Disclaimer: Not mine

I am one trophy short, for some reason, despite collecting all the Royal Arms, it didn't give me the trophy. Anyone else have issues with the trophies on PS4?

Chapter 14

Regis watched as the boy fell asleep, body limp, all signs of his transformation fading away. He lay still, breathing deeply, as power began to gather around the four boys. Above them the Crystal seemed to grow brighter and he could feel Noctis pulling on its power. He fingered the Ring, Noctis was too young and not ready for the Throne, but he could temporarily wield the Ring, it had happened before with failed assassination attempts. With the Ruler temporarily out of commission the heir would step up until they recovered.

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Ignis felt strange, disconnected from his body, the link wide open and Noctis' mind and magic threatening to overwhelm him completely. He wanted to let it, to let go and give everything to his Prince and he struggled to fight that urge, knowing that Noctis would never forgive himself. He could feel Gladio also struggling to keep some separation even as all that power was turned on the sleeping Prompto, seeping into his undefended mind, searching for the clan link.

Prompto jerked under their hands as Noctis found the link and poked at it experimentally.

"Easy," Gladio murmured.

Noctis gently felt out the link and where it led, obviously trying to work out if it could be broken to free Prompto from his clan fully. Prompto jerked again and then began convulsing and they struggled to hold him down as whoever was on the other end became aware of what they were trying.

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"You," Verstael spat even as he transformed from human to harpy, lunging forward, claws ready to tear flesh. The being before him simply vanished, reappearing nearby, blade in hand. It didn't take a genius to realise the connection between whatever was happening to the fledgling in Insomnia and the Immortal Lucis Caelum's presence in his lab. They were trying to break the link between his clone and himself. They would be sorely disappointed by the result then. He smirked, wondering how they would react when the child went berserk and then died. Did they think he wouldn't put in failsafe's?

"This time I shall ensure your cloning program is permanently ended."

Verstael cackled, did he really think it would be that easy? He had ensured his own immortality via the Immortalis, even if this creature struck him down it wouldn't matter. "Kill me….kill the boy," he hissed in glee.

"I don't think so."

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Cor and Regis moved in to help hold Prompto down, Cor reluctantly using the restraints to ensure Prompto didn't hurt himself or anyone else. He'd transformed fully now, black eyes wide open but he doubted the kid was seeing any of them as he screamed in pain. This was worse than his Awakening by the look on Regis' face. A glance at the Prince showed his eyes glowing with magic even as he gasped for breath, obviously exhausted but refusing to stop. How much more could either of them take?

Prompto screeched, back arching, wings lashing out wildly and then it all stopped and he collapsed to the floor, utterly still.

"Prom?" Noctis gasped out, reaching out to shake him gently and Prompto's body moved with the motion, lifeless. "No, no, come on!" he begged as Ignis reached to find a pulse, eyes wide with terror.

Cor didn't hesitate, summoning a Phoenix Down and using Prompto's hand to crush it, watching the magic surge over the boy, causing his body to jerk but then he was limp again.

"Dad…" Noctis sobbed for help and Regis placed his hands firmly on the boy, sending his own magic surging into the too still body, fighting to bring him back.

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Ardyn watched the body collapse to the ground, definitely dead. He looked up at a rumbled and his eyes widened slightly at the sight of a massive Magitek coming to life. "Well, that hardly seems fair," he complained before launching himself at it. He needed to end this quickly and return, he had the sick feeling that something had gone very wrong. Had Besithia spoken the truth about what his death would cause? If so, time was of the essence, magic could only bring back the newly dead after all and this may be beyond Regis' skill let alone young Noctis'.

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Noctis let Gladio pull him from the water and then he wrapped himself around his best friend, tears blurring his vision as he felt the sheer force of the magic his Dad was bringing to bear on the body in his arms. "Please, come back Prompto," he begged, whispering in the blondes ear. "We need you." He closed his eyes, drawing up what little magic he had left, before he felt someone break an ether over him, restoring his magic, letting him add it to his Dad's as he mentally pleaded with the Astrals, his ancestors…anyone.

He felt a surge of magic and looked up to see his Uncle appear.

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Ardyn glanced at the scene and moved to kneel beside Regis, seeing the boy lying deathly still and pale in his nephews arms, Noctis wrapped around the body, both of them channelling all the magic they could into him. "Noctis," he called and his youngest nephew looked up at him with eyes red from tears, naked which meant he had been in the water for the attempt, where he was most powerful.

"Please…" the boy begged and Ardyn rested a hand on wet hair.

"Together nephew," he offered and Noctis nodded. Ardyn focused his magic not just on Prompto but also Noctis, he was the one bonded to the boy after all. They did not have long before not even magic could do anything. The amount of magic being used should have revived him already.

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He remembered Noct…falling asleep…pain…nothing. He opened his eyes and looked around to find himself standing on a frozen mountain, snow falling all around but he wasn't cold. He wanted Noct, where was he? He hugged himself, wings wrapping around his naked body, though he didn't feel at all cold. He should be, shouldn't he? He remembered how badly the cold made his back ache due to the old wound….old wound…he'd been attacked, twice, he remembered! He remembered his adoptive parents, meeting Noct and then the guys…finding out the big Royal secret, telling them his own…his apartment, classes, living in the Citadel…he sobbed in relief. He knew who he was! He was Prompto Argentum, created to be an MT, rescued by Cor, and Noctis' best friend, his fourth. So where was he? Was he…dead?

"Child of Air and Fire, born of a land of ice," a female voice called on the wind and Prompto turned, eyes going wide as he stared at the woman floating before him. He'd never met her, never dreamed of it, but he still recognised her. How could he not recognise one of the Hexatheon? Shiva….she was beautiful, taller than him, with pale blue skin, purple eyes with white eye shadow, delicately pointed ears and hornlike protrusions that resembled icicles. Her long silvery hair was in elaborate braids, and her body was covered by lace-pattern frost that resembled…well, he forced his eyes up, cheeks red.. She had sheer white frost sleeves and a filigree choker made of ice around her throat. Just like in the pictures but somehow so much more.

Was he meant to say something? Bow? Was there a protocol for meeting an Astral? "I…" he swallowed hard and she smiled at him.

"Created of the forbidden, made to destroy Kings, yet complete the future King you do," She told him and he frowned in confusion before getting it. Cloning was forbidden? Or the specific method used to make him?

"Am….am I dead?" he whispered.

"The iciness of death has touched your soul, yet its hold is not complete. The magic used to pull you back to your Prince cannot do so as you are."

"Because I'm…a harpy?" he asked and she nodded. "I don't want to be," he choked out and a cold hand stroked his cheek.

"Fickle is my sister, goddess of the seas. Yet in the deepest waters, the cold can be found."

"I don't understand." She had to mean Leviathan, Noct had mentioned her once and it was one of the few times his friend seemed genuinely scared. Iggy had explained more, how she could claim a mer as hers and they wouldn't be themselves any more. Even humans could petition her for aide, if desperate enough.

"Would you stand by his side forever?" she asked and he didn't even have to think about his answer.

"For eternity."

"The road ahead may have many hardships but remain true to your heart fledgling and you will find the path," she told him and then he gasped as icy lips pressed against his, feeling like he was being frozen before everything shattered.

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Ardyn slowly sat back, eyes sad, as he stared at the pale, lifeless body before him. "I am so sorry Noctis."

"No!" the Prince denied, sitting up and holding Prompto to his chest, rocking him. "He's not…he can't…" he sobbed, hiding his face against blonde hair.

Ardyn carefully reached over, releasing the restraints that had been placed on the boy while he was away. He couldn't help feeling guilty, was this because of what he had done?

Ignis and Gladio pressed close to their Prince, trying to offer comfort, their own expressions bleak. The bond had been new but all three of them were feeling its loss.

Ardyn glanced at Regis and the Marshal, seeing how pale the King was. He summoned an Ether and broke it over his nephew, restoring his magic. He pretended he couldn't see the tears the Marshal was shedding for the boy he had seen as his own. He knew the pain Noctis would live with for the rest of his life and it was not something he would wish on anyone.

Noctis suddenly yelped, head flying up, as the body in his arms jolted, bright blue eyes snapping open as the body gasped desperately for air, thrashing. They all stared and then Ignis and Gladio moved to pin the flailing limbs. "Prom?" Noctis called shakily, reaching out to hold his face gently in his hands and blue eyes focused on him. "Is…are…Prom?"

Ardyn watched warily, ready to call his sword to hand in an instant. This was impossible, the boy had been dead for nearly an hour, no one could come back from that. Was this really the boy? Or something using his body.

"N..No…ct…" he stammered out through chattering teeth, body slowly relaxing, breathing becoming easier.

"I've got you, you're okay," the Prince whispered, pulling him firmly into his arms as they others let go.

The blonde burrowed into his arms, shivering, and Regis called a blanket from the Armiger, wrapping it around them. Prompto looked up at the King and smiled slightly. "Kin..g Re…g…is," he chattered out and Regis froze.

"Do you recognise me?" he asked gently and Prompto nodded, clinging to Nocti who rubbed at his skin to try and warm him up a bit via friction.

"Prompto?" Ignis asked, hope obvious in his voice and Prompto turned to look at him.

"Rem…ember," he whispered, the shivering already beginning to stop.

"Remember what?" the Adviser asked gently and Prompto slowly freed one hand to reach out to him, Ignis taking it in his carefully even as the younger male smiled.

"Everything." He yawned, head resting on Noctis' shoulder and Noctis lifted a hand to tenderly rub his back.

Ardyn watched but everything so far said this was truly Prompto returned from the dead. The worrying question was, why? Who had done so and what had been the price?

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Watching as Prompto fell asleep in Noct's arms, Gladio stood and then reached down to gently take him off the Prince, holding the blonde close to his chest. He felt warm now, though not quite as warm as he had been since his Awakening, then again he'd been dead long enough for his body to have begun to cool. He was limp in his arms, but it was the stillness of a deep sleep, not death.

"Let him sleep as long as he wishes," Ardyn spoke up. "His body and mind have been through a massive trauma today. I shall come and look him over in a while to ensure all his well."

"Thank you Uncle," Noctis darted in and hugged the much older merman who startled but then smiled and petted Noctis' head.

"That's quite alright. Now go get some rest, all of you."

"Clothing Noctis," Regis called with a small smile and Noctis blinked but summoned his clothes back to his body before they left the room.

Gladio didn't need to be told twice, heading back towards Noct's rooms, Ignis once again moving ahead to ensure the way was clear.

Once safely in the bedroom Gladio lowered Prompto to the bed, Noctis moving in to strip him of his damp clothing while Ignis grabbed Prompto's normal sleep clothes of shorts and t-shirt. They got him re-dressed and then settled under the covers before changing themselves and getting in with him.

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Regis looked up as Ardyn entered his study but he didn't move from his sprawl in the armchair. He ached from using so much magic, besides his uncle was never one for standing on ceremony. "What happened in Niflheim?" he asked as Ardyn sat in the other chair.

"Besithia is dead, the facility utterly destroyed. I had no time to see if there were others. He claimed his death would kill young Prompto so I returned immediately."

"He knew about Prompto then."

"Indeed. The Emperor saw the article on the attack and brought it to his attention. They planned for the boy to kill Noctis and as many others as he could before he was killed. Thankfully, the bond and the boys own mental strength ruined that plan. I do not know if his death will have killed all the other clones or not, or even the MT's."

"The clones maybe but I doubt it would affect the MT's since they are simply miasma now."

"True," Ardyn nodded and then stood. "I need to check on the boy."

"You're worried."

"You aren't? No mortal magic I know of could have brought him back after so long."

"Are you concerned as to who or what brought him back…or that it isn't him in the body?"

"All of the above, although if it is not the boy, he was doing a superb acting job." Ardyn nodded to him and then vanished and Regis forced himself to his feet.

He needed to check on things, there were several missions at the moment, those involved would know if the MT's had been affected by the scientists death. He hadn't been concerned until Ardyn mentioned it, but now he worried how Prompto had been returned to them.

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Cor slipped into the dim room silently, approaching the bed to look down at the four young men sleeping there. It had been just over a day since Prompto's return from the dead and he hadn't woken once. The others were refusing to leave his side and that was good, he likely needed them to help stabilise him and they needed him too to let the bond settle back into place.

Ever so carefully he leant over to brush some hair from Prompto's face. Seeing him, lying there so still and cold…it was not something he ever wanted to see again. He didn't know how he had come back but he was grateful. Prompto was the closest he had to his own kid, the thought of losing him… he walked across the room to sit in a chair, keeping watch over them.

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Prompto woke slowly, feeling utterly safe and warm. He didn't really want to wake up but his bladder had other ideas. He slowly forced his eyes open to find himself curled up against Noct, his head over his friends heart, able to hear the steady beat. He could feel Ignis on his other side and when he lifted his head he saw Gladio on Noct's other side. As carefully as he could he wriggled free of them and scooted to the end of the bed. He stood up and then grabbed onto the bed as he legs threatened to buckle. Right…he hadn't really walked since his transformation…Awakening was what they called it, right? He hadn't wanted to but he couldn't remember why, some of what had happened since then was a little fuzzy but it didn't matter.

He slowly stepped away from the bed, his legs feeling surer with every step, thankfully. He did what he needed to in the bathroom and then splashed his face with cold water. He felt pretty grimy but he didn't feel like a shower right then, he was too hungry. He left the bathroom to see Noctis sit up, eyes wide as he looked around. It took a second for him to spot Prompto and then he was scrambling off the bed, waking the others as he rushed over and pulled Prompto into a rib crushing hug. "Whoa! Easy Noct," he gasped and he felt Noctis loosen his grip a bit.

"I thought…" Noct whispered and then pulled back enough to look him in the eye, searching for something.

"It's okay, I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere," he swore. He'd promised a literal goddess he would stay by Noct forever and he'd meant it.

"You're really back, I mean, to how you were before the Awakening," Noctis stumbled over his own words. "You remember everything?"

"Everything. Noct I stink, you should probably let go."

"Well you have slept for three days," Gladio spoke up and Prompto looked over at him.

"Three days? Why didn't you wake me up?"

"Ardyn said to let you sleep as long as you needed, that you'd been through some massive traumas close together so your body needed the rest."

"Guess that makes sense…and explains why I'm starving."

"I'll get something for you," Ignis got up, squeezing Prompto's shoulder as he passed him and Prompto grinned at him.

"Thanks Iggy."

"Come on, back to bed for now," Noctis urged and Prompto let himself be led back to the bed, understanding Noct was freaked out over what had happened and would be protective for a while. He didn't blame him; he was freaked out too! How was he meant to tell them what had happened without sounding crazy?

TBC…

Writing original content for an Astral is not easy so sorry if it isn't quite right sounding.

Pretty sure I'm done torturing Prompto now.