It had been a few hours during the train ride, Bella was looking outside in one of the booths and seeing the snow flying by the train. Kirara was sleeping on the table in front of her snoring away. Letting out a little sigh, Bella looks around seeing Ignis and Gladio talking while Noctis was out doing something around the train. Letting out another quiet sigh, Bella shifts and stands up stretching out her back. She feels it pop while she hears the door slide open and she turns to see Noctis coming back from whatever he was doing.

"Oi! Uh..." She heard the chime from the train's loudspeaker talk as she and the men look up. "Attention all passengers! We're on our way to our final destination in the imperial capitol. Enjoy the ride, I'll be in touch if anything comes up."

Then it was silent for a moment before Gladio spoke. "Look at all that snow," He points outside as everyone looks. "No wonder it's so cold in here,"

Bella thinks for a moment and doesn't feel any different. She then hears Ignis speak as well. "We must be approaching the Glacian's cadaver."

"Won't be a blessing if all we got's a body," Gladio shrugs as Noctis and Bella look at one another quick and then back to them.

"Let us hope we pass through the gorge without incident."

Bella releases a breath and lightly smiles. "It's what after the gorge I'm worried about," Bella spoke as the men slowly agree. Pinching her lips as she looks around and begins walking. Kirara still sleeping on the table, "I wonder what we're going to find..."

Then, Bella feels the train stop suddenly, she jerks a little bit while she hangs on to the table. When she felt the train fully stop. Kirara had slid and fell off the table and onto the booth as she wakes up looking around to see what happened. Bella walked over-hearing her thump and saw her shaking it off. Kirara jumps on her shoulder trying to think of whatever they needed to do. Before she could get off the train, Kirara fell over as did Bella, unknowing to them of what happened.

~

Bella looks around wondering where she was and what was going on. It was pitch black around. Nothing was around her. No sound. Nothing. All she could hear was her breathing and her own manic heartbeat. She took a small, quiet deep breath and stopped looking around, standing in one spot.

"Hello?"

Her call echoed loudly around her, narrowing her eyes as she sighs again. Bella sits down and pulls her knees to her chest as she found this the most comfortable. Especially when she was alone. Closing her blue hues gently, tears began cascading down her cheeks lightly. The darkness was slowly crowding her heart and she knew it.

"I own your soul, don't forget that..."

Who was she kidding? No one would come and save her. She didn't want to ask for help, she hated that especially after her brother died. Sure, she used to have Cloud help her, same with Tifa and Barrett. She didn't like it – not one bit.

"If this is a joke..." Her voice echoed quietly as she buries her head into her arms. "I'm not laughing..."

"Why would someone play a joke at a time like this, Bells?"

Bella freezes while unwrapping herself looking up seeing one of her friends sitting next to her. Bella tears continue falling down her face as she looked into her friends eyes.

"..."

"Listen, before you speak, let me say something." Bella nods and closes her mouth and listens to her friend. "I've been slowly catching up when Cloud speaks to me about what you're doing, but – it doesn't seem like you're giving him all the information. Do you wanna tell me why?"

"I... I don't wanna be a bother," Bella admits and looks away. "You've all done so much for me when we went on that journey, and at the same time, it doesn't feel like I've done enough for you. I know what you're going to say – that yes, I did but this is how I feel. Genesis keeps coming back and haunting me, Noctis has to die when he has to save the world. I don't know if I'm going to come back to you guys. I'm conflicted." Bella heaves and puts her head in her hands. "I wanna stay here but..."

"You love him, don't you?"

"I do..."

Her friend touches Bella's head and she looks at her friend and her look softens. "Look, we've all told you to follow your heart. Screw Genesis, he's just someone who needs to hang back in those memories of yours. I know easier said and done, but I promise that when it does happen, you'll feel better. So, I'm going to say it again. Follow your heart, Bella, and no more excuses. You're a young woman right now and you can make your own decisions. You're Bella. You'll figure things out. Right?"

Bella nods. "Right, thank you..."

"Of course, remember that we're all cheering for you even when it doesn't seem like it either."

Bella nods again and hugs her friend close. It took a while, but Bella finally warmed up to the idea of more friends like Cloud. Sure – it was a little weird at first but – they will always have her back. She just has to remember that.

"Thank you..."

Tifa...

~

What felt like moments later, Bella wakes up and sees Kirara standing there looking at her. Blinking a little bit, Bella stands up holding her head. The train was at a screeching halt, shaking her head, Bella stood up and saw the men waiting for her. She nods as they began moving.

"What's going on?"

Gladio and Noctis both pointed at the window, and she looks over seeing Daemons swarming the train. Before she could comprehend the information, one of them bust through the window and Kirara quickly turns big stomping on the Daemon before it attacked Bella.

"Someone wanna catch me up on what the hell happened while I was knocked out?" Bella asks dodging the Daemons coming at them now.

"Other than we couldn't wake you up, Ardyn showed up," informs Ignis as they continue down to the freight train. "Then Noct here got in touch with the Glacian and absorbed her power, but it seems when Gladio and I were gone, Ardyn locked his powers."

"Oh no!" Bella said as she touches Kirara's head, and a Gun-blade appeared in her hand, and she began shooting Daemons out of their way trying to clear a path for all of them to make it through to the freight train. "Listen, I'll buy you all some time so you can make it to Gralea, until then, I'll meet you in the Keep."

"Bella?"

"Go! I got this!" Bella instructed them, she smiles at them she tosses Noctis his right and he catches it while she continues shooting and when the window of the train, she jumps out and the Daemons follow them while she throws her weapon and Kirara shows up and Bella jumps on her. "Kirara!"

Kirara roars loudly letting out some fire magic to stop them while Bella did the same thing. The men left in the Regalia and sped off, Kirara was quickly following them making sure not to lose them. Kirara and Bella both shooting fireballs at the Daemons that kept getting closer to the Regalia as it kept driving. The Regalia was going as fast as it could and Kirara was hanging behind while Bella looks back seeing the Daemons trying to catch up.

"What was that?"

"They're trying to blow us off the tracks!"

Bella pinches her lips, trying to think of what she could do to stop the explosions from happening. Looking around once again while Kirara roars loud again, shooting another fireball at the Daemons who tried to attack the Regalia from behind once again. Looking down and she touches Kirara's head quickly and flies towards one of the machine guns and cuts one of them. Looking back and sees more explosions surrounding the Regalia. Knocking back an arrow, she lets it go and quickly hits another gun and keeps doing that for a little while.

"Bella!"

"Keep going!" begs Bella knocking back another arrow and shoots another gun and turns around putting a hand to her chest and throws her hand out summoning a barrier spell around the area she was in so the Daemons could go any farther. "I got this! I'll meet you there, I promise!"

"... Don't die, Little One!"

Bella smirks and closes her eyes releasing a breath. "I don't plan to!" The train started falling down heavily soaking her clothes as she releases Kirara from her weapon and she stands there growling loudly at the Daemons behind her. "Let's do this!"

~

After fifteen minutes of a brutal fight with the Daemons, Bella was panting, soaked, and wounded. Kirara was the same way. Landing on her knees, she tries to catch her breath.

"Well, well, it seems you've made it Little Butterfly," Bella glares at him heavily, wondering what he wanted but she knew – he watched in amusement from the young maiden. "Though, I don't think you're strong enough yet. But you are more than free to take me on now if you wish."

"I don't have time for you right now or else I'd take you up on that offer, Genesis..." Bella said as Kirara hoists her up on her back. "Right now, I must save my friends from whatever Ardyn has planned."

Before Kirara could fly off, Genesis goes for the attack and Kirara dodges the attack coming from the man while Bella touches her head and shoots an arrow at Genesis while he dodges her attack. Changing her weapon to a sword she charges at Genesis but the man continues blocking every hit that Bella was throwing at him making her growl in frustration. Bella jumped and charged at him and hit his sword as he blocked it once more while she flies back landing on the ground, panting from the oncoming attacks. Taking a deep breath, Bella charges once more hitting his sword with hers, while he was standing there blocking the attack, Bella brings up her leg to kick him, but he grabs her ankle making her gasp, and tosses her in the air. Back flipping in the air to save herself from being attacked. Bella shifts her weapon and shoots a few arrows at him trying to him but not surprising – he was dodging the attacks once more.

Bella lands on the train panting once more and takes a deep breath closing her eyes feeling her back throb a bit in pain and the next thing she knew, Bella felt her feathered lavender wings behind her as she quickly took to the sky shifting her weapon once more and shot some bullets at him as he was dodging once more. He jumps high into the air making her gasp, wondering what he was doing.

"The hell?" Before she could finish her sentence, she was engulfed in flames. Her wings surround her keeping her from burning her skin. "You CHEAT!" She shouts keeping herself surrounded while he chuckles squeezing his hand together making sure in tightened its grip and exploded around her.

When the smoke cleared, Genesis didn't see her around and looks around for her, smirking bringing his sword back, and blocks the hit from behind as he turns his head seeing Bella there with MAKO burning eyes. He pushes her back and she stumbles a little bit blocking the hit he swung at her, pushing her back a few feet as they both stand there, she was panting while he smirked her way.

"Are you gonna give up, Little Butterfly?"

"Never. I will never give up." Bella pants out while Genesis puts away his weapon walking up to her making her wonder what he was doing.

"Good, I expect a better fight when you heal up." Genesis smirks standing on her left side as she doesn't move. "Right now, you have potential, but – I can still hurt you, kill you even. Prove to me you are worth keeping me in those deep, dark memories of yours."

With that, he disappears making her gasp and falls down holding her side as she coughs up blood. When the hell did he stab her...? Bella releases Kirara as she stands beside her while her wings disappeared as well, Kirara pushes up against Bella healing her quickly.

"We need to head in and help the men." Bella nods at Kirara's statement as she stands up, dusting herself off. "I can smell Ardyn here and his stench is hard to miss." Bella nods hoping on Kirara's back and she takes off into the air. "We took too long I hope they're alright."

"Me too, Kirara..." Bella says holding onto her fur tightly. "Me too..."

~

"Noct? Is that you?" Bella heard Ignis call out as soon as Kirara entered the Keep.

"It's them!"

"Noct! Can you hear us?"

"Where are you?"

Kirara lands on the ground and they both rush to where they see the doors at the other end of the hallway and take stock of Noctis's situation as they almost closed all the way.

"Gladio! Ignis! I need help!"

"Bella?"

"Little One?"

"I'll explain everything later, please, help! Noctis's is in trouble!"

Before she could do anything, Gladio shows up seeing the same situation Noctis was in. "Gladio! There ought to be a kill switch nearby – find it!"

Gladio turns around in question. "How do you know that?"

Bella shakes her head. "I believe it's the reason we were brought here."

"And it makes the most sense!"

Gladio nods again and looks around, he finds the switch and is able to open the doors for Noctis as he leaps into the room with them and lets himself fall back onto the floor. Bella heaves a sigh of relief rushing to his aide and sits by him, putting a hand on his arm while he catches his breath. He looks up seeing the young maiden, and quickly shoots a smile her way. He then turns to the brute and tactician in front of them.

"That was close," Gladio states holding his hand out for Noctis.

Noctis raises a brow taking his hand as Gladio helps him up. Bella stands up and watches them. "The hell did you get here?"

"Um..." Bella states looking at him. "You're welcome?"

Noctis huffs and she chuckles. "Thanks."

"After we were separated," Ignis states while they began walking towards the place Prompto could be at. "We received "help" – from the usual suspect."

Gladio growls. "That bastard's playing with us." Bella sighs, knowing that they were tortured by Ardyn while she was fighting Genesis. Growling under her breath a little bit. "But at least we're together."

Everyone nods in agreement, Ignis then looks in Bella's direction. "How about you, Bella? Are you alright?"

Bella nods, not wanting to tell them what happened outside. "I'm fine, sorry it took a while to get here."

"No problem."

"Reunited with your retainers at last. How very touching. Must be a fine feeling, having friends. Look how happy you are! I pray you find your dear Prompto soon."

"Shut up, asshole..."

~

After a touching reunion with Prompto and a light slap from Bella towards Prompto, everyone was now looking for the device locking up Noctis's powers they all head towards the central area of the level. Kirara following them in her big form. Bella had tuned out everything that was being said from the four in front of her. She was happy they got their reunion, they needed one another, and it was amazing. They're so close to one another that it was breathtaking. Sure, they'll have their issues but what friends don't?

Before she could go off deeper into her thoughts, Bella gasps seeing a giant Daemon in front of her. She touches her comrade's head and begins attacking the Daemon from a distance while shooting arrows at it before it attacked anyone. As they continue attacking every Daemon, they were speaking to one another congratulating one another from each Daemon attacking them and Prompto worrying about Ignis.

After defeating enemies, they continue on to the Fortress, kicking Daemon's asses on the way. Bella kept Kirara as her weapon of choice for a little while they continue on. Before she could pursue on with her friends, Bella stops seeing something in the distance. Raising a brow, she walks overseeing something swirling there and she gasps seeing her friends standing there no realizing there was a portal behind them.

"Wha...?"

"Come on girl, you know you want to go back home, it's what you've been wishing for, is it not?"

Bella froze, knowing Ardyn was right. She wanted to go home more than anything. But – she promised herself she would help Noctis become the True King.

"And I'm still curious about Noctis' calling... "True King"? What is that?"

"I'm the Chosen King to harness the power of the Crystal to bring back the light to the world. I'm casting Darkness out of this world, whatever it may be..."

"... I can't leave... not... not yet." Bella sputters out, shaking her head gently, and looks back seeing no one behind her. "I want to go home, I do – but I have a calling here and I need to fulfill it!"

"You were sent here for a reason, for that reason I cannot tell you. You'll figure it out soon..."

Pinching her lips tightly while thinking a moment, she looks back at the portal seeing her friends talking amongst themselves, about what she won't know unless she goes. Closing her eyes, she rushes to help her friends. "I think I found my reason to stay in this world. Genesis is right, there's nothing for me there – other than my family – but there's something keeping me here. And I know who it is. It's Noctis! He's the reason I need to stay here!"

She quickly jumps and helps her friends defeat all the Daemons so they could make it to Noctis who went to find the Crystal. No one asked where she was. She was sure they knew. Just like she was sure they knew about her fighting against Genesis. There were no words to be spoken about it. She was a part of this family. And dammit, she was going to stay close to them.

No matter what it took.

"Dilly-Dally, Shilly-Shally," She remembers.

"Vincent, are sins... Are sins ever forgiven?"

"I don't know, I've never tried."

"You've... you've never tried...?"

"Isn't it time you did the forgiving?"

Yes. Yes, it is. Bella takes a deep breath delivering the final blow to the Daemon and they all look at one another and then rush off to the Crystal's keep. After Noctis has been completely pulled into the Crystal, Prompto, Bella, Ignis and Gladiolus arrive, but are unable to do anything to help him; Ardyn turns to them, gestures nonchalantly at the Crystal and begins to walk away; Gladio swings his sword through Ardyn's head, releasing a puff of dark smoke from where the blade strikes; Ardyn falls back a little, but maintains his balance and holds onto his hat to keep it from falling off his head; he then continues walking away; Prompto and Bella both shoot Ardyn in the back before he can take more than a couple of steps, releasing another puff of dark smoke and hurling his body onto the floor; Ardyn's hat rolls away and lays still for several seconds before Ardyn's hand suddenly reaches down to collect it and place it back on his head; once more unharmed, Ardyn is again standing; he smiles at Ignis, revealing corrupted daemonic features as he does so, but they go unnoticed since Ignis is blind; Ardyn walks away, leaving Noctis's closest friends unharmed but devastated.

Bella turns to the Crystal, tears falling down her face. "Noctis..."