Author's note: So, I'm a really amateur author who is really a disaster at writing romance. So I decided make an account an practice my romantic writing, I just finished Final Fantasy XV and all it's DLCs except for Episode Ardyn obviously. I didn't like the take of Luna's and Noctis's romance, but turns out that I really liked Iris's character and it make way more sense that he end up with her, well it's just my opinion after all. So this is my take on the events after the final battle with Ardyn, no need to say I'll take some liberties with the characters and excuse me if my english is not all that good.

With that said, please enjoy and review, your opinion it's important to me :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy

Chapter 1

After the long night

It was almost like a dream, or a nightmare. Most of the nightmares she experienced started like that, the bright sun, the light of a new day, and the heat that touch her skin infusing her with energy and new hopes. Just like those mornings at Lestalum and Cape Caem, every morning was like that.

But a nightmare was a nightmare and the darkness never overdid it's presence. Then the demons came, the sadness and the sorrow, and not a single person who she can share her painful thoughts.

Iris Amicitia had to grow up fast, just like all the young people when the Long Night came. A whole generation decimated because of the Starscourge, but she tried to be strong, she trained, she made herself stronger not only for her brother Gladio, not only for her friends and the future, but for the person that was fighting a battle in a place where she couldn't help at all.

So that day when Noctis Lucius Caelum came back from his ten years slumber she felt a whole new fire inside of her, this was it, this was the moment she was preparing for. So with new resolve and a heart full of courage she took her phone and dial Noctis's number.

But when she heard his voice so different, so mature and yet still holding that amazingly cute young tone she just couldn't tell him.

"Actually, there's something I'll like to talk to you about." Iris said.

"What?" He asked with authentic interest.

But she couldn't manage the guys to tell him, not by phone anyway. "It can wait. I'd rather talk about it in person. So...just make sure you come back in one piece, okay?"

"Yeah...thanks for taking care of everyone while a was gone" His tone changed suddenly to be more serious "And, if anything happens, I'll be counting on you."

Iris chuckle a little to blow up some tension "I'm sure nothing would happen. De you soon, okay Noct?"

"Yeah, see you soon."

She hang up and of course there was this ominous feeling hanging in her heart because of Noctis's words, but he was here, he was going to save the world so everything will be ok from now on, right?

Well indeed, just two days later, which were really hard to tell without a clock, the sun finally raised to the sky. For a moment she thought her eyes were melting because of the light she hasn't seen for a whole decade. But no, Iris was crying out of happiness and pure joy, that light was the hope for a whole new future for her and for everyone. And it was the promised day for her, she will tell him, she will tell him for sure.

Her heart was beating so fast she could swear it was going to turn in to a Regalia flying engine. She run to her garage in Lestalum and ride her motorcycle right to Insomnia. Even though the demons were gone she still kept her sword in her back, you could never be too careful.

The ride took a few hours and of course there was absolutely no traffic to enter the city in ruins. It was a tragic sight but also an amazing view to see the beauty of the royal palace showered by the sunlight.

The Kingsglaives where gather around the courtyard of the palace along with the crownsguard, her master and mentor Cor was talking to some glaives.

"Cor. How are you doing, is everything cool?" Iris ask with a bright smile.

"Hey, Iris ist been a while. Well, I guess you already noticed, his majesty King Noctis has won the battle, it was quite spectacular to say the least"

"So where are they, is Glady with him?"

"Probably, they haven't come down from the throne room, I was just going on on ahead to see them. Do you wish to come?"

"Yeah. Let's go."

Iris and Cor entered the building and reach the elevator. "That's weird, the elevator is working" said Iris.

Apparently ten years wasn't enough to kill the mechanism so the took the ride up without giving it much thought, but then, Iris almost started panic. Just what the fuck she was going to say to Noctis when she sees him.

Glad you're okay?

Looking good, your majesty?

Good work, but now the true challenge starts?

"I love you" Iris whispered.

"Did you say something?" Cor asked making Iris jump for a second.

"I said nothing" She lied.

Finally they reach the throne room, she had been there before and Iris was always amazed by how beautiful it was, right now it was on ruins but it will be one of the many things they will rebuild from now on.

Iris saw three men in the base of the giant platform. She recognize all of them, but something was clearly wrong.

Gladdy was sitting on the floor cross-legged, Prompto was on his knees crying and Ignis was standing in front of the throne with his head down. Iris's heart stop when she saw the man lying in the floor, his black suit was stained with blood coming out of a horrible wound in his chest, his face…

Iris's legs failed and she could just stare at the face of the man she was there to see, the face of the man she loved with all her heart, his hair was way longer than before, he also had some facial hair and his chin was a little more sharp but he was him, it was her Noctis. Gladdy raised her head when he heard her sister whimper, and the pain was written all over his face.

"Iris…" he tried to say.

But she couldn't listen, she just move on her knees, slowly and painful has there was a invisible force trying to hide her from the awful truth. But she kept moving until she was right next to Noctis, and then she couldn't hold back anymore. She didn't need to check his pulse or anything, he was gone and she knew it. Iris started crying and screaming in pain, the pain in her heart was unbearable, she just want it to die right there.

Gladdy hold her tightly has if he could read her mind and avoid that she did something crazy.

"It's okay" say Gladio with a trembling voice and padding her head, that's all he could do. "It's okay Iris."

"No!" She yelled "it's not okay. I...I…"

"I know"

But then in a single moment, she remember Ignis's story about how he lost his sight. How he spoke with the old Kings of Lucis and granted his wish to protect Noctis and manage to overcome death, a task who even the legendary Nyx Ulric couldn't pull off. All because Ignis's determination and friendship.

No, she wouldn't accept this, she was done doing the god's beading. Iris separated from Gladio and set her eyes on Noctis's hand, but the ring of the Lucii wasn't there. But a few meters near to the throne there was the sword of the Father, King Regis's Royal Arm, she raise on her feet andstar walking towards it.

"Iris? What are you" Gladio asked and everybody turned her attention towards her.

"I waited so long, I waited because I was afraid, afraid of the pain, and now I'm feeling in the flesh, all because I was a coward. But not anymore" Said Iris taking the Sword of the Father. Then she literally stabbed the floor with it.

"Kings of Lucis, heed my call!" She said with a strong voice. Everyone was in silence. Iris tried again "Kings of Lucis, heed my call!"

"Iris, please" Gladio said.

"Kings of Lucis, heed my call!"

Gladio standed, this time with an angry tone. "Iris, that's enough!"

But Iris didn't listen, she was done listening, now they will listen to her.

"Astrals, heed my call!" Her voice sounded wit an unnatural eco that resonated in the whole room, even Gladio had to stop in his track, stunned by the strange occurrence. But it was even stranger when the Sword of the Father shattered and everything went dark, she had seen that before, this powerful atmosphere completely out of this world. She saw it when Noctis managed to summons the Astral Titan to help them defeat a Bandersnatch while she was accompanying them.

But this time there was not earthquake or lightning, there was a light right in the middle of the room. Form that light a figure emerged, a giant bird with feathers like fire and colors like the rainbow, it was one of the most beautiful things Iris had ever seen.

"I am Phoenix and I had heed your call, Iris Amicitia" the bird said with a magnanimous voice.

"Are you an Astral?" Iris asked completely stunned.

"That I am. Although not from this world."

"You mean like Garuda?" Prompto asked "She was from another dimension and she managed to come to help us"

"I came from a world where the bloodthirsty actions of one single man almost destroy the world, throwing it into darkness and sorrow, and in a single year he manage to bring humanity to the edge of extinction. But a group of brave warriors fought and defeating him with the help of my kind, now it is my turn to perform a last miracle before I ascend to the realm beyond"

"You mean...you can bring Noctis back? Can you really save him?"

Phoenix was silent for a second. "That I cannot do without the approval of your gods, there was a pact with the Royal bloodline, a pact which is not easily severed. I won't be able to return life to the one True King without his soul, you must go to the gods and ask them for his soul to be free, and then he will be able to go back."

Iris looked at Noctis, he was everything to him and he had died protecting his people, the people of the whole world, he didn't had a change, he was always a tool to the gods, just like Luna, Regis and Nyx. She will go to hell itself to fix this.

"Phoenix, I accept. I will bring his soul back" Said Iris determination.

"I'll go too." Said Prompto "He is my best friend, I'll never give up on him"

Iris smiled at Prompto.

"Me too" Said Gladio "Somebody has to keep you two knuckleheads save"

Ignis jumped off the platform "And may I ask who will keep all of you in line? I'm going too, no objection"

Gladio smile at his friend even though he couldn't see him "I couldn't expect less from you, Iggy."

"Then it is decided" Phoenix said "You are all Kingsglaives, it is your duty to protect the King and proof yourselves to the gods. One last gift for the upcoming battle"

Four flames escaped from Phoenix's body md reach to each one of them.

In front of them, four Royal Arms materialized.

Iris took the Sword of the Mystic, Prompto the Star of the Rogue, Ignis the Sword of the Warrior and Gladio the Sword of the Tall.

"Now go forth warriors. Save your King" and with that Phoenix disappeared.

Prompto was the one who broke the silence "Whoa...So did somebody got what exactly we are supposed to do?"

"Well if I have to guess" Cor intervened "Phoenix said something about save the King and proof yourself to the gods, there is only one place where I think that could be."

Ignis look at the void with a serious expression "The place where the Kingsglaives fought to reclaim their honor" said Ignis.

"The same place where Ardyn was locked up" said Gladio.

Iris clenched her fist, she was sacred of this difficult task, but she was going to see it through, she was going to save Noctis, it was her turn to fight.

"The same place where Noct is" she said.

The four of them then went out of the throne route and set their route to the forgotten island of Angelgard.

-o-

In whole different place, Noctis fell a new kind of strength fill his soul.

Author's note: and that's Chapter 1. Has you can see there is going to be some adventure and fighting involved and also some character development for Noctis just to set up his relationship with Iris. I hope you enjoyed it and hope to see you in the next chapter. Please review.