A plan had been set into action. Dave and the head members of the Hunter HQ were leading the proposal with a massive gathering at Takka's former restaurant. The place that once served famous food had transformed slowly into a weapons stronghold, boxes of supplies now stacked between makeshift cots.
Chrome, Prompto, Gladiolus and Ignis listened closely to the strategy in question. According to Dave, Chrome and her team section which consisted of Cindy, her grandfather, Prompto, and a few straggling volunteers were to lead the exploration team to the Alstor Slough and set up generators, torches and fencing to start what was going to be the first in a long line of "Safe Spaces". The follow up team of Iggy and Gladio were to help fight off any daemons threatening the area and deliver the remaining supplies.
The decision was made by unanimous approval. The blonde twins started to heave the fence pieces into the large Hammerhead 16-wheeler. Cid insisted he assist, but his age was starting to wear down on his body. Chrome helped her mentor's parental figure into the seat of the truck.
"I'm so sorry Cid…" She pouted, holding his hand, "We need you in one piece. You might end up being our last line of defense."
"You don't carry that tone with much seriousness…" Cid gazed to her, his gray eyes tired. The sun had not seen his skin in months leaving only deep tired crevices deeply set in his face. Despite everything, he still cracked a smile and gave his signature wheezy laugh, "I have the utmost faith in all of you. I will help when I can, and you can't stop the power of a stubborn old man!"
When the truck had been stocked, its bright lights peered down the highway. Daemons hissed and retreated in the presence of the vehicle's gaze. With a roar, the engine started and shook the four at its helm. Beyond the low growl of the proceeding machine, the ride itself was silent and somber. Chrome longed for the days she could watch the scenery unfold, gazing only at the piercing eyes of shadowy creatures. Prompto had his nose stuck in the camera, his heart wrenching at the sight of his best friend smiling and posing for a future wife. Cid rested his eyes, and Cindy could not relax her shoulders…a death grip caressing the steering wheel.
Prompto finally removed himself from the screen and wiggled over to Cindy, "Hey…" He placed a hand on her back, "You can relax…we trust you. You're an amazing driver and you made this truck nearly indestructible!"
"I know but…" She shivered at the surrounding monsters, "This is going to be hard to get used to…"
"We're going to do our best Cindy…I mean…I wouldn't let anything happen to you." His voice was unwavering.
She gazed at him gently, her face melting from worry to a warm happiness. Chrome felt a spark of excitement brew inside her chest as Prompto's hand covered Cindy's at the wheel. She gently released her grip, using one hand to continue her driving and caressed his fingers before intertwining them. "I know you wouldn't sunshine. I wanna help keep ya safe too. Let's get through all this together."
Cid pried one eye open and gave a gentle smirk, smoothly returning to his rest.
The slough was pitch black, save for the otherworldly glow of the sky casting on the water below. The only light for miles was the flickering of the nearby gas station, and the remains of a failing lantern in the tackle shop. Chrome distressingly looked to the long-necked Catoblepases, who were huddled together in a tight pack in fear, crying out into the shadows. Their singular eyes were constantly moving, trying to watch as each horrific creature came for it, biting at already bloodied ankles. As the car parked, all the plans they had made seemed to leak from her mind. She opened the door with haste and blazed out onto the wet soil. Her entire face heated over with anger at the daemons threatening the gentle giants.
With a roar, she produced a large flame in her hand and released it, bursting to the center of the daemon pack. They screamed, fleeing about. The giants groaned at the flames, and she stood with them at her back, making sure her fire was close at hand. She slapped her whip down hard and defended her stance, arms ready to move and legs twitching with energy.
Prompto was quickly making his way down to the nearby chocobo ranch, carrying a generator above his head. How he managed to haul the large thing above his head, Chrome was not sure of but she did notice his concerned gaze. She smirked and gave a thumbs-up, "Go bro! You've got this!"
"Alright! I trust you! Don't die!"
She kicked the earth behind her and protruded her head above her chest, jaw stiff and clenched. The daemons were swirling around her, unsure of how to approach. She yipped as one dared to come closer, hitting it with the sharp end of her knife. It screamed and replaced itself back into the darkness. The beasts behind her in the slough were starting to relax, seeing that the woman before them was not intending them harm.
As if by the very nature in its soul, the largest male recognized her. She gasped as its enormous head floated near inches above hers, the wind kissing its mane about her body its large piggish nose blowing warm air onto her. She pet it gently and growled as she shoved her cupped grasp out once more littering the ground with her green blaze. She blew the whistle gently as she mounted its head. It lifted its gaze to the heavens. With every bit of its strength, the legendary monster reared back on its hind legs, staying in mid-air for a moment. She could spot Cid, Cindy and Prompto quickly setting up lampposts about the lake, the lights of the chocobo ranch already glowing in the distance.
The Catoblepas swiftly pounded its forefront into the earth, smashing a pile of daemons. Some of them survived and began to crawl up its form. Chrome clutched hard onto the fur of her large mount and swung to rid the monster of the evil parasites. Clawing and nibbling, the daemons were starting to lose their charisma. They seemed to fall off its body in droves as the speckled heroine knocked them off with tooth, nail, fist and knife in hand. No amount of exhaustion, sweat or blood seemed to make her pause. Even her breathlessness was filling her to the brim with energy.
Just as she felt her heart was about to explode, the light of the first pole shined brightly, glaring along the ripples of the slough's water below. The daemons instantly vanished, covering their faces and eyes from its bright glow. She leaped off the beast as the earth came close again, falling to her knees. Her metallic left leg buckled and fell off, leaving her kneeling in mud.
Prompto swiftly returned to his sister, dragging her up by the wrist. She leaned on him as another light started to flicker on. She reached down for her leg, swiftly reattaching it to the best of her ability. "Sorry…" She breathlessly apologized. "I just couldn't watch something else die…"
"No I get it. It's okay." He reassured, glancing down to her foot. "Uh Chrome…you put it on backwards."
"What?" It was true, her foot was facing towards her backside. She grumbled and removed it, placing it the correct way. "I didn't even think that could happen but somehow I managed."
"Golly…" Cindy admired, holding her hips. The lumbering Catoblepas pack seemed calmer now, going about their business at the bank of the abandoned tackle shack. "I'm never gonna get used to your fancy Beast wragling girl."
"Yeah…I don't think I ever will either…but that's okay." She smiled wide, noting a baby among the group. Her whole body flooded over with a warmth she could hardly describe. "At least they're safe…and hopefully will stay safe."
"With any luck they will." Prompto nodded. He gasped, noticing a large gash on Cindy's collarbone. She instantly covered the area with her gloved hand but he moved it. "How did you get hurt?"
"One of the critters snagged me before I could reach the generators…" She glanced at the edge of the water. Prompto cursed, gazing to his chest. "And just as I was saying I was going to help protect you! I screwed up…"
"No sweetie…" Cindy gulped and held his shoulders. Despite her pain she nudged his chin up to look at her face, skewed in disapproval, "I want you to stop all that lookin' down all the time! Where's that signature smile of yours? It's what makes you, you! Come on, where's that pretty boy?"
Prompto sniffled but then cracked a small grin. She beamed back, shaking his upper half. "Come on you can do better than that!"
His eyebrows knit and he puffed up his cheeks. He felt himself growling with frustration then clenched his hands into tight fists sealed next to his hips. He tensed and said with a firm breath, "Alright fine! Shit! I love you!"
Cindy froze in place. Chrome felt herself bite her lip at his cracking voice, eyes wide at his sudden confession.
The blonde mechanic was nearly speechless, "Wait…what?"
Prompto blushed as he grabbed her hands from his body and held them close to his heart. "It's the end of the god damn world and I am sick and tired of holding everything back all the time. Chrome is my clone! I was going to be a magitek soldier if I hadn't found a way out. My genetic dad made a ton of the Nifs and I had crushes on boys too! But I love you! I have since the moment I saw you. I just couldn't tell you...I'm sorry." He rapidly blinked tears from his blue eyes, biting his lip with fierce guilt.
"Honey…" Cindy sympathetically grinned, "I'm glad you told me all that but I knew you liked me from the start! I was just waiting for you to figure things out on your own. If you wanna go steady, I'm not gonna say no…"
He gulped hard, "Really?"
Chrome cocked an eyebrow, "Wait a moment…you were swinging both ways too and you never told me?"
"Shut up…" He blushed, gazing down. "I'll tell you about that later…also Chrome wanted to date you and ended up liking Ignis more."
"HEY!" The female twin yelled, feeling the heat rush to her earrings, "Now that's just uncalled for!"
Cindy giggled at the two bickering. Prompto took her hand softly and led her back to the truck. "Come on…let's get you patched up."
"You sure? You guys got any more secrets?"
Chrome thought for a moment and shrugged, "Besides the fact that I was an experiment to help destroy the Lucian family and Prompto's my only successful model? Nope!"
"Well alrighty then…what's happened has done been gone so let's get a move on with everything then." Cindy affirmed as they reached the doors of the truck. Cid sat on the edge of the seat, sipping from a bottle of some aromatic drink. He snickered. Chrome and Prompto gazed to one another, then back to the grandfather. The male twin fiddled with his fingers as Cid pulled out an elixir. "How much did you hear?"
"Oh every word. But my granddaughter's right kiddo. This isn't the time to get caught up in personal problems. Say what you gotta, do what you have to, and get a foot in front of the other. We have a job to do."
"Yes sir…" He lowered his gaze but Cid stomped his foot, "Straighten up boy! This isn't a joke. You gonna be dating my granddaughter, you gotta toughen up a bit! I didn't let Chrome get away with the moping, and I won't let you either!"
"Of course Cid!" He saluted and the old man chuckled, "Now that's getting too into it. Relax a bit…but know in our eyes you're a-okay…and as long as you're working hard we will welcome you with open arms any time."
After composing himself, the quick shot took Cindy to her truck and helped clean her wounds while the volunteers began to pile fence sections. Ignis and Gladio's team were close behind, following up with the remaining materials needed to start working on the sanctuary.
For nearly two years days continued in this fashion. They were gradually moving across the inland, using every resource they could to set up their safe spaces until they managed to get to the city. Every day Gladio continued to keep up with his sister, only able to hear her voice through the phone. She would send pictures of their progress and her successful hunting skills put to the test against the daemons. Talcott was growing older, his face starting to mature. He was doing his best to fit all cars he came across with the high beams that discouraged attacks.
Prompto, Chrome, Cindy, Cid, Ignis and Gladio were a unbreakable force that charged to the city. When their feet rested upon its steps, a world felt like it had been discovered. They were prided in their skill by the many HQ members that had remained there, even arriving with a line of people clapping, shaking their hands, congratulating them. Determination and careful planning made the journey much longer than intended, but nobody was harmed and nobody was killed. Smelling the baking of bread and the grilling of meat made Chrome long for days since passed. The team's hearts swelled with joy, the lights cut the night sky…it had been as if nothing was going on in the outside world.
"There's something that's been waiting for you here for a long time…" Gladio told Chrome as they returned to the splendor of Lestallum, untouched by the shadows. The other two men gazed to her with a shared knowledge. "But let's go to the hotel to give it to you."
Iris and Talcott waited impatiently for them alongside Cor the Immortal. When the team stepped through the doors of the hotel, an overwhelming sense of reunion abounded. Everyone held close to each other. There were kisses and pecks on cheeks, embraces and tears of happiness. The room was filled to the brim with laughter and conversation. A feast was held. Explanations were given to the situation at hand. A sense of relief and happiness for once in the long two years had banished any sense of dread or fear…if only for a moment. A few presents sat in the lobby, each labeled with their names and overly decorated with colorful printed patterns.
"What are these for?" Prompto asked curiously as he stuffed his cheeks full of cake.
Iris blushed, and Talcott had to explain for her, "We didn't want you guys to be left out of birthday celebrations…we didn't know it would take you so long to get here."
"It was for the best." Ignis noted. "No harm came to the volunteers and hunters that helped us get to this point. And now there are safe places for us to be in such dire times."
"Is Chrome's thing wrapped up?" Gladio asked, a bit of worry in his tone.
"No I figured it would be best to let you give it to her."
"What?" Chrome urged, enjoying the rest of her pasta carbonara, swallowing between words, "What are you guys talking about? I've heard about this for almost a year now, at least give me a hint here!"
"We are returning to our original Crownsguard uniforms to better represent our closeness to the King." Ignis admitted, leaving the quick shot and shield to groan in his reveal.
"You sure I'm ready for the suit?"
"You have proven yourself worthy of such a title. You are dedicated to Noctis, and us…" Gladilous scratched his cheek, glancing off, "It was my idea…"
"You just mentioned it first." Prompto huffed.
"That was going to be your 21st birthday gift but…" Ignis shrugged.
"Yeah…that wasn't a very good day." She groaned, recalling the sea of monsters that the four of them had ended up fighting day and night around Galdin Quay.
The four of them moved to what looked like a strange curved building, a statue of a woman holding a weapon protecting its doorways from the arch above. Inside was dark, save for a couple flickering lights. Chrome's green eyes danced with the fire, staring to the grave before her. It was the ancestor of the King, at least one of them, holding a replica sword in the clutches of death. He looked so peaceful, yet ready to strike at any moment. Hanging from one of the knight's statues lining the inner wall of the tomb was an official Crownsguard petticoat uniform.
She took the uniform from Gladio as if he was handing her a piece of shattering glass, softly spreading her palm along its inner lining. She fingered the threads that detailed its arms and back, the mark of the King embedded into the soft yet leathery fabric. She plucked each string along the chest with an experimental flick and finally pressed her arms into the sleeves. The Shield of the King unveiled his large sword, and she instinctively gave a bow.
"It's not really my place to do this, but seeing as Noctis is gone at the moment it will have to be me…" He spoke gently, "Chrome Animalia, as the guardian to the King of Lucius, I herby grant you and welcome you into the Crownsguard...officially and truly now that we have the uniform for you. Do you swear from this day you will protect and serve only the King?"
"Yes…I always will." She gazed up to him with a spark of hope still gleaming in her eyes.
"Then stand. You're one of us now…officially and finally."
Gladio stared her down with deep amber eyes, Prompto and Ignis now moving to each of his sides and doing much the same.
Chrome's girlish looks were slowly transforming into that of a grown woman. Despite her desperate attempts to cling to her thousands of fairy kisses the freckles were slowly fading. Threatened by the lack of sun, they plastered to her skin stubbornly. She had carefully ensured exposure to light of any kind, deliberately hovering close to any flame or lamp nearby. Her platinum hair remained with the same thick spiky texture, although it was growing along the back of her neck. She had disliked the feeling of it upon her skin and tried her best to train it down her shoulder, and braided it daily.
Lost in the bliss that came with her knighting, Chrome found herself blushing at their gazes. "What are you guys looking at?"
Gladio was the first to shoot his eyes and focus on something else. "Nothing it's just.."
"You look so different." Prompto interrupted him, holding his hands in front of him.
Ignis let out a forlorn sigh, starting to walk towards his lover. "If only I could indulge in the sight before me. But they do not speak untruthfully. I can even tell, in your mannerisms and the aura you exhume…you are growing into a wise and strong woman."
She puffed out her chest, "Well…you guys have been a great help with that. And Cindy…and a lot of people. I just don't know what else to say…you guys are the best!" She flashed them all a big smile, holding the hand of the king's mentor.
Months would pass. The weekly routines were starting to become a habit. Daily Chrome would ride out on the Garuda, checking for any sign of the prince to become king. Prompto, Gladio and Ignis would take on missions that filled their time either with protecting a safe space, or with repairs, or running to grab supplies. Most times Chrome was able to see their missions out with them, and followed each of them with tasks set out. Their time spent together as a group was not as prolonged as it was when the sun still lingered upon the earth…but they cherished the time they could.
True to his word, her twin brother was helping in her efforts to bring Ignis back to his former cooking. Most evenings would involve an extensive lesson and history of dishes in question, followed by hours of failed cuts…failed temperatures…failed dinners. Ignis was getting exhausted, almost giving into the temptation of outright quitting. But hearing them encourage him, and their efforts to make dishes themselves sparked something within him and kept him stuck on his passion.
Quickly the mentor re-discovered the feel of a blade in not only the kitchen but also the battlefield. Gladiolus had stepped up, putting in all of his energy to protect and re-teach Ignis in the ways of fighting. Magic could only go so far, and despite a few cuts and scrapes, the natural feel of battle came back to the chef much quicker than his culinary skills.
Soon enough, the three were seeing him return to a normal lifestyle…normal enough to survive without assistance in the dreaded days of the Scourge of Stars. Chrome lingered closer and closer to him, and although he was able to work on his own he much preferred her presence. She tried to equalize her time between the brothers however, her duty came above all else.
Years seemed to come and go so quickly. Every day no news. But still she kept searching for the king, praying for Noctis to return to them soon.
One dark afternoon, her gaze was set on the island visible still from the shores of Galdin Quay. The restaurant itself had become a haven for hunters, the hustle and bustle and echoed voices of HQ members discussing current threats still lingering between the crashes of the waves upon the shore.
Her hands wrung about the cuffs of her sleeves, staring into the tattoos she had received during the course of a day-long break long ago. Below her knuckles on each hand, gazing into the heavens was a wide-open green eye. It reminded her daily what she was working towards, and what she had lost. She had soon followed up by getting the symbol of the king's sword upon the back of her neck as well, contrasting to the fading ink of the empire upon her cheek.
Her mind was lost in thought. She was noticing a concerning trend lately among her brother and close friend…they were losing faith. It was a subtle way of observation she had gained, but their spirits were just not as active in the tide of battle. Prompto was missing his shots…and his words against his own abilities were quieted with disconcerting silence. He almost seemed comfortable in his failures, and when questioned he would turn to Cindy as if to request her advice.
Gladio on the other hand was not putting as much power into his swings. His gruff attitude was similar to that of Prompto's…he wasn't as joyous at winning his battles and his tales of glory were starting to simmer from their usually detailed flame to that of a whimpering ember.
A familiar presence warmed the air. She followed her instincts, sauntering to the runes of the campsite nearby. The smell of the campfire welcomed her, but warded off the daemons. Surprisngly the night was not ravaged by their moaning and snarling.
Her heart filled with joy, seeing her lover sitting in the chair nearby the perfectly pitched tent. She said nothing but embraced him with a strong grasp, nearly lifting him from the ground. He huffed under her force. He felt her face and kissed her lips deeply. "I'm glad to be back with you my darling." He whispered, his bare hands resting at the concave hollow of her neck. He followed the palindromes of her uniform, which over time she had modified with dignity.
They stretched quite the distance from her actual shoulders, with holes specially made to hold the ends of lanterns. The lanterns would hang from the leather and surround her with the green fire she produced. Many an eye had caught her riding through the wastelands upon the beastly motorbike between the HQ sites. She often was told she appeared like a daemon herself…in which she would often state she should to offer a delightful backstabbing.
Ignis fiddled with her braid that now hung over her left shoulder and she giggled, lightly smacking him away, "Now cut that out…"
She hadn't noticed it until very recently but the twinge of accent was carrying from Ignis to her own vocal cords. Her twin often made fun of her for this very reason…until she heard him carrying his own twang mimicking Cindy.
"Cut it? It seems perfectly fine the way it is. I would never go through any lengths to rid you of it."
She scoffed at his poorly executed pun, "Still trying to crack jokes…"
"Especially for you."
They were quiet for a while, their only words to each other instructions for making a meal of poultry and broccoli with noodles. As she chewed the muscle of her meal, she focused on the texture and tried to bring her troubles about in an appropriate manner. Her ears turned to the scraping of her plate. She thought for a moment and gave a deep breath.
"Prompto has started to grow a beard. I've noticed the scruff a few times on our last couple roundabouts."
"Truly?" He chuckled, "I'll have to ask his permission to feel it. You two have such similar faces that sometimes I have strange nightmares of me mistaking you for him!" She laughed loudly, nearly catching herself while swallowing the last of her veggies. Ignis beamed, "Myself? Could never bother growing anything…I have the worst luck with it."
"I also make sure you aren't unkempt. Wouldn't want Noctis to see his mentor with a fuzzy face now would we?" She smiled and kissed his cleanly shaved cheek. He cleverly placed his arm around her neck as she bent down, taking her lips fully into his once more. She loved every breath of his as she settled down into the seat of his lap. She adjusted his goggles gently and held his face. "I love you so much Ignis." She brushed his hair into the shape she had been moving it into for years, which seemed to suit him much more appropriately.
"And I love you Chrome…to the ends of this earth."
"If you haven't heard it ended quite some time ago…four years already…"
"Who even keeps count?" He sighed. She made an unfortunate noise and he cocked an eyebrow, "What seems to be the matter?"
"Prompto is missing his shots…and Gladio…his power seems to be sapped daily. Iris isn't around as much because she's helping Aranea with her side of the missions…and I think that's part of the problem…"
"The morale is starting to fade…" Ignis grumbled, nibbling on the final bits of broccoli on his plate nearby. "I was afraid this would happen."
"I'm not sure what to do…I feel as if sometimes even my spirit is starting to fade. And I do not want to become a burden to any of you."
"You shan't." He held her tightly. He parted her hair and felt her collarbone. She shivered at the sensation…she would never get used to his bare hands and how warm they were.
He hummed, "I do miss looking at you…your eyes were always so full of light and hope. And I wanted so badly back then to pluck every freckle off you with my lips alone."
"Well trust me, you're still as handsome as you ever were. I think having scars is so sexy."
"Well then do I have to be concerned about you and Gladio?"
"Oh yeah me and Gladio of course." She playfully touched his nose, noticing the embrace of his arm around her waist. She had her own arms wrapped around his center, gazing into his remaining grayed eye.
Ignis sported a grin ear to ear. She scoffed, "What are you smiling about?"
"Do you recall our first date?"
"Which one counts as our first date?" She cocked an eyebrow, a snarky tone lingering in her voice.
"The one where I had taken you to the stalls of Lestallum and pronounced that I was to wed you."
"Oh yeah." She gave him a light shove with her hips alone, "You were just trying to get out of paying for ingredients. I didn't even cook them well…so it was a waste."
"I relished every moment…and to my dying breath I will recall every small thing like that in vivid detail."
It was oddly quiet. The only sounds between them were each other's breath and the crackling of wood at the fire. She adjusted the collar of his uniform. He guided her hand to his softly and stood up. He held her palms in his fingers and traced the lines within them, lingering a bit closer to her fourth one.
"Chrome…" He finally noted. "Would it be so bad if I told you that I was honest that day?"
Her heart nearly stopped. Her face and ears were set aflame with red shock. "Ignis…honest…you were hardly…even…" Her joking tone was starting to become breathy. Her eyes welled up with joyous tears.
He undid the necklace he wore about his breast and gently lined her grasp with it. She held it close to her breast before placing her head to his chest. He stroked her back and asked, "Will you be my wife Chrome?"
She gave a gasping laugh as she tried to hold back her tears, "A wedding would certainly be good for the morale of our comrades…and the people of the kingdom." After she heard his deep chuckle, she leaned up and kissed him passionately. "Yes Ignis. I will marry you."
He smiled softly. She sniffed, "Although Prompto is gonna be pissed now."
"How so?"
She rolled her eyes, "Oh…you know him. Always coming up with these ideas of grandeur. He wanted me to take his name…cause I never did have a last one. I came up with the one I had. He wanted us to be the Quicksilver twins and take on the world like a pair of superheroes. I think he's just jealous…"
"He and Cindy are such an odd couple…" Ignis agreed, "They seem to care about one another but just are never around each other."
"Perhaps they need space…all the time?" She rubbed the back of her head in confusion, "They'll figure it out." She placed her bowl away, longing for the taste of her favorite chicken noodle soup once more, and pondered. "Are you sure this won't seem offensive…?"
"Whatever do you mean?"
"Well…I don't want to step on any toes. You don't think anyone will think I'm trying to replace Lady Lunafreya…I mean…" She swallowed with guilt.
Ignis held her hip, "I don't think that is what the intention is…and I am sure that the civilians will pick up on this. We are two of the more influential members of the Kingsguard and the Hunters…seeing us unite will bring a lot of hope and faith in the ways of our organizations to the people. And it will give the boys something to look forward to."
"Always the avid tactician, even in the battlefield of romance." She bowed in his grasp.
He pinched her tattoo on her cheek gently and they both smiled at each other. His mouth skewed into a pondering thought. He snapped softly and she curiously turned her head, "What's up Iggy?"
"I think I've come up with a way that you and Prompto can compromise. I bear a rare trait in a name, in that I have a middle one. You recall what it is, correct?"
"Of course, it's Ignis Stupeo Scientia…"
"Well perhaps you can take on the name of your twin brother as a middle one? Would that suffice?"
"I think he would like that. Chrome Argentum Scientia…sounds proper enough. Poor Gladio and Noct, they're missing out on all this action." She motioned to her body and Ignis planted his chin to the crown of her hair.
"I have something else to tell you…but I need you to conjure a flame to see if its still holding ground…"
She summoned a small one, slightly confused. He beamed, holding it close to his nose. "Yes…Chrome…I can see this."
"What?" Her heart stammered at this, beaming ear to ear, "You can?"
"Yes…the light…I can sense it once again. Perhaps all hope is not lost for my vision."
She eyed the horizon, hoping for some glimmer of shining light but to no avail. "I'm so tired of this darkness...I want so badly for Noctis to return and to end this everlasting night."
"There is still hope. We shall prove it."
"Indeed." She nodded, throwing her hands out suddenly, "I'll make sure all of Lestallum is full of light for you my darling. We shall see this night through together, and with our brothers."
Gladiolus and Prompto were brought to the steps of Lestallum's once finest hotel, eyes aglow with curiosity and confusion at the sudden phone calls they had. They had been chatting between each other but grew silent as the couple approached. Ignis and Chrome stood very regally next to one another, arms locked together.
"We have come to a unanimous agreement gentlemen." Ignis bemused gently, holding his chin and smirking ever so slightly.
Chrome took this as her cue and found herself almost flustered. She held the swell of her cheek and distantly looked off, "Ignis and I have decided we are to be wed within the week."
Prompto's jaw dropped and Gladio stared, unbelieving. The blonde twin leaped up and ran to his sister, scooping her up and lifting her into the air with a massive embrace. "I'm so proud of you!" He yelled as he swung her legs about in circles. All the while she was laughing, holding onto him for dear life. "Prompto! Careful…my leg might fall off!"
Gladio sauntered up to his friend and slapped Ignis between the shoulders. "Good on you Iggy. I'm really happy for you guys…but I just have one question."
"Yes my friend?" He felt his ear get tugged slightly as the bigger man pulled him into a noggin rubbing, "What in the hell took you guys so long? I've bet every month now you'd pop the question and I've owed so many beers to Prompt!"
Ignis chuckled as he struggled out of his grasp, wiping off his uniform slightly, "These things just take time. We wanted it to be a way to help keep up morale among us and the people."
"Let's at least have fun with this then." Prompto suggested, "It's a ceremony but we don't have to be all serious…By the Six I can't remember having something so exciting."
"A wedding is usually a mundane thing honestly but it's surprising how welcomed it will be." Gladio thought aloud, "It won't match the splendor of Noctis's wedding preparation…but we will do our best."
"Of course." Prompto promised, holding fast to his coat. "Anything for our leader."
Ignis beamed, holding Chrome close to his side. With a pride filling his heart, he assembled them all into a loving embrace, kissing each of them on the forehead. "I love you all so very much. You will never understand how far that will go."
They took a long time to let each other go, to start making the plans and tell their other group members, but it was a well-needed distraction from the evils and terrors of the everlasting night.