Author's note: This story took on a magical girl transformation, changing from one form to another. I thought it wouldn't work out, but yahoo a fanfic was born!
Story takes place before the start of FFXV.
Grand Ambitions
Chapter 1
Oriana Sisenna was startled reading mid-paragraph in her novel. Though the markets always teemed with bustle and chatter, it became background noise. But this instance was unusual, for a young man who had rushed over to her food stall was positively glowing.
Hardly anyone did more than pass through with a quick perusal. Not a wonder as these Adamantoise treats were extremely expensive despite their small packaging. She didn't capture them herself, but it was disheartening all the same to have such a rare delicacy go to waste.
"Is it true these are made from the Adamantoise?" the eager blond asked, his lit face a welcome sight compared to the bored expressions which were commonplace here.
"Y-Yes." Oriana cleared her throat, trying to sound professional. "The rare meat of Adamantoise is a delightful taste. Subtle, yet gamey."
He sighed, as though he had found a long lost friend. "I remembered I had eaten this so long ago. Feels like forever." His blue eyes glittered and Oriana couldn't help giggling. He was really amusing, even if he didn't buy anything.
Oriana raised a curious brow at him. "You… know what Adamantoise is?"
"Only the best meat in the world if their tusks don't skewer you first!" the man exclaimed a little too loudly, causing some bystanders to gawk at him.
Excitement began bubbling within Oriana. She never met anyone who had intimate details about this mythical creature. Well, it seemed mythical to her since she never saw a real one.
Her potential customer snatched a bag of the tasty jerky and inspected it. Oriana relished in it, for this could be the last time this sight was had. Poor sales and dwindling stocks were a depressing hit.
Oriana pointed at a sign taped on the table near his waist. "There's a special offer. Two bags get you a discount."
"Oh yes, I don't care how much this costs!" He laughed and dug into his waist pouch for a wallet.
Oriana laughed alongside him. "I appreciate that."
"Prompto! Where did ya go?" a gruff voice called loudly from within the bustle of shoppers.
"Over here! I found something really good!" The exuberant man waved his arm at a group of his three friends who were weaving their way past the crowds.
"Good enough to snatch our cash pot and run off?" A tall and sturdy dark-haired man bounded through the throng and in the next instant had grabbed his blond buddy in a headlock.
Prompto flailed, holding out his not-yet-purchased sundries at arm's length. "Gahhhh! Don't do that, Gladio! You're gonna wreck this!"
The big man lessened his chokehold when a shorter, ebony-haired young man came by and seized the jerky packages to read their labels.
Behind the reading man's shoulder stood Prompto's last friend, a spectacled fellow whose gaze also followed downwards.
"Is this snack authentic? Adamantoises are incredibly difficult to come by."
His doubting green eyes rested on her. A little miffed, Oriana harrumphed. "I can assure you the jerky is real."
Prompto, who had broken free, joined his friend who gave back the packages. "I haven't had this stuff in ages! C'mon guys, it'll be so worth the price! Noctis, you'll love it!"
"Maybe." The shorter man shrugged. "Has Gladiolus eaten this stuff before?"
Noctis? Interesting name. Where had she heard it from? Something she read? She had gone through so many tales lately.
"If we don't let him get the jerky, we'll never hear the end of it, Ignis." Gladiolus directed to the tall man, drawing Oriana's attention back.
"Undoubtedly." Ignis shook his head, as if he had gone through this routine. To Prompto, he said, "All right, just one, then we leave."
"Yes!" Prompto yelled.
After her actual customer deliberated between two flavors –a solid five minute discussion- Oriana bagged his choice and handed it to him.
"Thanks for your purchase." Oriana smiled and tried to infuse a modicum of enthusiasm to her farewell. Doing so felt foreign. Her sales had been that slow.
The buoyant man, ready to bound away with skipping steps at his rare find, leaned closer. His inquiring expression took her aback. "Is something wrong?"
"Just enjoy your treat. You probably won't get them much longer." As soon as Oriana said this, she regretted it. Nice going. Now he's really going to demand his money back.
"What? Why?" His alarm was understandable. He had found a favorite snack and it was going away so soon.
"Adamantoise are super rare, let alone hard to take down. I'm actually selling the last of these bags, before… not." People couldn't understand the delight that was Adamantoise meat due to the high prices. Oriana was astonished someone knew about this type of meat, let alone tasted it.
Prompto remained silent for a long lapse, contemplating something. Deciding something, he suddenly thrust out his open palm towards her. His grin dazzled. "I'm Prompto."
Blinking at his surge of enthusiasm, she slowly shook his hand. Rough, callused skin met hers, yet his gesture was careful. "Oriana. Oriana Sisenna."
"You don't mind if I come back, do you?" he asked. The smile still hadn't left his face.
Oriana felt a grin return his own. "I'd like that."