I am not a good writer. This is just a selfish fic to make me feel better about the end of FFXV. I need to see my boys happy. I will also be trying to work in the postgame content, and maybe another story arc if I feel like it. There will be no romance or pairing in this story, except hints of canon pairings. T for minor violence and swearing.
If you read it, I hope you enjoy.
Prologue
"Walk tall, my friends."
On the day that the True King saved the world by banishing dark and restoring light to the world, Prompto watched his best friend walk willingly to his death. There were so many things he wanted to say.
It's not fair. We just got you back. You shouldn't have to do this.
I don't want you to leave me.
But that would have made it harder for Noct. So Prompto watched him go. He battled daemons as blue flashes of light lit up the throne room. Gladio, Ignis, and Prompto fought to keep daemons away from those steps until dawn broke for the first time in ten years.
In the light of that dawning day they raced to the throne room.
Prompto knew what to expect. But that didn't stop him from hoping. If anyone could work a miracle it was Noct, right?
But no. There was the empty throne, and the picture lying on the armrest. No body, no message left behind. His face was not the only one streaked with tears as they left the Citadel.
In the city, people were creeping from their bunkers to blink at the sunlight. Shattered glass and broken concrete glittered in the sun. Instead of daemons growling, there was birdsong.
"Come on," Gladio hefted his great-sword onto a massive shoulder, "We should go help."
Flames still burned amid the rubble. People still needed food and shelter until they could reclaim the abandoned settlements. They had work to do.
Prompto tried to put his mind on the task at hand. They had won the day and saved the world! So why did the victory feel like ash crumbling away at his touch?
A month later when the dreams started, it almost became too much to bear.