Theodore looked at 2B, then at the Oracle.
Luna was strong, but in a world that believed her dead, she was a flickering candle in a hurricane.
"2B,"
Theodore said, his voice dropping the bravado for a moment.
"You're the best guard I've got. Stay with her. Keep her in the shadows, keep her alive, and for heaven's sake, don't let her try to 'sacrifice' herself for a stray cat. She's off the clock for the destiny business."
2B gave a short, sharp nod. She adjusted the hem of her black turtleneck, her posture shifting into a defensive anchor.
"Understood, Theodore. I will protect the Oracle with the same priority as you. No harm will reach her."
Luna looked at 2B, then back at Theodore.
"Thank you. I will... try to learn how to be a 'ghost' for a while."
A few days later, Theodore and 9S boarded the luxury train heading toward the snowy fields of Tenebrae.
The atmosphere inside was suffocating.
Noctis sat by the window, staring blankly at the passing landscape.
He looked older—the grief of "losing" Luna and the weight of the Ring of the Lucii, which he refused to wear, had carved deep lines into his face.
Ignis sat opposite him, his eyes hidden behind dark bandages—a permanent reminder of the chaos in Altissia.
Gladiolus was a ticking time bomb of frustration, and Prompto was trying, and failing, to keep the mood light.
Theodore and 9S occupied a corner booth. 9S was tapping away at a portable terminal, his face obscured by the glow of the screen.
"Status check on the 'Ghost'?"
Theodore whispered.
9S tilted the screen so only Theodore could see. A small green dot was moving steadily through a secure route.
"2B and Luna are currently in a safe house near the Galahd border. They're using the Road Runner's cloaking field to stay off the Imperial radar. Luna is... well, she's spending a lot of time reading. 2B says she's teaching her about 'entertainment'."
Theodore smirked.
"Good. She needs a hobby besides prayer."
The peace was shattered by the screech of metal on metal. The train lurched violently, sending luggage flying.
Outside, the sky was thick with Niflheim dropships.
"They just don't know when to quit!"
Gladiolus roared, summoning his blade as he kicked open the train car door.
"Theodore! They're landing on the roof!"
Prompto yelled, drawing his pistol.
Theodore stood up, cracking his neck.
"9S, stay on the comms. I'm going to clear the 'passengers' off the roof."
Theodore activated Wind Walk. He didn't use the door; he used the window, sliding out and sticking to the side of the train with a mana-infused grip before flipping onto the roof.
As a Magitek Trooper swung a heavy axe, Theodore caught the haft.
With his Giant Strength, he didn't just stop the swing—he ripped the axe away and used it to cleave the Trooper's head from its chassis in a spray of sparks.
From inside the car, 9S wasn't idle.
He had hacked into the train's internal PA system and converted the speakers into high-frequency emitters.
"Uploading the 'Feedback Loop'!"
Every Magitek unit within thirty feet of the train cars suddenly began to seize, their circuits overloaded by the sonic interference.
As the train slowed down in the frozen wastes, the temperature plummeted beyond natural levels. The wind began to howl with a feminine voice.
"Gentlemen,"
Theodore said, landing back inside the train car through the broken window, his coat covered in frost.
"The Tidemother was just the warm-up. Shiva is here."
Noctis stood up, his hand trembling as he reached for the Ring in his pocket.
He looked at Theodore, his eyes searching for answers.
"Theodore... Why are you still here? Why are you helping a King who couldn't even save his own bride?"
Theodore looked the Prince dead in the eye.
"Because, Noct, the story isn't over. And if you're going to save the world, you're going to need to be a whole lot stronger than you are right now. The Ring isn't a burden; it's a tool. Start using it."
9S looked up from his terminal, his eyes glowing.
"Theodore, I've got a lock on the Glacian's location. But the Empire is dropping a Diamond Weapon—a literal mountain of Magitek—right on top of us. We're going to need more than 'Giant Strength' for this one."
Theodore grinned, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Then it's a good thing I've been saving my MP. 9S, prepare the Road Runner's remote drone. We're going to give Shiva a show she hasn't seen in a thousand years."