Book Two: The Journey of the Lucians

XI - In the Dark

"Feels good to ride the rails," Ignis said as he sat in the seat, facing Noctis and Sera.

"Sure does," Noctis said, looking out the window, Sera looking down the aisle, looking for any sign of the one person she dreaded most.

"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."

"She'd get more thanks if she gave us a discount." Bringing her mind back to the present, Sera swatted her brother's arm, pointing out his disrespectful comment.

"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. Same for you, Sera." Sera couldn't help but smile softly, happy to hear her brother admit something he had never admitted to her before. Soon, a sound startled the young king, causing him to look past Ignis, leaning into the aisle ever so slightly.

"Is someone else there?"

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

"On a brief reconnaissance mission, by request of Ignis," Sera explained. "He had overheard some rather concerning rumors among the people on board the train."

"Hey captain, mission complete," Gladiolus said, standing at the end of the table.

"Splendid," Ignis said with a small smile on his face.

"So what 'caught your ear?'" Noctis asked, looking between the advisor and the shield.

"Rumors of longer nights." Sera's eyes widened at the mention of longer nights. No, that can't be. I'm still alive, so the nights shouldn't be growing longer at all, she thought, not sure if her calling had changed since the Rite or if she had not been able to do her duties as Oracle.

"They've been growing longer, day by day," Gladiolus said, looking out the window.

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

"There won't be daylight," Noctis pieced together, looking over at his sister with worry.

"After Lunafreya's passing, the Oracle of Light can no longer fend off the darkness that plagues the world and her companion, the Oracle of Night. Because she is gone, my duties have changed. I am, indeed, still Oracle and the healer of the people, but I fear my duties have become more... on the negative side. To stand beside the one the gods call the Usurper is my new calling," Sera said with her head lowered, unable to believe what she was saying. "In the end, I will have a choice to make for the good of all people: take in as much of the Starscourge as I can to become a daemon before Noctis's ascension, or draw in the Starscourge that plagues the Infernian. Either way, I end up becoming a daemon under the control of the Accursed." Before long, Ignis and Gladiolus disappeared again, leaving Noctis and Serafina to sit in silence, until Prompto came running along, eventually sliding as he tried to come to a halt after realizing he was passing where the royal siblings sat.

"Whoa! There you are, guys! Did you see this? It's unreal!" Prompto said, seeming to be in a rush, although Sera couldn't tell why.

"Yeah," Noctis responded, looking over at his best friend. "Never seen anything like it. Doesn't make any sense." Then suddenly, no one moves, everything blanketed in hues of gray, as if the train was touched by the Glacian's frozen touch. Sera looked around as she took note of Prompto missing. "What's going on?"

"I don't know but something doesn't feel right," Sera said, scanning around for any sign of movement among the frozen passengers.

"It's a real mystery," Ardyn's voice said, coming up behind the siblings, who turned to find Ardyn standing there in the dining car with them. "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."

"The hell are you doing here!?" Noctis asked as he attempted to punch the chancellor, only for the chancellor to dodge.

"Whoa, what's going on!? Easy there, buddy. Didn't see that coming. You alright?" As Ardyn spoke, Sera felt like she knew who it was, knowing Ardyn never truly had those speech patterns until it truly hit her. The prince then summons his engine blade sword and swings it at Ardyn, only to be blocked by Sera and her trusted rapier. "What are you doing, Sera!?"

"Stopping you from hurting your best friend," Sera said, looking into her brother's eyes. "You're attacking Prompto, not Ardyn. Chancellor Izunia has a bit more of a refined speech pattern, unlike Prompto's laid back and casual pattern." Noctis didn't believe her and only pushed her aside, unable to believe that Sera was siding with the Chancellor of all people. "Prompto, you'll have to forgive Noctis later. Just focus on running!" And with that, 'Ardyn' started running, Noctis in pursuit of him as Sera tried to get up, the princess finding that she had hurt her arm in the process of being pushed to the side. As she stood, she allowed her healing to ease the pain, it wouldn't be long before Noctis finally caught up to the cameraman and Sera needed to be there to stop him when he did catch up to Prompto. The only place Sera could think that they were headed was the top of the train. On her way up to the top of the train, she had been thrown forward, the train coming to a screeching halt. It was as if the train was trying to keep Noctis from harming the one she held so dear to heart, that wasn't family.

Before long, Sera made it to the top of the train, spotting Noctis and 'Prompto' fighting off MTs. The train was under attack and Sera had to help out with the effort to protect the train and the passengers. Her temper rose, knowing Ardyn was playing his tricks once more, that rage pushing her every movement to take out all of Magitek in the vicinity, not allowing a single one to harm the train and passengers. With her movements, Noctis's attention was brought to the warping streaks that followed a black, white and blue blur.

When it was all said and done, Sera fell to her knees once she had finished taking them out and back on the roof of the train. From afar, she could see 'Ardyn' holding a gun, pointing it at 'Prompto' and Noctis warping between the two, pushing 'Ardyn' off the train. Her eyes widened with shock and fear at the sight before her eyes.

"NO!!" Sera shouted as she tried to rush between Noctis and Prompto, her hand reaching out as if she could have pulled him back onto the train.