Hi Everyone! I'm 3 for 3 on the Final Fantasy 15 fics. This time, I'm looking at a "sequel" to the events of the game, what could happen next, and is there somehow a way to "resurrect" our heroes. I don't have much written or thought out yet, so I'm not sure where I will go with it. However, I figured I'd post a little bit to see what people think. If it sits in the lonely void, that's fine too ;-) If any one is interested though, feel free to follow/fav or review. I always like those :-) Happy holidays!

Insomnia was bathed in sunlight and celebrating the wedding of King Noctis and Lady Lunafreya Nox Fleuret, now Queen Lunafreya Lucis Caelum. The city streets were wreathed in flowers, and white confetti was raining from the skyscraper windows.

Inside the throne room of the Citadel, the hub of the Crown City, King Noctis Lucis Caelum was seated regally on his throne. The awkward boy had grown up, ready to take on the mantle as king. He glanced to his new bride, the former Princess of Tenebrae and Oracle. She smiled back, shyly.

He leaned forward to kiss her, the first real kiss he had given her—the one at the wedding didn't count since it was in front of so many people. This one was private and theirs alone.

She leaned forward to rest her head on his shoulder to sleep. He felt himself ready to doze off as well. Things were perfect. His reign was solid; the love of his life was by his side; the populace was strongly behind him. Why was he still feeling as though something was wrong?

Dawn was breaking over the skyscrapers of Insomnia—the cracked asphalt streets eagerly absorbing the sun's heat after ten years of darkness. While the darkness-stricken populace was rejoicing in the return of the light, three people were counting the cost.

Twenty-five year old Iris Amicitia, seemingly ageless Cor Leonis, and teenager Talcott Hester drove their aging pickup truck into downtown Insomnia. Even though Talcott was focused on the driving, he couldn't help but rubberneck at how the city had changed. It was still empty, but it was at long last daemon free.

Cor and Iris were grim. They knew the "miracle" of light had a cost, and that King Noctis and his royal retinue (including Iris's brother) were in the thick of it. The truck lurched to a halt at the gates of the Citadel. The trio continued on foot, in dread of what they would find.

Iris saw the first light reflecting off of objects at the foot of the steps of the Citadel. She ran forward, just to find a shattered camera, a pair of sunglasses split in half, and her brother's sword laying haphazardly on the ground. These were possessions that her brother Gladio and his comrades Ignis Scientia and Prompto Argentum would not have left behind, unless…

Iris dropped to her knees beside the sword in abject despair. In their efforts to save the world, the Royal Retinue had perished.

Cor left Talcott to see to Iris. The dark-haired warrior was no good at consoling people. There was no point in crying over what had happened. The point was to move forward. And he needed to see what happened to his king. Given, what they had found outside, he already had the truth. He just needed to confirm it.

The throne room was empty. The sunlight was streaming in through a hole in the wall, undoubtedly created by the Imperial attack almost 11 years ago. And the throne was empty. The velvet seat, symbol of the Lucis Royal Family for generations, was riddled with burns, and the stuffing was bleeding out from the various slashes left by numerous blades. "So, Noctis used the powers of the Old Kings," Cor thought, digesting the evidence before him.

It was as he had feared. Light had returned, but Noctis had had to die to do it.

Who would lead Insomnia now? Who was left to protect the crystal?

Aranea Highwind squinted as her eyes adjusted to the light, absent for the past ten years. It was absurd that she had been in Tenebrae this long, but had never accurately determined how destroyed the Tenebrae castle really was. It took daylight to really see it in all its ruined glory. "The Empire really did a number on it," she thought wonderingly. Then remembered she had once served them and inwardly flinched.

She wasn't the type to wallow in guilt though. Descended from a long line of lance-wielding dragoons tended to inure you to regrets. You played the hands you were dealt, made your choices, and moved on. Still, she was glad she had decided to help Tenebrae out. The town needed whatever help they could get after the power vacuum left after the losses of Prince Ravus Nox Fleuret and his sister Lunafreya.

Lunafreya, the "Oracle" (whatever that meant—Aranea still wasn't really sure) had given her all to stop the darkness and had died in the attempt. Her brother Ravus had been branded a traitor shortly after and had died too. The Empire's "alternative facts" had stated that he had been executed for treason, but Aranea had fought beside him before. She knew he wouldn't go down that easily. She figured there was more to the story than that, but she had been unable to uncover the truth.

In the end, she had given up, and had focused on protecting his homeland. She couldn't fault the results. The daemons could had done quite a bit more damage here if she and her team hadn't stepped in. In the ensuing ten years of darkness, Tenebrae hadn't fared too badly considering.

But now light was suddenly back. Pretty Boy had done it. That was the only explanation. She should drop by Insomnia and congratulate King Noctis in person. Things were in control here, and the light would just make things even better. She could afford a break.

"Come on, Iris, you need to eat," Talcott encouraged Iris. "You haven't eaten in two days."

"I'll eat later," she said, wanly.

"You want to sit in my diner, you eat" came a brisk feminine voice from behind them. Talcott and Iris looked up to see the grizzled blonde woman striding their way, bringing a tray with two bowls of soup.

"You too, Talcott," she said, setting the bowls down on the table. "Dig in."

"Thanks, but I'm ok, really," Iris tried again.

"No, you ain't," Cindy, expert mechanic and de facto leader of Hammerhead said, baldly. "I know you're grievin' for your brother, but he wouldn't want that. He'd want you to eat crazy big portions, just as he did."

"More likely he'd want me to eat Cup of Noodles," Iris commented, but began to tentatively eat her soup.

"You know, you aren't the only one grievin," Cindy said gently. "I, miss Prompto."

"Really," Iris asked in surprise.

"I, overlooked him when he was here. But, he really brightened this place up when he was around. I reckon I didn't know what I had until it was gone," she added sadly.

Iris swallowed hard, looking ready to start crying again. It seemed that was all she had done for the past two days, after the shock had worn off that is. She had never thought herself to be such a wuss that she would be almost prostrate with grief, but seeing Gladio's sword…Talcott had had to guide her to the car. She had no memory of the ride back to Hammerhead. It was only when she got back to the safe familiarity of her rooms behind the diner that she lost it, and appeared to still be lost.

Her conversation with Cindy threatened to break her again, but then the main door clanged, indicating a visitor. Cindy turned, briskly to greet the newcomer. It didn't matter who you were—everyone got the same hospitality at Hammerhead.

The newcomer looked tough. Despite the now peaceful times, she was still wearing black leather armor, and stood with a rigid posture. Cindy took one look at her, and knew she was a warrior.

"I'm here to see Cor Leonis," Aranea stated firmly to Cindy. "Is, he here?"

"He should be out huntin'," Cindy said.

"I see. I'll go find him," Aranea stated. She paused by Iris's table. "You're Iris, right," she asked. "I'm, sorry, about your brother," she added awkwardly, then left the diner as abruptly as she had come in.

It amazed Cor that even though light had just returned, the big animals were already back out and preying on travelers. It seemed that if it wasn't daemons to worry about, it was animals. Still, it gave him something to do, to make him feel less useless. He should have helped the boys more. Gladio was his protégé for goodness sake, and he had just abandoned him. He had left his King, his protégé, and their friends to die. He shook his head. He couldn't focus on that. He had to move forward. And slaying these pesky predators would be a good start.

He was just about to lunge forward to attack the next beast when he saw a shadow appear over the beast's head. He looked up sharply to see the shadow taking shape as a woman. The platinum-haired blonde swooped down and impaled the beast with a lance, effectively eliminating the threat.

Cor didn't like people finishing his battles for him, but he had to concede her technique was on point. He surveyed the woman rising gracefully from her landing. "So, you've had some Dragoon training," he asked. Although it was more of a comment than a question.

"You're well-informed. Although with a title like 'Cor the Immortal' I'd be surprised if you weren't," the woman replied brightly.

Cor studied the woman warily. She had the advantage of him, and he didn't like it. "So, you know who I am, and where to find me. If you're coming to fight me, you might have bitten off more than you can chew, ma'am," he stated matter of factly, the underlying threat obvious.

The woman laughed good-naturedly. "So do you think anyone who approaches you is there to kill you," she asked. "Never mind," she said, waving off his reply. "I'm Aranea Highwind. I'm, a friend of Noctis. I, have seen the markers in Insomnia. I want to know what the hell happened to him and his entourage."

Cor sighed. "It will be a long story, Miss Highwind. Let's return to Hammerhead so you can collect the bounty on this mark, then I can go over it with you there."

"I didn't come to poach your bounty, Cor. You already had it pretty much weakened by the time I got here. Why don't we go back, you get your bounty, then you can tell me everything?"

"So, you're telling me that Noctis had to be struck down, by his own ancestors, just to get the power to stop all of this," Aranea demanded, cup of ebony forgotten and clenched in her hand.

Cor surveyed her calmly across the table of the Hammerhead Diner. "It's the Power of Kings," Cor replied as though stating fact.

"Bullshit! All it did was give that 'charmer' of a Chancellor Ardyn Izunia exactly what he wanted. He wanted the Royal Family of Lucis destroyed, and he succeeded."

Ok. Now she was crossing a line, Cor thought, losing his cool. "Noctis did return light to the world. Are you belittling his sacrifice," Cor asked in rising anger.

Aranea stopped cold. "Of course not. Noctis, died a hero and a warrior, as they all did. However, it shouldn't have needed to be. There had to be have been another way."

"What's done is done," Cor said repressively. "Whining about it now helps no one. We have to move on."

Aranea sighed, forcing herself to relax. Cor was right. As a warrior, she couldn't cry over what was past. They had to move forward.

"So, what happens to Insomnia now," she asked. "I mean, there is no leadership."

"I've been thinking about that. As the most senior surviving member of the Kingsglaive, it is my duty to oversee the rebuilding. I, suppose that means the new leader is me. At least in the short term," Cor said resignedly.

"You sound so excited about it," Aranea replied sarcastically. "It's kind of like what happened to me with Tenebrae. I started with small scale defense of the kingdom and next thing I know everyone is looking to me for everything from how to rebuild schools to how to negotiate trade agreements with Altissia. Sometimes I miss just killing for hire. It was so much easier."

"I had heard a former Imperial Mercenary had was ruling Tenebrae now. I didn't know it was you," Cor replied in respect.

"Yeah. For what it's worth. Can't say I've done a good job or anything, but we've managed ok considering. If you need advice or supplies, I can hook you up," Aranea replied in all seriousness.

Cor glanced across the table to her. "I appreciate the offer," he replied.

Cor was figuring things out on his own, slowly. He refused to sit in the throne room in the Citadel—that was the Royal Family's and he was never going to usurp it. He conducted his business in a conference room instead. While it seemed more "corporate" than "Royal", it was much more practical. And it was getting the job done. In the month since he had spoken to Aranea, a few thousand people had already moved back to the city, and repairs were underway. Cor had authorized a full survey of all of the skyscrapers to make sure they were still structurally sound after ten years of neglect. He was learning the routine, and how to handle things quite well, until today.

"Thank you for agreeing to see me," his visitor spoke, then looked down to the boy standing next to him. "Come, Lux, make your greeting to King Cor."

"It's an honor to meet you, Your Highness," the silver-haired boy replied brightly. "I'm so excited to meet a real King."

"You happen to be mistaken," Cor addressed the boy. "I do not hold the title of King. I go by Chairman instead."

"Oh, my apologies," the man replied, intercepting Cor's comment to his charge. "And I have been most remiss in introducing myself. My name is Belenus Arawn, and this young man here is my charge Lux."

Cor was studying the man. He did not trust him, but then again he didn't trust any redheads anymore since Ardyn. And he didn't like this man's obsequiousness either. That too was disturbingly familiar.

Still, his visitor could not be confused for Ardyn by any means. He was younger—probably anywhere between 25 and 40. His hair, while red, was not auburn like Ardyn's. It was on the orange side and short, chunks spiking out like he doused it in hairspray. He must use the same styling techniques Noctis used, Cor observed.

Cor glanced over to the boy, standing happily at the man's side. He seemed good-natured, but there was still something, familiar about him. Enough to make him uneasy.

"What can I do for you, Mr. Arawn," Cor asked, hoping the man would get to the point and then leave.

"Oh, I believe it's the other way around," the man replied brightly. "You see. I have brought you the heir to the Lucis Royal Family. Lux Lucis Caelum. Son of the late Noctis Lucis Caelum."

"You expect me to believe that," Cor asked the carrot-top once Cor had regained some sangfroid.

"Oh, of course not," the man replied smoothly. "I certainly didn't expect to come in, drop that bombshell, and expect you to believe me just like that. I can certainly provide you with proof. That is, if you will allow us brief access to the crystal."

"We have had people attempt to use deception to access the crystal before, as I'm sure you know," Cor replied coldly.

Belenus held his hands up in an attempt to placate. "Oh dear. Upon reflection I know how awful that must sound. Indeed, I know what happened last time. But without access to the crystal, I cannot prove my young lord's claims. And I'm sure as a man so loyal to the Royal Family, you would not be so cruel as to turn away a potential heir without giving him a chance."

Belenus had him there, Cor realized. He'd have to give the boy a chance. He still didn't see how Noctis had a son, and it just raised further questions if he did. However, he had to at least see this through. And if he ended up calling Belenus's bluff, then all the better.

"Very well," Cor said. "I shall grant access. Just to the boy though, and there will be guards."

"Fair enough," Belenus responded. "I shall wait here, and am on hand to answer any questions that you may have, as long as I know the answers of course."

Cor felt a chill down his spine. This polished oiliness reminded him of when he had first met Ardyn, when he came to gloat about the Empire's win, and to force Noctis and Luna to marry, just to betray them all. He resolved right then and there that they would not have a repeat. If Belenus wanted to start something, they would find Insomnia much more on the ball now.

Cor lead the child to the elevator to take him to the crystal room. Now that this kid could potentially be Noctis's, Cor looked at him much more closely. Maybe the familiarity he felt was because there was some Noctis DNA in there, he wondered. The boy looked to be about ten, which would have made the timing right, that is, if Noctis had really gone off the rails and had an affair on the way to his arranged marriage with Luna. Would he have done something like that in an effort to rebel against his arranged marriage? Cor was getting ahead of himself.

The boy was pale—even his hair was pale—a silver gray like Noctis's had been when he was older. The boy was silent, but surveying the ornate elevator with amused fascination. Cor decided to break the silence.

"So, where is your home," he asked the boy.

The boy jumped, seemingly startled by the question. "I, don't remember," he stated. "I've, travelled around a lot."

"Do you remember, your mother?"

"No. She, died when I was born."

"I'm, sorry," Cor replied awkwardly. He was not getting any answers this way. All he knew was that the kid didn't know his mother or where he was from. This boy's claim to the throne, such as it was, was shrinking even more.

The guards stepped aside to let Cor and Lux into the throne room. Cor hadn't been in here since he had searched for Noctis. It was still painful coming in here.

"The crystal," the previously animated boy said, flatly, as though hypnotized, then staggered with focused intent towards the crystal, as though it were drawing him in. Cor watched, fascinated. The last time he had seen behavior like that was when Noctis was two, and had interacted with the crystal for the first time.

As Lux approached the crystal, it began to glow—the watery blue light turning the throne room into a reflection of a swimming pool. The boy reached the crystal, and put his hand out to it. The crystal bathed him in a warm glow. Then the boy rose his other hand, and a crystal shield appeared before him—the very one King Regis had used in battle all those years ago.

The crystal had accepted Lux. This could mean only one thing. Lux was of royal blood. What the hell was Cor supposed to do now?