Everything escalated so quickly. After meeting with the first secretary, Camelia, Noctis and Lunafreya were allowed to go through with the rite. But Angelica and the boys had to aid in the evacuation of the citizens. Soon enough, after Lunafreya's speech, the Hydraean was awakened, and at the same time, the empire moved in to interfere so that the covenant couldn't be forged.

Once Angelica had finished in her evacuation duty, she met up with Ignis, Gladio, and Prompto. By then, the area around the alter of the Tidemother had become a war zone. Titan appeared to defend the King and Oracle, successfully fighting off Leviathan and taking down as many imperial ships as possible. Angelica and the boys were racing toward the alter when a crashing ship split them up.

Angelica, Gladio, and Prompto were on one side of the bridge they'd been crossing while Ignis was in the water below. "Ignis!" the girl called into her earpiece. "Are you okay?! Please respond!"

After a few moments, there was a reply. "Yes, I'm fine."

Angelica sighed in relief. "Good. Just stay where you are, I'm coming to find you."

"No." Ignis's protest made her stop in her tracks. "I'm afraid there isn't time for that. I need you three to occupy the imperials as best you can while I make for the alter. Noct needs us."

Angelica hesitated. This was one of those times when she'd have to set aside her feelings and uphold her responsibility. It was her job to serve and protect the royal family, and she knew she couldn't let Noctis down. Gladio snapped her out of her thoughts when he tugged on her arm.

"C'mon, we gotta go. Iggy can take care of himself."

Angelica nodded. "Okay, you're right. Good luck, Ignis."

"Same to you three," he responded through the earpiece.

"Uh, guys?" Prompto said, getting their attention. "We've got company!"

Imperial troops and magiteks were heading for them. They summoned their weapons, ready for a battle. Angelica's group moved throughout sections of the city, taking out troops who moved in while trying to find their own route to Noctis. It was definitely tiring, but they pushed onward. They stayed in touch with Ignis, who was also having difficulty reaching the alter. Seemed the empire really didn't want them to interfere.

Everything had been dragged out for so long that it was turning night and rain had begun to fall. Filled with determination, Angelica kept going. Having lost contact with Ignis, she was worrying about both his and Noctis's safety. By the time they reached the alter, the area had quieted. There was no more fighting. The rainfall was about the only thing that could be heard. The three set their sights on their two friends. Both were lying on the ground.

"Noct!" Prompto shouted, hurrying to the young king's side.

"Ignis!" Angelica yelled at almost the same time as Prompto.

Gladiolus took notice of the white-haired man standing by. Ravus silently walked past them, not a word leaving his lips. The shield watched him momentarily. While none of them knew what Ravus's presence meant, they didn't dwell on it. Their current focus was on their friends. Prompto scanned over Noctis, making sure he was okay.

Angelica was on her knees beside Ignis. He was a mess. His glasses were missing, his hair was disheveled and hung down across his forehead, and he had what looked like odd scaring across his left eye. Fortunately, he was still conscious at the moment. Angelica leaned down, slipping an arm under his head and lifting him up slightly.

"Ignis, what happened to you? Are you okay?"

"Long story," he weakly responded. "But I'm alive, at least... And you? Are you... alright?"

"I'm fine. We all are."

Angelica noticed something unnerving. Ignis's eyes didn't have their usual shine. It was like they'd paled in color. And even though he was facing her, he seemed as if he was looking right through her. His eyes didn't focus on hers like they normally would. The girl placed a hand on the side of his face.

"Ignis, look at me," she ordered. Her tone gave away her concern.

Ignis winced a bit, his whole body weak and in pain. "I can't... I can't see you."

Angelica gasped. He was looking right at her, mere inches away, and yet, he couldn't see her at all - he couldn't see anything. Angelica had tears forming in her eyes. She was so afraid and worried for him, probably more than he was himself. She leaned down, her warm tears mixing with the cool rain as they fell from her face. She placed her forehead against his.

"Oh, Ignis. I'm sorry." Her voice was quiet and trembled with each word. "I should've been here. I could've prevented this."

"Don't blame... yourself," he muttered. "There was nothing... you could do. I did what was necessary... to protect Noct."

"Well..." She quieted her low sobs. "You succeeded."

After a moment longer, Ignis's eyes slowly closed. His body was too weary to fight off the much needed rest any longer. Gladio approached the girl, bending down and placing a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him, wiping her tears away.

"I'll carry Iggy if you help Prompto with Noct."

She quietly nodded. She released her lover and stood, going over to the young king. While Gladio simply lifted Ignis up in his arms, Angelica and Prompto each had to take one of Noctis's arms and sling it around their shoulders to lift him up. They went back to the hotel, which had remained intact. It would give them a place to rest until Noctis and Ignis were back on their feet.

The three got a small meal before Angelica began heading for the room Ignis was in. "You'll be staying with Iggy, then?" Gladio asked.

She nodded. "To be honest, I'm actually more worried about him than Noct."

"I can see why," Prompto said. "He actually looks to be in worse condition."

Angelica was on the verge of crying again. "He was looking right at me, and yet, he couldn't see me." Her tears fell. "Just knowing that he could be blind from now on... it terrifies me."

"How do you think he's gonna feel?" Gladio pointed out. "Try to put on a brave face for when he wakes up."

She only nodded, wiping her tears and going inside. The room was quiet, and Ignis still lay unconscious on the bed. Angelica walked over, her gaze on him. A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. He looks so handsome, even with his hair down.

She took a seat on the bed. She carefully shifted him and herself until she was sitting comfortably with the man in her arms. She hugged him tightly, his head laying against her chest. She ran her fingers through his damp, messy hair. She would sit there with him for as long as it took for him to wake up. She wasn't leaving his side.

The first thing Ignis could hear was a slow and steady heartbeat. It was a relaxing and soothing sound. He felt himself enveloped in warmth, a warmth he'd grown familiar with. Though he couldn't see, he opened his right eye a bit, the left one too painful to open. He could feel arms around him, and his head rested against something soft. Despite already knowing who was holding him, he reached up, startling the girl by fumbling with the pendant around her neck.

"Angel."

"Ignis, you're awake." The girl tried her best to sound happy. "I'm glad you're okay."

Her arms loosened from around him as he sat up a bit to face her. His right eye had become almost completely white in the time that he was unconscious. "Are you alright?" He had immediately picked up on her fake joyful tone.

More tears were forcing their way out of her eyes. "C-Can you... see?" Despite already knowing the answer, she asked anyway.

"I'm afraid not." He noticed her trembling voice and placed his hands on the sides of her face. Just as he suspected, she was crying. His thumbs wiped away the tears. "Please, do not cry for me, darling."

"I can't help it. The thought of you losing something so precious... it scares me... so much."

"The idea is quite frightening," he admitted. "But sight may return once the wounds have mended." Angelica was skeptical of that. The way his lone eye looked sure seemed permanent. But she knew he was only staying positive. "What frightens me the most though, is that I may never get to gaze upon your beautiful face again."

She laughed weakly. "Beautiful? Me?" She tried her best to joke and lighten the subject. "Even with these freckled cheeks and dull blue eyes?"

Ignis didn't think it was at all funny. "Yes, you are the most beautiful woman I've ever laid eyes upon." His honest words pierced her heart. "You're freckles are a part of who you are. I've personally always found them adorable. And you're eyes are as captivating as the ocean, and just as deep and mysterious." He chuckled, his hands still on her face as he felt her jaw drop open a bit in astonishment. "And don't even get me started on your hair. As fiery as a phoenix down, and equally as soft. Need I say more?"

She slowly shook her head, smiling and gazing softly at him. "No. You had me at 'the most beautiful'."

She leaned in, capturing his lips in a short loving kiss. He then smiled. "One thing's for certain though - even if my sight never returns, it won't change the way I feel about you. I'll always love you, Angelica, more than anything else."

"Whether you can see me or not, I'll always love you too, Ignis."

This time, Ignis leaned in, finding her lips and pouring all his emotions and feelings into a single kiss. They both knew that as long as they had their friends, and each other, they would be okay, no matter what the world threw at them.