When Nothing is Sure

Everything is Possible

AVALON WAS SITTING in the car beside Gladio and Noctis as they drove towards Galdin Quay, it was gonna take another hour to get there. Avalon was taking a peak at her list of herbs she needed to get from the fields soon so she can make more potions for them to have for when they get injured. It was hard when she needed these things because only certain herbs are in certain places.

When they stopped for a little while to stretch their legs and to get food in their stomachs. After stopping, Avalon got out after Gladio and stretched her legs feeling them shake. She groans in pain a little bit from the shake. She stretched her back a little bit feeling it crack as she sighed contently, she followed the boys into the Crow's Nest and they sat down while Ignis ordered their food.

"Hey Avalon," Prompto started, Avalon looks up at him with a curious look. She was sitting across from him and sitting next to Noctis. "Remember how we met?"

Avalon lets out a snicker and nods. "Of course, we were in kindergarten, how could I forget?" She smiles at him. "Then you met the prince, and look at here we are." Noctis chuckles making her grin widely. "No offense to you, Noct, but you're the best thing to happen to Prompto since he met me."

Noctis chuckles a bit. "I believe it."

Ignis then brings them their food with the help of Avalon after she sees it'll take a couple of trips. Ignis thanks her and she smiles at him. Eating her food silently quietly listening to the men talk amongst themselves. Avalon begins to think to herself about the things that were going on. Were they going to make it to Galdin Quay safely? Was everything gonna go as planned?

After finishing, she tapped Ignis' shoulder, Ignis looks at her and nods, moving so she can get out. When she got out, she quietly thanked him. Gladio looked at her,

"You okay, little one?"

"Yeah, just wanna walk before we head out for another half-hour." Avalon smiles. "Don't worry, I won't stray far, I'll stay within hearing range, okay?" She waves at them and trots out of the restaurant. She walks out into the sun, pulling out her phone seeing that it was around three in the afternoon. "We'll be there before dark, nice."

Don't get her wrong, she loves fighting as much as the next person. But - when the Daemons come out, she's not much of a fan of them. They always scared her, but she always took care of them with her friends. Her friends always gave her the strength to go on. Although she was trained by Gladio when they met but she wasn't sure it was enough.

After sitting on the Regalia's hood, she continues thinking to herself not noticing the men walking out and towards her. Prompto smirks to himself wanting to scare her. Prompto quietly tip-toes towards her as she continues thinking. She hears something behind her, but she chooses to ignore it until...

"Harrumph!" Prompto huffed out painfully as he landed on his back. Avalon stood there with her hands on her hips and a confused look on her face. "Ava... Why?"

"Don't scare a five-foot-two small person, Prompto, you'd be surprised how much they can out-smart you." Avalon grins helping him up. Prompto pouts making the men behind her chuckle on how he got out-smarted. "Are we ready to go?"

"Of course," Ignis nods while looking over at Noctis. "Noct, are you ready?"

Noctis looks at him and nods. They all gather in the car, Ignis driving while Prompto is in the front seat, Gladio, Avalon, and Noctis in the back. Ignis starts the car and begins driving off to Galdin Quay.

"You know, I can't wait to see Galdin Quay." Avalon began with the conversation. "I hear it's just gorgeous."

"Not as gorgeous as Altissia. Surrounded by water, now that is simply gorgeous." Gladio responds to her touching her head making her pout. She hated when people messed with her hair, she didn't have brushes so making it smooth was a chore for her. She tried to whack his hand away from her head, and he laughed removing his hand. "Wait til you see it, little one."

"I get I'm little, but seriously?" questioned the young woman fixing her hair the best she could. "Why do you call me 'little one'?"

"You just answered you're own question, Ava..." Prompto told her with a laugh. Avalon sighs and snorts his way. "You're 'little' Ava, you stopped growing when you were 10."

"I was taller than you for years, Prompto, don't test me."

Prompto laughs a little bit. "You were, being the keyword there, Ava." He said through his laughs. "Now, look who's taller."

She waves him off and begins to pout more. She felt picked on, but in a loving way. She's been with these guys long enough to consider her family and as a little sister. But - she felt more for one of the men, and no, it wasn't Noctis, no. She didn't think of him that way. But - she knew the man she was in love with didn't feel the same for her. So, she never tried to ask him. Sighing quietly to herself, she leans back to her seat and closes her eyes and passes out.

~~~

Gasping quietly awake when she felt the car stop, beads of sweat was falling down her face as she looked around. She saw the boys out of the car and she got out quickly shaking her head. Avalon was dreaming about something weird but she couldn't quite explain it.

Shaking those thoughts out of her head, Avalon follows the men quickly taking her coat off and leaving it in the car. They begin walking towards Galdin Quay, talking amongst themselves. Avalon was amazed on how gorgeous it was; well, that was until she bumped into Gladio's back.

"I'm afraid you're out of luck." said a man in front of them. Avalon looked around Gladio's arm to get a good look at him. He was middle-aged, with red-violet hair, amber eyes, and strong facial features. He dresses in a long, black jacket that has a white and gray trim, as well as matching trousers.

He wears a red scarf and a hooded, gray and white mantle on his shoulders. He wears a black fedora, Avalon wondered if the Empire actually wore black instead of white, cause if they did - she wondered why he was wearing a different color. Avalon purses her lips noticing his glance at her making her tense up quickly.

"Who's this guy...?" Avalon quietly wondered to herself, staying beside Gladio and Prompto.

"Are we?" questioned Noctis, crossing his arms wondering what he meant.

Narrowing her eyes, Avalon kept her guard up. That man was giving her the creeps, something about him didn't sit right with her. When his gaze landed upon her, they never left. She felt rather uncomfortable.

"The boats bring you here?" The man in front of them questions, making Avalon swallow hard.

Prompto felt how nervous Avalon was and stood very close her, she could feel the heat from his arm on her own. "What about 'em?"

The man began turning, finally breaking his gaze off of Avalon as he continue to speak. "Well, they'll not take you forth." He started.

Gladio felt uneasy too, Avalon could feel it. She could feel it from everyone now at this point. She finally found her voice, and asked him. "And what's your story?"

"I'm just an impatient traveler, ready to turn ship." He answered her question while he then turned around and walked towards them, and then in-between them. Avalon bit her lip when she felt the cloth of his clothes brush against her hand. The breath caught in her throat tightly that she could feel her stomach drop hard. "The ceasefire is getting us nowhere."

He then flicked a coin towards Noctis and Gladio stopped the coin from hitting his face. Avalon watched the scene in front of her, still almost frozen in fear.

"What is this?" Gladio asked after looking at it. "A souvenir?"

Prompto quickly got excited. "They make those?"

"What? No." Noctis replies shaking his head at his friend.

Avalon stayed silent, watching the man. His gaze went back to her but his face stayed still. She pursed her lips taking a silent breath.

"Consider it your allowance," The man stated to him.

"Yeah?" Gladio narrowed his eyes at him. "And who's allowing us?"

Avalon finally spoke, but it was soft. "Gladio..."

"A man with no consequence." The man shrugged walking off. When his gaze finally left hers, she felt like she can finally move. She sighs.

"Yeah, right." Noctis huffs.

"Ava, are you okay?" Prompto questioned her, she finally shakes her head gathering her thoughts and nods to him.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine." She tells him with a smile. "Do we really believe on what he said about the ports being closed?"

"I'm skeptical, though I won't discount the possibility." Ignis looks at her.

Gladio nods in agreement. "I say we go check it out ourselves."

"I guess it couldn't hurt." Avalon agrees with a nod. While the men were walking ahead. Avalon stayed in one spot, turning around to where the man was standing. "Who was that guy?" She asked herself once more. "I don't trust him, I'm sure the others don't either. Might as well keep my guard up."

She quickly runs after the men as they continue on to the port in front of them. After going downstairs, she sees no boat in sight.

"Aw, man." Prompto sighs. "Not a boat in sight, what gives?"

"According to my sources," Another voice besides them speak. Avalon blinks turning to the man sitting down. "The empire, giving strict orders not to let any vessels leave the docks of Altissia." Avalon sighs quietly. "Be a shame to miss your own wedding- right Prince Noctis? Names Dino, by the way. Pleasure." Avalon shakes her head, she knew this kind of men. They always want something. "The crown prince Lucis, bounty-hunting in his fancy car... Surely you didn't think you'd go unnoticed... at least not by this reporter?"

"Oh great, now we have to do what he says..." Avalon groans quietly putting a hand to her head. She pretty much ignored everything else that he was saying. She pretty much gathered what they were supposed to do and she began walking off to the Regalia.

~~~

A/N: So, I'm done with this one, the next one with be hopefully just as long. What do you think about Avalon's and Ardyn's meeting? It will be explained further on in the story about the connection Ardyn has with her.

If you can guess, go for it! I'm up for theories(: Love you guys!