TRIGGER WARNING: The end of this chapter will imply rape.

Chapter 8: Altissia

It was a little after dawn when Amy finally woke up. She still believed that the night before was a dream until she felt the strong arm that was wrapped around her waist. She gasped with a blush as she turned around to find the sleeping fallen king nuzzled up next to her. He looked innocent despite his daemonic nature. She turned around to face him with a small smile brushing hair away from his face and frowning at the sweat that seeped through his skin.

"Iz...zuna… my… son…" he pleaded in a whisper. "Don't…kill…me…"

His son… so my theory must be correct. What a horrible thing to have his own son try to kill him… she thought sadly. She softly wiped some beads off of his forehead before kissing his cheek.

"It's alright," she whispered. "You're safe now…with me…"

She always heard it was good to whisper soothing words to someone who was having a nightmare. It was better than being strangled to death when he woke up suddenly. She decided to get up to get dressed and look out at the amazing view of this city, when he pulled her close to him. She blushed. Is he awake? She thought.

"Ar…Ardyn?" She asked cautiously.

"Amy…" He said looking at her. "I…apologize if I was too forward last night…

"No… I… I kind of wanted it…" She said nervously.

"With…me?" He asked. "Why would you want to lie with me if you know who I am and what I have done?" His voice was different. As if her other theory was true… that the daemon was the one doing everything and the man was just being manipulated after all these years.

"Be…because…" she said turning to look into his golden eyes. "I feel… like you deserve some kind of love after everything you went through…"

His face was a state of curious confusion. Why would a mere woman who knows his true intentions… care for him? Why would she even feel anything for him? Why was she not running away or calling him a monster?

"I…I should go…get a shower." She told him softly changing the subject. He nodded giving his usual smile to cover up his thoughts and let her go laying back in the bed. He smirked when she blushed after seeing his defined upper half that was not covered in blankets.

Damn him for knowing how to make me blush… She grabbed her bag with her clean clothing and hurried to the bathroom. She was a bit embarrassed still because of her naked body but breathed once she entered the bathroom. Eck… I feel all gross now… She thought felt the dried sweat and stickiness from the night before. She was still stunned that it happened. It wasn't a dream this time. She doubted it would ever happen again though… It was only a night of lustful passion. Nothing more than that after all… As she let the warm water fall onto her body she tried to make sense of it all.

It was reckless. She should not have given in like that so easily. She had trained herself so hard to be strong and suppress her desires. It was the only way to shield herself from heartbreak. She was sure he would break her heart… or would he? Nonetheless, she could not keep doing this with him. She was simply there to observe and let things happen the way they were supposed to. Her roll was not to get emotionally invested.Even if she felt like he deserved happiness, she could not go and be his beauty to his beast. There was no evil spell to break on an enchanted castle. No darkness that could be cured by true love's kiss. This was Eos. Not some fairy tale set in France, or Storybrook, Maine. She was no Belle. She made a promise to herself as she finished her bath… she would not lie with Ardyn and compromise the storyline again.

She took a deep breath after getting dried and dressed pushing the door open. She was concerned, yet relieved to find that he was gone. He left her a note on her dresser.

Dearest Amy,

I fear I have overstepped nonetheless last night. I apologize again. I must attend to my duties as Chancellor so I have left this note in place of my absence. I have ordered two Magitek Soldiers to watch over you and act as bodyguards during your stay in Altissia. They will take you wherever you like. You may even visit Lady Lunafreya if you so wish it. I understand that the boundaries have be crossed with your neutrality and I promise not to misstep again. T'was a wonderful night and I wish we could have one more like it, but I think we both understand what is at risk if we were to do so.

Yours,

Ardyn

Amy nodded in agreement and a sigh of relief. They had both been on similar wavelengths. She wondered if it was a good or bad thing… She finished getting dressed and was about to head out the door when she noticed something prominent on the crook of her neck.

"Oh astrals… is that a hickey?" She flushed again embarrassed and grabbed a small scarf from the drawer. Ardyn left her a dresser full of Altissian clothing with both dresses and normal casual attire. She chose to wear casual clothing and thankfully she found a black scarf that could match her outfit and cover the "love" mark easily. She walked out and was greeted by the soldiers.

"So, you guys have to be my bodyguards huh?" She asked. After not receiving a response she sighed. "Jeesh…hard to believe your Prompto's twins…" She mumbled walking with them staying a safe distance in tow. "Can…you guys lead me to where Lady Lunafreya is residing? I suck at directions and Altissia is really complicated…"

One of the MTs did a nod as if obeying orders and led her through the city to her apartment which was also guarded by soldiers. "Uh… I've come to meet Lady Lunafreya? Chancelor Izunia has given me permission…"

Without words, they stepped away from the door allowing her to go through. When she entered, she saw the former princess of Tenebrae looking out the window but making a sharp head-turn when she entered.

"I…was not expecting visitors… Pryna?" she asked. The white fluffball was wagging her tail and approached Amy, who knelt to pet her affectionately.

"Um, Hello my lady. I'm Amy…. I don't know if you've heard of me. Seems like you and Noct's dogs love me." She said giving a smile. She always loved Luna. She didn't get enough credit in the game and she was bad-ass in Kingsglaive.

Luna's tension eased into a smile. "Oh hello. Yes, Gentiana has told me about you. I thought you were with Noctis and the others."

"They… have a full car at the moment… Iris is going to need a ride home and they can't fit six into the Regalia. I also… have a plan that needs your attention and approval. Is…it ok to call you Luna? I'm so used to Noctis calling you that." She asked sitting down across from her.

She smiled a very kind smile. "Yes, you may call me whatever you wish. What do you need from me?"

"Thanks Luna…" Amy frowned trying to find the words. "Do you… as the oracle… know how you're supposed to die?"

"That… vision is clouded." She frowned. "I know that summoning the six for Noctis' sake and using my power is weakening me physically, but I know not what is in store."

"Well… I do." She began. "I've… made a deal with the man who is responsible for your deaths. Yours and Ravus. He knows what I know and he knows I must save Eos by saving people. I decided that Joel and I will count towards the six I need to save. I will force him to stay if I need to. As for the other four… I have a way to save you… and Ravus. The same man kills you both at his own hand. The final two I could always try to get one or two of Noctis' friends to get a girlfriend or wife and have children to make up for it." She shrugged.

"How…do you know you can save us?" She asked concerned.

"Well… I've already spoken with him… as long as you both promise not to interfere with his plans… He will not kill you."

"May… may I ask whom you speak of?"

"As long as you promise not to prevent your death by my telling you." Amy urged. She wanted to trust Luna. She would be a wonderful ally and a great friend. She looked over to Gentiana who was ever so quiet and firm. She frowned but nodded in agreement. As much as she hated the "accursed" fallen king, she must know that Amy was right in this situation.

"Ardyn Izuna." Amy frowned in a low voice.

"The Chancellor?" She asked surprised.

"Yes… I promised him that if I can convince you and your brother not to interfere that he will not kill you. He will send you both away to a location that only he knows of which will protect you from daemons." She explained. This was true. On the way to Altissia, she had explained the situation. He told her that he would provide protection for them as long as Luna agreed to the terms. "In return, your death still has to be seen by Noctis and you still have to give your remaining power to him to defeat Leviathan. After giving him the ring, you and Ravus will be taken away. You will be reported deceased and Ravus will be considered missing. You…won't be able to see Noctis again, but this is the only way I can think of to make up for two of the deaths."

Luna frowned and looked out the window again. It seemed like she was pondering her options.

"It is all up to you Lady Lunafreya." Gentiana told her. "I do not approve, but I trust Amy's decisions to save this world from a threat higher than daemons."

"Right," Luna nodded. "Ok, I will accept. As long as my brother is safe and Noctis' fate stays the same."

"It will be. Thank you, Luna." She smiled.

The two women began a conversation. Amy never had many opportunities to talk to other girls except for Iris in that small timespan. She felt that as long as she was in Altissia maybe she could make a real girl friend. Amy was happy to be able to save she and Ravus. Their relationship could finally be rebuilt because of her. Neither had to die with worry of the other's love for the each other.

Amy's phone rang while they were in mid conversation. She laughed when she saw that it was Prompto. "Oh jeez, I bet he wants to check up on me."

"Who?" Luna asked.

"Prompto…"

"The boy I asked to be Noctis' friend?"

"Yes, one in the same. Should I answer? I'm sure Noct is with him… he might want to talk to you if…"

"I don't mind. You're doing all of this for me. I'd like to hear his voice even if it's the last time he will think of me alive before the ritual." Luna nodded.

"Ok." She said answering the phone. "Hey Prompto."

"Hey! How do you like Altissia?" he asked happily.

"It's really pretty here. I took some pictures if you want me to send them. I'm not as great as you are, but their decent I guess."

"Aw come on! You're pretty good!"

"If you say so." She chuckled. "Um… if Noct is there, I'm with Luna right now if he'd want to talk to her."

"Seriously? Ardyn let you talk to her?"

"Talk to who?" She heard Noctis' voice on the other side.

"Luna…"

Amy chuckled when she heard the fight for the phone. "Amy? You're with Luna?" 'Noct, that's my phone!'

"Yea Noct." She laughed. "If you want to, I can give her the…"

"Yes! I haven't spoken to her properly in ages!" she smiled. He sounded like a little kid. She handed Luna the phone without a word.

"Hello Noctis," she smiled kindly. Amy could tell she cared about him a lot. She felt bad for pairing her with Nix so much but she personally thought she and Noctis were better as good childhood friends. Not lovers. She listened to the one-sided conversation wondering if she should say anything but let them be. Luna deserved this. More than going back and forth with Umbra. Besides, she would have to go on years without anyone knowing that she was still alive except for Ardyn, Ravus, and Amy. It seemed like hours, but Amy didn't mind. She was grateful she was able to give Luna this time with him… even if it was short-lived.

As evening approached there was a knock on the door. Worried about keeping face, Amy reluctantly had to get the phone back from Luna. "Hey Noct, I'm really sorry about this, but someone's at the door… I'm not supposed to be giving her the phone so I gotta go."

She heard him sigh. "Alright. Thank you for letting me talk to her. And for letting Prom thank her for bringing us together."

"No problem Noct. Talk to you later." She said hanging up just in time for the door to burst open. She saw that the MTs that were given to her were put to sleep by someone. Two MTs rushed in and pointed their guns at Luna.

"Hey! What the hell is going on!" Amy said standing protectively with Kyoko in hand in front of the soldiers.

"Come now Amy, you don't think that I would think twice about killing Luna to ruin whatever plan you have with the Chancellor…" Joel walked in with a horrible smirk. He was controlling these soldiers and put down her bodyguards.

"Kill… Luna… Are you insane! She needs to bring forth Leviathan!" She yelled. "If you plan to do that then you have to kill me too. I won't watch you burn Eos to the ground."

Joel waved his hand and the soldiers backed off. "I will call them off… if you marry me and have my child. Every king needs a queen afterall." He said as he lifted her head to face him.

She glared. "Like Hell I'd marry you!" she yelled smacking his hand away. That was when he noticed her scarf. He took it off with one flick of the wrist causing her to cover her neck protectively. He pinned her to the wall and pried her hand off to see.

"Stop this this instant!" Luna ordered. "You cannot hurt her in front of me."

"If she doesn't struggle she won't get hurt…" he said waving his hand once more so the Niffs grabbed her to hold her back. He ripped her hand away to see the mark. "Who… who the hell did this to you?"
"That would be none of your business." Amy glared. She hoped she had coved it with make up now…

"Ardyn… Yes… it had to be. You with your stupid little crush on that daemon. You're such a slut, aren't you?" he yelled knocking Kyoko out of her hands and pulling on her hair in order to force her eyes to meet his. "You're tainted now. There's no way that I will marry you. If you love him so damn much, then I'll happily let you burn in Hell with him. I have a better idea for you. I'll leave Luna's fate in the Chancellor's hands for now."

He dragged her out of the room before Amy could even grab Kyoko or her cell phone. He forced her mouth to stay shut while they made their way into his bedroom and threw her on the bed pinning her down.

"New idea. I'll have my way with you, and if anyone tries to kill me I will have two of my Magitek soldiers kill Luna and then Ravus in a heartbeat which will destroy this world in that instant. Are you going to be good or must I hold you down?"

She glared. She couldn't believe what was going on. She had to get out of there and warn the bros. She kicked him where it hurts and tried to run only to be stopped by two shoulders who held her to the ground on her back.

"Sleep." Joel ordered forcing the soldiers to go dormant. There was no way out now. She had no choice. "There you go…slut." He hissed. He wrapped a handkerchief around her mouth so that she could not speak or scream. "Now, you're going to give me a child. If you try to take the infant away from me or kill it my soldiers will be ordered to kill the last of the Nox Fleuret family line. Don't forget to tell your boyfriend that." He whispered. "It's appalling that you would allow the accursed to take away your innocence. It makes you less than human."

As he did this horrible deed, Amy did all she could to not cry. She hated being helpless ever since she was an overweight child being bullied in school. That was her reason for learning Martial Arts. She would not let this moment break her. After what seemed like forever, it was it over. He woke the MTs and let her go.

"I'll be back tomorrow." He said as he left. "I do work for the Empire after all."

Amy sat against the bed on the floor with her knees in her arms. She refused to cry. She had to stay strong. She refused to allow that man to destroy the strong woman he had created. She flinched when the door burst open again. She looked up terrified only to find Ardyn staring down at her in anger. No black goo was present, but she could feel the rage radiating out of him.

"What happened?" He growled coming over to her causing her to back into the corner in fear. He blinked but then realized that she was scared of him. He took some visible breaths and lifted a hand to gently caress her cheek. "I apologize. I am not angry with you. You have done nothing wrong. Lunafreya had called me from your cellular device in a panic. She explained what had occurred in her room and I tried to get to you as fast as I could but I had no idea where to look. I did not think that he would take you to his place of dwelling." He told her softly. "Now, what happened? What did he do?"

She looked at his now kind face and couldn't take it anymore. She wrapped her arms around his neck and clung onto him without words. She cried. She couldn't keep it in. She hated showing herself as weak, especially to Ardyn, but at this moment all she wanted was comfort. This was the ultimate betrayal for her. She knew now there was no way that the Joel she remembered would come back to her. The Chancellor pulled her close and picked her up taking her back to his own room too afraid to send her back to her own. He would not let her out of his sight again… At least… unless she decided to go back to Noctis and his friends. Ardyn knew they would be able to protect her.