Day 48:

Once more they spent the night in Hammerhead. It went without saying that all nine of them would not fit in the trailer. Cid grudgingly offered up his own roof, but in the end, they all slept under the stars after Gladio admitted he had brought his camping supplies.

It was a strange night. Her first in a campground since Ravatogh, and even if it had been commonplace, nothing would have made her father look normal in a tent and sleeping bag. After some raised eyebrows and private jokes shared with Clarus, he settled in, however, and transformed a folding chair into a throne simply by sitting on it.

Ignis did breakfast the following morning—which turned out well despite his concerns of cooking directly for Father and Clarus—while Reina restrung her violin. The bow needed to be rehaired, but she didn't have the supplies for that. The strings, at least, were in the case.

Following breakfast, they all stretched their legs and walked back to Hammerhead to find Cid and Cindy already up and at work.

"Took y'all long enough," Cid said.

"Do you mean to tell me," Clarus said severely, "That you woke before dawn simply to have the satisfaction of complaining that we were late?"

"Got the engine running while you were having your beauty rest," Cid said, ignoring Clarus.

To illustrate his point he pressed the ignition button. With a sputtering lurch, the airship roared to life. It rumbled and hissed and popped, and the whole airship shivered, but it did not die.

Iris covered her ears and stepped back.

"Is it supposed to be so loud?" Father lifted his voice to be heard over the din.

"It's a work in progress!" Cid shouted back. "You can't hurry mechanics! Your balloon ain't finished anyway."

He shut off the engine, leaving Hammerhead painfully quiet once more. The few passersby lingering in the lot stared at them a while longer before moving on.

"I suspect the canvas is in as neat a shape as it is likely to be, without remaking the entire thing," Ignis said. "Though Cor's sewing leaves much to be desired—"

"If you wanted a tailor, you should have brought your uncle. I thought we came to kill a God," Cor said.

"Which would be exceedingly difficult to do with a needle, yes," Ignis consoled. "Nevertheless, the balloon primarily requires the sealant to be applied, after which we may spend more time shoring up any loose seams. Admittedly, not the ideal order of actions, but I believe we want the ship sky-worthy sooner rather than later."

"We do," Reina said. "Bahamut was absent from my dreams last night and that sits uneasily with me."

They all stood in quiet contemplation of her revelation for a moment, exchanging dark looks but keeping their own thoughts much to themselves.

"Well then what're we waiting for?" Cid asked. "Get moving!"

They moved. A storm was brewing in Cavaugh, but the sun rose over Hammerhead to the cacophonic sounds of the airship's engine, punctuated by swearing and clanging. While Father and Clarus joined Cid and Cindy at the engine, the rest of them emptied can after can of sealant onto the inside of the balloon. They took note of any spots that were in need of Ignis' attention while they did so.

"Is this old sack really going to hold air?" Iris asked as they stood holding it up to allow the sealant to dry inside.

"All the other old sacks around here seem to be managing." Noctis glanced toward where Cid was working.

"Don't let them hear you say that," Cor said.

"Them?" Noctis said. "I meant you, too."

Cor stared levelly at Noct before speaking to Reina. "Your Highness."

"Cor?"

"Permission to dismember your brother."

"Hey!"

Reina smiled, in spite of everything. "No, Cor. You may not dismember the Crown Prince."

"How much longer until this thing dries?" Iris flapped her section of balloon. "My arms are getting tired."

"Another thirty minutes, perhaps." Ignis struggled to push a needle through a few layers of canvas while the whole thing moved under Noctis' control.

"Thirty minutes?!" Iris cried.

"And then it will need to fill. Hopefully, Cor's seams will hold up," Ignis said.

"Well how long does that take?"

Movement in the parking lot caught Reina's eye.

"However long it takes, I don't think we have time," she said.

Gentiana commanded a certain presence just by being. She didn't make a sound when she appeared, but they knew she was there anyway. All eyes turned, as if drawn to her, and even the sputtering of the airship engine seemed to fade away in her presence.

"The Oracle sends a warning," she said in that placid tone that suggested she wouldn't have lifted her voice for anything. "The Astrals rise up against humankind to bring destruction while the Draconian prepares to cleanse this world of darkness."

"What, all of them?" Noctis dropped his section of balloon. Beside him, Ignis scrambled to lift it up.

"Three Astrals and the Draconian himself are a danger to you. Of the other two, one has been tainted by darkness and will perish in this cleanse like all other life, and one stands with the Oracle."

Shiva was standing against Bahamut for Luna's sake? It had never occurred to Reina that she might. The Six together had created the Starscourge and unleashed it upon mankind, and the Six together had hidden away their crimes and deposited them, instead, at the feet of the Caelums while they retired to rest until the problem was solved by other hands. Shiva was no less guilty than the others. So why should she not stand with her brethren?

It didn't matter. Not really. Not right now. She had just told them the other three were coming to destroy mankind while the Draconian prepared his purge. Her family was in danger. It didn't matter what side one Astral stood on or why.

"Where?" Reina asked. "Where will they be?"

"The Draconian gathers his strength on the island, as has been surmised already. The Hydraean awakens in Altissia, the Archaean beneath the meteor, and Ramuh descends upon the heart of Lucis in the capital city of Insomnia."

Reina's brain stalled. That wasn't right. Why would they split their power? Reina and Ardyn were the threat to them; few others were likely to stand against Bahamut and, without them, opposition would dissolve. They should have been combining their strength to strike out at her, not scattering around Eos.

"Luna is in Altissia," Noctis said.

"The Oracle will stand against the Hydraean. At her sides are her brother and the Glacian," Gentiana said.

"Then we need only focus our efforts on Ramuh and Titan." Father was on his feet, glancing around the garage to take stock of who was present. "The Crown City must be protected, but no less important are the Outlands. I would not have my people fall to this."

"I'll take care of Titan," Noctis said. "I'll take my friends. If we use Rei's car, we'll make pretty good time. So long as Ignis doesn't mind breaking the speed limit."

Ignis looked between Noctis and Reina. Her brain still refused to accept what was happening. It wasn't supposed to be like this. They couldn't just split everyone across Lucis.

"Then I will return to Insomnia and protect the Crown City." Her father lifted his eyes to the sky, where the dark stormcloud now appeared all the more ominous. "With the city guards and the Kingsglaive, we will minimize casualties as well as we can. Clarus, I would have you at my side, of course—"

"You couldn't push me away if you tried," said Clarus.

"And Cor, I would be much obliged to have your blade as well," Father continued.

Cor looked to Reina as well. She couldn't read the look; she should have been able to, she knew his looks but all her thoughts were still filtering through a haze.

"You'll have me, too. Whether you want me or not," Cid said. "You kids're always getting into more trouble than you can handle on your own."

It didn't make sense. Nothing made sense. Why wasn't her brain working? Bahamut split his forces. It made him weaker. Why would he do that?

She glanced around the garage. She had heard their voices but not their words—not really. The meanings filtered through her mind at last as she watched plans growing before her eyes.

Bahamut split his forces to split hers. Because he knew her better than she knew herself and he understood her weaknesses. Ravus was hours away in Altissia battling Leviathan. Noctis and Ignis were preparing to drive out to Cauthess and engage with Titan. Father and Cor were returning to Insomnia while black storm clouds brewed overhead and thunder rumbled in the distance.

"No," Reina said.

All eyes turned toward her. Gentiana had gone and no one had even noticed. Plans across the sea were set without them.

"You can't," she said. "You can't all go in different directions. You have to go somewhere safe or stay where I can protect you."

She couldn't be in Cauthess and Insomnia at once. If she went to Insomnia, she put Noctis and Ignis in danger. But going to Cauthess would leave Father and Cor alone.

"We must, Reina," her father said.

"But I can't protect you all."

"You cannot protect any of us, my dear," he said. "Your path leads to Angelgard."

"No," she said automatically.

"Reina, if you do not stop the Draconian, any lives you save will be lost within hours. All will have been wasted. We will protect the kingdom, but you must protect Eos." He turned to Cid. "Will the airship take her there?"

Cid looked the ship over. The balloon was still deflated, half held up by Iris and Ignis—everyone else had let go—and the engine was still gurgling along. He reached inside and switched on the radiator, which sprang to life in a flash of heat, dumping hot air into the half-dry balloon.

"It'll have to," he said.

Reina shook her head. Thunder cracked overhead, so loud she would have needed to shout to be heard over it.

"We're wasting time," Noctis said. "Specs, let's go. Gladio. Prompto."

He grabbed his coat and walked past her on his way to the car. He squeezed her arm and gave her half a smile—the dumb look that meant: 'crazy day, right?'

"See you soon, Rei," he said.

Ignis hesitated when he reached her. "I… suspect I will be of more help if I travel with Noctis."

She couldn't say a word. She couldn't tell him to go. She couldn't tell him not to.

"If matters are settled more quickly for us then we will join you," Ignis said. "Somehow."

"Specs, let's go!"

Ignis glanced toward the car, then back to Reina. He stooped to kiss her just once and so quickly she never had time to respond. Then he was gone.

"What about me?" Iris asked.

Another question Reina couldn't answer. Everything had fallen to pieces; all the carefully made plans that she had built up on no foundation at all were in shambles. She couldn't protect them. If she did, they would die. If she didn't, they might anyway.

"No," Clarus said. "Absolutely not. I forbid you from following them to Angelgard."

"You didn't forbid Gladio!" Iris snapped.

"Gladiolus is the Prince's Shield."

"And I'm the Princess' Shield," Iris said. "Even if I never took the vows in this life, I did in her Dream!"

"You are fifteen, Iris," Clarus said. "Get in the car."

She turned hopefully toward Reina.

"Go, Iris," Reina managed. "Stay with Cor."

If Reina couldn't keep her safe… perhaps Cor…

Iris glared at her father, but when he failed to back down she stomped her foot and stalked off.

"You better be safe, Rei!" She shouted over her shoulder. "Ardyn! If you don't keep her alive I'll kick your butt!"

"Clarus, notify the Crownsguard," Father said. "Cor, you are driving."

Clarus and Cor both bowed and moved toward the Regalia. Cor stopped as he passed by Reina, just as Ignis had done.

"Don't do anything stupid," he said. "I can't be watching your back out there, so you better watch it yourself. Everyone's counting on it."

He pulled her into a bone-crushing hug. It ended too soon; he stepped away and disappeared into the car, giving one last backward glance before he was out of sight.

Father lingered a moment longer, watching her. He looked pained—but only like whatever hurt her also hurt him.

He closed the distance to her and took her face in his hands. She hadn't noticed the tears on her cheeks until he brushed them away. "My dear, you must do this. If you truly wish to save our lives, this is the only way it can be done. You must go on without us."

"I can't." More tears took the place of those he had dried. "Don't ask me to leave Insomnia while danger descends. Last time I did as you asked and you died because of it. I can't do it. Not again."

"You can, Reina. And you must. If you stay, none of us will live to see tomorrow."

She shook her head even so.

"Go, Reina." He dried her tears one last time and leaned forward to kiss her forehead. "Stop the Draconian."

He released her face and stepped back. She held onto his hand even as he pulled away.

"Ardyn," Father said.

Ardyn glanced at him. Something unspoken passed between them. Words she would never hear and never understand.

"Take her," Father said. "Keep her safe."

Ardyn caught her outstretched hand, pulling her away from her father as Father walked away.

"No—!"

Father looked back at her over his shoulder just once before climbing into the Regalia after Cid.

And she was alone.