Disclaimer: not mine

I'm getting there in replaying FFXV, got all the royal arms in Lucis plus got the guys up to level 62! Just competed Crestholm Channels, I always get so lost in there.

Chapter 16

They made camp at a Haven within the Malmalam Thicket, while they could travel at night since daemons wouldn't attack, it was still safer in the day when all members of the party could see properly. The Tomb was one of those on the list given to them by the King, unlike the one at Ravatogh. If he could collect all of the marked ones, then Noctis would have one more Royal Arm than his Father, and Noctis was excited by that idea. The more he could collect, the more proof he had that the Lucii still accepted him. The only thing better would be to forge the Covenants but to do that he'd need Luna's help, he knew that much, it took the Oracle to wake the Astrals. Though the Crystal's blessing was pretty much a mark of Bahamut's blessing anyway.

Was he still the Chosen King? Was that why he hadn't been abandoned like all other Royals who had been turned? He still didn't know much about the whole thing, except he was meant to banish some sort of Darkness, that wasn't exactly a lot to go on.

At first light they were on the move again, slogging ever deeper into the Thicket, fighting their way through Soldier Wasps and Mandrakes. Reaching the clearing at the end, they were not at all happy to find a Bandersnatch between them and the Tomb. The only way to the Tomb was to take it out. It would be the biggest fight they had been in since Noctis' turning.

Prompto leapt for the high ground, hiding in the rocks and taking aim for an eye. He fired and the animal roared in pain and rage even as Noctis hurled his sword, warping after the blade, burying it deep in the Bandersnatch's side, using his body weight and new strength to drag the blade downwards. Gladio bashed his Shield into its leg to try and overbalance it, while Iggy darted in and out, lance in hand. Noctis could hear Prompto firing away whenever an opening presented itself and then his Sire was beside him, firing into the open mouth. They darted back as the Bandersnatch collapsed, dead. They'd done it! And with no injuries a basic potion couldn't fix.

Noctis unlocked the tomb and went inside, holding his hand out over the Sceptre of the Pious, that made four Royal Arms. He absently rubbed his chest as the magic faded, it felt cold and strange, but it didn't hurt.

"The next closest Tombs are of the Just and Tall," Iggy informed them as they made their way out of the Thicket. They promptly ducked back in as they saw an older woman walking along the path. She was dressed like a civilian, hunched over somewhat, but they all knew better than to judge by appearance.

"Come out you should. Vampires welcome here are not," she called, something rather odd about her manner of speech.

Noctis stepped out and Prompto hissed in alarm. He stood before her and then bowed slightly in greeting, making sure not to make eye contact. "I apologise if we've upset you ma'am, but I was sent here to claim the Royal Arm hidden in the Thicket. We don't mean you any harm."

"Hmmm…Lucis Caelum are ye?"

"Noctis Lucis Caelum, Crown Prince of Lucis, ma'am." There was no point trying to hide it. He saw the flash of pity in her expression and forced himself not to react, feeling Prompto move into a better position to cover him if needed.

"Worthless to you the power here is now," she told him sternly and in answer Noctis held out his hand, summoning the Sceptre, seeing the sheer shock on her face.

"I know I'm the first not to be abandoned by the Crystal and Lucii," he told her. "The laws of Lucis are changing to encourage acceptance and living together in peace. I didn't ask for this, neither did my Sire, but we're doing our best to live with what we are. We're not hunting people," he explained.

She eyed him, studying him, before looking into the rocks and bushes. "If done what ye came for, then go you should," she finally said before turning and walking away. Noctis watched her go and then the others appeared, Prompto pulling him close briefly.

"Noct…"

"People are less likely to interfere with a Royal on Pilgrimage, especially so close to the Tomb. The Lucii tend to get annoyed when we're stopped. Besides, you had my back."

"Please be more careful in future," Prompto whispered.

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Iggy sighed, eyes half closed, as Master gently fed from him, their naked bodies pressed close together. He loved it when the fed from him, it was the best feeling in the world. He knew Gladio felt the same about it too. He wished they could always feed from him, but he knew it was impossible, the human body just didn't produce that much blood that quickly. "Master," he whispered, clinging to him, feeling him lick at his throat to seal the wound.

"Love you Iggy," Master whispered in his ear and Ignis gasped in pleasure.

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Ignis slowed the car to a stop as Prompto swore softly. It seemed their run of luck had run out. The downside to the Royal announcements, the Empire could guess some of the areas they would be moving through. It was actually surprising that they hadn't run into a blockade earlier.

"What do we do?" Noct asked as they got out and moved to get a better look from concealment. Thankfully they were downwind, and his nose wrinkled at the scents coming from the blockade. "What is that smell?"

"MT's," Prompto answered tightly and Noctis reached for his hand, squeezing gently. "There's at least one vampire too."

"What do we do? The only other way by road takes us through Lestallum," Iggy whispered. They were avoiding the city because if Noctis was going to be recognised anywhere, it was the second largest city in Lucis…and it was well under Imperial control. If not for the Empires' presence they would have gone there since it allowed non-human residents.

"We'll have to go on foot," Gladio offered the only other option.

"Why blockade the road, why not wait at the Tomb?" Noctis asked, it made more sense to him to wait for them at the Tomb since it'd take less troops and gain less attention.

"They may not know its exact location," Iggy offered.

"Guess we're going in on foot then," Prompto told them and they went back to the car, leaving it in a parking area so it wouldn't stand out. While they'd be faster if the guys stayed behind, they might need the numbers if the Empire had found the Tomb.

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Regis read the version of the laws that had been sent back to him, picking up a pen. Some of the revisions they had made he immediately crossed out, someone was trying to be sneaky, but he would not allow them to water it down or even slip in such harsh penalties. It was obvious some did not want the laws to change, but it was well past time.

It was interesting to see that the refugees were actually being treated better by the rest of the population of Insomnia, obviously they preferred them over non-human residents – except it turned out that many refugees had managed to conceal their true race, King Nyx was the most obvious example.

He looked up as the door opened, Cor moving inside so he waved him to his normal chair. "Trouble?" he asked, hoping not, and thankfully Cor shook his head.

"Ulric asked to meet with me privately not long after that first meeting. I've been doing what research I can since and I can't find anything that would contradict what he told me," Cor admitted, and Regis set his work fully aside.

"Cor? Are you alright?" he asked in concern, was he ill?

"I'm not ill," his old friend assured him, obviously realising what he'd be thinking. "I'm just not…as entirely human as was assumed."

Regis blinked, ran that last bit over again and then looked at Cor. There was no way he was a vampire or a werewolf. "Fey?" he offered, and Cor nodded. Well, that actually explained a lot. "I would assume it is well back in the family tree since you don't look like one," he smirked, teasing him, seeing a little tenseness fade away. "Cor, you are one of my oldest friends and nothing will ever change that," he swore. If anyone ever found out, it wouldn't matter anymore, not with the changes he'd been making. Cor's loyalty and bravery was beyond reproach. How could think it would matter to him or anyone who knew him? His son was now a vampire, compared to finding out that Cor's great-great-great grandparent was fey? Well, he personally had no issue accepting either of them, no matter what.

Cor nodded and they began to speak of how the various experts had tried to alter the new laws to make them favour the old ones as much as possible.

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Noctis held his hand out over the Shield of the Just, adding it to his Armiger. Despite being on foot, they'd made reasonable time, though they'd been forced to camp for the night with no fire due to the Imperial presence. They'd spotted a drop ship but had managed to get under cover before they were spotted so it had flown by. They left the Tomb and headed back the way they'd come only for Prompto to yelp in pain, dropping to one knee, blood staining his shirt. Gladio summoned his shield, getting between them and where the shot had come from as Ignis broke a Hi-potion over Prompto, thankfully they worked on them as well as they did humans, tissue was tissue. Noctis summoned the Engine Blade, eyes scanning for their attacker before going wide.

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Pelna glanced down at his phone and then ducked away to quickly answer it as soon as he recognised the name flashing up. He hadn't heard from the group in a while, but he'd seen the papers, obviously they'd been given sanctuary somewhere for a while. "Noct?" he asked carefully.

"Pelna help!" the Prince sounded terrified.

"What's happened?" he asked, jogging towards his truck.

"It's Gladio…they came outta nowhere. We…" Noctis choked back a sob and Pelna's eyes went wide.

"Where are you?" he asked as he started the engine.

"Near Saxham Outpost," was the shaky answer.

"I'm on my way kid," the word slipped out before he realised, and he cringed. He'd just called the Prince kid! "How bad is it?" Didn't the Prince have access to magical healing drinks or something? He'd heard about that kind of things from those in Insomnia.

"He…he got mauled bad…by a wolf."

Pelna nearly went off the road in shock. There was only one being the term wolf applied to. Stories said the actual animals had once existed, before the Astral War but there was no real proof either way. "Okay…get him patched up and keep him warm. I'm not all that far away. Keep your heads down till I get there. What happened to the attacker?"

"Dead…they hurt Gladio and I…"

"Okay, it's okay, you were defending him," Pelna soothed even as Noctis choked on another sob and then there was the sound of someone else taking the phone.

"Be careful, we had to go to the Tomb on foot, there are Imperial blockades around," Prompto told him.

"Right, see you soon." He hung up to focus on driving. Why had they been attacked and who had been dumb enough to do it? if anything had happened to the Prince it could have undone all the work the King had been doing. Unless…that had been the idea?

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Prompto turned, gun coming up, only to let it go to fall into the Armiger as he recognised the man who entered the trees they were using for cover. Pelna raised his hands, eyes lowered, obviously realising they were on edge. "You came," he murmured, relieved. Pelna had become a friend but they hadn't seen him in months, and he hadn't been sure he'd come, now he felt bad for doubting the wolf.

"Of course I did. Where is he?" he asked and Prompto led him deeper into the trees. They hadn't set the tent up but Gladio was wrapped up in a sleeping bag, naked, Ignis holding him, sharing body heat. Noctis was with them, obviously tense and he snarled, crouching, as soon as Pelna's scent reached him.

"Easy Noct," Prompt quickly moved to his side, wrapping an arm around his waist. "It's just Pelna, he won't hurt Gladio, you know that," he soothed, gently nuzzling the younger vampire who slowly relaxed, eyes returning to their normal dark blue.

"Sorry," Noct whispered to Pelna who nodded and moved closer.

"It's okay, no harm done. You're just trying to protect them," Pelna offered an understanding smile before kneeling beside Gladio and Iggy.

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Pelna wasn't at all offended by the Prince snarling and snapping at him with black eyes and fangs extended, considering how young he was Pelna thought he'd been very controlled in his response to smelling a wolf close by so soon after they'd been attacked. He carefully reached down, checking the Shields pulse manually as well as listening to it. Weaker than it should be but not life threateningly so. His skin was cold and clammy, breathing a little fast but he'd likely lost a fair amount of blood. He could smell the scent of at least three individual wolves lingering on all of the group.

"You shy or semi covered in there?" he asked the other man in the bag who must be….Scientia, who shook his head, reaching for the zipper. Pelna stopped him, undoing it himself to get a look at Gladio, wincing in sympathy as he saw the wounds.

"They didn't heal," Noct whispered shakily. "Even…even with a Phoenix Down."

"They were in wolf form?" he asked and Prompto nodded. "Then nothing'll heal them except time and the scars will stay," he explained. He studied the wounds closely and then looked up at the Prince. "I need to lean in real close, okay?" he asked gently, seeing pale hands grip tightly at Prompto's jacket but Noct nodded.

Pelna shifted a little and leant in, pressing his nose practically right to his skin, taking in everything he could, before sitting up again with a sigh.

"Pelna?"

He looked up at Prompto. "He's infected," he confirmed.

He heard the soft whine of distress from the Prince who pressed closer to his Sire for comfort, the blond holding him close, burying his face in black hair. He heard the gasp from Scientia who wrapped himself tighter around the unconscious man. That wasn't all he'd smelt, he'd smelt Prompto's blood in them, they were blood bonded to the vampire. Not something he personally agreed with, but he didn't know the circumstances.

"Wolves can't be bound," he warned. "He'll have a lot to learn." He lived on the road and they were travelling too for some Royal Pilgrimage thing, that would make things difficult. It could take months, maybe even years, for Gladio to learn to control himself during the full moon.

"But he'll be okay?" Scientia asked desperately.

Pelna looked at him and wished he could say for certain. "It's too soon to tell, the first week is the danger period. He survives that and he'll live. The fact he got such quick medical intervention raises his chances since a lot of those who die do so because they lose too much blood or go into shock before the infection can counteract it." It was why he'd nearly died several times after being infected, because he'd been so close to death already. Nyx had used a far more controlled method to infect him too, he didn't think Gladio's attackers had been aiming to infect him either, they'd been aiming to kill.

He dug into his bag and pulled out a jar, opening it and hearing both vampires gag at the smell. "Sorry, I know it stinks but it'll help," he told them before beginning to slather it over Gladio's wounds, surprised when Scientia took some to help.

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Noctis watched them work, hand pressed to his nose and mouth. What was in that stuff?! How could Pelna stand it? he wanted to help, he did, but it was like he was frozen in place. He kept seeing it over and over, the wolf lunging for him, trying to bring his sword up to block it, knowing he wouldn't be fast enough, and then…Gladio was there. He'd never forget his screams no matter how long he existed. He'd never heard Gladio scream, not even when he'd gotten that scar on his face a few year back. For the first time, he'd managed an elemental spell without a flask, frying the wolf as it tore into Gladio further. They'd been insane, mindless beasts, and they'd nearly killed Gladio.

Uncle Clarus would never forgive him. Still, he pulled out his phone and brought up the right number.

"Noct?"

"It's my fault. I...I have to tell him."

Prompto spun him around a hand gently stroking his cheek and Noct couldn't help leaning into his touch despite knowing he didn't deserve the comfort. "It isn't your fault. It's their fault for attacking us. Protecting you is what he's trained all his life to do, he won't blame you."

"Won't he? What if…what if he hates me now?" Without the bond, how would Gladio feel about him, about all of them? Would he leave, go find a pack somewhere? Would he try to take Iggy away too?

"Shh," Sire whispered, kissing his temple, and Noctis felt himself relax, pressing closer to him, seeking comfort. He closed his eyes, leaning against him, inhaling the scent that screamed safety and home now. He didn't care that Pelna could see or what he might think.

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Pelna did see the Prince pressing as close as physically possible to his Sire, body gradually relaxing as Prompto held him up, whispering too softly for Pelna to make out. It was pure comfort and nothing more and it was good to see. A lot of vampires wouldn't make that kind of effort, they'd just use the bond to make the younger vampire calm down or even forget about what had upset them.

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Noctis hit dial and waited for the phone to be answered, now sitting in Prompto's lap behind where Iggy was lying, Pelna on the other side of Gladio, monitoring him.

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Clarus looked down at his phone, surprised by the caller id. He excused himself from the department meeting and went to an empty room down the hall to answer it. "Noctis? Is everything alright?" he asked and heard Noctis' breathing hitch in response, considering his Prince no longer needed to breath…

"It's…it's Gladio," Noctis choked out and Clarus' heart sank.

"Noctis?" he asked, forcing himself to remain calm. He had feared his son dead when Noctis had gone missing and had been proven wrong, he would not jump to conclusions.

"They came out of nowhere, no warning. I…I couldn't get my sword up in time to block and he…" Noctis paused and Clarus heard Prompto in the background, murmuring something to him. "I'm sorry Uncle Clarus. He's alive but…but Pelna says he's definitely infected."

Clarus felt his legs go out from under him, ending up on the floor. Gladio…

"Clarus!" Noctis shouted, dropping the Uncle in alarm, obviously hearing him go down.

"He's alive?" he demanded, needing to hear it again and he heard the sound of the phone being handed over.

"Lord Amicitia? My name is Pelna, I'm the Galahdan wolf who's been doing supply runs for the group. Your son is alive and has received medical aid from the Prince as well as a salve that we use for wounds. He's stable at the moment but unconscious."

Clarus relaxed some at that, his son was alive. Badly wounded, changed for life, but alive. But… "At the moment?"

"The first week after infection is dangerous sir…not everyone makes it," the wolf admitted. "I almost didn't but I was half dead already when found and given the offer to try and save my life. The wolves weren't trying to infect anyone though, they were aiming to kill, they just attacked the wrong group."

That was definitely true. He didn't know how well Argentum could fight, though Gladio had praised his shooting, but the other three had been trained since childhood and had magic. The thought that his son may die… "Where are you?" he asked. He would speak with Regis, he would understand, and he had Cor if anything happened. Unbeknown to everyone outside of the three of them and King Nyx, Regis also had two of the wolves close at hand now too, slipped into the Crownsguard as the children of immigrants. He waited, able to hear faint talking in the background.

"We'll be in the Longwythe area in a few days," that was Argentum's voice.

"I'll meet you there," he told them before going to find Regis.

TBC…