The five of them stood still, carrying their arms, surrounded by dozens of dead soldiers.

„Too easy", Prompto smirked, approaching the others to give each of them a high five.

Then Ignis said putting his hand on his hip, „Who would have thought you are a born fighter, Lucida."

„I think training isn't necessary for you", Gladiolus added with a half smile, folding his arms.

Scratching her head Lucida said, „I didn't know how high your standards were."

„Compared to yours they are rather low, I guess", Prompto admitted with smile.

Then Ignis advised, „Noct, we can't continue driving, or else we will damage the Regalia even more. We need to change the tyre, but before that we have to buy a new one first."

Stroking his chin, Noctis responded, „Yeah, I know."

„Don't you have a spare tire?", Lucida asked in wonderment.

Shaking his head, Gladiolus answered, „No, we already used it."

„Oh", she said, realizing that they are deep in the mire. Suddenly it came to her mind, „Hey, I know a service station not far from here. We can get a new tire there."

„Do you know this place?" Ignis asked with curiosity.

„Yes, a little. I was at a shop next to the station when I was searching for Noctis", she affirmed.

Ignis nodded, „I suggest you and Gladiolus go to the service station and get the tire." Then he adjusted his glasses. „ There may come more soldiers of the Imperial Army. Noctis, Prompto and I will stand guard and keep the car safe."

„Do we even have the money to pay it?" Noctis asked, already prepared for the worst.

Then Lucida gazed at her brother with a slight smile, „Like I already said, I've saved enough money to track down thousands of brothers. I think I can afford a spare tire."

They had to get that tire quickly. Their father is being blackmailed and they are stuck in this place.

„Alright! Come on, kiddo", Gladiolus demanded ruffling her hair messy and started to move forward.

After that she narrowed her eyes and looked daggers at him, then she remarked, „Wrong way." Hinting the right direction with a head movement she said „This is the right way."

He shrugged with a smirk, „You are the boss"

heading for the Service Station he asked, „Say, how far is it to the station?"

„I don't know for sure, but I guess it's about a quarter-hour by foot, maybe 10 minutes if we hurry."

„We better hurry", he said. „Yeah", she responded. Both of them gained speed and rushed to the station.

When they arrived they met a young women in jeans shorts and a yellow crop jacket. Her curly hair was short and blond, and she wore a cap with a logo and the words „Hammer Head".

„Hello there! Welcome to Coernix Station!" Her voice sounded very lively.

Gladiolus and Lucida approached her, then she proceeded, „I'm Cindy, the mechanic of the station. What can I do for you?" She seemed to be very outgoing.

„Hey, Cindy!", Gladiolus greeted with a slight hint of a smile. „Hi", Lucida said.

„We need a tire" ,Gladiolus added looking in her olive-green eyes intensively. "Two tires", Lucida interrupted then glanced at him and said, „just in case."

„All right! Which type of tire do you need?", Cindy asked.

„Err..", Lucida turned her face to Gladiolus, hoping that he knows which tire is the right one. "This one", he said, handing Cindy a little piece of paper with numbers and letters: „ Tire size: 265/35R22. Wheel size and type: 22 x 9-inch aluminum with brushed nickel accents." Lucida had no clue what those weird Numbers meant, but she was relieved that Gladiolus knew about it.

"Okay. I'll go get you the tires." Cindy responded with a slight smile, turned around and headed for the storage place. Gladiolus eyes followed her until he couldn't see her anymore as she walked around the corner. Lucida wondered, if Gladiolus was interested in her. The way he looks at her is rather unusual. But indeed, She looks very pretty and charming Lucida thought.

She came back with a hand truck with the two tires. "Well...", she started saying. "Where's your car?", she asked putting her hand on her hip.

Moving a step forward Gladiolus said "Not here. It's less than a mile down the road."

"Okay, I can either tow your car and change the tires here, or you can hire a car to get the tires there and change it yourselves", she said situating next to Lucida.

"We'll hire a car", Lucida nodded then gazed at Gladiolus and added, "It's quicker this way."

"Alright! One tire costs 147 Gil. That makes 294 Gil for both tires. You can take the red car over there", Cindy pointed at the car. "The car you rent is on the house!", she informed with a cheerful voice.

"Thanks, Cindy! That's very kind of you! Here are 300 Gil", Lucida smiled.

"Thank you! And Come again!", Cindy said patting her hand on her red cap.

After they bought the tire and got the keys, Gladiolus lifted one of the tires up and carried it on his right shoulder.

„Erm..", Lucida stottered. „ Do you need any help?"

„You're not serious, are you, Lucy?" he said gazing at her then ruffled her hair again.

She stood still for a second, trying to recollect herself to not punch him in a rage, „I was just being friendly." She then tried carrying the other tire to the car. Considering that the tire was made of rubber and is filled with air, it was damn heavy.

„C'mon the others are waiting", Gladiolus exhaled turning around and noticed Lucida struggling with the tire to carry it. He came running with the aim to lend a hand. "I can manage that!" Lucida said with determination.

"Don't be stubborn. You're breaking your back!" He responded.

But she didn't listen. She went on carrying it and put it in car trunk. Then Gladiolus approached her and finger flicked her head. "Hey!" she exclaimed, and punched him slightly in his stomach, with a half smile on her face.

"Gimme the keys. I'll drive", Gladiolus demanded.

"No. I'll drive", Lucida responded cheekily. "Give me the keys!" Gladiolus commanded.

"Nope", Lucida said with a smile, turned around and got in the car. "She really is stubborn", he muttered to himself. Then he got in the car as well.

The drove off along the free road. The sky was clear and the weather was hot. They were almost there. Only a few minutes until they can finally get out of the stuffy car, which heated up because of the direct sunlight.

Meanwhile the other three boys expected more soldiers to arrive. "There is no time for a nap, Your Highness", Ignis said. Noctis opened his eyes, observing four more soldiers making towards the Regalia, where the three young men waited. Prompto patted Noctis cheek, "Stay awake, Noct" Then he walked up to the soldiers. Noctis just glowered at him. He hated being goaded like this.

"You know what to do, Noct", Ignis said and joined Prompto attacking the soldiers.

Then he muttered to himself with a deep voice, "They're going to regret this". After that he summoned his sword, and ran forward attacking the soldiers. While Ignis and Prompto fought with one of the soldiers, Noctis struggled two of them at once. Once Prompto shot one of them with his gun and Ignis finished the other with fire magic and his katana. They turned around, seeing Noctis being ambushed after he slayed one of his enemies.

"Your Highness!", Ignis shouted, running forward trying to protect him, closely followed by Prompto.

Suddenly the soldier's Weapon dropped, and he fell on the ground. Behind him stood Gladiolus with a massive sword. "You lose your touch, Your Highness", he said with a grin, holding his sword on his broad shoulders.

Smiling back, Noctis gave him a high five as a thanks for saving him and joked, "I did that on purpose."

Gladiolus laughed and said sarcastically "Of course you did!" He punched his shoulder slightly to provoke him jokingly. At least it was a slight punch by Gladiolus's standards. After Noctis got pushed back, he clenched his fingers and struck a blow, but couldn't bring about any damage. That little tangency from Noctis made Gladiolus chuckle, "That tickles." Then he pushed him back again.

"Hey!", Lucida yelled as she came running. "Don't you tease my brother like that!", she joked.

"He wouldn't be teased if he'd stop beating back", Prompto said cheekily then added, "but I guess he's too stubborn to comply."

"Nah", Lucida stood right beside Noctis, wrapping her arm around his shoulder. "He's not being stubborn. This is pure willpower. Right, brother?", she smiled at him.

Nodding to her with a returning smile he muttered, "Yeah."

Prompto advised after a while,"We better get that tire changed and get out of this place."

"Yeah", Gladiolus responded, headed for the rent car and carried the tires to the Regalia.

After that Lucida suggested, "I'll bring the car back to the station, while you change the tire" She turned around and was about to head for the hired car, when Ignis interrupted, "I'll go with you." He adjusted his glasses, "You shouldn't go on your own. There still may be soldiers around."

Lucida smiled immediately, "Alright! Let's go!"

"We'll pick you up at the station", Gladiolus assured the two of them.

This time Lucida wasn't on the wheel. Ignis was the driver. They drove to the station and parked. After they got out of the car, they waited for almost twenty minutes.

"What takes them so long?", Lucida wondered.

"Perhaps there is another wave attack of the Imperial Army", Ignis said with his accent. Damn, his accent is appealing and always made Lucida weak. Ignis was not like the other young men of the group. He was different. In this short amount of time she learned to love his composed and serious temper.

"I hope they are alright.", Lucida said with concern.

"We do not need to worry. Those soldiers will not pose a problem to them", he said with a calm voice. Lucida nodded as a response.

Ignis glanced around and noticed the shop next to the service station, Lucida mentioned earlier. "I'll go to the shop nearby. Are you coming along?", he asked. Lucida responded, "Sure."

They got into the shop and looked around, trying to kill time. Ignis examined the glasses which stood at the corner. Lucida strode up to the showcase and marvelled at the necklace which was in it. The necklace's pendant was a silvery crescent with a howling wolf on it. 952 Sterling Silver. This is high quality. At least the little sign lying underneath says so. Who would have thought they would sell something this precious in a little shop like this? She touched the showcase with the fingertips of her right hand.

wondering what Lucida was looking at, Ignis came along, and stood right behind her. He was very close. She could feel his presence. As he looked over her shoulder, she could hear him breathing in and out. They stood like that for a few seconds. "Say..", Lucida began to ask with a sentimental voice, " Why do wolves howl at the moon?"

Lucida knew he was a well educated man, who would probably know the answer. And indeed he knew. "Wolves howl to communicate with other wolves. This communication serves to signal the pack to gather around, let the rest of the pack know where a single wolf is", He said making eye contact.

Lucida looked him deep in his green eyes and had the urge to just rip off those glasses he wore. His eyes were fascinating and she felt like those glasses were just in her way. Maintaining her composure she began saying in a low tone, "That's -" ,but got interrupted by Prompto who was approaching both of them and shook their shoulders. "There you are, buddies", he said grinning broadly. Ignis adjusted his glasses and looked down.

As Lucida run her fingers through her hair she asked, "What took you so long?"

"We had to fight some more soldiers of the Imperial Army", he explained. Then Noctis came in saying, "We filled up the tank. We're ready to leave. Come on, guys."

Lucida gave Prompto a confused look, "What's with him?"

"He Probably can't wait to sit in the car and take a nap", Prompto giggled.

Lucida laughed, "Probably."

Both of them went outside and sat down in the back of the car, next to Noctis, who already closed his eyes.

"Where's Iggy?". Gladiolus asked sitting in the front passenger seat.

"I think he's still in the shop", Prompto said. As Ignis came to the car fistful of ingredients he put them in the car trunk. After that he got behind the wheel of the vehicle, started the engine and hit the road to Tenebrae, a location before Niflheim.

"We probaly will not arrive in Tenebrae today, thus we will have to look out for an accommodation", he said.

Thereafter Prompto whined "I hope we don't end up sleeping in that uncomfortable tent, again"

"I hope so, too" Lucida agreed, then went on, "I didn't get a wink of sleep that night!"

"No worries. We'll find something", Gladiolus assured.

They drove 6 hours straight an it was already getting dark. Lucida rested on Noctis shoulder, who was asleep as well.

"Hey, Iggy. Do you see that Caravan over there?" Gladiolus said. "We can stay there for the night."

"That will do", Ignis responded and parked on the parking lot next to the caravan.

"But it isn't that far to Tenebrae. We could make it today", Prompto suggested.

"The Imperial Army found us in Duscae. They may expect us there as well", Ignis explained.

"You have a point there, Iggy", Prompto responded and got out of the car. "This place is quite remote, they'll probably won't find us here", he added.

Once Lucida and Noctis woke up again they all hopped out of the car. After they rented the caravan they entered and noticed that it looked way more comfy than that little tent they slept in last night. Everyone has at least a little bit of space. Noctis immediately laid down on the loft bunk.

"Don't fall asleep as yet, Your Highness", Gladiolus said with a slight smile.

"Yeah, we got plans to make", Prompto said and shook his shoulders. Noctis sat up with an annoyed face and pushed Promptos arms away.

"We can make it to Niflheim by tomorrow evening. We'll pass Tenebrae and head directly to Niflheim", Noctis decided. Then laid down on his back again.

"A long way lies ahead", Prompto muttered. Then Ignis said "We need to get get up earlier as today, if we want to reach Niflheim"

"Yeah, and no flat tires this time", Gladiolus added.

After they ate sandwiches, prepared by Ignis, they decided to get up at 4 am and all laid down on the loft bunk and tried to get some sleep. Tomorrow will be a rough day – first a long car trip and second arrival in Niflheim, which means a lot of fighting.