So I have been in quite the feels state for the past few weeks thanks to Final Fantasy XV and of course I had to get it out somehow. And then this idea popped into my head and will not leave!

I love Prompto dearly and just want him to be happy! *insert crying face emoji here*

Spoilers for the end of the game follows! (Just feel like I need to throw that out there just in case. And I'll be going with the ending from the main game!) This story is told mainly through the OC's pov, though every once in a while I'll switch pov's as the narrative calls for it. Changes in pov will be marked with the character's name in bold italics.

Anyway, hope you enjoy! (*This story is being cross-posted on here and on my AO3 account, crazydcchick*)

Chapter 1: The Royal Return

Prompto

I could not believe my eyes. Noct was standing right in front of me for the first time in ten years. Gladio, Iggy, and myself met with Noct as he exited Talcott's truck. I was buzzing with excitement, seeing my best friend standing before me after so long. Soon Noct was walking towards the diner, as just like old times we followed behind him.

As I entered the diner last, I heard the loud thud of a camper's door. I looked over my shoulder to see Cindy talking with Talcott as a woman with fiery red hair pulled up into a high ponytail walks towards them. Something about her hair reminds me of a hunter that I've heard of briefly before back in Lestallum.

"Prompto!"

I turned towards my friends and continued into the diner, shaking my head of the idea that the greatest gunslinger hunter since the darkness was here. Besides, her legend sparked quite a few women to dye their hair in Lestallum to match.

After a few moments in the diner, we headed back out to Talcott, Cindy, and the redhead. They were discussing Noct and his royal status. After a moment, Noct spoke up. His voice caught the attention of the mystery girl as she turned towards us, her fiery hair softly swaying behind her. Her eyes grew wide as she realized that we were behind her. I could see the color of her eyes as clear as day as they grew in size. Her eyes were as silver as parts of my beloved Lokton LX-30 and I felt as if I could see my reflection in them just like the glass on my lens.

Cindy spoke to Noct, which looked like it brought her out of the awe that ever so slightly showed in her eyes. Was she a Noct fangirl? Most likely considering how she was looking at Noct. Cindy wrapped an arm around the silver-eyed beauty and joyously introduced the woman.

"This right here is the infamous Annalynne Ghiranze, one of the best hunters I've ever met."

My eyes grew wide. No way. I was right. It was her…

I almost felt starstruck seeing the one and only person who was rumored to outshoot even myself. I've been wanting to meet this woman for years but never ran into her. Until now.

"Wait a second… THE Annalynne. The hunter everyone calls 'The Lone Ranger'?" I spoke up. Her silver eyes met mine and the shock that I knew exactly who she was was evident in her eyes. A dull dusting of red appeared on her cheeks as she rubbed the back of her neck. "Yeah. The one and only," she replied.

I finally get to meet this woman that has sparked inspiration into many of the current hunters and my rumored competition for the best gunslinger hunter. And it just had to be the day Noct comes back and we have to make our way towards the crown city.

Just.

My.

Luck.

"Ghiranze. Are you perhaps related to the journalist Dino Ghiranze?" Iggy asked her.

"Yeah. He was my uncle."

"What happened to him?" Gladdio asked. Annalynne turned her gaze towards the darkness, her eyes becoming slightly cold. "I'm not sure," she replied. "Once the darkness hit, I never heard from him. I just assumed that he was killed by a daemon early on."

Her hair swayed behind her as she shook her head. "Anyway, it's nice to meet you all."

Ignis and Gladio formally introduced themselves to her. I simply extended my hand towards her and smiled. "Prompto Argentum, at your service!"

Her lips tugged into a small smile as she returned the handshake. After a few more moments talking with the three of them, Noct declared it was time to head towards Insomnia. I silently prayed to the Six as we waved goodbye that if I make it through tonight, I would be able to meet this woman again soon. I'm dying to see her shooting skills in action.

As we made camp that night, Noct and Gladio decided to have a little fun, just like old times. They fired round after round of teasing words towards my actions back in Hammerhead and meeting Annalynne.

"Back off guys!" I exclaimed, feeling my cheeks start to warm up a little. "I'm just a fan of her work is all. Besides, my heart will forever belong to our Goddess of the Gears!"

The two of them just snickered, laughing silently at my umteenth proclamation of love towards Cindy. Though over the years that feeling I felt towards Cindy slowly started to fade once it dawned on me that Cindy is dedicated to her job and would never look twice at me. I accepted that and decided to just be friends with the bubbly mechanic. But I would never let those two know that happened.

As Gladio was about to set off on a round two, Ignis grabbed their attention with dinner and the conversation was left at that. I sat outside the tent, looking up at the stars and my thoughts shifted towards the impending battle that would put Noct on the path to bring back the light and destroy this never ending darkness. I looked out into the darkness that seemed to go on and on, forever. I silently hummed to myself for some time before deciding to sleep.

Annalynne

A bright light passes past my window, causing me to stir a little. My thoughts were fuzzy as I tried to fall back to sleep. I was almost successful in falling back asleep until I heard a car door shut and a very deep voice made my eyes snap open.

'Who the heck is that?' I thought as I slowly sat up, rubbing at my eyes as I looked out of the camper's window to see a group of guys dressed in black. The blond was buzzing around the group, excited about something. It took me a few minutes to recognize that the group was the infamous Crownsguard that Dave spoke of quite often.

Why were they here in Hammerhead?

Together?

In the past ten years, it was rare to see the three together. But there was a fourth member with them…

It dawned on me then. The prince has returned. I watched the four walk into diner before I threw on a jacket over my tank top and headed outside to Cindy. She was standing next to Talcott. I waved at them as they looked behind me at the diner.

"Is that them?" I asked Cindy. "The Crownsguard?"

Cindy smiled at me. "And the returned prince. Or should I say king?" Cindy looked at Talcott who shrugged.

"I think king," he replied after a moment. "Though 'Your Majesty' would work."

We continued to discuss the matter until a voice I didn't recognize spoke up. "Noct is just fine."

I turned towards the source of the voice to find the prince, or king I should say, standing right in front of us along with his guard. I was speechless. I never thought I would ever get to meet THE Noctis Lucis Caelum.

Ever.

And yet, there he was. I bet the 15-year-old me would be ecstatic to know that she would one day be standing right in front of the royal boy. Now, the 26-year-old me is just in awe. The man who could bring our world out of this eternal darkness is back after ten years and he is standing right in front of me.

"Hey there, Noct!" Cindy's thick accent pierced through my mental musings and grounded me back into the moment. "Been a while."

Noctis smiled as he nodded. "Yeah, it has."

Cindy wraps an arm around me and joyfully introduces me. "This right here is the infamous Annalynne Ghiranze, one of the best hunters I've ever met."

I waved shyly at the four men in front of me. "Hello."

"Wait a second… THE Annalynne. The hunter everyone calls 'The Lone Ranger'?" The blond spoke up. I looked at him and saw his bright blue eyes sparkle as he looked at me.

I scratch at the back of my neck nervously. "Yeah. The one and only." I wasn't expecting one of the Crownsguard to know of my reputation. Especially THAT nickname. I never hunt with others, not wanting to grow attached to someone that I could end up seeing die right in front of me or turn into a daemon. I'd rather just have someone find me or my dog tag after the light returns rather than have someone watch me die. No one from my family is alive anyway, so even if I died there'd be no one to mourn me besides the few friends I've made.

The slender man with darkened glasses turned his head to the side. "Ghiranze. Are you perhaps related to the journalist Dino Ghiranze?"

I nodded. "Yeah. He was my uncle."

"What happened to him?" The more muscular of the group asked. I looked off to my right, off into the darkness that just seems to go on and on.

"I'm not sure. Once the darkness hit, I never heard from him. I just assumed that he was killed by a daemon early on." Thinking about what happened to my uncle didn't phase me too much. I never really talked too much to him anyway. I just hope he wasn't in pain when he died.

I shook my head, clearing my head and turned my attention back to Noctis and his friends. "Anyway, it's nice to meet you all."

The slender man fixed his glasses as he introduced himself. "As well as to meet you, Miss Ghiranze. I am Ignis Scientia."

The muscular man just nodded his head up. "Gladiolus Amicitia."

The blond extended his hand towards me with a smile. "Prompto Argentum, at your service!"

I shook his hand, a small smile tugging at my lips. I knew of each of them and their reputations both before and after the darkness fell. After a few moments, the four left Hammerhead on their way to Insomnia. A nervous knot ran through my stomach. I knew that this would be the last hours of darkness we would experience like this, but at what cost?

I nodded to Cindy and headed back to my camper to get a few more hours of sleep in anticipation of the coming dawn.

And we all know what happens next! I hope that you guys enjoyed this chapter and I look forward to introducing Annalynne's personality and her skills with hunting. Even though the daemons are gone, doesn't mean the other monsters that roam around during the day are gone. Hunters will still be needed to take care of these monsters, but not as much at first.

The rebuilding of the world begins next chapter! Stay tuned.