Ignis Scientia

Wiz Forlane might have been long gone by now, but Wiz Chocobo Post, post-war, post-Long Night, post New Dawn, was thriving. Settled on the edge of the misty Nebulawood of the Duscae region just outside of New Insomnia, with the Disc of Cauthess looming nearby, far colder than it used to be, what had used to be just a small outpost dedicated to renting (and sometimes racing!) chocobos to travelers had become a bit of an institution. Without the worries of war and the plight of Starscourge making travel safe at any time of day or night, the place had thrived under Camilla's new ownership in the past two years, building a more comfortable inn for visitors and expanding the legacy that Wiz had left behind. And this weekend, where all across Eos, people were celebrating the birthday of the Last King of Lucis, it was also incredibly busy.

Something that Ignis had not expected, although, in retrospect, he supposed he should have.

Either way, he had been proactive in assuring that they'd all had rooms at the hotel, and as they found their way to the Post from their portal, he had to admit, there was something incredibly reassuring about it. The last time they'd been here, the place had been all but abandoned, and now there were families and couples, individual travelers and chocobo enthusiasts; down by the Neeglyss Pond, their main fishing spot for this trip, he could already hear the Catoblepas trudging through the water, and it filled him with a sort of...pride. His relationship with Eos as of late may have been a difficult, complicated thing, and as much as he was coming to terms with the fact that it had given him so little compared to how much he'd given up for her, it felt good to know that it was healing. That all that he had given wasn't completely for naught.

Especially on this weekend.

"Well, then," he announced to his assembled group of companions, "and now we've arrived."

And now he just waited for the inevitable squeal from Noctra the moment she spotted one of the actual chocobos.

....or Prompto, too, for that matter.

[[ for thems that are there with him! And NFB for distance, of course! ]]

It had been an odd reunion, but a good one, despite the heaviness that surrounded it. Ignis' vision had been true: they had barely gathered together at the Hammerhead, making plans to travel to Galdin Quay themselves to perhaps meet Noctis there past Angelgard, when the sound of Talcott's truck rolling in stopped them, and their lost king, gone for this entire long, dark decade, finally returned to them.

A joyous reunion, but bittersweet, because they knew time was short. "We have some catching up to do," Noctis had said, but, really, it wasn't like there was much to report on, and they all knew their next steps...and what the end results were destined to be. But it had to be done; this was the time they'd all been waiting for, and after plans were made, they geared up and marched to the east, toward Insomnia, the Crown City, cloaked in darkness and daemons and Magitek forces all these years, to finally take it....and the rest of the world...back.

But first, they made camp. On that same ridge where they'd confirmed that the city had fallen to enemy forces so very long ago, they settled in that one last time. Ignis scrounged up a final camp meal out of whatever they had available to them, and everything was quiet, except for the crackling of the fire.

( After all these years, and, suddenly, it felt like there was nothing left to say. )

But, eventually, Noctis simply said, between barely restrained tears of his own, "You guys?

"....are the best."


[[ taken from the penultimate, most awkwardly heartrending end-credits scene of Final Fantasy XV. NFI. NFB. OOC always welcome ]]

The morning started with politics, and Noctis meeting behind closed doors with the First Secretary of Accordo, Camelia Claustra, a fortuitous first step in negotiating some sort of piece with the nation….and with Lady Lunafreya's release….assuming the new King of Lucis didn't manage to muck it all up. It was that concern that weighed heavily on Ignis's shoulders as he paced the room outside the Secretary's office, where Gladio stood with his arms folded in front of him at the door for the first sign of trouble and Prompto, doing his best, just tried to sit still on one of the plush, elegant armchairs.

It should be a simple matter. Just consider the Secretary's position with understanding and compassion, hopefully make the appeal to a common enemy, and express the importance of the Rite so that Leviathan will grant Noctis her powers. Acknowledge the danger of the situation and the intel that not only is the Empire closing in as they speak, but that keeping Lady Lunafreya in their custody only increases the threat to the city. Ignis had done all he could to brief Noctis on the best course of action, but the Secretary insisted the meeting be held in private. It was entirely out of Ignis' hands, and all he could do was simply….have faith in Noctis' sense of diplomacy.

He was half-certain they were all now officially doomed.

When Noctis finally emerged, he did so with his head down, his steps dragging, and Ignis felt his heart sink. "Well?" asked Gladio, unfolding his arms and straightening at attention.

"What'd she say?" Prompto chimed in, with his own eyes wide and nervous.

Noctis let out a short breath, almost a laugh, and Ignis felt himself breathe a little easier now, too. Even more so at the faint hint of a smile in the corner of Noctis' mouth.

"We're good to go," he reported, almost cheerfully, or at least for him it was. "Luna's going to make an address to the people this afternoon, and then she's going to the Altar of the Tidemother to make her appeal to Leviathan. But it's going to get rough, and the Imperials are on their way to subdue her, just like they tried with Titan. I'll take care of Leviathan; you guys are on evacuation duty."

"Does the Secretary believe it will get that bad?" Gladio asked.

"Oh," Ignis supplied the answer for Noctis, "I'm sure we can count on it. We haven't much time. I suppose a conference with the Altissian guard and its security is in order, then. Or perhaps well overdue."


[[ small set-up for now with more to come later, a very concise summary of the diplomatic meeting between Noctis and Camelia from Final Fantasy XV Chapter 9 - "Callings"! It's also Episode Ignis day, so buckle in, everyone who knows what's coming! ]]