~Zodia's POV~

Being the second to wake after Ignis, I walked out of the tent to see how the weather was. The rain still poured down, making my mood dampen. I pouted with crossed arms until I heard Noctis wake up. "Well, well, well. You're up earlier than usual."

"Good mornin' to you, too. Specs wanted me to help you and him with breakfast. Where is he?"

"Not sure. I know he woke up fifteen minutes ago, but I don't where he went."

"Maybe he's-"

"Zodia! Noct!"

My brother and I turned to face a frantic and breathless Ignis. The tactician stopped in front of us, trying to catch his breath.

"What's wrong? Are you okay!?" Noctis asked worriedly.

I stood in front of him and realized his glasses were missing. "Where are your glasses, Iggy?"

"Gone. I was making ready to leave camp when a black chocobo sidled up, snatched my specs from over my nose, and bolted!" He replied in a distressed tone. Noctis bursted into laughter and I sent him a harsh glare, making him fall silent.

"We'll get them back. I'm sure the chocobo hasn't gone far," I reassured him.

He finally calms down at my soothing tone and takes a deep breath. "The fowl foul trotted off in that direction. Let's move."

With Ignis in the lead, Noctis and I follow him to where the royal tomb was located. After a prolonged silence, the royal advisor sent us an apologetic glance. "Sorry to drag both of you along."

"Don't apologize. We would've snuck off after you even if you did go alone," I admit. Ignis sent me a sweet smile before focusing on his glasses again.

"You've a spare pair, don't you? Just use those," Noctis states with a shrug.

"And let a perfectly good pair go to waste as a chocobo's trinket? I think not!" Ignis hisses.

"We'll get them back, Iggy. Also, if there's any damage to the spectacles, I can fix them at camp," I said.

"Much appreciated, Zodia."

We run through the rain and reach the area where the royal tomb was located. Halting just where we killed the Treant, Ignis gestures to a black silhouette through the heavy drizzle. "We have the culprit. There!"

"So what now, Sergeant No-Specs?" Noctis questioned with crossed arms.

"I brought along a secret weapon just in case: a handful of gysahl greens."

"Nice. So, how you wanna do this?" Noctis asked.

"We lure the bird this way. While it gorges itself on greens, you both will grab the glasses," Ignis answers.

"That won't be necessary," I spoke up.

The two men sent me questioning glances before I slowly closed in on the black chocobo. The bird sensed my presence and watched my every movement with beady black eyes. Gradually, I reached a hand out towards the bird, hoping it wouldn't lash out and attack.

The chocobo tilted its head with a small peep before taking a few steps towards me. I smiled at the bird and just when my hand was placed on its head, the chocobo closed its eyes and leaned into my touch. "You're not rambunctious at all. You probably caught a glint of his lenses and thought it was a toy. Now, where did you hide them?"

The chocobo removes its head from my hand and trots over to a nearby tree. The bird picked up something and returned to my side. I opened my hand, allowing the black chocobo to drop the object in my hand. It was Ignis' glasses. "You're nothing but a giant sweetheart."

The bird chirps happily, nuzzling its beak into my cheek. I run my hands through its black plumage before laying a kiss on its beak. "Thank you for returning these."

The bird hops in joy and follows me as I return to Noctis and Ignis. The two were cautious around the chocobo, but I placed a hand on its neck to show the bird was now docile. Noctis sent me an amused smile and chuckled. "You have a way with animals. I can't believe you calmed this chocobo so easily."

"I've always loved animals. You just have to treat them right and they'll reciprocate your feelings."

"You've always withheld a calm and kind nature. Animals sense such nature and are eased by your presence," Ignis said.

"Here are your glasses. Luckily there's no damage and the lenses are scratch-free." I stood on my tippy toes and slid the spectacles back onto his face where they belonged.

"I am more than thankful, Zodia," Ignis said with a brilliant smile.

"I know how much these glasses mean to you. After all, I am the one who picked them out for you," I smile back.

"Indeed, you did."

Noctis stepped between us and sent a confusing glance. "Since when did she pick out glasses for you?"

"About a month into my services. I had difficulty choosing frames and Zodia joyously picked a pair in my stead." Ignis' smile widens as I can tell he's reminiscing in the memory.

"And ever since, he's kept the same frames. He even had them rebuilt to where they could fit his face when he got older," I add.

"This whole time and I didn't know?" Noctis asked.

"Well, you didn't ask," I remark.

"Touché. Let's get back to camp. I'm starvin'," Noctis whines.

I shook my head and rolled my eyes. The black chocobo followed us all the way back to camp and snacked on the gysahl greens Ignis had taken with him. The three of us cooked breakfast while Prompto and Gladio packed up the tent and other materials we wouldn't be needing again. As they did the packing, the black chocobo ran off.

After finishing our meals, we left the Myrlwood and headed to Galdin Quay to hand over the ruby stone to Dino. The others were sighing while I, on the other hand, was looking forward to hitting this blackmailer with his own present.

It took a few hours to get to our destination, but I was more than excited. This was my first visit to the Mother of Pearl and beach that accompanied the small but comfortable place. Though I had seen the sea before, I had never actually visited. Ignis rented two rooms for the night since I begged for us to stay for a short while. I wanted to enjoy the beach after finally meeting Dino.

Noctis handed me the ruby stone before we descended the stairs that led to the empty docks. A man with silver hair and a turquoise tie sat on a bench, staring out at the open sea. He immediately snapped his head in our direction when the stairs squeaked under our weight. "Ah, you've returned!"

"This is Dino?" I ask in a whisper.

"Yeah, he's kinda weird," Prompto chuckled under his breath.

"Mm... I don't think we have any room to talk about weirdness."

Prompto laughs harder, causing Dino to direct his full attention to both of us. When he didn't recognize me, he then directed his gaze to my brother. "So, who's the beauty with ya?"

"Uh... um..." Noctis stammers. I knew he really didn't want to say I was his sister since the public has only heard me by name.

Dino eyed me closely before they widened in shock. "You're the princess!" He gasps and jumps to his feet. Dino tried to approach me but Gladio and Ignis stood protectively in front of me, blocking his path.

"I've heard rumors of ya but never seen a picture," Dino said excitedly. "Most people thought it was just a silly rumor."

While he was rambling, I took the ruby stone and threw it between Ignis' and Gladio's head, hitting the man right in the forehead. The force was enough to cause the journalist to stumble backwards and trip over his own feet. I cross my arms and glare at him from behind the two men. "That's for blackmailing my brother."

"Kinda deserved that one," Dino groans, getting to his feet. He rubbed his forehead and picked up the ruby stone that laid beside his foot. He slid the stone into his pocket before facing my brother. "How's about an interview?"

Noctis raised an eyebrow at the silver haired boy. "With who?"

"The princess, of course!"

"No," all four of them said in unison.

"Why not? It's not every day a commoner like me meets the Princess of Lucis!" Dino placed his hands together, begging with closed eyes.

"We cannot sanction such an action. We must keep her identity a secret," Ignis declares sternly.

"Yeah, we don't need all of Lucis following us just to see Zodia," Prompto said.

"Wait, how did you figure out she was my sister?" Noctis asked.

"Your hair and eyes. You almost look like twins," Dino responds.

"Do we really look that alike?" Noctis and I harmonized, glancing at each other.

"No doubt about it, but... Zodia has the better personality," Gladio chuckles.

"Can't... argue with that," Noctis grumbles.

"Maybe an interview later?" Dino asked, pushing himself into our conversation.

"No!" The four shout in unison once again. I smile at their harmonization and follow them to the beach.

As the sand squished under our feet, I took my shoes off and let the grains of pure white essence cradle my toes. A sigh of ecstasy escaped my lips as I walked to the water's edge. The waves lapsed against my skin, cooling to the touch and calming my weary feet. I sat on the sand, the wetness from the drenched grains soaking my back. I stared at the setting sun, watching it disappear behind the horizon.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Noctis, Prompto, and Gladio at the end of the fishing dock. When I searched for Ignis, I had spotted him leaving the restaurant and heading towards me. Even from this distance, I could see him fiddling with something in his pocket. The royal advisor seemed to be deep in thought as he finally reached me, taking a seat next to me. From his expression, I could tell he didn't care about his soaked clothes, either.

I hugged my knees, resting my head atop them. "So, this is where you four were when Insomnia fell." Ignis stiffened next to me, his calm demeanor shattering piece by piece as I saw him remember that day. I could also tell by his expression that he was surprised by my observation.

"What gave such a thing away?" He asked.

"The way you four dreaded coming back here. I knew the moment you mentioned Galdin Quay that it held dark memories, but the sighs on the way over confirmed my suspicions. I... am so happy none of you were in the city that day. None of you deserve to see the hell I witnessed." Tears pricked the corner of my eyes, but I tried my best not to let them free. Ignis closed the distance between us, placing a hand on my head and cradling it against his chest.

"I wish to have been by your side, but alas, I could not," he whispers sadly.

"I'm glad you weren't by my side. Knowing you, you would've sacrificed yourself to save me. I couldn't live with that. Father died right in front of me. I wouldn't be able to keep my sanity if I saw you killed, too." I wrap my arms around his torso, allowing the tears to break free.

Ignis wrapped his other arm around me tightly, snuggling closely to my smaller frame. "Zodia..."

"When Luna told me of your safety and everyone else's, the darkness from my mind cleared and I pushed forward to Hammerhead. Seeing you again after that dark haze made the sun return to my world. No more shadows, no more death. Only joy and laughter-two things I thought I had lost that horrid day. And now... here we are."

Ignis laid a gentle and sweet kiss on my forehead. "Your presence at my side is brimming with warmth and kindness. You are irreplaceable to not only I, but everyone else." He rests his head on top of mine as my tears soaked his shirt.

"And don't think of yourself as disposable, either. You may be a royal advisor to Noct, but you're more than that to me and... I hope we will never get separated."

"As do I, my darling."

Exhausted from my tears, I closed my eyes and fell asleep in Ignis' embrace.