"You really think this is gonna work?" Gladio questioned as he parked his truck in Lestallum. They hopped out of the vehicle and glanced around at the darkness surrounding them.

"Trust me, it will. Seeing a defenseless woman walking down the road all by herself will definitely grab a cultist's attention. We better make this quick before Prompto gets here. I've a feeling he's not far behind."

(Y/n) began trekking down the highway past the boarded up gas station before Gladio stopped her. "Hold on. You don't exactly strike me as a damsel in that outfit. In that, you look like you could whip anyone's ass. Not to mention, you do."

"It's not like I carry a spare outfit around. Maybe Iris can sell me some clothes. I know she's selling them in town."

"I've got you covered." Gladio scavenges through his truck and pulled out a set of clothing.

(Y/n) eyed the outfit mysteriously, eyes slightly narrowed. "What're you doing with women's clothing?"

"It's one of Iris' old outfits. By the looks of it, you two might be the same size. Try 'em on." He handed her the clothes and she went to other side of the truck to change. Gladio kept watch, ensuring no one was passing by and watching them.

Famine changed into the outfit swiftly, noting the areas where the clothes were a little snug. She tugged on the hem of the skirt, pulling it down to just a couple of inches above her knees. "Why does it have to be short?"

"You done?" Gladio's gruff voice questioned.

"Yeah, but this skirt is ridiculously short..."

"You look great," he smirked when he saw her in the outfit. "Prompto would be having a field day if he saw you in this. Then again, he really likes your clothes."

"Oh, really? Why's that?"

"He loves the way your legs look," the brute chuckled.

"I'll have to tease him later," (Y/n) grinned. "If he's not too angry with me."

"There's no way in hell he could stay mad at you. This is Prompto we're talkin' about." Gladio glanced down the road, staring at the daemons in the far distance. "You ready for this?"

"Let's just make this quick," Famine sighed.

"Take this." The amber-eyed man handed her an earpiece. "I'll be listening the entire time. Just try not to give away the fact that you could kick their ass. You'll scare 'em off."

"I know, I know. If there's an issue I might have to use my blade for some... persuasion." (Y/n) walked down the road until she could no longer see Lestallum. She used her flashlight to light her way, hoping the next car to pass would be a cultist's. She rubbed her exposed arms, the frigid breeze nipping at her skin and causing goosebumps. "Why does it have to be chilly? I'm practically naked right now..."

The Horseman continued her trek down the road until the low humming of an engine caught her attention. She turned around and saw a car coming her way. It slowed down next to her and the man behind the wheel rolled down the window to speak to her. "Y'know it's dangerous out here, right?"

(Y/n) was tempted to make a snarky comment but held her tongue and acted as innocent as possible. "My car broke down a few miles down the road. I'm not familiar with this region. Where is the nearest town?" She placed her hands behind her back, summoning her blade. The Sword of Judgement could tell if someone was lying. If the man was going to lie to her, she'd know.

"The nearest town is just a few more miles down the road," he pointed in the opposite direction of Lestallum.

Lies

The sword whispered inside her head. She gripped her blade tightly and stepped back from the car. "Thanks. Guess I'll be on my way, then."

"Hey, hold on!" The man exited the vehicle and stood in her way with his arms outstretched to block her from walking around him. "Let me give you a ride. The daemons around these parts are quite dangerous."

"Really?" She asked while feigning a sense of hope. "I'd appreciate it."

Suddenly, another vehicle came speeding towards them. When (Y/n) saw the confusion on the man's face, she knew it wasn't another cultist.

The truck slammed on brakes and the person behind the wheel jumped out of the vehicle and stormed over. Famine's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water as she saw her boyfriend walk around the truck and speed-walk over to her, placing himself in between her and the stranger. She dispelled her blade as she took a few steps back.

Prompto placed his hands on the girl's shoulders and pushed her back and away from the man. He released his hold on her and turned toward the stranger, forcing a smile. "I've got our car working. We don't need your help."

"She didn't mention a "we"." The man turned his gaze back to (Y/n). "Do you know this man?"

"Yeah," she spoke the truth. "He's my-"

"Husband!" Prompto shouted before she could finish. He snakes an arm around her waist and pulls her into a side hug, kissing her on the cheek.

The stranger glanced at the Horseman's left hand, his eyes narrowing. "I don't see a ring."

"It's not like there's a place for us to get proper rings," Famine sneered, glaring at the man. "Now, if you'll-"

The sound of numerous roaring engines silenced the couple and the stranger. Several cars were speeding towards them down the road. They surrounded the trio, blocking their escape route. Prompto conjured his pistol and tightened his arm around (Y/n)'s waist as several people exited the vehicles.

"(Y/n), what's goin' on?" Gladio asked through the earpiece when he heard myriads of unfamiliar voices.

"Trouble..." She muttered. Regardless of their intents, she refused to raise her blade against another human.

The man that offered his help wasn't fazed by the group of people surrounding them. "Two for the price of one," he grinned. "I'd say that's the best we've done today."

Prompto fired a warning shot by an approaching man's feet, glaring daggers at him. They stepped back as the group closed in.

One woman among the group tossed something toward them and it exploded. A cloud of smoke surrounded the couple, causing them to cough and their eyes to water.

(Y/n) was forcefully yanked away from Prompto by her hair. She yelped in pain and before she could summon the strength to break free, she felt a prick in the side of her neck. "W-What was...?" Her voice was weak and trailed off. Then, she felt her entire body go numb and her eyes roll into the back of her head. Her legs gave out and she collapsed to the ground when the person who grabbed her released his grip on her golden locks. She lost consciousness a few seconds after hitting the ground.

Prompto immediately searched the fog for (Y/n), but two men grabbed his arms and pinned them behind his back, forcing him to drop his handgun. He struggled against their grasp and tried to kick them, but he felt a sharp pain in the back of his neck before being knocked out.

The couple was unconscious and failed to hear Gladio's desperate cries over the earpiece. Even though he wasn't receiving a response, he could hear the people that ambushed them. "Throw 'em in one of the trunks. We'll deal with them properly once we get back to the base."

The convoy of cultists tossed Prompto's and (Y/n)'s bodies into one of the trunks and drove off.

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

(Y/n) groaned as her eyes fluttered open. When she tried to move her arms or legs, she realized she couldn't feel or move her limbs. Moving her head slightly, she saw she was strapped in the same device she had found Prompto trapped in when searching for him in Zegnautus Keep. Unlike the one he was locked in, this one was lined with sharp needles across the back. They pierced her skin, drawing small droplets of blood every few seconds.

"Nice to see you're finally awake," a man said as he walked into the dimly-lit room. "We accidentally gave you an overdose. But luckily, you're immortal."

Famine recognized him as the one who offered her a ride. "And how'd you deduce that? I seriously doubt you could tell at a glimpse."

"We've our ways." He circled around her like a vulture eyeing its next meal. His eyes raked across her entire body, his hands clasped behind his back. "Should I call you (Y/n) or Famine?"

"Your choice," she sneered.

"I kinda like calling you "Famine" more than your real name. Hope that doesn't bother you. Gotta make you a little comfortable... somehow."

"I've never raised my blade against a human before. You might be the first, though," she responds in a snarky tone.

"You won't be raising your blade or using your magic anytime soon. Y'see, the device your strapped in is a gift from someone who knows you quite well. The needles embedded in your skin are laced with a paralysis agent no human could survive. Once again, thank the Six you're immortal. Now, about-"

"Blah, blah, blah. My cult is this, my cult is that. Trust me, I've heard it all," she taunts. "And you're a former hunter. You should really ditch the tags, Kael. Someone might recognize you. Then again, all your friends are probably a part of this deranged cult."

"For someone who's in no position to make snarky comebacks, you're just firing away. No wonder that hunter loves you so much. He's been screaming for you for the past two hours."

"Prompto," she gasped.

"He'll make a fine sacrifice. With only a few more, the ritual will be complete and King Aeshema will rise and punish those he deems who are not worthy."

(Y/n) chuckled at his words. "Do you really think that silly ritual you read from a fairytale will work? And even if it did, I happen to know the daemon king himself. You're sorely mistaken if you think he will kill anyone, especially humans."

"Guess we'll see if you're high and mighty once the ritual is complete. Once it is, a certain someone wants you to himself." Kael glanced once more at the Horseman before leaving. "You better get comfortable. You're gonna be here for a while."

The door slammed behind the cult leader and the girl smirked. "We'll see about that..."

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

"Where is she?!" Prompto yelled at the man and woman guarding the cell he was trapped in. He tried shooting the bars and the lock, but the metal didn't bend or warp in any direction. He never pointed his gun at people and refused to shoot the guards on duty. It would also prove to be fruitless since neither of them posses the key to the cell.

"You've been shouting since you woke up!" The man snarled, glaring daggers at the boy. "Shut the hell up just for a few minutes, blondie!"

The woman standing next to him glanced through the steel bars at the sharpshooter. "Are you really married to a Horseman? I always though they were just a scary fairytale people told to frighten others."

Prompto didn't answer, gripping the bars in his hands and leaning his forehead against them. He stared at the door adjacent from his cell, waiting for the leader of the cult to make an appearance.

Waiting impatiently, the marksman listened to the two guards as they chatted back and forth.

"What the hell does Kael plan to accomplish with a Horseman? We're just lucky that weirdo gave us what we needed to contain her or we'd all be dead right now," the woman said. Then, her eyes widened in fear. "Wait... There's four of them. What if the other three come to rescue her?"

"Don't know, don't care. Whatever shit he's got planned, it better work," the man hissed. "And I wouldn't worry about the other Horsemen. That stranger said they went their separate ways."

Suddenly, the door to the cell block flew open and the leader of the Creed of Aeshema stepped through. He sauntered over to the cell, crossing his arms as he smirked at Prompto. "You're a lucky guy. How the hell did you get a girl like her?"

The blonde only replied with a death glare. He clenched and unclenched his fists, tempted to grab Kael and pound him to a bloody pulp through the bars.

"So you'll shout for the woman you love for hours, but not talk to the person who could end her suffering?" He scoffed.

"How did you know?" Prompto asked, his tone low and brimming with hatred.

"What-that she's a Horseman? Some weirdo told us who she was, gave us a picture, and a device to restrain her. He didn't give us his name, though," Kael casually responds.

"All we know is he has velvet hair, amber eyes, and a weird sense of fashion," the man on duty said.

Prompto's eyes widened in fear and bewilderment. "Ardyn..."

"He didn't give us any specifics-only to capture Famine."

"That doesn't matter now," Kael huffs. "You'll be dead in a few hours and Famine'll be transported to gods know where."

"If you think-!" Prompto bellowed, but he was interrupted.

"Ah, ah! We're done here. I just might take you to see her before your execution," the leader chuckled darkly before leaving.

"I'm done standing here," the man sneered once Kael was out of earshot. "You leavin' or planning to stay and watch him for the next two hours?"

"Hell no!" The woman barked. "I've got better things to do."

The two guards left and Prompto summoned his pistol again. He searched around the small cell and found nothing useful. When he patted his pocket, he felt something round. Pulling it out, he realized it was the summoning orb. "I completely forgot I had this..." He tried to call upon (Y/n), but she didn't appear. Huffing in annoyance, he went to dispel his weapon but stopped when an idea struck him. "Maybe I can...?"

The sharpshooter held the orb in one hand and raised his weapon to aim it at the lock. As he prayed his plan would work, he felt the palm he was holding the orb in burning. Pulling the trigger of the gun, a bullet enshrouded in fire pierced through the lock and melted the metal. "Yes!" He cheered just above a whisper. When the burning sensation increased, he hissed and accidentally dropped the artifact. "Hot! Hot! Hot!"

He quickly blew on his palm before poking the orb by his foot to see if it still was hot to the touch. Luckily it wasn't and he placed it back into his pocket before storming out of the cell block.

Once outside, Prompto looked around with wide eyes. "I know this place."

The Creed of Aeshema's base is Fort Vaullerey. Once an imperial base was now home to the daemon worshipping cult. He snuck through the fort, noting how many people were part of the cult. He dove behind a few crates when two men wielding guns were heading straight for him. Peering over the crates, he found an exit and escaped.

A little ways down the road, Prompto stopped and turned to face Fort Vaullerey. He gripped his pistol in his hand, jaw muscles tightening. "I'll come back for you, (Y/n). Just hold on 'til then."