Noctis fell to his knees at the sight of the ghostly Oracle, 'Luna… how are you here?' he asked, speechless at her appearance.
'My dear Noctis' Luna said smiling, 'I wish I could comfort you, hold you, but the Gods did not grant my wish for such a purpose. I am here for a different reason'.
'What is it?' Noctis muttered, swallowing the lump in his throat and wiping at his eyes to stop the tears that wanted to be released.
'It is your heart' Luna answered 'you are at a crossroad, the choice you make when you walk out of that door will affect you for the rest of your life', her hand pointed to the tomb door as she spoke.
'So what are you gonna tell me what the Gods want? What they think is best for them?' Noctis said bitterly, he loved Luna that would never change. Her death however had changed Noctis, he had become more sceptical of the Astrals, though he didn't hate them, he was just not as willing to follow them blindly. His reasoning for his doubt, at least for him, was solid, he didn't understand why the Gods hadn't protected Luna, his dad or his people, in the end he concluded that they simply didn't care for their subjects.
'Noctis now is not the time to question the Gods' Luna scolded, frowning at his attitude, 'and no the Gods do not wish to interfere in what will happen, but I would at least allow you to be informed'.
'I know what is going to happen, when I leave this tomb I'm going to freeze to death!' Noctis argued back 'all because one of these Gods has some sick fascination with me!'
'Enough!' Luna shouted, her voice stopping Noctis.
'I would have thought my presence would be welcome, but instead you wish to argue and throw insults' the Oracle said angrily 'If we cannot talk in a civil manner you will be silent and listen!'
Noctis reluctantly nodded, wrestling with his anger at the situation.
'Good' Luna said, 'now you know that the Glacian has developed feelings for you, and because of the isolation she has suffered over the years she cares little for your consent. If you tried to walk out of this tomb and leave this mountain she will descend upon you and force you to become her mate'.
Noctis swallowed, knowing that Luna wasn't implying Shiva wanted a new best friend.
'You can change this of course' Luna continued 'you need to appeal to her heart, show her that what she wants is wrong, and that she should leave you be'.
'Wait, are you telling me to that I need to convince Shiva not to be interested in me?' Noctis interrupted, thinking that the alternative would be something else.
'Yes' Luna answered, her gaze showing she was confused by Noctis's sour tone. 'Noctis there isn't something you are hiding from me is there?' Luna then asked, her tone indicating that the Prince was on thin ice.
'Well no… I mean maybe' Noctis stuttered, the gaze of the Oracle hardening further, 'not intentionally, but I haven't seen y-'.
'Please get to the point' Luna stressed her patience fading rapidly.
Noctis sighed, mentally he beat himself up. 'I think I like her' he muttered, though his faint words were picked up by the Oracle.
'Oh!' she exclaimed her eyes going wide at Noctis's words, 'I… I truly did not know Noctis I am sorry, though I must ask why'.
'She's still alive for one' was what Noctis thought bitterly as he looked over to the transparent Oracle, 'she's been honest with me in her own weird way, but it's still the truth, she hasn't tried to hide her affection' Noctis told Luna. 'And I guess I'm just ok with it, she could lay off with the death threats on my friends but besides that I don't mind what she's been doing' Noctis admitted, he knew that he appreciated the forwardness of the Glacian as his own shyness and ability to stumble over the most simple of confessions made it hard for him to be open with others.
'I see' Luna said, making no efforts to hide her disappointment, 'that makes things more difficult, I don't think I can aid you as well as I could have'.
'What do you mean?' Noctis asked.
'You could have told the Glacian that you still held me dear to your heart, she would have mostly likely have left you alone' Luna explained, 'but that is obviously no longer the case'. The sting in her words did not go undetected by the Prince.
'Luna I didn't mean to hurt you' Noctis said, inching his way closer to the Oracle.
'It matters little Noctis, if you are to resolve this then you must convince the Glacian that you reciprocate her feelings, only then will she listen to an alternative solution' Luna told Noctis, the warmth in her eyes that shone when she looked at her Prince was gone.
'Luna please, I-
'Goodbye Prince Noctis' Luna muttered before she faded away, leaving Noctis alone in the cold tomb of the Oracle. Noctis wiped his eyes of the moisture that had built, he knew that whatever had with Lunafreya was now dead yet he regretted what he said, even if there was only truth in his words.
Knowing there was little point in delaying what would happen Noctis braced himself and turned towards the stone door and threw it open expecting the cold biting winds to be blasted straight at him. All he received was a cool breeze and the sight of a white snowy night. 'Here goes nothing' Noctis muttered under his breath as he stepped out into the snow, when his feet were firmly planted in the fresh snow the tomb door slammed shut behind Noctis.
Noctis trudged through the snow and away from the tomb, as he walked he noticed that the tomb was located on the side of a mountain, to his right a severe drop and to his left a steep cliff, the moonlight providing an adequate light source for Noctis.
The icy winds started to pick up and soon Noctis was shivering madly, his arms tucked under his armpits for warmth, despair began to set into the Prince as he feared freezing to death on the accursed mountain. His train of thought was slapped out him, literally. A cold hand smashed into his face sending Noctis flying into the snow, recovering Noctis looked around trying to find what had hit him though his search found nothing.
'Who's there?' Noctis yelled the only response given was the howling of the wind. When Noctis went to stand his leg was pulled back forcing him to stay crouched on the cold ground. Again and again Noctis tried to stand, and every time his was pushed back down. Pulling his face out of the snow Noctis's patience had snapped.
'Enough!' Noctis yelled, his royal arms appearing around him, spinning protectively and blocking whatever was attacking him. Now standing Noctis looked around and found the guilty creature, well creatures.
Floating around Noctis was Shiva and her identical sisters, some were further back sitting on top of the edges of the sheer cliff while others were diving and soaring around the drop to his right. The remaining sisters were inspecting Noctis's ethereal weapons, one even tried to touch one of them only for her to pull her finger back holding it as though it had been stung. Noctis's eyes eventually fell onto the real Glacian who hung back behind the others. He didn't know why he could tell the Glacians apart, he just felt a pull towards her and that her glow seemed to brighter than the other Glacians.
The same hungry and lustful gaze filled Shiva's eyes, her restraint was simply gone, and though the fabric that hung from her back weren't wings they seemed to flap from some unknown breeze making her look like a fairy. Thankfully Shiva and her sisters were still clad in their sheer clothes and icy garments, something Noctis feared would be missing considering the state of the Goddess and Luna's warning. Noctis gaze didn't go unnoticed by the infatuated Glacian, who smiled in a sultry fashion and beckoned him forward with a finger.
'Shiva we need to talk' Noctis told the Glacian, ignoring her summons.
The Glacian frowned at the Prince's resistance 'The time for talking is over, you are mine, just accept your fate'. She then floated towards him, her sisters parting wordlessly as she closed in.
In response Noctis's armiger spun faster, sensing the uneasiness that flowed through his body, 'I'm gunna have to disagree with you there' Noctis said, 'it's not good for the relationship if we just take what we want'.
Shiva stopped momentarily at Noctis's words 'So you accept your feelings, but if so why do you still resist me?'
Noctis couldn't help but chuckle 'because I know what you are going to do to me if I let you any closer, and I kinda want to keep my free will'. Noctis's comment earnt him a growl from the Astral.
'You fool, you have no idea what I have been through! What I have had to endure! I deserve you, your needs are immaterial compared to my own! Shiva exclaimed, closing the distance between her and the royal arms that kept her from Noctis.
'I do know what you've been through!' Noctis stressed 'and… and I'm willing to try and see if we can work together, but I can't do that if you're going to enslave me with this' Noctis gestured to the white ring that gripped his finger.
'So I should allow another person I love go free? Allow them to get hurt? No I will not allow the fate that befell the Inferian fall upon you!' Shiva yelled back, though she made no attempt to disrupt the Noctis's armiger.
'Then it's not even love at that point!' Noctis shouted, 'what you want to do is slavery! You want me to be your plaything, the same thing that Ardyn is doing to Ifrit!'
It was obvious that Noctis had gotten through to Shiva with what he had said, the surprise in her eyes seemed to physically push her back.
'I… I don't want to be alone' Shiva whispered, an icy tear falling from her eye as she looked towards the ground, 'when I lost him I had no one, no one to embrace, no one to confide in, and no one to love. I know what I am doing is wrong, but I cannot bear the void anymore'. Looking back at Noctis she continued 'I will leave you, I am sorry for the trouble I have caused you, farewell my love'.
Noctis eyed the saddened Glacian, it was now or never.
'Shiva wait' Noctis said, allowing his armiger to disintegrate and leaving himself completely vulnerable, 'I never said I didn't want to be with you. We can still try if you want'.
The Glacian eyed the Prince and the removal of his ethereal weapons, it was obvious from the conflict on her face that she wanted to charge at him and claim him, but his words were having some effect on her. 'How? How could you even want to be with me after all I have done to you? I forced my ring upon you and I have threatened those who are closest to you'.
Noctis shrugged at her words, 'my friends are used to being threatened with death, it's part of their daily routine at this point. Besides your ring hasn't done anything to me yet, though I don't think it matches my jacket', as Noctis talked he brought the guilty ring up to his jacket, the white contrasting with the black leather.
A sliver of a smile emerged on Shiva's face at Noctis's attempts at humour. 'OK' she said floating closer to the Prince.
'OK?' Noctis questioned.
'I am willing to give what your offering a chance' Shiva responded, 'but first let me take that ring off'.
Noctis extended his hand, but faltered at the unsure look the Glacian gave at the action. 'Do you want me to keep it?' Noctis asked, instinctively knowing there would repercussions of continually wearing the ring.
The Glacian didn't look at Noctis, but nodded at his offer, 'I know it would be wrong for you to continue wearing it, but it would comfort me beyond words'.
Noctis retracted his hand, and opened his arms in a slow awkward fashion, 'umm… do you wanna hug or you know…' he blustered, his cheeks red with embarrassment. Shiva darted into his arms immediately, crushing him in a cold embrace, Noctis shivered and staggered back but he returned the hug as well as he could. Around them Shiva's sisters danced around the Cliffside joyfully, expressing the emotions of the original Glacian before leaving into the darkness.
The two stayed in the close embrace, Noctis trying in vain to resist the creeping cold that spread throughout his body, while Shiva greedily savoured the warmth that Noctis's body excreted. Eventually Noctis's shivering was picked up by the Glacian and she pulled away, 'I am sorry' she told the prince, guilt smeared on her face.
'Its fine' he stuttered having enjoyed the hug even through the freezing cold had numbed his fingers. After a couple of attempts Noctis grabbed Shiva's hand with his own, cursing his inability to fully resist her freezing aura, and pulled Shiva to the side of the cliff and sat on the overhang allowing his legs some respite. Shiva floated down next to Noctis, and rested her head on the Prince's shoulder sighing in peaceful content.
'So what happens now?' Noctis asked as he tried to make out what lay beyond the cliff drop, though a snowy blizzard seemed to surround the mountain and was blocking his vision.
Shiva rubbed her head further into his shoulder while entwining her arm through Noctis's arm 'I know not my love, but I am happy now and that is all that matters'.
A random yawn from the Prince interrupted the loving scene, Shiva looking up at Noctis expecting an answer. 'I think my body is reminding me I need to sleep' he explained as he covered his mouth to block a further yawn.
'We should return to your companions then' Shiva responded, her tone telling Noctis it was more of a statement than a suggestion.
Before he could speak a familiar blinding white light surround the pair. When Noctis next opened his eyes he found himself sitting in front of the open caravan door with Shiva hovering over him. Yanking his phone out of his pocket the display revealed that no time had passed from when he had left, meaning he could finally get some sleep.
Noctis rose and made his way into the caravan, pausing to see Shiva floating in front of the door, unsure of whether to enter. Against better judgement and knowing what would happen if they were found Noctis made an offer.
'You can stay with me if you want' Noctis reassured the Astral, who flew towards him, her wing-like fabric coiling around her in a mock gown, allowing her to move through the restricted corridors unhindered. When Noctis reached his bunk he threw his jacket and boots off and flung his socks into the boots, he then sat down on the bed and gestured to Shiva to join him, careful to avoid waking his friends that slept around them.
After an uncomfortable amount of elbow pushing and sore ribs Noctis lay in his bed with Shiva clinging to him, her head laying on his chest as he ran his hands through the embroidery in her hair and the small fang like horns that sprouted above it. Unlike the last embrace however, Shiva seemed to have restrained her icy aura allowing Noctis to remain warm as he slowly became drowsy as his fatigue enveloped him.
'Noctis?' Shiva whispered into his chest, causing Noctis to sober momentarily.
'Yeah?' he said just as quietly.
'Would it be acceptable if I stayed with you for the rest of your journey?'
'Sure' he responded, not caring about the possible consequences, they could be dealt with tomorrow.
A/N:
Aww Noctis and Shiva are all happy and in love! Except Luna, but I don't think she would really consent to Noctis being with someone else, but that's just a theory... a gam- WAIT NO WRONG FORMAT.
But in all seriousness I tried writing Luna saying she was OK with Noctis being with Shiva and it just didn't turn out well, as in I wasn't happy with it.
What happens now you say, ehh I'll figure that out tomorrow. (Shiva as the 5th member of the crew and her inclusion in some of the quests is one hint, and the really specific one is Shiva giving Iris the talk about their favorite prince).
Until the next chapter, whether that's next week is up in the air. Sorry about that but I would rather take my time and got this right than rush it.