Noctis POV

"Are we doomed? Pretty sure we're doomed." Prompto stated as his voice quiver in fear of this Titan, Alice is placed in the centered of the Titan's body and a golden glow began to shine.

"Goddamnit!! Why Titan take Alice?!" I said angrily as my ears no longer heard the screams from Alice, she had fainted and Titan began to attack them.

"It was nice knowing you guys," Gladiolus said as he held his blade to avoid a swing from the Titan and tried to hit his rocky hand. However, the Titan's left-hand keeps swing at the group regardless. I tried blocking his attack but no such luck.

This is starting to get annoying! Alice...Hang in there. I'm coming.

"Watch out!" Ignis shouted as Titan came in with another attack, boys were dodging but still got hit regardless. My eyes saw Alice who still is unconscious and looking pale. Could it be...that Titan is using her powers? What did he mean that she is interfering? Sadly, all those questions would have to wait until Alice is safe.

"One false move and we're done for," Gladiolus stated dodging the Titan's attack That we're gaining more in power.

"Doesn't look good..." I said as the Titan's left hand came to me, my blade came in contact and used my strength to push back. Damn, his attack is heavy. I guess an Astral's strength increases greatly with a Grand Master. Finally, his hand is down for the moment as Prompto and Ignis came from behind me.

"The game's up!" Ignis shouted as he throws his ice bomb, Prompto threw his next and shouted happily,

"You're out!"

The Titan's hand freezes rapidly as my hands raised my blade and shouted,

"It's over!"

With one swing of my sword, the Titan's left-hand crumbles away and he falls down for the count.

"Hey, we all still here?" Noctis asked as my eyes saw my friends are still here and alive. Good.

"Yep, still here," Gladiolus answered

"If a little battered," Ignis stated as he dusted some of his clothes. Heh, he looked annoyed.

"Does this mean it's over?" Prompto asked

"I think so. Come on, we got to get Alice and get-!!!" Noctis said as the ground began to shake violently.

"What is it now?"

"What is he doing?" Ignis asked in the confusion of what the Titan is doing.

"He's winding up!" Prompto shouted

"For a big one!" Gladiolus said

The Titan roars as a golden light began to shine and it drifted to Noctis. In Noctis's mind, Luna is present to Titan as if she is having a discussion but I heard one word from her lips "Alice".

"That was...Luna. You spoke to her? That's why-" Noctis was about to ask until the light began to shine and binder my visions. Suddenly, the ground shakes again with lava coming out. The light cleared the airships in the sky are destroyed by the light and I quickly went to get Alice. As I took Alice in my arms, the lava is rising quickly and we started to run away from the area. However, everywhere we looked; there was no exit.

"Doesn't get much worse than this," Gladiolus said as the lava continued to rise, we were helpless and I cursed under my breath. 

I wish there is a way out...anything!!!

Suddenly, the wind is pushing against us as our eyes looked up to see an Imperial airship lowering itself to us and Ignis shouted,

"The Empire?! Now?" Ignis said as the hatch door opened to reveal a familiar stranger. He walks to the edge and gives us a creepy smile.

"Fancy meeting you here!"

What the hell!?

"It occurs to me that I never formally introduced myself. Izunia. Ardyn Izunia." Ardyn said his name and my mind went blank for a moment. Ardyn Izunia? That man who works with the Empire!? My hands tightened around Alice's body and bringing her closer to me.

"Imperial Chancellor Izunia?" Ignis asked as if he didn't want to believe it but sadly, it is true.

"At your service. More importantly, to your aid." Ardyn said as he spread his arms out as a peaceful gesture to us, I snorted under my breath and he continued,

"I guarantee your safe passage. Though you're always welcome to take your chances down there."

My friends and I looked at each other. We didn't trust Ardyn at all but in this situation, he has the upper hand. My eyes drifted to Alice who is still unconscious and not breathing. 

"Buried among the rabble, is it? Perhaps you want to help the little dove for she doesn't look well by what I see, Prince Noctis." Ardyn said happily as he snapped me out of my thoughts, my eyes glared at him and Ignis said,

"Dying here is not an option here. We have no choice, Noct."

"I know..." I growled in frustration at the situation but there was no other way. We went aboard the Imperial airship and the ship started to fly away from the area. The Imperial soldiers surrounded us and came to me. However, they were trying to get Alice and I pulled away from them.

"Get away from her!" I shouted

"Now now, Prince Noctis. The sweet dove is unconscious and not breathing. Dear me. Won't you allow the doctors to check her? After all, I did give you a safe passageway. The least you can do is have our doctors check her, yes? Unless you want her to die?" Ardyn said as two female doctors in white came from behind him with a stretcher, they came to me and waited for me to place her there. My eyes looked at my friends who nodded in agreement. My arms placed her in the stretcher and the doctors took her to a curtained closed area.

"I want to see her," I demanded to Ardyn as he laughed for a bit and replied,

"Oh Prince Noctis, already cheating on your finacee?"

"What?!" I shouted to punch him but Gladiolus held me back and muttered,

"Calm down, Noct. Don't let him in your head."

"Trust me, I have the best doctors looking at our dove as we speak and they will heal her. Relax, enjoy the trip." 

"Yeah, right," I muttered as Gladiolus let me go, I took a deep breath to calm myself and asked,

"Did you know Alice?"

"Why would you ask that, Prince Noctis?" Ardyn said in a curious tone

"You seem to know her ever since we meet at Gaidin Quay," I replied as Ardyn smile widened and I asked,

"You do know her. Does she know you?"

"Hehe, no, if it pleases you. She no longer knows me, Prince Noctis."

"How do you know her?"

"Let's just say I returned a favor at a small village. Let's leave at that." Ardyn answered as the two female doctors came out with Alice on the stretcher. They stopped near me as I took Alice in my arms again, she has bandages on her arms and her eyes remained closed. One of the doctors spoke to Ardyn in a whisper and Ardyn said,

"Good news! Alice is well but she is sadly in some type of coma state. My doctors tell me that she needs to sleep for the most part. Well, I must check on the pilot. Farewell, my friends."

I grunted in annoyance as Ardyn left with the two female doctors following. I sat down on the floor and so did my friends. The soldiers still surrounded us and I asked,

"A village?"

"Yeah, I hear that too," Prompto said in a worried tone.

"Let's hold this conversation later when we are safe," Ignis suggested as we nodded in agreement, my eyes looked at Alice who looked bruised and hugged her gently.

Soon, Alice, we will be safe...I'll protect you.

Whew! Man, work is good and all but sometimes you need a break. I finally got this chapter done and hope you all love it. Please give me feedback for it helps me to improve the story and my writing skills. The next chapter is coming soon! Stay tuned!!