"Um...where are you from?"

Noctis could feel his face grow red as he asked the question.

"Supposedly from the outskirts of Gibanthra. A small town really," Lightning responded, without so much as batting an eyelash. Her speech seemed more controlled, planed even. But Noctis knew the feeling of replying with the same information over and over again. Yet there was something about the use of the word 'supposedly' that caught the prince's attention.

"What do you mean supposedly?" he asked.

Lightning's features softened, her eyes began to fill with hints of sadness and pain. "I have doubts because my memory is poor. I can't remember much past a few years ago, when I was found in the slums of another city. I have no recollection as to what happened in my early life or where my family is."

"I had no idea."

The truth was Lightning's plight was sadly not uncommon. "I've, uh, lived in Tenebrae all my life. I don't like traveling, especially since the war."

The war he was referring to was the war between Tenebrae and that of Algentia, two kingdoms of equal size and influence that had been in a struggle for decades. Thousands of lives had been lost all for the cause of a war that centered on a single crystal. The kingdom, even family, that controlled the crystal controlled the fates of everyone. It had the power to destroy and create, punish and save. If it fell into the wrong hands, unimaginable events could happen. This crystal was, thankfully for some, in the hands of the Caelum family. And it was the job of Noctis to protect this object with his life. He had hated the burden and weight that came with this responsibility, but it also came at the risk of him becoming the target of attention and threats. That included Stella, who was a member of a rival family that had wanted the crystal for some time. Noctis would have to do his best to keep her at an arm's length away from the crystal. Even Lightning he would have to be careful, as there was no one he could trust.

Lightning gently shook her head, causing the strawberry blond mass to sway back and forth. "It's alright. That is the reason I play the piano. For some reason, I must have learned to play in my childhood because I have songs committed to memory. I hope that something I play will perhaps jog my memory as to who I was before the war."

The prince smiled. He was simply amazed at Lightning's character and the reason that she was playing. "Have any memories come back to you?"

"No, not yet."

"Have you, uh, ever been to Tenebrae before?"

Lightning looked at him with a calm expression on her face. "No, this is my first time here in the city. Never imagined that it would be so big. Or so fancy," she softly giggled.

Noctis chuckled. "I bet."

She seemed to be interested in him, but she was not letting him know.

The two then walked together toward one of the great windows in the room that overlooked the entire city. Lightning seemed entranced by the sight as she gazed out over it. Noctis smiled, but only because of Lightning's response. He had always been lucky to see that view since he could remember. To him, it was just an ordinary view. But to Lightning, it was as if she had never seen anything like it.

"What is it like, being a prince?"

"Like having a full time job. What's it like being a musician?"

Lightning giggled, "Like being a painter or writer. I never know what I will play next."

"Could you perhaps play another song for me?"

"Well, just for you" the girl said with a smile. She walked over to the piano, positioned herself on the bench, making sure that her gown was not in the way of feet reaching the petals and stretched her hands out onto the keys. "What would you like me to play?"

"Do you have any more Beethoven?"

Lightning nodded yes. She took a deep breath and then began to play. Soon the soothing sound of a slow musical piece filled the room.

Mi, Re, Mi, Re, Mi, Ti, Re, Do, La Mi La, Do, Mi, La, Ti, Mi, So...

The song continued to drift across the ears of the prince, as a peaceful smile grew on his face. He was sure that he had heard the pieces that she was playing many times before, but there was something about the way that she was playing the piece. Lightning was somehow imprinting her own style and character onto the music, as if she had composed it herself.

It was during this reflection that Noctis realized he was letting his guard down. His kingdom was in the middle of a war. No one could be trusted, even the innocent war-torn girl from the slums. Especially someone like Lightning. Though he highly doubted that Lightning could do harm as simple pianist, he feared what would happen. Like Stella, it appeared that Lightning would need to be kept at a distance from him.

It was the constant self isolation that made Noctis dislike being the protector of the crystal. No one, except for a few very select people was trustworthy. He was always looking over shoulder, covering his steps, trimming his relationships. If he were to get hurt, he wanted as few people as possible to suffer. And Noctis was a highly targeted threat. Just a few days earlier, he had singlehandedly fought a platoon of enemy soldiers outside of the palace. Large mobs of army men showing up at the steps of the palace and shrine were becoming a common sight for him. It would be a matter of time before armies personally went after him.

The thoughts swimming through his head ruined his enjoyment of Lightning's performance. He had not even noticed that Lightning had finished playing. The only hint he got was the touch of a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"Noctis? Are you alright?"

"Um...yeah. I'm just tired, probably from all the people I've been meeting."

"Oh, of course. It's getting late anyway."

Lightning walked back to the piano, and grabbed a large black purse. Opening it, Lightning placed the numerous musical scores that she had placed on the piano's stand. Noctis noticed that there were four or five other books inside of the case.

"Do you have another plans for the week?" the prince asked.

Lightning stopped packing for a moment and looked up. "I'm actually very busy. I'm booked for about five other parties and a few clubs."

"Perhaps I'll see you again?"

"Hopefully." said Lightning, grabbing the over-sized purse. She then walked over to Noctis. "It was a pleasure meeting you, prince." With that she began to move toward the room's exit.

Noctis quickly realized he was being rude in not escorting her out. "Shall I escort you out?"

Lightning did not turn around until she reached the door. "Thank you, but I'll be fine. Good night Noctis."

"Please, call me Noct. No need to be formal."

She smiled at him once more. "Very well then. Good night Noct." Lightning then closed the door, leaving Noctis alone in the room.


Soon after Lightning left, Noctis walked out of the ballroom to the elevator. There was no point staying around, seeing that the pianist had disappeared and Stella was nowhere to be found. Moving to the elevator, he fell into the constant rhythm of traveling from one place to another.

His life was a consistent stream of meeting people he would never meet again or care about. It was the 'desirable life' of a prince. If only he could get out of that role. Give the crystal to another person and then come to live life on his own away from this war. Yet it was pointless to wish for another life. Noctis knew he had been given a task, and that he would fulfill that burden until he died.

As he stepped outside, the cool air hit his face, causing him to gasp for breath. The temperature must have dropped thirty degrees since he was last outside. Avoiding the crowds of people who were all gathering he walked on the sidewalk, toward the end of the block. There, he was greeted with a familiar face.

"Noctis."

"Hello Quinn."

Quinn was the prince's planer and driver. He always dressed in a business suite, with his trademark glasses. Though some would think he was a minor inconvenience, Noctis relied on Quinn for advice and always being level headed. Tonight, he was driving the prince home, as it was becoming too dangerous for Noctis to be driving a car, with all of the securities and codes that were in place during the time of war. He was convinced that his father thought he was still too young and fragile to be left on his own.

"So Noctis," Quinn asked as he opened the side door of the sleek limousine, "you stayed late. Anything interesting happen?"

"Nothing much."

Noctis stopped, holding his comments unit Quinn closed the side door, entered into the driver seat, started the car, and was fully moving. "I, uh, met a few people there."

"Oh, who?" Quinn asked, his eyes not leaving the road.

"The first was Princess Stella."

"Interesting, I hope that you used your better judgment when you talked with her. You know that she could be after you for the crystal, with her family roots and all."

"I know, Quinn. I'm already trying to keep her out of my hair. She's a bit too cheery for my taste."

Quinn was going to say something about how opposites attract or how one should never judge a book by its cover, but he pursed his lips and decided not to say anything.

"What about the other person?"

"She a piano player, named Lightning. She's..."

"Impressive?"

"Talented. Very talented."

Noctis gazed out the window, watching as the car passed through a series of tunnels on the way to the palace. "Um, could you do me a favor, Quinn?"

"Of course Noct."

"Can you look up a Lightning for me? I want to see what her background is. You can never be too trusting." Noctis lamented at the fact that he was in a constant state of worry about the state of the crystal. "I will get you the information as soon as I get it."

The rest of ride was spent in silence.


Lightning, rather than taking the front entrance, had decided to exit the building through the fire exit. A smile crept on her face. She had been expecting to meet some famous people, but she never dreamed that prince Noctis would spend some time with her. This was all too good to be true.

Making sure that no one was around, she walked down a back alleyway down ten blocks and into a small office building. She had a feeling things with the prince would begin moving at an accelerated pace.