Sneaking into a facility, fighting off MTs and a gigantic robotic monkey were not things Noctis had expected to ever have to do. Maybe the first two things were already an easy given, but that last one still threw him for a loop.

However, what came next was probably ten levels beyond the last thing. He had already known about the machine known as Immortalis from the notes he had found with Prompto. It would be something of a challenge, but he hadn't expected it to be one gigantic robotic worm.

It wasn't exactly the type of thing you could fight normally. Thankfully there was a snowmobile that Aranea and Prompto boarded that had a machine gun attachment on the back.

All Noctis could do was follow along on his own snowmobile as he watched Prompto fire away at the machine that contained the essence of his creator. Whatever Prompto was feeling, Noctis knew this was something that he had to do on his own. Even if Noctis found a way to help fight, which considering the circumstances weren't all too easy, it was a fight meant for Prompto to finish.

"Can't imagine what he must be feeling… After all of that crap… I'll try and talk to him after."

With that in mind, Noctis kept his focus on driving forward. As much as he wanted to properly watch Prompto shoot down a gigantic, monstrous, metal worm, he had to keep himself from crashing.

Thankfully, it didn't take much later before all the red, glowing cores in the machine were dying out, and the worm came collapsing down into the snow. With it lying there, still and no longer full of energy, the trio made their way up a hill to gain a better view.

"Holy mother of Shiva," Prompto murmured as he sat himself down on the snowmobile. "Did I really take that thing down?"

Noctis stepped up next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You did, and it was all you."

"It's just… I never thought I could take on something like that, let alone do it on my own," Prompto replied, leaning on the snowmobile's console.

"You alright?" Aranea asked him.

Prompto nodded slowly. "Yeah. This is what I needed… what I wanted."

"Then say it like you mean it. You did good, kid," Aranea replied.

Prompto smiled, pointing finger guns towards her. "Couldn't have done it without you, gurl!"

Noctis chuckled. "Really?"

Prompto shrugged. "She was a help, can't deny that. But seriously though, thanks Aranea."

"Yeah," Noctis added. "Thanks for coming to help."

"Guess we better get going. If we wanna try and find Gladio and Iggy and take back the Crystal, we shouldn't waste any more time."

Aranea smiled. "Well, don't get ahead of yourself, boys. Take it one step at a time."

Grinning widely, Prompto gave a firm nod. "Will do!"

"Alright then, if you two are that determined, then Gralea's straight ahead. Go rejoin your friends."

Noctis and Prompto said their goodbyes to Aranea before Noctis got on the back of the snowmobile behind Prompto. "Ready to go?"

"Hm, yeah, let's get a move on."

Noctis held on tightly to Prompto as the rush of the wind against his face. He closed his eyes, however, keeping his head nicely rested against Prompto's back.

Everything would be smooth sailing from here, or he had to hope it would be. Unfortunately, with what had happened so far, he didn't have a lot of confidence in something like that.

No doubt they would cross paths again with Ardyn. It was clear he was going to shove his grimy face wherever they went, regardless of what Noctis said or did. However, now that Noctis was aware of the man's antics, he wasn't going to let any more illusions get to him. He would keep himself from caving into his emotions, not giving in to any underlying rage that Ardyn would try to awaken.

"And if I see him again, I'll make him really pay for what he did back on the train," Noctis thought.

It didn't take long before the snowmobile had finally ran out of gas, leaving Prompto and Noctis to make the rest of the trip on foot. The winds had thankfully died down, but that didn't stop the frigid cold temperature from breathing down their necks.

"Can't you like, summon Titan or someone and have them carry us the rest of the way? I bet that big dude could do it in five steps. Or even Ramuh? We could cling to that beard of his and he could float all the way to Gralea?" Prompto asked.

"The Astrals don't just let me summon them wherever. They just decide to show up when they think I need help," Noctis explained.

Prompto groaned. "And being marooned in the middle of the tundra isn't something you'd need help with? Oh! What about Shiva?"

Noctis sighed, watching his breath in front of him. "Don't have a convent with her. Don't even know how I'd get it… considering…"

"Oh, right. Yeah, kind of forgot the whole 'Shiva was killed here and that's why there's the endless winter' thing."

Prompto stared up at the sky, letting a few snowflakes fall onto his face. "So guess that means more walking, yeah?"

"Yup," Noctis agreed dryly. "So much walking…"

"Ah, only a spoiled prince would dare to complain at the concept of walking."

At the sound of Ardyn's voice, both boys looked behind them, finding Ardyn sauntering towards him.

"Stay back!" Noctis hissed, pulling out the gun he had collected from the base.

"Haven't you done enough?" Prompto added, pulling out his own gun.

Ardyn shook his head. "Tsk tsk, after everything you've been through, and still no manners."

"After everything you've pulled, I don't think manners matter," Noctis hissed.

"Well then, if manners don't matter anymore, then I see no need to go about this lightly."

Ardyn snapped his fingers and a wave of darkness burst forth towards the two boys. With seconds to spare, Noctis tried to grab onto Prompto before the wave hit him, pulling his mind instantly into darkness.

When Noctis woke up, there were already several things telling him that something had gone terribly wrong. He was in shackles that were chained to a wall behind him, and from a quick glance he could tell he was in some cell that was cold and dark.

But what was more alarming was the fact that he was all by himself.

"Prompto?!" he shouted as loudly as he could.

His voice echoed off the walls, fading into the distance.

He tried again.

"Prompto! Prompto can you hear me!? Where are you!?"

His heart was hammering now, pouding harshly against his ribcage. With each fading echo of his voice, his heart only ran faster.

"Come on Prompto! Can you hear me?! Please answer!"

Suddenly, Ardyn walked across the front of the cell gate. The very sight of him stopped all of the fear in Noctis's blood, instead replacing it with rage.

"You shouldn't shout so much or you may strain your voice," Ardyn replied dryly.

"Where the fuck is Prompto!? What did you do to him!?"

"That's not something I feel you need to know. After all, what does it matter? He was nothing more than some defective clone."

"He isn't! He is better than any of those clones!" Noctis replied sharply, making sure he didn't fall into Ardyn's trap to talk about Prompto in the past tense.

Ardyn only grinned. "Ah yes, you do show such consideration and care for him, don't you. My… What would your people think? To know their prince, oh excuse me, their king cares for nothing more than a failed science experiment? A Niflheim experiment no less."

"You better shut up, or I'll-"

"You'll what? You're currently chained to a wall, can't access your magic, and your poor Prompto is gods knows where. I'm afraid you don't have all too many options to work with."

Noctis gritted his teeth, barring them sharply towards Ardyn. He knew all too well that he was playing right into Ardyn's game. The man wanted him to get riled, to become so mad he'd make some irrational decision. Maybe he was hoping that there was a chance that Noctis would become desperate, pleading for Prompto's safe return.

As much as Noctis desperately wanted Prompto back, more than anything else at the moment, he still tried to keep some rational thought. He would find a way, without having to give into anything that Ardyn could suggest.

"I'll get Prompto back, you'll see. Then once we find Ignis and Gladio, we'll find the Crystal. We're still going to take back what is ours and save Eos."

Ardyn sighed, growing displeased. "Well, that's a rather boring answer. But… I suppose it's what we have to make do with. At least we have something to look forward to. Please, continue to put on a good show for me."

Noctis tried to stand, trying to move himself forward towards the front of the cell. He only managed a few inches before the chains connected to the cuffs pulled tight, preventing any further movement. "You're not getting any show! I'm going to make you pay for what you did on the train!"

"Always putting Prompto first, isn't it? Truly, it shows that he is your heart's desire above all else," Ardyn taunted.

The words struck down deep into Noctis's heart, blazing with such strength he was afraid it could actually burn him.

If it hadn't been anyone else claiming that Prompto was his heart's desire, he probably would've accepted it easily by this point. Maybe he'd blush with embarrassment at first, but for Prompto's sake he would gladly declare it.

But the fact that Ardyn was the one saying it made the words sound tainted.

He hated that now he'd never be able to think about those words without the voice of Ardyn's slinky tone echoing in the back of his mind.

"You wouldn't know anything about a heart's desire!" Noctis spat.

Ardyn's amusement faded from his face, morphing into one almost devoid of any emotion. "Oh, you're right. I could have never been capable of such a feat. After all, I'm clearly the monster in your little adventure, and we all know monsters can't be capable of any feelings."

It was clear Ardyn was trying to hint at something. The way he used those words with his tone emphasizing clear annoyance indicated there was more that Ardyn would ever let on. None of it really interested Noctis however, as he saw no reason to learn any backstory of the man who had been a big thorn in his side during his entire journey.

Noctis refused to play into any of Ardyn's games. He glared long and hard, keeping his internal resolve straight. He would get out of here, find Prompto, get back to Ignis and Gladio, and then deal with the crystal.

"If that's all you want to say, then I might as well take my leave. Maybe some time alone will be good to reflect. After all, you're only here because of yourself."

Noctis gritted his teeth as he watched Ardyn walk off, holding back a bated breath until he truly knew that he was alone.

He didn't want to admit it, but he knew that Ardyn was partly right. He was only chained up here cause he had initially followed after Prompto. He was separated from his Hand and Shield all because he made one rash decision to jump off a train after his friend.

As he hung his head low, he could feel a power surging against his chest pocket.

The Ring of Lucii.

He had forgotten about it entirely ever since this entire ordeal began.

"I could have been using it this entire time…" he thought solemnly. "I just… didn't even think. Some king I am…"

He couldn't do anything right, not without making a mess of everything first. If only he had thought before he acted… maybe then he could have been better prepared for when Ardyn showed up.

"Maybe I should have thought before even jumping off the train… but then Prompto would've been on his own. How could I even make a decision to not go after him?"

He couldn't even begin to fathom the idea of having Prompto be all on his own. Prompto was strong, and he had proved himself more than once, but Noctis still hated the idea of Prompto facing his origins without anyone to talk to about it. He remembered how Prompto had held that burning stick near his wrist. Noctis's gut twisted with fear on what would have happened if he hadn't been there to stop Prompto.

He could only let his thoughts haunt him, lingering in the back of his head.

Until he figured out a way to get free, he wasn't able to do anything else.