The next morning when Prompto woke up, he realized he and (Y/n) were in the same position as when he fell asleep the night prior. When he lifted his head from her chest to look up at her face, he noticed she was asleep. "What...?" He gasped in shock. He remembered her saying the Four Horsemen didn't need sleep, but that didn't mean she couldn't sleep.

Slowly and gently in order to not disturb (Y/n), Prompto removed his arms from around her and maneuvered out of her own embrace. When he saw her blissful sleeping face, he couldn't help but admire her beauty.

With a smile, Prompto brushed a few of her golden strands behind her ear that were obscuring his sight of her. He pecked her on the cheek before pushing himself off the hard ground. He made sure he still had his handgun and the summoning orb before leaving the haven.

He didn't even make one footprint in the snow before (Y/n) woke up. "Where're you going this early in the morning?" She slowly pushed her body up into a sitting position, glancing over her shoulder at him.

"I was gonna take a short walk and clear my head a little," he confesses.

(Y/n) could tell he wasn't lying and nodded with a smile. "Okay. I'll be here waiting for you. Stay safe, Prompto."

The boy smiled in return, grateful for her understanding. He was overjoyed to have such an incredible girl by his side who is willing to stick with him and confess she still loves him after learning the truth about his true origin. His heart raced with pure joy as he trekked through the snow, happy to know she'd be there whenever he needed her and vice versa.

(Y/n) watched Prompto trudge through the snow before turning her attention to the fire. It had extinguished something during the night, but neither of them noticed. She relit the campfire in a desperate attempt to stay warm in Prompto's absence.

As she was rubbing her hands together, Aranea came and sat beside her. The ex-mercenary stared into the dancing flames as she huffed a sigh. "So, how's loverboy doin'?"

"Fine. He went for a short walk to clear his head."

"Glad someone's here to whip his ass into shape." Aranea tore her eyes from the fire and eyed (Y/n). "What's a Horseman doing on Eos, anyway? Aren't you supposed to be some kinda fairytale?"

"We're no fairytale. Sometimes I wish we were, though. My sisters and I left the Inner Sanctum in search of the monsters that managed to escape. Once we take down our targets, we'll be granted passage back to the Inner Sanctum. Someone's gotta keep the other monsters from escaping."

"These monsters you're looking for... what are they?"

"The Phantom Knight and the Gashadokuro. I've encountered the Knight, but not the other. It is concerning since the Gashadokuro is the one I'm most worried about."

Aranea's eyes narrowed at hearing the mouthful of a name. "That damn thing in the capital isn't a daemon?"

Famine's eyes widen when hearing her question. "Hold on... What do you mean?"

"That Gasha-whatever is currently being held in Gralea. The lovely chancellor plans to try and control it," the older woman explains.

Horror pumped through her veins as she remembered where the others were heading. "Noctis and the others are heading to the capital... There's no way they'll survive an encounter with that thing."

"How dangerous is this thing?" Aranea shrugged.

"Let's just say no human has ever faced the Gashadokuro and survived. There's no way a mortal could slay such a monster."

"It even had me shaking in my boots when I first saw it. The chancellor's lost his damn mind if he thinks he'll be able to control it. The empire's done some crazy shit, but I think this tops everything."

"Well," (Y/n) sighed. "At least I know where it is now. The damn Knight ran before I could finish it off."

Suddenly, the woman stands up and walks to the snowmobile. "I've got my own goals in mind. Better get moving if I want to finish off this new model."

"(Y/n), Aranea." Both women turn when they hear Prompto's voice. "I'm ready."

"Guess your walk was very eye-opening," the Horseman responded with a small smile.

He nods and walks up to the two women, eyes glued to the love of his life. "I thought about what you said, and I've decided to face my fears once and for all. I can't choose where I came from, but I can choose where I'm going."

"I'm glad to hear your resolve, Prompto. It makes me happy to know you've accepted who you are." (Y/n) moved her gaze over to Aranea. "Hope you don't mind us tagging along."

She smiles at them. "Don't see why it'd be an issue. Let's get going." The ex-mercenary waltzed over to the snowmobile while Famine summoned her steed.

Limos neighed when she appeared and immediately sauntered over to Prompto. She sniffed him and nuzzled her muzzle against his chest. Then, she nudged it against his cheek. "H-Hey, that tickles!"

"Seems she really likes you," (Y/n) grinned. "A lot."

"This is the same horse from Altissia. Is this...?"

"Limos, one of the Horses of the Apocalypse. She's my partner." The horse continues to sniff Prompto as Famine spoke. "Guess you were more focused on finding me and completely forgot about meeting her. Not to mention, she helped you carry your friends to safety."

Prompto's cheeks turn red, knowing what she said had been the truth. "I-I was really worried about you. The city was collapsing and I... I thought... you might've been killed when I didn't see you at the docks."

(Y/n) walked over to him, Limos stepping aside, and grabbed his face in her hands. She pulled him down to her height and kissed him on the lips. "You're too adorable for your own good."

"Alright," Aranea sighed. "C'mon, lovebirds. We've got business to attend to."

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

The trio make their way to the Annex research facility. Prompto decided to ride with (Y/n) atop Limos since the horse seemingly wouldn't move until he climbed onto her back.

As they arrived at the facility, (Y/n) and Prompto hopped off Limos while Aranea dismounted the snowmobile. The blonde boy stared at the facility with a determined gaze. "Alright-this is it. We're going in."

Prompto, (Y/n), and Aranea fight their way through the imperial soldiers guarding the outside of the facility, then operate the main gate's controls to gain access to the inner courtyard. After taking down several more soldiers and a MA Veles magitek armor, they access the control panel to a large blast door, open it, and then head down a long, downward sloping corridor.

"According to my intel, they're housing the new model here," Aranea stated.

"It's some kind of magitek armor, right? What's so "new" about it?" Prompto inquired.

"This one's got a ghost in the machine: Chief Besithia himself. Managed to fuse his soul with the core."

"That... does not sound good," (Y/n) chimed in.

"Far from in," the older woman sneered.

At the bottom of the corridor, they find an elevator. Stepping inside, they ride the lift down. "The daemons this guy created destroyed Insomnia. If we don't take him out now, he's liable to destroy the whole world," Aranea turned her gaze towards the Horseman. "We're lucky you were able to break free from that cage. He planned on using your body to house a daemon with knowing your ability to heal as an immortal."

"Makes sense. Create an immortal daemon by filtering it into a body of an immortal," Famine comments. "But my body would've absorbed the daemon anyway. It couldn't possibly possess my body."

"Why's that?" Prompto asked.

"The Four Horsemen were created from souls of the damned. Corruption cannot overtake the deepest form of corruption. My body would've just absorbed the daemon and I would've been perfectly fine. Guess the empire hasn't done their homework."

"But they still plan on using that Gashadokuro against all of Eos. You said it couldn't be controlled, but the empire doesn't know that. There'll be a lot of bloodshed before they realize that," Aranea commented.

"Which is why once we're done here, we have to find the others," (Y/n) said, gazing at Prompto.

The elevator comes to a stop and the trio step off. They enter the hallway leading out of the room the lift dropped them off in and suddenly hear an eerie, mechanical howl. Prompto froze when the sound echoed around them. "What was that sound?"

"Our cue to go," Aranea said.

Eventually, the trio enter a large open room. A familiar and startling automated voice spoke to them.

Target detected. Eliminate immediately. Commence elimination of compromised unit.

"You're pretty popular, Prompto," (Y/n) lightheartedly chuckles.

"I don't wanna be popular!" He wailed in return.

The three wipe out numerous magitek troopers and a MA Hoplomachus magitek armor. Once the companions annihilated the enemies, they quickly push forward.

They enter the facility's final set of halls. Descending a short set of stairs, Prompto, (Y/n), and Aranea enter into a short hallway illuminated by red lights. The same eerie roar from earlier causes their surroundings to tremor. Unlike before, it was louder and they knew whatever made the noise was nearby.

"It must be close," Prompto said.

"One of the empire's test subjects, I presume?" The Horseman asked.

"Wouldn't be surprised if it is," Aranea replied.

Prompto, (Y/n), and Aranea enter a large open room. The trio is greeted by a large half-mammal, half-magitek creature-the Unit SAS-0822: Barbarus. Alongside the abomination were the remains of dead magitek troopers littered throughout the room. The fusion of mammal and magitek immediately attack them.

"Y'know, I'd never thought I'd see the day where mammal and machine became one. Now I wish I hadn't," (Y/n) said as she summons the Sword of Judgement.

"You and me both," Aranea chuckled, conjuring her lance.

"Bring it on!" Prompto whips out his pistol and aims it at the hybrid.

As it swung from beam to beam, Prompto shot at the creature. Using their close-range weapons, (Y/n) and Aranea get up close and personal with the horrendous creature. The Horseman charged up her blade with lightning and jammed it into one of the creature's mechanical legs. Once the blade was far enough inside, she twisted it and discharged the lightening. The attack was enough to cause its right leg to go haywire.

Aranea plunged her lance into the arm the creature was using to hang on and forced it to let go of the beam. With its leg on the fritz, it was unable to stand and collapsed on the cement floor. (Y/n) approached the adversary and went to chop of its arm with her sharp blade, but it backhanded her before she could even raise her sword. Her body was sent flying and slammed into one of the cement columns. A few pieces of rubble rained down on her as she grunted from the painful impact.

"(Y/n), you okay?!" Prompto yelled out in worry. Regardless if she was immortal, he would always worry about her whenever she got hurt. He shot a few more rounds at the hybrid before going to check on her. When he reached her, he pulled her out of the debris. He scanned her for injuries and only found minor ones, which healed within seconds.

"Look out!" Famine cries. She grabs ahold of Prompto and tackles him to the side. Looking back to where they once stood, a large and furry hand slammed against the ground. The hybrid released another howl before dragging its body rather quickly across the floor towards the two. "Move! Move! Move!" (Y/n) grabbed Prompto's hand and ran away from the approaching adversary.

Aranea impales her lance into the creature's back, forcing its attention onto her. "C'mon, you damn experiment. Come and get me!"

The Horseman mentally thanked the ex-mercenary before releasing Prompto and regaining her bearings. The boy did the same and rejoined the fray alongside the girl. He kept his distance and fired round after round while (Y/n) and Aranea dealt blow after blow with their weapons.

"This thing sure is stubborn," Famine groaned as she released another shockwave into the creature's body. "I'll give it points for persistence, though." (Y/n) twirled her sword in her hand before charging at the creature. This time, her blade was shrouded in an intense flame that could melt through the toughest of metals. She thrusted the sword into the monster's chest and allowed the flames to consume it from the inside out.

While the creature's body burned, (Y/n) sliced off its right arm. Blood spurted from the missing appendage, spraying across the room. They all stepped back to avoid the thick, crimson substance.

They watched as the creature tried to crawl its way to them, but the immense blood loss caused its speed to decrease and its vision to blur. Not only were the mechanical parts of the hybrid's body malfunctioning, its entire body was consumed in flames.

It released a weak, defeated howl before its body stiffened. (Y/n) waltzed towards the hybrid, nudging her foot into its side. When it didn't move, she looked at its back. Seeing the monster wasn't breathing, she knew it was dead. "Well, guess that's over with."

Prompto hunches over, hands on his knees as he was gasping to catch his breath. Aranea, on the other hand, was composed and wasn't out of breath. The blonde heaved a heavy sigh. "Made it out alive." The room suddenly begins to shake, the large tremor causing everyone to stumble. A few pieces of the ceiling descended upon them. Prompto's eye dart up to the ceiling. "What's going on?"

The facility's automated voice echoed throughout the large room.

Unit XDA-1002: Immortalis. Plasmodic miasma transfer complete. No psychic obstructions detected. All systems operational. Activating Immortalis.

"It's outside!" The marksman bellows. He, (Y/n), and Aranea run back to the surface. Once there, they see what Verstael's "life's work" has amounted to-an enormous magitek-powered machine that resembles a worm. In place of a head, it features an enormous cannon with seven rotating components resembling drill bits spinning around the core.

"It's gigantic..." Prompto muttered, eyes wide in horror.

(Y/n) stared at the machine with the same expression. "Oh, dear Astrals above..."