Gladiolus, Ignis, Prompto and the King waited under the street light surrounded by nighttime Darkness.
„How long will it take her to arrive?," the strategist asked.
„Cindy said it won't take her long," Gladiolus explained, as he walked back and forth, from one verge of the light beam to the opposite.
„Hey," Prompto exclaimed and vigorously jumped off the stone fence he sat on. „Do you see that, too? That red light way over there?," he asked and pointed at the deep black sky spotted with myriads of tiny white shining dots and a red light shining brighter and brighter the closer it comes.
The sound of silence was slowly drown out by boominess until a metallic something emerged from the sky. Promptos mouth fell open. "An airship?," he said in astonishment.
"Well, you can definitely place reliance upon Cindy", Ignis added.
Eddies arose as the airship landed and made leaves and dust swirl around. A gate opened at one side of the ship and a young mechanic hopped out as fresh and vivid as ever, defying the late night.
"Hey y'all", Cindy said approaching the group. They greeted back.
"How can we ever make up for this?", Gladiolus asked.
"Lemme think", the mechanic said and adjusted her cap "you can't" she laughed then added with a smile, "Always ready to save your bacon."
Suddenly a car horn is to be heard. "Oh, that's Paw-Paw," Cindy noted. The driver in the small red truck opened the window and a wrinkled face showed up. "Long time no see, Your Majesty," the old man greeted. "Cid," said the king, "Good to see you're doing well, my old friend." He was relieved. Relieved that Cid was safe and sound. Too many times has he been in danger, in battles along with the King, protecting the Kingdom of Lucis.
"Same goes for you", Cid responded with a crusty voice, "We're heading back to the station and you should strike off too, Your Majesty." The King nodded and looked over to the three young men, "We have no time to spare."
"Y'all take care out there", Cindy said when she moved towards the truck and got in.
As the 4 men headed to the airship Prompto asked, "Does anybody know how to fly that thing?" There was pure silence for seconds until King Regis said, "I remember how to fly it." Then he emphasized with a deeper voice, "That thing."
Prompto let out a brief whine, becoming aware of his unfortunate choice of words, his face reddening so much that he felt it would glow in the dark, just like traffic light. Gladiolus chuckled and patted his shoulder.
They got into the airship, glancing around, and followed the King to the bridge. He is familiar with the ship since he and his former companions, including Cid, used it to protect their homeland when they were younger.
King Regis pressed several buttons, behind the helm, that the other three boys absolutely had no clue of. Suddenly the ship jolted. "Whoa," Prompto exclaimed. Ignis nearly fell to ground. The shake made him lose Balance, but Gladiolus gave him a hand. "You're still injured," he noted then escorted him to some seats near by. "sit down," he demanded as he raised his forefinger. After that the airship rose up. "Awesome," Prompto gaped. Gladiolus and even Ignis were astonished. "Indeed, it is incredible," Ignis acknowledged.
"Everybody, take your seats. We are departing now," the King ordered and so they did as the Captain said.
"Noctis. Lucida," Regis muttered to himself, "we are coming for you."
Dark nebula hovered above the grasses and the street. The sky began to lighten blue. Noctis and Lucida drove along the road until they were confronted by a rectangular imperial airship whose searchlights shined at the siblings and made their eyes glow like those of wild beasts, thirsting for vengeance. "We found him," Noctis muttered and jumped out of the Regalia summoning his sword. Lucida followed him. The giant airship landed and a huge gate opened.
"Prince Noctis," Aemulus said with a haughty look on his face and made his way out of the airship followed by dozens of imperial soldiers. "I see you gathered your wits to negotiate about the crystal," he assumed then turned around and made a brief hand movement, which made the soldier behind him push a woman forth.
"Mother," Lucida yelled frantically. Rosa sobbed, "Lucida" Violently the soldier grabbed her hair and pushed the mother to the ground. Aemulus dragged his sword and said to Lucida, "Your mother betrayed me. She wanted to kill me" he held the sword close to Rosa's throat. "How pitiful," he laughed.
Noctis grinded his teeth, "You," he swore with a loud voice, "will pay for this!"
Aemulus shook his finger. "I heard that your mother, Prince Noctis, perished years ago," then he narrowed his eyes "Say, do you want your beloved half-sister to have the same fate as you?," he threatened. Without hesitation Noctis teleported him right in front of Aemulus, trying to overwhelm him, but the general blocked. Lucida ran after him defeating the soldiers around them. There was a great amount of soldiers, but still were no match compared to Aemulus.
Rosa restlessly looked around. "Run," Lucida demanded with a loud voice, but never is Rosa going to leave her daughter behind. No longer can she use the powers of the Royal Council, however no one can take her knowledge, thus she knows how to wield a sword. The mother grabbed the closest sword from one of the fallen soldiers and joined them fighting. "What are you doing?," Lucida questioned in hecticness.
"Something I should have done much earlier," Rosa explained as she covered her back. "For the Kingdom of Lucis," she exclaimed as she cut through the armour of a soldier and sliced his chest. "For the Kingdom?," Lucida asked herself in confusion. She thought her mother switched sides, and fought for Niflheim. But there is clearly no time to think about that now. Now they have to fight their way through the soldiers and put an end to this battle.
Noctis aimed to stab Aemulus, but he blocked every single blow. First he has to take his ability of defense, then he can defeat him. Analyzing the enemy's flaws, the Prince became careless. Aemulus used this chance and carved his left upper arm and the Prince fell to ground.
As Aemulus wanted to end Noctis' life, Lucida assailed him. Again he blocked, but this time he retaliated. Aemulus raised his sword to attack. Lucida closed her eyes. He stabbed out. Blood splattered on her face. But she could feel no pain. She opened her eyes and perceived her mother covering her, the blade portruding from her back. Lucida screamed. Tears mingled with the red splatter on her face, and streamed down like a waterfall of blood. As the murderer drew out his blade Rosa's body went down, falling into the arms of her daughter. "Lucida", her mother breathed, "stop him." Then she coughed blood. "No. Mother, please don't," Lucida sobbed, "Please, no-" With the last of her strength she said "I believe in you."
Then she closed her eyes and let out a terminal breath and lie motionless on the ground. Lucida cried of pain. Suddenly the world stood still for a split second, yet felt like eternity. Fury filled the heart of Lucida, leaving an expression of resentment on her face.
With a vengeance she summoned her sword to fiercely charge Aemulus, who still kept fending her blows. Suddenly Noctis entered the scene of battle, and finally Aemulus' defense powers ceased. Two of them were obviously too much for him. Lucida hit his sword and broke its blade, which flew high in the air and rotated until it bore into the ground.
"It's over," she said with embitterment and thrust his stomach with her sword. He grabbed the blade and tried to pull it out, but Lucida did not relent. Instead she pierced into his guts even deeper. He fell a few steps back, then slowly fell to the ground, his body and limbs becoming feeble. Rapidly she pulled her weapon out, which made Aemulus give a silent groan of pain and spit blood. His light grey coat soaked red. "So," he gasped, "now it ends."
Lucida turned her back on the defeated and left him suffer agony.
Afterward they heard a loud din and watched another airship land near the battlefield. Noctis and Lucida prepared for battle until they recognized the 5 men departing in haste, running towards them. "Thank god, we found ya," Prompto said out of puff. "Highness, are you alright?," Ignis asked, who was the last one to arrive. Suddenly it was dead silent. The men observed all the dirt, blood and corpses, Aemulus and Rosa lying among them. Their faces quickly changed from relief to consternation.
Suddenly a purple-haired man exited the enemy's airship. "What a mess," he sighed and glanced around. "Long time no see, your Majesty. How long has it been? 18 years?" the purple-haired man said.
"Ardyn Izunia," the King said disparagingly, then he became sarcastic, "To what do I owe the honour of this call?"
Ardyn giggled. "I was accorded the honour of increasing Niflheim's might," he explained with conceit, as he approached the half-dead Aemulus. "Thus I brought him on board." He stepped one foot on Aemulus and pulled out his firearm. "I always knew you were a waster," he taunted, and finished him off. After that he turned his attention back to his opponents. "All this is a chess-game. And you are my chess men," he said pointing at each on of the men. "I made the first move: the peace treaty to attack from an ambush," he laughed.
"You were the one who instigated the failed peace treaty", King Regis realized, "And drew innocents into it", he added, grinding his teeth.
"To accomplish great, you must make sacrifices", Ardyn justified with a half smile. "I have sacrificed my pawn,"he said and pointed to Aemulus, "but now it's my turn to checkmate you."
Noctis' heart rate increased. "this is unforgivable," he said in pulsing rage and stormed towards him. The deadly enemy dodged and reached for the lance. "You want a battle? So be it," Ardyn said with a smirk. Out of nowhere a spider-like metal machina, thrice as big as a human being, charged the group.
"His airship is equipped with magitek armors," Ignis explained. "Argh! What is it with that goddamn airship?," Prompto fretted. "full of surprises, I suppose," Ignis responded. Then Gladiolus demanded, "Hey Iggy, go and take cover along with the King!" As the strategist opened his mouth to object, Gladiolus said "You're still injured. We'll handle this!" And so Ignis did as he said and ran for cover at the edge of the battlefield.
One of the legs of the Machina rose up to batter Prompto and Gladiolus. The two of them stepped aside, Prompto shooting at the armor. It is useless. The Armor is too strong. Once again the Magitek struck them, but Gladiolus withstood the attack with his giant sword. "Prompto," he exclaimed, "shoot underneath its body!" There it was. Its weakspot, which looked like sort of a sensor. "I'm on it," Prompto assured, and hit the bullseye, which made the machina collpase. Gladiolus said in relief, "We did it."
They looked over to battling Noctis, who seemed exhausted from the last fight. At the very moment the two of them wanted to help him, the machina rose up again and battered the young men with its legs. "It's still working?," Prompto questioned, lying wounded on the ground.
Simultaneously Noctis fended off Ardyn's slow but tearing attacks, until he couldn't take it anymore and ended up lying on his back, the opponents lance pointing at the Prince's chest, which puffed in and out with each breath. The Prince squinched his eyes shut as if he was waiting for the finishing stroke.
"Your Highness," Ignis yelled from further away and leaped up to go to Noctis' rescue, but the King gripped his arm, shaking his head. Then he calmly said, "behold," and looked up to the twilit sky, which shaded darker and darker. Anthracite-coloured clouds covered the sky, the moonlight being the only source of light shining through it. Ignis' eyes widened, "Is this...?"
"A summon," the King acknowledged.
Ardyn arched up his weapon to end it and rejoiced, "Now you will be reunited with your mother." Mother, Noctis thought. His memories struck as quickly as lightning. He remembers everything from that day. Fear and dread, the heat of the flames, the monster from the imperial army slaughtering his beloved mother. There was blood everywhere. In the world of your dreams you are king, His fathers words resounded in his head. Father, help me, he thought. He was helpless back then. Back then all help came too late, his mother already passed on. Never bow out of what you begin. So long as you carry the blood royal, carry your head high, his father once said.Noctis swore he will. He wasn't helpless anymore. This war must have an end. Too many people died. For the Kingdom of Lucis. Finally Noctis opened his eyes, burning red like lava. "I will put an end to this," the Prince asserted with confidence and stood up on his feet again.
Ardyn laughed, but not for long. He noticed the gloomy atmosphere and the severe wind that emerged. The earth began to shake. A colossal shape came running from afar, making snarling noises, causing tremor with each step it took. When the silvery wolf reached the battlefield, he bit into the Magitek, then hurled it several metres away, which exploded at its impact. After that he growled at Ardyn and clenched his teeth, his hackles raising. Dropping his weapon, Ardyn stepped back. After a few seconds of thinking he retreated and ran for his life, looking for shelter in the imperial airship. Futile. Mercilessly the gigantic wolf ranted and raved, and effortlessly tore the airship to pieces. Ardyn looked up fearfully to the beast. Only one blow with its claws and he was a dead man.
After the wolf mangled his target, it turned around, bowed to Noctis and lay down. Step by step Noctis came closer to the wolf.
"Watch out," Prompto yelled.
"No need to worry," the King assured as he came along with Ignis. "Fenrir, the Archaean, will do him no harm."
"Fenrir, huh," Prompto mumbled to himself, "friggin' unbelievable."
The prince reached out his hand and stepped closer and closer until he was right in front of the Archaean. At first he hesitated but then Noctis decided to pet him behind his ear. "Good boy," he said, as if that beast was his house pet. Eventually Fenrir stood on all four legs again, howled loudly and made a move. Immediately the dark clouds disappeared, the sun rose on the horizon. It was the dawn of a new age, an age of freedom.
Slowly the tension eased and all attention fell on Lucida, who is sobbing aground with her lifeless mother in her arms. Noctis averted his face, covering it with his hand, then knelt down before Lucida. "I am sorry," he said in tears and grabbed her shoulder. "I am so sorry," he repeated and slightly shook her shoulder. She looked up to him, her face pale like snow and all wet from her tears, but her mouth dry like wasteland.
The King too knelt down to his children, looking one last time at the woman he abandoned 18 years ago. "It was Ardyn who betrayed us, not you," the King said to the deceased. "Forgive me," he begged and stroke her cheek. Then he wrapped his arms around his children and hugged them with all his heart. "Let's go home," the father said after a while.
Noctis and King Regis stood up to leave, but Lucida remained aground. Home?, she asked herself. Her home was her mother, but she is gone. Is there still a place like home for her? The father reached his hand out to his daughter and said, "Come home with us"
She looked up to him with teary eyes. After seconds of hesitation she slowly grasped his hand and nodded,"Yeah... Home."