Note: It's been a while (a year LOL), yes I know since I've published a story. This story is going to be a couple of chapters long but since it's going to be short, the chapters itself would be longer. Not as long as Bloody Christmas, but about 3,000 words long (about 5 pages in Word), approximately. Actions will be swift, I'm just descriptive. There are differences Lightning and Noctis do not share the same world, however, nor does the other FF characters from the other games that I may feature (Mainly FF VII). I am not familiar with Final Fantasy XIII characters' personality so bear with me. I'll try to have them as in character as possible. I am also working on Chapter 2 of this story. I also like tragedy so deal with it. I am a sadist.
Prologue
Noctis' boots hit the floor as he ran down the corridor of his home, the rumbling loud in his ears. The council was scattered and he was sent out to find them. Ahead of him, he saw that the wall had been blown up on the left, creating a gaping hole. His soft, innocent blue eyes were wide with silent horror. As he ran, the rain outside was loud in his ears, he could have sworn that was the only thing he could hear if it wasn't for Ignis Scientia voice through the device's loud speaker.
"Noctis! What are you doing?" His voice sounded concerned, as if he knew something was ahead.
Noctis didn't respond. Another voice, this time, Gladiolus Amicitia. "If you continue down that path, Noctis, you'll be encountering that giant serpent."
"That's okay. I'll handle it." he said. His voice was quiet and innocent even. The prince was then met with even more silence. He reached the end of the corridor and slowed to a stop. There was another gaping hole at the end that he could step through, but there was a huge gap between where he was standing and the bridge. He walked towards it cautiously, his young eyes taking in each detail of the horror. In the distance, there was a large flying monster—it reminded him of a dragon with wings. It roared, rearing its head in rage as it attacked everything that moved. The prince raced to one of the wall for balance, waiting for the shock of its tail hitting the wall to end. He heard many voices call his name through his transceiver. Lightning, who was coming down the same corridor, called out, "Noctis!"
The dark haired prince looked at her and smiled. He ran to her. "Lightning." he said, colliding into her and giving her a quick kiss on the top of her head. Her fingers curled around the fabric of his jacket and she buried her nose in his chest, taking in his scent and warmth. She looked up at him and a smile graced upon her glossy lips. Noctis gave her a quick kiss. He looked at her seriously and she looked at him seriously as well. "Go back with the others. Be safe. I can handle this." he said.
Lightning shook her head, "I'm going to do this with you." she said. Noctis' hand reached the back of her head and kissed her forehead. There was a soft smile on his face before he broke away from her. That soft smile melted into a hardened frown. They didn't move, staring into each other's eyes. Her bright blue eyes showed that she wasn't backing down. Noctis turned around and started to run to the end of the corridor and jumped when his foot reached the ledge, taking off to cross the gap.
As soon as the crimson outsoles of his shoes met the ground, the prince did a roll. He scrambled up with a grunt but he continued moving towards the gigantic airborne creature, running once more. The airships were shooting with everything they had. The serpentine creature roared in fury, lashing with just as much force. He was already halfway across the bridge, panting, when the creature's tail crashed the path in front of him, if he were to fall it would be an instant death. Noctis stopped abruptly, trying to regain his balance from falling to the ground below. He heard another grunt and turned around to see Lightning. She ran towards him. Sensing danger and foreseeing that her death would come if she followed, he ran to her. He had to stop her!
She reached out for him, calling out his name. He reached out for her, yelling for her to stop. However, the creature didn't stop thrashing as they ran to each other; it blindly flailing and its tail ended up hitting the bridge again, destroying the path between them and made another large gap.
"Lightning, leave!" he shouted.
"I'm not leaving!" she yelled.
"You'll die!" At this, Lightning's lips curled back and she glared at him, shaking her head.
"We'll die together!"
Noctis stared at her, his eyes wide. He was about to say something before the creature's tail hit the support that was holding Noctis' section up. There was a low rumble and both adults were trying to get balance from the shock. There were loud cracks and crunches—the sound of rocks splitting and falling, breaking formation. Noctis had to hold onto the railing to make sure that he won't fall off when his side of the bridge suddenly sunk. Lightning stared at him with wide eyes.
Noctis managed to give her one more look—his soft midnight eyes becoming even gentler—and met with her bright blue eyes, horror clearly etched into them. Noctis fell with the rubble and Lightning to moved faster her legs to get to him, shrieking. She fell onto her knees once she was at the ledge, her arm outstretched in an attempt to grab Noctis' hand although the distance was great between them. She looked down, desperately searching for Noctis, who disappeared below. Fearing the worst, Lightning carefully climbed down. Her movements were quick and shaky. She placed a foot on a beam that was jutting out, but once she did that, her foot slipped and she started sliding. She clawed at whatever that was protruding out of the structure, hoping that something would break her fall. She finally held onto a sturdy rock, the dirt and pebbles falling into and onto her hair and face before disappearing below. Lightning grunted as she continued going down, her arms becoming tired. When her boots touched the ground, however, it was as if her legs were moving on their own and she darted away.
Finally she had reached where she saw him fall. She treaded carefully. She kept searching in the rubble until she found Noctis' arm and releasing a breath that she didn't realize she was holding, she started to uncover him. She stopped short when she saw his face.
From the dark haired man's forehead, there was the crimson blood that ran down to his chin, and he was struggling to breathe. His eyes were closed and he was motionless, broken. The device Noctis had was crackling with Prompto's voice. "Noct! Yo, Noct, are you okay? Noct! Noctis!" Shakily, Lightning took her own transceiver and responded.
"He's hurt badly. He's unconscious. It appears that he broke a couple of bones from his fall." She was greeted with silence for a moment before Gladiolus spoke, "We'll be there quickly." he said. There was seriousness in his voice. As she waited, Lightning took the opportunity to remove whatever rubble was on him, grunting when it came to the heavier concrete. Once she was finished with her task, she kneeled next to him and ran a hand through his hair. She then took his head and placed it on her lap. He didn't respond, as expected.
She tried to mask it but her worry was trying to overcome her impassive facade. She continued to absently run a hand through his hair and noticed that the damage was worse than it looks, seeing the pool of blood that Noctis' back was soaked in. When his friends (and Cor) finally arrived, Cor carefully picked him up. "We'll have to retreat somewhere far and treat him there until this dies out. This is what happens when you young ones don't follow what I tell you." he said. Lightning was silent as well as the other boys.
The battle died out eventually and Lightning was pacing. They were in the ruined home of the Caelums. For some reason, Niflheim backed out, Regis couldn't find out why, though. The king was pacing back and forth for the news of his son. He couldn't think of his son leaving him. Lightning was just as fidgety. She didn't know what to think: slap Noctis for letting himself fall or to cry and hug him once he's awake. There were doctors and nurses in his room tending to him as everyone waited outside. Prompto was hopping a little in nervousness, trying to ease his anxiousness. Gladiolus was leaning against the wall, drumming his fingers against his arm as he had his arms folded. Ignis was pacing, like herself. His serious eyes showing his concern and nervousness.
"I'll go and get something to eat…or something." Prompto said, already going down the hall. Lightning watched him go. Cor seemed to be handling this coolly, his eyes calm and his face masking his concern if he had any. He looked at Lightning for a moment before returning his eyes to the marble floor. Lightning bit her lip as she glanced at the room, no sound or movement from what she could hear.
Ignis sighed, impatience getting to him. "What's taking them so long?" he asked, irritated at the uncertainty of his friend's survival. His answer was left hanging in the air and after a few moments Gladiolus sighed, "I'll be helping the refugees." he said quietly, dismissing himself. Lightning nodded. Cor stood up and followed Gladiolus, going to help. Ignis spared a glance to the pink-haired soldier and looked at the floor.
Seconds turned into minutes, minutes and minutes turned into hours as they waited, sitting on the floor eventually. Finally, the door swung open and it revealed to be the doctor treating Noctis. Lightning stood up, "How is he?" she asked, her voice serious. The doctor seemed to contemplate his answer for a moment before taking a hesitant step forward. He was covered in blood from trying to save the dark-haired prince.
"The kingdom of Lucis…" he started, "…had suffered a great loss."
Lightning was devastated, "May…I see him?" she asked, trying to sound as calm, trying to not let the grief choke her. Ignis bit his lip. "I'll….I'll go tell the king a-and the others…" His voice was shaky and soft. His eyes were glassy from the unshed tears behind his glasses. He quickly got up to leave in a hurry. The doctors allowed Lightning to enter the room and she saw Noctis; he was clean from the blood that was on his body and face except the bruises were still there. He seemed to be sleeping peacefully after a fight. His corpse was still clad in the wear from the battle. It was ripped at the hems, some of the material was hanging by a thread. Even in death, he looked like he was asleep, how she usually found him whenever she came to his world. Lightning shook her head as she approached slowly, taking in his appearance. She ran a hand through his midnight hair when she reached him, much like she did when she found him. She then held his hand, "I promise," she said, taking in the fact that his skin was cold, "I'll find a way to bring you back." She would try to convince Etro to bring back Noctis.
The king looked at the press, sorrow etched upon his elderly features. His grieving eyes looked at the reporters. One reporter asked him, blurting out, "What of the prince?" he asked. Another one piped up, "What were the casualties of the attack?"
"What's the death toll?"
"You Highness—"
Regis spoke, his voice shaking, "People of Lucis…" he started. "The attack came swift and unexpected, and the casualties are high. There are many dead, both enemy and ally, and unfortunately…" He paused for a moment, looking away from the eager reporters for a bit before looking at them again. "Among the dead is Prince Noctis Lucis Caelum." With that, the king quickly left before any tears could escape his eyes, leaving the press in an uproar and the security tried to keep them at bay.
