Chapter Twenty

He didn't know how it had been possible, but for just a few moments, Noctis felt Prompto near. He had felt him through the thick darkness he was trapped in. And when he had called, Prompto had answered.

It didn't feel like the nightmare or all of Ardyn's tricks from before. If felt like Prompto, actually Prompto. And he had answered like Prompto would.

Noct didn't know how it was entirely possible, but they were working on it. Were those few strange memories of water raining down on him as Ignis held him actually real? Is that how they'd known?

Noctis thought it had been a strange addition to the dream, but it had come and gone so quickly, Noctis had almost forgotten it.

As Prompto had appeared, Noctis suddenly remembered them. He had friends, by his side. Gladio, Ignis, Prompto. All of them. They hadn't given up on him, and they were still fighting for him. So, he could still fight too.

The storm progressed through the evening and into the night. The wind picked up and rattled the shudders on the windows, threatening to rip them from their hinges. They spent the evening with the hotel door open, heavy crates borrowed from the doctor to keep the door from banging back and forth. It was the only way they could get any air flow in the room.

Noct's heartrate started to slow down, and Dr. Stone had had to increase Noct's drugs to control his heartrate, a sign that Noct was settling further into his coma, rather than the other way. It wasn't what they wanted to hear.

Meanwhile, Ignis and Prompto finally succumbed to resting in bed, though Ignis still spent the evening sitting up in bed, mending the last of Noct's clothing. He was nearly done, and in his own words, wouldn't leave it to later, no matter how much Gladio pestered him to leave it be. Prompto slept fitfully next to him in the bed. Ignis felt for him, knowing that when he too finally slept, he'd probably experience much the same.

Gladio was the only one who braved the heavy rain to the Crow's Nest Diner that evening. He chose a booth well in the back, out of most other customers' ear shot.

After ordering a dish and chips and a Crow's Nest brew, he called Cor for his nightly update. He relayd the information regarding Prompto and Ignis' symptoms and the lack of change in Noct's condition.

"I think it might be time we consider moving his highness," Cor said thoughtfully after Gladio's updates. "Despite his deteriorating condition, if his retinue is unable to protect him, it may be the best option."

"It's one of the reasons I called," Gladio said. "Though to move him would be to kill him, sir. According to Dr. Stone. I tried having the conversation earlier and was shut down."

"Then I will send some men," Cor replied. "And I will see to it personally."

"What about the Chancellor, sir?" Gladio asked. "We still need to know what his intentions are."

"I'm hitting dead ends as it is," Cor replied. "It may be that the real fight is just beginning."

"How do you mean, sir?"

"The storm that is currently in your area. Eyewitness reports alerted us to an abnormally large imperial presence just before the storm broke."

"Something tells me we know where they are headed," Gladio said, now watching out the window into the storm raging around him.

"I'm heading there now," Cor said. "The storm may be both to our detriment as to our benefit. We may not be able to move quickly in the storm, but neither can the empire. And we know for certain where you are located."

"Yes, sir," Gladio said. Cor hung up and Gladio got his food to go, heading back through the rain and growing wind.

Just as Gladio walked through the door, Prompto bolted upright in bed, sweat pouring down his face.

"They're coming!" he yelled into the room, a wild look on his face. Everyone jumped.

Ignis grabbed Prompto by the arm as though attempting to keep him from striking out. Gladio leapt to the side as Prompto somehow yanked himself free from Ignis' grasp and slipped out of the bed and went pelting out into the rain.

"Where the hell are you going?" Gladio called after him, stunned, still holding his beer and chips.

"Gladio," Ignis yelled. "You must get him back here!"

"Dammit all!" Gladio threw his food onto the bed, turned on his heel, and bolted back into the rain after Prompto, but he was quickly lost in all the rain.

Prompto had been stuck in deep fever dreams of heat and darkness filled with chaos, fighting, anger, and hopelessness. And then somewhere within the dreams, a light seemed to shine in. He had never experienced such a light, brighter than the noonday sun. But somehow, he knew what it was. It was from her. From the Oracle. Lady Lunafreya. The messengers drew close.

Prompto had ripped himself from sleep, was up and out the door, following the light that now led him. Forgetting his shoes, his manners, his sanity, he sprinted toward the light, never looking back.

He tore past the Regalia and the manager's booth and out into the forest behind Taelpar Rest Area. The lights of the rest area receded behind him, and he continued on, never slowing, the light leading him onward.

For the first time since leaving the Crown City, Prompto didn't have a fear of daemons, or of wild animals, giant insects, or even snakes. The light would protect him, of this he was certain. He didn't take time to think, not ro even regard how he was getting there. Slipping and tripping his way through the forest, he simply picked himself up and was off again at a dead run. He slapped through the bushes, sailed over roots, tore by trees, until finally, he skidded to a stop. Beathing heavily, Prompto fell to his knees and buried himself into Umbra's fur.

"Good boy, Umbra," Promto said muffled. "Good, good boy! Noct's been waiting for you!" He scratched Umbra's ears and coat with gusto, as Umbra licked his face. A grin spread wide across Prompto's fevered features. Then he looked up into the eyes of Gentiana. "It's great to see you too, your –" He faltered, suddenly unsure of how to address her.

"Gentiana is suitable for the dear friends of his highness, the king of the stone," she smiled down on him.

Prompto blushed a deep scarlet.

"Come," Gentiana said serenely. "Let us make hast to his highness." She offered her hand to Prompto who was still on his knees. He took it, and a coolness suddenly spread up from his fingers through his body, and the lingering heat that seemed to be overtaking him, dissolved like ice into water.

"Prompto! Prompto!" Gladio called, charging through the rain and wind and forest. Wet leaves slapped him, he vaulted over sopping roots, and cursed his way through the underbrush after the delirious boy. The manager had directed Gladio to the forest behind the hotel and thankfully, once Prompto had hit the forest, his trail was rather obvious to follow.

"Prompto!" Gladio called again. "The hell did you get to?!"

His anger began to grow, his concern amplifying it. He gnawed at the bit to return to noctis. With the empire making its move, of all the times, this was not one to be prancing into the forest on a stormy night after a delirious Prompto, who he hated to admit, had his sprinting down to a science.

"Prompto!" Gladio yelled once again. After ten minutes, he thought about turning around and trying again when there was light. And other Crownsguard to help. It was too dark, too wet, and the storm was setting to a constant howl. But Prompto – he couldn't leave him. But he shouldn't have left Noctis either.

Finally reaching a small copse of trees, Gladio found a rock, climbed atop it, and searched the darkness. The rain made it impossible to see past a few feet. A fork of lightning punched the sky, and it was then that Gladio caught sight of that familiar blonde hair, now plastered across the kid's head. But he was with someone.

Gladio drew his genji blade and jumped down to meet Prompto, raising it to protect him.

Prompto jumped in between Gladio and the other figure.

"No, Gladio!" Prompto yelled, jumping between Gladio and the other. In disbelief, Gladio let the genji blade disappear into the ether, realization dawning on his features.

"There is little time," Gentiana said.

Gladio merely nodded, then turned and ran back the way he had come, Prompto, Umbra, and Gentiana following behind.