The Journey of a Thousand Miles

Begins with One Step

THE YOUNG WOMAN LOST TRACK OF HOW LONG THEY'VE BEEN TRAVELING, but from what she could tell, it's been a good while, maybe a few days? She wasn't sure. She was wedged between two men that were her friends, she didn't find it uncomfortable- she actually found it very comfortable. Letting out a sigh, she closes her green hues gently.

"It's been awhile," said the dirty blond man in front of her making conversation to the quiet car ride. "Do you remember the last time you saw Lady Lunafreya?"

The blue haired man beside her began to think, the young woman could tell by the way he shifted a bit. "... About twelve years ago."

"That would make you..." the young woman began guessing putting a finger to her chin. "Eight, right?"

"Whoa! That would make you kids!" The young blond young man was surprised looking back at his friend and then was quietly scolded by the young man in glasses motioning him to keep an eye on the road.

"Hope she hasn't gotten her hopes up." The tall young man on the young woman's left began.

Luckily the young woman was in between the men because the young man on her right was ready to pounce. The young woman rolled her eyes quickly.

"Calm yourself," the young dirty blond man sitting in the passenger side suggested to him.

"Try and keep it together when you meet her," the young woman joked to her friend and he glared at her.

"She'll be expected to see a fine, young prince." added the young man once more in front of her.

The young blue haired man heavily rolled his eyes and looked at him. "Tell me something I don't know."

The young woman giggled. "We don't have time for all of that, this is your wedding we're talking about Noct!"

The young man snorted. "Knew that that, too."

Everyone began talking all at once until the exhaust pipe made a loud noise. The young woman blinks a little bit.

"Uhh...?" The driver began worrying. "Uh-oh..."

"What do you mean "Uh-oh""

"You better be joking..." Both backseat passengers began almost annoyed. The car came to a complete stop and the driver shook his head.

As they all took turns trying to get to the location, it was hard to get there. They pushed for an hour with a fifteen minute break in between all the while trying to get cars to help them. It was too hot for this, the young woman noted to herself. When they stopped for the sixth time, they took a break, and the young woman was looking out for cars to help them out.

"Are you kidding me right now?" groaned a young woman as another car passed by ignoring them. Her long hair was tied into a low pony, her bangs caressed her left eyebrow. She wore some black short shorts that held her staff against her left thigh with a white midriff tank that showed her stomach with her black short sleeved over shirt that was thin. To finish off the look was a little bandanna that tied around her head like a headband with a little bow on top.

Another car was honking and one man in a tank was waving at him. And it passed by just as quick, she heard her friend yawning by the car.

"I guess we can forget about hitching our way there..." He sighs a little bit walking back to the car.

The young woman sighed sitting down in front of the car. "I thought people were supposed to be nice outside the city..."

"You can only go so far with the kindness of strangers, Avalon." Another man reminded her, she sighs in annoyance.

"I know Ignis, I know..." Avalon replies looking at the sky once more.

Hearing another sigh from the other man, he stated to them. "Just gonna have to push her all the way there."

"No..." Avalon groaned out with a whine. "It's too hot for that, Gladio..."

Prompto, the young blond, was laying on the ground whining. "I've already pushed myself... to the brink of death..."

Avalon giggled a little bit, getting up. "Get up. C'mon!" Gladio said kicking Prompto up and Noctis got up and they all got ready to push the car. "The car isn't gonna push itself."

"I thought the car was supposed to move us...?" Avalon joked to him standing next to him getting ready to push the car.

"Oh, can it, little one." Gladio rolled his eyes jokingly, making her stick her tongue out at him. "Ready! Push!" As they began pushing, Avalon was starting to sweat a little bit because of the heat.

"Oh, my god... We're going to die..." Avalon groans closing her eyes pushing the car. "Who keeps driving the car knowing we're having problems with it!?"

"Little one, stop." Gladio lectured her. "We'll make it, then you can die peacefully."

Avalon pouted. "You're mean, Gladio." She looks at Prompto who was laughing at her. "Don't be mean, Prompto!"

He stopped laughing as they continued pushing the car. They were talking amongst themselves as Avalon began thinking to herself. They continued their journey for another few hours, they finally made it to Hammerhead. Avalon literally fell on the ground panting heavily. She was sweating like you wouldn't believe. When she finally calmed down, she just laid there in the shade.

As the Regalia was taken into the shop, Avalon still refused to move, but Gladio kicked her foot lightly making her look at him. Gladio nods his head letting her know it's time to go, sighing, Avalon stood up and dusted off herself and followed the men out into the field. Avalon followed them while walking as they talked. About a few hundred feet, Avalon spotted the monsters. She grabbed her staff, pressing a button as it extended, she twirled it around a few times getting ready to fight.

When the monsters roared, she smirked. "This, I can do." She grins and begins fighting the monsters with ease. As they finished their first round of the monsters, she looked at the men in front of her. She giggles putting the staff back where it belongs by her thigh; after finishing up the enemies, Noctis got a call from Cindy.

"So... What did Cindy want?" Prompto questioned Noctis.

Noctis sighs putting his phone away. "Need to find some... "Dave" guy."

"He went missing?" Gladio asked him with a raised brow. Avalon blinks a bit looking towards the shack.

"Not "missing"." Noctis replies. "Said he's holed up at that shack."

"Well, then." Avalon began with a smile. "Why are we standing around here for? Let's head to the shack and save this guy." She then trots head with her hands behind her back ignoring the chuckles of her friends behind as they began following her. As they neared the shack, Avalon waltzed in and saw a piece of paper on the table, she picked it up, reading it.

MUTANT DUALHORN SIGHTING

Codename: Bloodhorn

Characteristics: Red Tusks, Extremely Violent

Outstanding Bounty On Sabertusks In The Area

"Hmm...?" Avalon wondered looking back at the men as they stopped behind her. She handed it to Noctis. "Do you think he went after the Bloodhorn?"

"Noct!" shouted Gladio in warning, Avalon looks in front of Noct taking her staff and blocked the hit from the monster at her but it knocked Noctis down and she gasps as she knocked the fiend back and killed it. Prompto rushed to Noctis' side and shot the monster Gladio was struggling with.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, fine." Noctis nods to Prompto's question.

"Too early for celebration gentlemen!" Ignis called out as they began fighting the fiends in front of them. When they finally finished the battle, Avalon kept her staff out as they headed to another shack and saw the Sabertusks. Narrowing her eyes, Noctis warped to higher ground and then attacked one of them, surprising them.

Avalon quickly charged at one and hit it with her staff quickly knocking it back swiftly, Avalon was then tackled down and she fell on her stomach. Avalon gasps in pain trying to turn over and protect herself. She then heard two gunshots and the fiend quickly fell off her, Ignis grabbed her arm and hoisted her up. She quietly thanked them both and they nodded while Noctis finished off the last of the Sabertusk.

"Who's out there?" called out a voice opening the shack behind They began talking to him as Avalon dressed her wound on her stomach. When she was done, she felt a touch on her shoulder, she turns and sees Prompto smiling at her. She smiles back as they both began running off to the spot where Dave said he last saw the Bloodhorn. But before they got far, Ignis called out to them.

"Now, now you two!" called Ignis making them stop. "Come along, we have to make camp before we face this enemy." Sighing loudly, Avalon nods and turns around following the others with Prompto trailing behind.

When they finally found a place, they began to set up camp. Gladio set up a big tent for all of them. Prompto and Noctis grabbed the chairs for them to sit on while Ignis and Avalon both cooked their meal for the night. When they finally had dinner done, Ignis and Avalon both gave it to the men and sat down to eat their down. They joked and talked about a lot of things. Prompto even showed them pictures of their journey so far.

Avalon began to wonder before she fell asleep though. What was this journey about to bring them?

~

A/N: So, I will finish the next part maybe tomorrow if my little girl will allow me. Hopefully the next one will be a little longer than this one. I apologize for this being so short. How do you like this one so far? Let me know!