A/n: It's been 6 months since I've updated this and I deeply apologize for that🥺. You may or may not see a change in my writing style because I can't really tell if it's changed some. I hope you all enjoy this next chapter! Love you all!!!
~✨Celestial✨~
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After three hours of exploring Altissia, (Y/n) and Ignis found themselves resting by the fountain. They continued chatting until Noctis, Prompto, and Gladio rendezvoused with them after their very own excursions around the beautiful city. The trio began questioning the two left and right, wondering what the couple had done in their absence.

"So how was the date?" Prompto pried, eager to know the answer.

Pestilence lifted her head and met the blonde's gaze. "I wouldn't classify it as a "date"."

"You're tellin' me the two of you did nothing romantic?" Gladio asked. "Talk about a wasted opportunity."

"We simply traversed the streets of Altissia to see what all this city had to offer," Pestilence said.

"Did you guys even hold hands?" Prompto questioned.

"No," Ignis simply replies.

"How boring," Noctis muttered.

(Y/n) pushed herself off the rim of the fountain and crossed her arms. "Regardless of what we did or didn't do, Ignis and I enjoyed our time together. But now since everyone is here, we should depart for First Secretary Claustra's estate. You've a negotiation to attend, Noctis."

The soon-to-be king groaned. "Don't remind me..."

"We best make haste," Ignis said as he stood up. "Keeping the first secretary waiting would be ill-advised."

The Horseman walked away from the fountain with the boys close behind. The raven-haired boy was puzzled as he followed her. "You know where the estate is?"

"Ignis and I passed it during our stroll through the city," she replied.

The retinue walked through the streets of Altissia. They weaved around corners and through a few pedestrians to reach their destination. Once they arrived at the large estate, Noctis was escorted inside while the others were forced to wait outside by the front gate.

A few minutes passed and everyone, minus (Y/n), were startled when a girl they were unfamiliar with appeared out of nowhere. She had blonde locks and emerald eyes that glistened brilliantly in the sun. A smile graced her face as she stepped toward Pestilence. "I'm sorry for interrupting, but there's something I need to talk with you about."

"I'm shocked to find you here in Altissia, Famine," (Y/n) responded. "What could possibly be the issue?"

Famine looked around at Prompto, Gladio, and Ignis before whispering in her sister's ear. "Can we talk in private?"

"Of course." The snowy-haired girl glanced at the others. "There's a matter of great importance that I must attend. I will rendezvous with you all back at the Leville." Before the boys could respond, both girls vanished in the blink of an eye.

Gladio looked over at Prompto, noticing how he was staring at the spot Famine once stood. "What's with the dreamy-eyed look, huh?"

The marksman's cheeks were dusted a light crimson. "N-Nothing!"

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

At the docks, Famine and Pestilence scanned their surroundings. When they saw no one else was around, they casted their gazes toward the calm, gleaming water. The golden-haired girl clasped her hands behind her back, her jade eyes still focused on the beautiful scenery. "I'm glad I found you so soon, Pestilence."

"What is this about?" (Y/n) asked.

"Death and War discovered some disturbing information about the empire while searching for their targets," Famine stated. "They plan to attack during the rite."

"I'm not surprised," the ivory-haired girl sighed.

"Our sisters will be here tonight. All of us are putting aside our hunt to provide help."

"Good, because this city is going to need all the help it can get tomorrow. Hopefully King Aeshema wouldn't mind our intervention."

Famine nodded. "He'll understand. He may be the daemon king, but he isn't cold-hearted. There's also something I wanted to ask."

"What is it?" (Y/n) inquired.

A smile bloomed on her sister's face. "War told me something quite interesting. Is it true you've become close to this Ignis fellow?"

Pestilence locked eyes with her. "It is. Are you going to tell me I should sever my ties with him, too?"

She shook her head. "Oh, no! I'm actually happy for you, Pestilence. After what happened to you, I think you deserve happiness. I'm glad you were able to find someone."

"War may not agree with us, but we all deserve happiness regardless of our role as the Four Horsemen."

"I understand why she sees love as a burden," Famine sighed. "After all, she was betrayed by the man she loved."

"Yes..." (Y/n) muttered. "But I pray she forgets the past and lives for the future. It took me 80 years to realize that all thanks to Ignis."

"Then I should let you rejoin him and the others," Famine giggled. "I'll join Death and War when they arrive in the city. We'll do everything in our power to help."

"Thank you, Famine."

(Y/n) vanished in a puff of smoke. A few seconds later, she appeared in the boys' hotel room. Her sudden appearance caused Prompto to fall off the bed with his camera in his grasp. He cried out in pain when his body landed on the hard floor. "My apologies, Prompto," she said, helping him off the floor and back onto the bed.

He rubbed the back of his head with a faint smile. "It's okay, (Y/n)."

Pestilence's gaze traveled over to Noctis, who was playing on his phone while relaxing in a comfy chair. "How were negotiations with Camelia?"

"I think it went well," Noctis answered unsurely, looking up from his phone. "Where'd you run off to?"

"Famine arrived in Altissia a short while after we did. Apparently, Death and War will also be joining her soon. They will be providing aid tomorrow during the rite."

"Guess this means we don't have to fill you in."

"No," she replied. "I'm already aware of the empire's plan to strike. We'll do everything in our power to aid you and the citizens of Altissia."

"We're gonna need all the help we can get," Noctis said.

(Y/n) strolled past the raven-haired boy and toward the balcony. She leaned against the railing, peering up at the sky. The sun was setting and the sky was painted with hues of orange, red, and yellow. A gentle breeze traveled through the city, her snowy locks blowing around her. She could hear the faint sounds of rushing water and the cheerful voices of children playing in the streets.

A sigh of content escaped Pestilence's lips as she continued to admire the scenery. She closed her eyes for a few seconds, vivid images of her previous life flashing through her mind. The feeling of a hand on her shoulder startled her, the images evaporating as her eyes fluttered opened. Looking to her right, she saw Ignis. She noticed his hair was wet and no longer in its usual style. From his appearance and scent, she could tell he just got out of the shower. "I was wondering where you were."

"I've been informed by Noctis of your siblings," he said. "We will indeed be needing assistance."

"I shall aid you and the others in evacuation details," she stated. Her eyes returned to the beautiful sky above, admiring the many colors. She fell silent for a minute before speaking up. "Raiden and I discussed Altissia being our destination as we escaped Galahd. Our dream was to start a new life together away from my mother and Edric. Unfortunately, our dream never came to fruition."

Ignis listened to her, silently moving his hand from her shoulder and placing it over hers as it gripped the railing tightly.

"I must thank you, though," she said, catching the advisor off guard.

"How so?" He inquired.

"If I hadn't met you, I'd still be blaming myself for his death. For 80 years, I believed I was the reason behind his downfall. But now, I know Edric is to blame." She unlatched her hand from around the railing and turned it over, threading her fingers through his. "I've been drowning in sorrow for years. You were the one to bring light to my darkened world and I cannot express how indebted I am." She squeezed his hand gingerly, smiling up at him. She stepped closer to him, leaning her head on his shoulder.

Ignis welcomed her warmth and remained still as they both stared at the setting sun. They remained close to each other until (Y/n) suddenly released his hand and stepped away from him with wide eyes. Her head snapped to the left as she developed tunnel vision. "Impossible..." She walked to the other end of the balcony, staring off into the distance. Before Ignis could ask about her sudden change in demeanor, she disappeared.

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

(Y/n) appeared in front of a stairwell leading underground located near the first secretary's estate. She looked around, noticing the streets weren't as busy at night before descending the stairwell. Her bare feet padded against the tile as she walked down the set of stairwells.

Reaching the bottom, the Horseman's eyes narrowed as she spotted the draugr in front of a large painting. She noticed its lower body had regenerated and growled in annoyance. As she took a few steps toward the monster, she realized it hadn't detected her as it continued to bang its decaying fist against the portrait of a woman cladded in a red dress. Baffled, she circled around to see what it was trying to do.

A gasp escaped (Y/n) as something emerged from the painting. The draugr backed away as a chadarnook crawled out and revealed itself. Pestilence summoned her chakrams and went to attack her primary target but froze when she saw the undead warrior create a void of darkness and entered it, vanishing within seconds. She clicked her tongue in frustration as she turned her focus to the daemon.

The ivory-haired girl gripped her weapons tightly as she charged toward the chadarnook. Before her blades could slice through the daemon, she was flabbergasted when it suddenly disappeared. She immediately looked around for it, wondering where it could've gone. She couldn't sense it like the monsters from the Inner Sanctum, making it more difficult to locate.

All of a sudden, (Y/n) felt cold fingers wrap around her ankle and yank her off her feet. A cry of shock emitted from her throat as she fell to the floor and dropped her chakrams. She turned her head and saw the chadarnook dragging her toward the painting with a sinister cackle. She gritted her teeth as she conjured her chakrams. They vanished from the floor and reappeared in her hands. Before she could swing her blades, a dagger pierced the daemon's arm and it howled in pain as it released the Horseman's ankle.

Pestilence stared at the dagger before it dissipated. Looking toward the stairwell, she saw Noctis, Prompto, Gladio, and Ignis. The blonde had taken a snapshot of the daemon before lowering his camera and summoning his pistol, shooting the enemy. Gladio and Noctis charged at the chadarnook with their swords and attacked. (Y/n) was surprised by their sudden appearance that she didn't realize her close proximity to the daemon until she was helped up by Ignis.

She thanked him before tossing her chakrams and slicing the assailant. Ignis conjured his daggers and joined Noctis and Gladio in close combat. Pestilence caught her weapon's before switching to her staff and casting a fire spell. The flames engulfed the chadarnook, causing it to wail in pain. Prompto and Ignis finished off the daemon before the blonde cried out in victory.

The boys dispelled their weapons as they turned their gazed toward the Horseman. Ignis was the first to question her. "What is the meaning of this, (Y/n)?"

Pestilence ridded herself of her staff and combed a hand through her slightly messy tresses. "The draugr was here, but I was too late. It awoken the daemon residing within the painting and vanished." She pinched the bridge of her nose with a sigh. "This game of cat and mouse is becoming unbearable. That's beside the point, though. How did you find me?"

"A few people were complainin' about a ruckus from downstairs," Gladio said. "Figured we find you down here."

"I must apologize for my sudden disappearance," (Y/n) stated. "I was frightened the draugr was killing innocent people and couldn't bear the thought."

"Are you injured?" Ignis asked, his eyes raking over the girl's body in search of any injuries.

"Uh-oh, Mama Iggy is making an appearance," Prompto chuckled.

"Or maybe it's just he's worry about his girlfriend," Gladio commented.

The Horseman ignored their comments and shook her head. "No, I'm all right." She turned her back to the group and faced the stairwell. "Let's return to the hotel. You four should get some rest. It's been a long day."

"(Y/n)," Ignis murmured the girl's name as she walked up the stairs and disappeared.

"C'mon, let's head back." A yawn came from Noctis as he stretched his arms. "I'm about to pass out..."

"Me too," Prompto said, yawning right after his best friend.

The royal retinue left the basement and headed back to the Leville, which was only a few minutes away. When they entered their hotel room, Noctis and Prompto flopped down on one of the beds and closed their eyes, falling asleep within minutes. Gladio crawled into the other bed with his book in hand, not as tired as his friends and deciding to read before going to sleep. Ignis, who was the only one not in bed, searched for (Y/n). He checked the balcony before leaving the room and heading to the lobby.

On one of the plush couches in the lobby, Ignis located the Horseman and approached her. She sat with her legs crossed, staring at the painting hanging on the wall. She stretched out her arms, placing her hands on her knee as he sat down beside her. "The draugr knew a daemon was residing in the portrait, but how? Not once did it attack that monstrosity before deciding to withdraw. I fear as though it is being manipulated by another being."

"Is it possible for such an atrocity to be controlled?" Ignis questioned.

"Monsters from the Inner Sanctum are highly intelligent. While they are unable to speak, they are able to understand human speech. If someone were to offer it a deal it can't refuse, it's possible they are controlling it. It's the only explanation that explains its actions tonight."

"For now, we should focus on tomorrow," the advisor stated.

"Yes, you're right." (Y/n) uncrossed her legs and adjusted her position. She sat on her knees, her body facing Ignis. She reached her hands out, cupping his cheeks in her palms and tilting his face upward in order to gaze into his jade eyes. She leant down and pressed her lips against his, gently kissing him. It was a short kiss and when she pulled away, her lips hovered just a few centimeters away from his. A smile blossomed on her face as she continued to gaze lovingly into his eyes. "You should get some rest, Ignis."

"Yes, well..." The tactician became lost in her eyes for a few seconds before returning to reality. "You are quite a distraction, (Y/n)."

The Horseman giggled at his words. "I would loathe being the one to prevent you from sleeping."

"On the contrary, you are a welcomed distraction."

Her smile widened. "As much as I would love to continue this, we should part ways for the night." She dropped her hands from his cheeks and stood up. "I hope you sleep well, Ignis. I will see you in the morning."

He nodded. "Yes. Goodnight, (Y/n)."