With help from Aranea, the four were able to get aid from two men-Biggs and Wedge. The men were now the new conductors of the train and would help the boys and Death reach Gralea. On board the train and departing Tenebrae, Noctis and (Y/n) were in the cabin. The boy had fallen asleep while the Horseman stood in front of the window, watching the snowy scenery zip by. In all the years she'd been a human and a Horseman, this was her first time seeing snow. Although she lived her entire life in Altissia, it never snowed in the beautiful, floating city due to the year-round warm temperatures.

The train suddenly lurches to a halt, causing (Y/n) to lose her balance and fall on the floor. She groaned in pain just as Noctis awoke from his slumber. He climbed off the bed with furrowed brows. "The hell was that?"

"Attention, eh!" Biggs' voice bellows over the loudspeaker.

"Yeah?" Noctis sighed.

"You may have noticed we've stopped. As for the cause... Outside, ya think?"

"We'll take a look." Noctis and (Y/n) left the cabin and headed to the passenger car to regroup with Gladio and Ignis. The Horseman offered Ignis a hand, the strategist gladly accepting her help.

"Hope it's just a quick snow-shoveling job," Gladio huffs as he follows behind Noctis.

"Indeed," Ignis said, gripping Death's hand gently.

Outside of the train, the snowstorm grew stronger and proved to be an obstacle due to the low visibility. "It's freezing!" Noctis hissed, rubbing his hands up and down his arms to create some friction. "Death would even call this cold."

Realizing what he said, (Y/n) broke into a fit of laughter. "Death happens to be walking right behind you."

"Better keep moving to stay warm," Gladio stated.

The raven-haired boy glanced over at (Y/n), still unable to believe this cold wasn't bothering her especially with how much skin her outfit showed. "You're seriously not cold?"

"Nope," the Horseman responded with a smirk.

"The Glacian did this," Ignis suddenly said as (Y/n) released him.

Noctis turned his head, narrowing his eyes as he spotted a large, frozen silhouette in the darkness. "I think I can see her."

Shiva's lifeless face can be seen in the snow beyond the tracks, looming ominously in the shadows of the snowstorm. "It's a shame. She's lying dead," Gladio said. "Damn, it's cold!"

"Let's clean up out here, warm up in there," Noctis stated.

"Better make this snappy."

Out of the blue, the four were attacked by several daemons. They all summoned their weapons and quickly disposed of the nuisances. After slaying the creatures, Noctis stands outside the train, trying to catch his breath beside (Y/n). From the doorway of the train, Gladio leans out and eyes the couple. "Hey, Noct, (Y/n)! You both better get in here. Something's not right."

Noctis headed to the train, but when he saw (Y/n) wasn't following, he turned and called out to the girl. "(Y/n)?"

Death was staring up at the sky, watching as the snow fell. She had been enamored by the sight that she didn't hear Gladio or Noctis call her name. Trying again, the prince called out to her and finally grabbed her attention. "Huh?"

"C'mon. Let's get back on the train," he said.

"Oh," she gasped. "Right."

Noctis and (Y/n) begin to board the train when they spot a figure walking down the aisle of the car. "No way," the boy muttered before rushing up the stairs to chase the figure. "You! Hold it! That son of a bitch."

Unlike Noctis, (Y/n) wasn't able to get a clear view of who it was. She stormed up the steps and into the passenger car, following behind the now furious boy. Peering past him, she recognized the chancellor from anywhere.

Entering the next passenger car, the duo found it to be filled with mist and a frigid breeze. "What the hell?" Noctis murmured as goosebumps appeared on his arms.

Making their way into the next car, Noctis opens the door, only to be buffeted by snow and cold winds again. (Y/n) felt the cold nipping at her skin, but it proved to be no hindrance due to her deathly complexion. Wrapping his arms around himself, Noctis struggles through each step to keep advancing down the aisle towards Ardyn. "Stop! Stop, dammit! Where is he? Where's Prompto?"

(Y/n) clutched onto the back of Noctis' jacket as he struggled to reach the chancellor through the blizzard in the train car. "Oh, there you are! I'm worried about your friends. They've fallen and they can't get up. Why not lend them a hand?" Ardyn smirked, the snow being no obstacle for the man. Noctis and (Y/n) manage to get a few feet from Ardyn. Beyond the chancellor, Noctis can see Ignis and Gladio on the floor, covered in ice and unmoving.

"A coldness that can only be hers," the couple heard Ardyn murmur.

Noctis falls to his knees, but (Y/n) was able to support his body with her own as she wrapped an arm around his waist and kneeled beside him. Her inky locks whipped through the frigid breeze, closing her (e/c) eyes as the dry, cold wind irritated them. The boy's vision begins to blur, but he was able to make out the silhouette of a woman in the doorway past Ignis and Gladio. Ardyn turns and realizes Gentiana a few feet away. His expression momentarily becomes one of surprise, then becomes dull. "Ahh, the face you wore the day you-"

Gentiana touches her index finger to her lips, then touches Ardyn's lips. Instantly, the man's entire body was encased in ice. "Let it now be done... as promised to the Oracle," the woman said as she walked towards Noctis and (Y/n). Her body was enveloped by a flash of blue and white light. As the light fades, the form of Shiva has taken Gentiana's place.

Noctis was shocked at the revelation. "Gentiana-it's you. You're the Glacian. Wha-"

"O King of Kings, restore Light unto the world," the Astral spoke, interrupting the prince. She raises her hands and conjures the Trident of the Oracle. She hands it to Noctis, who leans forward and grasps it. Shiva vanished in another blur of light.

With the newly acquired weapon, the boy approaches the frozen Ardyn with gritted teeth. Using the trident, Noctis impales and shatters the chancellor's frozen body. "Damn you."

(Y/n) walks up to Noctis, placing a hand on his back. He looked over his shoulder, offering a gentle smile. She smiles in return and glances at their friends. "Let's check on the others."

Noctis nods and stumbles onto the floor as he made his way over to his shield and advisor, the weapon disappearing from his hands. "Hey. Wake up."

Gladio and Ignis stirred, slowly getting to their feet. "The hell happened?" The brute groaned.

"Had an encounter with Shiva herself. She's gone now," (Y/n) answered.

"You guys check on our drivers," Noctis added.

"Got it." Gladio turns to Ignis and places his hand on his shoulder. "You good?"

The tactician nodded, grabbing his cane. "Yes, I'm fine. Let's go." Noctis remains on the floor as they leave. (Y/n) stood a few feet behind him, staring down at him in utter silence.

After Gladio and Ignis were out of sight, a spectral image of someone appears before them. (Y/n) didn't recognize the beautiful woman who stood before them, but Noctis knew the phantom all too well and muttered her name. "Luna."

Noctis slowly rises to his feet and reaches out to Luna. (Y/n) watches in awe at the scene, this being her first time seeing the Oracle. Luna smiles brightly and warmly at Noctis as he reaches out to touch her. Just as his hand was about to make contact with her arm, she vanishes.

Noctis falls forward when the phantom vanishes. As he sits back up, sylleblossom petals float into his open palm. He clenches his fist around the ghostly image and begins to cry. "It's so hard. Guess it was hard for you, too. I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you."

(Y/n) wrapped her arms around Noctis the moment he turned to face her, hoping to comfort him. In response, the boy snaked his arms around her small frame and pulled her flush against his chest. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, trying to drown out his sniffles. Death could feel his tears cascading down her neck and shoulder, but she didn't mind one bit.

After a prolonged silence, Noctis released (Y/n) and lifted his head. Staring into her (e/c) eyes with determination. "I won't fail you like I did Luna, (Y/n)."

The Horseman got lost in Noctis' pools of lapis. "You didn't fail her, Noctis, and I know you'll never fail me, either. You should listen to your own advice sometimes," she giggled, placing a small peck on his lips. Noctis smiled, grabbed Death's hand, and took her to the next train car.

Halfway down the aisle, the eerie presence returned. (Y/n) turned to where they just came from and spotted a smirking Ardyn. "I feel I've earned the right to call you Noct. For a moment I felt death's chill wind, such is the might of the gods. But then, I remembered I'm immortal. Such is my blessing and curse. I am the same as the beautiful maiden that wields your heart, but we suffer from different malediction. Your attack hurt me, nevertheless..." The man's smirk suddenly turns into a fierce scowl and his voice becomes something of a growl. "My feelings at least."

(Y/n) couldn't help but chuckle. "You and I may both be immortal, but we are nothing alike. All I see before me is a pitiful man who thirsts for blood and will only be satisfied once he's atop the food chain."

Death's words caused the fire in Ardyn's gaze to fester. "Might you be careful where you are prowling, my dear. 'Tis mighty thin ice that will crack with the gentlest of touches."

"And you are treading in dangerous territory yourself, Chancellor. Be wary for you might wander into a swarm of daemons who will swallow you whole."

Ardyn chuckled at her response. "The kitten has claws and is not afraid to walk in the shadows. Death has changed you, (Y/n)-for the better, might I add. You have steeled your heart, but it still crumbles for one man alone." The chancellor's gaze fell upon Noctis, who tugged on the Horseman's arm and placed himself in front of her.

"What the hell do you want?" The prince hissed, glaring daggers at the amber-eyed man.

"Remember this?" Ardyn raises a familiar gun, Noctis and (Y/n) recognizing it as Prompto's pistol. The couple gasped as Ardyn grinned menacingly. "Ah, I should have asked if you remember him. Truly a blast from the past, nay?"

Ardyn casually walks up to Noctis and places the side of the gun against his chest. The boy tries to grab it, but the chancellor pulls it away and turns his back to them. "Ah, ah, ah! You mustn't take what's not yours."

"Where is he?!" Noctis demanded, voice brimming with anger.

Ardyn raised a brow. ""He"?" The man turns back to face Noctis and (Y/n). "The little gunman's a short shot away." The man raises his finger and points as if he were firing a gun.

"Where?" Noctis growled.

"Where else but Gralea, the seat of the empire? I'm sure he'll be delighted to see you. And you might even find your Crystal. With all these daemons about, you could certainly use it."

Ardyn walks past Noctis, deliberately pushing past him as he does so, then comes to a stop. "Off you go, then. I wouldn't want to keep you from your friend. Though, I do wish to make a new addition to my new collection." He raises the pistol, aims it at (Y/n), and pulls the trigger. Death wasn't able to dodge as the bullet went straight through her head before she could even register the projectile heading her way.

Noctis' eyes widened in shock and fear as he watched (Y/n)'s body collapse with a hole in the middle of her forehead. Blood streamed from the small opening as the prince fell to his knees beside her. He knew she was immortal, but he wasn't sure how severe a bullet to the head was. He placed his hands on the Horseman's cheeks and turned her head to stare into her now lifeless eyes. "(Y-Y/n)...?"

"A wound such as that shall take time." Ardyn raises his right hand, in which he is holding a small device. He presses a button on the small box-like object with his thumb. Then, he kicks Noctis in the side and his body went rolling down the aisle.

Grunting in pain, Noctis slowly pushed his upper body off the floor only to see Ardyn taking (Y/n)'s lifeless body in his arms. Gritting his teeth, the prince scrambled to his feet. "You bastard-let her go!"

When Noctis tried to summon a weapon, nothing appeared in his hand. Confused, he stared down at his empty hands. Ardyn took advantage of the boy's confused state and delivered another kick-this time, the target being the boy's gut. Noctis fell on his back and the wind was knocked out of him. The chancellor smirked as he held Death's body. "Ta-ta, Your Majesty!"