The Temple of Leviathan could best be described as an intimidating building. It was utterly massive, dwarfing the smaller structures clustered around it, its domed roofs rising high into the sky, almost defiant in their sheer size.

It was in front of this absurd building that Noctis and his friends found Luna and Ravus, waiting for them. Noctis had felt nervous on the long walk up to it. The plaza was empty in the wake of Leviathan's destruction and he felt horribly exposed walking along it, as though at any moment an entire fleet of Imperial airships would drop down on their heads in retribution. No such thing happened, but he still felt distinctly ill-at-ease.

"Ah, the King and his retinue have finally arrived," said Ravus, as they walked through the gate. "How kind of you to grace us with your presence."

Noctis was about to tell him they were perfectly on time so he could cut the crap, but Luna beat him to it.

"Don't antagonise them, Ravus," she sighed, and Noctis half-thought she was about to roll her eyes. "I apologise on behalf of my brother."

"It's fine," Noctis said. "We're here now, that's what matters."

"You're lucky," sniffed Ravus, who didn't look particularly apologetic. "Aranea has not yet arrived. We have some time yet."

Noctis knew this was his chance. He couldn't keep his plan with the Crystal quiet much longer. He needed to talk to Luna.

"Hey, Luna," he said, walking up to her, "could we talk for a minute?"

Luna glanced behind him and he suspected his friends were giving him strange looks, but he wasn't paying attention. He needed to do this right.

"Of course, Noctis," she said, with one of those reflexive smiles of hers. "Let's go over there, away from prying ears."

She pointed towards a bench, next to the high wall surrounding the temple, a little ways away from the small group.

Noctis tried to contain his nervous tension as he walked over to it. There was a very real chance she was going to react quite badly to what he had to tell her, and it was even possible she might hate him for it, but it wasn't fair not to let her know why he was doing this. Even if it meant losing her friendship forever.

He sat down on the bench. A sense of dim gloom settled over him as Luna sat down beside him. It was now or never.

"I don't really know where to start," he said, and already he could hear his voice trembling. He took a deep breath. "This is all kind of…insanely complicated and most of it's over my head, if I'm honest."

"Noctis," said Luna, and he quickly turned to her. She sounded…upset. "Are you here to talk to me about Gentiana?"

He hadn't been expecting that.

"Ah…I don't know... I don't know. I'm not sure how much she's involved in…all this."

"She's vanished. For me, anyway. At first I thought I was just imagining it, but ever since we fought Leviathan she's just been…gone."

"But she isn't with you all the time, right?"

"No," said Luna, her hands shaking, "but also yes. Even when she isn't physically with me, I could always feel her there, by my side. I was never alone with her around. But now…all I feel is emptiness. I don't expect you to understand—the Gods are hard to comprehend at the best of times but…I feel as though a part of me is missing. Does that make sense?"

"That makes perfect sense," said Noctis, trying to be as calming as he could but still not sure what to do with himself. Should he tell her the truth? What Gentiana had told him as she disappeared? Should he try to comfort her? "She was a big part of your life. It would be like losing any family member."

"But you said you'd seen her," she said, gazing at him with tears in her eyes. "Has she truly appeared to you? I didn't want to question you about it in front of your friends, but..."

"Yes, I saw her last night," he said. "A lot happened—more than I told you back then but... I barely even know where to start. She told me the prophecy but it was...different, to how I heard it last time."

"The prophecy?" Luna's eyes were wide and bloodshot. "But the prophecy can't change, it's—"

"I know, made by the Gods, but that's what she said. She said: light will bathe the world anew, and the time of gods and kings will be ended—or something like that. Then she disappeared."

Luna frowned. "You are right, that is unlike the rendition of the prophecy I've always known. And Gentiana disappeared afterwards? Do you know what happened to her?"

This could be painful. "I'm not sure exactly, but...I think it was Shiva. It got cold, and I mean really cold—I felt like I was freezing to death...and then she was gone. I was too dazed to really say exactly what happened."

Luna heaved a great sigh. "She may truly be gone then. If Shiva has no need of her any longer then I fear she may never return to this world."

"I'm sorry." He didn't know what else he could say.

"It isn't your fault. And I am glad to have some idea of what happened to her, vague though it is."

They lapsed into silence for a moment then, and the ambient noise of the temple seemed louder than ever, the birdsong in the trees above like a klaxon call.

"This prophecy you speak of troubles me, Noctis."

"You and me both."

She turned to him, but her eyes rested slightly to the side, not making contact. "You say you've done this before—all of it."

"That's right."

"You know of your fate?" Her voice was tight, her tone dull.

"You think I got here by wishing?" asked Noctis with grim amusement. "I died. Did the whole sacrifice thing. Then..."

Then what, fool? The original story? Or the one he now knew to be true? But he didn't have to think on it long because Luna took the answer from him.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, and he saw now that her eyes were glistening with tears.

Noctis was bewildered. "What for?"

"For not telling you!" she cried, then took a deep breath in, trying to steady herself. "I know I should have—if not in my letters then when we met in Lestallum, back when I thought you didn't know but... I don't know. I have no adequate excuse for you. I just...couldn't bear to think that was what awaited us in the end.

"The Empire made it so I couldn't ignore my calling, even if I'd wanted to—I had to face up to being Oracle. I had to forge the covenants. When I wrote to you sometimes it felt like my only escape; hearing about Insomnia, about your life, about how...normal, it seemed."

Tears were beginning fall down her cheeks, and Noctis placed a tentative hand on her shoulder, hoping that would help.

"I suppose it was selfish of me, but I wanted to keep that innocence for you. I didn't know how you'd react if I told you of your destiny, and I didn't want to ruin that world you had, where the most stressful thing was the next exam. I wish...we could have had that, you and I. A normal life. Just for a while. But I suppose I only ended up making things worse in the end, didn't I?"

She was properly crying now, and Noctis could feel tears coming to his own eyes at the memory—the thought. That they could have had that. If Niflheim hadn't come down and slaughtered her mother. If Ardyn hadn't existed. If their parents had married and he'd had that fairytale thought he'd lingered on as a child.

But it hadn't. And here they were.

"It wasn't your fault," he said, wiping his eyes in an attempt to hide his own tears. "The person who should have told me was my dad, and I know he had his own reasons too. But that's all over now. I know what has to happen, and I'm ready, but...I think there's more to it, this time."

Luna sniffed and stared at him, her eyes now reddened and puffy. Noctis wished he had some tissues he could offer her, but she produced a packet of her own, wiping her eyes with them.

"The time of gods and kings shall be ended..." she said, her voice still shaky. "I see what you mean. It doesn't explicitly mention the blood price—but neither does the original prophecy. It's more of a...tool than a predetermined fate, I think."

"The sacrifice creates power, you mean."

She nodded. "And it is a power you can only wield in the Beyond. For a mortal to try and use it in this world...I shudder to think of the consequences."

Right. "About that..." She turned to look at him sharply. "I mentioned my magic's going weird?" She frowned. "Maybe I didn't but...it is. And I think that's part of the problem."

Luna's face had gone very pale. "You mean you have the power of Providence? Here, in this world?"

"Gentiana called it a piece of Eos's soul—like the power of the Gods. Do you know anything about that?"

Luna blinked a few times, as though trying to recall something, but her hands were shaking even as she did. "Legend tells that in exchange for their lives, the Astrals wield power over aspects of the star. That it is a symbiotic relationship, so to speak. Eos is what gives them their mastery of the elements. If part of that is now within you..." Her eyes shimmered in the light, her mouth set in a grim line. "...I fear the blood price is the least of your mortal worries."

Noctis gave a sardonic smile. Thoughts of how many times he'd failed surfaced in his mind, disconnecting him from the here and now. That power towards the end...it had been excruciating. Burning through his bones... No! Concentrate!

"Trust me I've gathered that already," he said shakily, drawing himself back together. "But this new prophecy—my power—I think they're all linked together. Gentiana said that if I could return all those bits of Eos to the earth the prophecy would be fulfilled, but...I've got no idea how to do that, honestly."

Luna frowned deeply. "The time of Gods and Kings shall be ended..." she murmured. "All magic returned to the earth. Mine included, I imagine. And the Gods...could this be why they have been so hostile of late? Perhaps they are afraid of you taking their power? But it is not like them to be so rash..."

Noctis was pretty sure he knew why they were so angry, and it had very little to do with them wanting to keep hold of their power, and a lot more to do with realising how much he'd killed them in the past.

Oh Six, his stomach was turning again... Keep ahold of yourself, Noctis!

"My plan was to ask Bahamut," he said, trying to distract himself, "but he's in the Crystal and the Crystal's gone out according to Ardyn, so..." This was the hard part. The part he'd been putting off from the start. But he needed to tell her. "I think the only way I can reach Bahamut is if I break the Crystal."

Luna blinked a few times, the shock obvious on her face. "Break?"

"I know he sleeps inside, and Ardyn said its light's gone dead—if I can't talk to it there's no other way of reaching him. I...understand if you'd hate me for it."

Luna took a deep breath, her chest shuddering slightly as she did. He could tell she was mulling it over. "I could never hate you, Noctis," she said, her voice very quiet. "But...such a course of action...it seems so drastic. Our ancestors worked so hard to keep the Crystal safe. Can it really all have been for nothing?"

"I suppose, now I have the power of the Crystal inside me, it really just is where Bahamut sleeps," said Noctis, trying to cheer her up a little, though he knew that information probably wouldn't help. "So if I destroy it it's not like destroying all the progress we've made or anything. I can still defeat the darkness, it's just...minor sacrilege. Rather than major sacrilege."

Luna gave a small smile at that.

"Truthfully though, I don't know anything for sure. I'll try to talk to it, but if that doesn't work that's my next resort. I wish I had more answers but…I don't. I don't think anyone does, anymore. There's no one left to tell us."

Luna sighed deeply, and a great stillness seemed to settle over them. The sun burnt bright overhead, but the two of them were sitting in the shade of the wall, and in the shadows a subtle chill lurked in the air. Ahead of them, Noctis could see Ravus awkwardly making conversation with Ignis, while Gladio and Prompto played on their phones. They weren't…happy, exactly. But they were peaceful. More peaceful than he and Luna would ever be. Suddenly the shadows separating them from their family seemed more like the quiet veil of death than mere sunlight. Were they really doomed to die? Was that the fate of the Chosen?

"It is…hard, sometimes," said Luna, and she was looking ahead, like he was. "The fate of the very world rests on our shoulders, and no one else can bear the burden for us, or guide us on our path. We are…alone. I suppose I realise that now…now that she's gone."

A cool breeze blew through the air, rustling the leaves of the bushes around the wall.

"We don't have to be alone," he said.

He watched as the sunlight glanced off Ignis's glasses, making him stumble, and Gladio caught him before he fell. He watched as Ravus sent occasional cautious glances in their direction, making sure Luna was alright. He watched as Prompto noticed him watching, and gave him a huge smile, and a wave.

"They'll never understand our plight," said Luna, her eyes unmoving. "They don't understand why we have to sacrifice so much."

"You're right." He remembered those last few moments, now so many of them it was hard to tell which ones were real and which were not. Or perhaps they really were all real. All those times he had to die to save the world. "But they don't have to understand. No one understands another person completely, not even if they're family. But to be a friend—a good friend—all you need to do is be there. To stand by them. To make sure they know they aren't alone, however much they may feel like that inside."

Time trickled by in pieces. The sky was almost cloudless overhead. Luna sat up straight.

"Are we friends, Noctis?"

He allowed a small smile to pass over his face.

"I think so."

"I will stay at your side, then," she said, as though she were coming to a decision. "I trust you. You will be the one to save us. So I will be here until the end, even if it turns out we must fight the Gods to save our star. I have a duty to cure the planet as the Oracle, but I believe I also have a duty to you, as a friend."

"Then it would be my honour to do the same for you," said Noctis, without hesitation. "I guess this makes it official then."

"Indeed," said Luna, with a smile. "And, Noctis?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for telling me. It was kind of you."

"Hey," he said, finally rising from his seat, "that's what friends are for."

Luna gave a tentative smile.

"I suppose you're right," she said, standing up next to him. "It will be nice to have…friends."


"You two have a good talk?" asked Gladio as they made their way back over.

"We've sorted some stuff out," said Noctis.

"Indeed," said Luna, her image of calm serenity already back in place. "I have determined it is my duty to accompany you, as one of Noctis's friends."

"Oh, um, that's great!" said Prompto.

He always seemed so nervous around Luna. Noctis would have teased him about it, but just at that moment the sun was obscured by a shadow overhead. Noctis looked up, and saw not a cloud but the intimidating bulk of an imperial airship. He tried not to panic. He knew they were waiting for Aranea, and she was going to take them to Gralea in an airship, but the strain of bad memories made him shudder nonetheless.

"Don't worry," said Ignis, apparently noticing his distress, "I imagine it's only the Commodore."

"It had best be," muttered Ravus, glaring up at the sky.

Gradually, the ship made its way to the ground in the courtyard they were standing in, the whir of its engines incredibly loud, and the wind from its landing almost blowing Noctis off his feet. He had to grab Gladio for support so he wasn't blown over, clinging hard to his arm against the ferocious gale.

"Everything alright down there?" called Aranea from the hangar, her ponytail flying wildly in the air.

"We're fine!" called Luna, who, like him, was having to hang onto Ravus to stay upright. "Just land the ship!"

The ship duly made contact with the ground, and Noctis stumbled as the force disappeared again.

"Good to see you on your feet again, Prince!" said Aranea, as she jumped out of the airship. "I take it the Oracle took care of all that for you?"

"Yeah," said Noctis, glancing over at Luna. "I feel a lot better now, thanks."

"I should hope so," snorted Aranea, "you were about to die the last time I saw you."

"All that aside," sighed Ravus, "I would like to get moving as soon as possible. Aranea, is this the ship you'll be using to take us back?"

"Do you see any other ship around here?" asked Aranea, shrugging her shoulders. "Of course it is. I'm assuming all of you have got everything you need for this?" She looked pointedly at him. "This isn't gonna be easy. I've been helping some people with evac duties, but things are looking nasty over in the Capital. If you aren't careful you may not be coming back."

"We're ready," said Noctis, without hesitation. He'd been waiting for this since the moment he woke up in the past. This was his reckoning. "Let's go."

"Alright," said Aranea, with a smirk. "All aboard then!"


Ah, it was high time Noct and Luna had a chat! They still don't quite make their way around to deciding whether or not Noct needs to die, but both Noct and Luna have suicidal hero complexes so perhaps that's not so surprising. I always thought it was interesting that basically everyone knew Noct's fate except him, and of course Luna feels a bit guilter about it since she's had multiple opportunities to tell him at this point. And now they're off to Niflheim! Will this trip go any better than the train? What do you guys think? Thank you to everyone still reading, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!