Final Fantasy XV-2

Dawn

Prologue

Dawn's First Light

It may have been, the most beautiful thing the glaives had ever witnessed in their lives, but also upon seeing the light did they all realize the cost of such beauty.

Prompto had held back his tears when his friend, his king, his brother, had told them to walk tall. The final farewell after a ten year wait, and only when the light was restored to this world, did he allow the tears to fall unashamedly.

With a hiccup, he placed an arm upon his tears, his sobbing grew as the day grew brighter. He felt a hand placed upon his back and upon looking, he looked to see Gladio's own eyes glistening with sorrow. The sworn shield of the king, the strongest man he ever knew, had never looked so sad. He gave Prompto a sad but understanding smile as the blond gave up sense of appearance and just collapsed into his friend's arms.

Sobbing loudly as Gladio held him close tears of his own falling down his cheeks. He turned to see Ignis staring in the direction of the Citadel, hands clenched as his own shoulders shook with his head down cast.

As the light stretched over the Citadel, the trio of men did nothing but mourn for their king. After a ten year of waiting, surviving in the darkness of their world, and only for a few hours did they have Noct back. And now, for the world to be saved from the eternal darkness, he had to fulfil the destiny given to him by the Astrals. A sacrifice to bring back the light…and never before did they wish they could go back and change things.

'H-H-He's gone', whimpered Prompto, still sobbing.

'I know bud…I know', sighed Gladio, tears still trailing down his cheeks.

*Bark* *Bark*

The trio turned to see a familiar dog sitting before them. 'I-Is that…?', Prompto gasped.

'Umbra?', Ignis asked, the familiar barking helped identify the dog.

The dog barked once more before he suddenly ran straight for the Citadel. Not ones to wait on answers the trio, with great hesitation, ran to chase the dog.

Reaching the throne room, they could only stare in grief at the empty throne, with the sword their former king Regis carried stabbed into the throne. The one time Noct sat upon his throne, it was his late time. Ignis choked back a sob as Prompto sniffled in sadness but Gladio approached where Umbra sat, just below the throne where memories of the day they departed from their home filled their minds.

A road trip, to see their brother married off to Lunafreya, what was supposed to be a great trip full of fun and memories, turned into a journey to help the young prince fulfil his role as the Chosen King of light. A trip none of them regretted, no matter the grief, pain or sadness it marked them with.

Umbra looked up at Gladio before the giant gave the throne one more look, just as his brother's joined his side. Prompto placed one hand on his chest and gave the empty throne a curt bow, one last form of respect for his late friend. Joining suit, Gladio and Ignis repeated his gesture, heavy hearted and eyes growing even wetter with grief.

'The death of the Chosen King weighs upon us all'.

They all turned to see Gentiana, eyes still closed as always and hands clasped together in that peaceful manner. They all stood still as she addressed them. 'Glaives of the Chosen King, thy work for him is not yet completed', she spoke in that otherworldly tone.

At this, Prompto was the first to voice their thoughts. 'W-What do you mean? Noct's…gone', he said. Just saying that sentence twisted his heart. Gentiana stepped forward until she stood in the centre. 'The King and Oracle, have but one last request from you all, should you choose to accept it', she explained. 'But if thou believe the request is too much, then you may decline'.

'After all the hell we went through? Nothing Noct could throw at us would even slow us down', Gladio said sternly.

Slowly Gentiana smiled as a light glowed from her, blinding them all briefly until the entire throne room was basked in beautiful light. 'A blessing upon this world, and one last gift from your brother, and a final mercy from the Astrals', she said as her voice vanished into nothing.

The light ceased as Prompto and Gladio looked to see nothing before them, Gentiana or Umbra were to be seen. 'What just happened?', the blond asked. Before Gladio could answer his question with the same amount of confusion he carried, he turned to Ignis…carrying a white bundle. Slowly Prompto and Gladio joined his side as the former advisor took off his glasses…and showed his unscarred face. 'I-Iggy', Prompto gasped.

The advisor choked back a sob once he turned to see his friends again, tears dancing down his own elegant cheeks. But before he could display the joy in the form of words, he suddenly felt something shift in his arms. All three pairs of eyes looked down to see, in the arms of Ignis, was a baby. A small being that shifted in its sleep before they finally opened their eyes. Showing the most beautiful set of blue eyes the party had seen.

'They…look like Noct's', Gladio stated dumbly. The baby looked up at the three with wide curiosity, making small noises as their hands slowly reached up. Prompto gave the little one a small wave before he allowed her to grip his finger. 'Is this…Noct and Luna's…child?', Ignis asked, more so himself. 'Gentiana DID say it was from the king and oracle', Gladio mused. 'Maybe this is the Astrals way of giving the world a Lucis and oracle?'.

Ignis mused at this, a good explanation and one that would make sense. Yet something else took priority.

'Let's go home'.

*Hammerhead*

The trip back was more silent than the trip to Insomnia, even as the world was basked in light, the daemon population had greatly receded since the light was brought back. Ignis kept looking at Prompto, who was carrying the baby closely to his chest. Ignis had discovered the babe was a girl, and the very moment he handed her to Prompto, the blond was constantly vigilant with her and carrying her so carefully as if she was made of glass.

Gladio himself was being so quiet it almost spooked Ignis when he saw the large man beside him. The silence however wasn't unwelcomed, many of them trying to come to terms with the events that took place within the few hours since they saw the light return. Ignis' vision being restored, a baby from the king and oracle, and Noct's passing, three major bombshells that shook them all.

'What do we do with her?', Prompto asked, as the baby was gently tugging his goatee.

Ignis turned to see the blond, worried. 'We look after her of course', Ignis spoke, as if that was obvious. 'Oh no that goes without saying…but I meant about royalty and protocol stuff?', clarified Prompto. Ignis looked at the baby, still tugging the hideous goatee, with worry. With Insomnia in ruins, there would be no place for royalty to grow, plus it would take years, decades even, to establish a government.

And without the crystal, would she even have the same powers her father had? Or Astrals forbid, would she be the next oracle? Seeing her in this form, an innocent child unaware of the legacy her ancestors had laid before her…

'Why not raise her like a normal kid?'.

They both turned to see Gladio staring ahead. 'Without a crystal or anything really, there's no need for a princess or even a queen. Maybe, we could give her that life Regis wanted for Noct', he explained. Prompto and Ignis looked at each other, not necessarily disagreeing with the idea but…

Eos will need a leader, and with Niflheim, Tenebrae and Altissia's governments in shambles, and there was potential for rebuilding their home in peace. Still, looking back at the child and on Gladio's words, would it be selfish of them to want this child to have a normal life? 'Could we?', Prompto asked, finally pulling his chin away from the grabby hands. 'Maybe, just for a few years?'. Ignis gave a hum of thought before they arrived at their destination.

Hammerhead was relatively empty, depraved of hunters it appeared. No doubt many of them took the opportunity to hunt down a few daemons during the daylight, not that the three glaives complained. They were more looking forward to familiar faces.

'Guys!'. Speaking of which.

Prompto grinned widely at the sight of the apple of his eye, Cindy. She waved happily at the trio as she approached them with the widest grin they'd ever seen. Wearing a heavy brown coat that covered her up entirely with blue jeans and black boots. She still wore her cap and goggles for the past ten years, her blond hair cut shorter till the hair was above her ears.

'Cindy', Prompto said dreamily, ignoring the eye rolls of the other two.

'Glad y'all made it…', she started but her smile faded when she only counted three among the party. But then her eyes targeted the babe in Prompto's arms. 'Err Prom? Why do ya have a baby?', she asked. 'And…Ignis, your eyes', she gasped.

'…Long story', the ex-advisor said sadly.

At the looks on the faces, Cindy put two and two together and answered the question burning in her mind. She weakly smiled as she gestured the old restaurant. 'Well, the others are waiting inside for y'all, think they wanna know what happened', she explained.

'But, you guys can take it easy if ya want'.

'Appreciate the offer, but, I fear they'll want answers as soon as possible', Ignis responded with a sigh. 'We best get this over with'.

Oh how he dreaded this moment.

Entering the former restaurant turned HQ, the trio could see a few familiar faces around the place. Talcott was at the stool cleaning his hunter's knife but judging from how he refused to look at the party, it was more to distract himself from seeing the number of the royal party had become short one man. Cid, of all people, was at a table, giving his former costumers a sombre look.

Any of the former glaives or crownsguard members however were not present, Monica and Dustin had sadly passed away during the ten-year darkness. Monica dying from an attack by the daemons during an escort of supply trucks, being one of the drivers. Dustin met a much more peaceful end, his age combined with the grief of Monica's death, it was enough to see him make his way to the former king Regis.

Yet there was only one person at this very moment Ignis was rather apprehensive and worried to finally see. And just as he steeled himself, the door behind the restaurant, which was more of a safe bed room, opened.

First to come out was Iris, wearing a leather shirt like Gladio used to wear except with a dark red t-shirt within it, a pair of grey pants with noticeable tears around her knees and thighs, dirty brown boots with several patches of the colours smudged off. Her brown hair was longer and unkempt.

She smiled at Gladio but upon seeing there was only three of them, her eyes watered slightly. The brother quickly approached her and gave her the much needed hug she needed, as she silently sobbed into his chest. 'He's gone…', she whimpered. 'Yeah…', Gladio affirmed.

Ignis turned to the door though, seeing it just opened an inch, a small child peeking from it. Soft silvery hair with curious green eyes, similar to his own. Ignis approached the door, just three steps away from it before he knelt down. The child refused to budge though, watching the older man. Ignis gave him a small smile.

'Fulgur, come out', he asked.

Slowly, the child pried himself from the door and stood before Ignis, hands clasped together shyly. Wearing a moogle printed t-shirt (Iris' choice of clothing) a pair of dirty blue shorts and brown shoes, Fulgur looked up to Ignis. Then, he suddenly ran into him, embracing the man in a tight hug. Ignis returning it just as strong.

'Dada…', the child squeaked, burying himself into his father's neck.

Ignis chuckled with tears down his eyes. He kept mentally thanking Noct, the gift to finally see his son with his own eyes. To see what he looked like, what he'll grow to be, what his personality will be like. Never in his life did Ignis ever feel so blessed just to see.

*Later*

With the baby in Iris' arms, who had taken a great liking to the babe, and Fulgur put to bed after a story from his father, the four friends of the passed king begun to speak of what is to come. After several debates, discussions on the subject matter of the hierarchy and future of their kingdom, Ignis was the first to break the ice.

'With the child as the only remaining royalty in this world, we must restore Insomnia', he explained. 'Not just for the line of Lucis, but for her people too'.

'I'm all up for rebuilding the Crown City as much as everyone else, but what about Niflheim?', asked Gladio. 'Think they'll try again with taking the city?'.

'I have my worries on the matter but without an emperor or any military strength, I dare say they may focus on rebuilding first before they try to reclaim their lands'.

Prompto hummed in agreement with that, after seeing what became of the capital ten years ago, he could only imagine the state the city would be in now. Not to mention many of the inhabitants that didn't become daemons thanks to the experimentations.

'And the people? How do we explain to them that their new ruler is a baby?', Gladio asked.

'That…is a bridge we'll cross once we come to it', Ignis replied, pushing his glasses up a bit. 'But for now I believe the best course of action, is to keep her a secret until she reaches the right age'.

'So we're gonna raise her in secret?', Prompto asked.

'We're not going to seclude her from the world, but in regards to the line of Lucis, we'll keep that under wraps for now'.

The two glaives nodded before they all turned to the baby, now staring up and giggling at the silly faces Iris was making at her. Tiny hands reached up to grip her teasing finger, bright eyes staring up at the huntress.

Iris looked at the glaives with a smile.

*Next Day*

Placing the last of his stuff in the back of the truck with Iris', Ignis turned to see his son standing there, his moogle plushie in his small arms. Ignis knelt down and ruffled his silvery locks, earning a small giggle from his reserved child.

'Are we going to Les...Les...', he tried.

'Lestallum, and yes. We're going home, my boy', answered his father.

His son still had difficulty with bigger words, something the former advisor will endeavour to rectify once they settled in a new lifestyle. The plushie was a gift from Prompto when he was born, something to help him sleep at night when Ignis wasn't around. Since then the boy had refused to let it go whenever he was about to go driving or to sleep.

'Is Iris coming too?', he asked.

'Yes, along with Aurora', said Ignis.

'Aurora?'.

'The baby'.

With that, Ignis placed the boy in the truck in the middle, much to the boy's dismay as he loved the window seat. But he was the smallest among the traveling group and Iris was carrying the baby too. Ignis turned to see Gladio and Prompto escorting the baby and Iris.

'So we all alright with this?', the shield inquired.

'That Iris is gonna be Mama Iris?', joked Prompto.

One quick whack to his head quickly doused any further jokes the blond had stacked up.

Iris rolled her amber eyes as she looked at her new daughter, sleeping blissfully unaware. 'Don't forget to visit your niece boys', she chastised playfully, 'She'll be expecting you'.

'She'll be expecting Iggy the most though', Gladio mused. If that child was going to anything like Noct, she would certainly need an Ignis.

Iris giggled before she headed for the truck, giving the trio a moment.

Alone, the three shared a sombre look, eyes downcast with sadness yet hinted with happiness. 'I guess this is it', Prompto mused, 'No more camping or miss-adventures'. 'Yeah…but hey, we're gonna have to meet up every now and then', Gladio affirmed.

'If we can pry ourselves away from our duties', Ignis said with a smirk, 'Especially in your case, Gladio'.

The large man followed the gaze of his friend to his own car, inside was a woman who looked heavily pregnant, amusing a little girl who sat in the back seat of the car. The woman had amber coloured hair that was cut short with soft brown eyes, wearing a black shirt looking very similar to Gladio's crownsguard shirt for a coat, her belly protruding outwards, a pair of blue jeans that looked faded.

The little girl had her father's hair colour and light amber coloured eyes, wearing a black t-shirt and a pair of red shorts. She was grinning madly at her mother's stories, no doubt about her dad's days of being the shield to his majesty. Gladio chuckled to himself, running a hand through his hair as he smiled at the two.

'So where you headed?', asked Prompto.

'There's a town by Galdin Quay, we've got a place there', he explained, 'Just need to help rebuild a few parts to keep any daemons away'.

'Beachside home, sounds lovely', Ignis complimented.

'Yeah, plenty of ways to keep a kid entertained', Gladio said.

They both turned to the blond, who sheepishly scratched his cheeks, not looking at Cindy. The latter was smiling away while leaning against a car as Gladio and Ignis the younger man a smirk each. 'So…I think I'll stick around Hammerhead for a while', Prompto said shyly. The man was still pinning for the goddess of machine it seems. Least he is consistent.

'Best of luck', Ignis wished, patting him on the shoulder while Gladio patted his back.

With their farewells said and done, the two older men drove off to their futures as Prompto watched them both disappear over the horizon as the sun shined down on them all.

A new journey was at hand…