Thanks again to Firstone33 and those who read the last chapter. And since the holidays are around the corner, more Metalcore Interruptions, courtesy of Gladiolus Amicitia.

Also, I'm planning a new fic for FFXV. It'll be much darker, but it'll still have its humorous moments.

Without further ado, here's chapter 23.

-miano53

Chronicles 23: First Winter's Festival and Metalcore Interruptions, pt. 2

"Majesty, what about this float?"

"Sir, what about these bands? I heard the schools wish to resume the 'Battle of the High School Bands'."

"Your Majesty, Alitssia wishes to send in some of their schools for the festival."

"What about pop-up shops? The shops of Lindblum have been asking about rental space."

"We could make quite a bit of gil from the 12-day festivities. Your Majesty? Majesty? Noct? NOCT! NOCTIS LUCIS CAELUM! WAKE UP!"

Noctis jolted awake, rubbing his eyes as he sat at the head of the table in the meeting hall. His advisers, including Ignis, were clamoring on how to host the various nations eager to join Lucis in the Winter Festival. The council figured the cost for the festivities would be around 50 million gil, with the many parties, parades, security, decorations of rebuilt places in Insomnia, the opening of the borders, and payment for those that protected them. It was too much for him to take in, his brain went into overload, and he promptly fell asleep.

When he woke up after having a strange dream, he saw the worried and angry faces of his council. Minister Tot shook his head, telling him, "I know the Lucis Caelums have a penchant for sleeping. But can you not do so during a meeting?"

"I can't make any promises…" Noctis yawned.

"As we were saying, the nations that are scrambling to be a part of our Winter Festival include the Regency of Lindblum, the Kingdom of Alexandria, the Republic of Midgar, the Republic of Accordo, the Kingdom of Caldisla, and the Sky Isles of Bhujerba. I am wondering how we could accommodate those many nations in Insomnia," another minister, Minister of Finance, Setzer Gabianni, added.

"Yes, Majesty. There are no consulates of those most of those nations in the Crown City," Ignis said.

Noct remembered the Via Caelum, a hotel that hosted the Niffs when the empire was still a thing. It was one of the few buildings that survived the attack those many years ago and were one of the first to get renovated. It should have enough room for those delegates. If not, then he questioned the purpose of that state-ran hotel.

He mentioned that and another minister, Edward von Muir, had asked about music for the festival. At the mention of that, Noctis woke up, looking around for a Glaive ready to perform metalcore. It was bound to happen again and the man hadn't a clue how to counter. Maybe Ignis and he should have a strategy meeting?

"As long as Gladiolus and the others do not attempt to scare our delegates, I think we should be fine," Minister Tot said.

Ignis shook his head, telling them, "It is inevitable. Like Thanatos with the Eternity Gauntlets."

"But Thanatos performed the 'Snap', not play metalcore during Festival music," Edward told him.

Noct sensed something off, telepathically hearing the wails of his kids. He sighed and said, "Gladio got to the kids…Played metalcore when 'Silent Night' played for their nap."

Just as he said that, Roni came in, flustered and asking, "Majesty! What is the deal with…?"

"Gladiolus scaring people with metalcore? It's that time of year again…" Minister Tot sighed.

Roni explained what happened and Noctis slapped his forehead, frustrated.

15 minutes ago…

After finally getting the kids to eat their mashed veggies and milk, it was naptime in the Citadel and Roni was grateful that it was. Three crystal-powered toddlers weren't something one should face every day, but it was her job as she had nothing else due to amnesia. After putting down little Regina in her crib, the relatively young governess heard their snores and started yawning herself.

It was indeed time for everyone to take a nap and she figured the king was doing the same…despite being in a meeting with officials. Sitting in a rocking chair and getting a blanket, she got ready to rest. The last thing she did was put on some Winter Festival music, getting the little ones prepared for their first Festival.

The song that played was somewhat of a lullaby played for the Festival, "Silent Night". Yawning as the soothing music played, Roni dozed off but didn't see the King's Shield peek his head inside. He, with the festive-dressed Glaives, had their instruments and music ready, mostly to scare Roni. She was going to get her "initiation", which involved a lot of pranks.

"Ready?" Gladio whispered to the Glaives.

"Yup. Ready. Just waiting," the trio said, holding up guitars, a set of drumsticks, and wearing a harness holding a set of electric panels to sound like drums and cymbals.

"Silent night…Holy…"

Gladio and the Glaives kicked the nursery door open with Gladio screaming/singing, "NIGHT! ALL IS CALM! ALL IS BRIGHT!"

Roni jumped out of the chair, saw who it was, and glowered. The Glaives continued playing loudly, using their electronic instruments and ignoring the crying babies. She stood and her glowering became more of a death stare.

Gladio finally stopped and said, "Uh, hey."

"What is WRONG with you?" Roni yelled, grabbing a wailing Ventus.

"Uh, well…another metalcore interruption in the books?" a Glaive asked.

"Uh, yeah. And Roni's probably about to kill us all…" a second said.

"Um…Eh-heh-heh…" the third added.

They took off, leaving Gladio behind. Roni handed him Ventus and told him, "You woke them. Now, you put them back to sleep."

"Uh. What?" he asked as she left.

The Winter Festival, Father Yuletide hat-wearing man who loved metalcore too much was going to pay, Roni thought.

Present…

"So, what are we to do, Majesty? If Gladio gets to the delegates…" Edward asked.

"Let's not panic. We just have to figure out how to get at him to stop for the year," Noctis told everyone.

"How? He finds us so quickly. And he probably has a Glaive spying on us right now," Setzer said, looking around.

Ignis sighed and said, "We'll come up with a plan. Very soon."

Noctis heard his father and the specter told him, "Find a song that sounds like it's for Winter and trick him that way. What is that movie the children love? About a queen with powers like the Glacian?"

'Uh…"Permafrost"?' Noctis thought.

"Yes. That's the one," Regis told him.

An idea came to him, but Luna would have to participate. She was getting just as annoyed as the others as Gladio and the Glaives had interrupted a service at the nearby church Luna attended. The priest there glowered and Luna could do nothing as the Glaives teleported out of the chapel before she could scold them. The Shield had also slipped out, away from his angry Queen.

Grinning, Noctis told everyone, "Got an idea. But we'll have to wait until Luna gets here."

"Yes…Revenge is at hand…" Regis muttered, rubbing his hands evilly.

And Gladio and the others are still at it. Will Noct and the others stop him before he ruins the relationships of the other countries with Christmas Metalcore? Stay tuned.