Well then, I know that last chapter's cliff was pretty nasty, but I shouldn't do it again in the upcoming chapters. I had trouble getting my hands on my computer, since I had a party at my house with eight of my friends last weekend. Then, I traveled a little and re-watched the three movies from the Lord of the Ring's saga. Man, it really was awesome, but quite time consummating. Still, I'm back to work and giving you my update, finally. Hope you like it. The story is nearing its end. There's at least 5 chapter left, but that's should be the last. I hope I'll be able to make these chapters just as great as the first that you red and those which made you love this story. I'm really glad for the review and wanted to thank all the readers from the bottom of my heart. Writing is really keeping me alive.

Yeah Haku, calm down. Noctis is going to fight with all his might. You must believe in him even if everything looks already lost.

As for every other reviewers, I thank you again for still reading my story. You surely don't know what it means to me. It's one of the greatest gifts my author's live have given me until now. I hope to hear again about you all soon. Until then, have a good time reading and a good day, wherever and whenever you are!

Associates till death do us part

The fal'cie slayer's wrath

All hell broke loose. Literally! Lightning was pushed back down on her knees by the shaking of the room as Brash stepped, floated, moved all his imposing body backward and mostly away from Noctis. The young king was pale, but still smiling. There was a trail of blood coming out from his clenched fist and through her tears; Lightning couldn't began to understand what it really meant. Noctis launched his body into the air, while Brasch was fighting against an invisible foe, shouting his fury as he twisted in pain. He moved awkwardly, as if his side was hurting the most. Lightning saw a glimpse of silver coming out from his dark flesh, in the middle of the boiling and dark blood coming out from his injury.

Noctis touched the ground, landing just in front of his desperate wife. He was in pain too. But it was more emotional than physical.

"Light, I hope you can forgive me for what I'm going to do." he whispered.

Lightning looked puzzled, and still so scared. Noctis wanted to hold her in his arms, but there really wasn't time. His hand moved to his back and he grimaced a little.

"If I understood well, as long as you're his l'cie, I can't use my powers to their fullest with him next to me. He wanted you to control me, to refrain me from being a fal'cie. And there's only one way to turn things around."

"Noctis, what is it you want me to forgive you for?" she panicked.

"I'm taking the risk, for the three of us. I can't unl'cie you now, but I can turn you into my l'cie." he whispered to her, his blue eyes trembling a little in his face.

He was terrified to execute his plan, but he didn't see any other way to protect his wife by himself.

"You can do that? Even like this?"

"There's a part of me that's always a fal'cie, even in my human form."

Her eyes widened as she remembered the stones on his back. Of course! He must had tear one of them off and planted it into Brasch's flesh! Was there any other way for a mortal to compete against a fal'cie? After all, l'cies had been able to kill fal'cies sometimes, but simple humans never could.

"It's okay, Noct, whatever I can do to help, I'll…"

She was abruptly stopped by Brasch's fist falling between them. Noctis was thrown off balance, and Lightning felt her body lifting up in the air. Another tentacle had wrapped around her. She felt so terribly helpless as she raised her head to look up at the fal'cie's face. His eyes were shining with understanding.

"That's right, little king. How could I forget those stones on your back?"

Noctis tried to get back on his feet, but a strong tentacle hit him right on the nape, pushing him back down. A clawed hand tore off his shirt, and Brasch backed away as he saw the stones shining on his enemy's back.

"What kind of magic is that?" he mocked the young man, trying to hide his own fear. So many stones. Each one representing a dead fal'cie.

Noctis raised himself again, anger growing on his face. He had lost some time explaining things to Lightning, but he wasn't going to repeat that mistake. He had a silver stone in each of his hands. The silver was burning his own skin, as he was a fal'cie himself, deep down. But this pain was nothing compared to his worries. He wouldn't lose Lightning. He wouldn't let her die, even if it meant losing all of her love or his own life. Both were counting just as much. Her love counted even more.

"I'd asked you to leave my wife out of this fight." he groaned.

"Well, it seems you're the one bringing her back into this fight. Are you trying to use her too? Was it all that you wanted all along?"

Noctis felt something twisting inside of him. The petty words were getting to him. He already felt guilty for not finding any other way to save her or himself. But Lightning found the strength to fight back and with a kick, she managed to plunge the silver stone that was already in Brasch's flesh even deeper. The fal'cie yelled and distorted himself in his pain, letting go of his captive. Lightning rolled down on the ground, grabbing her belly with one hand, worried for the poor baby still in her womb, who was now moving a lot, as if he was ready to fight too.

Noctis rushed to her and helped her getting up and walking away from the fal'cie. Then, when he was sure she was far enough from Brent Brasch, he lowered the black dress on her shoulder, to reveal her brand. She shivered at the touch of his burned hands. They felt so cold and hot at the same time. She wanted to help him, she had dreamed to be his l'cie instead of being Brasch's, but now that he was getting to it, she felt terrified by the idea of really belonging only to Noctis. Not even to herself.

"Hold your breath, it's going to hurt a lot." he warned her.

His silver stone, covered in his blood, looked sharp as a knife and with a swift motion of his arm, as she bit her lips and grabbed on his shoulders, he thrust the stone into her brand. Lightning couldn't hold back her cry of pain. There was no blood, but it was burning and cutting at the same time. It felt as if Noctis was invading her mind. She could see his fears, his ambitions, every of his desires. And she knew that he could see just the same, coming from her. He was everywhere. In her head, in her heart, in her breath. He felt even more powerful than before. He was her master. Her one and only master. A voice sounding like his told her that. She wanted to push him away, and then she felt his own pain for what he was doing to her.

She saw the child he had once been. Smiling, playing with his swords carelessly, without the notion of good or evil. She saw his life in a few seconds. She saw Stella, from the first day to the last. She saw his mother, almost dead, and the little boy, crying, his small hands covered with blood. She heard the voices haunting his sleep, the voices of the fal'cies chasing after him in his dreams. His dad from just a moment ago, lying motionless on the cold floor. And Stella walking with him in a forest. His beloved Stella, wrapping her arms around him. How he had her lying down in the grass and…

"Get out!" he suddenly yelled, breaking contact.

Lightning was breathless as she opened her eyes and looked at him. He was even paler than before. He looked mortified. Brasch was out of his pain and back to the fight. Noctis, unaware of that, couldn't do anything but keep staring into Lightning eyes, as if he wanted to take back everything she had dared to touch in his memories. He was like a child. He felt broken and used. He felt so guilty as he had seen just as much in Lightning's own memories. And still, as a jealous man who knew only how to take, he was angry with her. As if it was her fault…

"You should have known, fal'cie slayer. You can't turn a human into your l'cie when you're too close to him. Even more when you're nothing but a man yourself. Now she knows everything you'd ever wanted to hide her. And as long as she'll be your l'cie, she'll know. Wanting it or not."

"Shut up." Noctis said under his breath.

He wanted to calm down, but he was growing even angrier. Lightning felt different as she got up from the floor. Her chest didn't hurt anymore. She felt lighter. And stronger. Noctis hadn't tried to scare her. He wasn't ordering her around. He'd asked only for one thing. Make it stop. This entire nightmare. Just make it stop.

She realized then just how much he loved her. He had known he was going to sacrifice all his life for her now. His privacy, the secret of his thoughts, of his memories. He had shared and given up everything. So that she would be his l'cie and that he would get able to protect her from harm.

She touched her chest, where her brand once stood. Instead of arrows pointing everywhere and that dreadful eye looking around in the middle of the arrows, she had now the small drawing of a feather. A white feather, surrounded by little stars. And it shone on her skin, as a blessing.

"It's over Brasch, it's all over now." she whispered.

"It's only the beginning, little girl." the fal'cie replied.

He caught Noctis in his giant hands and raised him to his face, his creepy smile turning into an evil laugh. After the first shock was passed, Noctis realized he had had enough. He summoned his swords. He let his claws grew and his wings pushed away the fingers holding him as a little doll. The fangs in his mouth turned black and his hair was as silver as the stones on his back.

"You may be right Brasch. It's the beginning of the end. I'll show you what a real fal'cie can do!"

Dark bolts of lightning appeared in his hands as his swords ran through the fal'cie's flesh. Noctis let his powers exploded with a shout of anger. He began to grow and was soon just as big as Brasch. From head to toes, he was six meters tall. And this really was only the beginning.

Lightning cowered in a corner of the room. At first, she wanted to use her new l'cie powers to help her husband, but it was clear he didn't need any help. He was struggling with Brasch while crashing through the whole room. Their bed was broken by his wings, that were equipped with sharp blades, and his nails were digging through the ceiling and the floor. Brasch was bleeding from many wounds and his breathing had gotten fast and erratic. He suddenly realized he had made a terrible mistake in defying that man. Noctis wasn't a normal fal'cie and wasn't fighting only for himself. His hatred had once guided him, and after Stella's death, it had been revenge that made him stronger. Now, he was the strongest of all, and nothing but his love and worried mind could show him the way.

"Why can't you understand us?" Brasch pleaded as he find himself cornered and unable to fight, since Noctis had broken each of his arms and spells.

"I've always understood each of you just too well, Brasch. It's because you never could understand me that I'm the only one winning our fights."

With that said, Noctis thrust his summoned swords into Brasch's central body, aiming for his heart, or whatever could be referred as a heart in his case. Lightning wanted to do something, but the Noctis now inside of her was telling her she had already done way much more than he needed. He told her to stay calm and relax until everything get done. Was it really Noctis or their baby telling her all that? Was she going crazy? Wait a second, was the baby alright after all that had happened? She hadn't sense him moving for a while now that she thought about it.

At this point, she had almost forgotten the terrible fight taking places in the central place of the room. She looked back at Noctis and Brasch as she heard the strangled gasp of pain from Brasch. He really hadn't a chance. His only way to win over Noctis would have been to keep her his l'cie all along, but Noctis had proven wiser than him!

The king of Pulse stood alone before his opponent, getting back to his usual size, as Brasch was reducing too, like a balloon deflating. Soon, there was nothing left of the monster, but only his killer, the killer of most fal'cies. Noctis, the fal'cie slayer. His sharp eyes turned back to gold, his hair was now dark and grey and his wings, claws and fangs vanished. All that was left was that poor man, half naked, who had just lost his father. He looked quite lost himself as Lightning stared at him. She tried to get up for the nth time, but her legs couldn't hold her own weight. Too much stress, maybe.

"Noctis…" was all she could say. It was like a dream that after everything that'd just happened, he was still standing before her, still looking at her with all those questions. He looked scared, just as she had looked a moment before. His palms were still covered with deep burns and his pale skin was dark in many spots.

"I…" He stopped, looking for his words. He seemed confused. She wasn't sure how she was supposed to act. Her black dress was still hanging loose around her shoulders, showing almost all of her chest. And that pure, white brand he had made on her, marking her as his. His l'cie, now and forever more. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"Everything…"

"Well, I… I don't understand why you're so worried, Noct. I forgive you. For everything."

She was talking slowly, and he looked just a little reassured by her words. He walked up to her and fell down on his knees as they were only inches away. She opened her arms to him and he started shaking as everything that had happened hit him. His father was still death. Maybe was Lightning hurt herself! And what about his mother? What about all of his friends? What about the baby?

"Do you… Do you feel alright, Claire?"

"Do you, Noctis?"

"I don't know. At least, you're alive."

"Thanks to you."

"It was my fault if you were hurt in the first place."

He didn't dare to touch her. Maybe would she be back in his mind, seeing everything again. Maybe would he see her again, in the hands of that Rook trying to rape her. Or crying her late father. He couldn't endure it once more without being able to comfort the young girl that he could see. And if she saw the rest of his memories with Stella, he was sure to break apart. He was scared she could turn jealous. He wanted to hide in her arms, but at the same time…

She punched him in the shoulder, so lightly he just raised his head to look back at her with surprise.

"If I had to go through all of this to be with you, which save both me and my world, I'd say it was worth it!"

"Light…"

"Just hold me, Noct, for Orphan's sake! I don't care what your past was, I don't care what you had to do to be here with me now. All I want is to have you have with me. You remembered, don't you? We're supposed to support each other. In the best as in the worst!"

He blinked, feeling his heart growing really really soft. As if it was going to break inside of him. He wrapped his arms around her. She was almost crying from exhaustion and all the stress she'd been through. Her skin was soft, warm. He could feel the baby between them. Still quite alive, despite everything the docs had told him about the act of l'cying his wife or not. She hugged him tight and he fought his tears once more.

"I'm sorry Light. I broke my promise."

"What?"

"I hurt you, willingly."

His burned hand slipped between them and stroke her new brand.

"You saved me, Noct."

He kissed her ear, her cheek, her lips, her neck, thanking god she was still next to him, still alive. She wanted to heal him, but he was hurt so deeply this time. She kissed him back instead of using her l'cie powers right now. She'd wait until he'd go to sleep. Until he'd look better. He was still shaking from head to toe. He tried to keep the thoughts away, but his father's death was still close. And it hurt to remember his mother's panicked yells.

"Make it stop Light. Please, make it stop." he asked her again.

She tried to calm him down, but nothing could. Brasch wasn't a threat anymore. But it would take time until Noctis could say the pain that fal'cie had awaken in his heart was gone too.

…

Noctis and Lightning's servants founded them just a little later, still hanging on to each other. The doctors took Lightning away so that she could see a few doctors and make sure the baby was alright. As for the king, he had to hear their numerous questions and they asked him to give a speech before the people, to reassure them, as there had been a leak in information and Pulse and Cocoon both knew their queen and king's castle had been under attack. Noctis was in no shape to talk before anyone, but with the help of his friends, he managed to swallow back his pain to take his responsibility. His speech was short but sounded at least encouraging.

"As you all know or have your doubts, we sustained a terrorist attack last night. My father, the late king of Pulse, Maximilian Lucis Caelum, was… killed by a fal'cie which managed to make his way through the castle. I found the fal'cie and killed him myself, just an hour ago and took dispositions so that such attacks would never be possible again."

"A fal'cie your highness?"

"I know that this is some quite concerning news, but this was mostly a personal matter. Da… my father's death was an accident and… And his killer was punished as he deserved. There's no more to say for now."

"What about our Lady Lightning?"

Noctis was taken aback and fell silent for a while. Everybody knew just how hurt their king was. He needed time to rest and let everything sink in. He was a good sovereign and always tried his best to cheer his people. This time, he looked more as a man and most of the women in the court were looking at him with empathy as they saw the shaking he was holding back. He looked so tender and vulnerable as he tried to stand tall before everyone. Fortunately, Lightning appeared at that very moment and slipped an arm under the arm of her husband. She was dressed in pure white and looked healthy.

"I'm glad to be able to answer your question myself. I am alright. And our baby is still in perfect health, thanks to the care and wise actions of his father."

Noctis gave her a quick look and she smiled at him, to ease his pain, even if it wasn't all that much.

"Thanks Orphan…" some persons whispered.

"Well then, I would like to make some arrangements for the coming court sessions. We'll take a break for a week." Lightning decided.

The nobles looked surprised, not to say the least. Noctis himself looked at his wife with disbelief.

"Are you sure? Light…"

"You need a few days off, Noctis and you'll have them, willing it or not. In the circumstances, I'm sure that everyone can understand. Shawn, Serah, Sync, Snow and Lucas will take over for us during one week. What do you think about it everyone?"

The people cheered their queen, approving her. Their king was working very hard to keep everything in check, and he was still human and able to do some mistake now and then. He had the right to cry his dead father. The very fact he had to announce this death himself was already enough.

…

A few minutes later, Noctis was in a small room with his wife. Alone. Their own room was in reconstruction and he wasn't even sure if he wanted to sleep there anymore after all the threats that were said between those walls. Maybe, maybe not. He had so much to think about now. So much that he didn't want to think over too. He sat on the bed, quietly musing over what had happened. It was just yesterday night that everything seemed fine to him. One day for his whole world to fall apart. But finally, he still had Lightning. She closed the door after wishing goodnight to Heather. Her belly was round and as she sat next to him, he touched her with one hand, to feel the baby moving under his caress. They were both here. He hadn't loose them. Now, he'd never get even close to lose them. Since he was a fal'cie. The fal'cie slayer.

"How do you feel now?" Lightning asked him.

He gave her a weak smile as he answered: "I really don't know anymore. A part of me really wants to yell and destroy everything. And the other part just want to… To cry till I have no strength left."

"For someone so confused, you seemed to know what you want. Am I in any of your plan?"

"I wished I had another plan just for the two of us."

"You know, it's okay to cry. Just because you're a man doesn't mean…"

"But it was my fault!" he suddenly snapped. "If I hadn't been there, if I wasn't what I am…"

"Noctis! Do you think your father would have loved you if you had been different?

"Of course he would have! And if I wasn't a fal'cie, he wouldn't be…" he jumped on his feet as he shouted in anger. "He wouldn't be dead!"

Lightning didn't know what to tell him now. He always ended up saying things like that. It was as if something in his mind was telling him that his very existence was wrong. But why couldn't he understand he had to accept himself as he was?

Then, there was a light knock on the door. Noctis felt ready to order the first to come in to vanish from his sight, or even to banish him from both Cocoon and Pulse. But as Lightning said: "Come in." and as the door opened, he swallowed back his words. It was his mother standing before him. Her eyes were red from crying too much and for too long. But she looked more peaceful than she had in the morning, when he had seen his father for the last time.

"I'm sorry to come so late and unannounced, but… I thought I should have a little talk with my son."

Noctis felt his heart sink in his chest. He couldn't fight her now. Whatever she was planning, he wouldn't be able to take it. He clenched his teeth to hide his fear and saw that his mother was watching him closely. She walked up to him, not even giving a glance at Lightning, who was still sitting on the bed.

"I'm really sorry to hear what you just said about your father."

He backed away as she tended a hand towards him. She scared him, now more than ever. He couldn't talk back, his throat was too tight. Lightning felt that this wouldn't be an attack from Romilda for once. She sensed it, as a woman instinct, or maybe, a fighter's premonition. Still, it was clear as day.

"You were maybe born a human, Noctis, but you becoming a fal'cie wasn't a curse or a malediction. You were chosen by Orphan for this, because you were the only one who could change everything. And you did. Look at you now. You came to a peace treaty with Cocoon, you married their princess, you stopped wars, you uncieth'ed people, you saved everyone you could, often without even knowing who you were saving. Your father was and will always be proud of you for all of that. And even if you didn't have, he would have been proud. Because you were his son."

Romilda took another step and this time, Noctis didn't back away. He looked astonished. His voice came out, so small and weak that it looked quite as a child's voice.

"How… How did you call me?"

"Noctis… I said Noctis. After all, I was the one to choose your name, you know it?"

"I…"

"You mustn't be mad with yourself for what happened. It wasn't your fault. I've spent the whole day thinking and rethinking over it and I know now… and I wanted you to know that I had forgiven you for everything. It never was your fault and I knew it all along. I was just too stupid to realize what I was putting you through. I felt guilty…"

"What?"

He couldn't believe her. Did she want to mock him or something? Was he daydreaming? Was it a trick organized by Lightning to calm him down?

"When I was wounded by your swords back there, and you ended up crying next to me, you were so scared. And I wanted to hold you in my arms and to calm you down, to comfort you, but the pain was greater than me and I couldn't… I couldn't be the mother I should have been. Even now, just this morning, when you needed me the most, I wasn't there. I attacked you with questions and cries when you needed my support. Now, I want you to know that I'm here and…"

"Stop it!" he interrupted her. It was hard to believe. Hard to look at her. She felt too close to him and he knew he was too weak to face such words now. He didn't want to cry. Not before his mother. Neither before his wife. His heart was racing in his chest and he gulped down his sobs.

"What do you want me to stop?"

"Why are you saying all of this? What do you want from me? I know you hate me…"

"I never said that!"

"But you…"

"I… I'm clumsy, that's right, and I was a little hard to follow every now and then, but all I ever did was because I was concerned about you!"

Noctis tried to find something to talk back, but his voice had died in his throat. He wanted to hide somewhere, to let everything out. Could he dare now?

"I love you Noctis. You're my only son."

Lightning felt her own heart sank to the bottom of her chest as she heard that. She felt a little out of place. But this was so important for Noctis. And it was for Romilda too. They really were all they had left for a family.

"I'm sorry about that." he said, his eyes hidden behind his locks.

"I don't resent you. I thought you were the one that hated me, since I had been such a nasty mother and…"

"What? But mom, I was the one who'd almost…"

She got the courage to grab him in her arms at that and forced him to silence in a bear hug that surprised even Lightning. But Noctis was glad, in a way. He'd never dream his mother would ever do that again.

"My wound has healed. And now that your father's gone, I wanted to tell you how much I loved you and how glad I am to be your mother. I should have said it before, but I needed to be shaken. I'm sorry I couldn't be honest before, I was so scared you would have rejected me…"

The poor Noctis couldn't hold anything back at that. He started to cry, and his mother cried with him. Lightning felt some tears rolling down her own cheeks. He had feared his mother's hatred and wished for her love for so long… At least, he had it now. If anything were to happen to her, Lightning knew her Noctis still had someone he could count on. It was reassuring. To see him holding onto his mother reminded her of her parents. How she missed them. How hard this must be for Serah. At least, she has Snow, she thought.

Noctis cried for a long time. It was as if he couldn't stop himself. His mother held him up and even kissed him on his forehead. He was still just a little kid in so many ways. He tried to apologize again, until she had him convinced he had nothing to apologize for. Then, she made a sign to Lightning, since the poor man had still a lot of tears to shed and his mother couldn't keep up with him. She was growing old and needed rest after this terrible day. She wanted to comfort her son and she had managed to do so.

Lightning and Remilda half dragged and half carried Noctis to his bed. Lightning took over the comforting role, stroking his locks and holding him as the last queen walked out. Noctis repeated how sorry he was, and he called Light many names. Stella, mother, Claire. She let him do so. He needed to let it all out. He had helped her every time she was in that state. It was her turn now to help out.

An hour and a half later, he finally calm down. Lightning exchanged a brief kiss with him. His breathing was finally steadying.

"How do you feel now?" she asked him.

"Lighter."

She smiled. And he smiled in response.

"I'm glad you're here." he said.

"Well, it's thanks to you."

"Yeah. I'm really lucky."

"I think that you're brilliant."

"Well, not bad for a fal'cie slayer."

"Next time, I'll be the one to save you." she warned him.

"I'll try to be careful, so that there's no next time. I think I've embarrassed myself enough."

"You think it's embarrassing to be saved by your wife?"

"Huh… Is there a good response to such a question?"

"It depends on what you'll do after…"

He held back a laugh as she hugged him and touched his face. He was really lucky to have fallen in love twice with a woman just perfect for him.

To be continued…

Yeah, no cliffy this time. Hope you've liked this chapter, even if it was mostly Noctis crying over his dead father and the reunion with his mom. The fight wasn't as cool as I wanted it to be, but still, I liked the whole l'cying his wife thing. What do you think? I don't know if my English was good in this chapter, I wrote it after a lot of thing happened and I was really tired. Feels like I'm always tired and today is my last vacation's day. Awww… Well then, guess I'll let you go back to your lives. Have fun and don't forget to review to know the rest of the story. Next chapter, the birth of Noctis and Light's baby! Will it be a boy or a girl?