A/N: This is the first Final Fantasy Versus XIII/FFXV I've ever written! I somewhat feel accomplished! Woohoo! :D Please review and/or favorite. 3 Reviews and I'll update and add more!

My North Star
Prologue
[Inspired by Lana Del Rey's "Young and Beautiful"]

"Stella!"

Noctis ran forward, desperate to clasp the young injured princess. He cursed to himself as he approached her. She clutched her abdomen tightly, trying to suppress the wound from pooling out all her blood. He took hold of her back, balancing her backwards and lowering her weak body to the ground. Her body lay on his crouching legs.

"Stella…" he breathed. He felt hot tears begin to fill his eyes. This wasn't supposed to happen. He never wanted this to happen. And why, why of all people would the woman he loved become a victim of such cataclysmic war? Whether or not she was of Tenebraen descent, he still loved her. Love, in his eyes, went further than nationality and status. It was an action of adoration and protection. And he had failed to protect her.

He clutched her free hand tightly, letting the tears fall freely from his eyes. He no longer cared. For his entire life, he had been a shy person, concealing his true self through a façade of a stronger, cooler looking hero. But he wasn't any of that. Not then, not soon, not at this very moment. He let his true self show and he was worried—terrified—of losing his only love. He had already lost his father and that had been a dagger through his heart. But if he were to lose Stella, his only light, his only source of peace, his one and only long lost soul mate…he would surely die. He would rather die than live a life without her.

Stella looked wearily at Noctis, feeling the warm tears fall on her bloodstained cheeks. She smiled and tightened her hold on his hand. The prince to Stella looked so childish and cute when he showed his true self, especially when he cried. His current face would make anyone want to comfort the poor boy, give him something to cling on, to believe in again. "Noct…" she whispered. Her voice was sullen and raspy, but Noctis clearly heard her through his teary state.

"Oh, Stella—I'm so sorry. I promised…promised to protect you but I couldn't. I promised you I'd be at your side no matter what, but I failed to do so. And now…now you're hurt…" He hadn't had a chance to properly look at her wound, but he looked down at her stomach and saw that the wound was deep. It looked as though a long, wide blade had cut through her, but from the looks of the battle, she had fought valiantly and won, but not without serious injuries. The blood continued to seep through the wound, now staining his leather pants that comforted Stella's back.

He let go of her hand and put it on the one she used to press against the wound. He added his hand to try and reduce the blood flow. Hopefully it would be enough time for Ignis and Cor to come with the medical equipment.

Stella looked lovingly into Noctis's eyes, her hope still shining brightly within her violet orbs. "Noct…" she whispered. She rested her head close to his chest. "Thank you for worrying about me. It makes me happy that you thought of me while I constantly thought of you." She coughed and hacked for a moment, a new stream of blood lining her jaw line.

Seeing this, Noctis held Stella closer and wiped away the blood with this glove. To see her in so much pain gnawed his insides. Anger, hatred, fear, anxiety—everything pooled into one ball of confused emotions that he was afraid would break. And the only one who could help him contain it was the woman dying in his arms.

"Stella, please don't talk. They will be coming soon. Please, Stella, hang on", he pleaded, bringing more tears down his face.

Stella laughed a little, a smile blooming on her soft pink lips. "Okay", she replied. The two stayed in that position for what seemed like hours. She in his arms, clinging to dear life but was at the same time content with her fate. She had helped Noctis save his kingdom, save the last crystal, save the man she loved. She could die happily right at this very moment. Noctis, worried endlessly, dreaded each and every passing moment. Each minute was another sixty seconds taken away from Stella's remaining life. He simply prayed it would last long enough for her to be saved.

No longer than ten minutes later, two men appeared—a suited young male with glasses holding a black case and next to him a muscular, intimidating man who looked well shaven but strict and serious. He carried what looked like oxygen tanks. They quickly sprinted towards Noctis and Stella, and without a word, quickly got to work. They rested Stella on a fold-out stretcher. Ignis took out a handkerchief and sprayed a clear liquid onto the cloth before putting it up to Stella's nostrils. Noctis watched as Stella's eyes quickly succumbed to the chemical, immediately put to sleep senselessly. Meanwhile, Cor worked on her wound. He had been in battle many times and a wound like this was quite common amongst his men. The only problem was did they have enough time to save her?

Noctis helped as much as he could by retrieving some medical tools for Cor and adjusting the oxygen mask placed on Stella's breathing organs. He watched and held onto Stella's bloody hand, hoping that the goddess Etro would grant Stella the rest of her life.

It felt like forever once the two men had finished. Stella's wounds had been slathered in healing ointment and heavily wrapped in bandages. Noctis and Cor took hold of the stretcher while Ignis took hold of the equipment. They headed back to the Caelum Palace, or what was left of it.