#crownsguard

This time, watching him fight, is a marvel. Griever was no ordinary beast, casting spells and attacking in calculated moves. Yet Cor compensates with his speed and dexterity, and unsurprisingly, at playing dirty. That two gunshots under its wing grounding the beast looks nasty. Cor often says that if it works, it bloody works. Everything goes on the battlefield.(Cid used to give Cor shit for that during spars though.)

-If Clarus and Regis notice how deathly silent Glaive Ulric is for a while now, watching the fight intensely, they smartly kept quiet about it.

-Although it goes unsaid, Griever is obviously pulling his punches. This must not be his full capabilities or if not, the beast is lacking in something. He gets weaker as time goes which Cor notices as well. They are playing a game of stamina now clearly. Eventually, in a final effort, Griever amasses energy and aims at Cor. 

What does the runt do? 

Charges in and slides under Griever, sending Nyx’s Kukri under its jaw and twists.Griever’s pain shrieking into their ears as Cor dodges Griever’s backhand counter away.Kukri in hand, Katana in another, its close, their Marshall nearing his limit much like his enemy.

-“O.M.G.What. Is.THAT?” Oh, Prompto and Luna arrived.And if his face is any indication, Prompto is not processing any of this well.Luna is not fairing better either.

As suddenly as it had started, Griever’s laugh echoes loudly.”Little lion, you have proven your worth.” 

A push and a flap, Griever hovers for a moment, dropping a Quake and circles the Tower that began to shake (Again? Really?) “You may leave from whence you came.”And he disappears amongst the stormy clouds.

Dismissed. Just like that. Rude.

Yet they have no time to spare but head straight for the arched portal. Nyx pulling the exhausted Cor along as everyone makes a dash to the portal while the Tower begins to crumble…

-…As they find themselves pleasantly tossed out of Costlemark’s door in a flash and slams straight into the other party from the Tempering Grounds. 

Even with multiple accounts, Noctis and Gladio are still sceptical about a giant flying lion. Ardyn looks amused. Glaive Ostium looked as if he deems everyone in this group is nuts. And he isn’t wrong to be fair. 

Nyx and Prompto spares a potion for Cor, looking tired but Clarus is know the little shit is being smug that he had the last blow on Griever. A son and a husband have mellowed out the man but under that stoic-ness, is still the tiny angry ball of fire that called Regis a dumbass in the face. 

- If he had not tried to break into Cor’s office for his secret alcohol stash that summer night, Regis and himself probably would never have found out their runt had found someone, let alone married in secret. The shock and horror and the trauma. Actually, he was more surprised they hid it for so many years considering how sickly sweet they can be if you know where to squint…

-The contradiction in the man though still baffles Clarus to this day, especially how gently and careful he treats his relationship.

(“You both don’t fight?” ”No.We certainly do.” ”Lies! I don’t see it.” ”Just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean we don’t have disagreements.We just don’t let stupid things fester till the next morning.” “Oh?” “We are soldiers who might not see tomorrow, why should we be childish?Besides, there’s still Prompto to think about.” ”…” ”Thats…unexpectedly mature of you Cor.””Indeed, oh my, Clar! Quick! make a note we must commemorate this day!” ”…Yet I am certainly not above regicide so sincerely, fuck you Regis.Fuck you too Clarus.”)

-“My heart, is this the time you let me into any family secrets you forgot to share before our vows as Life Partners?” Nyx asks, not even hiding his smirk. Cor return that with a quirk of his eyebrow, challenging him to try. Prompto smartly turns around to be busy elsewhere. The young man knows he isn’t needed here.

-The ones that arrived from the Tempering Grounds were evidently successful (“Was easy enough, we just let Ardyn do the talking. Gilgamesh and his dead folks will come at Etro’s command.”) 

Its also clear they are cutting it close as they receive news from Monica. Ifrit and daemons have congregated at Insomnia’s borders. Bahamut awaits in the capital.

- They gather their men in Leide (“Hello again Cid!”) and whatever forces from Accordo, Tenebrae and Niflheim that have arrived as well. Including those who were willing to come from Galahd. A sizeable army even after leaving some to protect cities like Lestallum and Galdin. More people have joined the Kingsglaive during their time away, growing their numbers in ranks as well despite the earlier betrayal of those loyal to Drautos. 

Unconventional work ethics and eloping with their youngest brother aside, Nyx took over the leadership of a broken Kingsglaive after the Fall while recovering so smoothly like fish to water, resolving a lot of the internal conflicts and dispute with the Crown. The old Shield have to admit and give credit where credit is due. Glaive Altius also proved she was a force to be reckoned with to the traitors they had captured.

( Clarus also caught wind of their men, both Kingsglaive and Crownsguard, having some weird truce due to their divisions’ ‘joint marriage’. The gossip had given him such a whiplash, that he needed to excuse himself and leaves to laugh his guts out. Regis and Cid NEEDS to hear this. )

Surprisingly, a number of Niflheim refugees who once defected into the safety of the Crown City volunteered too. They even took a risk and manage to do recon in Insomnia and report back. Seems like underground tunnels are a thing and they also found a weird magitek under their ruins.What the hell..?

Others have begun preparation to infiltrate the daemon horde to allow the main army enter and take down Ifrit before Bahamut tries anything else.With Prompto receiving most of Etro’s powers, their connection to the Kings magic grows stronger and brighter.Iris and Crowe have shaped up the teams well while they are gone too.

-Ignis was fussing over Prompto’s new uniform now that he was relying more on magic than just his guns, all meant to protect spellcasters. Noctis and Gladio simply watches on, basking in their friend’s discomfort in ‘fancy clothes’ while Luna’s dogs patters around him excitedly. Poor Prompto is still adjusting to being called ‘Leonis’ by people, but the boy seems pleased to finally use his true family name after so long. 

It was much later before the boys finally noticed the weird magitek the recon team had found, and Prompto stops before it.

”Thats…an ancient weapon.Used by Solheim to kill the gods.” Prompto suddenly points out, his Eyes bright and studying the contraption. Everyone halted what they are doing at that. Pelna and his baby Niflheimian glaives who found it were suddenly ready to throw ( or as the kids say,yeet ) themselves with the magitek out of Lucis. Though Etro’s vessel just shrugs off.”Can’t hurt a goddess who is already dead on this realm.”

And that was that. Well…guess they have another weapon to go up against the Draconian then if they manage to figure out how it works. 

- The other Astrals? Clarus really doesn’t care at all.His duty is to the Crown.the Long Night has already begun, daemons are growing in numbers.He barks an order, getting everyone to fall into line, letting Regis address the joined forces of Eos. Prompto breathes and exhales, allowing Etro’s light to dance, her power a warning to the encroaching darkness.

-Who would have thought that the tiny baby Cor had smuggled out of Gralea during his mission would end up being a goddess’ vessel? The same kid who somehow ended up befriending Noctis, Ignis and Gladio despite being kept away from the Crown by his overprotective father. Prompto was the sort that prefer to avoid conflict, quiet mostly, hardly crownsguard material but let it be known that he is fierce when he has to.

-( He remembers that high school kidnapping incident and oh boy, why did he doubt that the son of Cor and Nyx to be anything else but a terror when needed? ) 

-Clarus has seen many things but fact is stranger than fiction he suppose as he watches the eerie lights flicker around him.With a closing statement,Regis steps back, the powers of the kings materialises and in a show of morale, the army cheers. They are as ready as they can be, finally, they can reclaim Insomnia. 

They are going home. -----