~Zodia's POV~

A week has passed since the boys have departed to Altissia. Early in the morning, Father had called me for an important meeting. The news he had informed me of was completely shocking.

"A... treaty?" I puzzled. Father nods from his place on the throne.

"Yes, a treaty between Lucis and Niflheim to end this detrimental conflict. One part I did not mention was the wedding. It is part of the treaty."

"I... I understand, Father."

"Thank you, Zodia. Along with Lady Lunafreya, you shall be protected by a member of the glaive until peace has been sought."

I bow and thank him once more before leaving. When I left the throne room, I was greeted by a man named Nyx Ulric. He bowed to me and kept his head low when he spoke. "A pleasure, princess."

"Please, just call me Zodia. You are a member of the glaive. Such formalities are not necessary. After all, you are like family."

Nyx stops bowing and looks me in the eyes. "Yes, Zodia." I smile when I hear my name roll off his tongue. "I look forward to your company, Nyx." The glaive member gives me a relaxing smile.

Since I found that book about Astrals yesterday, I haven't been able to read it. "If you don't mind, I would love to go to the library. There's a book I've been itching to read." Nyx nods and follows me to my destination.

Sitting on the couch, I crack open the book. The pages were brimming with detail from top to bottom; descriptions of each Astral and their abilities. The one Astral that confused me was Ifrit. Not a sliver of love for humanity inside his being. Unlike Ifrit, Shiva was completely different. She loved humans and cared for all.

My reading was interrupted by a deep chuckle. When I glanced up, the Emperor of Niflheim, Iendolas Aldercapt, stood not far from where I sat. Nyx summoned his blade and stood protectively in front of me. "The Princess of Lucis is much more beautiful than what the public says. Such a shame you're caged within these walls. A little blue bird with broken wings."

Fear built up inside me just looking at him. I tensed up and slid further away from him. Nyx noticed and drew closer to me. "Iendolas, your business is with me. Leave my daughter out of our affairs." Father's booming voice came from the entrance of the library. The Emperor sent me a wicked grin before he left with Father. Once free of the man's presence, I sighed in relief.

Hours pass while I read the entrancing book. Nyx stayed quiet and eventually found himself lost in a book as well. I looked out the window to see the sun was setting. I didn't realize how long I was in the library until I saw it was five o'clock. "Wow, didn't realize I spent the whole day reading," I mumble to myself.

Suddenly, Nyx began talking into his ear piece. His eyes bounced to me a couple of times during his conversation. Sensing something was wrong, I snapped the book closed. "We must--" Nyx started but was interrupted by the sound of running footsteps. "Dammit..." He curses under his breath. Nyx lunges forward and grabs me by the hand.

"What's going on?" I ask.

"You must be taken to safety, immediately."

"Why?"

My question was answered when the sound of fighting came from where the summit was being held. Glass shattered all around us as Magiteks jumped through the windows. Worried for Father's safety, I freed myself from Nyx's grip and dodged Magiteks left and right. "Princess!"

I ignored Nyx's desperate cries and pushed through more enemies. Trying to suppress my desperate need to cough, I pushed myself all the way until I reached where the treaty was being signed. Bursting through the doors, I spotted Father and Luna with Iendolas and General Glauca. All eyes fell upon me once the doors had slammed shut.

"Perfect timing, princess," Iendolas cackles. General Glauca slowly makes his way over to me, but stops when the doors are flung back open. Nyx slashes at the general, pushing him away from me. "Zodia, you must leave!" Luna shouts. Before I could speak, I began to cough and gasped for air. Nyx was at my side in a heartbeat, protecting me from Iendolas and General Glauca. Once I had finally regained my composure, the Emperor maniacally laughs.

"An illness with no cure. An illness with only room to grow. Shall I end your pain now, Princess of Lucis?"

"Do not touch my daughter!" Father yells. General Glauca's appearance suddenly changes into something horrifying. I gasp in shock at the sight. "Do not move from this spot," Nyx demands. I comply and stay where I am. He approached the general with his blades and didn't hold back his attacks. Father called upon his blade as well and kept Iendolas occupied. My legs became jelly and I sank to the cold floor beneath me.

I noticed Father was having difficulty keeping the Emperor at bay. Feeling an unknown aura brewing in my chest, I muttered the first thing that came to mind. "Taurus..." A rune of sorts with all twelve Zodiac signs appeared under me.

Crystals began to form a shape of something when I looked up. Once the crystals were all assembled, they mended together and formed the beast I recognized as Taurus.

The bull charged toward Iendolas with his hammer raised. The Emperor was taken aback and pushed away from Father. My whole body was in shock as I watched the scene before me. Taurus was much more stronger than his opponent and had succeeded in cornering him.

"Zodia," someone called my name gently and picked me up in their arms. I realized it was Nyx who was carrying me. He ran over with me in his arms to Luna and Father. Once I was close enough, Father took me from Nyx and hugged me close. "Zodia, listen to me. I'm aware you are confused at what power you possess. I do not have time to explain all. Nyx will guide you and Luna to safety. Once out of the city, find Noctis."

"What about my illness?" I manage to ask.

"That, beloved, will be an obstacle I know you will bound over. Your powers have awaken, which will result in the illness to subside."

"How come you didn't tell me that my illness could be cured by the Zodiac?"

"Nyx, take my daughter and Luna, now!" He orders.
"No, please!" I beg. Father ignores my pleas and Nyx picks me up. Tears fell from my eyes as I watch him stand against General Glauca with Taurus. Before I was carried out of view, Taurus vanished and General Glauca stabbed Father. I screamed out for him, but it only went on deaf ears. Sobs ripped through my body while Nyx continued to carry me.

I hadn't even noticed we made it to the edge of the city because of my screaming and crying. Nyx set me down and held my face in his hands. "You must find your brother. For now, I will remain in the city and help. The two of you are top priority right now."

Luna nods, placing a hand on my shoulder. "I shall take care of her." Nyx nods and runs back into the city. Luna pulled me into a gentle hug and kissed me on the forehead. "We will find Noctis and you two shall reunite. I will guide you until you are ready to be on your own. Once done, I shall return to Altissia."

"W-what about the wedding?" I stutter. Luna wipes my tears away gently with a smile. "Arrangements will be made and we will hold the ceremony later." Understanding, I nod and we find a safe way out of the city without drawing attention from Niflheim.

~3rd Person POV (with Noctis)~

-Galdin Quay: Morning-

"Where's Specs?" Noctis asked Gladio. "Should be back any minute now," he replies. The prince pulled out his phone to see no messages from his sister. Worry built up in his chest, afraid something has happened to her. The door to the room opened, revealing a heartbroken Ignis. They noticed the paper in his hands and Gladio took it. The advisor walked over to the nearest bed and sat with slumped shoulders.

Prompto peers over Gladio's shoulder to see what had broken Ignis. "Insomnia... falls?" Noctis head snaps up at them. "What? This your idea of a joke?" He asked, his voice tinted with hysteria. Ignis finally shook his thoughts clean of Zodia and gazed at Noctis. "I need you to calm down so I can explain."

"I'm as calm as I am gonna get!"

Gladio began to read a small description underneath the picture showing a burning Insomnia. "As treaty room tempers flared, blasts lit the night sky. When the smoke about the Citadel had cleared, the King and princess were found... dead."

"No, wait... hold on..." Noctis stumbled over his words in an attempt to make sense what was just read to him. Ignis couldn't bring himself to say anything after hearing what he read this morning again. Noctis then began to deny the words typed in black ink.

"If only..." Prompto started but never finished.

"What else do we know?" Gladio asked. No one answered the brute. They all fell quiet until Gladio spoke up again. "Then we can't be sure until we see it with our own eyes."

"And that means we go back to Insomnia," Prompto states.

"Might not be safe for us there," Ignis pipes up.

"Might no be safe for us here," the blonde shot back.

"Turn back?" Gladio questioned.

"Yeah," Noctis replied.

>>>>----->

Fighting off Magiteks and soldiers, they pushed through until their destination came into view. Finishing off the last enemy, they reach a hill that overlooks the Crown City. Prompto had tuned into a radio station from his phone, listening to any new information about their home.

Ignis pulled out his phone to see a voicemail from Zodia. It was dated to the morning before the summit. With shaky fingers, he unlocked his phone and began listening to the message.

You four need to come back home. It's only been a week, but I miss you all too much to wait another week! Maybe you could come and pick me up? Then we could go to the wedding together! Father helped me pick out the most loveliest dress for the occasion. He even insisted on getting you a matching tux. And don't worry! I've been studying just like you asked! Not much to do when you're gone, Iggy. I hope you get this message. Call me back so I know you're safe. Love you!

Hearing those two words, Ignis finally shattered. He gripped his phone tightly and tried to suppress tears. "Ignis..." Prompto called the advisor's name. "Was... was that a message from Zodia?" Noctis asked, sorrow shaking his voice. "... Yes..."

Noctis gritted his teeth and clenched his fists in anger. His body began to shake from keeping all the rage bottled up inside. Out of the blue, Noctis' phone rang. He picked it up to hear it was Cor.
"Where are you?"

"Outside the city... with no way in," Noctis replied. "Good. Meet me in Hammerhead. We'll discuss everything there."

"Wait! Is... is the news... about my father and Zodia true?"

"The king... yes. But your sister, no body has been found. The papers lied to get more of a stir from the public."

"Alright, we'll see you soon," Noctis said and hung up. "What did the marshal have to say?" Gladio asked with a little hesitation. The prince slid his phone back into his pocket and turned to face his friends. "My father... is dead. But... Zodia's body has not been found."

"Which means she's alive!" Prompto happily announces.

"Why would the newspapers report about a fake death?" Gladio puzzled.

"The public has not seen nor heard from Zodia. She is a mere ghost to the public eye. Reporting her death will ensure a stir among the citizens of both Accordo and Lucis, questioning if there was ever a Princess of Lucis," Ignis replies, subduing his distraught emotions for the sake of the others.

"I don't get it. How come His Majesty never let her outside? Was it all because of the illness-- or because of something else?" Prompto pondered.

"I don't know, but we're going to find out," Noctis declares. They head back to the car and drive to Hammerhead, only to be told by Cindy that Cor was heading towards Prairie Outpost.

"All I want to know is if Zodia is alive and safe. That's all I want to hear," Noctis said as they pulled into the outpost. "Yeah, I think all of us want to hear that, too," Prompto agreed.

"No doubt that's the only thing on Iggy's mind at the moment," Gladio spoke up. All eyes fell on the royal advisor, hoping he would be alright no matter what news they would receive. "Let us not keep the marshal waiting," he said, changing the subject. Noctis knew he was very sensitive right now around the topic of his sister. Dropping it, he agrees with Ignis.

"Yeah, let's go."