I had wondered how Noctis would react if he by chance got to meet a regular person who had been affected by the Imperial attack on Insomnia. Based on the mythology and whatnot of the game, I deduced it wouldn't be a pretty picture.
For those new to my way of writing stories. I do not write fights, it's just not me. I, instead, write about the human aspects that are never presented. I wonder how the characters react if something had changed or something had been added while they go on their journeys. This particular story keeps the main elements of the game's plot but adds a new character and a new twist into the mix.
Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy 15, its characters, settings, etc., belong to its respective creators. All original characters, settings, etc., belong to me!
Chapter 3: The First Occurrence
As Ignis predicted, their guest hadn't woken until it was midday. The guys passed the time by foraging for supplies and chilling out. It was good to lay back once in a while anyway. When they heard the faint zipper of the tent they all nearly froze in place. Out she stepped, Heiwa, into the sunlight, rubbing sleep from her eyes.
"Hey! Good morning sunshine!" Prompto grinned at her.
"I...Morning…" She was calmer than yesterday but the guys still kept their distance.
"How are you feeling?" Gladio asked.
"...Better..." She looked down at the dirt in front of her. "...Sorry...for...last night…"
"How is your back?" Noctis asked her.
"Oh...um...It stings a little but…"
"It will do that until the wounds have completely healed." Ignis told her. "Though I do apologize, if we had gotten to your sooner the wounds would not scar. I am afraid they will not go away fully."
"I...It's okay...I…"
"It's not okay…" Noctis suddenly wanted to go. "Gladio...you mind…?"
"Sure…" Knowing Noctis well Gladio followed the prince out of the haven.
"Ignore them, Ms. Lockheart." Ignis returned to his job of cook. "Have a seat, lunch will be ready in a moment. After such we should head to Hammerhead. We can decide what to do from there."
She quickly shook her head. "You've done so much for me in one night…I...couldn't…You must be busy and..."
"Nonsense." Ignis wasn't having it. "A gentleman would never leave a lady in your condition alone."
Taking the que she sat down in one of the chairs.
"How...did you all...get out…?"
"We were gone when the attack happened." She turned to Prompto who finally spoke up. He was sitting right next to her. "I promise, the Empire will pay."
"Indeed." Ignis agreed wholeheartedly.
Heiwa stared for a moment then frowned. "I'm sorry…" She shook her head. "I mean…I can't help but wonder…Something…About...Noct...seems…strange…I…I think…I know who he is but…My mind's just…"
"That is what dehydration does to you, I'm afraid." Ignis stated. "Though, you would probably know Noctis as his title of prince."
Her eyes nearly shot out of their sockets. "…P…Prince Noctis!?" Prompto watched her suddenly stand, her eyes wide in absolute shock. Of course it would be a deep surprise to know that your prince had cleaned your wounds, got close enough to touch. She slowly backed away from Prompto and made sure to say away from Ignis too. She figured out quickly that they weren't just any old crown guardsmen…
"Take it easy…Noct's cool!" Prompto reassured her and she was about to speak in protest when Noctis returned with Gladio behind him. She jumped upon seeing them.
"P...Prince...Noctis…?" She stumbled and Noctis frowned. He glanced at Prompto who pointed at Ignis' back. Noctis gave a frustrated sigh.
"You're Hiro's sister, aren't you?" Noctis asked her.
Her eyes widened considerably. "You…You knew my brother!?"
"Just by reputation." Noctis shrugged then gave a light smirk towards Gladio. "I heard he once kicked Glady's tail."
"Really? You're gonna go that route?" Gladio crossed his arms, gave a light glare. "The guy was good. Damn good."
Prompto knew the look that passed Heiwa's face. She couldn't believe it...She, a mere commoner from Insomnia, had been saved by the prince and his guards! She was about to say something, probably to apologize, when Ignis stepped in again.
"Terror gets the best of us sometimes, no need for apologizes.…" Ignis guided her back to her seat then placed a plate of food in her lap. "While on our journey to Hammerhead you can tell us more of the Crown City, that is if you are up to it Ms. Lockheart."
"I…Don't know if I can be much help…But…I'll tell you what I can." She shook a bit. "Though...You...might not like what I have to say…"
"We greatly appreciate it."
She nodded. "O...Okay…"
Bellies full the group headed towards the Regalia. Prompto immediately took a seat in the back, claiming it was for Heiwa's comfort.
"Uh huh…Sure…" Gladio teased the blonde.
"Hey! I'm not that bad, Glady!" Prompto frowned at him. "Besides, she just found out she's been rescued by a prince!" He gave a wink at Heiwa. "Don't mind him, old Glay's never been around normies like us!"
She frowned at him. "You're…like me?"
"Yep! Common folk unite!" Prompto gave a fist into the air.
She stared at him for a moment then...hints of a small smile tugged at her lips. That was all Prompto needed to see to know that she was going to be okay.
Now Heiwa was in the back seat, between Gladio and Prompto; Noctis taking the front while Ignis drove. She told them what Insomnia was like and it made the whole car tense.
"The soldiers...they were going house to house…" She took a deep breath. "People were either being dragged away or...shot on sight...No one was safe, not even children…"
"Do you know where they were being taken?" Prompto asked and she shook her head.
"My...brother did...He...said they were being taken to the Citadel though he didn't know why…"
"Or he wouldn't tell you." Gladio grunted.
"As...we were heading out of the waterway, we...got caught…" She shook again. "They...found out my brother was a crownsguard trainee so…They thought he should be punished...indirectly…"
Noctis turned around, stared right at her, his frown saying what they all thought.
"Is your back all that got hurt?"
She slowly nodded. "If...Hiro hadn't of...gotten free…" She hugged herself. "I…"
"Um...hey, you like pictures Heiwa?" Prompto immediately pulled out his camera. "Check it out!"
Noctis went silent for a moment before returning to the front; crossing his arms he frowned. Ignis knew very well the young prince was seething with anger...Anger well planted upon the enemy. There had to be a bit more there as well, for Heiwa wouldn't see him as a regular person anymore and that tended to annoy the young prince greatly.
"I believe Prompto can handle things from here." Ignis pushed up his glasses, Noctis sighed.
"Guess so…"
As they headed towards their destination, an ominous shadow befell them overhead...an Imperial transport.
"Looks like we've got company...again." Gladio was the first to jump out just as the Regalia was brought to a complete halt.
"Well it is to be expected…" Ignis stated as he joined the others. "Prompto, I trust our lady friend will be fine in your care?"
"You got it!" Prompto saluted then turned to an obviously nervous Heiwa. He helped her out of the car; not the safest place to hide in a fight. He had her crouched on the pavement, the car's door protecting her and him. "Don't you worry, just stay with me okay? Old baddies are gonna wish they've never been born!"
Prompto did his long range job well behind the Regalia, peeling off one MT after another. The guys had a bit of a rush at the moment, wanting to pummel the MTs to the ground and Prompto knew why. The shaking young woman crouched at his feet was the catalyst for such behavior. Out of the corner of his eye he saw she had reverted, holding her hands to her ears and shutting her eyes tight as she rocked back and forth. Taking a look at the situation in front of him, Prompto saw the three had a handle on everything. He knelt to her, but this time made sure his gun was out of her reach. He was about to try to calm her down when her eyes looked behind him and she screamed as a towering form enfolded them both. The gunner was quicker than the axeman however, his single shot ringing in the air. The axeman falling to the ground in front of them, Prompto blew at the smoke from his gun.
"That's for Heiwa." He murmured under his breath then turned back towards his charge.
She practically glomped him, shaking like a leaf. Making his gun vanish Prompto held an arm around her shoulders.
"See? Told ya…" He chuckled. "No worries." Looking at her, he noticed her eyes had become distant. "Uh...Hey!" He froze when her hand touched his cheek and she got a bit...too close to his ear.
"fjdkald wo sdka dafd..."
The language was completely foreign to him. What was she trying to say?
"Prompto!"
Noctis' shout made Prompto suddenly stand up, the odd moment instantly vanishing. "We're cool!" He looked down and saw Heiwa trying to calm her breathing. "Uh...Heiwa?"
She stood on shaking feet, nodding. The gunner noticed the far away look in her eyes were gone, replaced by the hesitant and innocent eyes she usually carried.
"I...I'm alright…"
Next time: Curative Queen
