Disclaimer: not mine

Glad you're enjoying my wacky idea.

This is the happily ever after version of the ending, the non-fairy-tale ending will be posted after this.

Chapter 2

Prompto clung to his bird, hunched over to present as small a target as possible as magic raged around him. He was terrified, he'd grown up in the shadow of the mountain, seeing Ardyn do as he pleased with their people and hating it. But who could stand against such a being? He'd dreamed of it, now he feared that he was going to become just one more victim. Why was the fairy so insistent on harming Noctis?

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

"What did you do?" Ignis demanded as they flew beside Prompto, doing their best to divert the magical attacks.

"Turned his pet to stone," Gladio grunted as he threw up a shield, ignoring the shocked noise from Ignis. They were no match for Ardyn in a fight and Prompto was exhausted, even armed with enchanted weaponry. They needed somewhere safe to regroup. He flew up to Prompto who glanced at him from where he was practically lying flat on his bird. "We need somewhere to rest!" he called and the Prince nodded, lifting his head a little to look around before nudging the Chocobo into changing course.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

They finally left Ardyn's range and he let her slow down, feeling her sides heave. "Easy girl," he whispered, stroking her neck. They were nearly to Cartanica, hopefully far enough from Ardyn's mountain to be safe for a little while. He dismounted and led his Chocobo down the steep incline, she could probably make it even with him on her back but he didn't want to take the risk after such a hard ride. The old mine had been abandoned for generations but he had explored it for years and he knew where he was going.

They made it to the bottom and he set her loose to eat and drink, collapsing on an old log himself. The two fairies flew around, exploring before joining him, growing back to human size.

"Are you injured?" Ignis asked worriedly, and he shook his head.

"Just tired and sore," he assured him and then forced himself not to flinch when the wand was waved over him, feeling his aches fade.

"We won't hurt you," the blond fairy promised softly.

"Sorry, Ardyn's the only fairy in Niflheim." He felt bad, all they had done was help him.

"You have no need to apologise, Your Highness."

"Prompto."

Ignis smiled at him. "Prompto." He looked away and smiled softly at the other fairy when Gladio put his hand on the blonds shoulder.

Prompto watched them and found himself smiling sadly. Could he and Noctis have had that closeness? "Is he safe?" he asked softly, and the two sat down facing him.

"So long as he sleeps nothing can harm him. I am sorry Prompto, we made a mistake and now you are both paying for it."

"What mistake?" he asked, and they shifted slightly.

"Somehow we gave ourselves away, otherwise Ardyn would not have known to be waiting for you at the cottage. He also knew we were bringing Nox…Noctis back to the Citadel and was waiting. Noctis was raised without the knowledge of his heritage, he knew he was not our child but we did our best to raise him."

"I've only met him once but I think you did a good job," he smiled softly at the memories of their meeting, getting a smile in return from Ignis.

"Thank you. He was so excited about meeting you and I wish we had known your full name, then we would have handled everything differently and perhaps we wouldn't be here now if we had. We told him he could not see you again because he was a prince. Needless to say, Noctis did not take it well. He barely spoke a word after. We left and returned to the Citadel with him and we made the mistake of leaving him alone to adjust. Ardyn got to him and led him to a tower where the curse was enacted. We arrived to find Noctis lying on the ground but Gladio's gift had worked as he was not dead."

"To spare the King the pain of seeing his son in a cursed sleep, we put the entire Kingdom to sleep, they will wake when Noctis does," Gladio spoke up.

"In a hundred years," Prompto whispered sadly. "Even if it's on my death bed, if I live that long, I'd do it, I'll wake him up," he swore.

"There has to be another way!" Gladio looked at Ignis who was thinking it over.

"We cannot simply put Prompto to sleep as we did the Kingdom, he would not wake until Noctis did and Noctis will not wake until Prompto kisses him. There is also the issue of you being the Heir of Niflheim. What would happen to your people if you simply vanish?"

"It would cause Chaos," he admitted. "Father is old, too old to wait for a new heir to grow up."

"So what's stopping us putting Niflheim to sleep as well?" Gladio asked and they both stared at him.

"I suppose we should just put the whole world to sleep while we're at it?" Ignis asked and Gladio grinned.

"Why not? That way, no one would ever know the difference. How much will the world change while Lucis slumbers?"

,,,,,,,,,,,,

Ignis stared at him in shock. Could they even do it? Should they? "What of Ardyn? He would not take such an action well."

"Why is he so set on Noctis dying or sleeping forever?" Prompto asked them. "He's tormented our people for forever but he seemed to ignore the other kingdoms."

"Pride," Gladio shrugged. "King Regis slighted him and he wants payback. That's the obvious answer at least. Who knows what goes on in that warped mind."

Gladio was right, he may have been like them once, millennia ago, but now he was very different. He had systematically hunted down every fairy he came across and killed them. The fact they had survived was pure luck, that they had been born so far from Ardyn's lands had likely helped too. He had not become aware of them until they had been old enough to defend themselves.

"We can try to put everyone to sleep, but that still leaves you."

"Is there a different spell?" Prompto asked. "Even if it wasn't for the whole time, just long enough to ensure I would live long enough to wake him."

"You would do that? You could be an old man by the time the century is over, even if not over a hundred years old."

"One life compared the people of Lucis?" Prompto asked and then shrugged slightly. "How could I not?"

Ignis reached out and took his hands in his, channelling his magic differently, he wasn't casting a spell. Some mortals were more susceptible to magic than others and that would affect anything they tried to do to him. He was surprised to find the Prince was highly susceptible…much like Noctis. Gladio originally was going to gift Noctis with a level of protection from magic. A pity King Iedolas had never invited them to see Prompto, then again, would they have risked going so close to Ardyn?

Whatever spell used on Prompto would have to be able to end without them, who knew what may happen to them before the century was over? Ardyn may take his revenge on them before the time was up, leaving him as the only fairy and he would not wake Prompto. He would leave them all to sleep for eternity, taking pleasure in winning.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Ardyn snarled but then forced himself to calm. They were out of his reach for now, but he knew where they would go. They would take the young Prince to Lucis, to see if the curse could be broken early and if not they would leave him there until it was time. If they put him into an enchanted sleep he would be untouchable until woken. He walked down the stairs and stared at where his pet had died. He had been shocked by the magical contact during his death, he had not thought anything of his brother was left but apparently he had been wrong. The death of his brother did not bother him at all but he had been a useful pet, smart enough to obey directions and even make decisions to a point on how to do so. Far more useful than his daemons.

They would pay for daring to try and thwart him, they would pay with their lives. He smirked and laughed, this time, he would have two pets. They would replace what they had taken from him. He would be kind and allow them to remain together forever even as they served him. As for Prince Prompto's fate, that would take some consideration. They obviously planned to put him to sleep in order to live and wake Prince Noctis. He could allow it and then ensure the two never woke, he could kill the boy before he could be put to sleep, he could lock him up as he had been, or he could do something else entirely. There were just so many options!

He could easily beat them back to Insomnia, they would not have enough magic at the moment to travel magically with a human. They would need to rest before attempting it, especially if they planned to place him in an enchanted sleep, or they would have to travel as mortals.

He went to the window and stared out at the Kingdom of Niflheim, his playground for many years. They would pay for their Prince's interference.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Gladio stared into the fire, Ignis asleep in his arms, the young Prince across the fire from them, sleeping fitfully. He should be sleeping too, gathering his strength for what was coming. They would put everyone except Prompto to sleep. Only an enchanted sleep could stop his body from aging but they needed him to wake in one hundred years plus a day, just to be safe.

They had come up with a possible plan. In a way, it would be the same method he had used to deal with Ardyn's pet. Prompto's body would be transformed into an object that could easily last over a hundred years, his mind put to sleep, unaware. The spell would lift a decade before the hundred years was up and Prompto would wake briefly before a second spell placed on him would activate, placing him into something similar to an enchanted sleep but not exactly the same. He would age although incredibly slowly, so that when they woke, he would be physically two or three years older than Noctis. He would be unaware in that state as well. Then, when the time came he would wake and kiss Noctis, waking everyone else.

A lot could go wrong, especially if Ardyn worked out what they were doing which he surely already had, he was mad not stupid. They had to ensure Prompto was safely in Noctis' room and be-spelled before putting everyone else to sleep. Once that was done, the world would be safe from Ardyn's magic forever. They would be the only ones in danger and Gladio knew, eventually, Ardyn would find and kill them. It was unlikely they would live to see Noctis wake but they had accepted that. They existed to protect people, to bring them happiness.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

"I love you," Ignis whispered, kissing Gladio gently, not wishing to wake the sleeping Prompto. He knew Ardyn could be waiting for them in the city if that was the case, Prompto was to leave them to face him, to get to Noctis' room. They would set the spells on him before they left so that they would not need to be with him. it was the best chance they could give him; the enchanted weapons were no guarantee against a foe like Ardyn, they were meant for use against his daemons.

They got up and slipped away from the small camp, needing time together if it was to be their last chance. They were fairies, not mortals, for them nature was home and not an inconvenience for any activity. Their clothing simply faded away as they lay together in greenery that had overtaken the old mine. They spent time just kissing and touching until Ignis rolled to lie on his back beneath Gladio, smiling up at him, offering himself and Gladio accepted, kissing him hungrily even as he gently moved into his body, feeling their magic swirl around them merging, truly becoming one as no mortal could ever imagine.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

They appeared on the cliffs just beyond the bridge that linked the capitol of Lucis with the rest of the kingdom. After more talking they had altered the plan, there was no way they could beat Ardyn to the city so they had travelled to Tenebrae first, putting the small Kingdom to sleep, then they had backtracked carefully to Niflheim, finding they were right, Ardyn was gone. They had then gone to Accordo.

It had been almost an entire season since Noctis had fallen asleep. The whole world slumbered, except for them. Prompto was understandably very nervous, they all were. The city was likely full of daemons to slow them down, wear them down so that they would be easily dispatched.

The months of travel had allowed them to get to know Prompto and they had come to care deeply for him, much as they did Noctis. He would be the perfect husband for their ward, it was easy to see why Nox had been immediately drawn to Prompto. He lacked the arrogance found in many Royals, he genuinely wanted to help people, to be a good King. They would do whatever they had to, to ensure he reached Noctis' room.

Ignis stared at the tower of the Citadel where he knew Noctis slept, wondering if they would ever see the boy again.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Ardyn paused and then smirked, so, they had finally appeared. With a flick of his hand his daemons spread out through the city with orders to take the three alive if they could, if not then to just wear them down. The more drained their magic was when they reached him, the easier it would be to deal with them. Somnus had trusted him, hadn't realised something was wrong until it was too late. They would fight him every step of the way. They were a bonded pair, their magic working together, it made them harder to deal with but also meant that once one began to succumb the other would follow.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Prompto was terrified, so much could go wrong, but he was determined to reach Noctis. The idea of being transformed into an object made him nervous, what if something went wrong? But it was still the best plan they had. He could feel the need to get to Noctis' room the spell was causing, it wanted to be activated, and he had to fight the urge to just run for the Citadel.

He lifted his shield, blocking the attack of a daemon before impaling it, hearing it shriek. They definitely knew they were there now! He stopped thinking, letting his training take over, fighting not just for his life or love but for the world.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Gladio saw Ardyn waiting before the main gates for them, dressed as usual in his odd hat and coat, hair wild, eyes gold as he smirked, knowing they were there. He looked at Prompto, seeing how tired he was. "Head for the side gate," he murmured.

"Gladio…."

"He's right, you must get to Noctis. You have seen the maps, you know the way," Ignis smiled and kissed his cheek, weaving one last spell to try and ensure he made it. "Go Prompto," he urged, and Prompto swallowed, staring at them sadly before he nodded and slipped away. "I love you," he kissed Gladio who kissed him back and then they stepped out, wands in one hand, their other hands joined.

"Welcome!" Ardyn laughed. "You've kept me waiting dear children. You took something from me and I intend to collect payment."

"You won't succeed," Gladio snapped at him, wings fluttering nervously even though he tried to hide it.

"Won't I? How much magic have you wasted in the last months? You are weak and you know it. You have no chance, why not surrender?"

"Never," Ignis answered, head held high.

"Never is a long time, even for our kind dear Ignis. You have no hope of defeating me. You are nothing but weak little 'good' fairies. You know nothing of the forces at my command."

Ignis shook his head, there was something…compelling….about his words. "We will not let you stop Prompto."

"Why would I want to stop him? What does he matter to me? He can do as he pleases."

"Then why did you take him?" Gladio demanded.

"To ensure he survived long enough to wake dear Noctis, of course," Ardyn smiled at them, as if his reasoning was so obvious…it was, wasn't it?

"But…you cursed Noctis to die…"

"And now if he never wakes, the world will slumber for eternity and where is the fun in that? To be the only being awake would be a very boring life, wouldn't it?"

They both nodded, yes he was right, it would be very boring.

"See? There is no need for us to fight dear children," he held his hands out to them, eyes glowing red and gold. Their wands slowly dipped down towards the ground, he…he was right, they didn't need to fight.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Ardyn smiled as they began to fall under his spell, lowering their wands, wings hanging limp down their backs. This was almost too easy! They had expended so much magic putting the world to sleep, assuming it would keep them all safe. Silly children, every spell had a loophole. "You want peace don't you? You exist to make others happy? Do I not count in that as well?" He asked, ensuring he sounded hurt that he might not, seeing the flicker of confusion on Ignis' face. Of the two, he was the more dangerous, not due to greater power but because of his intelligence.

He held his hands out to them in offering. "Come with me, leave the mortals to their sleep. Help me be happy, please. Only you can help me," he wove the spells around them as he continued to speak, calling on their very nature to help ensnare them. It was so good that the old stories of the power of his voice had been forgotten long before they had been born or they would have been far less willing to let him speak.

He smirked as they took a step, seeing the slight red glow in their eyes, only to gasp as agony stole his breath. He looked down to see a bloody blade emerging from his chest.

"I won't let you hurt them," an angry voice snarled in his ear and he struggled to bring his magic against his attacker before crying out as the blade was twisted. It pulled free and he snarled, raising his hands slowly and then there was a brief flash of pain.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Prompto held the sword, panting, trying to ignore the black blood coating it and his clothing, staring at the headless body on the ground. He didn't know what had made him come back but he was glad he had listened. The sight of the two fairies staring at Ardyn, their eyes changing colour….faces relaxed, it had terrified him. He hadn't realised Ardyn could be-spell other fairies! He hadn't stopped to think once he'd realised what was happening to them, putting the enchanted blade through Ardyn's black heart but it hadn't been enough, that blow would have killed any mortal creature. It had slowed and weakened him though, enough for him to pull the blade out and take off his head.

He heard screeching and screaming and raised his shield, only to watch the daemons dissolve. It was over? He turned to see the two staring vacantly in his direction and his heart sank. He had killed Ardyn, why weren't they getting better. He sheathed the blade and cautiously approached.

"Ignis? Can you hear me? It's Prompto. He's dead Ignis, please come back," he called even as he reached out to shake the fairy gently, feeling hopeful when he blinked sluggishly. "Come on, wake up." He didn't dare slap a fairy but he did tap his cheek even as he kept shaking a shoulder, watching as the red slowly faded back to the normal otherworldly green.

Ignis blinked dazedly but seemed to finally see him. "Prompto? What…where?"

"Ignis," he gasped in relief, hugging the confused fairy. "You didn't tell me he could put a spell on you! If I hadn't come back," he shuddered and then Ignis was hugging him back.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

A spell on them? He felt very confused, but Prompto was hugging him, all but clinging, and he hugged him back. The young Prince had opened up to them during their journey and it had become evident that there was little love to be found in his home. They had been quite happy to give it, to treat him as they did Noctis. They were…they were their children, despite only having raised Noctis.

"I'm here, you saved us," he whispered, needing to comfort him. He reached for Gladio's magic, gently tugging their bond, even as he saw his unmoving form but then Gladio's magic responded, surging and he was shaking his head, blinking. He saw Ignis hugging Prompto and moved to join them.

"What happened?"

"Ardyn," he nodded, and Gladio looked in that direction, seeing the fading body. "Prompto saved us."

"Thanks kiddo," Gladio murmured, and Prompto turned to hug him too.

"The daemons kind of screeched and dissolved too," Prompto told them, straightening up, wiping his eyes.

"Without his magic to fuel them they can't exist in the mortal world," Ignis told him, looking around.

"So all that work putting everyone to sleep wasn't needed," Gladio sighed.

"I think it was, this way no Kingdom will be behind the others," Prompto told them, and they shrugged, he would know more about such things. He glanced up at the Citadel and then took a deep breath. "Guess it's time then."

They knew he was nervous and it was perfectly normal. The idea of being turned into an inanimate object for nearly a hundred years was scary even to them and they were magic, to a mortal? It was shocking he had agreed but they hadn't been able to come up with a better plan. He would be completely unaware during that time, just like those who were in the enchanted sleep. "We will be with you," Ignis promised, he no longer had to be alone during the process.

Prompto nodded and they headed into the Citadel.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Prompto stared at the door at the end of the hall, this was it. He walked towards the door and then pushed it open, he wouldn't have long once he passed the threshold and he looked for the bed, seeing that it was occupied, the half drawn curtains blocking his view. He hesitated and looked at the two fairies. "Thank you, for everything. Will you be here? When I wake up?" he handed his weapons to Gladio for safe keeping, he didn't need them now.

"Of course we will, for both the spell change and the true awakening," Gladio promised and that made it easier. They hadn't been able to make that promise when Ardyn was alive and he knew they'd expected to die buying him the time to make it to the room.

He took a deep breath and stepped inside, knowing they were right behind him as he hurried across the room to sit on the bed, looking down at the sleeping Prince. He reached out to trace a cool cheek, he was as beautiful as Prompto remembered.

"I'll see you soon," he promised and then lay down, feeling a hand briefly brush through his hair.

"We're here," Ignis promised, his voice sounding far away.

Prompto kept his eyes on Noctis until his world went black.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

On the bed beside Noctis' sleeping body, lay a perfect diamond. Ignis reached out, feeling the magic in the gem, reaching deeper to feel the sleeping essence of Prompto, ensuring everything had worked correctly. "It worked, his mind is asleep, the spells will keep him safe, not that there is much that can harm a diamond."

"Magic can," Gladio pointed out, though it didn't really matter anymore, now that they were the last.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Ignis flitted through the trees, flying fast, laughing happily as Gladio chased him. It was strange to feel lonely at times; before taking Noctis in to raise they had been on their own most of the time, but they had gotten too used to having someone else there. They tended to stay away from the human settlements, they were eerie with the inhabitants frozen in time, many asleep on their feet, caught mid walking or talking.

A hundred years was nothing to a fairy but for the first time in their lives such time seemed to be passing slowly. They would check on Prompto and Noctis regularly, looking forward to the day when Prompto would become human again and wake, if only very briefly.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

He was tired…so tired. He blinked, struggling to focus…what had….the spell….he managed to lift his head, seeing the sleeping form. He weakly tried to pull his body closer but then gentle hands were there, moving him to lie with Noctis. He struggled to keep his eyes open to see who. Soon…the first part was done…all he had to do now was sleep and then he'd wake up and he could finally kiss Noctis, wake him up…they could be together then.

Two blurry figures leant over him, danger? No…safe… "It's alright Prompto, we're here, you are both safe," a voice called to him, he knew it…Gladio.

"Noc…" he slurred, collapsing with an arm over Noctis' waist, his head on his chest. "Be…together…soo….."

Prompto's body went limp as the stasis spell activated, laying half over Noctis' unchanged, slumbering form.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Gladio watched as Prompto went still, eyes shut. He gently checked the spell work since it had been his, Iggy had done the transformation spell since he'd been reluctant to do that part of it. Something about what Ardyn had said, taking something from him, it felt…bad. He didn't think he'd be using those kinds of spells for a long time. He checked on Noctis too since it was his gift that had changed death to sleep, finding him unchanged. Soon, they would wake up and the nightmare would be over for good.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

He woke slowly, body heavy, mind sluggish. He could hear the very, very, slow but steady beat of a heart beneath his ear, too slow, able to count almost to a hundred between beats as his head cleared. He blinked slowly, seeing a dim room. He lifted his head and then it all rushed back and he tried to sit up only to feel someone helping, supporting him.

"There is no need to rush Prompto," Gladio murmured, and he relaxed, seeing Ignis approach, wand waving over him and then the fairy smiled at him.

"How do you feel?"

"A little…strange."

"According to magic, you aged three years during the stasis so that is not surprising. You look different, more grown up," he reached out and ruffled his hair. "I should do something with this mop or else Noctis won't recognise you."

"Will he? We only met the once and for such a short time," he looked down at where Noctis lay, unaware of them.

"He will," Gladio promised. "True love's kiss is a powerful thing."

"And it can wait, you were in stasis, not an enchanted sleep. Some food first, then a bath and clean clothing, we will need to alter something since you have grown some," Ignis announced and Prompto wanted to argue but almost doubled over as his stomach made its displeasure over being empty known, making Gladio laugh.

He ate slowly since he technically hadn't eaten in a very long time and then he had to be helped in the bath, Ignis trimming his hair for him and shaving off his rather full beard. It took one look for him to decide he would never intentionally grow one. They had been right; he felt a lot better once he was dressed in clean clothing and they slipped from the room to give him privacy to wake Noctis in.

He walked back to the bed and stared down at the sleeping Prince. He was exactly how Prompto remembered him, how Ardyn had promised. He reached out to caress a cool cheek and then sat on the edge of the bed, leaning over Noctis. "It's time to wake up my love," he whispered before pressing his lips to cold ones. He felt them warm beneath his and then part as Noctis took a breath and he pulled back, staring down into dark blue eye, gently stroking black hair.

Noctis smiled dreamily up at him. "I've been waiting so long," he whispered.

"We will never be parted again Noctis," Prompto promised, gently helping him sit up, holding him as the last of the enchantment slipped away.

"Prom?" Noctis whispered, sounding amazed, and he smiled at him.

"It's me," he promised, holding Noctis close. "You are safe now, Ardyn can never harm you again."

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Noctis felt a little confused but it was fading slowly. He just relaxed in Prom's arms, overjoyed to see him again. Prom was his true love…he had woken him. He remembered Ignis and Gladio explaining the curse and everything they had done to protect him but it had failed and he knew it was partially his own fault. He vaguely remembered a strange man, feeling dizzy and ill…then nothing until waking up with Prom leaning over him. But…how could he, Gladio had said he would sleep for a hundred years. "How long?"

"A little over one hundred years, they insisted on erring on the side of caution and acting after the date rather than risking being too early and then it not working since it would not be our first kiss," he explained and Noctis sat up, feeling normal. He turned to face Prom, taking in the changes. Their meeting felt almost dreamlike now, that whole day did, an effect of the curse maybe? "You look older but not over one hundred."

Prompto chuckled. "You can thank Ignis and Gladio for that. They put everyone to sleep, not just the kingdom but every kingdom. They saved me from Ardyn who captured me when I went to the cottage and then worked out a way to put me to sleep that would allow me to wake before you. The side effect was that it did not stop my aging, only slowed it. I am now about nineteen. Does that, bother you?"

Noctis shook his head, "no!"

"I'm glad," Prompto reached out and gently pushed a few strands of his hair back and Noctis blushed slightly. "I've missed you. When they told me who you were I was so worried, then they confirmed the curse had come to pass and I thought I'd never see you again."

"They told me I couldn't see you again, that I had to forget you because I was…am a Prince."

"True love and curse breaking trumps that but… I didn't tell you my full name when we met. It was nice, meeting someone who didn't know me and you were so nervous anyway."

"Prom?"

"Prince Prompto Argentum of Niflheim," he offered, bowing while still sitting, and Noctis' eyes went wide.

"You're a...and I'm a…oh. That is good, right? It means we can, well…"

Prompto smiled at him and then took his hand, kissing the back like he had in the forest. "I would like nothing more than to marry you," he told him, and Noctis grinned, glad he'd understood.

He nearly jumped at a noise from outside but Prompto just smiled and stood, offering him a hand. He took it and they walked to the balcony, seeing a city of people cheering.

"They are cheering for your return Noctis, they don't know they've slept for a hundred years."

"They do not even know me," he whispered, suddenly feeling very pressured but Prompto squeezed his hand gently.

"Come, we shouldn't keep your Father waiting," Prompto tucked his hand in through his own arm, guiding him out of the room he had slept in for so long.

His Father… he had no memories of him. Would he be happy to see him? Would he like him or be disappointed in him? He didn't even realise they'd stopped walking until he felt warm hands cradling his face.

"Shh Noct," Prompto whispered, and he leant into his touch. "It will be alright; your Father loves you."

Noct, he liked that. He nodded and took a deep breath. His Father had sent him away with Ignis and Gladio because it had been the only way to keep him safe, not because he was unwanted.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Regis covered his mouth as he yawned, had he nodded off? He looked around, seeing people looking a little sleepy. He glanced at the windows, seeing the last rays of sunlight fading and he gripped the arms of his Throne. He glanced to the side and frowned. "Cor? Are you alright?" he asked his Marshal who pushed to his feet, looking a little confused.

"I'm fine, I-"

He was cut off by trumpets and then the doors opened and two young men walked in. Regis' eyes locked on the younger immediately and he stood, walking swiftly down the room towards them. "Noctis, my son," he held his arms out and he saw his son staring at him with wide eyes before glancing at his companion who shocked Regis, was that Prince Prompto? And then his son was in his arms and he hugged him close, fighting tears.

They had done it Noctis was safe and finally home. He pulled back enough to look down at Noctis, smiling shakily. "You look so much like your Mother," he whispered.

"Father," his son whispered shyly. He glanced back at the blond who smiled softly back at him, the love between them clear. How had they even met and why had they arrived together?

"Are you going to hog our nephew Majesty?" Clarus teased, and Regis chuckled, reluctantly letting go so that Clarus could hug the teen and then Cor.

Music started and Regis could see his son was overwhelmed. He did not know where the fairies had taken him to grow up but he knew it had been secluded. Perhaps they should have thought this welcome through better, introduced him more gradually. Then he watched as Prince Prompto took his hand and drew him away from the lords and ladies, beginning to dance and it was like everything faded away for Noctis, all his attention on his partner. It had been like that for him when with Aulea, it seemed his son had also found his true love. He sat on the Throne and then spotted two familiar figures smiling and watching them dance. He hoped they would remain for a time to help Noctis adjust or at least visit.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Noctis stared up at the painting of his parents on their wedding day, feeling a hand come to rest on his shoulder. "She was so beautiful," he whispered.

"She was, she also loved you dearly. Losing you, broke her heart. We never thought we'd have another child, not when it took so long to be blessed with you, but when we learnt another was expected, your Mother could not wait for the two of you to meet. Your sister would have been eleven now."

"I think I would have liked a little sister. She would be a better Princess than I am a Prince."

"Noctis," he Father moved so that they were looking at each other. "I could not dream of a better son," he told him firmly. "Cor tells me Ignis has taught you well, all else will come with time and experience. I am not so old that you will inherit soon. It has only been a month since you woke, give yourself time."

He nodded slowly. He was glad Ignis and Gladio had been the ones to tell his Father that the curse had been enacted and what they had done to ensure they were all alive. According to Cor there had been some restrained yelling but also a lot of thanks and gratitude.

"Come, your Mother wrote you a letter every year on your birthday, reading them will be a way for you to know her."

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Prompto ignored his Father's shouting and left the room, returning to his rooms to pack. He was returning to Insomnia and his betrothed. He had hoped for his Father's blessing but…his sanity had been questionable for years and it was getting worse. It made him wonder just how much influence Ardyn had had over the Court. He was nineteen now, old enough to become King. He could challenge his Father's right to the Crown but to do so with no support? He could find himself assassinated rather swiftly so that some distant relative could claim the throne. He would speak with Ignis, the fairies would be able to tell if Ardyn had done something to his Father and maybe there was a way to fix it. If not then he would have to return after the wedding, with the support of King Regis' people. He did not want to do that, Noctis was only just getting to know his Father, separating them onto different continents would be cruel. Maybe he could split his time between them or something?

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Regis smiled as Prompto took Noctis' hands in his, reciting his vows and then Noctis gave his own. The whole Kingdom was celebrating though it was disappointing that there was no official Niflheim delegation. He had spoken with Prompto about the troubles and if the fairies could do nothing, he would give Prompto the support necessary to challenge his Father. The people needed a strong, sane King to recover from centuries under threat from Ardyn. He would hate being parted from his son so soon, but Noctis was not a child, he was now a married man. They could write and he knew Prompto would encourage many visits.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Noctis lay in his husbands arms, trying to sleep. He did not like this palace, it was…cold. Prompto had said they would change it, make it better. Tomorrow, Prompto would be crowned King and he was just glad his own Father was coming to the ceremony, even after only two weeks, he missed him. He hoped Ignis and Gladio would come as well, he was so used to seeing them every day that he still missed seeing them all of the time, even after almost a year of life as Prince Noctis and not Nox. He missed that life, it had been so simple and carefree but he also loved Prompto and his Father, Cor, Clarus…

He nearly jumped when he felt lips press to the back of his neck, "sleep love," Prompto murmured and he sighed, closing his eyes. He was right, tomorrow was going to be very busy.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Cheers rang out as Noctis and Prompto appeared, a small bundle in Noctis' arms. He held the small baby up for them to see, the first public appearance by Princess Aurora Argentum-Caelum. She had Prompto's golden hair but the darker blue eyes of Noctis. Later that day a banquet was held and two familiar fairies appeared to grant the Princess their gifts, a gifting that went perfectly, especially when compared to his own.

"Iggy," Noctis grinned an hour after the banquet had ended and the two joined them in their rooms, hugging his old guardian who hugged him back. Then he saw what Gladio was holding and his eyes went wide. Gladio lowered the bundle to show off the tiny baby within, he had Ignis' otherworldly green eyes but Gladio's darker hair colour. "What is his name?"

"Talcott."

"I'm so happy for you," and he was. They would be wonderful parents; they'd been great with him. And now they weren't the last of their kind. It was thanks to them they had their own baby girl too. They placed Talcott in the crib with Aurora so they could talk and Prompto chuckled when she latched onto the other baby. It was a pity fairies grew up much quicker than human children, otherwise they could be playmates, but Talcott would be an adult by the time she was six.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Ignis settled Talcott down and then flew over to where Gladio was lying in the grass. "You saw it too," he stated and Gladio nodded.

"They haven't aged at all but it has only been three years."

"For Prompto that could mean little change, but Noctis? A sixteen year old mortal male should have changed a fair amount in that time. They are so receptive to magic…too receptive. I half wonder if that was part of the reason for Ardyn's interest. How long until mortals notice and what will they do? Will they accept it as a consequence of our help? Will they cast them out?" he couldn't help fearing for the children.

"If they do, then they will always have a home with us," Gladio swore. "Try not to go borrowing trouble Iggy. We will watch and hope the people can accept it."

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Regis smiled and scooped his granddaughter up, making her laugh. He had been considering abdicating his Throne to the boys but now…whispers and rumours had reached his Court that had him concerned for their safety. Seeing them after almost a year, he could see what had started them. Despite being twenty-one, Noctis appeared the same as when he had woken from the curse, Prompto too appeared the same as he had then.

He could understand their wariness after so long living in Ardyn's shadow. He had hoped they would accept that the remaining fairies were nothing like him, but the last time Ignis had visited, he had admitted the people of Niflheim did not like their presence. There was nothing they could do to change people's minds except try to show them their fears were unfounded. His son was not unnatural!

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Noctis watched Aurora happily explore, feeling sad that they had taken her from the only home she'd ever known. At eight, she was smart enough to have realised something scary was happening but she'd bounced back quickly enough. After everything they had done for the kingdom, a mob had attacked the Palace and would have reached them if not for Talcott who had come to visit his honorary Uncles and cousin. He had half killed himself getting the three of them to safety but he was grateful for the fairy's actions. They had returned to Lucis where they were welcomed with open arms. They would wait a few years and see how the people accepted them after constant exposure and if it went well his Father would step down for them.

The other kingdoms were watching but so far were accepting the fact that they seemed to not be aging. Lucis had ended all alliances with Niflheim though over their treatment. It was sad but all three fairies thought that Ardyn's influence over the land was lingering with little they could do about it given the very anti-fairy attitude.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Ignis smiled as he watched Noctis and Prompto playing around and relaxing. Noctis had just turned one hundred and they were celebrating. They had been living in the forest with them ever since Aurora had become Queen, wanting to disappear from public life. They still visited their daughter who was proving longer lived than most but still mortal. She planned to step down in the next year or so for her own son. Living in a place that fairly hummed with magic was good for them, that much was obvious, a pity they lacked wings or the ability to use a wand.

He was glad they seemed immortal; he had not been looking forward to losing them one day and with their lessening ties to the mortals of the world, they would not have many more deaths to mourn themselves. For all the horrors Ardyn had brought, in the end, they had all truly found happiness and true love. What more could anyone wish for?

The End

See next chapter for Ardyn's version of a happy ending.

As for Aurora and Talcott, it's up to you if you want to imagine MPreg or the stork or Ignis magically growing the babies in the garden which given they're fairies may be a viable option. Magic was definitely involved in their births.