Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 12

Noct closed his eyes as Prompto ran his fingers through his hair, purring softly in pleasure. He turned to kiss Prom, getting a soft smile. "Love you," he could never say it enough.

"I love you too," Prom opened his arms, and Noctis curled up in his lap.

They had a home now, it was small and well hidden in the lowest levels of the city, but it was theirs. They had no income and so they were using the valuable they'd taken as sparingly as possible. Their main concern was ensuring they always had enough blood on hand. Gladio and Ignis were working on finding some kind of work, Noctis was only managing a human appearance for half an hour at a time so he couldn't, and none of them liked the idea of any of them being totally alone so Prompto stayed with him. Their apartment only had one bedroom but they all preferred that, they felt safer when they slept together.

They'd been in Insomnia almost a month now and he'd barely left their apartment. He knew it why and it wasn't just because he couldn't hold a human disguise but because even if he looked human he was far too recognisable. His picture had been plastered in the papers after the attack as a child and then when they went missing.

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Gladio ducked down an alley, hand clenching in a fist as he watched the familiar figure making a sweep. It was all his fault…he wanted to hate him but he was his Dad…no sign of Iris with him at least. It had been years, why couldn't he just give up and move on? Part of him wanted to approach, to make him face what his actions had caused.

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Ignis sprawled naked on the bed, Noctis curled into his side, head over his silent heart. He stroked his back gently, calming him down form their activities. He tipped Noct's head up, licking the blood from around his mouth, getting a laugh. The licking turned to tender kisses, not even stopping when Gladio and Prompto joined them on the bed, the four curling together as lethargy overtook them, the sun rising above the city that never truly slept.

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Noctis kept to the shadows as he moved through the city, alone. He knew the others would likely be upset but it was something he needed to do. They'd been home for a year now and he finally could pass as human most of the time which made going out a little safer. He knew where he was going, they'd made a yearly visit for as long as he could remember to visit her, not that he had any memory of her…of his mother.

The place still felt as creepy to him as it had when he was alive. It was silent as he moved through the graves, going back centuries. Generations of Lucis Caelum's, Amicitia's, even some Scientia's, were buried there. Staring at his own grave was a little strange but then he spotted the other three, Prompto had a stone in the graveyard used only by the elite…his Dad must have done that.

He ducked away as he heard a car pull up, and then the tap of a cane and the sound of shoes on the ground. they stopped…in front of his grave, and Noctis couldn't help peeking, biting his lip as he saw the bowed form, hair liberally streaked with grey now. He clenched his hands, fighting the urge to reveal himself, what good would it do? It would only hurt his Dad more to find out the truth.

He watched him slowly kneel at the grave, placing flowers on it, running a hand along the stone, and went to walk away only to freeze as something snapped under foot.

"Who's there?"

Noctis stood, frozen in place, blending with the shadows. It wasn't a public graveyard, Noct had only gotten in due to vampiric abilities, so no wonder he was demanding to know who was there. Only Clarus and Cor should have access now.

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Regis lay the bouquet on Noctis' grave, running a hand over the cold stone. No matter how many years passed, he would never stop loving and missing his son, both his children. He had so many regrets when it came to Noctis and Prompto. He froze as he heard a noise from close by…as if someone had stepped on a branch, hand slipping under his coat for the weapon concealed there.

"Who's there?" he demanded, standing up, peering into the shadows. The cemetery wasn't exactly well lit and he probably shouldn't have visited so late but he'd been so busy lately that he hadn't had the time to visit. He felt a slight…shiver in the air, something cold…like the grave. "Show yourself!"

He caught slight movement behind his great-grandfathers grave and turned to face it, grip on his cane and weapon firm. He felt…something else, cold yes, but with a hint of ozone…magic… but it couldn't be…could it?

"Noctis?" he called, seeing another shift, the figure backing away. "Noct, son…is that you?" he took a step forward and heard the slight shift of grass as someone retreated. Was he just sensing what he wanted? After so long, his son had to be dead…but that didn't mean he wasn't still around. "Please, let me see you."

He could feel the presence hesitate, and took his hand off the weapon, holding it out to the shadow instead. Ever so slowly a figure emerged from the shadows and into the very low light of the nearby lamp. His clothing was simple, dark colours blending in, but the face…the hair…all of it was exactly the way he remembered, exactly…

"Noctis," he felt tears in his eyes and he didn't care as he reached for his son.

"Dad," Noct finally spoke, voice a whisper.

Regis moved towards him but Noctis moved away in return. "Noctis don't leave, please. It's alright son, I can sense…" he couldn't say it, but at least Noctis had stopped. "Come here," he coaxed, something he'd never imagined having to do, Noct had always been so eager for a hug or hand on his shoulder, even as a teen.

Noctis shook his head, arms wrapped around himself. "I can't."

"You won't hurt me," Regis murmured. "You are my son, no matter what."

"Dad, I…I miss you," Noct whispered, looking torn.

Regis stepped towards him and Noctis remained frozen in place. He reached out and touched his face, feeling the cold of his skin, Noct flinching slightly. "Oh Noctis," he moved, wrapping his arms around his son, feeling Noctis crumple against him, hands clutching his jacket.

"Dad," Noct sobbed.

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He couldn't help it as he clung to his Dad, his Dad who hadn't turned him away, who was holding on just as tight. He knew but he'd still wanted to talk to him, said he was still his son. "Missed you so much," he choked out.

A hand moved to run through his hand and Noctis bit back a purr. "I've missed you too. I never gave up hope. What about the others?" his Dad asked quietly.

"Like…like me," he admitted. "Did you know…about Prom?"

"That you're in love?" his Dad asked, and he shook his head.

"He…he's an MT…or was."

"What?" His Dad pulled back enough to look at him. "What do you mean?"

Noctis hesitated and then heard someone coming.

"Regis!"

He went to pull away, to hide, but his Dad wouldn't let go.

"It's just Cor."

Noctis shook his head, no, he couldn't…

"Regis, what…Noctis?"

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Prompto frowned as he followed Noct's trail, where was he going? He felt horrible when he spotted the cemetery up ahead but then he heard voices… familiar voices. He leapt onto the wall to see Regis holding Noctis with Cor approaching. He tensed, ready to intervene, he wouldn't let them hurt Noct!

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Cor went to get Regis, not wanting him out alone at night, only to see him holding someone. "Regis, what…" and then he got a look at the person he was keeping still. "Noctis?" it couldn't be, could it? And yet the boy looked precisely how he was in the last photos they had of him. Which wasn't possible given the years since then, even if he was still…alive. Oh. Oh no, not Noctis.

Blue eyes met his hesitantly, the boy looked totally human, but he couldn't be. Cor moved closer, seeing Noctis tense, tugging at the hand on his arm but not yanking free of Regis' hold. He seemed to slump a bit, before straightening. "Hi Cor," he greeted softly.

"Is it really you?" Cor wasn't sure what to believe.

Noctis nodded, scuffing a shoe on the ground.

"Where have you been?" he demanded.

"Tenebrae," Noct answered softly.

Cor's heart sank, homeland of the vampire clans, then it was true. "Noctis…"

"We came home, been here for months now. She…she's dead, I killed her."

"Her?" Cor pressed, and Noctis seemed to shrink in on himself.

"Lunafreya Nox Fleuret…our Sire. She took as for revenge against Uncle Clarus for killing her family. She left him alive because of Iris but then she said she was going after them. She's just a kid…couldn't let her."

"You killed your own Sire?" Cor's eyes went wide, he'd never heard of that happening.

"Mate," Noctis grimaced, looking ill. "It…it hurt me," he shrugged slightly. "The others say I couldn't talk or even understand anything but it's come back, I'm okay now."

"Were you ever going to tell us?" Regis asked, and Noctis flinched, shaking his head.

"Didn't think you'd…Uncle Clarus…"

"Clarus doesn't think for us," Cor told him.

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Could they really accept them? Prompto hesitated but then leapt from the wall, and Noct turned, relaxing and smiling when he saw him.

"Prom," Noctis shifted away from his Dad, and Prompto was quickly at his side, taking his hand. Noctis leant into his side, and Prompto let go of his hand to wrap his arm around his waist.

"Prompto," Cor was staring at him, a mix of relief and sadness in his eyes.

"Hi Cor."

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Regis took a seat, glancing around the tiny apartment the four were sharing, ignoring the sight of only one bed. It had taken several weeks for them to feel secure enough to allow him into their home, and he didn't blame them. The thought of the four of them crammed into the place, in the worst section of the city…but maybe they liked it? He could feel the other vampires in the area, maybe they felt at home among their own kind?

It was heartening and yet also saddening, the way Gladio and Ignis made sure to keep themselves between the younger boys and himself and Cor. Then again, everything he'd heard, it wasn't surprising they were protective. Prompto had lost himself almost forever to what Cor had saved him from as a child and Noctis had ended up her main focus only to lose his mind after killing her. But he would never harm any of them, especially his own son. He wanted to offer them rooms in the family home, but that would bring them closer to Clarus and who knew how he would react.

"It's not much," Ignis murmured.

"But it's home?" he offered, smiling gently at the boys. Which was another reason he didn't offer, they may still look so young, but they were adults and obviously wanted to take care of themselves. He picked up the bag he'd brought and passed it to Ignis. "I packed up some of your things I thought you might like. If there's something else I can bring it, or you can come pick it up," he explained to Noctis and Prompto. He'd kept the stuffed toy though; it had become a comfort over the years.

Ignis passed the bag to Noctis who opened it, eyes widening as he saw his and Prompto's belongings within, the things Regis knew meant something to them.

"Thanks," Prompto whispered shakily, picking up his old camera, eyes lighting up when it turned on to show his photos.

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Noctis was in the middle of the pile, Gladio's arms around him as Ignis stroked his face. Prom was beside Ignis, a hand on Noct's hip. It still felt like a dream to have his Dad back in his life, to be accepted and loved. Prom had Cor back too, more than back really, the man talking to him about how he'd come to Insomnia, everything he'd never told him before. They all knew Gladio missed Iris, but it was too dangerous to approach her, not when she'd been trained to hunt and kill their kind. They all hated to imagine how it had changed her from the bright child she'd been.

It was stressful, being around Regis and Cor, but it was a stress they were all willing to put up with, to have that link back to their humanity. It helped they'd had months in the city to get used to being surrounded by the temptation of so many humans. They hadn't fed from a living person since coming to the city a year ago, none of them willing to risk killing someone, and not just because of Clarus.

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Prompto held Noct's hand as they sat on his bed. He'd never thought they'd see the room again and yet there they were. Seeing how Regis had moved his things in…giving his permission even when he thought he'd never see them again, it felt nice. They'd only risked visiting the house because Clarus was out of the city. It felt so strange being there, like it had been a whole different life, and it was really. They weren't the same people they'd been back then but they were still themselves.

Being back made the holes in his own memory so much more obvious. He knew Regis didn't mean to let him see the pity when something would be mentioned and Prompto didn't remember the event or person at all. None of the others ever pitied him, they all had memory issues when it came to their human lives, his were just the most pronounced due to the MT programming. Honestly, he knew he was very lucky to remember as much as he did, to be a person again.

He blinked as Noct kissed him but then smiled and lay back, cuddling with him on the bed they'd often shared, even if he'd always snuck in to do so. Then again, he figured Regis had known and turned a blind eye since they never did anything inappropriate.

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Clarus observed Regis from a distance, something had changed over the last year. He was….no longer bowed down by grief. Had he finally accepted the deaths of their children and the other two boys? Was he finally moving on with his life? If so, then he was happy for him. Regis had clung to false hope for far too long and that had been dangerous. What if they had been turned or made into slaves by other creatures and then sent after him? Regis would have accepted them back only to receive a knife to the back.

He knew Regis and Cor still blamed him and yes, he'd let arrogance blind him, but it wasn't his fault that Ignis had been taken in the first place. And he was doing his part to ensure no more casualties, he'd gone back to hunting after all and trained Iris in her brother's place. She was good, nowhere near Gladio's level but still very good especially considering how much later she'd started training. She had loved her brother and had been crushing on Noctis, she would never look on a creature with pity because of their deaths.

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Ignis grinned as he pressed closer to Gladio, moving with the beat of the music. They knew all the clubs and bars where it was safe for them to go and mingle. They'd been accepted by the others who lived beneath the surface of the city once it became clear they just wanted to live their lives. Most had guessed their old identities but no one made a fuss about it, leaving them alone. And no one had shown up looking for them in response to Her death either, so they assumed burning the place down had hidden their survival.

Gladio grinned at him, hands on his waist, pulling him in for a kiss.

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Noctis paused, straining his senses, he thought he'd heard…there! He ducked down the alley, leaping onto a balcony, making his way via the tiny ledges until he found the source of the gasping noise. A body was sprawled on the ground, mostly hidden from sight, a growing pool of blood beneath them. He checked but there was no one else around so he dropped down to check on the human, freezing in shock as he recognised it…her. "Iris," he whispered, glassy brown eyes fluttering open in response.

He studied her injuries and grimaced, torn. In the end, he couldn't just leave her there to die. He'd killed his own Sire to save her after all. He scooped her up as gently as he could, feeling her try to struggle. "Shh Iris, it's me, it's Noctis. I'm going to get you help," he soothed.

He felt her go limp and took off for his Dad's as fast as he could, it wasn't like they kept a first aid kit or anything. He wasn't sure about taking her to a hospital, didn't want to be linked to whatever had gotten her. He banged on the door and it opened to reveal Cor whose eyes went wide in shock.

"Found her in an alley," Noctis held her out to him. "It's Iris, isn't she?" he asked, and Cor nodded.

"You're covered in blood, clean up and change. Regis!"

Noctis slipped inside and went to do just that before joining them, watching the two men work to at least staunch the bleeding. "I can hear sirens," he told them after a while, hiding as the ambulance arrived to take her away. He couldn't risk being seen and word getting out that he was in the city. He felt a flash of jealousy as his Dad went with her but smothered it, vampires felt things more strongly than humans, he knew he had to keep in control of things. And she needed someone with her, his Dad was the best option.

"What happened?" Cor asked once they were alone.

"I don't know. If I hadn't decided to take a shortcut I never would have heard her…" and she would have died. "There was a scent on her wounds, but I didn't recognise it," he finished.

Cor nodded and drew him into a brief hug. "You'll never make it home before dawn, call the others, you'll have to bed down in the basement. I'll set something up."

Noctis nodded, he knew the sun would be up soon. He made the call, Ignis having to take the phone from a panicking Prompto before Noctis could assure them that he was safe. When he made it to the basement he was already yawning, but then Cor was steadying him, leading him to the back corner where a camp bed had been set up. He got his shoes off and curled up, struggling to keep his eyes open. He felt a hand gently run through his hair as his human façade faded, not smelling any fear at seeing what he truly looked like.

"Sleep well Noct," Cor murmured, and Noctis slipped into sleep.

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Cor studied Noctis as he slept, brushing long strands of hair away from his pale face. He looked dead and it was hard to see, but he was still Noctis, even with the changes. For two years the boys had been living secretly in the city with no issues and Noctis had risked it all to save Iris. He'd changed, they all had, but that was part of growing older, even if they were physically frozen in time. Seeing them, it was impossible to believe being a vampire made you evil, Clarus was very wrong there.

He headed upstairs, locking the basement to ensure Noctis' safety while he slept.

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Prompto ran his hands over Noctis, checking for injuries, reassuring himself that he was alright. He'd risked a lot to save Iris, twice now. He wasn't jealous, Noct had never seen her that way. Besides, she would never want to be with a vampire. Noct smiled at him and he leant down to kiss him.

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She had almost approached Uncle Regis but that would have been cruel when he seemed to be handling things so much better the last few years, so she'd gone to Cor instead. Surely she had imagined hearing Noctis and yet the idea wouldn't leave her alone. Now she was sitting in the library because Cor had said she needed to see someone. It had been six months since the attack and she was mostly recovered. Her Dad had freaked out a bit but he was compensating by spending more time with her beyond training which was nice.

She looked up as the door opened and Cor stepped inside, someone behind him. He moved to the side and she froze, eyes wide as she took him in. "Noct?"

"You look a lot better than the last time I saw you, Iris," he answered, smiling slightly.

It was impossible…

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Gladio stood across from his little sister who now looked almost the same age as him. He didn't blame her for feeling wary but that didn't stop it from hurting. Noct had saved her life after all, as if he'd do that only for them to then hurt her. "Iris," he called her name, and she swallowed, tears welling in her eyes. "It's okay kiddo," he tried to sooth her, wanting to reach out.

"Gladdy?"

He nodded and she took a hesitant step. "I'd never hurt you Iris," he swore. "You're my sister and I love you."

She sobbed and then she was in his arms, Gladio holding on tight, but not too tight. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head as she clung to him.

"I've missed you," he whispered.

"Does Dad…"

"Yeah, that'd go well," he snorted.

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Prompto looked down at Noctis, able to tell he was nervous, but so was he. They'd carefully been asking around the older vampires and it turned out it was possible to mate again if one died and the other survived. But no one knew if it would work when said mate had been the one to kill the other. Noctis had healed from the damage that had caused, at least as far as they could tell, but what if it had left other injuries that weren't visible?

"Love you," Noctis smiled at him.

Prom couldn't help smiling back, leaning in to kiss him. "Love you."

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Regis smiled as he leant back in his chair, just enjoying having his family at home. Noctis and Prompto were sprawled together on a couch, Noctis lying against Prompto, the blond gently stroking his long hair. It had taken time to get used to seeing them in their true forms, but it was unfair to make them always pretend to be human for his own comfort. Gladio was sitting opposite Iris, playing chess, while Ignis was actually sprawled on the floor at his feet, reading a book. He met Cor's eyes, seeing how content he was to have the children there.

Clarus still had no clue and Iris was spending a lot less time around him, preferring their company. Gladio even helped her train, worried about her getting hurt again, he'd even gone with her to hunt since her targets were those who were hurting the innocent. He didn't know what would happen if the man ever learnt the truth, but he would not allow his old friend to harm the children, and neither would Cor.

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Noctis sat beside his Dad, curling into his side, seeing the signs and he hated it. His Dad…was old. How many more years did he have? "Dad?"

"Yes Noct?"

He hesitated, he didn't want to upset him, and…it'd hurt if he just said no.

"Noctis? Is something wrong?"

"I don't want you to die," he whispered.

"Oh Noctis," his Dad hugged him. "Every child should outlive their parents."

"But it's different," he shook his head. "You…you don't have to die."

"What do you…" his Dad trailed off, shifting to look at him.

"Don't answer," he looked away. "I uh, need to get home." He left before he could say anything.

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Gladio heard the yelling and frowned before looking at Iris.

"What?" she asked.

"Dad," he answered, and she grimaced. And then he swore as he realised what he was saying. "He knows…" he took off running, hearing Iris behind him.

Gladio opened the door to find his Dad, looking so old now, standing opposite Regis and Cor, yelling at them for being idiots. "Dad stop!" he yelled, and Clarus froze before turning to face him, blade in hand.

"Don't you dare call me that," he snarled, "my son is dead."

Despite knowing for years…it hurt to have him say it to his face. Gladio took a deep breath even as Iris moved up beside him, her head held high.

"Iris," Clarus snapped.

"No Dad. I refuse to be a self-absorbed, bitter, bigot," she told him firmly, and Gladio was so proud of her. "Gladio is still Gladio. Noctis is the one that saved me five years ago in that alley, not Uncle Regis. They all help me train, Gladio's even gone on hunts with me. They aren't monsters and they don't hurt people."

His Dad turned to him and Gladio braced himself, seeing the rage in his eyes. For an old man, he was fast but not as fast as him, and Gladio twisted out of the way of the blow, grabbing his wrist, squeezing just enough to force him to let go of the weapon, Iris snatching it up. And then he grunted in pain, feeling it burn. He staggered back to see another blade in Clarus' other hand.

"No!" Iris screamed.

His Dad drew the blade back again but there was a sharp sound and he collapsed, revealing Cor with a gun in his hand.

Gladio fell to his knees, hearing Regis on the phone. Iris knelt beside him, pushing his hands away to look at the wound. He was dead…Dad was dead… Gladio coughed, tasting his own 'blood'. Then Cor was there, supporting him.

Iris cupped his face in her hands, eyes scared. "Gladio you need to feed," she told him.

He nodded, they kept supplies at the house…but she didn't go to get them. She drew a knife and cut into her arm. "No…" he slurred.

"Shh, it's okay, you won't hurt me. Fresh human blood is best for healing," she stated firmly, pressing the wound to his mouth and he tried not to but he found his lips sealing over it, drinking.

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Iris watched the coffin as it was lowered into the ground. She felt…numb. He'd tried to kill Gladio, would have succeeded if Cor hadn't acted, if she hadn't given him her blood. Gladio was still weak thanks to the poison on the blade but he'd be okay eventually. It was hard to remember how their Dad had been when she was little, when he played with her and laughed. When he'd slap Gladio on the shoulder or tease him about Ignis. She missed that version of her Dad, not the man he'd become. Noctis had saved her in more than one way that day because it had helped her see the truth, had saved her from becoming like her Dad.

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Aranea watched the group of vampires, hiding easily from the much younger ones. She hadn't been looking for them but now that she had found them, she just watched. Perhaps young Noctis hadn't killed Luna considering he was speaking softly with a man who looked physically older but also enough like him that it had to be Regis…had the boy turned his own Father? Or had one of the others done it for him? There was a girl with them too, she looked like Gladio so likely his sister, and the youngest of the group. And finally there was another man, blond like Prompto, but she didn't think they were related. Hadn't Regis had several close friends…Leonis, despite the peace he'd been feared by Niflheim. She wondered if the family members had been willing but it was none of her business.

It had been a hundred years since her friend had died. Her children were happily mated, though they still missed their parents. It would do no good telling them their Father's still lived; it would only hurt them. And going after them for revenge would only continue a viscous cycle she wanted no part in.

She slipped away silently, time to head home, her business in Insomnia was concluded and there was no reason to linger.

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Ignis smiled as he leant against his mate, just basking in the happiness of their small clan. Noctis had taken back his birth name after She had been killed. They were the Lucis Caelum clan, even if only two members bore that name by birth. He'd been honestly shocked when both Regis and Cor agreed to being turned, but glad for Noctis' sake. Thankfully, the process had reversed their ages so that they while they were still physically the oldest, they only appeared in their late twenties, maybe early thirties. Iris had made it clear that she was not being left behind either and Ignis had turned her when she hit twenty-three and had nearly died, again.

They lived in the Lucis Caelum home and no one had bothered them about it. The line of Kings had truly ended, unless they one day purchased an MT but if they did it would have to be soon. It had taken until recently for the information they had passed on to finally cause enough issues for Niflheim to stop 'production'. There would be no more children born like Prompto. There was even talk of trying to help the younger ones become their own people. He hoped they succeeded.

Despite everything that had happened, they had their family, had a home, and they were happy. What more could they want?

The End.