~Zodia's POV~

Luna and I had made it safely out of the city. Both of us were worn out from the long trek. Our clothes were ripped and dirty in multiple spots. Silence was all around us as we walked down the roads of Leide. Stopping for a small break, I noticed Luna was gripping something tightly.

"Luna, may I ask what you are carrying?"

She smiled, opening her hand to show me. I gasped when I recognized the object. "The Ring of Lucii."

"Yes, His Majesty entrusted it to me moments before all fell into chaos. I promised to deliver it to Noctis."

"At least the Empire doesn't have their hands on it. Who knows what hell they would raise if it were in their grasp."

"I shall deliver it to him when the time comes."

Our conversation was interrupted by a barking Umbra. Luna kneeled before the small dog and smiled beautifully at him. She unveiled a notebook with a red cover and an intricate design on the front. Not wishing to pry, I took a few steps back and left her with Umbra and the notebook.

"Shall I tell Noctis of your well-being? I'm sure he's more worried about you since the attack," she asked sweetly.

"Would it be alright if I sent a small trinket of mine?"

"Of course, Zodia. What would you like to send?"

I pulled out the hairpin and gazed at the beautiful ornament.

It was the first present Ignis ever gave to me. That was when we first met and he began our first lesson together. Since then, we've been inseparable and the hairpin has never left my hair. The small gems decorating the edges glistened in the sun as I handed it over to Umbra.

"Please, give this to Ignis. This'll ease his and everyone else's worry for me."

Umbra wags his tail and accepts the hairpin. Luna also hands over the notebook and Umbra takes off. A feeling of desperation rises in my chest as my mind wandered to Ignis. Clutching a hand over my heart, I gaze up at the beautiful blue sky above. "I know I'll get to see you soon," I whisper.

Ending our break, we continue our trek through the hot region of Leide. Exhaustion ate away at our beings as the sun sets and is replaced by the vast moon. Our travels led us to a small outpost and we decided to rest for the night. I woke up in the middle of the night and walked around the outpost. A huge sign that read 'Hammerhead' caught my attention.

"You okay, darlin'?" Hearing a concerned voice, I looked behind me.

"Oh, yes. I just woke up in the middle of the night. That's all."

The woman's eyes widened when she began to scan over my body. She suddenly gasped and took my hands in hers. "Ya wouldn't happen to be the Prince's sister, would ya?"

I tensed up when her words registered with me. She noticed and smiled in reassurance. "Ya don't need to worry, sweetheart! Ma Paw-Paw knew your father. Also, the prince was here a few days ago. Ya look just like him!"

"So, they're all safe?"

"Better than safe. Those boys have been helpin' out a lot around here."

I was finally able to relax for the first time since Insomnia fell. It only took those few words to bring my mind at ease. The feeling diluted the trouble from my heart and mind, knowing the four of them haven't been fatality injured or captured by the Empire.

The woman introduced herself as Cindy. She told me of their meeting with Cor, but she couldn't go into details. The marshal must've not told her much as to why he needed to see them so urgently.

"It seems I've missed them by a day. Cindy, do you have a way of contacting them? My phone was smashed within the city."

"If ya like, I could give 'em a call in the morning for ya, princess."

"Zodia is fine. Never was a fan of the formal titles."

She giggled and pulled at the edge of her hat. "It's a pleasure to meetcha, Zodia. Meet me in the mornin' and I'll give those boys a call."

I thank her and head back to bed.

~3rd Person POV (with Noctis)~

After having been able to successfully push the Imperials from the Norduscaen Blockade and taking care of Loqi, Brigadier General of the Niflheim army, the four separated from Cor and found a haven to stay at for the night.

"Camping. Again," Noctis groans.

"What, you have a problem with camping?" Gladio asked, looking at the whining prince. "Just want a soft bed once in awhile."

"Maybe we could sleep in a real bed tomorrow night?" Prompto asked with a shrug.

"I'm sure we can find suitable accommodations for tomorrow," Ignis replies.

Prompto and Noctis cheer in joy as they set up camp. Ignis immediately started dinner once he was able to access his cooking station. The others sat around the warm flames that lashed out when a gentle breeze blew through the air. Prompto and Noctis played "King's Knight" on their phones while Gladio busied himself with a book.

Ignis announced dinner was ready and handed the plates out. During dinner, the four went over Cor's words in their heads. When Noctis had asked about Zodia, he received no response from the Immortal. Ignis felt as if the marshal was hiding something about the missing princess.

"Hey, it's Umbra!" Prompto announces in a bubbly voice. The Shiba Inu/Alaskan Malamute messenger trots over to the prince while wagging his tail. The three watched closely as Noctis took the notebook and something else from the dog. Holding off on the notebook to look at what Umbra was also entrusted with, Noctis' eyes widened when he realized what it was. He smiled and glanced at Ignis.

"Specs, there's something for you." Confused, Ignis looks at the prince with a questioning gaze. Noctis tossed the small trinket towards his advisor, who caught it with ease. Opening his hand slowly, he was stunned to see what Umbra had brought with him. Ignis traced the design of the hairpin gently, his thoughts traveling to the one person he desperately wanted to see more than ever. He gripped the ornament tightly and replayed the moment he had given it to Zodia. She had the biggest smile plastered to her face when he handed the trinket to her. Zodia threw her arms around him and hugged the life out of him that day.

A smile slowly etched across his face at the memory. Noticing Ignis' behavior, he read the message he had received from Luna out-loud.

Will be waiting for you in Altissia

"Iggy, what did Noct give you?" Prompto began prying out of curiosity. Ignis opened his hand and showed the hairpin to the blonde and the brute. "That hairpin belongs to Zodia. She wore it every day," Gladio pointed out.

"Oh, now that you mention it, she always had it with her no matter where she went," Prompto exclaimed. Hearing those word made Ignis' smile grow wider. He was glad that such a small thing made her happy and it added to his love that she took it with her wherever she went. Finally finding his voice after a long silence, Ignis looked up at Noctis and asked the one question he desperately needed to know the answer to.

"Did Lady Lunafreya mention where Zodia was located?"

Noctis shook his head sadly. "We can ask around tomorrow to see if anyone has seen her. I need to know my little sister is safe."

"We need to find her quickly before the Empire does. They're aware of her presence now and will definitely try to use her as leverage against us," Gladio said. Ignis knew the bodyguard was right, making his worry for the young princess to grow even more.

"I suggest we all call it a night. We shall depart early to search for Zodia," Ignis declares. They all agreed with the advisor and headed to the tent. Unable to fall asleep the moment he entered the tent, Ignis fiddled with the hairpin gently, composing a small jingle when the chains clanged together. After minutes of toying with the ornament, Ignis was able to fall into a deep slumber.

-Next Morning-

Gladio forcefully dragged Noctis out of the tent. The prince was still sleeping as the bodyguard threw him in the backseat. "Our first destination will be Galdin Quay. From there, we'll head to Hammerhead. Terminating the small outposts will come last," Ignis states, starting the engine. Gladio was getting pissed off at Noctis' sleeping form and punched him on the arm. The prince flew up and glared at him.

"What the hell was that for?" Noctis growled.

"Your sister's in danger and all you're doing is sleeping. Wake your lazy ass up and try to think of where she could've gone for help."

"I'm worried about her just as much as you guys are. Hell, she's my sister and only living family I have left! If I knew where she could've gone, I wouldn't be so quiet," Noctis barks back. Gladio clicked his tongue in annoyance and was about to yell back but was silenced when the Prince's phone began to ring.

Scrambling through his pocket, Noctis found his phone and pulled it out to see Cindy was calling him. He accepted the call and placed the phone up to his ear. "Yeah?"

"Good mornin', Your Highness! We've gotta visitor here in Hammerhead who seems to know ya. Poor girl's been wonderin' when y'all would be making another visit."

"We were planning on swinging by later on today. Did the girl give you her name?" Noctis asked, hoping Cindy was talking about his sister.

"Sadly, no. She's been here since last night and has been waitin' eagerly for y'all. Come by soon!"

"Yeah, we'll see you later, Cindy."

Noctis ended the phone, hanging up on the mechanic and sliding the phone back into his pocket. "What did Cindy have to say?" Prompto spun around his seat with a fervent expression.

"Someone's waiting for us at Hammerhead. Cindy didn't get a name, but she's been waiting for us since last night."

"Could be Zodia," Gladio chimed in.

"Then, we will head to Hammerhead first," Ignis said, making a U-turn. Their hope embellishes further at the thought of the mysterious girl being the Princess of Lucis.

The ride to Hammerhead was deafening by silence. No one said a word, their minds full of ideas on who could be waiting for them. The four had multiple answers but were clinging on to the idea it was Zodia who was anticipating their arrival.

Noctis rested his head in one of his hands and thumped his fingers against his knee. Prompto leaned against the door and watched as the scenery flew by while Gladio was reading a book. Ignis kept his eyes on the road, but his mind was in a completely different world. One of his hands unconsciously gravitated towards the pocket that protected the hairpin. Breaking back to the real world, Ignis pulled into Hammerhead and parked the Regalia at the gas pump.

"Howdy, y'all!" Cindy greets in her normal cheery voice. Prompto was the first to return the greeting and get out of the car. Noctis, Gladio, and Ignis towed behind the giddy blonde and followed Cindy to the garage. Cid, Cindy's grandfather, sat in a lounge chair and watched them with a smirk on his face. It seemed he knew who the mysterious girl was and eagerly waited to see their expressions once she made an appearance.

"Give her a few minutes. Poor girl's been through a lot," Cindy said in a gentle voice. As the time seemed to slow down, they finally heard the sound of a door opening. Their attention traveled to where the sound came from, eyes widening at the sight. The person smiled at them in sheer bliss.

"Thank goodness you all are safe."