Ignis knows.

Though, he might well have not noticed anything amiss if he hadn't already been keeping close watch of the high commander. But his reservations for the "Ravus" who approaches them on the alter solidify as he shows obvious disregard for Lady Lunafreya's wellbeing – the man's sole motivation for allying himself with Ignis in the first place – ignoring his sister entirely and stalking forward with a murderous glare burning into Noct's prone form. While Ravus has made no secret of his grudge against the Line of Lucis, his behavior is downright suspicious when paired with his earlier demand for Ignis to proceed without him to check on the status of their respective charges whilst he remained behind to handle the last wave of soldiers and MTs alone.

"Such a fetching scene set before us by benevolent providence. Though, I think it could do with a touch more red."

Ignis doesn't have much time to insert himself between the rapier's downward trajectory and his king but he manages just in time to have Ravus' angry sneer turned on him instead. "You would do well, I think, to stay out of this."

"What are you doing?" Ignis pushes back with all his strength, barely forcing the false Ravus back half a step. "Who are you really?"

"My, a clever one aren't you?" The sneer melts away, along with Ravus' features and Ignis finds the yellow eyes of Niflheim's chancellor staring unflinchingly into his own. "Though, I doubt if it will do you much good."

Ignis is knocked back, tripping over Noct before he can even register the hit. Soldiers materialize from thin air, surrounding them; their cold, armored hands force Ignis first to his knees and then the ground, pressing his face down near a familiar glint of dark metal that hadn't been there before. Meanwhile, the chancellor passes him by, kicking Noct onto his back before finally deigning to spare the oracle a glance. "Oh dear, it appears you've undone all my hard work. How am I to motivate the wayward king without proper incentive?"

And that's as good as a confession from the chancellor as the cause for Lady Lunafreya's grievous wounds – wounds that would have been fatal had Ignis not administered a curative upon his arrival. Ignis struggles against the hold of the soldiers. "Get away from them!"

"I'm afraid I can't do that, you see." Ardyn kneels in front of Noct, pulling him up by the front of his shirt, drawing him closer to the dagger held at his exposed throat. "Mistakes must be rectified."

"No, stop!" But Ardyn doesn't stop. And Ignis cannot stand by and let Noct die, not so long as he draws breath. So he wrenches his arm lose and makes a desperate grab for the ring, knowing the price could well be his own life – a small sacrifice to protect his king, his brother. Everything after that is a blur, filtered through a burning purple haze. He fights hard regardless, drawing on raw magic more potent than any he's ever imagined, but Ardyn is never phased and eventually his time runs out.

The chancellor stands over him once he's collapsed under the strain of the ring. "You know, I might just have a use for you, after all."

Ignis is not expecting to wake up on the cold, dingy floor of a cell in the middle of Zegnautus Keep with Lady Lunafreya pouring her healing energy into his eyes.

His vision is cloudy at first, but it clears with time and Lunafreya does what she can, explaining what she knows of their predicament. Apparently Ardyn has taken them prisoner, though the man himself does not grant them an audience. There are no restraints but Ignis, mysteriously stripped of his access to the armiger, is unable to break them out of the cell. Rations are delivered to them regularly by MTs. Otherwise they are left to their own devices.

They remain there for some time and so they speak much of prophesies and visions.

On the day Ardyn does make an appearance he's not alone. Prompto is freezing to the touch when he's tossed in, shivering like mad and staring up at Ignis with such blatant disbelief it's almost painful to witness.

"Another guest to keep you company while we await the Chosen's fabled ascension." With those parting words, Ardyn leaves them be.

As Ignis fears, Noctis and Gladio do come for them.

Prompto has filled them in as they waited. The idea of Ardyn successfully stealing his own identity is equally repulsive and horrifying to Ignis and he can only hope that Noct and Gladio have seen through whatever game the chancellor is playing.

Still, Ignis is selfishly relieved to see them both relatively unharmed, even knowing what is to come. In short order the cell is breached and Noct's arms are around them, shaking with intense emotion. And Ignis is only just able to decipher his heart-torn words, "I thought I'd lost you" – words that could have been pointed toward any one of them, really.

He's more shy of Lunafreya, but she welcomes his attention, returning the embrace. Ignis suspects she has been looking forward to seeing him again, even if it is likely to be the last time.

Ardyn does not give them long to catch up so they must move, all crowding into the nearest place of relative safety. And there all his findings with Lunafreya are shared. Noct learns he is destined to die.

It is not a sacrifice Ignis is willing to make, but neither is it his to give. After absorbing the information, Noct gets that determined look about him and he always has looked rather like his father when he holds his head up high. But Ignis can't help but notice the sheen of gathered moisture in his friend's eyes.

They've no choice but to continue on, with Ardyn dogging their every step. They find the source of the block on their magic – a large machine locked behind a wall of bulletproof glass and one of the facility's code scanners. One for which Prompto holds the key.

It hardly seems like much of a revelation now, considering all they stand to lose and what is supposedly to come. For what matter are one's origins when compared to how one chooses to define their own path? Though, it's obvious Prompto expects little in way of acceptance, but with their reassurances and support he quickly overcomes his anxieties, regaining a little more of his old self, from before Ardyn started spreading his poison.

The chancellor saves his most ambitious trap for last, corralling them all in a spacious hanger with the partially turned high commander. Ravus is taller than last they'd seen him, towering over even Gladio with daemonic miasma bleeding from his eyes and tainting his entire left side. It pulsates with his every heartbeat.

Lunafreya's pleas go unheeded as her brother begs for death and a difficult battle ensues.

Half daemonized, Ravus is just as fast if not faster than when he'd assisted Ignis in reaching the alter in Altissia; his blows are wild but powerful. It takes all of them to wear him down enough for Lunafreya to even get close. Ravus' struggles only intensify as she chants to the Astrals, drawing on her healing light. But the Scourge does fade from her brother's skin, ebbing away with every moment her hands hover over his heart – until that heart grows still.

Whatever was done to Ravus, it seems he can no longer survive without the Scourge running through his veins. Lunafreya gasps, hands clinching in unspoken anguish before she withdraws them. It's with tangible sorrow she closes her brother's eyes.

They all stand guard like trespassing specters on the intimate moment as she whispers a prayer of farewell. Ignis is uncertain if any words can ease her pain.

It's Noct who eventually helps Lunafreya to her feet. "Luna... I'm sorry."

"Well, that was rather cruel of you. And after I went to all that trouble to reunite you with your brother dearest. How disappointing. I suppose I'll just have to provide you with company of a different sort."

Daemons begin to rise from the shadows before the echo of Ardyn's wretched voice can even fade from the intercom and their numbers continue to grow by the minute. Soon it becomes apparent they will be overrun if they do not withdraw. An alarm blasts from the other end of the hanger.

"The doors, they're closing!" Prompot shouts between the sharp reports of his pistol.

Gladio grunts with the effort of pushing back a reaper's scythe with his shield. "Isn't that where the Crystal is?"

"You could still get to the Crystal If you went on your own. Your friends will have to stay behind." Ardyn sounds appropriately smug as he forces their hand.

Almost on cue, larger, more powerful daemons start to emerge, iron giants and arachne joining the fray.

Ardyn's intent is clear – Noct will never make it to the Crystal if he stays to fight by their side.

"Noct!" Ignis can't help but call out, whether to offer encouragement or plea he stays is uncertain. He can't help but feel this may be the last choice Noct will ever make.

"I get it; I have to do this." Noct keeps his eyes zeroed in on the closing doors ahead. "You guys go, get to the closest city. Keep each other safe. I'll find you again."

For a moment, despair rolls within Ignis. But then he thinks of all he's learned with Luanfreya, all he's been shown. It can't all have been for nothing. There has to be a reason. And Ignis knows he won't rest, not until he finds another way, some loophole in this ancient game of fates that will spare Noct his life, but for now he will stand by his king. "We'll be waiting."

Noct glances over his shoulder and gives them one last meaningful look before he's gone, warping to the far end of the hanger and just slipping past the automated doors.

The daemons don't let up exactly after Noct leaves to join the Crystal, but they stop respawning as frequently and the four of them are able to make an escape after dealing with some of the more determined offenders.

Ignis does his best to support Lunafreya, weakened from expending her energy on her brother, while Gladio and Prompto clear the way into the night, heading for the nearest safe haven. It's a long walk.

Thanks for reading! Any feedback on what you thought of the story is super appreciated. :D