~3rd Person POV~

Now finished with dinner and thanking the old man properly for the silver chain earlier, Ignis headed to the cabin for the night along with the others. A few rumors he heard from other passengers were swimming through his mind as he closed the door behind him and placed the grimoire on the small table in front of the window.

"Are nights really getting longer?" Prompto asked.

"Without the Oracle to keep the Starscourge at bay, the darkness festers," Ignis replies.

"But Luna's not dead. How is that possible?" Noctis inquired.

"Iggy didn't tell you?" Gladio asked. Ignis shook his head, confirming the shield's question. "In order for Lady Lunafreya to heal completely with the zodiacs, they had to strip her of her title. She no longer is the Oracle. Eos is without one."

"B-But Zodia did it to save her life! Instead of losing both the Oracle and Lady Lunafreya, we only lost the Oracle," Prompto defends the princess.

"I... I really need to thank her once she returns," Noctis smiled through a few tears.

"We all do," Ignis corrects.

"Yeah, she saved Altissia and us from whatever Ardyn was planning," Prompto said.

Gladio smiled and leaned against the wall beside him. "Never knew the princess had it in her."

Ignis closed his eyes, a smile carved across his face. "Indeed. She is brimming with surprises."

Gladio clasped Ignis on the shoulder with his hand, directing his smile towards the strategists. "You've got yourself a keeper. I... want to apologize for what I said to you at the hotel. Prompto was right. I shouldn't have said it in such a harsh way."

Noctis and Prompto gaze on in disbelief. The blonde flew up with a dramatic gasp, his sapphire irises trained on the shield. "I-Is this real life?"

Noctis flew up next to his best friend and stared at Gladio, as well. "It can't be..."

A dramatic pause interrupted the two before they shouted in unison. "Gladio's apologizing!"

The brute sighed with a roll of his eyes and unlatched his hand from Ignis' shoulder. "Oh, brother..."

Prompto scrambled around to grab his camera and take a picture of the momentous occasion. Once the picture was taken, Noctis peered over Prompto's shoulder to see the final result. "Gonna need to title it "The First Apology of Gladiolus Amicitia". Zodia'll love this!"

"Never heard the big guy sound so sincere before," Prompto said, saving the picture. "Anyone who sees this picture can tell the look on your face is genuine sincerity."

Gladio couldn't deny that he had a little difficulty with the apology, but all that mattered in the end is that Ignis forgave him, which the tactician did in his own silent way. That was good enough for Gladio. He climbed to the top bunk on the right side of the cabin and sighed before closing his eyes. Prompto and Noctis crawled into the bunks on the left side of the cabin. Ignis claimed the remaining bunkbed under Gladio's.

Crawling atop the sheets, Ignis stared up at the top bunk, deep in thought. One of his hands gravitated towards the skull necklace that rested against his collarbone. His mind dips into another memory that was one of his happiest but also one of the most frightening.

***

"Happy sixteenth birthday, Iggy!" Zodia cheers as she handed him a small silver box that was decorated with a golden ribbon. He accepted the present from the thirteen-year-old princess with wide eyes. Ignis was shocked to see the gift and wondered how she got it if she wasn't allowed to leave the Citadel.

"I made it myself. Well, the marshal helped me a little," she admits. Excitement bubbles inside Ignis as he undos the golden ribbon. He lifts the lid of the silver box to reveal a silver necklace with a skull charm adorning it. Ignis didn't realize the smile he was wearing until he enveloped the princess in a gentle hug.

Once he broke the hug, Ignis clipped the necklace around his neck, making Zodia smile beautifully. "I'm glad you like-"

Suddenly, the princess was short of breath and began coughing violently. Ignis felt his heart stop as he caught her before she could fall to the hard marble under them. Zodia's cough became worse, blood dripping from the corners of her mouth. Gasping for air, she tried to cling onto Ignis, but her pale hands fell limp.

"Zodia? Zodia!" Ignis called her name in desperation. When she didn't answer, Ignis laid her on the floor and ran out of the room to get help. Luckily, Cor was nearby and came running at his shouts for help. The marshal scooped the princess into his arms and ran to the Citadel's infirmary with Ignis close on his heels. The worried boy was forced to wait outside of the infirmary at Cor's orders. The distraught boy fell to his knees in front of the door, praying to the gods that she wouldn't be taken from him.

Ignis was back on his feet when he saw King Regis running down the hallway with Clarus in tow. Acknowledging the boy, His Majesty allowed him into the infirmary. The sight that greeted them was horrid. Blood covered myriads of pure white cloths as they laid on a table next to the bed. The once beige sheets were now tainted in a deep red as the princess slept in the bed, her chest rising and falling gently.

The doctor turned to King Regis with a relieved expression. "Your Majesty, Princess Zodia is stable and asleep."

"Thank the Six..." King Regis sighs in relief, his body kneeling next to his daughter's sleeping form.

"And what of the quantity of blood?" Clarus asked.

"A side effect of pulmonary embolism," Cor answers.

"That is where our concern escalates," the doctor said.

"What of the illness?" King Regis asked.

"It's worsening, Your Majesty. The amount of blood has drastically increased and... her heart stopped for a full minute. We were able to resuscitate the princess with help from the marshal. Unfortunately, we fear she will not live much longer. I am terribly sorry, Your Majesty."

King Regis held his daughter's hand, squeezing it gently. Ignis couldn't believe a single word he was hearing. The boy had to lean against the wall behind him to keep himself from falling. Tears threatened to fall, but he refused to let them. The King turned his head towards the royal advisor and beckoned him over. Ignis did as his King ordered and kneeled next to him. "I'm putting her life in your hands, Ignis. Though it may be shorter than I wish, I place her in your care."

"Your Majesty, what about-"

"I will tend to Noctis. You may be his advisor, but you are Zodia's best and only friend. For now, your position will be to stay by my daughter's side."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I will not fail you." Ignis nods sternly. King Regis smiled softly before placing his daughter's hand in Ignis'. The King kissed Zodia's forehead before leaving. Apparently, he had dashed out of an important meeting with the council when he heard about Zodia. Clarus and Cor left the princess in Ignis' hands and exited the infirmary.

The doctor sat in a chair across from him and crossed his arms. "I'm sorry such a thing occurred on your birthday. You must've been frightened."

Ignis couldn't say a word. All he could manage was a small nod. The doctor leaned forward, his hands clasped in his lap. "I am shocked to see she has lived this long. According to studies with this illness, someone young as her should've passed years ago. It just shows you how much of a fighter she is and I think you're one of the reasons why she's still breathing today."

Ignis squeezes her small hand gingerly, stroking her knuckles with his thumb. "She has always been somewhat stubborn." The doctor chuckled before getting to his feet. He patted Ignis on the back before leaving to take care of the bloodied cloths. The boy held onto Zodia's hand for hours, refusing to let go until she had opened her eyes.

***

Ignis now knew the reason why she hadn't passed when the doctor gave her a few months to live. It was because of the zodiac blood. Her incarcerated powers were the culprits behind her illness and the zodiac blood was the reason behind her survival through the horrid endeavor. He was more than joyous when she lived much longer than the doctor had given her. Now, she was well and her illness alleviated. The only problem now-she was out of his reach.

After more thinking, Ignis decided to close his eyes and welcome the dream dimension with open arms. Unfortunately, his dreams soon morphed into nightmares, waking him up from his slumber. Ignis' heart raced in his chest as he sat up in the small bed. With a shake of his head, he tried to fall asleep again, only for the nightmares to burst down the door and rampage his mind again. This time, he waddled through the horrid images and kept his eyes shut.

-Next Morning-

"Dude, you look horrible," Prompto comments at breakfast.

"Didn't sleep well?" Noctis asked.

"Not a wink," Ignis replies.

"Nightmares?" Gladio inquires. Ignis sips his coffee with a small nod. "You should try to get some more rest after breakfast. We'll be arriving in Cartanica tomorrow morning."

"Suppose I will," Ignis states, finishing his daily dose of ebony.

After breakfast, Ignis retreated back to the cabin. The boys decided to let the royal advisor sleep after seeing the dark circles under his eyes. He could feel the claws of weariness dragging him down a dark hole as he entered the cabin. With a heavy sigh, Ignis crashed onto his bunk. The moment his head hit the soft pillow, his eyes were shut and ready for what awaits him behind his eyelids.

*•••••••••••••••*•••••••••••••••*

Ignis' eyes flew open when he heard the sound of familiar giggling. When he realized where he was, he couldn't believe. The man was currently standing in front of Zodia's room in the Citadel. The familiar giggling resounded from within her room and Ignis slowly opened the door. A six-year-old Zodia was writing something on a piece of paper at her desk while giggling. "I've done it!" She cheers as the pencil clatters on the wooden surface of the desk. The princess jumps from her chair and storms past Ignis. She had left the piece of paper on her desk and curiosity got the best of Ignis. Picking up the sheet of paper, he read what she had written.

Save Lunafreya
Protect Ignis

Ignis read the four words over and over again. He set the page down on the desk, wondering why she wrote the two phrases down while giggling. Then, he remembered what she had said.

"I've done it!"

Ignis was able to piece together the puzzle. "The consequences that which the zodiacs spoke of," he murmured to himself.

Then, he heard a deep chuckle from behind him. Ignis turned to see Ardyn leaning against the door with a grin. "Bravo, my boy. You've solved the puzzle in a cinch. Your precious Zodia abided by the zodiacs forewarning of Altissia, granting you and the lovely Lunafreya a helping hand."

Ignis glared at the man, ready to summon his daggers and attack the chancellor. Ardyn circled Ignis like a bird of prey with his grin widening. "The Oracle meant to pass that day-lived. A man who intended to sacrifice his eyesight-kept his gaze. Such an admirable act of royalty, yet... she left you all by your lonesome."

Ignis summoned a dagger a threw it with pure hatred. Before the blade could pierce the man, he vanished in a plume of smoke. The strategist dispelled his daggers and placed both hands on the desk. Ardyn's words surged through his mind, trying to make sense of it.

His train of thought derailed when he heard Zodia scream. His blood pumped faster as he stormed out of the room and in the direction of the scream. Ignis saw the princess running straight towards him, a large shadow chasing her. Looking closer, he recognized it as the Arcane that took over her body during their battle with Caligo. It reached out its sharp and long claws to grab the princess. At the sight, Ignis ran even faster to reach her before the shadow creature did.

With a single dagger, he aimed and threw it at the Arcane's head. The blade hit its mark, making the creature wail in pain and vanish back into the shadows. Ignis scooped up the young princess in his arms, holding her close to his chest. Her body was shaking with sobs, tears staining the front of his dress shirt. "It's alright, you're safe," he whispers softly to Zodia.

Ignis held the young girl in his arms, stroking her beautiful midnight locks. Once her sobs had died down and she was asleep in his embrace, Ignis headed back to her room. Before he could reach the door, the scenery around him changed. Instead of the Citadel, he and Zodia were now standing on the beach in Galdin Quay. The princess woke up and began squirming in his arms, signaling she wanted to be released. Ignis did as she wished and sat her on the soft sand in front of him. Her body was consumed in a bright light before dispersing. Now, Zodia was back to her normal self. She was wearing the same clothes and smile the day he proposed to her in Altissia.

Ignis reaches out a hand, placing it on her cheek. She leaned into his touch, covering his hand with both of hers. "Get some rest, Ignis. I wish to see you well-rested when I return."

She stood on her tippy toes and gave him a passionate kiss. Ignis snaked his other arm around her waist, pulling her body flush against his. Her soft lips vanished from his as her body disappeared in the blink of an eye. With a smile on his face, Ignis closed his eyes and basked in the setting sun. When his dream finally concluded, he fell into a deep and comforting sleep.