~3rd Person POV (with Prompto)~

Hours passed without Prompto even knowing. All he could think about was his friends and what they were doing. With his eyes closed, he could only see the image of the daemon. Ever since seeing the creature, he couldn't get the horrid image out of his head. Though it was a frightening picture, he kept thinking of a way to kill it without hurting Zodia when he was able to free himself.

More time flew by and Prompto didn't even flinch when he heard the sound of his cell being unlocked. Once he felt himself free of the metal device, he heard familiar voices.

"Hey, you alright?" Gladio asked as Prompto fell to the floor.

"Are you hurt? Do you need help?" Ignis worriedly questioned.

"I'm fine. Thank you, Noct," he finally manages to speak. He slowly sits up, the pain from the cuts and bruises radiating across his body. "Tell me. Were you worried about me?"

Noctis stares into Prompto's azure irises. "Of course I was. What kind of question is that?"

"Of course. That's why you came, like I believed you would."

"Prompto..."

"That's why I told myself I couldn't die. Not until I could see you and hear you tell me I'm not a fake-that I'm the real me. Even Zodia gave me a tongue lashing."

"You've seen Zodia?" Ignis inquired.

The younger boy nods, tears threatening to fall as he remembered her being swallowed by the Talmoruth. "Y-Yeah. But... I don't know where she is now. She's... she's trapped inside a daemon. Ardyn brought the thing by and she just fell from its body. We didn't talk long, but she scolded me for... a few things."

"We'll need weapons to defeat that damn thing and get her back," Gladio said. In agreement, the companions exit the cell and head to the central area of the prison level.

Ignis suddenly comes to a halt. "Noct, do you hear that?"

"Hear what?" The prince questioned.

"I've heard this sound before-on the train, just before your weapons failed you. It's nearby, and it may hold the key to restoring your power." They follow the tactician as he guides them across a catwalk and to two large metal doors. "It's here."

Noctis stops in front of the doors and examines them. "This thing?" The boy places his hand against the cold metal. "Door's locked."

"It's coming from within. Is there no way through?" Ignis asked as he searched around the door.

"There's a way," Prompto chimes in with a melancholic tone. The others watch him as he hesitantly steps up to the door's scanner and raises the back of his right wrist to it. The metal doors slide open as Prompto resumes speaking, staring off into the room, unable to make eye contact with the others. "So, MTs... They've got those codeprints... just like I do."

Noctis gazed at his best friend. "Do they? Never looked."

"Yeah... So, as it turns out...I'm one of them. Not exactly something I could tell people growing up in Lucis." Prompto fights back tears and continues. "Still... You guys and Zodia are like... the only friends I've ever known. I just hope that things can stay the way they were."

"Whatever. Who cares where you were born?" Noctis shrugs.

"I don't see you turning against us. Not now, or ever," Ignis states.

"Zodia was right. Thanks, guys. Still... I can't change where I came from. What I am."

Noctis raised an eyebrow. "Since when does where you come from matter to you? You never once treated me as a prince," he said, playfully punching Prompto's shoulder.

"He's got you there," Gladio grins.

"Never so much as a "Highness"," Ignis adds.

"Is that what Zodia scolded you for?" Noctis asked.

"Yeah, she got really mad when I called myself a monster. I told her and she accepted me without hesitating. She even... she even told me that you guys thought the same way."

"Definitely sounds like her. C'mon, crown citizen."

Gladio gives Prompto's shoulder a friendly smack as they walk past and enter the room. "You're one of us, right?"

Ignis stops, turns back toward Prompto, and gazed at him over his shoulder. "Unless you'd rather not be." Prompto smiles, nods, and follows his friends into the room.

Inside the room, they find the emperor's abandoned clothing laying upon the throne. They also find a large bank of computers. With his father's blade in hand, Noctis rams the sword through the machines.
Prompto glances around. "So... did it work?"

"With the device down and out, Noct's power should be up and running," Ignis explains.

"Go on, try it," Gladio said.

Noctis nods. "Alright. Moment of truth." He holds out his hand and summons a sword. The bubbly blonde claps in celebration.

"We're back, baby," Gladio cheers.

"Let's roll. We've gotta save my sister."

Suddenly, the loudspeakers came on as they exited the room. Ardyn's voice rang out across the building. "Your lovely sister is much closer than you know. The question is: how will you save her without hurting the poor girl?"

With their weapons in hand, the royal retinue listened as they heard hissing. Prompto swallowed hard as he remembered the familiar sound. "I-It's here!"

Falling from the ceiling, the Talmoruth lands in front of them. With a screeching roar, it stands on its hind legs. Noctis jumped in and raised his blade, ready to slash its chest. "Noct, stop!" Prompto yells. Hearing the sharpshooter's voice, the prince stops his assault on the monster and jumps back.

"What's wrong, Prom?" He asked.

"The chest-that's where Zodia is."

"This is gonna be harder than I thought," Gladio states.

Ignis didn't say a word as he was brewing up a plan. As the Talmoruth lunges at them, they all dodged and kept up their defensive measures to keep from hurting Zodia. The daemon noticed their hesitation and did the unexpected. When the boys thought it was going to slash at them with its bird-like talons, the daemon targeted itself and dug its claws into its own flesh.

When Ignis noticed the talons were drawing closer to its chest, he sprung into action and swiftly closed the distance between him and the creature. He slashed at the daemon's hand and forced it away from its chest. It shrieked in pain, pushing the royal advisor away. "It's rendering our movements. The Talmoruth knows we do not wish to harm it."

"And it's resulting to injuring itself to harm Zodia. It wants us to fight it, but if we do-"

"W-We might kill her," Prompto finishes Gladio sentence, his pistol shaking in his hand.

"I've got an idea," Ignis announces.

"What is it?" Noctis asked.

"We will need to pin down its limbs. But first, we must rid the daemon of its tendrils. Once both are accomplished, I will cut Zodia free."

"What if you accidentally cut her?" Prompto questioned.

"I will not harm her in any way, Prompto. A shallow cut will suffice and provide enough room to reach her. Gladio, I will be needing your assistance," Ignis declares.

"I've got you covered, Iggy."

Noctis and Prompto began their assault on the tendrils, successfully ridding the daemon of them. Next, Gladio barreled towards the daemon and knocked it on its back. Summoning dagger after dagger, Ignis pinned the Talmoruth down to the ground. As the daemon struggled against the daggers, the strategist knew he didn't have much time before it broke free. "Gladio!" He shouts.

"On it!"

Ignis summoned another dagger and ran to the daemon. He lodged the blade into the monster's chest and began cutting away. As he tried to cut further, he took notice of how the creature was mending the cut and trying to keep him out of its body. Ignis gritted his teeth as he pushed deeper. Once the cut was large enough, Gladio grabbed both sides and used his strength to pry the Talmoruth's chest open. Ignis helped as he kept the monster from mending the cut. Gladio lets out a grunt of frustration as the creature began to harden its skin, making it more difficult to pull apart.

Pushing through another layer of rough skin, Ignis was able to spot Zodia's zodiac pendant. Desperation took over Ignis' mind and he began pulling at the skin with strength he didn't realize he possessed. Noctis and Prompto ran over and helped, ignoring the screeches of the daemon. With their help, they were able to reach Zodia's body. With enough space to wrap his arms around her torso, Ignis began pulling her out of the Talmoruth's body. Prompto took it upon himself to pull off any skin that was trying to absorb her back into the monster's body.

With another tug, Ignis freed Zodia and held her close to him. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a vial with a strange glowing liquid. "Back away!" He shouts as he tosses the glass vial into the daemon's open chest. Following his orders, the others back away and get a safe distance away from the Talmoruth.

The daemon broke free and flew to its feet. Its pitch black eyes fell upon Zodia's unconscious form. Ignis backed away just as the vial he threw began working. The daemon wails agonizingly as the glowing liquid spilled from its body. It was burning the monster from the inside out, the substance seeping through every crack in its body. Clumps of its skin fell off as it crawled slowly over to Ignis and Zodia. Before it could reach them, the Talmoruth had been silenced for good.

After their win, they received no snarky comment from the chancellor, which they were grateful for. Being the worrier he is, Ignis cradled Zodia's body closely and placed two fingers on her neck. When he felt her pulse, he sighed in the relief. Prompto gazed at the princess anxiously. "Is she..."

"She's alive. Her pulse is weak, which is worrisome. Let's find living quarters and let her rest for the time being." Ignis scoops Zodia up in his arms and follows Noctis and the others to the nearest living quarters.

Safely inside, Gladio locks the door behind them while Ignis gently laid Zodia on one of the beds. Noctis handed the strategist a potion. He went to crush it over her body, but someone grabbed his arm and stopped him. "Please, save it..."

The others gathered around the bed as Ignis gazed down at Zodia, her eyes slowly opening. Reluctantly, Ignis knew she was right and handed the curative back to the prince. He sat on the bed next to her, one of his hands pushing a strand of hair out of her face while the other stroked her cheek gingerly. Not caring that the others were around, he leaned down and rested his forehead against hers. He closed his eyes, relishing in her presence and closeness. Zodia smiled and stole a kiss from his lips with a small giggle. "You look horrible."

Ignis huffed with laughter at her comment. "Worrying does much to a man. I am no exception, especially when it comes to your safety."

Zodia cried and wrapped her weak arms around his neck, pulling him down into a hug. Ignis encircled his arms around her petite frame and held her close, burying his face in the crook of her neck. "I was so scared..." She sniffled through her sobs.

Ignis held her tighter, enveloping her completely. "Forgive me for arriving so late."

She shook her head. "It's not your fault, Ignis. I was careless that day on the train."

Ignis could feel her small form shaking in his arms. He threaded his fingers through her midnight locks, trying his best to sooth her. "Sleep, my dear. You're still weak from being inside such a foul creature."

"I-I know the others are here, but could you lay with me?" Zodia asked meekly.

Ignis smiled and nuzzled his nose against her cheek before laying a sweet kiss on it. "You need not be embarrassed."

Zodia scoots over and makes room for Ignis. She snuggled up to him, calming down as she inhaled his scent. With a content sigh, the princess falls asleep within seconds the moment Ignis cradles her head against his chest. The others smiled at the couple before claiming a bed and resting themselves. Ignis kissed her softly on the forehead before closing his eyes.