It stopped. There was almost an unearthly calm about the city. The 4 Glaives stopped as their weapons faltered and vanished from their hands, but as they dissolved, so did the daemons they were fighting. Prompto's muscles all suddenly gave in at once and he fell to his knees, feeling palpitations in his chest. Gladio kept his back to the others and Ignis stumbled to steady himself as if his remaining senses had also failed him.

No one knew what to say, and none of them could move. They were frozen in place forcing time to stand still. Prompto was the first to break into tears, little shakey breaths turned to whimpers. He gripped his jacket struggling to catch his breaths as he sobbed, leaning down into the floor curling up into the fetal position. Ignis held his breath to listen to his ally cry, using every ounce of his remaining strength to hold back his own pain. Hearing Gladio's stifled crying sounds was the last straw, and tears began to stream down his cheeks.

Shouldn't they be celebrating now? After all that fighting they had finally won. The 4 of them had set out on a long journey together, with the idea of winning the war, and ended up with the prize of saving the world, but what of their reward?. Prompto could not control his breathing and his body convulsed and he shook, unable to decipher pain from illness. He threw up choking to desperately catch a breath. Gladio grabbed the back of the blonds jacket and yanked him to stand smacking his back to persuade him to breath again. The bond staggered from the force and paced a little to his left, away from the others.

"Easy." Ignis bleated. He grit his teeth trying to find strength somewhere. But he couldn't yet see salvation. So to speak.

"I-imn … nuh-" Prompto's terrible control over his body made him inaudible.

"Speak." Gladio ordered.

"I.. w-wan mmnn…" His words scrambled and shaken, but he managed to catch a moment of steadiness to speak. "I want to see him." He swallowed. Ignis just shook his head rejecting the idea, even though he couldn't see, he didn't want to even sense it. Fearing how Noctis's empty shell would shatter his nerves.

"Not a good idea. We have to move on." Gladio reluctantly admitted.

"I want to… say good bye one last time." Prompto's voice broke.

"Gladio is right Prompto, he wanted us to walk tall." Ignis turned to face toward them both. "He would want us to… be strong."

"We already know I'm not." Prompto turned to face the stairs of the citadel and started to walk up them.

"Prompto- wait!"

"Leave him." Gladio sighed.

"You arent going to just let him go that alone, are you?!" Ignis shrieked slightly

"Don't raise your voice to me, we're all upset." Gladio marched up to Ignis.

"You know what he's like, Gladio. I'm not about to let him go and mess himself up, again."

"…what if this is best for him?" Gladio said quietly, and softly.

"He has to live." Ignis grunted and shoved past him. "I will ensure that he does."

"Because you need him? You wanna keep him around so he can suffer some more?"
"Shut up!" Ignis snapped.

"Now that the King is dead, you're making your new purpose some kid?" Gladio swung his arms out in frustration. "We all have to make our own damn paths and we can't control Prompto's!"

"That kid is our friend damnit!" Ignis spun to face him one more, hissing through his teeth absolutely furious. "I would never forgive myself if I let him die." He turned back around towards the stairs.

"Get your ass back here, Ignis. Let the kid go!"

"You may not know how to look after him, but I do!" Ignis yelled over his shoulder. "You should be fucking ashamed of yourself." Gladio closed his eyes really seeing the error of his ways. It wasn't that Prompto didn't know how to deal with his emotions. None of them did.

Ignis's senses would falter as he was distressed, so as he followed Prompto up the stairs he caught his foot on the steps a few times stumbling up them, though he didn't let it stop him. Gladio groaned and ran his fingers through his hair. He just wanted to go home and be with his fiancé after all this. He was hurting, a lot. Deep down he really didn't really know how to deal with it. He watched Ignis fumble for the door handle and open it to try and catch up with Prompto.

After a minute or so, Gladio pursued them, running to catch up. The lights were still on in the Citadel, so they could still find their way in the endless windowless hallways that would lead to the throne room. Gladio saw the two men by the lift doors just ahead. Despite not currently being level headed, Prompto was still down to earth just enough to link arms with Ignis to help guide him.

Glaido dove into the lift before the doors closed and they all stood there in silence. Prompto was staring at the floor, his cheeks were wet, but his expression said that he was deep in thought. Ignis couldn't see his face, but still gripped his arm to keep him close so that he knew where he was and what he was doing at all times.

Gladio broke the silence.

"We are just saying Goodbye, and then we leave for Lestallum. Got it?" Prompto didn't answer, but Ignis replied.

"We will."

The doors opened and the blond guided his blind friend down the hallway with Gladio not far behind them. He observed the body language of them, Prompto was shaking and frail, and Ignis was finding it difficult to mind his step, and it didn't help that he had sustained a minor injury to his knee. Prompto kept him on his feet, though, holding onto his arm tightly. They reached the doors to the throne room, which Noctis had closed and locked.

"Noct, no why- why did you do this?" He whimpered in desperation tying to open the door.

"He probably knew you were gunna do this, Prom. You think he'd want you to see?" Gladio placed his hand on Prompto's shoulder. The blond gripped the handles of the door tightly.

"I wanna see him, one last time." Ignis rubbed his back gently.

"Maybe its be-" He was interrupted by a click coming from the door, as if it were unlocked. Gladio and Pormpto stared at the door for a moment, before Prompto squeezed the handle and sure enough, it opened. He pushed it quickly to see who had unlocked it, but no one was waiting on the other side.

He stared up ahead to see the glittering scattered lights dancing about the throne where the moonlight was bouncing off the crystal that hung above the throne. The blond was slightly captivated and was lured toward it. It was not before he was at the bottom of the steps before h noticed the familiar slumped body sat in the throne. He felt like he had just swallowed his heart. He stepped up the stairs slowly, never taking his eyes from him.

Noctis was leaning slightly forwards, with his head down, his fathers sword sticking out of his chest impaling him to the throne, which was cracked behind him. Prompto knelt down just before him, so that he could see his face.

He looked… …peaceful. Though his paled skin did not hide the dried tears on his cheeks.

"You musta been scared." Prompto's voice was barely a whisper. Ignis waited at the base of the stairs listening to him, with Gladio at his side who was watching him. The blond noticed the photo Noctis had chosen, in his hand. He trembled slightly as he reached for it, but instead took Noctis's cold hand and squeezed it. It shook him, he squeezed tightly grieving over his loss. He wanted him to squeeze his hand back. He pressed his forehead to Noct's tilting his head up slightly. "P-please wake up." He stuttered helplessly. Ignis sighed but inside he wanted the same, and Gladio also could not disagree. "I wanna be at your side." He whimpered "You said after all this, we'd make this world a better place!" He started sobbing again. "I said I'd be ever at your side!" He tugged at Noct's jacket. Ignis took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.

Prompto stood up suddenly and started yanking at the sword impaling the King to his throne. "Who would do this- to their own kid?!" He screeched.

"Hey!" Gladio ran up to him.

"What's he doing?" Ignis followed

"Trying to pull the sword out- Prompto- STOP!" Gladio went to wrap his arms round Prompto's chest in an attempt to pull him from the sword but he retaliated and swung his arm smacking Gladio in the jaw. "HEY-" He raised his fist, though Ignis moved faster, he shoved Prompto back by his shoulder and gave him a firm slap round the face. It echoed across the room and they were reunited with the unearthly calm once again. Prompto held his hand to his cheek sniffling.

"Enough." Ignis murmured, his voice shaking. Prompto turned back to face Noctis, Ignis shook his head. "Enough, Prompto."

"I'd give anything…" He croaked.

"He wouldn't want you to." Ignis went to grab his arm but missed, grabbing his jacket.

"What about what I want?" He pushed his arm off him and gripped the handle of the sword again. "Who I was… what I was, it's been eating me for years. I've always been so scared of losing my friends because of what they thought of me, and I finally fucking decided for myself… only to watch the person I cared most about die." He shook, he could barely get a grip of the sword. "He finally knew me for what I was… and he still loved me!" He bellowed "AND NOW HE'S GONE!"

"He saved our world, Prompto this was in Genesis-"

"I DON'T FUCKING CARE ABOUT GENESIS!" He yelled at Ignis only to be pulled back with a firm grip on his shoulder.

"PROMPTO!"

"Shut UP!" He hunched his shoulders to try and pull himself out of the bodyguards grip. "Genesis said…. the king of light would protect this world… how can he protect it if he isn't in it?" He shook his head wiping his eyes with his sleeve. "Why should Noct have to die… these weren't his sins." He tugged at the blade again, not really caring that it was in vain. He thought he might have imagined the sword moving, loosening from the throne.

He swung his whole weight into it and suddenly it came free, he staggered back, letting go of the heavy blade and it fell to the floor with an almighty clatter that felt like it shook the world. Noctis's body didn't move. Prompto felt like everything was spinning. he felt the others grab him, but he flailed his arms about, he couldn't focus. He staggered away from them and up the rubble beside the throne, to the hole in side of the building. He heard his name being screamed at him, not in anger- but in alarm. He couldn't tell where he was. All he remembered was tuning round to see Gladio's panicked face, and suddenly gravity took him and he fell backwards out of the citadel ruins.

Or so… he thought?

He was stood back in the throne room. He was still in his glaive uniform, but it was no longer scuffed from battle. He couldn't see Gladiolus or Ignis. But he sensed someone behind him, so he span on his heel to see King Regis stood there as he last remembered him. Leaning on his cane, with a troubled look on his face.

"…Am I dead?" The blond asked. Regis then smiled at him softly.

"No. You're alive."
"Didn't i just fall out the window?" He said glancing up to where the 'window' was. But the room was in perfect condition as was it's empty throne.

"Oh I assure you, They weren't going to let you die that easily." Regis walked towards him slowly, with that distinct limp.

"Then… where am I?" He asked the King who placed his hand on Prompto's shoulder.

"You're inside the ring, my boy." He gently gripped his shoulder and shook him slightly as if in reassurance.

"Isn't the ring gone?" He glanced to his hand and then to Regis.

"The gods are currently deciding the fate of the ring, and the kings within it." He slid his hand off Prompto's shoulder and limped toward the throne.

"They're worried."

"About what?" He followed him to the throne quickly.

"The safety of this world. I think what you said stirred something in one of our Gods." He chuckled, closing his eyes taking a deep breath. "That how can a king protect this world if he is not in it?" He chuckled again. "It is not often that man can instil fear into gods. The concept was so simple, too."

"W-what?" Prompto's bemused look told Regis everything. He was utterly clueless.

"I told them the scourge may still exist, even if Noctis was able to wipe out a majority of it by taking one of the causes from this world, however." He leaned his stick against the throne and looked up at the crystal hanging above it. "Ardyn was not it's primary source."

"We killed Ifrit, so both sources are gone, right?" Prompto followed his glance and looked up also.

"Niflheim… 'killed' Shiva, remember?" As prompto was staring up at the crystal Regis watched his expression to see the change and realisation.

"Shouldn't the gods take care of him…?" He averted his gaze to think it through.

"When the will of man cannot be made known, and the King they are to protect are no longer of that world, they lose their connection to it. Ifrit may find himself free to roam once more, so long as the rock of Ravatogh burns." The king turned round to look at the room where his audience once stood. Prompto remained frozen.

"Luna's dead… so she can't wake them up anymore. Noct is…" he couldn't say it, he shook his head "Why did you do it?" He asked as his heart shot back up to his throat again

"…Because I believed in him." He said tenderly. "I believed that he could take down Ardyn, and he did." He gestured to the space in the room, Prompto glanced and saw the figures of Noctis and Ardyn. Noctis holding his arm aloft using all of his power in the ring against Ardyn.

"Noct…." He whimpered and ran down the stairs to be closer to him. He could see the others faintly around him, all against Ardyn, watching him fall for the final time. "I can't… please.." Prompto looked up at Regis, who watched on sadly as his son started to fade away.

"What do you choose, Prompto?"

"There is no choice here!" He yelled at his king, and then withdrew himself slightly knowing that he shouldn't "I wan't to save him…"
"You know there must be a price."
"I'd give anything, your majesty." He looked over at Noctis, watching his determined face, which was also full of fear.

"Then… make the will of man known unto the divine."
"Huh?" He looked up at Regis but quickly glanced back to Noctis as he collapsed, cracks of light appearing in his skin that seemed to be a shell around him shattering, the faint figure that he was suddenly becoming opaque and falling unconscious, the blond diving to catch him in his arms quickly, kneeling to hold him close. He looked back up to Regis "What-"
"Inspire your king, Prompto."
"What's the price? Regis!"

It was like everything shut off. All his senses, all the lights. Gone. Prompto could hear a quiet voice of a young girl. He'd heard this before. She spoke softly to him, and he felt her hand stroke his cheek.

"All that I ask, is that you remain ever… at his side."

He woke up. He was lying on the floor of the throne room, sunlight gloriously spilling into the room through the gaping hole in the wall. He turned his head slightly to his right, his head was resting on something, a jacket. He saw Ignis not wearing his, so must have been on that. Ignis was leaning against one of the pillars of the room, arms folded, dozing lightly. Prompto rest his arm across his face, drained. He heard someone mumble something, and then Gladio's voice replied.

"Looks like it." he said. "Don't you move, he's gunna flip."

"Who's gunna flip what?" Prompto yawned. Gladio nudged Ignis's leg.

"Oi, he's awake." Ignis stirred from Gladio;s voice.

"It's about bloody time." He streched

"What?" Prompto yawned again. Gladio yanked his arm up to pull him to sit up. "Ahhmmm whyy?" He protested. He heard someone wheeze slightly behind him, he twisted himself round to see, leaning against another pillar with Gladio's jacket over his shoulders, his shirt opened and his chest bandaged and bloodstained.

"Not a morning person?" He asked, smirking at the blond. It took him a minute to focus and register who was talking to him.

"Shut up, Noct, you're one to talk." Gladio and Ignis both laughed at him, which woke him suddenly. "Holy fucking Ramuh- NOCT!" Prompto swung himself onto all 4s and scurries over to Noctis who greeted him with a smile.

"That's more like it." He looked up at him. "I'm so glad you're alright, Prompto." He reached up to his face stroking his cheek gently closing his moth which was gawking at him.

"YOU'RE ALIVE!" He cried

"And kicking, somehow." He shrugged and winced "Ah… ahahaha!" He grinned and shook his head. "You gunna kiss me or wha-" His answer was lips being pressed against his. Gladio looked away chuckling to give them a little privacy at least. Ignis smiled softly. Prompto broke off and looked up at his king again.

"You're here…" He sniffled and smiled. "Wait.. you're here.. how?" He sat p and looked around.

"What are you looking for?"
"You da-" he stopped himself

"My da?" He tilted his head to one side

"Your dad… he was… here?"
"No, pretty sure he wasn't"
"But he was!" He looked back at Noct "He said…" he trailed off again.
"Stop stopping your sentence half way through and spit it out." He nudged Prompto's forehead "Um… 'make the will of man known unto the divine' …" He quoted. Noctis understood fully.

"Is that so." He closed his eyes and nodded.

"What does that mean, Noct?" He sat on the floor glancing round at the others.

"Did… Luna say anything?" He ignored Prompto's question.

"Uhh… I don't think so… um… Oh!" he looked back at Noct "She wanted me to be with you? I think that was her anyway." He shrugged completely clueless.

"Noct… you don't think…?" Ignis evaluated the words and what Prompto said he experienced.

"Theres only one way to find out." Noctis looked up at him
"Um, guys. I'm totally lost here… what happened when I pulled out the sword?"
"You collapsed." Gladio said Prompto looked back at Noctis once again for answers, only to see him deep in thought. He raised his hand and snapped his fingers in an attempt to summon his royal arms. The armiger briefly flashed but generated a loud crackling noise which resonated about the room, Noctis grunted in pain hunching over.

"Woah- easy!" Prompto shifted to his knees and knelt beside Noct putting his arm round him gently.

"Don't try now, wait until you're better." Ignis ordered. Noctis nodded and looked up at Prompto

"I think I know what he meant."