"HEY you two!" Gladio shouted through the window. "Are you done or what? We're burning daylight."

Slowly Ignis stepped back as he tried to steady himself as he removed his lips from yours. His heart was racing and his whole body tingling as he tried to calm back down. He looked back at you as you stood there with your eyes closed. You seemed to be frozen in place from the contact. He smiled, then stopped and looked behind you and saw that the water was still running.

"Let's shut that water off before we run out of hot water, shall we." Ignis tried to say in a calm voice as he reached behind you and turned the faucet off.

His words brought you back out of your trance. You blinked your eyes a few times as you looked around as if you forgot where you were. Then you were slightly startled when Ignis reached behind you to turn the water off. Then you caught your breath as his body brushed up against yours as he reached around you. Your heart raced as you caught a faint hint of his cologne as he leaned past you.

"Perhaps these dishes can wait until after we're done." Ignis quietly said as he stood back up.

"Yeah." You said as you shook your head as you tried to focus again.

"Come on." Ignis said as he started to head out of the kitchen. "Let's head back out to the ranges."

"Right." You absently responded.

Then you turned and followed him out of the house. You both walked out of the house and around to the side where everyone else was waiting.

"Well it's about damn time." Gladio said. "I was hoping that we could finished up today before it gets late." Gladio said as he turned and started heading up the hill.

"Lay off Gladio." Noctis said. "Not everyone is as much into this as you."

"Well you better be if your think that your going to be king someday.  Your highness." Gladio said back to Noctis.

Noctis glared at Gladio.

"Being strong isn't the only thing he has to be Gladio." Ignis interjected. "He needs to be able to think as well."

"Like you?" Gladio asked in a irritated tone. "You can't even concentrate on training."

Ignis gave him a stern look.

"Now that's not fair Gladio." You interjected.

"Ohhhh." He said as he half laughed through the sound as he turned around to look at you while walking backwards. "Don't get me started with you."

"You know what..." You started as you felt your temper starting to sky rocket.

"Enough Gladiolus!" Cor sternly said. "Save it for the range."

Gladiolus grunted then turned back around. Everyone glared at him as the group walked back over to the ranges.

"What the fuck is his problem?" You asked Ignis under your breath.

"It's hard to tell sometimes with him." Ignis said.

"But I suppose it might have something to be due with the fact that he set up this whole training session and has been trying to impress Cor, and even perhaps Monica." Ignis said as he nodded towards Gladio who kept looking over at Monica as she was walking with Gina towards the range.

"Are you sure he's not just being an ass, just to be an ass?" You asked.

Ignis smiled back as he tried to stifle a laugh. "I suppose that could be as well. But in this case I doubt it."

"Well I say we take him down a peg on this next drill." Noctis said from the other side of Ignis.

"And how to you propose we do that?" You asked Noctis.

"Well, we going to be to going over pole-arms next, right?" Noctis asked as he looked at Ignis.

"It would appear so." Ignis commented as he glanced up and saw the tall pole-like weapons that were sitting up against the weapons stand the stood next to the archery range. They were all solid wood and kind of looked like just regular broom handles, only thicker.

"I seem to remember that there are at least two of us who have worked with each other extensively with these." Noctis said with a devilish grin.

"What do you suggest then?" Ignis said as he gave Noctis a smirk.

"I'll go up against him first while you show (y/n) what to do. This way I can judge how he's striking and I can let you know. I'll also try to wear him out." Noctis said as he looked at the two of you. "Then you go up against him Ignis. With you quick reflexes, he will have a much harder time trying to keep up with you if he is already starting to get tired. And then finally (y/n), you will be able to step in and take him on last. After watching us, it should make it easier for you to see how to take him out."

"I'm a bit impressed Noct." Ignis said. "You've thought this out. But let's see if it works."

"Oh it'll work." Noctis said with a sinister grin.

"What are you three talking about back there?" Gladio asked as he glanced back at the three of you.

"We were just telling each other that we would all like to go up against you on this." Noctis stated. "Would you be up for the challenge?"

"Huh. That's not much of a challenge." Gladio retorted back. "But sure, why not. I still have energy to spare today compared to you three."

"Careful Gladio." Cor said as he looked at him. "Being overconfident has knocked out the best of us. I should know. It's gotten me a time or two."

"I'm not worried." Gladio said as he walked up and grabbed one of the pole-arms off of the rack.

Then he walked into the area that was just to the side of the archery range and moved the pole-arm so that he was holding it in front of himself. He held it with both hands, shoulder width apart.

"In fact, I say bring it on." Gladio said with a smile.

"Oh yeah." Noctis said as he smiled and nodded at you and Ignis.

Then he walked over and grabbed a pole-arm himself.

"Then let's go big guy." Noctis said as he walked over to Gladiolus to start the training.

Ignis looked at you then nodded over to the pole-arms. You nodded back and then you both walked over and grabbed one. The pole-arm seemed to be lite, but after what you had learned today, you knew better than to judge a weapon by its weight alone. You noticed that these poles were slightly shorter then you, but were really thick. Ignis motioned for you to move out of range from Gladio and Noctis so that he could show you the basic moves.

"Ok. So for these, the moves are similar to those that we use with the one-handed swords." Ignis started to explain as he grabbed the pole in the center.

"But the big difference is that they are light enough for you be able to swing them faster and in more directions." Ignis said as he spun the pole around like a windmill.

"This also makes them very versatile when it comes to combat." Ignis commented, then you watched as he spun the pole around himself as if he was spinning a baton. "It just depends on what is on the end of the pole. It could be a blade, an axe, and even any of the very wide variety of spikes and spears. These are set up as a simple bow staff since there isn't anything on the end. All you would have to do is add it on. For practice, we leave off the ends. But either way, they have a very wide range of moves that can be done. "

"They can be used to strike like a sword." He said as he swung the pullarm straight down as he slicing the air with the pole.

"Stab like a dagger." He said as he thrusted the pole straight in front of himself.

"Slammed like a greatsword." Ignis said as he held it in both hands and swung it at an angle as he sliced the air in front of himself.

"They can even be used to block like a shield." He said as he spun it in front then held it in both hands as he acted like he was blocking a couple strikes by shift the pole around.

"But one of the most useful aspects about these, is the fact that you can even use these for air strikes." Ignis said as he gave a sinister smile.

Then he flew up in the air and came down with the end first as if he was going to spear the ground. But he stopped before he hit the ground.

You stood there half in shock and half in awe as you watched him. It almost seemed like he could dance and move with any weapon. It was as if he had been born to play with them. It started to make you wonder if you really knew who he was. But not in a bad way. Because you loved seeing this side of him. This was nothing like the quiet student that he was in school. It was very exciting to see him really open up and show his full personality.

After he landed back on the ground he stood there for a few minutes as he tried to read your expression.

"Are you ok?" He asked as he smiled back at you. "Do you need me to show you again?"

"Umm....yeah." You stammered.

"But could you go a bit slower. I kind of got lost in the moves since you just seemed to dance right through all of that with, that." You said as you stared at his pole-arm as if it was magic.

Ignis slightly chuckled to himself. "Sorry about that. I did get a bit caught up in it, didn't I?"

"Let's start off from the beginning then." Ignis said as he started going through all of the moves with you.

~~~~~~~~~~0~~~~~~~~~~

"Oh come on Noct." Gladio said as Noctis backed off again after Gladio blocked yet another one of his strikes. "You haven't hit me yet. I thought that you were going to make this a challenge for me."

Noctis slightly chuckled back at Gladio. "Oh I'm not done yet. I'm just practicing after all."

Then Noctis swung at Gladio with a left swing towards Gladio's left arm. Gladio blocked the strike with his pole by bringing it to his left side. Notis then quickly spun around and brought the pole flying at Gladio's right side. Gladio barely blocked it in time with his pole as he brought his around to protect his right side. But then Gladio brought his foot up and put it on Noctis' hip and pushed him away. This threw Noctis off as he stumbled away from Gladio.

"Get off of it Noctis." Gladio retorted. "You'll never beat me like that."

Noctis slowly turned towards Gladio again as he spin the pole around to his right side. Then he started spinning the pole with both hands as he started moving it from his right side to his left side and back again, all while moving forward as he approached Gladio. Gladio started to mirror Noctis' movements as he step backwards and away from the spinning pole. Gladio kept his eyes glued to Noctis as he waited for the young prince to make his move.

After a few steps Noctis sped up the spin and lunged forward as he brought the pole straight down at Gladio. Gladio stopped the pole with his pole and used it to smack the end away from him. Then with the momentum, he leaned over as he brought Noctis' pole end all the way down to the ground as he tried to pin it. Noctis then pulled his pole back away from the ground as he flipped over Gladio by rolling his back across Gladio's. Noctis then landed on the other side of Gladio. As he did, he slide his pole under Gladio's stomach. He smacked his pole against Gladio's stomach as he stood back up.

Umph! Gladio grunted and bent over from the hit.

Noctis then hit the back of Gladio knees from behind with his right leg. This caused both of Gladio's knees to drop to the ground. Noctis then brought his pole up to Gladio chest as he fell. Once Gladio landed on his knees Noctis held his pole to Gladio' neck.

"What was that about not beating you?" Noctis said with a smile.

"I think I just did." Noctis smiled then dropped his pole back down to his side.

"Huh." Gladio replied.

"I guess you have been practicing after all." Gladio said as he stayed on his knees for a minute.

Then he stood back up. "Don't you go thinking that I'm going to go easy on you from now on though. Just because you got me once."

"The thought never crossed my mind." Noctis smiled back to him.

Gladiolus smile back at Noctis and held up his left fist. Noctis smiled back then raised his right fist and they bumped fists and walked back towards Cor. Cor smiled at the two of them and congratulated Noctis on his win. Noctis smiled and walked his pole back over to the weapons stand. Then he walked over to you and Ignis.

"Nicely done Noct." Ignis said as he approached.

Noctis started rubbing the back of his head as he came to a stop in front of you.

"Thanks." Noctis replied then dropped his hand. "That took a bit more than I had hoped. But it does show that he's getting tired."

"I gathered the same." Ignis said as he looked at Gladiolus who was talking to Cor.

"(Y/n), I want you to watch Gladio's moves and see if you can see an opening for when you get in there." Ignis said as he looked at you. "Remember what I showed you and you should be fine. Try, if you can, to follow my movements. This will help you understand how each of the moves works against an attack."

"Right." You said as you nodded at him.

He simply smiled back then walked up to Gladiolus.

"Are you ready Gladio?" Ignis asked as he walked up Gladiolus.

"For you?" Gladio asked with a slight smirk. "Anytime."

Gladiolus held his pole in front of himself again as he watched Ignis walking up to him. Gladiolus had a different look on him this time compared to when he went up against Noctis. He looked to be more focused and was watching every move that Ignis made. You could tell that this wasn't going to be just any old sparring match. This was in between two best friends who knew each other, better than anyone else knew them.

As Ignis was walking over, he started spinning his pole in his right hand. Then he moved it in front of himself as he switched hands and sides as he kept it spinning. He was watching Gladiolus the whole time as he was spinning the pole as he was switching it from one side to the other. Once Ignis was within range of Gladiolus, he started slowing circling him as he kept the pole moving and his eyes on Gladiolus.

You could tell that he was trying to see if he could make a move on him. You could have cut the tension in the air with a knife as you watched them study each other. The whole thing made you hold your breath, as you waited for one of them to make the first move.

Then suddenly Ignis flew forward and struck at Gladio with a downward swing of the pole. Gladio quickly blocked it with his pole and knocked it off to the side like he had done with Noctis. But this time he didn't try to pin it to the ground. Instead, he used the opposite end of the pole, that wasn't blocking Ignis, to struck Ignis right in his side instead. Ignis grunted from the hit and backed up while holding his pole in front of himself to block.

Damn it! Ignis thought as he backed away while keeping his eyes on Gladiolus.

I should have know that he wouldn't fall for that twice. Even if it was from two different people. Ignis thought as he grit his teeth.

Damn it that smarts. He thought as he felt the sting in his side from the hit as he started moving around Gladiolus again.

Gladio was smirking at Ignis as he circled with him.

"What's the matter Iggy?" Gladio said with a smirk. "Does that hurt a bit?"

Ignis glared at him.

"Perhaps you should have thought about this a bit more before you challenged me." Gladio continued as he watched Ignis' face as he stared right back.

Huh. He's going soft. (Y/n) is making him loose his edge. I can't have that. Noctis needs him at his best. And if that takes me beating it back into him, then so be it. Gladio thought as he watched his best friend staring him down as he circled around him.

I'm sorry Iggy. But I have to do this. Gladio thought as he took a deep breath.

Then Gladio charged at Ignis with his staff spinning and struck in at him with a down sweep. Ignis blocked it. Gladio spin it again and stuck at him from another angle. Ignis blocked it again. Gladio struck again and again as he sped up his attacks towards Ignis. But each time Ignis blocked it and moved away from him. Gladio continued to sped up as he was hitting harder and faster with each and every blow. Ignis was moving and blocking each strike but you could see that Ignis was starting to slow down.

"Lighten up Gladio!" You shouted at him. "This is just suppose to be practice!"

As you said that, Ignis looked at you, right as Gladio spun around as he swung hard and smacked Ignis right across his gut with the pole. The strike sent Ignis flying backwards several feet before hitting the ground hard. You heard Ignis grunt as his body hit the ground. Then he laid still on the ground.

"IGNIS! Damn you Gladio! Why did you hit him so hard?" You shouted as you ran over to Ignis.

Gladio stopped and stared for a moment as he realized that he had just laid out his best friend. He slowly dropped his pole as he watched you run over to where Ignis was laying on the ground.

Why didn't he block it? Why the FUCK didn't he block it? He always blocks it. Gladiolus thought as he just stared at Ignis.

You ran over to Ignis as he laid there on the ground. He hadn't moved once, after he hit the ground, which made you nervous. But as you approached him, he started to stir. He raised up his left hand and tried to place it where Gladio had just hit him. But he jerked it back.

Damn it! Ignis thought as he laid there.

That was a dumb move on my part. Ignis thought as he recalled the moment right before he got hit.

I know better than that. Ignis thought as he tried to put his hand on his stomach again.

But pain was shooting through him. He groaned as he tried to moved.

Damn it! Ignis shouted to himself as he kept repeating the mistake in his head.

You came up and dropped to your knees beside him.

"Oh my six, Ignis. Are you alright?" You asked as you stared at him.

"No." He responded through gritted teeth.

"I'm afraid I'm not." Then he gasped for air as he tried to move.

But as the pain ran through his body, he decided that it would be best to just stay still for the moment. You looked at him with a worried look. Then you ran your fingers across his forehead and down past his chin as you moved his hair out of face. He closed his eyes as he found comfort in the touch. You glanced at the rest of him to see if there was any other injuries beside the obvious. Then you reached over and ran you left hand along his neck. The touch made him shiver for a moment as you dragged your fingers down from the back of his head, to the back of his neck and across his left shoulder.

"What are you doing?" He asked as he groaned under your touch.

You could feel his body trembling as you touch him with your fingers.

"I'm trying to see if you hurt your neck?" You said as you did the same thing with your right hand. "You hit your head pretty hard. And I don't want to move you if you hurt your neck."

"My neck feels fine." He said as his voice dropped.

"But you might want to stopped before you bring up another issue." Ignis said as he grabbed your hand.

Just then Cor came up.

"You alright Ignis?" Cor asked Ignis as he looked him over really quick.

"It's just hurts where he hit me." Ignis said as he laid there with his eyes closed.

"Understandably." Cor said.

Then he reached into his coat and pulled out a small vile. You noticed that it looked just like the one that King Regis had given you.

"Is that an X-potion?" You asked as you looked at the bottle.

Ignis opened his eyes and glanced at the bottle.

"Yes it is." Cor responded, as he gave you a questioning look. "But how did you know?"

"King Regis had given me one after I nearly drowned during swim tryouts." You responded back.

"Did it help save you?" Cor asked.

"No. It just healed my wounds." You responded as you looked at Ignis.

"Ignis saved me." Ignis smiled back up at you, as you looked down at him with tears starting to develop in your eyes.

"Then in that case." Cor said as he handed you the x-potion. "I'll leave him to you."

You smiled back up at Cor as you took the x-potion. You pulled the stopper off of the vile. Then you looked down at Ignis and put your arm under his neck and down the center of his back as you lifted him up and onto your lap. Ignis groaned at the movement as it caused him to slightly move his stomach muscles. You then placed the vile to his lips.

"Don't worry." You told Ignis as you watched his reaction.

"It tastes like the raspberries we use to share." You said as you tried to smile at him as you fought off the tears that were threaten to takeover.

Ignis slightly smiled at you and opened his mouth. You slowly tilted the vile so that he could drink the liquid. You were careful not to tilt it to far. You didn't want to pour it too fast for him.  Ignis swallow the potion then looked back up at you. You put down the empty vile and watched as Ignis was starting to move again. First he smiled up at you, then he put one hand on the ground as he rolled himself up into a sitting position.

Gladio slowly walked up with his head down. Then he knelt down next to Ignis. He slowly looked up at Ignis. You could see the concern on his face. 

"I didn't mean to hit you that hard." Gladio said in a low tone. "I hope that you know that I would never intentionally want to hurt you."

"It's fine." Ignis said as he looked at his concerned friend. "I know that you didn't mean for that to happen."

"Perhaps we should come back to this training on a different date." Cor said. Everyone agreed.

Then Cor held out a hand for Ignis to grab. Ignis smiled back up at him. Then Gladio stood back up and held out his hand as well. Ignis nodded at Gladio as he smiled at him as well. Then he reach up and grabbed both of their wrists as they pulled him up. You smiled as you watched the three of them. Then you stood up yourself.

Once everyone was on their feet. Gladio pulled Ignis in for an embrace. You smiled at them as you walked away and over to Noctis who as still standing off to the side. You figured that they could use a moment to themselves. Noctis weakly smiled back at you as you dropped your eyes a bit before stopping in front of him.

"Well that could have gone better." You said.

"Yeah." Noctis returned as he kept his head down.

"Do they always fight like that?" You asked as you looked at Noctis.

"No." Noctis returned. "I haven't seen them fight like that before. They usually are very exciting to watch since they are so well skilled. But I have never seen them go at each other like that."

You stood there in shock for a few minutes. Then you turned around and watched them for a few minutes. Gladio still had Ignis in his embrace. You could tell that they were talking about something. So you looked away.

"How about we head into the archery range and give them a few more minutes?" You said to Noctis.

He simply nodded and followed you as you walked up range.

******Author Note******

Some will say, boys will be boys. But to me, these are boys who are becoming men. For in my eyes, showing compassion is a trait that shows maturity.

I hope that you enjoyed this chapter and I look forward to having you along as we head to the last weapons range. The next chapter will be about a weapon that is not actually used in the game, but that I wished that it was. Sure they have the crossbow, but to me, that's cheating. So stay tuned to see who will prevail on the range.

Thanks for reading. :)

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