When Ignis heard something hit the ground and a devastating neigh from Erra, he pulled on the chocobo's reins and forced it to turn around. On the road, he spotted (Y/n)'s body with the horse nudging his snout against her shoulder. He shouted her name, commanding the bird to trot. Rushing over, he hopped off the chocobo and kneeled beside the Horseman.

Noctis, Prompto, and Gladio heard the advisor shout Pestilence's name and stopped. They turned and saw the current state of their female companion. Briskly, they rode over and checked on her.

"W-What's wrong with (Y/n)?" Prompto asked in a shaky tone, noting the blood dripping from her eyes and ears.

Ignis told them what she had told him only minutes ago. After his explanation, he eyed the raven-haired boy. "Noct, I need you to retrieve the Regalia. In her unconscious state, it would be difficult to get her back to Old Lestallum any other way."

"Y-Yeah." Noctis mounted his chocobo and took off alongside Prompto and Gladio.

The strategist gathered (Y/n)'s body into his arms and moved her out of the middle of the road. Erra sidled up to him, worried about his rider.

Once in the grass and off the road, Ignis placed her body down gently. He tried to use a potion to help her, but it had no effect. Blood continued to seep from her eyes and ears as he helplessly watched. He wiped a few stray blood drops from her cheeks, which were immediately replaced by more. At one point, he swore he felt no pulse. Regardless of her status as an immortal, he found himself more worried for her well-being than he would've imagined.

The Regalia arrived a few minutes later. Noctis hopped out from behind the wheel and opened the door to the backseat. Ignis carried (Y/n) in his arms and placed her on the seat before getting in himself. Once seated, he laid the girl's head on his thigh and combed a few white strands of hair out of her face. He kept his eyes focused on her and didn't notice their arrival back in Old Lestallum until he heard Iris' concerned voice. "Oh, gods. I-Is she okay?"

"She'll be fine," Gladio assured his little sister.

"Prompto, procure a room," Ignis said.

"On it!" The blonde dashed out of the car and to the front desk of the motel.

The royal advisor exited the car and then took (Y/n)'s body, once again, into his arms. Prompto came back and pointed him in the direction of the room.

Once inside the small room, Ignis placed the Horseman's body on the bed before shuffling into the bathroom and wetting a washcloth. With it, he wiped the blood from her cheeks, eyes, and ears. Noctis, Prompto, Gladio, and Iris watched in silence as they gathered around the bed.

Ignis didn't stop wiping away the blood until it stopped ten minutes later. His companions left the room to restock their supply of curatives at his request a few minutes ago. With a heavy sigh, he moved from (Y/n)'s side and sat in the chair located in the corner of the small room. He leaned back, feeling the exhaustion from the battle and the restless nights assault his being all at once. Eventually, he couldn't keep his eyes open any longer.

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

An hour sailed by in a flurry. Before the haunting images could rush through his mind, Ignis felt a warm sensation surround his entire body. Gradually, his eyes opened when he felt something cool press against his forehead. What greeted him upon opening his eyes was a pleasant and shocking sight-his and (Y/n)'s faces were mere inches apart.

Pestilence blinked owlishly a few times when realizing the tactician was awake and removed her hand from his forehead. "Apologies for awakening you, Ignis. You seemed...unwell while you slept. I hoped my magic would've soothed you, but it seems I've disturbed you instead. I know you haven't slept properly in a while and wanted to bestow upon you at least a few minutes of peaceful sleep." She placed her hands on his cheeks, rubbing her thumbs across the ridge of his cheekbones with a smile. "You will tell me what this nightmare is about one of these days."

Ignis was unable to mutter a syllable as he was lost in her (e/c) eyes and gentle touch. His mouth opened and closed as he tried to form a sentence, but not even a single noise escaped his throat.

(Y/n) realized she broke the man's calm and collective demeanor, causing her to giggle. "Seems I've left you speechless."

The door to the room suddenly swung open, revealing Noctis and Gladio. The prince and his shield froze when they saw the position the two were in. "Uh..." Noctis muttered, unable to finish his sentence.

"We interrupting, Iggy?" Gladio guffawed with a smirk when he saw the strategist's face.

Pestilence tore her gaze from the bespectacled man and looked at the two, her hands still on his face. "While you three chat, I must go and check on Erra. I fear I've worried him." She dropped her hands to her sides and left the room briskly.

Once Pestilence was out of sight, Gladio arched a brow with a grin. "You gonna tell us what that was all about?"

"I...am unable to explain clearly as of this moment," Ignis confesses.

"Wow..." Noctis mumbled in surprise. "Never seen you so...broken. What the hell happened in here?"

The brute's grin festered. "Iggy's crushing-hard. Never thought I'd see the day where a girl made our cool and level-headed Iggy a mess. Hell, I never expected to see you crushin' over a girl at all. Always acting smooth and gentlemanly, but it seems (Y/n)'s crawled deep under your skin and is makin' you a hot mess. Gotta give her a round of applause-she's officially broken Iggy."

Noctis snorted with laughter while Ignis looked away from his friends and stood up. He crossed his arms, staring out the window. He mentally accepts the fact he's fallen for the Horseman in such a short time, but he still refuses to wear those feelings on his sleeve. Deep down, he feared the moment he would have to tell her the contents of the nightmare that kept him from sleeping. Something was gnawing at the inside of his mind, telling him he would be risking his relationship with her if he told her.

"And we've lost him..." Gladio muttered to the young prince beside him.

"I don't think Specs was ever really listening," Noctis admits.

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

"Oh, (Y/n)!" The Horseman heard Iris gasp the second Erra vanished. "I'm so glad you're awake! I was really worried about you when Gladdy told me what happened. How're you feeling?"

"Perfectly fine," Pestilence smiled at her. "Where's Prompto?"

"He's busy shopping. You ready to head to Caem?"

"As I'll ever be. Hopefully, there won't be more distractions on the road ahead," the white-haired girl sighed.

"I'm with you on that one. No more detours! I promised Talcott we would be there by tomorrow."

"(Y/n)!" A voice shrieks. Both girls turned around and saw Prompto rushing toward them. He skidded to a halt just a few inches from them. "Are you sure it's okay for you to be up and walking around? You were really pale earlier."

The Horseman nodded. "I'm fine, Prompto. I feel terrible for delaying our trip to Caem, though."

"Hey, you saved us from that weirdo," the gunslinger rebuttals. "If you didn't do anything, I don't think me, Noct, Gladio, or Iggy would be still breathing."

Iris nodded in agreement. "Yeah! Gladdy said you guys were ambushed by those highwaymen on your way back and you saved their lives, (Y/n)."

"You both are too kind," Pestilence sighed.

"We're just tellin' you the facts," Prompto smiled gratefully at her.

The trio's attention was drawn to behind them when they heard Noctis, Gladio, and Ignis leaving the motel room. The Horseman glanced between the three boys with a refreshing smile. "Ready to depart?"

"Depends," Glaido said.

"How're you faring?" Ignis asked, composing himself long enough without imagining the proximity they shared only a few minutes ago and how mental of a mess she had made him.

"I'm alright. There's no cause for concern," she assures the boys.

"Tell that to Specs..." Noctis murmured only for him, his shield, and his advisor to hear. As usual, Ignis ignored the relentless teasing.

"I wouldn't wish to hinder this trip any longer. Shall we?" The Horseman gestured to the Regalia. They all nodded and departed from Old Lestallum.

A little ways down the road, Gladio leaned forward in his seat. "I coulda gone another round." He spared a glance toward (Y/n), who rode atop Erra beside the speeding car. "You were holding back. I could tell."

Pestilence glanced his way with a small shrug. "I do treasure life, but those who choose to harm others for selfish gains, I've no qualms snipping their lifeline in a heartbeat."

Prompto shuttered at hearing the dark undertone of her voice. "Well, uh...didn't expect to hear something so chilling from you. Never knew you had a dark side, (Y/n). You've only been smiles and giggles since we met you."

"Yes, well..." Her voice trailed off before returning after a brief pause and she muttered the last part to herself. "Those who smile and laugh the most are the ones hiding the most pain."

Unbeknownst to the Horseman, the blonde gunslinger had heard her clear as day. He decided not to comment regardless of what she truly meant by such sorrowful words.

"Given her prowess, you should be glad you didn't," Ignis stated, steering the conversation back to the woman they encountered in Fort Vaullerey.

Prompto nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that Loqi guy was nothing compared to her."

"Though we may not have fared so well without the marshal."

The freckled boy reclined back in his seat with a sigh. "Think things would've gone differently if he were here now?"

"She offered to play again. Maybe we'll get the chance to find out," Gladio said, recalling the mysterious woman's final words before vanishing. He looked at (Y/n) for a fraction of a second before staring at the open road ahead. "Better make sure you don't hold back next time, (Y/n)."

"No promises," she responds stoically.

Making no more detours, the group headed straight for Cape Caem.

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

As the royal retinue exits the other side of a long tunnel, a parking area comes into view. Gladio glanced around as Ignis pulled the vehicle over. "This the place?"

Iris nodded with an exuberant grin. "Sure is! Thanks for the lift, Ignis."

"My pleasure," the advisor replies, exiting the Regalia.

"Can't wait to see my buddy Talcott!" Prompto cheered.

(Y/n) dismounted Erra and the horse vanished within the blink of an eye. She followed the boys up the path to the lighthouse while Iris went on ahead. When the lighthouse came into view, Gladio whistled. "Whoa. Pretty impressive lighthouse."

"What say we head on up?" The photographer suggested.

"Ought to be a nice view, if a bit blustery," Ignis commented.

"Sounds quite lovely," (Y/n) smiled.

Further up the path, the group runs into Cindy. The Horseman has been told, courtesy of Prompto, who the young woman was and what she had done for the group since they left Insomnia. The busty blonde smiled and waved at them when she spotted them walking up the path.

"What's up?" Gladio greets with a playboy-ish grin.

"Knew it was y'all! Recognize the purr of that engine anywhere!" The mechanic chanted.

(Y/n) decided to part with the four and head to the house located not far from the lighthouse. The second her (e/c) eyes locked with a pair of hazel ones, she smiled. "(Y/n)!" Talcott shouted and ran over to her. He threw his arms around her waist and hugged her. "I'm so glad to see you again!"

Pestilence smirked down at the little boy and combed a hand through his hair in a soothing motion. "This place is quite windy with how close to the seaside we are. Mind helping me comb my unruly hair?"

The boy's eyes lit up as he nodded frantically. "I can help!" He unwound his arms and took her hand in his smaller one. He guided her into the house and up the stairs to one of the many bedrooms on the second floor.

Inside the small room, (Y/n) sat down on the bed once Talcott had released her hand. The little boy searched the small dresser located adjacent to the bed and found a hairbrush. He quickly grabbed it and hopped onto the bed behind the Horseman. Carefully, he began combing the girl's snowy locks.

"Y'know," Talcott started. "I have some really bad knots in my hair after I wake up. Iris usually helps me comb my hair in the morning if I'm having any problems."

"Bedhead is the worst," (Y/n) laughs. "One of my sisters has long red hair and you can't even imagine how difficult it is for her to tame such a mess. I usually am the one to provide aid in such a treacherous endeavor."

Talcott giggled, continuing to run the comb's soft bristle through the girl's hair. "I wish I had hair like yours. It's pretty and soft!" He didn't stop combing until they heard something fall in the room next door.

Confused as to what it was, (Y/n) wanted to check out the source of the loud 'clank.' "I'll be back shortly, Talcott."

The little boy nodded and placed the comb down.

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

After discussing matters with Cindy, the royal retinue discovered they would need to hunt down mythril to get the late king's ship in working condition to transport them to Altissia. While searching for Talcott in order to learn where they could procure such a valuable material, Prompto had pulled them aside in one of the unoccupied rooms on the second floor.

Noctis sat on the edge of the bed as he glanced up at his best friend. "What's this about, Prompto?"

"I'm worried about (Y/n)," he confesses.

"And why's that?" Gladio questioned.

"Something she said on the way here really concerned me."

"Do tell," Ignis urges the younger boy to continue.

"Well..." He stared down at his hands. "She said, "Those who smile and laugh the most are the ones hiding the most pain." It's not like her to sound so...heartbroken."

Ignis' eyes widen after hearing the blonde's explanation. Gladio caught a glimpse of the bespectacled man's frightened and shocked expression, eyes narrowing. "Now you're acting strange. What's the deal?"

The strategist adjusted his glasses before clearing his throat. "I...may have an inkling as to her behavior."

"Then, what is it?" Noctis pried, wanting to learn more.

Ignis was torn between keeping the secret for (Y/n)'s sake, but at the same time, he wanted to tell the others so he could properly help deal with such horrid images burnt into his mind. He explained to them about the nightmare he'd been experiencing ever since Pestilence entrusted the summoning orb to him. He left out smaller details and decided to focus on what images haunted him the most-(Y/n)'s death.

Prompto gasped, stepping back and accidentally bumping into the dresser. A small ornamental statue fell off the dresser and onto the floor. "Y-You haven't told her yet?"

"What am I to tell?" Ignis seethed. "Images of her death haunt my sleep? Plummeting off a bridge while confined in a vehicle? A deranged stranger being the catalyst of it all?" When he managed to calm down, he looked around at his friends and saw they were no longer looking at him. Their gazes were focused on the door behind him.

"(Y/n)..." Noctis gulped.