Chapter 1

Sunrise

Something shifted in the air. The daemons were vaporizing as the sun rose.

"Hey guys! Look at that!" Prompto pointed excitedly at the sunrise.

"Damn. It's been awhile." Gladio lifted his greatsword over his shoulder.

Ignis remained silent as he felt the heat return to the world. The darkness that they had been living in was turning into a warm pulse against his ruined eyes. If the sun was rising that could only mean one thing. "Noctis." He murmured.

He felt Gladio tense next to him.

"We need to go find him... maybe he isn't..." Prompto knew it was impossible. But he refused to believe his best friend was gone. They needed to find him. He sprinted back up the Citadel steps.

"Prompto! Don't!" Ignis called after the blond. "Gladio! Don't let him reach the throne." He heard the heavy steps follow Prompto's swift ones.

Noctis had told Ignis enough of what was to happen for the advisor to realize that there was no way Prompto should be the one to find their King. He should remember his best friend the way he saw him last. Strong, determined... alive.

"Prompto! You need to wait dammit!" Gladio's voice echoed down the halls.

Every part of his being was shaking; he didn't know what he would see behind this door. Last time Ardyn had mocked them from the throne as broken bodies dangled lifelessly from chains on the ceiling. King Regis, Lunafreya, one of the Kingsglaive who Prompto had recognized but never spoke to. Ulric or something? And Iedolas from Nifilheim. Ardyn had even been working with the man for years! The image of their bodies would forever haunt Prompto. And he hadn't been close with any of them. What if Noct had joined them? What if he couldn't even tell if the body behind those doors was Noctis anymore?

Distantly he heard Gladio's stomping run. Taking a deep breath he pushed open the heavy doors. There he was. Noctis was where he belonged, on the throne. But he was definitely not alive. Prompto felt a lump in his throat as he ascended the staircase to the throne. His eyes never leaving his best friend's still form. A sword through the chest was keeping Noctis upright. It was the sword that had been the previous King's.

Dropping hard to his knees Prompto took Noct's cold hand in his. Sobs racked his chest as he buried his face into his King's leg.

"Wake up Noct... You did it! The sun is back. The daemons... they're gone!" He cried unashamed.

A moment later he heard Gladio join him by the throne and Ignis was a few moments behind him.

"ITS NOT RIGHT!" Prompto screamed. "He lost everything! His father! Luna! His home! He didn't deserve this! He saved our world and he didn't even get to see the sun rise one more time! The least he deserved was to see Insomnia in the light!"

Gladio rested a hand on his shoulder.

"That's all I wanted for him! All this time. Was that he would get to see the sun rise one more time safely from where he belonged here in Insomnia."

"Prompto..." Gladio's deep voice rumbled.

"You're his Shield! Why couldn't you stop this?!"

Gladio just looked at Noct's slumped form, his eyes giving away nothing.

"Enough Prompto." Ignis said sharply. "Noctis was raised a Prince of Lucis. He was well aware before we even left for Altissa that as a decedent of the Lucian line he would eventually give his life to protect his people like many Kings before him."

"At least King Regis grew grey first before he died!" Prompto still was crying on his friend.

"True. Noct's death was certainly untimely. But he knew what he was doing. He did it to save us. To save Insomnia. To right the wrong of his ancestor."

Ignis wanted to say more. He wanted to give a grand speech in honor of his King. In honor of the boy he had advised, cooked for, cleaned after, had countless meaningless arguments with. In honor of his closest friend. But his throat seemed to becoming tighter. Reaching out he placed a hand on Gladio's shoulder and his other on Prompto's shoulder. Gladio reached out to Ignis as well. They stood there for a moment in silence.

Ignis hated being the voice of reason sometimes. But he knew they couldn't leave Noctis here forever. "We should move the body." He murmured.

Gladio nodded in agreement. With a firm grip he pulled the Father's Sword from Noctis's body. In doing so the weapon vanished a flash of cyan blue light.

"Where did it go?" Prompto asked, his voice practically a whisper.

"With the last of the Luci gone I would assume the Royal Arms no longer have a need of existence." Ignis speculated.

Gladio lifted Noctis into his arms. Not that he would say so out loud but Prompto was right. It wasn't fair. They had just gotten Noctis back. For ten years they had faith their King would return. And when he did? They had him for less than twenty-four hours before they lost him again. Only this time was permanent. His friend's pale face was a starking contrast to his raven colored hair. Those cerulean blue eyes would never again open to silently mock something Prompto had said or to roll them when Ignis started a lecture. Never again would they burn with determination to duel with his Shield.

What kind of Shield was he? Noctis died by sword. A good Shield would have deflected such an attack. Shaking his head to clear the train of thought Gladio looked forward as he headed to the old chambers of his King. Noctis was many things, but not weak. He had told them that he would need to sacrifice himself. Well he didn't say it. But it had been implied. He only hoped that when he died it had been as quick as possible. No way it was painless. But hopefully he hadn't suffered too long.

A phoenix down was burning in his pocket. He wanted nothing more than to use it. But Ignis had been firm when he had told Gladio and Prompto that it would not work. Something about Noct's soul no longer being present. Did that mean that Noctis wasn't resting in peace? Did he leave this world so he could fight yet another war in a different realm? Was the King still fighting? And without his Shield to assist him?

Gladio realized he needed to stop chasing that thought process as well. It was too much to bear to think Noctis wasn't finally resting. The only thing he consistently asked for on their journey was a nap. Surely he had earned one by now?

As he laid Noctis gingerly on his old bed, he heard footsteps approaching from outside the door. Three people. Prompto was the one who was dragging his feet surely. Ignis always walked with a certain grace that made his steps quieter than most. And one more pair of steps. Confident, but tired steps. A moment later his friends walked in with none other than Cor the Immortal. The older man looked tired, but otherwise unharmed.

"I see. Regis was right all along." Cor muttered seeing Noctis behind Gladio.