"ARE you ready to go?"  Ignis heard Cor ask as he stood outside and looked down at Insomnia with a steady gaze as if he was studying the city layout.

Not that he needed to since he already had it saved to memory.  But he couldn't help but to look out on it with a heavy heart.  He wasn't sure what would happen to the city while he was gone, if anything at all.  All he knew was that you would still be there and without him beside you to protect you.

Cor sighed as he walked up to Ignis and placed his hand on his shoulder.  "Don't worry.  She'll still stand strong.  And will be waiting for you when you come back."

Ignis blinked as if he wasn't sure if Cor was referring to the city or you.  Then he turned his gaze to look at that strong, confident man beside him, and thought that perhaps it was the latter.  He searched his face to see if there was any doubt behind those steady eyes.  But all he saw was strength, which he himself wasn't feeling at that moment.

"How can you be so sure?"  Ignis asked in a low tone.  

"Because, we have the strength of the crystal to guide us.  And a King who can guarantee us victory."

Certainly not the latter.  Ignis' heart dropped as he looked back out at the city.

"There are no guarantees in war."  Ignis replied bluntly as he narrowed his eyes.  "Except death and destruction."

Cor slightly nodded his head as he gave Ignis' shoulder a slight squeeze.  "You're right.  There may be many deaths.  And who knows how much destruction.  But for a few glaives who may parish there,  thousands of lives will be spared here."

"I just don't see it like you I guess."  Ignis staid as he dropped his gaze again as he felt his heart start to restrict.  "And honestly, I'm...."  

"Afraid."  Cor said in a steady voice which made Ignis flitch.  "You're afraid of what or who you'll loose.  And that understandable.  We all feel the same way when we're facing such a enemy.  But that doesn't mean that we'll stop fighting."

"But why fight at all?"  Ignis asked as he slightly shook his head.  "There has to be another solution."

Cor sighed as he dropped his hand.  "The Nifelheim Empire has already proved to us that there is no solution.  We either fight them.  Or they'll eliminate us."

Ignis dropped his head again as he felt the weight of the pending war sit heavy on his mind.  For he knew that Cor was right.  He had sat in on the discussions with the King before he left.  And he knew that the whole kingdom was at stake.

"I....I suppose you're right."  Ignis said quietly before he looked back up at the city one more time.

"Just remember what and for who you're fighting for. And keep them close to your heart.  Use that as your strength as you fight them back.  Do that and I know that you'll make it back alive."  Cor added with a smile and a pat to Ignis' back.  "Now come.  It's time to get you to your hotel for the night."

Ignis slightly nodded before he turned with Cor and headed towards the car.  Like I could ever forget who I'm leaving behind.  But he does have a point.  Keeping the city safe is the best choose and the best chance that we have of protecting everyone.

After pulling out the observation station, Cor started to head back towards the city as they started to make their way to Golden Quay.  The car was silent, minus the radio news broadcast that was talking about the announcement from King Regis.  The announcer was playing back the audio from the press conference as they drove on the freeway that went around the central city area.  

"People of Insomnia,  It is with a heavy heart that I stand before you today.  As you all know, last night the Citadel had come under attack by Niflheim troops. We still don't know why, nor what they had tried to accomplish during this isolated raid.  All we can say is that they have all been eliminated or taken in custody."

Ignis eyes were focused out the window as he spotted the different buildings.  And with each one he recalled the people that he wanted to protect.  First was the Citadel, which reminded him of Noctis, Gladio, Prompto and the entire kitchen staff as the building towered over the rest of the city.  

"And we will not rest until we have ensured that every man, women and child who lives within these walls can sleep peacefully again at night."

Then he spotted the apartment building that he had called home after his uncle had taken him in.  He felt his heart drop as his uncle and Mary came to mind.  

"We will not let the people of Insomnia fall victim to them again."

Then he spotted the college campus where he had spent his previous two years.  He could practically see Jason and Brady smiling as they waited by their car.

"Our people have suffered enough by their hand. And we will not stand for it anymore. We have lost too many good people in our kingdom during this attack. And I won't allow it to happen again."

Lastly he focused on you.  And he didn't need any building to remind him of you as he felt his heart ache for leaving you the way he did, even if it was for a good reason.  He just couldn't shake the guilty feeling of leaving without so much as a word to you.  And the fear of something happening to you while he was gone kept racing across his mind.

"We will fight back by any means necessary to keep our citizens safe."

ignis unconsciously clenched his hands, for all he wanted was to hold you and protect you.  But now he had to trust those around you to keep you safe.  And that thought made him more nervous then anything.  Especially as they went through the gate at the wall before heading for the open road.

"Never again will they attack our fair city. Because from this moment forward, I am declaring war against the Niflheim Empire!"

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

"Does anyone know why they called us here this late at night?"  Nyx heard one of the glaives ask as he entered the training room after arriving back at the citadel.

He hadn't been back for 5 minutes after dropping off the last of the guests before someone walked up to him as he parked the truck.  And all they told him was to head up to the training room for an emergency briefing.  Of course he already had a feeling what it was about.  He had heard what the King had stated during the press conference over the radio as he drove around town.  But still, he had been hoping for at least one night of rest before they started to send them out.  

They could at least feed those of us who just returned from the last attack.  He thought grumpily as his stomach groaned at him.

But that didn't seem to be the case as he followed a fairly large crowd up to the training room.  Then once he arrived, he noticed that it was packed as everyone was taking their place as they fell into ranks.  He sighed to himself as he fell in with the others.  All he could do was hope that he wouldn't be apart of the first wave to head out. At least not until he ate something.

"Ahhh ten hut!"  Nyx heard shouted out, which made everyone snap attention and stand up straight and tall as total silence filled the room.

Then Nyx watched as Titus walked out in front of everyone.  The whole room was still except for their eyes as they following Titus as he came to a stop in front of them.  He paused for a moment as he looked out among the people standing in front of him.  But his eyes never once gave away if he was nervous or unsure about what he was about to say.

"Paaaaradeeeee rest!"  Came the call and everyone quickly snapped out their left foot out and crossed their arms behind their back in one quick movement.

"You're all probable wondering why I asked everyone here on such short notice."  Titus began in a loud tone that echoed in the silence.  "But unless you have been hiding under a rock for the last 24 hours, you should already know the reason."

A few of the glaives slightly chuckled.

"But for those of you may have missed the news somehow, I'll tell you."  Titus said before his tone turned serious again.  "Our king has declared war against the Nifelheim Empire.  Who, as we all know, is a long standing enemy of Insomnia.  And his reason is as obvious as the smoke the filled the skies around the citadel."

Several of them nodded their heads.

"They have once again threatened our kingdom and all of her citizens.  Only this time they brought it to our doorstep.   The attack on the citadel last night took close to a hundred civilians, most of them were innocent people who had gathered for the wedding celebration of our Department head and his new bride.  But instead of celebrating, their lives cut short."

Nyx slightly shifted his feet and dropped his gaze for a moment as he tried to push the images from the briefing out of his head.

"This is why the king has called on us.  Because as the king's glaives, we have been trained to protect those who call Insomnia home.  And we will protect her citizens as we take the fight to Nifelheim."  Titus said firmly.  "We can not allow them to threaten our friends or families anymore.  Nor should our friends and families have to live in fear of another attack.  Which is why we will hit them first!  And we hit them hard!  And we WILL push them back to the hell that they came from!"

A few of them shouted out as the energy in the room started to increase.  Nyx sighed as he crossed his arms as he glanced around the room and saw most of the others getting excited.  But he knew what would come next.  And 

"We will not bow down to the likes of them!  But we will make them knee before our king!"

A few more started to shout.

"And for every one of our fallen, we shall take three of theirs!"

The whole room erupted.  Nyx could feel the energy from those around him.  Yet he couldn't help but to wonder how many of them would it take to put a stop to it all in the end.  And even as he looked around, he knew that some of them might not make it back alive.  But in the face of such an enemy, it would be true for any kingdom.

 "Tomorrow morning at  0600 each of you shall receive your orders. And they will be carried out immediately."  Titus said in a lower voice that seemed to steady the crowd again.  "So tonight, I want all of you to prepare to leave.  Take care of everything you have to.  And be ready to leave by the first light of day.  Any questions?"

The whole room fell silent.

"Good.  Now get out of here.  And I'll see everyone tomorrow morning."  Titus said before he turned and headed back out the door.

Then once he was outside the room.  "Dismissed!"

Titus then turned around and started to walked away as everyone started to fall out of ranks and talk among themselves.  That was when Crowe and Libertus came walking up to him.  Crowe looked like she was ready for a fight.  Where Libertus looked like he was on the verge of shitting his pants.  Nyx glanced over their shoulders and sighed as he saw Pelna and Tredd start to head out of the room.

"Can you believe this shit?"  Libertus said as he walked up and stood in front of Nyx.  "I mean sure they have it coming.  But still."

"I personally can't wait to wipe the floor with them."  Crowe said with smirk.

"You and me both."  Nyx said he slightly raised an eyebrow.  "But for now, let's go eat and rest up.  I can't sleep on an empty stomach."

"Now your talking."  Libertus said as his face lite up.

Nyx then turned around and headed for the door.  He didn't really want to think about was to happen at the moment.  Not after what he had seen the night before.  Instead he just wanted to focus on the now.  And at the moment, all he could focus on was getting some food in his stomach.

"Holy shit.  We lost that many people last night?"  Crowe asked as she suddenly stopped eating.  "I thought Titus was just spouting off like usual."

Nyx dropped his gaze and shook his head.  "I wish that was the case."

"Damn."  Libertus added before he took a bite a food.  "Whad hid fay.."

"Swallow first will ya."  Nyx scolded Libertus as he shook his head at he friend.  "I really don't want you to start chocking again.

 Libertus did a hard swallow to clear his mouth.  "  How did they hurt that many in such a short amount of time?"

"It's called a surprise attack."  Nyx said before he took a bit.

"And they had their mechs Lib."  Crowe said as she rolled her eyes.  "Those things are designed to cause that much damage."

"Well sure, but still."

"Mechs weren't the only things that they brought.  Let's not forget that they had foot soldiers and snipers too.  And those were just the ones that made it in here.  Who knows how many of those things that they have at this point."  Nyx added before he took another bite.

Crowe slightly dropped her head.  "I heard that they are using massive beasts too."

"Now beasts I can handle."  Libertus replied with a smirk.  "It's no different then hunting to me if that's the case."

"Sure, until your staring into the eyes of a Behemoth."  Crowe teased.

"Now your just messing with me."  Libertus replied as he shook his head.  "No one as seen one of them in ages.  Not alive anyway."

Nyx and Crowe both exchanged glances.  They knew that is was common knowledge that Behemoths were very rear in the Insomnia Kingdom.  But that could be very different when it came to the rough terrain area of Palamecia that was run by the Empire.  The frozen mountains and high rocky cliffs could easily be used to raise an very strong army of them.  And they both knew it.

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

Night had fallen by time Cor drove up to the deck leading out to Golden Quay.  The waves lapping up on the shore had a faint blue from the luminesce on the breaking waves.  And the full moon hung brightly in the clear sky and reflected off of the water and gave a bright glow that seemed to surround the rounded roof and long pier that led out to the restaurant.

However Ignis didn't notice any of it.  All he could think about was you and how upset that you must be after everything that had happened.  Which made him pray to himself that you would forgive him upon his return.

"This is where I'll leave you."  Cor said as he stopped the car and pulled out an envelope from his pocket.  "Your reservations have already been paid for as well as you ferry ticket.  Just hand the ticket to them when you are boarding and you'll be set."

Ignis quietly looked at the envelope before he took it and put it in his inside coat pocket.

"Once you arrive in Altissia, head to the docks.  The Atlantis should be there waiting for you." Cor continued as Ignis adjusted his glasses.  

"Understood."  Ignis replied before he climbed out of the car and open up the back door.

Then he grabbed his bag and started to make for the stairs.

"Oh, and Ignis,"  Cor said which caught Ignis attention as he started to walk past the open passenger door window.  "I think that this goes without saying it.  But..."

Ignis meet his gaze.

"Be careful while your there."

Ignis slightly nodded his head.  "Of course."

"Well then, good luck and goodbye for now, Ignis."  Cor said with strained look.

"Goodbye, Cor."  Ignis returned with a flat expression before he turned around and headed straight to the stairs.

Cor sighed as he watched Ignis start to  walk down the wooden pier that lead towards the restaurant.  "The weight of the world appears to be on his shoulders.  Dear six don't let it crush him."

Cor then sighed again as he put the car in gear and started to head back.

Ignis barely heard the car as it pulled away.  The only thing that he seemed to hear was the thumping in his heart start to fade the further that he got from you.  Even after he checked into his room and was looking out over the water from the outside patio.  All he could think about was you.

Ignis dropped his gaze and stare listlessly at the blue fish that occasionally swam by and illuminated the dark waters.  Will she ever be able to find it in her heart to forgive me yet again?

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

The next morning, you were up as usual to get ready for school.  You heard your dad in his office working away already and the light was on in Nathaniel's room.  Tracy's gentle voice could just barely be heard as she sang a gentle lullaby as she nursed him in the chair by the window.  But you didn't said anything to them since they were both busy.

Instead, you quietly made your way downstairs and made your a quick breakfast of your favorite cereal.   As you ate, you looked through your notes for the finals that were coming up that week.  You had almost forgotten about them with everything else that had happened recently.  But the late night studying had been a good distraction after the events from the previous three days.  Even with surprise visit from Loqi you had been able to get in a few hours of studying before you had crashed for the night.

Suddenly the doorbell rang.  You quickly got up to answer the door.  But as soon as you saw who was at the door, your jaw dropped.  Because as soon as you opened it up, you were greeted with a pair of bright blue eyes that were shining back at you.

"Good morning, princess."  Jason said with a half smile.

"Morning."  You said with a puzzled expression.  "What are you doing here?"

"Well I figured with everyone else being busy with the current situation of the city, you might be in need of a ride."  He replied with a smile.  "You know, just in case you wanted to head in today.  I'm sure the professors will be glad to see that your safe and sound."

You couldn't help but to slightly smile as you slightly shook your head.  "You wouldn't be wrong."

"So what do you say then?"  He asked as a grin played across his lips as he slightly bowed to you.  "Would you like to accompany me to school, princess?"  

You half giggled before you looked up at him and smiled.  "Sure.  Why not."

"Well then, your chariot awaits."  He smiled back as he stood back up and waved his hand back to show his car sitting by the curb with Brady waving back as he leaned against the car.

"Okay."  You grinned back.  "Just let me grab my things."

"I'll be right here."  He replied with a wink.

You grinned back as you turned around and headed back to the kitchen.  You then quickly put your dishes in the sink, grabbed your bags and headed for the door.  Once you closed the door,  the two of you headed for his car.  Brady slightly bowed to you as he opened up the passenger door and lifted up the seat so that you could get in the back seat.

"Good morning, Brady."  You greeted him as you slipped into the car.

"Good morning to you too."  He replied before he put the seat back down and climbed into the front seat.

Paul was doing a conference call Korn when the sudden the roar of a car engine caught his attention.  He quickly looked up as he tried to figure out why it seemed awfully close to the house. 

"Paul?"  Korn voice came through the speakers of the computer.  "What is it?  Did you remember something else?"

"What?"  Paul asked as he looked back at screen.

"Did you remember something else about the attack last night?"

Paul furrowed his brow.  "No."

"Then what is it?"

But before Paul to answer, the sound of the car seemed to move away from him.  "It's nothing."

After an enjoyable ride to the campus you couldn't help but to smile as Brady held out his hand to help you climbed out of the car.  "Thank you."

Then after you climbed out he gave your hand a quick peck.  "The pleasure was all mine."

Jason then quickly walked up to you and grabbed your hand.  "Enough of that."

"What?"  Brady teased as he smirked at Jason.  "Are you jealous?"

"No!  It's just that.."  Jason started to say before the silence was interrupted by the roaring sound of a motorcycle as Loqi went flying past you before parking a couple spaces away.

"Hmm.  I see that he's back as well."  Jason said in a low growl as he slightly tugged on your hand as he started to lead you towards your class

You watched at Loqi as you walked past him right as he took off his helmet.  But he only gave you a quick glance before he turned his attention back to his bike.  However you couldn't help but to notice the slight glare in his eyes before he turn away from you.  You looked away from him as you wondered if it was meant for you or for the guys.

"Was he absent too?"  You ask as you watched the ground in front of you as you made your way across the campus.

"Yeah.  Apparently he had been out sick for the past few days."  Jason said as he furrowed his eyebrows.  "A little to convenient if you ask me."

You looked at Jason as you tried to search his profile.  "Don't you think that you're being a bit paranoid?" 

"Can you blame me, after everything that's happened?"  Jason replied as he glanced at you.

You dropped your gaze.  "No, I suppose not."

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

Your classes that day went on as if nothing had happened over the past few days.  And not once did anyone mention anything about the incident at the citadel.  Well not directly to you anyway.  There were the occasional conversations that you just happen to over hear from the other students as they talked among themselves.

"Did you see the news about the citadel attack?"  One girl had asked her friends.

"Are you kidding?  That's all they're talking about.  How could I not see it."  One friend replied.

"I never thought that anyone would attack like that."

"Yeah.  It's starting to make me wonder if we're really as safe as they say we are."

"Hey, has anyone seen Jona?  He was suppose to be back today?"  One guy asked as he ran up to his friends.

"No.  But I heard that he took a turn for the worse from his injuries."  One friend replied.

"Damnit!  Why did he have to go to the citadel that night?!"

"He worked there, dummy."

"But he was only a server!"

"That may be.  But most of the wait staff were crushed when the ceiling collapsed."

"But it was the citadel!  It's that place supposed to be the most secure building in the nation?"

"I don't think it's that safe anymore.  Do you?"

Your heart ached as their words kept creeping into your thoughts as you sat in class and tried to concentrate.  Which made it almost impossible to concentrate on what the professor was talking about.  Especially since they were all thinking the same thing that you were.  Was Insomnia really as safe as they said it was?  Or was it nothing but an illusion.

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

That night at work wasn't much better.  Sure everything seemed normal when you looked in from the outside.  But the customers were all talking in hushed voices about the same thing as your fellow students.  And to make matters worse, the news was showing on the televisions that had been recently installed on the walls to try and drum up some business.

Sure the number of customers seemed to be slightly higher then they had been the week before.  But they were all focused on the TVs more then their food.  However you were grateful to be busy though with the steady pace of customers that had walked through the door.  And for Jason waiting outside by the curb when you got off to take you home.

The only thing that seemed to be off was that your dad didn't join you for dinner.  He had been called to the citadel for a late night meeting with Korn and King Regis.  But Tracy did her best to keep the conversation light and away from anything related to the news that she quickly turned off the moment that you had come home from school.  Even Nathaniel seemed to be a bit quieter then usual that night.  Which did let you get in a good night of studying before you went to bed for the night.

Unfortunately it wasn't as restful of a night due to a nightmare that made you practically jump out of bed as your dreamt that the ceiling was crashing down on top of you.  And even after looking around your room and realizing that it was just a dream, your heart was beating to fast to calm back down.  Which is how you ended up on your balcony with your legs hanging off the edge as you stared up at the stars.  You had hoped that the clear night sky and cool breeze would calm your nerves.  But instead it made you think of a certain blonde with a accented voice.

I wonder if he's going to stop by Tenebrae and say hi to Luna.  You thought as you sighed.  I bet she's as worried about Noctis as I am.  I wonder if she'll send Pryna to check up on him?

You sighed as you wrapped your arms around one leg as you pulled it up and dropped your head to your knee.  I wish that I could see him like Luna's dogs can.

"Why aren't you in bed?"

You jumped when you heard the deep voice of your dad from the driveway.  Then you quickly looked down and saw he staring up at you.  He had his coat draped over his arm as he stood there in his dark button up shirt and black slacks.  You couldn't quite make out his face to see if he was really angry with you or not.  But the lack of the noise of a car engine did leave you confused.

"Hey.  When did you get home?"  You asked as you looked around for his car.  "And how did you get home?  I don't see your car?"

"Korn dropped me off."  He answer nonchalantly as he nodded back towards a black car that you just barely caught dropping down the street.

"And your car?"

"It's still at the citadel."

"Why?"

"Korn wanted to give it a once over to make sure that it wasn't tampered with."

"Oh."  You replied as you dropped your gaze.

"Now answer my question.  Why aren't you in bed?"

"I was in bed."  You said as you tightened your arms around your knee.

"Did you have a nightmare?"

You buried your face in your arms as you tried to hide the red in your cheeks.  But you couldn't help but to hear the sigh from your dad.

"Why don't you meet me in my office.  There's something I want you to see."  You heard your dad say.

"Does the room need dusted again?"

"No."

"Is there another assignment from Korn?"

"No."

"Then what is it?"

"You'll just have to see for yourself." He replied with a slight smile.

"Fine."  You said with a sigh.

Then you slowly got to your feet and started to head back inside as you heard the front door open below.  This better be good.  I don't think I can take any more bad news.

You then reluctantly shrugged into your rode and slipped your slippers on.  Then you headed across the hallway.  You weren't quite sure what your dad wanted top show you.  But you were certain that it had something to do with the whole incident.

He's not going to send me somewhere else is he?    You thought as you enter the room and sank down onto the couch.  Of course it wouldn't surprise me at this point.

You heard his foot steps in the hallway before he entered the door.  Then he walked over to his desk and took a seat.  You furrowed your eyebrows at him as you tried to read his face.  But he didn't seem to be giving anything away as he logged into his computer.  So you walked up to him and crossed your arms.

"Okay. Let me have it."  You said in a low tone as you braced yourself.  "Tell me where you're going to send me."

"Send you?  What are you talking about?"  He replied with a confused look as he clicked away with his mouse.

"I know that your thinking of sending me somewhere."  You replied with a hurt look.  "Just like everyone else."

He slightly dropped his gaze.  "Honestly, I had thought about that."

You dropped your gaze and wrapped your arms around yourself as you tried to steady yourself.  "And?  Where are you sending me?"

He slightly sighed as he looked over to you.  "I'm not sending you anywhere.  Except perhaps to bed when we're done here."

"Then what did you want to show me?"

"Here.  Have a seat."  He replied as he got out of his chair and gestured for you to sit in his place.

You gave him a confused look as you did as he asked.  But then you practically froze in place as a familiar voice come over the computer speakers.

"Hey, love."

~~~~~~~~~~AUTHOR NOTES~~~~~~~~~~

I know, I know.  Long time no write.  And I apologize for that.  It was never my intention to take this long getting this chapter out.  But between very long working hours and super busy weekends, I have barely had time to concentrate on anything else.

However, I do hope that you like this chapter.  And will look for the next one as we get ready for the summer swim meet.  It's sure to make a splash. ;P

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