After that eventful night with the encounter of one of the empire's commodores, Aranea Highwind, Noctis and his entourage were driving to Cape Caem in order to gain passage to the city of Altissia.

Iris: And away we go.

Gladiolus: I coulda gone another round.

Ignis: Given her prowess, you should be glad you didn't.

Prompto: Yeah, that Loqi guy was nothing compared to her.

Y/N: Didn't he die?

Ignis: No, he escaped at the last second when we fought him at the Norduscean Blockade. Though we may not have fared so well without the marshal.

Prompto: Think things would've gone differently if he were here now?

Gladiolus: She offered to play again. Maybe we'll get the chance to find out.

Noctis: And someone caught her eye.

Y/N: (groans) Piss off, Noct.

Prompto: It's no fair! Y/N always got the ladies.

Y/N: Need I remind you, I didn't give a damn? Most of them were just after my standing as a noble.

Prompto: That still didn't change the fact that you had so many girls after you!

Y/N: I'm not having this conversation anymore.

They then pass Fort Vaullerey, heading onward to Caem. Prompto then sees a pathway off to the right.

Prompto: Is it just me, or is this place beggin' to be explored?

Noctis: Never been one to turn down an invitation.

Y/N: Sure. I'm down.

Ignis: If what they say about the Malmalam Thicket is true...

Gladiolus: Then we might just find what we're looking for here.

Ignis then makes a right, going down the dirt road and parking in the parking area. Feeling the need to explore, they venture down to Malmalam Thicket, hoping to find something.

Prompto: I don't like the woods. Too many monsters.

Gladiolus: You kidding? What could be better than roughing it out here?

Prompto: A million other things could be better.

Iris: Oh! While you guys were gone, I saw a chocobo run past and it had a person on its back! Have you guys ever ridden one before? I bet it'd be super fun!

Prompto: (chuckles) Funny you should ask...right, Y/N?

Y/N: Hmm, I may or may not have renewed our tickets to ride chocobos. So, Noct?

 Ignis: Noct, call a bird for the lady.

Taking out the chocobo whistle, six chocobos come running in. Iris was ecstatic, jumping in joy as there was a pink colored chocobo for her to ride.

The others then get on their respective chocobos and start to ride towards Malmalam Thicket.

Getting off their chocobos, they come across a wooden bridge, some enemies awaiting them by the riverside as they ran across.

Gladiolus: Another one to wrap up quick.

Prompto: It's a good chance to earn some experience points.

Noctis: Is this a game to you?

Prompto: (shrugs) Sort of. Just trying to level up here, dude.

Y/N: Don't blame me if you die then. You'll just respawn, right?

Prompto: Please don't joke about that...

The creatures known as Seadevil were fairly weak, only requiring Noctis and Gladiolus to swing their two-handed swords to get rid of them. But, there were a lot so Noctis decided to call upon on the power of Ramuh. The thunder god grabs them, lightning surging through his staff as he throws it down, the electricity and lightning surging through everywhere. 

Soon, Ramuh lets them back down, disappearing and allowing Noctis and his friends to continue their exploration.

Iris: You guys kick ass!

Prompto: You mean it?

Iris: Yeah! You look cool doing it too.

Prompto: (chuckles) Yeah, we get that a lot.

Gladiolus: Don't take it to heart.

Since it was still the morning, they still had enough time to explore the Thicket before it got dark. Plus, Ignis and Y/N were keen on having Noctis find all the royal arms so they could have a better chance at fighting the empire.

Heading up the hill to the thicket, they arrive at the entrance.

Gladiolus: Are you up for it?

Noctis: I'm down.

Ignis: Step lightly in here.

Y/N: Who knows what could be lurking here. I wonder how many bugs live here?

Prompto: Wait, seriously? Please don't joke about that...

Y/N: Hmm...meh.

Gladiolus: There's no telling what'll crawl out of the woodwork.

They enter thicket and would soon encounter the monsters of the woods. Mandrakes. Since fire magic was effective, they would let Y/N in the front, him using his sword to imbue magic and Ignis and Noctis using flame spells to quickly get rid of the them.

With the mandrakes eliminated, they continue onward.

Prompto: Wouldn't wanna some slimy bug and ruin my nice kicks.

Running through the grassy path, they go up a slope. Everything was fine until they came across a few wasps. Well, they were giant.

Upon sighting it, Prompto starts to scream in terror and disgust, running around as if his life depended on it. Noctis and the others only stare at him with unamused looks on their faces. Iris on the other hand was giggling at his misfortune. With a sigh, Noctis summons his Engine Blade I and chains his warp-strikes together, knocking the wasps onto the ground and Ignis, Y/N, and Gladiolus finish them off.

Y/N: (sigh) When are you going to grow out of that?

Prompto: I hate bugs!

Y/N: Yeah, yeah, get your ass moving.

Before they moved on, Ignis found a malmushroom, snapping his fingers, he thought of something.

Ignis: That's it!

Gladiolus: What's up, Iggy?

Ignis: I've come up with a new recipe!

Gladiolus: I could taste test for ya.

They continue to wander some more until they started to hear some noise.

Prompto: That a...brook I hear babbling?

Gladiolus: A regular river, I'd say.

Noctis: Oh, think we have time to cast a line?

Prompto: Sorry, bud. Need you to reel yourself in this time around.

They come across more wasps and Prompto uses his firearm to shoot one of them down, Ignis rushing in with his daggers before he ducked down himself. Y/N then comes in jumps off his back, slamming his sword down on the vulnerable foe.

Iris was handing out potions to everyone as she had some in her pouches, tossing some to Gladiolus and Noctis as their well being's weren't at their best. Healing themselves, Gladiolus uses his Glaive Art, Tempest, pulling in the wasps and he lets out a powerful swing, the blade then transporting into Noctis's hands and he slams the two-handed sword on the ground, killing the last of them.

Prompto: (sings victory fanfare)

Gladiolus: Sounds like your having fun.

Y/N: I'll say.

Looking up at the sun, it was turning to dusk. They didn't realize that they spent that long in the thicket. 

Up ahead there was a campsite.

Prompto: Hey! I know those runes!

Gladiolus: It's a sign. We should set up camp.

Y/N: I didn't even realize it was turning dusk. How long were we in here?

Noctis: You a fortune-teller now?

Ignis: We can rest up or move on. It's your choice, Noct.

Noctis then starts to head towards the campsite, crossing through the river.

Ignis: Take care the current doesn't carry you away.

Prompto: I'm not sure my footwear is up to this!

Y/N: Oh suck it up. Whoa!

Gladiolus: Don't let yourself get pulled in.

Arriving on the campsite, Noctis notices how fast the six of them were. 

Ignis: Better start preparing for supper. 

Iris: Oh, let me help!

Y/N: Weapons everyone! Let me polish them.

 Setting up camp, Iris was helping Ignis cook the dinner, the dish being Mystery Meat Sushi. Y/N was over by the fire, polishing and sharpening the weapons.

Prompto and Noctis were messing around, Prompto flashing with his gun while Noctis held his camera. As Prompto was about to do a trick, he slips and falls on his butt, Noctis laughing, but it soon shifts to pain as Gladiolus had knocked his head, telling them to stop messing around. Soon enough, Noctis and Prompto had set up everything, Gladiolus doing push-ups to pass the time.

Ignis and Iris were then done cooking, bringing everything to them as they all sat in their seats. Eating their dishes and looking at Prompto's camera, looking through his pictures, they overall had a good time.

The next day then dawns the group, waking up and groaning as they exited the tent. Disassembling the tent and getting all their supplies, they begin to head back out, going to the end of the Malmalam Thicket.

Noctis: Let's hit it.

Iris: Sure!

Leaving the safety of the campsite, they battle their way through the monsters that crossed their way, heading to the inner most sanctum.

They then head up the waterfall, going up the path near it.

Noctis: (touches water) Ah! Cold! Cold!

Prompto: Freezing cold!

Gladiolus You oughta stand under that waterfall and let it toughen you up a little.

Y/N: And risk hypothermia? No way.

Noctis: It just keeps going on from here.

Gladiolus: Then we keep going, too.

Prompto: This place is...cozy.

Gladiolus: Well, I wouldn't get too comfy if I were you.

Ignis: Right. We're not out of the woods yet.

Soon they could see the morning light, the six of them running towards it.

Prompto: (sigh of relief) Man, am I glad to be out of there.

Gladiolus: Don't speak too soon.

They could then see a monster over the hilltop. The best had many horns sticking out of it.

Y/N: You were saying earlier, Prompto?

Prompto: (groans) Not so glad anymore.

Noctis: Not surprised, either.

Gladiolus: It's what we came for.

Ignis: Let's have it!

Y/N: Here we go again.

Iris hangs back, supporting the five as Gladiolus and Y/N go for it's legs, trying to knock out it's tendons. Ignis would uses his daggers, aiming and throwing it at it's body and head. Prompto had summoned his Auto-Crossbow, the red lasers firing out of it as it deals some damage.

Noctis would teleport in the air, using his ability to warp as he attacks in the air, borrowing Ignis's polearm and using the Sword of the Wise.

Noctis: Ignis, instructions!

Ignis: Let us regroup!

Circling back up with Ignis, Iris hands everyone potions to heal them a bit and Y/N grants everyone consumables to grant them buffs. Using his Bullet Arts, Prompto uses Piercer, damaging the beast severely as one of it's horns fall off. Following up with an attack, Noctis takes Prompto's gun and takes his shot, then commanding Gladiolus to use Downhammer.

The Shield of the King crouches down, putting his sword on his shoulders as he lunges forward, slamming his blade down. Y/N then uses his Flame Art, Flare Blade, the monster now suffering from burn damage and now vulnerable. Taking this opening, the group coordinate their attacks, using the technique cross-chain. They all back off before five of them rush in, Noctis being the last one to land the last attack with the Axe of the Conqueror.

They defeated the monster, Bandersnatch and collect the spoils. They then turn to what it was guarding. Another tomb.

Using the key he got from Cor, Noctis unlocks the door, entering into the royal tomb and sees a staff on the pedastal.

The Scepter of the Pious.

Raising his hand, the staff rises into the air as it starts to crystallize. It then enters his body, the Armiger appearing around him as five royal arms were at his disposal. Eight royal arms were left.

Gladiolus: Feels good to get it done.

Prompto: Yeah! Almost makes up for the soaked socks and bug bites.

With Noctis now having the Scepter of the Pious at his disposal, they head back to the Regalia and continue their original objective, heading to Cape Caem.

Ignis: Everything in order?

Y/N: I think so.

Noctis: Yep.

Prompto: Mm-hm.

Iris: Are you guys excited to visit Altissia or what?

Noctis: I guess.

Iris: I'm so jealous!

Gladiolus: We're not going on vacation.

Iris: Oh, yeah. You're right.

Gladiolus: Iris?

Prompto: Something wrong?

Iris: What? No, I'm fine. I-I'm not jealous, I just...had a lot of fun hanging out with you guys. But that'll all be in the past once we hit Caem.

Gladiolus: What're you talking about?

Prompto: We can hang out any time! Right?

Noctis: Yeah.

Y/N: Well, might as well kick back and relax.

The red haired male was about to take a nap. Until...

Gladiolus: Let's pull over for a sec.

Iris: How come?

Gladiolus: Gotta give the driver a break every now and then.

Noctis: If you say so.

Prompto: Wonder why no one ever thought of that before?

Ignis: Because no one ever had a little sister along for the ride.

Parking at the nearest parking spot, Leirity Seaside, the group get out for a temporary break, stretching.

Noctis and the others could hear the tourists that were resting there gossiping about recent events. Some about Lady Lunafreya being in Altissia and the other being the recent event two nights ago.

With their break now finished, they got back into the Regalia, Ignis driving them towards Cape Caem yet again.

Iris: (sniffs air) Smells like there's...salt in the air.

Ignis: Sea breeze--we're on the water.

Y/N: In fact, the sea is just to our right.

Iris: Wow, it's beautiful!

Ignis: Picture-perfect.

Prompto: Get a load of this beautiful view.

Noctis: Yeah, like something out of a dream.

Gladiolus: Just don't fall asleep on me.

Iris: Wow, look at that bridge up ahead.

Gladiolus: Hmph. Some piece of work right there.

Ignis: The rivers run wide out here, so the bridges run long.

Iris: Guess we'll see it when we cross. (looks to Ignis) So, you're the one doing all the cooking?

Ignis: More or less. Y/N does help sometimes, but he's mostly preoccupied with keeping our weapons in shape.

Iris: Gladdy, don't you help?

Gladiolus grunts awkwardly, scratching his cheek.

Iris: Noct?

Noctis: Eh, on occasion.

Y/N: The only thing he can cook is sushi. He took a part-time job there once.

Noctis: Please don't remind me.

Ignis: What occasion?

Prompto: I do my part! I always set up the table.

Iris: That's some arrangement you guys have there.

Gladiolus: (stares at lighthouse) This the place?

Iris: Sure is! Thanks for the lift, Ignis.

Ignis: My pleasure.

Prompto: Can't wait to see my buddy Talcott!

Ignis: Here we are.

Parking into the parking spot of Cape Caem, the group start walking towards the house that Jared had set up there.

They were getting ready for their journey to Altissia.