Disclaimer: Not mine

Chapter 4

Noctis groaned and blinked, looking around in a daze. He was…out? He pushed himself to his knees, looking around seeing only cold stone. The room or cave was dark, and he fumbled around for his light, having to call it from the Armiger and attaching it to his shirt. He forced himself to his feet and began exploring, trying to find a way out. It wasn't much lighter outside on the rock, but he could see the two peaks rising above him and he swore softly, how had he ended up on Angelgard? Bahamut, most likely, payment for his arguing with the Astral. He was determined that Noctis had to die to destroy Ardyn and the Starscourge while Noctis insisted there was always another way. He hated Ardyn, put he also pitied him after seeing his history while within the Crystal. He had just wanted to heal people. Still, the world did not deserve what he had cause and Noctis would end him to end the Darkness….he just had to work out how to keep his friends safe as well since he knew they had Scourge in them from the surgeries. He refused to consider that they may be lost to that, daemonified while he was stuck arguing with the Draconian.

He prayed they were alright; it had been years, he thought, and their lives had been dangerous enough before the endless night began. He walked to the waterline and stared out into the distance, worried. He should be able to see Galdin Quay's lights yet there was nothing. Had it fallen? Surely not, the place was well protected by the high hills around it and then the sea. It should have been relatively easy to defend.

Waking along the waterline he grinned as he found his Dad's boat. How it had gotten there and why he didn't know, but it was a way off the island. Thankfully it had fuel, so he was soon on his way, watching the darkness warily. He'd never seen a water based daemon but who knew how much had changed. As he travelled he reached out with his magic, through the Armiger, for those tied to it and him, almost collapsing in relief at feeling three presences…all strong. He closed his eyes, basking in the emotional presence of Prompto, it was different to how it had been when the bond was first formed, but it was also amazing compared to the gaping void Ardyn had caused it to become. Ignis and Gladio too had changed but not as much. He tugged the magic, ensuring they would know he was back, giving it a directional pull. He would wait for them at the Haven.

He tied the boat up and leapt up onto the wooden dock, hearing it creak beneath his feet. Walking along, it felt strange not seeing Dino lounging around but the place was more than deserted, it was ruined. The once fancy hotel was missing its roof, windows broken, some walls collapsed. He walked past the restaurant and made himself keep moving when he saw bone. He summoned the Ultima Blade as he heard the familiar sound of daemons forming, attacking before they could. He fought his way through the ruined resort town, heading for the Haven. He made it easily enough and sighed, he had no camping gear, he'd have to sleep on the bare rock but at least the fire could be fed to ensure some more heat.

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Ignis jolted, seeing Gladio stiffen and Prompto frown slightly in confusion. "Noctis…" he closed his eyes, feeling the tug on his bond to his King even as he skewered a daemon with his lance.

"He's back," Gladio grinned, wrapping an arm around Prompto's shoulders, as the last daemon in the group dissolved.

It had been hard to cling to the hope of his return, but their faith had been rewarded. After a decade of pain and endless fighting their group would finally be whole again.

Prompto smiled slowly, Noct was back. But he was also nervous, he was very different to how he had been a decade ago, he'd learnt a lot and he knew he was a person now. He also knew he wasn't the Prompto that Noct had fallen in love with. He had memories of that Prompto now, but from another's perspective. Ignis and he had worked out how to sync their tactical implants two years after Noct vanished, allowing them to share memoires and data. He had seen what he had been made to do from the older man's perspective. That Prompto had been a lot more innocent than he was, bubbly and happy. And Noct had been very much in love with him. Would Noct be upset he wasn't like that Prompto?

It took them several days of travel, the old truck they had claimed several years before able to handle the trip but getting gas wasn't so easy. They followed the pull until they realised they were heading for Galdin Quay. None of them liked that, it had fallen early on after the Darkness….and had been where their exile had begun. Gladio parked the truck and they got out, having to turn the engine off to conserve fuel, plunging them into darkness and they flicked their lights on, seeing the smoke of the Haven nearby. They walked silently, weapons at the ready until they saw a figure standing on the edge of the Haven, staring out at the sea. He was slightly taller, broader than they remembered, and they hesitated….was this really him? Or a trick? They all knew Ardyn was skilled with magic and illusion, though they'd had no interaction with him since leaving the Keep…that they knew of.

"Noct?" Prom called hesitantly; gun out but not aimed. His hands were shaking slightly as he stared…the clothing was right, the same outfit Noctis was wearing that day. The figure turned to face them, blinking in the harsh lights they used. The first thing Prompto noticed was the scraggly facial hair and longer hair….sharp facial features…but those eyes…he knew those eyes. Had seen them utterly devastated when he hadn't recognised Noct after his memory wipe, had seen them full of hope when he had opened the cell. "Noct," he let his gun go back to the Armiger, stepping forward, before stopping, but then Noct was holding his hand out and Prompto went to him, feeling strong, wiry arms wrap around him and he hugged back tightly. "You're back, you're really back," he whispered, fighting tears.

"I'm here, I've got you Prom," his voice sounded mostly the same, maybe a little huskier. Then he was pulling back to look Prompto over and he had to fight the urge to hide. A gentle hand moved to his face, tracing the scar there that ran from his left temple down to his throat. "I'm so sorry I wasn't here."

And then Ignis and Gladio were there, all clinging, moving to be able to touch Noctis as well and he laughed but let them, obviously having missed them as well. Eventually Ignis pulled them back, looking around the Haven. "Have you been here long?"

Noctis shrugged. "Woke up in Angelgard first so I've been here a few days."

That was when it dawned on the other two what Ignis was seeing, or rather not seeing. They quickly went to work and got the camp set up, food cooking away. Noctis sank into a chair and he closed his eyes, content. He accepted a plate from Ignis and forced himself not to eat too fast. He finished and then frowned, "you aren't eating?"

"Food is too scarce these days," Gladio answered.

"How…how long has it been?" it had been impossible to tell time where he'd been.

"Ten years," Ignis answered and Noctis' eyes went wide.

"Ten…that bastard," he hissed.

"Noct?" Prompto asked, still hesitant but when he saw his Kings' hand make an aborted move to reach for his own he shifted closer, flipping his hand up and Noctis started but took the offer to entwine their fingers, dark blue eyes searching his and he smiled shyly.

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Going to reach for Prompto had been automatic, but then he stopped himself, not wanting to pressure the blonde who had so few memories of Noctis compared to a decade of him being gone. Prompto offering his hand and smiling at him was a shock. He understood that a decade was long enough for him to learn how to express himself and form a personality beyond being a unit, but it was still a shock, since for Noctis it felt like it had been only a few hours in many ways.

"Noct? Who is a bastard?" Ignis spoke up, interrupting his thoughts and he glanced over at his Adviser.

"Bahamut," Noctis answered, squeezing Prompto's hand. "We disagreed on a few things and I refused to budge on them. He'd send me back under every time….pretty sure I only came back now because the other Astrals intervened on the planet and humanities behalf," he admitted.

"You argued with the Draconian?" Gladio demanded and Noct glared at the fire.

"Considering he called all of you abominations…yeah, we argued," he whispered.

"What?" Ignis paled in horror, though whether over Bahamut's opinion of them or the fact Noctis had argued, was hard to tell.

"He said you all have the Scourge in your veins plus machinery in your bodies and therefore are abominations."

"Which is true," Prompto affirmed and Noctis looked him in the eye, blinking as he got a look in the better lighting. Prompto's eyes had been a bright blue…now they were more purple. The ex-MT lowered his gaze and Noctis squeezed his hand again.

"And I don't care. The three of you are my friends, my family," and yeah, he did not like their reactions to his words. "Guys…what is it?" Did they no longer want or need him? They'd spent a third of their lives without him now, maybe they'd grown past him. His body had changed, grown, and he had learned while in the Crystal but that wasn't really living, in many ways he was still the same guy he had been.

"We were exiled," Gladio finally said and Noctis stiffened in alarm and anger.

"What?" he all but growled. Who had dared?

"Calm down Noctis," Ignis eyed him warily, seeing his eyes change colour. The last thing they needed was an angry Astral appearing in reaction to Noctis' rage.

Noctis closed his eyes and took a few dep breaths. "What happened?"

"It was when Galdin Quay fell, we answered the call for help, as did many others. During the evacuation, Prompto was injured," Ignis explained and Noctis felt Prompto flinch so he gently rubbed the back of his hand with his thumb.

"They found out?" Noctis looked at his Adviser who nodded.

"There was an attempt to kill him and we defended him, Gladio was injured during that, revealing his own altered state. I am…unsure, if the Marshall had any part of it. For my standing with them, it was assumed I too was no longer strictly human. Such rumours tend to spread swiftly. It was made clear that we were not welcome."

"Even at Hammerhead?" Surely Cid…but Gladio nodded.

"Cindy will do supply drops for us but…I think Cid…well, we came back without you."

"Well as King of Lucis I say you are not exiled," he told them firmly. "No one else stuck with me through everything. They want to say something; they can say it to me." He closed his eyes again, forcing himself to calm the magic surging through him. He felt Prompto squeeze his hand and opened his eyes to smile at him, Prompto smiling back. "You've come a long way," he whispered and Prompto nodded.

"I'm not him," Prom whispered, looking down. "I've seen him and I'm sorry but.. I can't be him."

Ignis and Gladio slipped away, leaving the two alone and Noctis was grateful for that. Noctis got up and tugged Prompto with him, moving to sit on the ground in front of the fire so that he could wrap an arm around the blonde, feeling how tense he was. "What do you mean you've seen him?" he asked gently.

"Iggy…we learnt to sync our tactical computers, I saw him in Iggy's memories, I saw the two of you. He….he was just so… and you loved him," Prompto stammered the last, looking down at the ground.

Noctis kissed the side of Prompto's head, offering comfort. "I know you aren't him Prompto. As much as it hurts, he wasn't real. You are. It's obvious you've grown so much while I was gone, and I want to get to know you. Maybe one day we'll be together, maybe we'll only ever be friends, but no matter what I want you with me. Even with no memories of anything except the Empire, you chose to act, to help us escape. You were willing to cut into your own brain to keep me safe," he explained and Prompto looked up at him, hope in his eyes.

"Really?"

"Really," he promised. "So….tell me about yourself?"

"I...uh…I like Chocobos and Iggy's green curry," he offered and Noctis smiled, apparently that was something both Prompto's shared. "I'm an even better shot now and Iggy's been teaching me to use daggers which is fun. I don't like being around lots of people," he admitted, sounding shy again. "I…I missed you. Is that silly? I mean…I was just a unit back then, I didn't know you, even with the switch in Protocols."

"Sometimes you miss someone even when you barely know them, because you click. I think…we were your stability after you managed to turn on the Empire, especially me and not just because of that change. So yeah, it isn't silly."

"Iggy said the same thing. He said I may not remember but there are echoes…muscle memory, things like that."

"I noticed that back when we first broke out," Noctis assured him. "We'll get through this and then we'll have the rest of our lives to work things out." He would find a way, he would. He could feel the power within him, the power in the Ring. Providence, Bahamut had called it, power greater than the Six themselves. If that was so then why couldn't there be another way to stop him? A way that wouldn't kill all four of them? He looked at the second tent and then at Prompto. "Let's get some sleep," he stood and offered his hand and Prompto blushed slightly but took his hand and let Noctis pull him up. They went into the tent to find two sleeping bags set up side by side. They stripped out of jackets and shoes before crawling in, settling down. Noctis hesitated but then shifted closer, he'd been stuck in the ether for a decade, cut off from all physical contact.

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Prompto watched Noctis fidgeted and then he slowly opened his arms, smiling as Noctis curled into him, holding on. They'd had each other for the last decade, Noctis had been locked within the Crystal. He knew what it was like to grow up without a kind touch but to have no touch at all, cut off from everyone? He held Noctis tightly, letting him know he wasn't alone. It felt really nice to hold him like this; he was used to sleeping with the other two, so it didn't feel strange. They tended to sleep in a pile of limbs, needing the touch to know they were all still there and alive. Noctis dropped off pretty quickly and Prompto wondered if he'd slept at all in the last ten years. It was different to be the one doing the holding when he remembered Noct always holding him at night after he had helped them escape.

He occasionally used the second tent, when the other two needed time together or when they had sex, cause as close as they were it felt strange to see that once he had come to understand such things were usually private. He knew that the other Prompto and Noctis had done that, but he had no memories of ever having sex, Ignis had said it was a relief to know that at least one horror hadn't been visited upon his body in the labs. He thought it might be nice to remember what it had been like with Noct. Even before their exile, he had never shown interesting in anyone, never felt what Ignis had explained as attraction…except he had, in those last days before the Keep, he just hadn't understood or recognised it.

He shook those thoughts off and closed his eyes, with Noctis back they would be on the move soon, once Iggy was sure Noctis was well fed anyway, and they may not get the chance for a lot of sleep. They didn't need as much but Noctis was still human.

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They spent three 'days' at the Haven, Ignis insisting and none of them really arguing. Ignis spend a lot of that time ensuring Noctis was either eating, sleeping, or exercising gently. He'd spent a decade in the Crystal, who knew what that may have done to his body? On the second day, Noctis sat down with Gladio who ever so carefully shaved the scraggly beard from his face, revealing more recognisable yet also sightly changed features.

"Anyone else would have had a beard to their waist after a decade," Gladio teased and Noctis rolled his eyes.

"Hey, I like not having to shave very often," Noctis shot back, running a hand over once more smooth skin. "Thanks."

It was on the third day that the conversation turned to serious matters again. Ignis and Gladio were happy to find Noctis had lost none of his combat skills, in fact he was actually faster and a little stronger. He'd stopped wolfing down food like he was half starved too and was sleeping more regular amounts of time.

"So what's the plan?" Gladio asked as Noctis finished his meal.

"I don't have one."

"Pardon?" Ignis asked as they all stared at him.

"Bahamut had a plan but there is no way I'm using it," Noctis explained, staring at the flames.

"Why not?" Gladio demanded and Noctis looked up at him, eyes haunted.

"Because I will not believe that there is no other way than for all of us to die!" he snarled and they all watched him with wide eyes, utterly silent. "No more lives sacrificed because that blasted dragon couldn't be bothered stopping all of this in the first place. With Luna dead I'm the only one left with a connection to the Astrals."

"They want it severed?" Ignis offered and he nodded.

"Bahamut mostly. To do that they need the Scourge and Ardyn gone for good."

"Noct…"

"Don't say it, I know, four lives compared to the world, except how much of the population is really left? How many species extinct? Even if the sun comes back, can the world really recover or will it mean a slower death?" he demanded and they all hesitated, because they didn't know. "More powerful than the Six, that's what he told me. Well I'm going to use that power to save the world."

"Once we have a plan," Gladio smirked slightly and Noctis laughed.

"Yeah, then."

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"I don't like this plan," Prompto told him as they looked out over the ruins of Insomnia.

"I know," Noctis gripped his shoulder. "But I'm not risking any of you near him, not again. We get to the Citadel and then you three retreat."

"Leaving you alone with that monster," his hands balled into fists and Noctis gently took them. "Noct, he's bound to be more powerful now."

"But so am I," Noctis promised. "I will find you, no matter how long it takes. So no getting yourselves killed. Understood?"

Prompto nodded, it may not be that easy. Without Noctis they would have to stay hidden. No one knew he was back but at least Cor and some of the other survivors form the Guard and Glaive would be able to put the dawn returning together with the King, if he was nowhere to be found…it would be very easy for them to be blamed again. They were good, but without the night to make hiding easier….sooner or later they would be caught.

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Entering the city…hurt. It had been bad enough seeing it burn but this…..this was a million times worse. It was abandoned by humans but overrun by daemons and they were all working to ignore what lay scattered in the wrecks, on the streets…not everyone had made it out of the city during the attack and then when Niflheim had abandoned it. It was one continual fight, with the guys keeping Noct protected, not wanting him to waste his energy on the daemons. He had a gun though, as he'd told Prompto ten years before he could shoot, they just weren't his preferred weapon.

They finally made it to the courtyard in front of the Citadel only to be forced back by sudden heat. "Ifrit, the Infernian. He doesn't share the Glacian's fondness for mankind. But you can expect a…warm welcome. I shall await you…above," Ardyn called out from the Citadel stairs, tipping his hat to them before turning and walking away.

"Great," Gladio snarled, readying his sword and shield even as Noctis and Prompto took aim with their guns. Ignis tightened his hold on his lance, darting in and out.

"This isn't working," Prompto tackled Noctis away from a burst of fire.

"I know," he didn't want to do it, but it had to be done and he felt the Draconian respond to his call. He moved with Bahamut, launching a joint strike against Ifrit, a strike he survived.

"So even that wasn't enough?" Gladio groaned.

"It's taken a turn for the worse," Ignis agreed, wiping sweat from his eyes.

"Out of the frying pan?" Prompto offered with a small grin and Noctis chuckled.

"We need to put this thing out!" he joined in the banter. He summoned his Father's sword and launched himself into the fight. "Feels like I'm just hitting air!" he yelled after a while, dropping down near the others. He blinked and held his hand out, that wasn't ash in his palm. The temperature began to drop rapidly and Noctis closed his eyes. "Shiva…" but how? The Empire had killed her, and he had never received her covenant.

"Pyreburner. That heart of flame was turned to ash once… A dead fire must burn no more. Taste again the chill wind of death," a soft, feminine voice called in the language of the Astrals and then they saw her… Gentiana. She smiled at him and walked past him, her clothing melting away as she took to the air, body changing as she spun around Ifrit until she truly looked like Shiva…in multiple bodies, several of which moved to surround Noctis. As Ifrit charged they took to the air, spiralling upwards, leaving only one between Noctis and the fiery Astral as the air became freezing cold. Ifrit stumbled, staggering a few steps, free hand raised up. Shiva cupped the massive face in much smaller hands and kissed his lip as he froze solid before shattering.

"Rest, my love. May your soul know peace at last. King of Kings, the grace of the gods is with you always," she glanced over at Noctis even as she began to fade away and he shivered as he felt the covenant being made

"I made a promise…one that I intend to keep," he warned, and she smiled at him before fading away. So he was right, not all of the Astrals agreed with Bahamut's plan. He stared up at the Citadel, he still wasn't sure how he was going to defeat Ardyn but there was no turning back now. He felt the others move up beside him and glanced at Ignis who smirked.

"We will escort you to the Throne Room," he stated and Noctis sighed but nodded, he hadn't wanted them to go inside at all, but they were being stubborn. He wanted them well out of range before the fighting began.

"It's all lit up," Prompto looked around in awe, able to see how grand the building had been even after a decade of fighting and neglect.

"Guess he's expecting company."

"He wants this as bad as we do," Noctis answered absently as he took Prompto's hand, getting a smile from the overwhelmed blonde. Ignis and Gladio also pressed closer, supporting the younger two.

"Think the elevator's workin'?"

"Huh…" Prompto pressed the button and it lit up. "Sure looks like it."

"He is really taking us by the hand," Ignis frowned, he didn't like that at all.

"It'll save our legs the walk up," Noctis smiled slightly as they moved into it,.

"Remember how nervous we were in front of King Regis the day we left?" Gladio asked as they approached the doors to the Throne Room.

"That was the last time we were in here," Ignis glanced around, saddened by the state their home was now in.

"I can't imagine it," Prompto admitted, to go before a King was beyond anything he could imagine. Though…Noctis was the King now, but he was different. He was Noct.

"Feels like forever ago," Noctis agreed, stopping to stare at them each in turn. His throat felt tight as he looked at them, barely changed by the years, he guessed that was the only thing he could thank Ardyn for. There were some changes, but not much, they looked young for thirty but so did he. "I'll see you again," he promised, turning away.

"Noct?" Prompto called and he turned back only to feel lips press to his briefly before Prompto moved back, blushing and smiling shyly. Gladio chuckled and Ignis smiled, reaching out to ruffle messy blonde locks.

Noctis blinked but then smiled back and opened the doors even as they forced themselves to leave, no matter how much it hurt to abandon him. He had made it clear though and after what Ardyn had done to them back then, they didn't trust themselves near him, none of them 100% positive he couldn't use them against Noctis.

He walked into the Throne Room, ignoring the illusions of his Dad, Luna and Nyx to confront his enemy.

"I'm afraid you're out of luck. The throne brings you here? It seats only one," Ardyn stood with a foot on the Throne where his Father had sat that day. How he wished that day had gone differently, that he had said more.

"Off my chair, jester. The King sits there," with that he launched himself at the older male.

TBC…