Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse {Book Four: War} (Gladiolus x Reader)

|| Eighteen ||

Aboard the train, Noctis and Ignis sit at a table in the dining car. The strategist, with his mangled gaze, turned his head towards the window. "Feels good to ride the rails."

"Sure does," Noctis agreed.

"Eager to drive once we're in Gralea?"

"If they'll let me."

"We're fortunate to have the Regalia at all. We owe the first secretary our thanks," Ignis said.

"She'd get more thanks if she gave us a discount," Noctis stated.

"Those transceivers are top-notch. I recall when the Hydraean raged. In the midst of the empire's retreat, one conspicuous craft remained behind: the chancellor's. The last thing I remember seeing was his ship, heading for the altar. I fell unconscious...and was powerless to stop him."

"I'm just glad you're alive." Noctis makes a startled sound and leans into the aisle slightly to look past Ignis to see who was approaching them.

Of course, this didn't go unnoticed by the advisor. "Is someone else there?"

"Gladio-he just came back," Noctis answered. "Where did he go anyway?"

"On a brief reconnaissance. Something caught my ear."

Gladio walks up to their table. "Hey captain, mission complete."

"Splendid," Ignis replied.

Noctis looked toward his advisor. "So what "caught your ear"?"

"Rumors of longer nights."

"They've been growing longer, day by day," Gladio explained.

"There was talk of it back in Lucis, but recent days have shown an unseasonably sharp change. Should this trend continue, before long..." Ignis' voice trailed off.

"There won't be daylight," Noctis grimly finishes his statement.

"Well, it's not out of the question. The empire's already slain half of the Six. No wonder the whole world's in disarray," the shield said.

"I...guess."

"And longer nights mean more daemons," the strategist added.

"Seen that with our own eyes," Gladio said.

"I happened to overhear a fellow passenger discussing this very same phenomenon."

"So he sent yours truly to seek 'em out."

"Nice police work," Noctis complimented.

"Well, don't wanna keep 'em waiting," Gladio stated.

"No, we don't. Back in a moment." Ignis scoots out of the booth and used his cane to help him stand. Gladio offers him a helping hand as they leave the dining car.

Noctis sits in silence for a moment, looking out the window. As the train begins to pass a snowy mountain range covered in mist, Prompto comes running by, then tries to stop and slips when he realizes he's passing his best friend. "Whoa! There you are, buddy! Did you see this? It's unreal!"

"Yeah. Never seen anything like it. Doesn't make any sense," Noctis responded, eyes glued to the passing scenery.

Suddenly, Noctis felt a strange sensation and he looks around the dining car, realizing that no one else is moving. Everything is blanketed in gray and everyone is frozen in place. Even Prompto was missing. He stands up, confused as to what was happening. "What's going on?"

That's when he heard Ardyn's voice behind him. "It's a real mystery." The raven-haired boy turns to find Ardyn standing in the dining car. "I'm not liking that snow cloud. Kind of gives me the chills. Like, who comes up with this stuff? I couldn't dream something like this if I tried. It's a wondrous world."