A/n: This chapter is just a filler one and takes place mainly on the boat. I tried to cut down on the dialogue, but there's still tons of it in this chapter. Feel free to skip it! Love you all!!!
~✨Celestial✨~
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A couple days later, the royal retinue returned to Cape Caem. They'd taken on a handful of hunts while they were in Lestallum in order to get some more gil before heading to Altissia.

Arriving back at Cape Caem, the group decided to rest for the remainder of the day and depart for Altissia in the morning. Gladio ate the lunch Iris offered him and his friends before heading upstairs to one of the vacant rooms. Recently, he'd been needing more time to himself due to what transpired in the nightmare. Ever since the moment he was about to kiss (Y/n) two days ago in the nightmare, it hadn't returned and his sleep was peaceful.

Every now and then, Gladio would check his pocket to make sure he still had the summoning orb. Even more often, he would try to summon (Y/n). Unfortunately, she heeded none of his calls, but that didn't stop him from trying. He wanted to apologize for his careless question and reestablish the bond he had with her.

Gladio eyes the summoning orb in his palm just as the door to the room opened. Iris entered and noticed what her brother's attention was fixed on. "Hey, Gladdy. Noctis told me (Y/n) wasn't with you guys anymore. What happened?"

"I wasn't thinking and opened my big mouth," he confessed. "I wanted to explain, but she stormed off before I could. Haven't seen her since."

"I know (Y/n) has a temper, but she's usually good about listening to others. What you said must've really made her mad."

"I pretty much deserve a punch to the face for what I said."

Iris sighed, "Well, at least you're honest. I'd gladly punch you in the face for (Y/n)'s sake. You really don't think before you say some things, Gladdy. And now, you've hurt someone because of it."

"I know..." Gladio mumbled sorrowfully. "I want to make this right, but (Y/n)'s ignoring me."

She patted him on the shoulder. "Give her some time. I'm sure she'll come back."

"Hope you're right about that, Iris."

"You know I am!" She smiled confidently.

Gladio followed his sister out of the room and walked down the stairs. He walked out of the house and froze when he saw Ignis chatting with an ivory-haired girl. He sauntered over, wondering who the mysterious girl was.

Hearing his footsteps, the girl spun around and offered him a smile. "Ah, you must be Gladio. A pleasure to meet you."

The shield glanced between the two and noticed how polite the girl was when she spoke. He grinned, crossing his arms. "Didn't know there was a female version of Iggy out there."

"Gladio," Ignis chided.

"It's all right, Ignis," the violet-eyed girl said. "I am Pestilence. War asked me to check in with your companions when they went to the Vesperpool while you sought to fight against Gilgamesh."

Hearing she was one of the Four Horsemen, Gladio asked about the redhead. "Think you could send (Y/n) my way?"

"She told me what happened between the two of you," Pestilence stated. "However, I believe she needs more time to clear her head. She will come when you call once she's settled the turmoil in her heart."

"Damn..." Gladio scratched the back of his head. "I fucked up royally."

"Time is what she needs most of now, but please do not give up on her. Ever since joining your group, she has changed for the better. She is more lively and joyful."

"Trust me, I won't give up on her."

Pestilence nodded. "Thank you for understanding, Gladio." She them clapped her hands together. "Now then, I should be leaving. I've still my own target to hunt. I wish you all well in Altissia."

"We do appreciate your assistance," Ignis said.

"I'm glad I could be of service. Farewell."

Gladio and Ignis watched the girl as she vanished in a puff of smoke before heading back to the house to recuperate from their many hunts for the rest of the day.

<------------<<<<<

Once morning rolled around, Noctis, Prompto, Gladio, and Ignis were ready to depart for Altissia. They ride the elevator in the lighthouse down to a basement area in a seaside cave. They exited the elevator and made their way to the hidden harbor where the boat waited for them.

In the makeshift living room stood Talcott, Iris, Cid and Cor. The little boy shouted excitedly as he addressed Noctis. "Look, Prince Noctis! Even the marshal came to say goodbye!"

When Noctis and his companions reach the bottom of the stairs, Cor spoke up. "Something I gotta get off my chest."

"What's that?" The raven-haired boy questioned.

A somewhat melancholic expression washed over the marshal's face. "I'm sorry. Sorry I wasn't there for your father. I swore an oath to protect the king, but I wasn't strong enough to uphold it."

"Ain't nothin' nobody could've done to stop what happened," Cid interjected himself into the conversation.

"Yeah, I realize that," Noctis said.

"But you need to realize just what you mean to the boys by your side."

He nodded. "I do."

Cid glanced towards Prompto, Gladio, and Ignis. "Even if they can't solve your problems, you can't hide what's goin' on from 'em. It hurts like hell. Remember-those ain't your bodyguards, they're your brothers. Trust in 'em. Always."

Noctis looked towards his closest friends in silence, clinging to what Cid said. He kept those words in mind as he, Prompto, Gladio, and Ignis boarded the boat. Cid followed shortly after, heading towards the helm and starting the engine. Gradually, the sea vessel pulls away from the dock.

From the dock, Talcott and Iris watch the boat leave. The young boy suddenly shouts out to Noctis. "Hey! Your Majesty!"

Noctis walks toward the railing of the boat and met Talcott's gaze. "What's up?"

"Please come back soon! We need our king!"

Noctis nodded with a faint smile. "Yeah. Count on it."

Talcott and Iris wave goodbye and Noctis waves back.

The boat leaves Cape Caem and soon entered open waters. The gleaming water of the vast ocean greeted them, the sun's warm rays bouncing off the surface. Prompto, who was sitting on the cushy bench, sighed in content as the wind blew through his blonde locks. "Y'know, I've always wanted to go sailing like this."

"Not many opportunities living in Insomnia," Gladio stated.

"Out here, it's just us and the horizon! It's amazing-it's life changing!"

"We've quite a ways to go until we reach Altissia, so keep gushing to your heart's content," Ignis said.

Prompto leaned back against the bench. "When we step off the boat, we'll be in a foreign country."

"The anticipation alone is a foreign sensation."

"And to think this is where we were headed to begin with," Gladio chimed in.

"We've been through a lot," Noctis stated.

"And there's still more to come," the advisor added.

"So next on the docket is Leviathan," the blonde said.

Gladio turned his gaze out towards the sea, remembering the image of Leviathan from the nightmare. "A giant serpent, huh?"

"How'd you know that?" Noctis asked.

Realizing his mistake, the shield turned around and tried to keep from explaining the nightmare. "Have you already forgotten? (Y/n) was a queen who was once in the same position as you. She might've mentioned a thing or two about Leviathan."

"Oh, right..." Prompto muttered. He looked away from the brute with a knowing expression. "Too bad we can't ask for her help because a certain someone chased her off..."

The shield glowered at him. "I didn't chase her off."

"Hey, you said something that made her mad," Noctis said. "So, you kinda did chase her off."

Seeing no point in arguing, Gladio crossed his arms. "Even if she was here, you'd still have to face Leviathan on your own."

"She could've given me a few pointers."

The conversation continued on as Prompto changed the subject from (Y/n) to Lady Lunafreya. Noctis and Ignis also chatted of the Oracle while Gladio casted his gaze back out across the sea. When hearing the subject of their conversation move to the Ring of Lucii and how Lunafreya got her hands on it, he wondered how War was able to control the Crystal of Vanaheim. Unlike her kingdom, Lucis used the ring to harness the Crystal's power. Now he had even more questions he wanted to ask her.

"The ring is important, and so is Leviathan-but Luna comes first," Noctis said.

"You know, I was thinking back to our encounter with Ravus," Ignis confessed.

"Hmm?" The raven-haired boy hummed.

"Do you recall an apparatus in place of his arm?" The strategist asked.

It was then Gladio rejoined the conversation. "Yeah, I remember."

"Seems he lost his old one in the invasion. But in its place, he seems to have acquired new power."

"Power?" Noctis parroted.

"That would help explain how a son of Tenebrae suddenly came to command Niflheim's army," Gladio said.

"Now that you mention it, his strength did seems sorta...supernatural. I just chalked it up to the Oracle lineage," Prompto stated.

"His ancestry may be part of it, but that alone wouldn't account for his freakish strength."

Noctis' eyes narrowed as he mumbled, "I wonder what could've happened to him?"

"There's a disturbing rumor about. Lord Ravus has taken to brandishing His Majesty's sword," Ignis informed the group.

"My dad's?"

"And what's the big idea behind that?" Gladio inquired with a faint growl.

"That his power's the same as the power of kings?" Prompto wondered.

"I cannot say for sure, but I have my doubts. Ravus wears the sword, yet does not wield it," the strategist answered.

"For all his newfound powers, he's still the chancellor's lapdog...holding on to the enemy king's sword like some badge of honor," Gladio spat in disdain.

"It might help if we knew what he was after." Prompto's eyes widen as he recalls what (Y/n) told them after encountering Ravus at Aracheole Stronghold. "Hey, didn't (Y/n) say something about the empire wanting to control the monsters from the Inner Sanctum?"

"Yeah. What about it?" Noctis asked.

"Do you think the two are connected? Y'know, the sword and the monsters."

"It's difficult to say," Ignis stated.

"We probably would know more if (Y/n) were here," the blonde sighed.

"Seriously," Noctis groaned.

Gladio glared at the two younger boys. "You two aren't gonna let this go, are you?"

"Nope."

"Never," Prompto cackled.

Gladio rolled his eyes, tuning out the conversation once again. He pulled out the Vanaheim coin from his pocket and admired as the crystal reflected the sun. Even the black symbol engraved on the coin was shiny. Unbeknownst to the shield, the others ceased talking when seeing what was in his hand.

Noctis was the first to ask. "What's that?"

"A coin from Vanaheim. (Y/n) said it was the currency her kingdom used." Gladio lifted his gaze from the coin and tossed it towards him.

Noctis caught the coin and examined it closely. "Damn, this is what they used to pay for things?"

Prompto peered down at the coin with sparkling eyes. "It's so pretty!"

"Where did you get this?" Ignis pried.

"Gilgamesh had it. Apparently, some of (Y/n)'s ancestors sought him out to test their own skills," Gladio explained. "He also said the queen and this coin are all that remains of Vanaheim."

"Well that's...sad," Noctis muttered.

"But what about the second Crystal?" Prompto asked. "It's gotta be in one piece if (Y/n)'s still able to use its power, right?"

"If you wanna try and find it by swimming to the deepest parts of the ocean, be my guest, Blondie. But I don't think you'll make it far," Gladio said. "Y'know, with the water pressure and lack of sunlight."

"Although the Crystal of Vanaheim is still actively being used by (Y/n), it is out of reach. No one could possibly reach the depths and claim it," Ignis claimed.

Noctis gave the coin back to Gladio and all went silent for a few minutes until Prompto began to whine. "Are we there yet?"

Gladio arched a brow in bewilderment. "Didn't you just say you always wanted to go sailing?"

"Yeah, but all this ocean gets kinda bland after a while."

"Last time I checked it was "amazing" and "life-changing.""

Eventually, Cid spoke up after being silent since they left Cape Caem. He kept his eyes focused on the ocean ahead while sparking up a conversation with Noctis. "So, soon you'll have yer old man's ring back."

Noctis nodded. "Yeah. When we arrive in Altissia."

"Good thing. To him, it was his heritage."

"Is that what my dad said?"

"Carrying a royal line ain't a task to be taken lightly. For a small thing, that ring can sure weigh heavy. After he became king, I only ever saw his face in the paper."

"Wait-weren't you at the coronation?" Gladio asked.

Cid shook his head. "Nah, I was long gone from the city."

"Must've been invited at least," the raven-haired boy commented.

"Had a fallin' out o' sorts with your old man. Right at the end of the trip."

Prompto blinked in shock. "You did?"

"I was given to understand you stayed in touch," Ignis said.

"We buried the hatchet years later, but never talked face to face again. Shoulda paid a visit while I had the chance. Well, no use dwellin' on it now. Got the Regalia in the hold, but y'all gonna stay in Altissia for a good while, right?" Cid inquired.

"Yes, we believe so," the strategist replied.

"In that case, I'll tune her up for y'all. Not that I'll have much to do, though, what with Cindy lookin' after the old girl."

"If you say she's good, she must be great," Prompto stated.

"She was never afraid o' hard work. Heaven knows she had a hard childhood."

"A hard childhood"?" The marksman reiterated.

"He means her parents," Gladio clarified.

"Lost 'em both when she was little. Was big enough to understand, though...an' to hurt. But ya wouldn't guess that, seein' her now," Cid explained.

"Not at all. She's always so cheerful," Prompto said.

"Well, that oughta tell ya how far she's come."

Another silence befell the group. Gladio, wishing to slay the tranquility, spoke to Cid. "Man, you must have seen your fair share of Altissia by now."

"Yeah... Only done been the once. Stayed a good while, though," the old man stated.

Prompto was curious about the city and asked, "What's it like?"

"Big ol' city."

Noctis was slightly amused by his response. ""Big." Okay."

"Well, it ain't the Crown City."

""Different." Got it."

"You'll see for yourself: foreign lands seldom lend themselves to trite explanations," Ignis said.

"Change o' scenery oughta do you good," Cid claimed.

Gladio crosses his arms with a huff. "Well, I'm all talked out. Can't be far to Altissia now, right?"

"We'll be there in no time. Nice having the wind at our backs."

"Lodgings are our first order of business," Ignis stated matter-of-factly.

"All work and no play..." Prompto began.

"Makes Ignis a dull boy," Noctis finished.

Gladio glanced between the two younger boys. "Someone has to babysit you two."

"And you're welcome to sleep in the wild," the advisor added.

"Ain't no hotel, but I know a fella has a place," Cid spoke up. "Weskham-ran with Reggie and me way back when."

Prompto's curiosity blossomed. "Oh, was he the other one in that photo at the garage?"

"Yep. Runs himself a diner or café or somethin'. Go and see for yourselves."

"Sure," Noctis replied.

"Does the place have a name?" Gladio pondered.

Cid thought for a few seconds before a few names came to mind. ""Magee"? Or "Magoo"? Or-"Maagho," that's the one."

"Nice," the raven-haired boy commented.

"You can count on ol' Wes. He'll chew your ears off."

Suddenly, the radio turns on as the boat enters the waterway leading into Altissia. "The government issued a statement promising that the reasons behind awakening the Hydraean would be clarified in the ceremonial address. Delivering the address will be Lady Lunafreya, who was previously reported dead. This will mark her first public appearance since the violence that befell the signing ceremony."

Prompto had been listening to the broadcast. "Lady Lunafreya's gonna give a speech?"

"Sounds like it," Gladio said.

"Lord knows-this world could use some wisdom," Cid sighed.

"Won't be much longer now, Noct," Ignis stated.

Noctis nodded with a small smile. "Yeah."

The boat pulls up to a guard who stands along the waterway. Cid shows him the entry permit for the vessel and the guard approved. He then drives the boat on ahead and heads towards the dock. There, he carefully docks the boat and everyone hops off. They make their way toward the city, but were stopped when arriving at a customer queue. Noctis walks up to where some gatekeepers await and was stopped by one. "Sir! What is the purpose of your visit?"

Noctis was taken aback. "Purpose? Uh..."

"They're with me," a cheerful voice proclaimed.

Prompto recognizes the voice immediately and beamed happily. "You're here!"

The gatekeeper let them through while Cid returned to the boat. Famine smiled at the marksman once they entered the city. "War told us you'd be arriving in Altissia soon. Knowing what the empire is planning, we put our hunts aside to help you."

"Uh, "us"?" Noctis parroted. "Does that mean..."

She nodded. "Death, Pestilence, and War are also in the city."

"You four sure are everywhere," Gladio commented.

"Well, nice to know we won't be alone," Noctis said.

"I'm quite familiar with Altissia," Famine said. "What's your first course of action?"

"To secure lodging," Ignis answered.

"Then let's head to the Leville first."

The royal retinue followed the Horseman through the bustling streets of Altissia. It was a short walk to the hotel and Ignis was able to secure a room for them. Once they settled in their room, they headed to the lobby where Famine was patiently waiting for them. Prompto was the fastest out of the group to make his way over to the emerald-eyed girl.

Noctis, Gladio, and Ignis saw him ask her something, but they weren't exactly sure what until they pried. "What're you two plannin'?" The shield questioned.

"I-I was simply asking her if she could give a me a tour of Altissia later," Prompto responded with a faint blush.

"Which I happily agreed to. But for now, where do you all need to go next?" Famine inquired.

"You familiar with a place called Maagho?" Noctis responded with his own question.

"Yep! Follow me!"