True to their word, the four returned upon the sun's final light. Chrome unceremoniously stood, plodding her way to the edge of the cage and once again wrapping her hands around its thick bars.

The prince was the first to arrive, far enough away from her reach. He had a stern, professional expression. It was difficult to believe that they were roughly the same age. He crossed his arms, cocking his head, "We've come to a decision. We're letting you out."

"Fools."

"Ah-Ah…" Prompto added from behind, waving his finger in her direction. It did little to quash her frustration as he added a wry smile to his lips, "It comes at a price."

"Not one I truly approve of but…if means must…" The tactician spoke, glasses glowing dimly in the fading sunlight.
Gladio stepped forward. A fire began to burn deep within her, gnawing deeply at her own molars. Daringly, he clutched the bars a few inches from her reach. His eyes twinkled, his countence filled with utter glee at her dismay, "You're going to be strapped to one of us at all times."

"I will not be reduced to a common pet!" She scoffed, letting go with a violent thrust.

Gladio's eyes widened as he felt the reverberation of her shove, "Not more than two days ago, you tried to kill us."

Ignis added, "Not to mention you're still wearing those Empire fatigues…"

Chrome peered down. It was difficult to see the white of the signature Niflheim uniform. Hers had been a very standard minor commander's set, a long jacket and dark bottoms with a Nif emblem emblazed for all to see at its back. Her gloves had long been cast aside in favor of her sharpened claw-like nails. Her boots were mere scraps of leather now, barely clinging to her feet.

"And you…stink." Prompto remarked with a slight giggle. She pound her fist against the metal with a grunt, he jumped back again. Every word and sound that came from her supposed brother was making her blood boil. She was embarrassed to share the same genetic line with him. She only responded to his claim with a chuff of air through her nostrils.

"Is there not a woman in the facility? If I am aided to the restroom, I can cleanse myself."

"We've already spoken with Cindy. She's coming soon, she had to finish work on another car…" Noctis affirmed. "But if you try to hurt her."

Her eyes locked with his, "There was no one named Cindy in my report. Beyond that, I am highly against harming my sisters. I do not hurt women."

"Good to know…" The prince rolled his eyes and waved Gladio back. The Shield chuckled and let go. She nearly lunged but paused, seeing another platter in Ignis' hands. She opened her palms in surrender, stomach writing with hunger.

Ignis cleared his throat, "Calmly, and gently, hand me the other one please."

Chrome obeyed without word, desperately reaching down and gripping the empty plate and platter from the morning meal. She set it down, barely at the edge of their small cage door. Ignis bent over, grabbing at it. Chrome watched silently as he slid the new food within.

She pried it open. Her heart sank. A soup. A familiar soup. It was chock full to the brim with delicious vegetables. It had an aromatic broth, pinched perfectly with seasonings and complemented nicely with a fat chunk of fresh bread. "You're lucky the prince dislikes his veggies. You get an extra serving tonight."

She stared into the bowl, a recollection starting to fill her heart. "Where…did you learn to cook this…?"

The chef paused, face unchanged from its scowl, "I always have cooked. I mostly gather ideas upon finding the right ingredients. You're not allergic to anything, are you?"

"No." She affirmed, turning her back to him and sitting with legs crossed to spoon the meal into her awaiting maw. Satisfied, Ignis quickly turned and left the garage.

The men all dissipated, vanishing from sight. The door opened and closed. After her soup was finished, it was pried open once more.

A woman now approached the cage. She had short, bouncy blonde hair. Her skin was tawny with sun exposure, green sparkling eyes were barely visible under her black hat. A fresh coat of oil coated her face, more than enough of her skin was exposed with her outfit. "I thought the Shield was lacking in clothes."

"Oh hush." The woman spoke with a thick accent, slightly familiar to Chrome. "You're the troublemaker them boys told me about, well…lookit you."

"What of it?"

"You can cut the tough guy act out girlie. What's your deal?"

"It's not an act!" She slammed her fist down, spilling what remained of her broth. She winced, watching it soak into the concrete. "Some garage you have here, I haven't seen that large door open once for any vehicles."

"This is the spare room anyhow. I do most my work outside." She gathered something on the spare chair nearby, sighing, "Are you really going to make me chain you up with this? Door's already locked, so it's just you and me. There's nowhere to get to in the bathroom."

A heavy-looking shackle was dangling from her finger, waving back and forth in the shadows. It connected to cold chains, and a secondary shackle.

"No." Chrome swore, backing away from the door. "But I suppose you will have to…observe me bathing regardless."

"I can let you have a little privacy. There's a curtain. Not much you can do without the boys anyway…"

"Beg your pardon?"

"Oh. I guess you're not in their gang. They can summon weapons on account of Noct's big ol prince powers. Purdy neat if you ask me!"

This one was almost as insufferable as Prompto. Chrome could feel her eye twitch with impatience. "Can you please open the door so we can get this over with?"

"Alright. No funny business. I may not look it, but I'm tough as nails." Cindy shakily grabbed the cage entrance, unbolting the locks. The door creaked wide, Chrome calmly stepped out. She stared about, in the open air. The grease monkey had been right, there were no vantage points here. She could not climb the sheerness of the wall to get to the small line of windows above. The door had been shut, locked tight.
The garage door was far too heavy to lift on her own.

Chrome gave a scoff, "Ruining my fun. Come now, let's get this done."

Cindy silently followed behind, the two keeping a steady pace towards the only other door here. Within, a decently decorated bathroom lay behind. It was clean and shockingly neat. Tiled and insulated well.

Chrome's eyebrows lift in surprise, "Well, I'm shocked. It's a civilized restroom."

"I use this one a lot after work. I got a few renovators to work on making it look nice. Money well spent I think!"

Chrome only blinked in response, beginning to strip her clothes down.

Cindy held her palms out, "Woah sugar! I'll step out then!" The mechanic quickly stepped out and shut the door.

Alone, Chrome saw another window. It was far too narrow to enter, and far too high to climb to. The walls were smooth…far too smooth to latch onto. She sighed deeply and glanced into the tub. Above it a lone showerhead was craning its skinny neck.

There were bottles lined up neatly along the back edge. She picked them up one by one reading the labels: Coconut Curly Shampoo, matching conditioner, sylleblossom wash, cherry vanilla wash and a complete facial scrub apparently smelling of apricots. She popped the body wash bottle open, inhaling. The scent brought a vague recollection to her mind, wavy and vaporous…it was difficult to pin-point where she had last smelled this. But it almost left her in tears, holding her head as she finally stripped the last of her clothes.

She twisted the knob and let the water warm up before stepping into its stream and drawing the curtain. With a distant gaze, she watched mindlessly as the dirt collected at her feet and swirled around the drain. It never seemed to end. Reluctantly, she reached for the shampoo.

"Make sure you brush your teeth too, young lady!"

"Okay mama!" A younger, fresher Chrome responded to Carole's warning. Six. That's when her memories first started to flow together coherently. Ten years before the change. She played with her bubbles in the tub, a wonderful way to start a beautiful morning.

Saxham Outpost was the closest they would find to civilization unless the two took a road trip in Carole's rusted blue sedan. Runes had been carved at their fenceposts, preventing any unwanted daemonic attacks. Carole had even installed security lights recently, providing a welcome sanctuary to those who were not of scourge-ridden blood. Here nature was wild, free.

The two were not strangers to their own backyard. Here they foraged often, collecting chocobeans, onions, eggs, beets, peas, garlic all for nothing but the price of dirt under their nails. On good days they'd spot a roaming pack of catoblepas near the marshes after a long hike. They were one of Chrome's favorite animals. And one of the first she would be taming.

Chrome finally finished her cleansing ritual, draining the tub of its water and popping the rest of her soapy bubbles. She got dressed in her long pants and light shirt, flexing in the mirror. She brushed then checked her teeth to see if her tooth had grown back in yet.

"Cato….Catobl…" She pronounced slowly, "Cattie..."

"Catoblepas dear." Carole pried the door open gently after giving a small knock, "Aren't you ready yet?"

"Yeah mama, just checkin my chompers!" She smiled, exposing her polished grin.

"Oh goodness! How scary!" She playfully teased, wryly sneaking her hands around Chrome's hair. "Aw mom! No!"

"Sorry honey, you've gotta keep those long locks back for this one today. Any snag could be a life-ender with these creatures." She bit her lip and held her shoulders, "Are you really, really sure you're ready for one of these? You don't want to try more reapertails at Leade. Or jabberwocks?"

"Nu-uh!" Chrome puffed her cheeks, stomping, "I wanna try the cato…cattie…!"

Carole sighed, "Catoblepas. Okay. But if I think something's going haywire, I'm cutting the cord on this little adventure, you understand?"

"I'll be okay mama. You're always there with me!"

"Yes dear…but someday I might not be. That's why I want you to learn and be prepared."

"Aren't they friendly? They do tours close to them all the time."

"For the most part." She finally braided Chrome's hair down her back and smiled, patting the top, "But they're still wild beasts. They can snap at a moment's notice."

Chrome pressed her fingers into the chunks of her new braid and smiled, "Alright. Let's go get lunch ready!"

The two meandered into their spacious living room. A plush carpet filled the space between their bare toes, colored soft brown. A small television and radio set sat atop an aging wooden set, a fine layer of dust lingering at its edges. A couch lazily sat across from it, maroon plush with lumps from overuse, pillows and blankets tossed about its arms. Well-loved books adorned the shelves with rousing tales of old and new, mixed in with coloring books and thick historical novels. Plants of all varieties mingled among the shelves and among windowsills, vibrant with greens, blues, and gold.

A shrine sat in the back, hand-made and well kept, that contained the idols of the Astrals and a pin with the Lucian army crest within its center. Even Ifrit's image was mingled among the Six, a feature Carole did not like to flaunt with many beyond her daughter. Of them all, Titan was their favored guardian.

"Oh, mom!" Chrome whined as she rushed into the tiled kitchen. She climbed onto the countertop of swirled granite and groaned, "You already made the sandwiches!"

Carole pouted towards the prepared peanut butter jelly squares before her, lovingly sliced in two, "Sorry love. I had ants in my pants!" She giggled, "Why don't you help me pack up the veggies."

"Carrots?"

"And celery."

"Yuck!" She stuck out her tongue but placed them in their glass container regardless. After stuffing it all into their hiking bags, they collectively put on thick socks and thicker boots. "Big day for a little girl."

"Yup!"

The front door was opened, and Chrome bolted off towards the gate.

The bathroom door rattled. "You doing okay in there sugar?"

Chrome was finished lathering her skin. She palmed her soapy face, frowning. Her fingers lingered over the deep scars on her left cheek. Then to the indents at her abdomen, her thighs, her back…skin so now littered with lines. When had it ever been tender? Calloused and bruised…almost ugly now…

She washed the thoughts away with the last of the bubbles and finally stopped the water. The room had filled with a foggy mist. How long had she been in there? Her fingertips were pruned. She wrapped a towel around her middle, covering her nakedness enough to allow Cindy within.

The mechanic frowned, seeing Chrome's gloomy expression, "You…alright?"

"I don't remember the last time I had a hot shower. They had them there…but they were always so icy cold."

"Well, take your time drying off. The boys have a bed open for you tonight, you're welcome to stay. It's a caravan…a little tight but it works."

She glanced outside. Night had approached quickly. A full, glorious moon hung deep in the dark sky. "Fine. I do not have the energy to expend to defend myself against those monsters anyway."

"Really? I thought you could control them."

"It takes much of my stamina. The magic lasts temporarily as well, it is nothing permanent." She looked at the cage. "I suppose I will join these men. I refuse to get back into that prison." She returned her gaze towards the bundle in Cindy's hands, her brows knitted, "What…?"

"Oh uh. The boys got you some clothes. They're…hand me downs but there's a few in there. You can try them on. And new underwear."

A bubbling anger swelled; a flush of red slapped her cheeks against her will. She snatched the clothes and huffed, slamming the door behind her.

Chrome stared at the variety of outfits. Most were of varying shades of dark colors. Blacks, purples, deep reds, blues. She cautiously plucked them up one by one and began to try them on. Eventually, she found one that did not make her skin feel like it was crawling from her body nor that was too tight to contain her musculature.

With a heavy head, she stepped out, now adorned in proper Crownsguard fatigues, then down to her exposed naval, "You sure you want that out?"

"I know well what I am doing!" She almost reflectively covered it.

Cindy beamed, "You clean up well sugar…"

"Don't patronize me." She warned.

Cindy held up the chain again, "If we're going to meet them…"

"I understand your message, loud and clear." Chrome exaggerated her movements as she strapped herself within the cuff, grunting as she shook the chain teasingly towards Cindy. The mechanic led her unwilling guest to the door. "It's a big day."

"Excuse me…?" Chrome felt her heart drop.

"It's gonna be a big day for you then, I hope you get some rest."

The beastmaster shook her head in disbelief, refusing to change her somber countenance. "Just, open the door, please."

Moonlight welcomed her first, spreading from the creaking opening. Her boots contacted the loose gravel beyond, eyes adjusting to the sight around her.
For miles upon miles, nothing but desert and crooked telephone poles dotted the landscape. There were some deviations within the elevation of the land and quick paint-like strokes of sturdy flora dotting its dry face. A distant mountain pierced the clouds. Daemons were playing amongst each other, she noted a few familiar ones: Bombs and a few slimy flans, simple cattle fodder.

Her chains were connected to another body while she watched the motion of time. Of course it was the party's brute, the damn Shield. Gladiolus approached and she turned her head away from his, "Hey we're nice, close and personal. If you want to take a swing at me, now would be the time."

"I am far too tired for that." She met his eyes, and his amber orbs directly lingered at her scars. Absentmindely she pressed her palm to try and conceal it, but it was too late. He had already seen them. "Nice marks. Where'd you get that."

"I won't tell you, filth." She spat, dropping her hand in defeat. "Show me to your barracks so that I may rest."

"You're lucky I'm used to sleeping on the floor." He tugged lightly at the chain. A jolt ran through her, the flames of anger fanning still deep in her gullet. She bit her lip once more and clenched her fists as she marched along, near to the point of cutting her own skin.

The caravan was spacious, for what it was worth. A colorful awning spread from its side just above a small window. Sitting across from each other, the prince and the pauper were fighting one another over a round of some strange game on their cellphones. They nearly knocked the plastic table over, the matching plastic chairs squeaking from feet standing on their seats. Ignis was concentrating on the firepit nearby, brewing a late cup of aromatic coffee. Inside, four stretched out beds lined the other walls. A microwave was awkwardly perched atop the mini fridge area.

"You still hungry?"

"No. I am fine. Your concern is touching." She snickered, throwing him a side glance, "If you treat your enemies like this, I fail to see how you are going to bring down the Empire."

He did not respond.

Gladio waited for the other three to approach, snagging their own beds as they argued over who received what side. As things settled, he held his hand out to the last free bed on the ground. Chrome quietly obeyed. As she stretched out, the overwhelming softness of the pillow nearly suffocated her. The blanket was almost as uncomfortable as the one at the fort. But it had a certain…warmth to it. The boys all began to settle in, shockingly quiet in rest. She allowed herself to glance to Gladio, who lounged across the floor with a single pillow, one hand behind his back. In the last dim light, she spotted him reading.

Her eyes lit up. A copy of one of her personal favorites: The Silence of Knowledge. The Shield noticed her intense stare. "Is the light bothering you? Sorry, I'm usually the last one to get to bed."

"No…" She wrung her hands. "I just…noticed the book you were reading is all."

"You can read?"

Warmth flowed in her face, "Of course I can read, you imbecile. I was quite fond of it."

"Was?"

"Before the Empire."

The corners of his lips curled downward, "You…weren't always with them…?"

"No."

Silence filled the space between them. He didn't press further. She did not open her mouth again. Instead, she took the sheets and wrapped them tightly around her shoulders.

"Goodnight, Chrome."

Something warm wiggled its way back into her heart hearing his sincerity. She shifted her body to face his. "Why…?"

"I don't usually get to tell that to them. They're always quick to fall asleep, even Iggy." A half chuckle echoed from his chest.

Chrome's face softened, just a tad, "Why…don't you wear a shirt?"

"Oh? You don't like it?"

"No. Not a bit. I do not like staring at your nipples." She fought a smile, but it sung deep in the back of her voice.

"Alright, noted. I'll wear my shirt from now on."

"Watch your back. I'm still under orders to kill you and your comerades. The prince is for the daemon king."

"Sure thing." Rolling his eyes, he shut the book. He lifted himself from the ground, the chains rattling with every move. Switching the light off, he hovered over her, "But you best better watch yours too. I'm no pushover."

Their eyes met. "Goodnight, Shield." She snarled, twisting away from him once more.