Author's Notes:
Another chapter down. We kinda went to focus on some other characters this chapter. I need to find the drive to focus back on Noctis and Luna.
Did I forget to write fanfiction?
Mildly, I have gone back to school this fall and have swept into being a productive member of student life as well as trying to make sure my GPA is acceptable enough to get off of the dean's shit list. Praying so bad that I get off of it. I hate having six people sign off on my college course selections. But thanks to the hectic life of a college student, being a mother to two children, little boys that are five and two, one of which is in kindergarten, as well as getting into the cosplay/ photography part of cosplay in the second half of the year, I have been quite the busy bee.
But I have not forgotten about my beloved fanfic! Especially when I see people subscribing or adding the story to their lists and even more excited when I see people leaving comments for me to keep writing. It really is an inspiring motivation for me to get back into things. Thankfully, college is over for the semester and winter break is like almost a month. I am hoping to get more of the story written and maybe even toss in some of Episode Ignis in the future, but that is up for my debating mind.
I hope you guys enjoy the new chapter~!
AK
Noctis had leaned forward, placing his mug on the table. None of them had said anything after Noctis had finished telling them about Stella some more. They stood quiet for what seemed like an eternity but was actually a couple of minutes. Prompto decided he would break the silence first.
"So it just ended, like that? Nothing else came of it? Have you told Luna? Did you guys do it?" Gladio burst into laughter at the last question, "Noct is a virgin! There's no way he has ever been with a girl in that sense." Ignis nodded in agreement, "He didn't really have the time to do that anyways. Not with his extremely busy schedule. Even if he snuck out with Nyx, I highly doubt that he was left alone long enough." The two older men were confident while Prompto had just stared at Noctis, silently waiting for him to answer his questions. There was something about Noct's expression that Prompto knew that they were wrong but he couldn't place how he knew that their words weren't true. "Noct?"
Noctis smirked and turned to Prompto knowing he knew him better than even Ignis and Gladio. "To answer the questions in order, I don't have much more to add to the end of the relationship with Stella. I haven't told Luna all the details. As for the last detail, I'll let you use your imagination." He winked at the blonde as he got up to put his mug in the sink, completely ignoring the looks of disbelief on the Chamberlain's and the Shield's faces. He knew better than to answer the last question while sitting down. Especially since the older two assumed he never got intimate with Stella, let alone any woman. But he wasn't going to tell them what he did or didn't do with Stella, after all, a gentleman doesn't kiss and tell the details of his sex life.
They were about to ask him more but Luna had returned with Gentiana, causing the trio to not say anything. After all, Noctis had yet to tell Luna and they had a date planned. She smiled at them, overjoyed that she had found clothing she could wear for the evening as well as something special for their wedding night. "You boys on your best behavior?" she asked teasingly. They all blushed but nodded.
Ignis turned to Noctis asking him where they were going for dinner. "Well, to be honest, I don't know," he replied sheepishly. This caused Ignis to sigh and get up, Gladio following his lead before they looked to Prompto and nodded as he got up as well. "Well then, allow us to go out into the city and find an appropriate location. We will also need to speak to the First Secretary about a security plan since you so recklessly revealed to the world you are in Accordo with the Oracle. Lastly, your suit is needed, Highness." Noct nodded, "That's right, you have the one I need in the Regalia back on the boat but I also need to go buy another suit too." Ignis nodded, interrupted by Gladio, "We will get what you need prince charmless." Noctis made a sour face as they left him standing there with the two women joining him on either side.
"Why does he call you Prince Charmless?" Luna asked Noctis as Gentiana helped her with her things to the room. Noctis let out a bemused laugh, "Apparently, that has always been my name with Gladio. Guess it has to do with the spoiled personality I tend to display in front of everyone." This caused Lunafreya to laugh in the other room, "So this means they don't know what a real prince charming you are?" Noctis blushed a deep shade of crimson, "No Luna, only you know that. If you don't mind, I prefer to keep it that way."
The trio made their way back to the royal boat to where they had housed the Regalia for their trip. They needed to retrieve Noctis' specially designed Vivian Westwood suit that was sent to the capitol before the negotiations went to hell. Besides retrieving said suit they also needed to purchase a couple of suits for him for dinner with Lunafreya this evening. Mentally cursing himself for not thinking about the funds he would need, he sent Noctis a text.
Ignis: Noct, it just occurred to me that we need funds to purchase a change of outfits for tonight. How do you wish to proceed with that? We've taken all the hunts on in the city so we cannot necessarily hunt for the same profit we gained the first time.
Ignis sent the message and waited for a response. He watched Prompto take photos of the city and Gladio was looking at a shopkeeper's booth that sold swords. It wasn't long before Noctis sent him the response:
Noct: You know which accounts are which. Charge it to the accounts necessary.
Ignis stared at the phone dumbfounded. "I would have done that if I knew I had permission," he stated bluntly. Ignis heard his phone beep again.
Noct: You've always had permission to use the accounts. Why you never did is beyond me. Have fun with picking out the outfits. And while you're at it, pick you guys something out for the ceremony this week. Can't have you guys looking like behemoth shit….
"Must he use such language? Even in text form it's atrocious," Ignis stated calmly before making his way over to the two men. "So did you get the information you needed?" Prompto asked. Ignis simply nodded, slowly making his way over to the nearest suit shop for not only himself but for the rest of their group.
Later on that evening….
The evening was going pleasant enough for the two royals. Ignis had set them up in a quiet and private restaurant that did reservations only, so there was no need to worry about random people coming up to the couple asking for things. Ignis had paid the establishment a large sum in order to keep their date a secret and to prevent any of the staff or owners of the restaurant to leak any information to the press.
Although Noctis had asked the people to have consideration for the royal couple, people everywhere were watching their every move. The first secretary had to mobilize the small army that Accordo had in order to keep the peace. She also had several body doubles of the couple in order for the press to follow while Noctis and Luna escaped away from their small apartment. The way Ignis saw it, the press was on a wild goose chase with body doubles throughout the city.
While all these precautions were necessary for the safety and security of the couple, it didn't stop the Commodore of the Imperial Army from walking into the same restaurant as the couple, sitting down and having dinner with both Biggs and Wedge as a cover for her to get to the princess.
"Lady A," Biggs stated as he began cutting into his steak dinner. "How do you know you will be able to speak to the princess if you're over here tailing her but not actually moving to speak to her?" He watched his commander, who was sipping on a red Altissian wine while she had a clear view of the royal couple that was dining across the restaurant. Luna was smiling happily at whatever the prince was telling her, a smile that Aranea had only seen once or twice in the years that she had known Ravus. It made her a bit angry inside due to the fact that she recalled the young princess rarely smiling for her brother the way she did for prince. It made her wonder what made him so special. By that point she had realized that she was thinking like Ravus and decided to let go of ridiculous notions such as jealousy. She decided instead to focus on the question that was asked to her by her subordinate.
"Because," Aranea stated smoothly. "Every girl gets up to powder her nose at some point or another in the course of a date with a guy she likes." As if on cue, Luna had gotten up from her seat and made her way off to the bathroom. Aranea took this as her cue to get up and follow the princess to the bathroom. When she got inside, Luna was washing her hands and grabbing a hand towel to dry her hands before her eyes made contact with the commodore of Niflheim. Her eyes grew wide at the realization of who she was looking at, the panic beginning to form on her face.
"Please don't panic on me, Your Highness," Aranea began calmly, her hands up in a surrendering position. "I was sent by Commander Ravus on behalf of your best interest. The chancellor has no idea that Ravus has sent me to find you."
Luna had relaxed her body momentarily but not fully letting herself calm her defenses. "I am here to help you my lady. Please don't treat me like a threat," Aranea continued. "Ravus sent me. I am to help you disappear from the city after the rite of the goddess. Whether you run off with the pretty boy prince or not, my only concern is your safety and the safety of those in the country of Tenebrae. Per the orders of Prince Ravus."
Luna's eyes widened at the use of Ravus' old title from when they were children. "Did Ravus tell you to sweet talk me?" Aranea felt her eyes narrow, "You know, I would expect you to understand that we are loyal to Tenebrae above all else in the world. You as her Princess should know that." Aranea's words struck a chord in Luna, causing her to relax completely. "He isn't doing this for the empire? All these years he has done as they wanted. Now," she took a deep breath. "Now he cares? Why?"
"He's always cared, Lunafreya," Aranea replied. This caused Luna's eyebrows to raise but say nothing as she listened to the dragoon. "He gave up his crown to the empire willingly because he knew after the death of your mother that you would become the Oracle. He knew the empire would never let you out of their grip and would have done whatever they could to you if he didn't choose to surrender willingly. He gained their trust, rose in the ranks but deep down, hidden from all, you were always his number one priority. The empire plans to attack the sea goddess during the rite, should the attack fail and the Lucian prince gains the blessing, your brother will be up to hang. He knows this and is already preparing for their attack. By focusing on you and Tenebrae. My only hope is that I can have your cooperation with this matter."
Luna stood quiet listening to the dragoon's plea. "And what's in it for you?" Luna asked suspiciously. Aranea smiled, "Making sure my country never burns again. If you seek to help me, meet me at the sea goddess statue at midnight tomorrow." With that, Aranea stepped out of the bathroom and went back to her seat, leaving the Oracle to ponder the motives of her brother.
Back at the Hotel
Gladio and Prompto were playing a round of King's Knight while Ignis made them a small dinner. Noctis had suggested they go to Maahgo to get dinner but Ignis insisted that only one of their party spending funds was enough. They still had plenty of supplies to fend for themselves for the rest of their stay in Altissia. Worse case scenario, Ignis could easily hit the shops and resupply before the rite. After all, none of them knew what kind of damage would be done to the city.
"Noct seems more open with her," Gladio mentioned without looking up from his screen. "He's not that flirty with any girl. Hell if anything, he's always awkward with girls." Prompto groaned as he lost another round against Gladio's level five monster for the third time in a row. "Noct and Lady Luna have known each other for the longest though, longer than Iggy and you from what Noct told me once," Prompto stated as he looked up from his phone.
Ignis stopped working on their dinner to add to the conversation, "Weskham has made it clear he's in love. I for one don't doubt it. The only thing that makes me wonder is if he's fallen to the point where he's distracted. We are still on a mission to get our crystal back." Prompto stood up, putting his phone down, "Iggy, what is the deal with Noct and the crystal? We know he needs it to be king but is there a reason the empire wanted it in the first place?"
"Technically, he is already king. He became king when his father died. He may not have had a formal coronation or ceremony but royal protocol dictates that the heir immediately falls into power should the monarch passes or abdicates. For Noctis, it is a bit more complex than him sitting on the throne." Ignis had set the temperature to medium and went to join the two other men on the couch. Adjusting his glasses, he looked at Prompto, noticing the slight confusion on his face, "Prompto, what has Noct told you about his connection to the crystal?" Prompto looked at Gladio and then turned back to Ignis, an expression that was mildly unreadable on his face, "Well for starters, he said the crystal slowly but steadily kills the king. It's why his father looked way older than he actually was. Said it had to do with the crystal sucking the life out of him."
The blonde was fidgeting with his hands, avoiding eye contact with the two older men. "Noct said that the crystal draws its energy from the Caelum line. He has always felt the pull of the crystal from when he was a kid. He never understood why but he also knew that the crystal is the reason why he sleeps so much. The use of his Arminger, weapons and even giving us access to his magic is a drain on his body physically." The revelation that Prompto was explaining to the two of them came as no surprise to them. Both Gladio and Ignis were aware of what the crystal could do to Noctis but said nothing, curious to hear what the dark haired prince had told his best friend. "Go on," Ignis said calmly.
Prompto nodded, "He also said something about Lady Luna being the chosen Oracle from the prophecy in the Cosmology. He mentioned how she said he was the chosen King, even though at the age of eight he had no idea what that meant. He said as he got older he felt like there was an impending doom that came with the title and wanted nothing to do with it or the crystal. That's all he has ever told me. Is there something I should know?" His expression had grown slightly dark, causing Ignis to raise an eyebrow at his serious tone.
"Are you prepared to learn the whole truth?" Gladio asked, catching the blonde off guard. "I am," Prompto replied.
Ignis took a deep breath, "Well, Noct was chosen by the crystal at the age of five. What the title of chosen king means is that at some point the world will fall into complete darkness and the accursed one will do everything to bring about the end of the world. Daemons are supposed to over run the world. In order to kill the accursed and free the world of the darkness and daemons, the chosen king must sacrifice himself to save the world. In lamest terms Prompto..." Ignis didn't get to finish the sentence before he stopped, seeing the tears streaming down Prompto's face. He had covered his mouth and nose, inhaling and exhaling deeply, while shaking his head.
"Does Noct know?" was all he could say. Ignis shook his head, "No. King Regis did not want to burden Noct with his fate at an early age. Although, he was planning on telling him for his twenty first birthday. Before the empire proposed the farce of a truce and killed the king. We were told at age ten respectively. Gladio actually took it worse than me, he hit the Marshall." This caused Prompto to smile at the thought, "Are you guys going to tell him the truth?" Gladio inserted himself in the conversation, "We plan to, after the rite. Ignis and I have been talking about how the nights are getting longer, daemon activity is at an all time high and how the theft of the crystal could play a role in stopping the attacks. It's time we told his highness what exactly it means to be the chosen king. That is, if Lady Lunafreya doesn't tell him before we can."
Ignis gently placed his hand on Prompto's shoulder, "You cannot tell him yet. We will do it as a group. He is going to need all of the emotional support he can get." Prompto nodded in response, the older man going back to cooking, and the brunette going to shower. Prompto grabbed his camera and began to circle through the various photos he took of the prince, 'I need to get more photos of Noct in,' he thought to himself.