A/n: This part gets a little gory near the end. It's for a short bit, but I just wanna warn everyone in case someone's grossed out by blood. I hope you all enjoy this chapter! Love you all!!!
~✨Celestial✨~
•••••••••••••••••••••

Noctis, Gladio, and Ignis didn't make it far into the city before being separated by the wrecked train. The raven-haired boy was forced to trek the innards of Zegnautus Keep by himself while his advisor and shield did the same. Minutes turned into hours as they searched the large stronghold for the Crystal, Prompto, (Y/n), and each other.

Ardyn had taken it upon himself to taunt Noctis as the boy meandered through the halls and rooms of Zegnautus Keep. He tried to ignore the chancellor as he continued his search. At one point, the man teased him by creating images of Prompto. Noctis would chase after his best friend, but in the end, he was always greeted with a mangled body of a magitek. He growled under his breath before setting out and ignoring any other spectral images of the blonde.

While in the deepest parts of Zegnautus Keep after falling down the central shaft from the upper-level catwalk, Noctis discovered the bodies of imperial troopers. Among the corpses, he found Ravus' own lifeless body and his father's sword. Claiming the weapon, Noctis no longer needed to rely heavily on the Ring of the Lucii.

After more hours of traversing through the stronghold, Noctis was able to regroup with Gladio and Ignis. Now that they were all together, searching the Keep proved to be easier.

Eventually, they arrived in the cell block of Zegnautus Keep. There, they found Prompto and freed him from the device restraining him. The blonde falls to the floor once liberated and Noctis bends down to help him.

"Hey, you alright?" Gladio asked once seeing the bruises and scratches across the younger boy's body.

"Are you hurt? Do you need help?" Ignis questioned as he also noticed how battered his friend was.

"I'm fine. Thank you, Noct." Prompto fights through the pain and manages to sit upright. He stared at his best friend with an unwavering gaze. "Tell me. Were you worried about me?"

Noctis was taken aback at the question but didn't hesitate to respond. "Of course I was. What kind of question is that?"

"Of course. That's why you came, like I believed you would," the blonde said.

"Prompto..."

"That's why I told myself I couldn't die. Not until I could see you and hear you tell me I'm not a fake-that I'm the real me."

The raven-haired boy looked away with a guilt-stricken expression. "I'm sorry."

Prompto shook his head. "Don't be. Everything's alright now."

"If you four are done, we better get moving," a feminine voice said.

The boys turned their heads and saw War standing outside the cell with her arms crossed.

Gladio couldn't help but snicker at her appearance, memories of her helping him in Altissia flashing through his mind. "When did you get here, Firecracker?"

The redhead glared at the brute. "Don't call me that." She uncrossed her arms a placed a hand on her hip. "I'm here for my sister. That's it."

"(Y/n) is our next priority," Ignis stated.

Prompto pushes himself off the floor alongside Noctis. "I know where they're keeping her."

"Good," War sighed. She then looked toward Noctis. "Before we search for Pestilence, returning your power should be our next focus. Let's make this quick so we can find my sister."

Noctis, Prompto, Gladio, and Ignis followed War out of the cell block and in a different direction then they trekked before. The boys were relieved the Horseman was with them for her presence alone was enough to keep them safe from daemons with their lack of weapons at the moment. As the group makes their way back toward the central area of Zegnautus Keep, War and Ignis suddenly froze.

The girl turned around and faced the others. "What a strange sound."

"Indeed," Ignis agreed before glancing toward the raven-haired boy walking beside him. "Noct, do you hear that?"

Noctis glances between War and his advisor. "Hear what?"

"I've heard this sound before-on the train, just before your weapons failed you. It's nearby, and it may hold the key to restoring your power," Ignis answered.

War's cerulean eyes scanned the area around them. She used her ears to tune into the low humming and walked forward. When she realized the noise crescendoed, she gestured for the boys to follow her. "This way."

The boys and Horseman make their way across the catwalk leading to the central area of the current level they were on of the Keep. They came across a room, which was sealed by mechanical doors.

Ignis' eyes narrowed slightly as he listened closely to the noise. He knew for certain it was coming from the other side of the door. "It's here."

Noctis stops in front of the closed metal doors in the center of the enormous room. "This thing?" He places his hand against one of the doors and tried to open it. However, it didn't budge. "Door's locked."

"It's coming from within. Is there no way through?" The strategist questioned, using his good eye to search for a way in.

"There's a way," Prompto sorrowfully said. The others watch him closely as he hesitantly steps up to the door's scanner and raises the back of his right wrist to it. When the doors slide open, the blonde resumes speaking, staring off into the room. He found himself unable to make eye contact with the others. "So, MTs... They've got those codeprints...just like I do."

"Do they? Never looked," Noctis replied, unfazed by his best friend's words.

"Yeah... So, as it turns out...I'm one of them. Not exactly something I could tell people growing up in Lucis," the marksman confessed, his voice lower than usual. Tears threaten to fall, but he manages to keep them at bay. "Still... You guys are like...the only friends I've ever known. I just hope that things can stay the way they were."

"Whatever. Who cares where you were born?" Noctis responded.

"I don't see you turning against us. Not now, or ever," Ignis stated.

Prompto looked around at his friends. "Thanks, guys. Still...I can't change where I came from. What I am."

"Since when does where you come from matter to you? You never once treated me as a prince," the raven-haired boy said, playfully punching the blonde's shoulder.

"He's got you there," Gladio commented.

"Never so much as a "Highness"," Ignis added.

"We're done here," Noctis said. "C'mon, crown citizen."

War, who remained silent during the exchange, walked inside the room. Gladio steps over to Prompto and gives his shoulder a friendly smack as he follows the redhead. "You're one of us, right?"

Ignis stops and turns back toward Prompto, looking over his shoulder. "Unless you'd rather not be."

Prompto smiles, nods, and follows them.

Inside the room, they find abandoned clothing laying upon the throne and a large bank of computers. War stepped forward, warning the others to back away. Once they put enough distance between her and them, she waved her hand and six lances materialized behind her, each one different in design. She raised her hand and with a simple tilt of her finger, the lances flipped position and their sharp blades were now pointed at the computers. With a swift slicing motion of her hand, the six lances flew forward and plunged into the machinery. The computers sparked before a small explosion erupted from inside. The lances disappeared as the lights of the computers blipped out.

"There," War sighed. "It's done."

"Think you could teach me that?" Noctis asked, awed at the girl's power.

She smirked at him. "You don't want me as a teacher."

"If I can handle Gladio's teachings, I know I can handle yours," Noctis confidently responded.

The Horseman walked past the boy, not sparing him a glance as her smirk vanished. "Trust me, you'll experience hell with me." She exited the room, turning around the face the group when noticing they weren't following her. "Hurry up and make sure your power's back, Noctis. We still have to find Pestilence and I don't wanna dawdle any longer."

"Alright." Noctis held out his hand and inhaled deeply. "Moment of truth." He stares down at his empty hand and summons a sword. When it appears in his hand, he exhaled.

Prompto claps in celebration at the revelation. A smirk appeared on Gladio's face when seeing Noctis' power was restored. "We're back, baby."

Noctis nodded. "Let's roll."

"Hey, blondie," War called out to Prompto, who met eyes with her. "You said you know where they're keeping her, right?"

"Uh, y-yeah," the sharpshooter replied nervously, shaken by her intimidating gaze.

She gestured to the way they came from. "Lead the way."

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

Another hour passes by the time they reached the lab Pestilence was being held. They stood outside, wondering how to get inside. There was no scanner or a keycard slot.

"How the hell're we supposed to get inside?" Gladio hissed.

War approached the door and tried using several weapons from her arsenal and her own magic, but she only left scratches and burn marks on the metal. She let out a frustrated cry before dispelling her weapons. "How annoying..."

"Noct," Ignis spoke up. "You still possess (Y/n)'s staff, correct?"

"Yeah. Why?" Said boy asked.

"You mentioned how your own magic was enhanced with the staff. It is possible there is still some residual mana left from (Y/n)'s usage. One spell may be the key to getting through."

The redhead spun around and faced Noctis. "Pestilence's magic is the most powerful out of all the Four Horsemen's. If there really is a small amount of her own mana left in the staff, it'll definitely blow a hole in this door."

"Guess it's worth a try." Noctis held out his hand and conjured (Y/n)'s staff. He could feel the small amount of mana remaining in the staff and decided to use it. "Here goes nothing." Using his own fire spell, he was able to create a bright, burning flame that melted the metal door. Now there was a hole big enough for them to pass through. He ridded himself of the staff and led the group into the lab.

Inside, they found (Y/n) floating inside a glass tube with wires protruding from her back. Her (e/c) eyes were dull and lifeless, which made War grit her teeth. "Dammit..." She rushes over the console in front of the tube. Her eyes scanned over the myriads of buttons and switches. She wondered how to free her sister as the others gathered around. "Any idea here, blondie?" She asked, looking toward Prompto.

"I only saw him press one button." The gunman searched the console and found the button. "It was this one." He pressed it and they heard a small alarm trigger.

Everyone looked around and saw a red light above the tube flashing as the water inside slowly drained. Once the water was all gone, Pestilence's body hung from the wires like a lifeless marionette waiting for someone to pull the strings.

War pressed a few random buttons, which many were duds. Fortunately, one of them opened the tube. A few droplets of water rained down on the console. "Now for the wires." Pressing another random selection of buttons, she managed to locate the one that dislodged the wires from her back, revealing the sharp needles attached at the ends.

With the wires now gone, (Y/n)'s body toppled out of the tube. Ignis was the first to react and lunged forward, catching her body in his arms before she could collide with the floor. While one eye was fully recovered and the other still blurry, he could distinctly see something on her chest. His attention was diverted to her back when he felt a warm substance soaking through his gloves.

The crimson-haired girl dashed over and kneeled beside Pestilence. She examined her body, asking Ignis to turn her over. When seeing her back and ripped open flesh from the wires, she frowned. "Why isn't she healing?" She took (Y/n)'s body out of Ignis' grasp and laid her down on the floor. She saw something on her sister's chest and grimaced. Pulling her clothes away from her chest, her eyes widen in horror. She spotted a circular object protruding from her chest, black veins sprouting from it and creeping across Pestilence's body. It pulsated like a heart as an eerie black substance oozed from it.

"Wh-What is that?" Prompto asked.

"I have a feeling this is the "dark entity" King Aeshema spoke of." War summoned a dagger, placing the sharp tip a few inches above the anomaly.

Before War could plunge the blade into (Y/n)'s body, Ignis grabbed her wrist and stopped her. "What do you aim to accomplish?" His tone was stern and hinted with a slight tinge of anger from the girl's rash decision.

She yanked her wrist out of his grasp, glaring at him. "Cutting this thing out of her. You've any other ideas at the moment?"

Ignis remained silent as he met the Horseman's furious gaze. He lowered his hand with an exhale, looking down at his beloved.

"It's worth a try, right?" Gladio asked.

"I know how much you care for Pestilence, Ignis," War groaned. "But remember who she is. Once I cut this entity out of her, she'll no longer have to fear Ardyn taking control of her body and using her against you."

The strategist was silent for a few more seconds before nodding. "All right."

After receiving his permission, War didn't hesitate to plunge the dagger into (Y/n)'s chest. Noctis and Prompto immediately looked away when the girl forcefully peeled back the skin to view the inside of her sister's body. Seeing the black veins wrapped around her heart, she scowled. "Sorry, sis." Using her dagger, she sliced through the sable veins and yanked the entity out of her body. It shrieked in pain as the veins wiggled wildly.

War quickly set it ablaze, turning it into a pile of ashes. With her bloodied hands, she reassembled her sister. Holding her breath, she waited for the skin to mend. "C'mon, c'mon..." Minutes ticked by and no one spoke. When (Y/n)'s body began to mend, the redhead sighed in relief. "Thank the Six..."

Ignis reached out toward Pestilence and pulled her body into his arms, checking her back. Feeling her wounds had mended, the tenseness in his muscles vanished.

"Is she...?" Prompto asked, his voice trailing off.

"She'll be fine." War stood up, ridding herself of the bloodied dagger. "For now, let's find a dormitory. You all look exhausted."

"Worried about us, Firecracker?" Gladio questioned with a grin.

She jabbed a finger at him. "Stop calling me that, dammit!"

Prompto saw Ignis was about to pick up (Y/n)'s body and offered to carry her in his stead. The advisor shook his head as he scooped up the girl's body in his arms. "While my eyesight still remains in shambles, my strength isn't."

The blonde respected his decision and backed away. Noctis stepped toward the hole he created in the door. "I could use a break."

"We passed a dormitory not long ago," War said. "Head back the way we came and you'll find it."

"Where're you going?" The raven-haired boy inquired.

"To meet up with Death and Famine. They'll want to know how Pestilence is doing." She turned her back to them, waving at them over her shoulder. "See ya." With that, she vanished.