, in a language I couldn't understand as I ran ahead and attacked some of the MTs in front of us. The magiteks moved more smoothly than the ones with axes, probably due to the swords being lighter. They still proved no match, and I watched them fall to the ground. I grimaced as one let out a mechanical screech as it went down.

I approached Titan. "Hey! I'm here!" I yelled. He spoke again. and I grasped at my head. This headache was agonizing. I stumbled a bit but managed to keep myself on my feet. "What the hell is it you want? Quit screwing with my head!" I snapped back. I looked over and saw him bring his fist toward me. "You've gotta be kidding me." He was still trying to attack me?

I found myself in yet another free fall, the ground having been torn away with his punch. I threw my sword at the rocks below me, warping down unharmed. I looked up, noticing now Titan was coming in with another attack.

"Noct!" Gladio yelled, shoving me out of the way. "Are you alright?"

I sat up. "I owe you one," I said as I caught my breath.

"This ain't gonna work. We gotta run."

I took off, following another path up. "Best advice you've given all day," I joked.

"Well, I can't have you dying here. Come on," Gladio responded, running ahead of me. He blocked a few of Titan's punches with his shield as we ran, before reaching a ledge. He knelt on the ground, giving me a boost as I pulled myself up.

"Damn it," I hissed as Gladio pulled himself up. Titan slammed his hand against the ground, planning to tear away our path yet again.

"He just won't quit!" I groaned as I quickly got to my feet and continued running. This was NOT how I wanted my day to go.

Gladio summoned his greatsword and blocked Titan's attack again. "I'll hold him! Get clear!" he ordered.

"Gladio!" I yelled. We had reached yet another drop.

"Hurry, I can't keep this up!"

I threw my sword again, warping to an open area nearby. I now had to face Titan's attacks alone. I yelled as I readied the new royal arm I had acquired. Every time he brought his fist down to attack, I countered. Titan spoke again. I still couldn't understand him. "I'm not gonna take any more of this crap!" I told myself. One more counter and his arm dropped. I took the opening and wildly slashed at his arm. I could only hope my friends would be back soon.

Gaia's POV

We finally found our way to Noctis, who was currently defending himself from Titan. I waved as I ran over before readying my broadsword.

"Did you miss us?" Prompto joked as he ran to Noct's side.

"Apologies," Ignis stated.

We readied ourselves, watching Titan's movements and attacking when we got the chance. I noticed something else, however.

Prompto seemed to notice as well, stating nervously, "Think those imperial soldiers just wanna say 'hi'?"

"Looks like they brought half their troops," I responded, "Look at all those spearmen!"

Gladio ran in with perfect timing, stopping at Noct's side. "Are we alright?" He asked.

"Getting by," Noctis responded casually.

I turned my attention to the magiteks that approached Titan. After a bit, Titan stopped attacking, catching himself with his arms as he about fell. Noctis summoned those weapons that circled him earlier. "We're all here, let's do it! Come on, fellas!" The four of them each grabbed a weapon and began attacking as a unit. I ran in and joined, swapping between my axe and my sword with almost every blow.

The magiteks kept coming, and so did Titan's attacks. "We bit off more than we can chew," Ignis muttered.

"Any ideas? Anyone?" Noctis asked.

"I've got nothing," I responded, kicking one of the spearmen away from me. "Fuck that hurt!"

"Keep it together!" Gladio yelled.

"Well, the empire isn't on our side, but it also isn't on Titan's," I yelled.

Ignis motioned for us to group up, and he handed us each a magic flask. It felt cold in my hands, and I could only assume it was Blizzaga. Titan about fell again, and that was our signal.

"The game's up!" Ignis quipped as he threw his flask. Gladio followed, throwing his with a yell.

"You're out!" Prompto laughed as he threw his.

I threw mine with a smirk. "Time's up!"

Titan's arm quickly became encased in ice, and Noct finished it off with one final swing of the royal arm. "It's over!" he yelled, watching Titan's arm shatter. We were covered in frost as we caught our breath. "Hey, we all still here?" Noct asked.

"Yep, still here," Gladio chuckled.

Ignis chimed in, "If a little battered."

"Does this mean it's over?" Prompto asked, exhaustion clear in his voice.

The ground shook yet again. "What is it now?" Noctis let out a startled yelp.

"What is he doing?" Ignis questioned.

"He's winding up!" Prompto yelled.

"For the big one!" Gladio added.

Instead of attacking, Titan spoke for a moment before a yellow glow surrounded him and Noctis. Noct fell to the ground for a moment. "That was... Luna. You spoke with her?" He asked Titan quietly. "That's why..." The ground shook again and we all stumbled. With a blast of light, the imperial airships above us crashed to the ground, and Titan disappeared.

We started to find our way back up, lava bursting from the ground. This was going horribly.

"It doesn't get much worse than this," Gladio huffed. As if on cue to challenge his statement, an imperial airship lowered in front of us.

"You just had to say that," I groaned.

"The empire! Now?" Ignis asked. The hatch opened, and standing there waiting for us... was Ardyn.

"Fancy meeting you here!" he yelled over the engine. "It occurs to me I never formally introduced myself!"

We looked at each other in confusion.

"Izunia. Ardyn Izunia," Ardyn continued, putting a hand to his chest.

"Imperial Chancellor Izunia?" Ignis asked.

"At your service! And more importantly, to your aid." He held his arms out dramatically.

Our hesitation and suspicion were obvious, as he continued. "I guarantee your safe passage. Though, you're always welcome to take your chances down there. Buried among the rubble is it?"

We turned to look at Ignis. "Dying here is not an option. We have no choice Noct," He turned to look at Noctis.

"I know," Noct responded with annoyance. And so, we boarded the airship. I hated the cold familiarity of our new transport, but I said nothing, simply sitting down on the floor.

Just what does the Imperial Chancellor want in return for helping us?