A/N : I needed a story with a happy ending to be a companion to SOS, 'cause sometimes when a story is too depressing I need to fluff myself up with a happier piece. This is that. If you can believe it, no one fuckin' dies. I know. Shocking. And suffering is minimal! This is all fan-service for myself, as always, so as usual don't take anything too seriously.

AU, with no magic. Only Magitek technology, so no Kingsglaive. Short and sweet, ten chapters.

BRASS PETALS

Chapter 1

The Terms

"You have no choice."

The last words Ignis had comprehended before going into utter autopilot.

Regis wasn't addressing him directly. Regis was addressing Noctis, who stood at Ignis' left. At Noctis' left stood Gladiolus, and all three of them stared up blankly at the throne, where stern Regis sat. At Regis' side stood Cor, whose eyes were averted to the floor, and Clarus, who stared at Gladiolus from beneath a crinkled brow.

The three of them stared up at Regis with little comprehension, because the entire scenario was so absurd.

'You have no choice,' Regis had said, and was right.

They had no choice, any of them, for their fates were now intertwined within the end of the great war. Long had Niflheim had the upper hand, and only now was Lucis taking the knee and admitting it. Niflheim seemed just as eager for it to all end, for too long had they assaulted Lucis and been held off. Both nations were exhausted, strapped in both finances and manpower, and so now, at long last, did an envoy of Niflheim come to them with terms of peace.

It was so simple on paper : Lucis was to recognize the territories of Accordo and Tenebrae as Imperial and refuse to call them sovereign nations henceforth, Lucis was to cede the northern archipelago and port in exchange for keeping the rest of their lands, and, lastly but most importantly, Prince Noctis was to wed Lady Lunafreya of Tenebrae.

But one other little thing.

The future King was to wed an Imperial pawn from Tenebrae, to assure that Lucis would be reluctant to engage in further war and risk something a bit more dear, but also was the future Shield of the King to marry the Imperial Commodore, the Imperial pawn from Accordo, for the same reason.

That left one Imperial pawn from Niflheim, and Ignis very clearly had drawn the short straw, as the parchment ordered his betrothal to High Commander General Glauca.

Unfathomable.

Three lands, three betrothals, and three very angry men.

Well.

Noctis didn't seem angry as much as terrified, and Ignis was very, very numb and dazed, so in actuality it was only Gladio that was angry.

It was a fair deal, in all technical sense, and Lucis being able to keep the majority of their lands was more than any of them had actually hoped for. Ignis knew it was selfish of him to hesitate, to ever consider putting his own happiness before the peace, but, oh gods, did it have to be him that was forced into the fire? And more than that, there was one other technical detail scribbled away that terrified Ignis more than anything :

Ignis was to remain in Gralea for two years after the treaty signing, to assure that Lucis would be reluctant to break it. Keeping one of high import behind the border and offering an extra bit of security to the peace.

Noctis was to remain in Insomnia, and because the Shield could not morally be parted from the King, Gladiolus was also safe to stay home.

Ignis had gotten the raw deal.

But Regis was right; they had no choice. For the sake of the world entire and the peace desperately needed, they had to fulfill their duties. The council had already deliberated and accepted. This was just a formality. Their fates were no longer in their hands, and not once had they been asked what they would have liked to do. Nor did Ignis expect anyone to ask him if he wanted this, because of course the answer was obvious.

Not his choice, and so Ignis stared blankly right through Regis and fell into a daze of shock.

Regis spoke again, and his voice was soft, calm, unwavering.

"You know the terms of the peace. The council has deliberated, and we have accepted. The paper was signed two hours ago, by all members." Cor once again averted his eyes to the wall. "Niflheim has made demands, and we shall cede. We cannot continue in this war. We cannot keep up with Niflheim's technology or arms. I am sorry, but this is the only way. I expect all of you to do what you must, for the greater good and the sake of the world entire. I shall ask that all of you remain level and clearheaded when our guests from the Empire arrive come dawn. The wedding ceremony will be held here, in three days time. We shall host them for two weeks, and then..."

Regis' eyes fell at last atop Ignis, as Ignis stared yet away with no comprehension.

Regis didn't continue then, and didn't need to. The unspoken conclusion was very obvious.

'And then, Ignis will go to Niflheim.'

The end of his world was the catalyst for the beginning of the rest of the world. Unfair, but a burden that Ignis had no choice but to bare.

The paper was already signed, and Ignis zoned out and heard nothing else until suddenly the council was coming down the steps. Cor came down, stopped before Ignis, and tried to hold his gaze. Ignis saw Cor but was unable to truly take him in, nor did Cor's words truly sink in when he murmured, so lowly, "Forgive me. It had to be unanimous. Please do not think I wanted this."

Ignis could only nod, dumbly, and somehow his feet worked then and he managed to retreat from the throne room and into his office.

Well—was only his office for the next two weeks.

So many technical aspects that Ignis was in no mood then to attempt to figure out. What would become of his flat, his duties, how he would ever remain in contact with the Crownsguard, what this would do to his position as Hand of the King when Noctis was crowned. How he would carry on in two years time when he returned.

If he was allowed to return.

Two years; so much could go wrong.

A knock on his door shortly after, as he mindlessly shuffled paperwork and dropped his pen over and over to the floor. The door opened and Gladiolus walked in, brow low and lips pursed, eyes very obviously hurt, and there was an awkward silence.

Ignis' pen scribbled in circles, as Gladiolus stared at him and Ignis stared at nothing.

"I'm... I don't know what else to say, except that I'm sorry."

Ignis' pen fell still, as he swallowed and felt the cold sweat break out on his brow. A rush of adrenaline, fear, hurt, all suppressed emotions now pushing up through the daze. Everything, and nothing.

Weakly, Ignis uttered, "It's not your fault. You suffer as well."

"Not like you," Gladio replied, with a tremor in his voice. "I kept thinking of things to say on the way over. How I would try to make you feel better. But I couldn't think of anything, because I— You're my best friend. I don't want you to leave."

Ignis' pen slipped from his fingers and to the floor for the tenth time, and Gladiolus was quick to bend down and grab it. Ignis didn't miss how Gladiolus knelt there for longer than necessary and how his head was ducked.

A momentary break in composure, quickly pushed away.

Gladiolus stood, placed the pen on Ignis' desk, and Ignis stared away at it, jaw clenched and breathing in a very controlled manner because if he started actually thinking about anything he very well could have burst into tears.

There was no doubt that Gladiolus could see it, for he abruptly came forward, embraced Ignis very furiously, and Ignis sat there in his chair and pressed his face into Gladiolus' abdomen and squinted his eyes.

Insomnia had been his home since he had been two—he knew nothing else.

Didn't want to leave.

But he had to, because it had been decided by others, and he was only one life whose actions could save thousands.

He knew this, knew it all, oh yes, but dawn still came far too soon.

e life whose actions could save thousands.

He knew this, knew it all, oh yes, but dawn still came far too soon.