They sat at the west gate while Reina warped through the Wall and vanished into the city. Noct was still trying to process everything she'd said. First off, Reina had Dreamed ten years of time. That was crazy all by itself. Longest she'd ever Dreamed before was a few hours of future-time. Guess they knew, now, what happened if Dad wasn't around to wake her up. Trouble was, those Dream memories weren't going away any time soon. That meant Reina was thirty. His twin was ten years older than him. How the fuck did that work out?

Second, there was the little matter of Insomnia falling, everyone dying, and the world going to shit if Reina's plans didn't pan out. No big deal. No pressure. Just Dad dying… and Luna dying… and Ignis going blind… and Reina dying. And the sun disappearing? What the hell was that about? Ugh. He wasn't sure he wanted to know. Not bad enough to ask, anyway. He'd thought it was tough having everyone expect him to be the King of Light. Now they just had to save the world.

Sure. Yeah. Right. No problem-o. Reina probably had this all under control, right? She looked like she had shit under control.

Fuck.

It took seventeen minutes from the time Rei left the Regalia to when the city gates opened. Ignis owed him two hundred gil. He was never going to pay, but at least Noctis could hold it over him for the rest of their lives. From the sound of things, that wouldn't be very long.

Ignis drove them into the city and straight to the Citadel. Half a dozen Crownsguards were waiting for them outside.

"Man, I thought we just got out of here." Noct dragged his feet up the stairs. "What happened to the wedding?"

Gladio shrugged.

"Maybe ask Reina?" Prompto suggested.

Yeah. She probably had time to answer questions about Noct's wedding. Just that little matter of saving the world occupying her mind, at the moment.

"I expect Her Highness is quite busy," Ignis said.

Ignis was right, as usual. They were escorted into the throne room and announced—with all the pomp and ceremony that entailed—to Reina and Dad, who were both standing by the throne.

"...by the time the imperials arrive," Reina was saying. She turned on him without missing a beat. "Noct, that means I need you to camp out in your room for a few hours—take them with you, if you like."

"Huh?" No time for explanations, just 'go to your room, Noctis,' as soon as they arrived. He'd thought they had grown out of that years ago. About the time when he moved out of the Citadel. Guess not.

"Your Highness, if I might be of use elsewhere, I should be happy to assist," said Ignis.

Yeah. He sure would be. And all that time they thought Specs wasn't even interested—obviously, Rei always had been, because why else would she complain so loudly that she wasn't, but—

"Thank you, Ignis," she said. "But for the moment, I need you with Noctis."

"Of course, Your Highness." Ignis bowed. Suck-up.

Reina looked at Noctis. "Luna arrives with the others—we'll make sure she finds her way upstairs, once things quiet down."

Luna? But—

"What—? I thought—Altissia?" The information refused to register properly.

"Later, Noctis—" Reina said.

Dad was looking at her curiously, too, but he kept his mouth shut. She hadn't been joking about talking him around. She did throw him a bone, though.

"The Glaive you sent to retrieve Luna is dead, Father." And then she changed directions in a heartbeat: "Clarus—have word sent to the Crownsguards in the city. A civilian group is working with the imperials to sow chaos during the ceremony. They meet tonight in the old arcade on Sol Street; they will need to be rounded up and detained."

"The riots…?" Clarus asked.

"No. Those are just frightened refugees. The imperial sympathizers are quieter."

"It will be done, Your Highness." Clarus bowed; he passed Noctis on his way down the steps, caught Gladio's eye, and gave him a minuscule nod.

"Noctis—upstairs, please," Reina said.

He scowled. "So I just get locked up in a room while you play hero? It's my home, too, you know."

She smiled, unamused. "Rest assured there is plenty I need your help for. But right now I need you out of sight."

He knew better than to think he was going to get anything else out of her. Not when she looked like that. He threw up his hands and groaned—just so she would know he was annoyed with her—and went back down the stairs. Ignis, Gladio, and Prompto tripped over themselves to bow to Rei and Dad before following.

"Back to the room I just moved out of. Great."

"There are worse things," Ignis said.

"Yeah," Gladio said, "Like sucking up to the princess and getting stuck on babysitting duty anyway."

Ignis straightened his glasses. "Quite."

Prompto snorted.

Well. At least they could make fun of Specs to pass the time.

AN: I know it's tiny DON'T HATE ME. I warned you they get small in this story.