Chapter 13 Verse 3
Based on the additional route, Chapter 13 Verse 2, in which we saw Gladio and Ignis traversing Zegnautus Keep. In this fictional piece, we will see Lightning's perspective. {Spoiler Caution}
AN: So I've had this in my files for a whiiiile. I couldn't bring myself to finish it, but here it is! You might notice the writing is a bit different from my others (and plot points slightly off), and it's because I wrote this in 2017.
With slow, cautious steps, Lightning glanced around the corner. Clutched tightly in her fingers was Blazefire Saber in gun form.
Mere hours ago, the four of them escaped the daemon infested train and infiltrated the capital of Niflheim, Gralea. During their escape, they managed to pull through miraculously unscathed, despite the fact their connection with the Crystal was somehow severed, disallowing the call to summon weapons. They were delivered unharmed to the capital with the exception of one unfortunate casualty; the Regalia, having given its final push, bursted through Gralea's gates.
Events turned for the worst when they were separated from Noctis. The Prince was weaponless but, by no means, defenseless. However, the unknowns inside Zegnautus Keep is enough reason for the three of them to reunite with Noctis immediately.
As they were about to enter the Keep, Ardyn intervened and somehow, with a snap of his fingers, returned their connection to the Crystal, allowing them to summon their weapons once more.
Making their way in the mazy, military base, Lightning was separated from Gladiolus and Ignis. No doubt it was Ardyn's handiwork messing with the base's operational controls and doorways.
Rounding the corner and her weapon ready, Lightning let out a breath as no enemies were in the vicinity.
She was grateful she chose to bring along her trusty gunblade. While she could have opted for her Crimson Blitz or Overture, Blazefire Saber was unique due to its independence of the Crystal. Her two other weapons were bestowed upon her with the Crystal's connection. The incident earlier made her aware that it is possible for the Crystal's link to be severed anytime.
The hallways seemed never-ending. The amount of time that had passed was unknown. After a period of silence, she sensed a change as she heard one of the doors hiss and footsteps echoed down the hall.
Lightning spotted a crevice in the hall, big enough for her to hide in. She slipped in and held her breath, her weapon ready once more.
As the footsteps approached closer, she stilled and as a portion of its silhouette came into view, Lightning whipped out her weapon in blade form, appearing like a thorn on a rose.
The figure raised both its arms. Familiar and clad in black, relief surged through her as she wiggled out of the hiding space.
"Noctis." She exclaimed, retracting her gunblade and returning it to its case by her thighs.
"Lightning!" He surged forward, wrapping his arms around her.
Settling her head below his jaw, she breathed in and muttered softly. "Thank, Eos, I thought I would never find you."
"I'm alright." Noctis murmured in her hair. "Why are you alone?"
"I was separated from Ignis and Gladio. This place is a damn maze."
"At least we're together now." They separated from the embrace and he nodded towards her saber. "And I see you have a weapon."
"It's a good thing I brought Blazefire Saber."
"An interesting inscription." He eyed the writing, "'Invoke my name. I am Spark.'"
"Yeah." Lightning looked at him. Odd. She had asked him before, what the inscription meant, but he said he didn't understand the language. She felt an ominous presence behind her and looked back, but nothing was there.
"You look rather perturbed."
Her brows furrowed slightly at his words, but continued to glance back.
"There's this daemon, a foras, who I think keeps following me."
"It shouldn't be too much trouble for you then" He winked and they began traversing through the keep.
Long minutes of silence passed as they walked through the halls. Noctis taking point and Lightning guarding the rear. It was then they heard an ear-cringing sound caused by a rogue axeman dragging its axe on the metal floor.
With nowhere else to hide, the two slipped into another narrow, shadowed crevice in the wall. The space just enough for them, however, the front of their bodies were pressed up against each other, breaths mingling into one.
As the rogue axeman passed by without notice, Lightning let out the breath she was holding. About to slip out of their hiding, Noctis blocked her with his arm and slowly tipped her chin upwards.
"I'm so glad you are here with me." He breathed softly.
With his words, Lightning's heart began to palpitate. Her duty faltering, wavering, as she became more aware of their bodies, the feeling of his against hers, their breaths mingling into one. She was sure he could feel her heart.
"Noct." She sighed and closed her eyes as his palm cupped her jaw. How long has it been since they were alone? How long has it been since they've touched intimately? To be able to shut away the world, if only for a brief moment, and just be Claire and Noctis, not Glaive and King.
He dived for a rough kiss, molding his lips into hers and their teeth clacking. He pressed his body further against hers, trapping her within the small space. "Lightning." He mumbled between frantic kisses.
She continued to kiss him harshly, pouring out everything. Everything that had happened since the beginning, King Regis, Insomnia, Altissia, losing Luna, Ignis' unfortunate injury, losing Prompto, and the destruction of the Regalia. The grief and pain that had numbed everyone, Noctis the most. She didn't know how to help him, if she couldn't even help herself.
The kiss continued, she wondered how Noctis wasn't running out of air. As her mind began to clear, the kiss began to feel different. No longer passionate, but rather aggressive and almost violating. She pulled back a bit to take a breath, but was soon covered again with his mouth, almost suffocating her. As she felt his tongue about to roam over past her lips, her soldier instincts rang alarm bells in her head. At that moment, she abruptly pulled away.
"Noctis, no." She panted, trying to calm herself and catch a breath. She shoved him aside and escaped the crevice they were in. She looked at him warily. Her instincts still screaming at her. She knew one thing for sure; the kiss scared her. Terrified her.
"I apologize, Lightning." Noctis murmured as he stepped out of the shadows eerily. "It wasn't my intention to scare you."
Her eyes slightly widened.
Lightning.
He called her Lightning.
Not Claire.
And at that moment, her mind ran purely on instinct.
With a flick of a wrist, Lightning converted her weapon into saber form and had its sharp edge by Noctis' throat.
Her cold blue eyes stared against the prince's, which were unusually calm.
"Who are you?"
"Lightning, what're you talking about?"
"Who are you?" She repeated the question, emphasizing each word. Lightning, he never called her that, not after an intimate moment...
A smirk slipped on his lips. "I see nothing escapes your notice, Lightning."
It was still Noctis' voice, but she can tell it was someone else.
Ardyn. She clenched her jaw, pressing the blade further. The applied pressure tearing the skin of his throat. A thin trail of blood began to flow.
"Where's Noctis?"
"Traversing towards the keep." He replied, unfazed by the sharp edge against his throat. "He's doing very well for someone without a weapon. Of course, with the power of kings at his disposal… he shouldn't have a problem."
"He wore the ring." She stated.
"All according to plan."
"So you forced him to wear it?"
"Of course not. It was his decision."
"You separated him from us. Singled him out... And somehow took and returned our ability to use the crystal's magic… so who are you? Really?" She repeated the question the third time. But it wasn't the same implication as before. As a soldier, she was specifically trained to read people and understand their intentions. But this man had his own agenda. What was his plans for Noctis?
"What are you trying to accomplish?"
"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow. "The Great Lightning can't figure it out?"
"Enough word games." With a snap of a wrist, her saber switched to gun mode. "You'll be taking me to where Noctis is."
As they travelled deeper into the keep, more daemons and troopers appeared and Lightning ticked them off one by one seamlessly, single-handedly while holding Ardyn hostage.
"Very good, Sergeant." Ardyn crooned and praised in mockery. "What a fantastic display of butchery."
"Hn." She flicked the daemon blood coating her blade. "Doesn't matter how, as long as the job gets done."
"Interesting." There was a gleam in his eyes that she could not explain. "Your killing intent. It's very controlled and calculated. You make a remarkable soldier." She remained silent at his words as he continued on. "Your crusade of carnage is very palpable."
"Quiet." They walked until they reached a control room and at the other side, a hallway leading to another open space. Lightning eyed the structure of the room, control panels looked untouched, almost pristine, which could only mean they are nearing to the heart of the keep.
As they strode forward, Lightning paused, eyeing the long hallway littered with dead shock troopers.
"In case there was any doubt: it's a trap."
At that instance and with her guard down, he shoved her into the hallway and an energy barrier arose between them, trapping Lightning in the hall.
"I do thank you for the kiss." Ardyn kissed and blew his fingers. "The Prince is quite lucky." With a tip of his hat and a bow, he walked away.
She heard crackling sounds behind her. The bodies of shock troopers coming to life from the ground. She cursed under her breath and immediately tried to eliminate them, but that wasn't her only problem. The electric walls were coming closer and if she can't get out soon, she would most definitely die at this place.
"Dammit." She panted at the neverending onslaught of troopers, sweat gathering at her brow, and the walls just kept getting closer. Looks like the jig was up. This was it. After all they've been through, this is where it ends. She could only hope that Noctis could reach the Crystal, stop the darkness to come, and return home to Insomnia.
Within her final thoughts, she thought of Noctis and heard him say her name, Claire.
But she heard her name once more over the crackling of electricity and realized that it wasn't in her head.
"Claire!" Noctis appeared behind the barrier, looking panicked and in despair.
"Light's in trouble!" Gladio yelled, scanning the operating room for something to get her out.
The Prince scoured the walls. "Hang on, we'll get you out!"
Ignis shouted. "There ought to be a kill switch nearby - find it!"
Gladio responded, searching desperately. "And how do you know that?"
"I believe it's the reason we were brought here."
"Found it!" Noctis pressed it immediately and the crackling died down. He sighed in relief. "Shit. That was close."
Lightning stumbled out of the hall and into his arms. "How did you all get here?"
Ignis responded. "After we were separated, we received "help" from the usual suspect."
"That bastard's playing with us." Gladio growled out. "But at least we're together."
"All but one of us." Lightning stared at the hallway, which could've been her place of demise.
"Claire, you alright?" Noctis asked worriedly, cupping a side of her face. She noticed the way he held her was gentler and wondered how on Eos didn't she know it was an imposter a while ago.
"Yeah." She breathed and held onto his wrist. This was him. The real Noctis. "I am now."
"Reunited with your retainers at last." The sneering voice of Ardyn echoed in the PA system. "How very touching."
AN: Urgh. Totes got inspired by that cutscene when Ardyn was Noctis. And when Noctis had that deep voice… Ohhhh babyyy... Also, is this still Lightis LOL I gotta say though, Ardyn/Light has some good potential, especially with lore involved…