Disclaimer: Don't own Final Fantasy XV, nor any of it's characters.

Rating: T

Semi-retelling of FFXV, supporting NoctisXIris and a few hints to other, hetero-only pairings; primarily written from Iris's POV

Somehow, Noctis managed to wake himself up at the right time.

At first, he was a little drowsy, feeling tempted to just go back to sleep, at least until he realized he was awake... but while getting up, he paused.

Iris was sleeping against his chest, spread-out much as she'd been the night before, which he noticed as he slowly tilted his head. The sight of her being out like a light, steadily breathing, and content made him smile a little... he slowly brought his fingers up, and brushed them against her bangs; she didn't stir once, still deeply asleep.

"Iris" he whispered, very low and heavy - inwardly, he just tried to remember this moment.

No, not just this one; all of them.

Then carefully, gently, he managed to remove himself from her grip, though he did make sure she remained in a comfortable position the entire time. Taking in a breath, and getting a last look at Iris, he then quietly moved toward the entrance, taking a second to make sure the flaps didn't dislodge the ropes above. Once outside, Noctis paused to take it all in again: the sky blotted out by this darkness, the constant brightness of Hammerhead's lights, and the background noise of many daemons. Feeling heavier, in more ways than one, he stood up and began moving out from behind the shop, making his way toward Cindy's garage.

Right away, he saw the guys were ready and raring, just waiting for him... not wasting time, determined to keep his composure, he went over to them.

Ignis heard him first, half-turning. "Noct?"

"Yeah, it's me."

A small lip curve. "I didn't get a chance to say this before, but in regards to Iris, it's about time" he said, slightly knowing.

Prompto chuckled, hands held together. "Same here, but even more happy for ya, man" he added, completely sincere, which Noctis did nod to. "Still, you're not quite off the hook- eheh."

No surprises there- even as the guys looked at Gladio, Noctis did the same: the big guy had his arms crossed, expression intense, not exactly hostile but certainly guarded.

"If you two have been indecent, Noct, you'd best tell me right now" he warned, low.

Noctis felt his mouth twist, but despite that, resisted a surge of embarrassment and awkwardness.

"Iris isn't that type, Gladio, and neither am I. You already knew that" he answered, not backing down at all. "She was ecstatic to see me, but even then she wanted things to happen naturally. Unless you count small stuff as indecent, you've got nothing to be mad about."

Gladio scoffed, rolling his eyes as he half-turned, but he said nothing- the tough guy cover for his various reactions, approval included.

"If you had admitted to being indecent though, Noct, the results would've been spectacular" Ignis dryly observed, with several undertones.

Noctis declined to answer, if feeling a bit amused and nostalgic; before, he knew he would've said 'keep that to yourself'-

-something Prompto seemed to believe he's thinking now:

"Ah, don't listen to them, Noct" he said with a tap-on-the-arm, playfully sincere. "If you two are happy, you shouldn't let anyone's comments stop you. Kinda like I haven't."

Okay, now he's definitely interested... still, that aside, he was definitely proud of much Prompto's developed. He'd always courage to follow them into dangerous situations, whether he complained or joked about it, but now he seemed to have grown a real spine, and stopped caring so much about what they all thought, striking out with his own opinions.

It'll serve him well, for sure.

"Oh really?" Noctis asked out loud, slightly teasing. "Does that mean you and Cindy?"

"Ehhhhh, that's complicated" his blonde friend drew out, with a sheepish, sincere smile. "But I won't kiss and tell."

Okay, that's just asking for him to pry- heh, or that's what he would've said out loud, again before.

"I'm sure you can get more details later, Noct" Gladio said, still disgruntled but serious. "Don't we have somewhere to be?"

No one was surprised, particularly since the big guy did have a point; they couldn't stand here forever catching up.

"Yeah, we do" Noctis breathed, more determined, "Ready, guys?" he asked, looking around-

-no one said a word, but their expressions gave only one answer.

"Alright" he said, glad for it and inwardly enjoying everything while he could. "Then let's go."

...

Somewhat later

Honestly, Iris wasn't surprised that when she awoke, Noct and the guys were gone- it's just as he said, and what they had to do. She wished them luck, trying not to dwell on Noct's words that this would be a tough, dangerous fight... but no matter what, he'd keep his promise to do his best, along with kick that bastard's ass (literally and figuratively).

She knew that deep in her heart... but she still missed the warmth of his embrace.

"You alright there, Iris?"

Iris made a sound, returning to the work after a moment, mostly to keep from dwelling on her thoughts. "Fine, Cindy" she admitted, trying to clean this car's exterior. "It's just- Noct coming back so suddenly has left me a little jittery."

Yeah, 'jittery'- warmly content was more like it.

"I'd say everyone around for miles feels that way. Word has traveled fast that the King's back" Cindy admitted, working even as they talked - visually, she hadn't changed much in ten years (much like Aranea, though Cor's age was beginning to show), but her voice was more experienced-weary than it was then, not that her accent had changed. "But your jittery-ness seems too involved to be just because he's back."

"Yeah, well... that's probably because we spent the night together."

A pause, before Cindy glanced at her with a raised eyebrow. "Just sleeping, or the other meaning?" she asked, her tone rather strange.

"The first one."

"Huh- didn't know the two of ya were that close."

Iris hummed once. "Well, we aren't officially; it was more of a, well uh, spontaneous thing" she admitted, if feeling warmer. "But even still, it felt wonderful; you're really missing out, Cindy."

Cindy kept working by instinct, but she laughed a little, eyes twinkling. "Nah, I don't think so" she said, if still retaining a strange undertone.

"You'll never know if you don't experience things, or that's what they say."

"That weren't my meaning, Iris."

Confused, Iris looked at Cindy, who's eyes were squarely on her own work. "What does that mean?" she asked, but curious. "What was your meaning, Cindy?"

"That there's a secret."

She knew better than to ask once Cindy stated such a thing, but Iris still felt confused; over the years, she knew Prompto had been working hard to help out Cindy. The thing is, outside of actually getting to work alongside her in past years, they didn't seem to act much different, publicly anyway... and worse still, Prompto would only ever say that it's complicated, or similar statements.

But his tones never gave her a bad feeling - is something private going on between them, and they (or just Cindy) don't want anyone to know?

With some difficulty, Iris let it go; at the very least, Cindy didn't seem willing to reveal anything, particularly after that talk.

"Fine" she breathed, managing a smile. "Besides, I couldn't have possibly done anymore with Noct... even if he's grateful to me, I've loved him for a long time, whereas he's only just started. Maybe anyway."

After several seconds, Cindy looked at her again, still working. "What is 'maybe' supposed to go and mean there, Iris?" she asked, the strange undertone gone now, replaced by curiosity.

This time she didn't answer, if only because she was briefly caught in her thoughts, brought on by her last words; she vividly remembered how Noct had kissed her yesterday. She'd loved him for a long time, while he couldn't have developed the same depth-of-feeling so soon... but despite herself, Iris had just now noticed how he hadn't said anything about 'after' the fight, even if it would embarrass him.

Only that he would do his best.

She's glad he appreciated her feelings, even obliged her last night, but that... that's a red flag, one she wished she'd recognized sooner.

The next day; regular nighttime

Ethereal void

This was it...

Here he stood, flanked by images of dad, Iris, Prompto, Ignis, and Gladio - Ardyn stood alone, the sounds he made no longer human. The latter raised a hand, trying to use his power to defend himself, before Luna's spirit tightly gripped his arm; the touch burned him, and he jerked and flailed, unable to tell who or what was doing such to him.

Noctis raised a hand, grimly prepared-

-the Ring of the Lucii began to glow purple, though the light itself was a blinding white.

Just as before, the Ring's power burned him; it raced up his arms, over his torso and partly over his face, all causing tremendous pain that racked his body, causing him to groan profusely. Then he bent forward, the pain extending into his back as the royal arms were literally being ripped from his being... it was all he could do to endure it, yet he didn't falter. Then with a yell, the thirteen royal arms were ripped from him, leaving him barely standing- freed now, the Kings and Queens of Lucis took up their weapons, at the ready. With a final motion, he forced his arm forward, sending them all at Ardyn - the immortal struggled, but Luna wouldn't let go, her power still purifying the daemons inside him.

With a final barrage of impacts, Ardyn's soul was ripped apart and he dissolved into nothingness- Noctis barely saw Luna floating afterward, unharmed by the barrage.

His vision blurred... he didn't have any strength left; it's over...

After a moment, he started to fall backward-

-but hands immediately gripped his forearms.

Noctis made an instinctive sound but didn't resist, feeling it might be part of the process- but as the long seconds passed, he slowly registered a warmth flowing into his body. Head hanging, he slowly managed to half-open his eyes, vaguely registering a faint golden light in his 'sight'... unconsciously, he felt like he's on the edge of- of whatever happens after death, but something's stopping that...

"My King."

His brow furrowed, but the realization was slow.

That... that couldn't be...

Slowly, too slowly, he managed to raise his head- after a few moments of his vision blurring in-and-out, he saw Luna. There were a lot of emotions in her face, barely 'hidden' by the intensity - she was gripping his forearms, a warm, golden light flowing into them from her grip.

"...Luna?" Noctis croaked, still completely dazed. "It's over... why...?"

She slowly looked at him, seeming to smile for his sake. "I cannot allow it, King Noctis" she spoke, gentle yet firm.

Still dazed, he needed a moment. "What...?" Noctis spoke; the warmth flowing into him slowly built up, and if one were to look, his wounds were slowly disappearing/healing. "How...?"

"You have fulfilled your calling, though it pained you greatly, and the blood price has been fulfilled" Luna assured- despite her tone though, her tight grip was shaking slightly. "But now, I have taken on a new task for myself, and asked that you be returned in exchange for this."

Perhaps it was the warmth (slowly) driving away the dazed feeling, or maybe he finally started to realize things, but a sound escaped him. Noctis managed to lean back up to standing-straight, helped quite a bit by Luna, though it was difficult to stay that way because he's still weak.

"What do you mean?" he asked slowly, breath heavy before he paused. "Wait... is this- is this what you were talking about, before?"

A small nod. "Before I attempted to awaken Leviathan, I asked the Glacian many things" Luna spoke, glancing down at his arms for a time, where her warm light was still flowing into his being. "I knew of our fates, how they were unavoidable, but if I could do anything more after death, I prayed to know. My prayers were answered, and in death I was granted power to achieve my next task... at the cost of being unable to truly rest, until it is achieved."

Gradually feeling stronger, his heart started to grow heavier too, feeling a lot. In the back of his mind, he lingered over the fight against Leviathan... he'd been hit pretty bad, struggling to move, and certain the Hydrean was about to finish him. But then there was a presence nearby, and power infused him, allowing him to summon the full powers of the Armiger and put her down; he'd never been sure how or why that happened.

Now though, he was certain: Luna had granted him that power from the beyond... just as she'd summoned the Six to deal with Ardyn's barrier, earlier.

"Your next task?" Noctis breathed, before faltering a bit; they were suddenly surrounded by many, many soul crystals.

Each one glimmered, but also seemed to have numerous dark spots, almost overtaking the former aspect.

Luna seemed aware of them, but her eyes never left his face, and they were glimmering with sadness. "Those who became daemons were once human, yet because of this affliction, they cannot pass on. This includes all of those that died just now, because you ended the scourge of our Star" she spoke with conviction. "My task is to purify their souls, every last one. Only then, may I finally pass on myself."

Before everything, he would've protested this... yet now, he knew that'd accomplish nothing. When Luna set her mind to a task, she never wavered from it, a quality he knew came from her childhood- even back then, she'd been serious about being an Oracle, and he'd admired that. Now that he knew all that had occurred, clearly she'd been committed to this task for awhile, even before he'd set out on his own journey- Noctis could only quietly marvel at her strength, for that could take a long time. Eos only knew how many daemons had been made overtime, long before now, and how long it would take for each soul...

And she wasn't to rest, at least not truly, until this was over.

"...and in exchange for this task?" he finally asked.

Her eyes closed then. "In exchange, the Six have granted me the favor I most desired" she whispered, no longer smiling, but definitely relieved. "I asked that if it were possible, after the Chosen King fulfilled his duty and paid the blood price, that he be returned and live out his life, somewhat shortened though it may be. How I wished that I could tell you before, but it was determined that you were not to be distracted from your duty in any manner."

Somewhere in the surprise, the shock from still being a little dazed, Noctis remembered how a shortened lifespan was the price for using the Ring of the Lucii- that, plus this price? He's not surprised his lifespan's shorter than it was, though he's gradually feeling glad that he even has one anymore... assuming this worked out.

"If you have questions, perhaps you shall receive answers" Luna said then, and he registered that he felt almost normal now. "But for now, you must return, King Noctis, even as I must begin my work, starting with dear Ravus. There is little time remaining before I must start."

Despite the dazed feelings, he was quick: "Luna" he spoke, enough to make her eyes open. "...thank you, for everything."

A small nod, before she smiled and kissed his cheek.

"I pray we'll meet again, someday" she breathed, with utmost sincerity. "And I'm forever grateful we got the chance to speak to each other, even if only for a short time. Farewell, dear Noctis."

Then Luna let go of him-

-and soon as she did, an icy touch gripped his body from behind, and then his senses blurred.

...

Insomnia

Throne Room Ruins

Noctis' eyes flew open as he gasped, coughing heavily and his body having spasms, practically heaving air into his lungs. It was a struggle even to keep himself where he lay (flat on his back), and for awhile all his senses were fuzzy... oh, and he's shaking like he was ill.

Still, even in this state, one hand managed to crawl over his front body-

-his clothes were undamaged, and there were no wounds... nothing.

Eventually, his body settled into some semblance of control again... his vision finally managed to focus again too, if not quite registering details...

"The King of Light breathes once again."

In his weak state, Noctis was startled at the voice - it took him a second to recognize the one who spoke, and somewhat longer to lift his head to look.

"G- Gentiana" he breathed, half out of instinct; his voice almost sounded raw. "Ah- I mean... Shiva."

Save for a small lip curve, she gave no reaction to this mention, and merely stood there calm as always. "The weakness of the flesh is but temporary, yet birthrights of the King have been reduced in number."

Deep down, he did feel relieved about that first bit, but then he was slowly confused- a curious sensation on his hand distracted him. When he looked down, he jolted: the Ring of the Lucii was dissolving right before his very eyes, until finally there was nothing left of it at all... he was left staring at his hand for awhile.

After it registered: "Is this- is this because I fulfilled the prophecy?" Noctis managed to ask, still weak but slowly getting better. "It's no longer... needed?"

Gentiana's eyes remained closed, but her head dipped a little. "The power of the Ring, and the Crystal, given to destroy that which no longer exists; now they are unnecessary" she spoke. "The power of Lucian Kings was to have ended with the True King's passing, yet machinations of the last Oracle have altered that result."

Breathing more easily now, Noctis slowly rose into a sitting position, before slowly raising a hand... after a second, it worked: his dad's sword appeared in his hand. Even as he hitched, brief images of the other royal arms appeared in the air, arranged in the usual circle around him- again, he was left staring for a little while.

"...but you're letting me keep these" he breathed, with some relief. "T- Thank you."

"Now the line of Lucis will continue, charting a new path for history. Time will tell of the results."

When he finally glanced over again, he saw that she'd vanished, just like old times... letting out a breath he slowly looked around, just realizing it's still dark outside. But it was different from the eternal night's level: things were semi-lighter, which made him think it must be lit by stars, or the moon.

He had to see this for himself.

More somberly though, he noticed that his little stunt k- mmh, killing himself, had basically destroyed the throne room, thanks to the Ring's power.

...well, he'll definitely miss it, even if he only occupied the (physical) throne for a short time.

"Dad" Noctis whispered after a minute, holding up his father's sword; the words came without conscious thought (and good thing too). "I know it couldn't have been easy, knowing I had to die, choosing to do things the way you did. And then suddenly at the last minute, for both of us, Luna comes up with a way to make me live again... I- I still feel dazed, and weak too. But even still, I- I understand why you did everything that you did. I- I appreciate it. I promise... I'll do my best as King, and enjoy the days given back to me. And one day, we'll- we'll see each other again."

The sword didn't respond in any way, but he thought he still sensed a presence nearby- even if just his imagination, it was comforting.

He let out a long breath, looking forward as the royal arm de-materialized in his hand - then he noticed that nearby was his thrice-upgraded Engine Blade, strangely unharmed (and not bloody). Slowly reaching a hand for it, he was surprised when as soon as he touched it, the weapon briefly took on a familiar white, ethereal glow before that quality faded away... wait, was that-?

That was just like... but did that really mean it's...?

Cracking a smile, he grunted before trying to push himself upright, feeling he can leave the heavy thinking for much latter. His first attempts were unsteady, but he managed to stand after a time, though he was breathing heavier from the exertion- he kept reminding himself that this weakness is temporary.

So, just one step at a time...

/

Hammerhead

"Iris! Iris, wake up!"

Jerked out of her sleep, Iris was at first on-guard- which despite such a reaction, still felt like her eyelids had weights attached. "What? What is it?" she grumbled a little, carefully trying to do something about that. "Daemons?"

"You gotta see this! It's the stars!"

After that, her messenger (Talcott, she later realized) had apparently ran off, judging by the footsteps- still groggy, it took her mind a little to catch up.

Stars? But- but this is eternal night, so how would...?

Then an unconscious thought ran through her mind, and she froze, body waking up faster due to wonder and excitement- quickly, she moved to the opening. Opening it up carefully, she looked around and... and...

"No way" Iris breathed, utterly stunned-

-it was still nighttime-level dark above/around Hammerhead, but the black cloud blocking out the sky was gone. And without it, a familiar blue tinge was present, with numerous little twinkling lights spread across it - even with all the lights of Hammerhead on, that's still unmistakably the case. Her instincts conflicted with both her senses and her groggy demeanor, one part saying it might just be her dreaming as a precaution, but the rest of her was convinced she's really seeing this! First thing she did then was sift through her pack, and when she found her water bottle, splashed her face several times; the small cold helped wake her up.

Not likely that she's dreaming now - quickly, she moved away from the tent, heart racing.

The entire time, her gaze rarely left the nighttime sky.

Well, I did say this fic supports NoctisXIris, and it's a semi-retelling, so yeah. Still, what with several DLC showing that Noctis can survive, it's probably no that much of a stretch now.

We're not over though, as now some details of post-story would seem to be in order.