There's a war outside still raging

You say it ain't ours anymore to win

AVALON WAS WALKING BEHIND EVERYONE WATCHING THEIR BACKS, she could feel the tension between the men in front of her. Sighing a little bit, she hated seeing them fight like this. Prompto was helping Ignis down the hill, Gladio was ahead of the two and Noctis was traveling a bit farther than everyone.

Looking at her hands gently, feeling helpless on how to help them. Avalon treads behind the men while they continue down the hill, Avalon felt the water climb up her boots and she cringes a little bit.

"This is so gross..." Avalon groans quietly to herself trying not to bother the men. As she continues on behind them. Sighing a little more, she takes her staff extending it quickly muttering under her breath to give them all some energy and make sure they don't die.

The men stayed silent, it worried Avalon but she also understood. Taking out the ring, Avalon stares at it quietly, wondering if she should give it to Noctis - would it take it? Taking a deep breath as they continue on to the mine. Finally getting out of the water, Avalon shakes her boots off, feeling a drop of rain hit her hair as she looks up feeling more drops hit her skin.

"Maybe we should take a break somewhere before we continue," suggests Avalon looking at the men's back.

"Am I getting in the way?" questions Ignis looking Avalon's way.

Shaking her head lightly, "No, I'm not saying that." She defends herself raising her hands gently. "I'm just saying because it's beginning to rain maybe we should find a shelter and wait till the rain is over."

"Rain here could last days Ava," Prompto informs her. "We don't have days, we'll last in the rain. Okay?"

Sighing in defeat, Avalon continues on following the men. There's no use in fighting these guys once they have their minds set on something. The night begins surrounding the area, the lights go on and it continues to pour down. They come across a vehicle blocking the way.

"They parked here," growls Gladio.

Prompto scoffs, "Wish we could give them a ticket."

"What good would that do?" questions Avalon raising a brow. Walking in the water to inspect it further. Sighing she turns to the men shaking her head. "It's nothing but a giant roadblock."

"Ironic for a vehicle," Prompto agreed, glancing at everyone.

Ignis speaks up; "If we get its motor running, perhaps we can move it out of the way," The men nod.

Avalon opens her mouth gently. "I'll stay here and make sure it moves," Without another word, the men nod and walk off. Sighing, she plops down on the wet ground letting out a growl. "These men are going to be the death of me,"

Shaking her head she stands up wiping her wet ass gently and begins pacing back and forth. Avalon, of course, worries about the men but hates when they fight. Sighing quietly under her breath once more, Avalon crosses her arms over her stomach and continues to pace. Avalon looks up at the sky seeing it was dark as she was getting worried about the men. Avalon then felt the machine move and she turns around seeing it moving, she smiles brightly. They did it together!

"Good to go," Avalon heard Noctis speak as they all walk back to where Avalon was by the machine.

"We did it!" Prompto cheers jumping in the air. "Together!"

"Let's continue and get this one, shall we?" questions Avalon with a smile waving to them. They nod and follow her down the path.

Avalon tries hard not to slip and fall on their way down. Avalon smells the air and plugs her nose tightly.

"Oh my Eos... that stinks..." Avalon mutters under her breath.

Prompto did the same thing. "Man, something stinks around here. Don't slip and fall in whatever that is."

Letting out a groan, she leads them to the cave and saw it was covered in eggs. It made Avalon gag heavily, "So much for sticking together..." Avalon whispers touching the gooey substance.

"What is this?" questions Prompto walking behind Avalon looking at the eggs in front of them.

Gladio scoffs; "I hate eggs,"

"Do we really wanna know what's back there?" inquires Prompto looking at the men behind him who all shrug. In the swamp at the bottom, outside the entrance to the royal tomb, Noct and the others come across several large organic sacs hanging between some tree roots, Avalon gasps stepping back into the eggs. "That looks like a mouth. Is that its face?!"

"What? What is it?" asks Ignis trying to find out what it was. Avalon grabs her staff and swings it full sized.

"Something real bad!" Noctis yells out warping to the Malboro attacking it, Avalon purses her lips wondering if she should turn into her Esper form to help. Taking a deep breath, Avalon jumped in the air attacking a spore that was rushing towards her.

Avalon backed flipped taking her staff swinging it behind her slamming it against another spore attacking her, she looks up seeing the men struggling against the Malboro. Finally having enough, she went to turn into her Esper form but Ignis grabs a magic flask and tosses it in the Malboro's mouth setting its mouth up in flames.

The young woman smiles but then yelps when she knocked down by a spore, while her back hit the water a bright light formed around her changing her into her Esper form. Raising her hand, she throws fire at the spore as more surrounded her. They caught in the flames yelling in pain, and Avalon stood up seeing the men staring at her, she looks behind them seeing the Malboro was no more.

"Ava...?" questions Prompto as he stares in awe.

"That was awesome," Noctis congratulated to her giving her a thumbs up. Avalon takes a deep breath trying to turn back to normal but she stays the same.

"You..." Avalon begins speaking looking at them. "You're not afraid of me?"

"Why would we be, Little One?" questions Gladio raising a brow. "We don't judge friends by how they look."

Avalon smiles touching her arm gently, "What are you exactly?" questions her best friend. Avalon looks at him.

"I'm an Esper, they're ancient beings that have existed for Eons and apparently my mom was a powerful one and then she met my dad and well... Here we are."

The men nod and Ignis asks her. "How come we haven't seen any but you?"

"They're in hiding..." Avalon whispers to them looking down. "Apparently, Ardyn is hunting them..."

The men frown and look at one another while Avalon finally changes back to normal. The men begin heading to the tomb, not saying anything about what Avalon just said. Avalon thought they just didn't know what to say which was understandable.

After getting the sword, everyone began heading out of the tomb but Ignis stops speaking for the first time in a while.

"A moment?"

The men and Avalon stop turning around seeing Ignis not really moving. "Is everything okay?" questions Gladio raising a brow.

"It bloody well isn't," Ignis says in anger. "And I won't suffer this pointless bickering in silence any longer," Ignis continues still angry. "Let's be frank, my vision hasn't improved and probably won't." Ignis sighs and Avalon sighs. "Yet in spite of this... I would remain with you all. Til the very end."

Gladio shakes his head. "Sorry, but I object," Gladio tells them. "War is a matter of life and death."

"But, we'll be there!" interjects Prompto looking directly at Gladio.

"It's not about us looking out for him!" shouts Gladio

Avalon stands near her best friend putting a hand to her chest. "Uh-huh, well," She speaks to him and then to Ignis. "Then he should be free to choose."

Gladio glares but she doesn't back down from it. She's used to it by now, "There's more to it than just what he wants!"

"I know full well!" shouts Ignis, interrupting the two. "I won't ask you to slow down," Avalon sighs knowing he won't. "If I can't keep up, I will bow out."

With that said, Gladio looks at Noctis curious what he had to say. "What says 'His Majesty'?"

Noctis stays silent, trying to think of what to say but before he could say anything, Ignis speaks to him;

"Noct, you are king. One cannot lead by standing still. A king pushes onward always, accepting the consequences and never looking back." Avalon smiles at Ignis's words while turning to their friend. "Gladio, Noct will take his rightful place, but only once he's ready."

Gladio is quiet for a moment before relenting and turning his back speaking, "Have it your way. We're still taking a big risk." Gladio turns to Prompto, then Avalon. Ignis and then finally, Noctis keeping his frown. "We better all be ready." And with that, Gladio walks off.

Prompto and Avalon look at one another nodding turning to their other friends.

"Are we ready to go?"

"As we'll ever be, Avalon," Ignis answers her while they help him back to the train station.

~

A/N: Another chapter done, I'm going to try to extend this one the best I can. The chapter in the game was fairly short so maybe I'll do a couple side quests or something. Which ones should I do? What ones are your favorite? Let me know in the comments!