Sitting in the car once more, they were heading a place called 'Hammerhead' Kirara was sitting on Bella's lap once more. The drive was gonna take another hour at the most cause of where they were. It was silent in the vehicle and it bothered Bella, but she didn't want to say anything to upset anyone.

Sighing quietly, Bella pets Kirara's fur gently trying to keep herself busy. She could hear the tension around her, they just lost everything around them. Their homes and their families. Bella understood.

She lost her brother when she was younger, lost everything she knew as well. Of course, she understood, she hated the feeling. Couldn't say goodbye to loved ones. Sighing lightly, she then heard Gladio speaking knocking her out of her thoughts.

"Don't suppose the Crownsguard is still active," Gladio spoke in wonderment.

Ignis shakes his head while he drove in the rain. "Wouldn't count on it, not with the marshal out here."

" I wonder how things are in the city..." Prompto asked looking outside.

"There should be reports before long." Ignis answers him making a right turn,

Bella turns her gaze looking at Noctis who was staring outside quietly, a frown adorning his face. A frown makes a way to her face as well, losing someone close sucks, she knows. It's heartbreaking, you feel like there's nothing else in the world but you. The empty pit in the stomach that doesn't end. Sighing quietly, she grips Kirara's fur gently, looking back at her friend. Kirara looks up letting out a quiet mew, getting up and jumps on Noctis's lap making Bella gasp wondering what she was doing.

"Whoa..." Noctis spoke jumping in his spot, looking down at Kirara as she curled up in his lap falling asleep.

"Kirara..." Bella whispers wondering what she was doing, but Kirara didn't move, she ignored Bella's whispers and keeps asleep. "What are you doing, Kirara...?"

"Don't worry about it..." Noctis told Bella touching Kirara's soft fur petting her gently. "This is actually a little relaxing..."

Bella looks at Noctis, finally locking eyes with him gently, seeing how blue his eyes were. They were... kind of handsome. Bella's face turned red as she looks away before she could think anymore of those thoughts, Bella nods and looks at the road ahead of her. Noctis was going to be married to someone named Lunafreya, Bella couldn't fall in love with him.

As the five continue making their way to Hammerhead, the conversation continues, "Got a message from my sister: she's with refugees bound for Lestallum."

Prompto lets out a small sigh of relief. "Well, at least Iris is okay."

"Yeah. Doesn't sound like everyone else was so lucky, though." Gladio said with a sigh as well.

Bella jumped in with a small smile. "We'd best make haste. Noctis won't be dead forever."

"No going back—only way's forward."

""No going back." Let's go." Noctis told Prompto with a small smile as he continues petting Kirara's fur.

Bella lets out a smile, happy that they're going to move forward to this and hopefully get him to this place called Altissia and get him to marry Lunafreya. Bella felt a little jealousy peak in her stomach, but she tried to ignore it.

Everyone stayed silent throughout the trip to Hammerhead, the only thing that was making noise was Noctis' silent snoring and the rain pouring down.

~

After a while of driving, they finally arrive into a town called Hammerhead. They park in front of a garage, everyone began piling out of the vehicle. Bella looks around with Kirara back into her arms. She turns and sees a woman walking up to the men. Bella watches from a distance while they talked.

"Hey," Gladio spoke to her with a smile.

The young woman nods. "Glad ya'll made it," She speaks looking back seeing Bella standing feeling awkward. "Wth a friend, I see," 

"Oh!" Prompto began jogging up to Bella grabbing her arm gently, Bella looks at him while her hair was hitting her back as she was yanked towards the young woman. Bella was then shoved in front of Prompto who held her by her shoulders while Bella looks at the young woman. "Cindy, this is Bella, we met her at Galdin Quay,"

"Well, a pleasure to meet you sugar," Cindy said holding out her hand for Bella to shake. Bella lifts her hand gently, giving Cindy a small smile.

"Pleasure to meet you as well, Cindy," responds Bella withdrawing her hand putting it back under Kirara. "This is Kirara," 

Cindy smiles petting Kirara's head gently and then looks back at the men.

"Our thanks, by the way, Ms. Cindy," Ignis smiles at her.

"Where's Cor?" asks Noctis looking around for him. Cindy looks around at them and then sets her eyes on Noctis.

"Left to see to business, and left ya'll a message with Paw-paw." Cindy explains to him. Noctis responds to her with a "Yeah?" as she nods. "Boss ain't sat still one second since he heard ya'll were comin'." 

The men head out to talk to Cid, taking a deep breath while keeping Kirara close. Her long hair hitting her back gently, Cindy looks at her. 

"So, where are you from?" Cindy asks as Bella freezes. What should she say? Oh god, she can't tell everyone she's from a different world! People would think she's a freak and Bella can't have that.

"From Galdin Quay," Bella lied, looking at her with a smile. "I know it's a tourist attraction, but my house is quite a ways away from there, so I spend most of my time there on the beach,"

"Oh, that sounds wonderful," Cindy said as the women walk to her garage seeing a few cars there, Bella looks at them. "I work on my beauties, but - nothing beats the Regalia, she's such a precious car,"

Bella smiles, nodding as Kirara jumps down the ground stretching her back and looks around. She turns just to see the men walking towards them. Kirara mews trotting over to Prompto and jumps on his shoulders. 

"And?" Bella asks raising a brow.

"We're heading to the tombs," Ignis answers her as she nods. "Cor is there now, waiting for us." 

Nodding, Bella follows them, saying later to Cindy as Cindy waves back. Getting back into the middle of the vehicle, Gladio sits next to her on her right as Noctis sits on her left. Prompto takes the front seat while Ignis drives. Kirara stays with Prompto falling asleep in his lap. Bella sits there, twiddling her thumbs. 

Bella wasn't going to lie, she was used to going on Kirara everywhere. Midgar to the Wasteland to see her brothers grave. Letting out a quiet sigh she looks down at her hands gently, seeing her hands, dainty and skinny, but has callouses from all the battles she's fought. She has long fingernails, but short enough to tolerate with her fighting skills. Biting her lip gently as she felt the car stop.

Everyone, once again, got out of the car and Bella followed the young men towards the Outpost. Bella looks around the Outpost seeing everyone talking amongst themselves, Bella felt Kirara jump on her shoulder gently, taking a deep breath she stops behind the boys.

"Your Highness," The woman began bowing to Noctis. "I'm glad your safe."

Gladio smiles, "Monica!" Gladio greets the young woman, deemed Monica, still smiling. "Where are all the others?"

"Most of the Crownsguard didn't make it," Monica sighs sadly. It was all we could do to escort Lady Iris out of the city. Dustin is with her as we speak, seeing her the rest of the way to Lestallum." Monica had explained as well. 

Gladio smiles with a happy sigh. "I owe you guys big time,"

Monica smiles; "Head for the Royal Tomb, the Marshal awaits."

Everyone nods, the men began walking, Bella began trailing behind them. She was confused about... everything.

"So who is this Monica person? And what is the Crownsguard?" Bella asks them as Kirara changed into her sabertooth form and Bella hopped on her back as Kirara catches up to them. "I have no idea even what is going on? Tomb?"

"Monica is a servant of the Crownsguard, much like Gladio and myself," Ignis begins explaining. "The Crownsguard is a military force sworn to protect the Kings of Lucis," He continues looking at her. "We've been around for ages; the Tomb is where all the past Kings lie so Noctis, our future king, can absorb their power,"

"That..." Bella begins with a sigh. "This is going to be hard to understand for me... It's so different than what I'm used too..."

"What about your world," Gladio begins looking back at her. "Did you have military forces?"

Bella tenses up, pursing her lips tightly. "Um... Kind of..." She answers, with a frown. "It's um... From what I can remember, they were separated into Three Classes. First Class, Second Class and Third Class. Each one of them injected with a thing called Jenova cells and only the strongest could enter SOLDIER..."

"Why Three Classes?" asked Prompto looking at her as well as they continue towards the Tomb. Bella sighs a bit.

"First Class got more privilege than the other two, they could do missions suited for them," answers Bella looking ahead gripping Kirara's fur tightly. "They had a right to deny orders assuming any responsibilities from their decisions... They just did missions to protect people but then - everything changed when one SOLDIER found out he wasn't who he was..." 

Bella remembers Sephiroth vividly. Fighting against him to stop him from destroying the world. And then when the Geostigma happened, he tried to gurdle the planet from it and her and Cloud stopped him before he could.

"You don't have to continue talking about it if you don't want too, Bells," Noctis spoke up not looking at her. "It's okay, I can see it's hard to talk about."

Bella looks at Noctis and lightly smiles. "Thanks, it's um... Difficult because..."

Prompto touches her shoulder before she could finish, she smiles at him as he lets go and they all began talking once more. Bella looks down at Kirara's back loosening her grip gently seeing her knuckles turning white. Touching Kirara's head gently, petting it feeling Kirara purr under her touch. Bella smiles pulling her hand back and touches her hair. She could feel the grease building up making her cringe.

"Hopefully the next place we stay, I can take a shower..." Bella mutters to herself letting out a sigh bringing her ombre hair into view seeing black and silver. Her sky blue orbs looking back up as they approach the Tomb.

Bella jumps off Kirara as she changes back to her smaller form and jumps on Bella's shoulder. "We;re here," Bella states looking at it.

"A Tomb fit for royalty," Prompto tried to make it sound like a joke making Bella chuckle quietly. 

"Let's go find the Marshal," Gladio suggested as everyone nods. 

As they were walking, they looked up seeing enemies above them, Bella smirks touching Kirara's head and they see a different weapon this time.

"Whoa!" Prompto says impressed.

Knocking the arrow back, aiming at the enemy, she hits both of them before they could spot their group. Noctis and the men watched as she took them out without any hesitation, after beating them all without breaking a sweat, she looks at them holding her weapon gently.

"That was awesome," Prompto cheered with a smile. "I didn't know you had that weapon, too?"

Bella blushes and looks away. "Sorry, I don't usually show them off, I taught myself how to summon them myself, I had two pistols at one point;" Bella explains. "But - they weren't enough for me so... Here they are," Bella holds up her weapon keeping it handy. "Let's keep going though,"

Walking up to the Tomb, Cor is waiting for them, standing beside a sarcophagus that bears a sword in its hands.

"Marshal," Ignis greets with a curt nod.

Cor nods as well, then looks at Noctis. "At last, Your Highness,"

Noctis looked annoyed. "Yeah, wanna tell me what I'm here for?"

"Noctis..." Bella whispers shocked that he would talk to his friend like that.

Cor seemed to ignore it. "The power of kings, passed from the old to the new through the bonding of souls. One such soul lies before you. To claim your forebears' power is your birthright and duty as king."

"My duty as king of what?" Noctis questions raising a brow.

"Now is not the time to question your calling. A king is sworn to protect his people." Cor explains to him as Bella lets her weapon go and it changes back to Kirara.

"And yet he chose to protect only one prince. Was that his calling? Forsake the masses to spare his own son?" Noctis snaps at him making Ignis and Gladio sigh a little bit. Prompto couldn't say anything but - Bella was still curious why Noctis was speaking to his friend.

"How long will you remain the protected?" questions Cor raising a brow to Noctis. "The king entrusted the role of protector to you." 

As he was speaking that, Cor went up to the Tomb and unlocks it as they walk in, Bella looking over it, overlooking it. It was - almost plain looking but also had a strong vibe to it.

""Entrusted" it to me? Then why didn't he tell me that?" Noctis yells in question, raising his hands in wonderment. "Why did he stand there smiling as I left? Why— Why did he lie to me?"

Bella frowns, he is so... sad over his father's death. Bella can relate so much, maybe she could help him with his depression. "That day, he didn't want you to remember him as the king. In what time you had left, he wanted to be your father." Cor explains to Noctis, walking up to him and touches his shoulder. "He always had faith in you, that when the time came, you would ascend for the sake of your people."

"Guess he left me no choice." Noctis sighs, shrugging Cor's hand off his shoulder and holds out his hand; the sword on the sarcophagus phases through the casket's hands, floats into the air, hangs there briefly, and then flies into Noctis, imbuing him with his ancestor's power.

Bella was amazed at the whole thing - this world was so much different than hers. More technology advanced for sure, Bella was overwhelmed with the thought of being here at times. It scared her, but she had friends to help her through her transition.

"That's not the only power your forebears left you. Your journey's just begun," explains Cor looking at Noctis. "Another tomb lies close by. I suggest you head there next. There are tombs scattered across the land," Cor walks out of the Tomb with everyone following. "All are on dangerous ground. I'll go with you, for the time being. Not only to help, but to get a measure of your strength."

"So just how many of these "powers" are out there?" questions Noctis with a raised brow as they all head out to the other Tomb.

"There are thirteen known royal arms, each enshrined at a royal tomb, though we know the location of only a few." Cor began taking a deep breath, "I've enlisted the Hunters. They comb the land in search of the lost tombs."

"Where's the one nearby you mentioned?" Bella asks, trying to keep quiet, but the curiosity got the best of her. She obviously regretted letting that slip out of her mouth. 

"Keycatrich Trench." Cor answers her, not bothered that she spoke. "We know there to be a crypt deep inside the tunnels."

Bella nods as they all walk towards the other Tomb. Cor looks at her, not recognizing her one bit.

"And if I may ask, young lady, who might you be?" Cor asks making Bella jump and look at him and bows his way.

"I'm Bella Fair, pleasure to meet you Marshal," Bella introduced herself standing straight. 

Cor chuckles a bit. "Nice to meet a fellow friend of the Prince, I'm Cor." Bella smiles once more and began following them. "Where did you meet these guys?"

"Galdin Quay," Bella answers once more. Bella knows Cor isn't dumb if she told him her story, so she wasn't even going to attempt to do so. "They were looking for a Gem and I happen to be at the right spot meeting them,"

Cor nods and then looks ahead as they approach another Tomb. Bella looks up seeing enemies ahead of them. Touching Kirara's head making the Bow-Blade aiming an arrow at them. She lets it go hitting the enemy in the sky, everyone else was taking out the enemies on the ground while Bella focused on the ones in the air. While they walked towards the Tomb, more enemies continued coming towards them.

"Imperial forces?" questioned Cor as they stop looking ahead.

As Noctis and his retinue continue to make their way, two bipedal mobile combat units come into view

"A magitek armor..." Ignis raises a brow.

"Dangerous?" questions Noctis looking at the four-eyed blond man.

"This particular model poses a mild to moderate threat -" Ignis begins to explain but Noctis groans 

"This short version,"

"Somewhat dangerous," Ignis finishes chuckling a bit.

"Marshal, you'd have to pretty badass to take that down, right?" asks Noctis looking at the Marshal who chuckles. 

"Think you're up to it? Let's see what you can do."

Bella draws the arrow back and gets ready to fight, aiming closely at the armor, she keeps her distance shooting her arrow at the armors leg trying to knock it down. The more she kept shooting, Bella kept getting frustrated with it, it hit but wouldn't fall down. Finally hitting the right spot, it fell, and then shifting her Bow into a Blade, she rushes over, MAKO filling her eyes making them green, she knocks down all the armor she could.

"You alright, Highness?" Cor asks when the battle was finished.

"Of course." nods Noctis 

"And you, Marshal?" asks Bella releasing Kirara from the weapon. Kirara shakes and looks at Cor as well.

Cor chuckles cracking a small smile. "No problem."

After getting to the Tomb, Cor bids everyone goodbye after giving them the key and left Bella and the men alone. Bella turns towards them and frowns.

"If I could, could I stay here?" asks Bella taking a step back. "Tunnels and I... don't get along."

Noctis nods with a smile, as everyone touches her shoulder. They knew she probably didn't want to get into it, and that was okay. They headed in while Bella stayed watch on the Tomb.

~

A/N: WHOA MY GOD! Okay! I am going to post a chapter when I can, right now I am busy with life and I hope you understand. I hope you like this chapter! Please let me know!