I ran in to the city, slicing down imperials and magiteks at every turn. I had sent word to Cor informing him that Regis had died.

I wanted to stop. I wanted to fall to my knees and scream out in anguish. I wanted to cry and mourn for my fallen friends.

Clarus... Regis... Crowe...

All of them... gone...

My heart ached.

"I can't stop. Mourning will come later. I need to protect the citizens and I need to see my son." I thought.

For a moment, my last memory with Prompto played in my mind. Him smiling as he raised his camera to me. Me dropping in to the dorkiest pose I could. Regis laughing at my pose as Prompto took the picture. Prompto's bright smile as he waved goodbye from the passenger seat.

"I will be here when you get back. I promise." My last words to him echoed in my head.

I ran through the streets, searching for any other citizens. Making sure everyone was safe.

Suddenly, a foot met my gut and I fell back. I clutched my gut and coughed as I caught my wind. I looked up and glared at who had kicked me.

"That coat is familiar." I thought.

"Well, well, this truely is an honor. I never thought I'd ever see the day were I got to meet one of the war heros from thirty years ago. The name that strikes fear in to the hearts of her enemies. Who's mere thought can make them shake. The one who got her name from her foe's calls in their final moments." He stood straight up, then bowed to me.

"Lady Mercy. A pleasure, for certain." Said Chancellor Ardyn Izunia.

"It was you." I said when my breath returned to me. He scowled.

"You were the man... in the hospital... twenty years ago... you're the one that took my baby from me!" I yelled.

"Ah, perceptive. But no matter. You got your precious baby boy back, did you not?" He taunted as I struggled to get back to my feet.

"Because of you, He never knew his father. He grew up fearing every shadow because of you!" I yelled.

"Tch, you shouldn't hold a grudge. It's a bad look for you." He said. I ran at him and swung my sword. He dodged out of the way. He summoned a dagger and swung at me, but I quickly deflected it.

I leapt away from him. He threw his dagger and in a blink, he was on me again.

I forced him back and changed my Katana for my pistol and pulled the trigger. I gave a silent cheer of victory as the bullet struck his chest and he fell to the ground. I breathed in relief and ran past his body. I had to focus on evacuation, then meeting with the other glaives.

Mid-step, I felt a slice through the back of my leg. I let out a scream as I fell to the ground. I rolled under a nearby parked car, then slid out in to the ruined building beside it.

"Clever. I didn't expect that. I almost felt the cold wind of death. Then I remembered. I'm immortal." He said. I peered around the corner and saw Ardyn rise from the street. A scythe in his hand. Summoned in the same way as the armgier that Regis used.

"Hold on. He can warp. He uses weapons of ancient kings. He can't be killed. He claims immortal..."

"Be honest." I called.

"If I can." He chuckled, looking around for me.

"The name Izunia.... it's not your real name, is it?" I asked. A scowl crossed his face.

"You've found out my little secret." He said. I threw my dagger past him and warped to new cover.

"But I wasn't the first one, aye?" I called as I felt the power Regis gave me finally start slipping away.

"Valencia and Victor Schwartz. They knew. So twenty one years ago, you killed them." I said.

"You saw their bodies." He stated with a level of sarcasm, showing he was fed up with me. I tore off the leg of my pants and tied it around my injury.

"But that's not all. You wanted a soldier, but the niff's machines weren't enough for you. So you had to steal a Lucian baby." I said.

"One that was a combination of two forces powerful enough to be reckoned with." He said.

"Your birth child was the perfect candidate. He was a fine soldier. Everything we hoped he'd be until the day he died. But why waste perfection? We took his blood and made more of him. I should thank you. Because of your one moment of blind rage and vulnerability, I have a loyal, strong, fearless army. All of which came from you. You should be proud." He mocked.

That's when I realized what was going to happen.

I couldn't run away, not with my leg and with out the power Regis granted me.

I couldn't beat him. He was immortal and far too strong. For every single blow I could land on him, he could land five on me. He was to fast. Too smart. Too strong. I already knew.

I was going to die here.

I drew my phone from my pocket. I only have enough time for one goodbye.

I ran from my current cover as Ardyn destroyed it and hid in another one. He started to move away from me, thinking I ran the other direction. I could run.

But I couldn't.

If I ran away and escaped now, he would still be able to kill me later. Probably use me to lead him to my Prompto. Which would lead him to Noctis. Which would lead him to his victory.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath and dialed the number.

With how late it was already, he'd already be asleep, if he wasn't playing cards or King's Knight or talking with his friends.

"Hiya! You've reached Prompto Argentum's voice mail! Sorry I couldn't catch ya! Leave your message and I'll call ya back!" My baby boy's cheerful voice recording said. I smiled softly, tears rising to my eyes.

"Hey, kiddo." I started with a shaky breath.

"I hope things are going well for you. I just wanted to call to say I love you, and I'm sorry." I said. I panted lightly, my voice shaking as tears started down my face.

"I'm sorry I was never there. I'm sorry I didn't take care of you like I should have. I'm sorry for everything. Every missed award, every missed school carnival, every missed birthday, every broken promise. I'm sorry. You deserved better than that. And..." I choked, taking a second to stop my crying.

"Sorry, Chocoboy... I'm breaking one last promise. I won't be here when you come back. I hope everything will be okay for you in the future. Listen to Ignis. Don't provoke Gladiolus. Show Noctis how much you love him at every chance you're given. Don't fight with Alice. Keep working on your photography. You take beautiful pictures. I love you, Prompto. With all of my heart. You are everything to me. You're my whole world and I want you to know that. Stay strong, my son. I love you, baby boy." I finished. I hung up and set my phone down, tears starting down my cheeks.

This was awful, I knew there were things he wanted to tell me. And yet, here I am, dying without giving him the chance to say what he had built up inside him.

"I'm sorry, Prompto. I love you, my little Chocoboy." I said as I finished crying.

I summoned my pistol. If this didn't catch Ardyn's attention, I didn't know what would.

I took aim. I drew a few breaths. I was about to do this. I was delivering myself to death's door step.

"Stay safe, my son." I said. I pulled the trigger and the sound of a gun shot filled the air.

I watched as my phone sparked as it died.

"No one will be able to trace him when he calls back." I thought and stood. I stumbled out of my cover and stood where Ardyn would see me.

"A feeble attempt." He said.

"No." I said. He cocked an eyebrow at me.

"No?" He asked.

"I know I can't win. I can't beat you. You're faster, stronger and smarter." I said. He grinned.

"But you won't leave here without killing me first. I will fight you until I am cold. Even if I can't win, I can delay you. Just enough. In the end, His Highness will defeat you and take his place on the throne. You will finally die, Ardyn." I said.

"If you're so sure." He said. I summoned my Katana.

"I am." I said and I ran at him with all the strength that dwindled in my body. He deflected my Katana with his scythe. I leapt away and ran at him again.

The sun was starting to peek over the horizon, magiteks and imperial ships left the City, daemons would now own these streets at night.

And yet, Ardyn still fought with me. By the expression on his face, he was irritated with me. He thought I was a nussence.

I had left weapons behind and reverted to my BAR days. A punch to the head, kick to the gut. Punch to the chest, elbow to the spine. Punch in the gut, kick to the head. Repeat repeat repeat.

Finally, he scored the blow on me that knocked me on my back.

"You are a fool, Dawn Caramella. You know you can't win. Yet you still make the feeble attempts. You even return to your youth, using your fists in combat rather than your weapons. Useless." He said and drew a sword, swing for me, only for me to summon my katana and deflect at the last second.

"Why must you resist?" He asked in boredom.

"Because... with every minute you spend here, that's another minute gained for his majesty." I said.

"You put such faith in that boy." He growled.

"I do. I believe with all my heart he will sit on the throne in the end. He will seize this world, and turn it on its head... he will... hah... hah... he will banish the daemons.... and restore light... to this world... he will... rid our star of its scourge... that... is what I pledged my life to..." I panted.

Ardyn scowled. I raised my sword, ready.

"Sorry, Cor... looks like... we won't be getting married after all... I love you." I whispered and prepared myself.

"Ifirit's Fire, release me." I braced my legs.

"Leviathan's waters, cleanse my soul." I released my elbows.

"Shiva's love, send me unto the gods." I ran at Ardyn.

"Ramuh's will, my soul will know peace." I raised my sword.

"Titan's strength, raise me unto the heavens." I came in closer and brought down my blade.

"Bahamut's mighty sword, raise my name to glory." I felt the sword pierce my chest.

"Six Divines of Eos. Send me to my fate, may I rest in eternal peace." I breathed out the last of the prayer.

"Mercy for Mercy." Ardyn said and tore his sword from my body. I fell forward. I closed my eyes as I fell.

Two people showed themselves before me.

"Cor... Prompto..."

"Stay... safe.... Prompto..." I said and finally, my body hit the ground. And with that...

My life ended.