Kill them with success

and bury them with a smile

THE BLESSING OF THE GODS...

AVALON WAS SITTING IN BETWEEN GLADIO AND PROMPTO ONCE MORE, she began to feel worried about what was to come with following Ardyn. The men were talking about Ardyn, til she was nudged by her childhood friend. She glances up looking at everyone.

"What do you think of this 'Ardyn'?" Prompto asked his childhood friend. Avalon stares at everyone trying to think of a straight answer. 

She opens her mouth, trying to think of it. "I hate him. I don't know why, but I hate him. I can't see him other than what he is. He's part of Niflehiem. Why else would he be helping us..." Avalon spoke true to her words, also trying to make sense. "I'm overwhelmed with his presence, every time he's around, I can't find words to speak like you all can."

"It's okay Little One, he's not gonna hurt us, we'll hurt him if he does." Gladio told her, touching her head.

"Yeah, you have nothing to worry about Ava, we don't trust him. At all." Noctis said, staring at her through the rear-view mirror. "As long as we're there, you have nothing to worry about."

"Just stick with one of us, you'll be fine Vee." Prompto encouraged her, she smiles at them. Quietly thanking them and stared at the car ahead of them.

Avalon then turns her head towards the Prince. "I have to ask Noctis, how are the headaches? Do you need anything for it?"

"I'm fine, they just come randomly at this point." Noctis responds to her question.

Ignis turns toward him. "We wouldn't want you to have them behind the wheel, do let us know if that happens."

"Yeah," Prompto adds with a nod. "Pull over if you have too, who cares if we can't catch up to Ardyn, your health is more important."

It was silent the rest of the way, Avalon kept her gaze on the sky watching the clouds go by. She could feel the cool breeze against her face- it was absolutely relaxing. When she felt the car slow down, she looks down seeing Ardyn pulling into the nearest gas station with a camper there. Avalon became confused.

"What's say we stop here for the night."

Gladio was annoyed as everyone got out of the car. "What's say we keep going to Cauthess," He told the driver in front of them.

Arydn looks at them. "The Archaean isn't going anywhere," He responds.

"Neither are we under your stewardship." Ignis hisses as they all gathered around.

"So we're camping. With Ardyn." Prompto hints to everyone, raising a brow.

Avalon shuddered at the thought, trying not to throw up at the idea. "I'll pitch up the tent."

"Oh no, I'm not one for the outdoors." explains Ardyn making Avalon sigh quietly in relief she didn't have to share a tent. "I'll split the bill, let's stay at the caravan over yonder."

Avalon's eyes widen and looks at everyone. "Alright," Noctis shrugs as they walk towards the caravan. Avalon stayed in her spot, she couldn't move. Were they serious? Avalon groans quietly trotting up towards her friends.

~

That night, Ardyn was telling a story while everyone was listening. But- Avalon was in the caravan making potions and elixirs. Elixirs took time, she figured that out before this journey even began. She had almost lost her hair when making a certain elixir, luckily Prompto saved her before she did. 

"Well, I believe it's time for bed." Ignis said walking in, seeing Avalon in the seat making her potions. Everyone piled in after him, and went to claim a bed.

"Oh dear, it looks like they're only four beds plus a big bed." Ardyn stated looking at everyone. Ardyn then looks at Avalon. "Don't you want the big bed, young lady?"

"Nope." Avalon responds, pouring in some crushed up herb into the elixir. "I'll sleep wherever anyone doesn't claim. I'll be up awhile working on these anyway, feel free."

"Well, a young lady like you needs her beauty rest, I do suggest getting some sleep here shortly." Ardyn implored to her. Avalon pauses on what she was doing, staring at Prompto for help without anyone noticing.

"She'll be fine," Gladio began to him, stepping in before Prompto could. "She needs to finish making those anyway, should be another hour before she's in bed."

"Oh, alright." Ardyn said walking towards a bed.

Pursing her lips, Avalon sighs annoyed going back into her work. Thanking quietly for Gladio's lie. She'll be up all night making this new elixir to help them. When she put in another ingredient, it began to bubble. Avalon's eyes widen running outside with it, tossing it into the air hearing it explode. Avalon covers her eyes from the liquid falling from the mixture.

"Oh, for the love of Eos..." She grumbles, "Now I have to start over again..." She looks at herself making sure nothing landed on her. 

Avalon grumbles under her breath, walking back in there hearing the snores coming from the men. She rolls her eyes, grabbing her things quietly she began walking outside and sat in the chairs there. Avalon grabs her things once more and began mixing once more.

~

The next morning everyone was up, getting ready to go once more. Ardyn then looks at everyone once more.

"Are you sure you don't want one more person with me?"

"We're sure," Noctis tells him getting in the drivers seat. "Everyone fits in here just fine." Everyone piled in the Regalia and they waited for Ardyn who smiles their way, they began driving off once more. "You look tired, Vee."

"I was up all night perfecting this stupid elixir, it's gonna be better than the rest." Avalon sighs a little bit, stifling a yawn. "I hope it works."

"With you, it should work just fine." Ignis encourages her. "We trust in your abilities, Avalon." The comment makes her smile.

In Avalon's mind, it was silent. She decided to tune out her friends for a moment and think about other things. Why did Ardyn want to help them anyway? The question nagged in her mind for the last two days with him. Avalon began closing her eyes a little bit, trying to rest them a little bit.

~

Avalon was in the ruins of the Crown City once more, looking around. Avalon saw the troops making their way in, making sure everyone was out of there. Avalon saw the dead bodies from what happened.

"You're back,"  said a voice behind her. Avalon jumps turning around seeing Nyx tossing up his daggers. "Never thought I'd see you again,"

"Nyx, I need you to answer a question for me."

Nyx looks at her. "Is it about Ardyn?" Avalon was shocked, but nodded nonetheless. "You all know he's bad news, but he's more worse than he seems. Don't ever trust him."

"We know that, but why does he want to help us?"

Nyx shrugs. "Not really sure, but keep your guard up. You hear me." Avalon nods at him looking at his arm. "You just now noticed that?"

"What was that from?"

Nyx chuckles. "You know, saving the world from another messed up person." Avalon chuckles touching his arm. "There's no way of healing what's already gone."

"I know," She answers him. "It feels... ashy and dead."

Nyx stares at her curiously. "You're a strange one, aren't ya?"

"You just now noticed that?" She joked with him playfully rolling her eyes at him staring at him, she noticed how blue his eyes are. Pursing her lips a little bit, she begins to feel the urge to wake up. "I'll see you once more."

Nyx nods with a smile, waving at her. "Keep your guard up around him, you understand me."

~

Avalon woke up seeing they were stopped at a dirt road, blinking a little bit Avalon stands up seeing where she was at.

"Is that...?" Prompto begins.

Ignis nods. "I'm surprised to see a royal tomb out this far."

"Let's grab it and go, eh, Highness?"

Noctis nods as they all walk up to it, Noctis stops putting his hand out over it feeling the power overtake him. Avalon was amazed about this. She saw the weapon raise and slam itself into Noctis and he stands there watching all his weapons so far. 

Then the ground begins to shake. "Here we go again!" Prompto calls out as they all fell down on their butts from the earthquake.

"This one's huge!"

"Get away!" Ignis warns them. "Quickly!"

Avalon sees that Noctis was hurting and she wanted to help, but stayed put. Noctis was trying to get back to his friends but the ground below him collapses. "Noctis!" Avalon calls out worriedly as she sees Gladio jump to his rescue. "Gladio!"

She crawls up to the edge seeing Gladio holding Noctis tightly trying to lift him. When they succeeded, Avalon jolts her head up seeing the Archaean stand up looking at Noctis speaking a language Avalon couldn't understand.

"Noct! Gladio! You okay?" Prompto calls out to them.

Ignis chimes in. "Thank heavens you're safe. Is there a way back up?"

"No, but there's a path!" Noctis answers loudly back to them. "I'm gonna see where it leads!"

She then heard Gladio. "You three try to find a way down!"

Avalon nods. "You got it!" She chimes in. "We'll look for a way, take this!" She tosses them a vile and she hears Gladio catch it before it falls down. "Keep safe and we'll see you in a bit!"

"Thanks Little One!" Gladio thanks her, rushing off with Noctis.

Avalon turns to the two with her as they all nod together and rush off as well.

~

Avalon, Ignis and Prompto continue on to find a way down where Noctis and Gladio were going to be. She sees the soldiers preparing for something on their way down making Avalon feel worried. She could feel the tremors from the Archaean, which also worried her as well. Biting her lip, tried calling Noctis and she got cut off before she could even get anything out.

"Do you think he'll be okay?" questioned the young blond.

Ignis nods. "Of course, I trust Gladio will keep him safe." Ignis tells him. "As we must help him as well, we need to get to him and help him."

Before Avalon could speak once more, the tremors grew and she gasps. She sees her friends ahead fighting the Archaean. Whipping out her staff, she extends it out, chanting under her breath giving her friends a boost, and she jumps in the air, knocking the hand away from them.

"Did you miss us?" Prompto grins shooting at the Archaean.

"Apologies!" Ignis adds attacking as well.

Avalon grins. "We tried to get here as quick as we could but you know-"

Noctis chuckles as they attacked the Archaean. Avalon looks up smacking the soldiers away from herself as well. 

~

The battle took a little while before the Archaean, and the Chancellor came to rescue the five friends, Avalon gulps a little bit straying away from Ardyn. Biting her lip she feels like the forever before they're dropped at Wiz's Chocobo Post, Avalon sat on the ground gently trying to gather her thoughts. 

She heard a bark, and she looks up seeing Umbra. Avalon gets up as they all chase after him as if he was leading them somewhere.

"Gentiana." Noctis was shocked when they stopped seeing the young dark haired woman standing there.

"Oh hear me King of Stone." She began speaking. "By the Stormsender's blessing will the path to the stone that opened." Gentiana's voice spoke softly. "The Oracle goes hence the King's name."

"Luna---" Noctis starts worriedly. "Where is she now?"

"The eye of the storm." Noctis sighs a little bit. "When the covenant stone is forged the Oracle and ring shall await their King at the walls of water. Stray not from the path."

With that, Gentiana disappears and Avalon begins looking for her. "She's a messenger, a spirit faithful to the Oracle."

"For real?" Prompto and Avalon asks Ignis shocked.

Gladio crosses his arms lightly. "We're going beyond real now, pal."

Avalon looks at Noctis as he looks at his book that he and Luna share, and he writes back sending Umbra off once more. The young woman smiles at them, feeling the rain fall from beyond the skies, drenching all of them. She felt her clothes cling to her skin, the white shirt showing off her black bra (not like she cared) and she felt her hair stick to her body lightly.

"We head into the storm." She heard Noctis speak and she turns to them with a grin.

"Another day-"

"Another deity." Both Prompto and Avalon spoke laughing a little bit.

~

A/N: Another chapter done! Yay! How do you like these? Anything I should change about them?

I hope to have another one done maybe Sunday or Tuesday, Hell, maybe tonight if I feel up for it. Another long chapter maybe? Hope ya dig! Love you guys!

QUICK QUESTION!

Why do you think Avalon is connected to Nyx?