3 Days Later

Staying in the car for three days took a toll on both Rosalie and Rex. Luckily, the two runaways were very close to their destination.

"Good news is that we can finally have a good night's sleep, and be able to change our clothes," Rex said as looked into the rearview mirror at the former princess.

"Yeah, I can't wait to be out of this car," Rosalie said with an enormous sigh.

Rex's smile morphed into a frown as his eyebrows furrowed together. She hasn't been the same after the attack. He would be more surprised if she were okay. Rex hasn't seemed her smile once or look even remotely happy. He was hoping that her friends would be able to help her. Especially since her light had been so cruelly extinguished before her very eyes, maybe, just maybe Rosalie would be able to find a new one. Seeing the city grow closer he let out a small smile. They were nearing the wall that protected the fair city.

"Rosalie, Welcome back to Insomnia," Rex said softly.

Rosalie moved in her seat to look out the window. Her eyes held a spark, a spark of hope. It is the one thing she wouldn't allow herself to lose. Looking down at her hands, which were folded together in her lap. Opening her right hand revealed her father's ring. Holding it close to her chest, she willed herself not to cry as they drew closer to the Citadel.

Rex was able to notify Cor at the last outpost they stopped at for gas about the situation. Cor said he would tell the King and would want to meet with him as soon as they arrived. Rex also requested that Noctis, Gladiolus, and Ignis were there when they came to comfort the princess. Cor quickly agreed to let them know.

~Elsewhere~

Ignis quickly gathered his friends to meet at the Citadel once Cor told him about Rosalie. They had all assumed the worse when everyone heard about the attack in Lemuria and what befell of the King. People have concluded that the princess met the same fate.

When Ignis entered the room, where his friend's had gathered to meet before going to see the Princess. Two out of the three ran at Ignis and started asking him a series of questions.

"One at a time!" Ignis demanded.

"How is she? Is she hurt?" Noctis asked frantically.

"As far as I've been made aware she is perfectly fine."

"So, is she supposed to arrive soon?" Gladio questioned as he stared intently at Ignis.

"Yes. In fact, all of us should make out way outside to greet her." Ignis replied as he began to lead all of them to the front.

"Um, I have a question?" A young man with light blond hair and bright blue eyes asked as he fiddled with his camera.

"Yes, Prompto?" Ignis asked as he glanced back at him.

"Who is this 'She' you guys keep talking about?"

Gladio, Ignis, and Noctis looked at each other momentarily forgetting that Prompto hasn't met Rosalie yet. Gladio decided to speak up.

"Her name is former Princess Rosalie Chronis of Lemuria."

"Whoa! Really! A princess..." Prompto trailed off thinking for a moment.

"Wait, why is she a former princess?" Prompto questioned and then wondered why his friends had a grim look on their faces.

Prompto hated himself for not understanding what was going on. He hated the feeling of being left in the dark about situations that didn't pertain to him since he wasn't nobility like the others were. Prompto snapped out of his thoughts when Noctis spoke up.

"No worries Prom; you'll get to meet her soon enough."

"Whoa! You're kidding; I get to meet an actual princess!" Prompto yelled excitedly, making his friends smile. "This is gonna be so cool!"

Right as the four friends opened the doors leading outside, they see a black car with tinted windows pull up to the steps. The car's motor shut off and the driver got out of the car to stretch. Cor hurried past the boys and rushed down the stairs.

"Rex!" Cor called out as he reached the car. Rex turned around and smiled.

"Hey, Cor."

"We have to see King Regis. Now." Cor said with the sense of urgency in his voice.

"Of course," Rex said as he quickly followed Cor up the stairs pausing briefly to address the four boys.
"Do what you can to help her."

With those words, the boys nodded in agreement, even Prompto who didn't even know Rosalie yet. Noctis' head snapped in the direction of the car when he heard the door open. Rosalie stepped out of the car barefoot, her shoes in her hand. Rubbing her eyes from being in the dark interior of the car for so long. Suddenly she was knocked back, feeling arms wrapped around her frame. Rosalie saw a brief flash of messy black hair before her face pressed against someone's chest.

"I'm glad you're safe." Noctis murmured to her. Over the years Noctis, Ignis, and Gladio thought themselves as her brothers.

"Noctis?" She questioned before returning the hug. She couldn't hold it in anymore. Rosalie started to cry. Noctis held her tighter in response. The other two quickly walked down the steps, while Prompto slowly followed after feeling out of place.

Rosalie gently pulled away from Noctis to look at Ignis who a had put a hand on her shoulder. Looking up to meet his rustic green eyes with her purple eyes which were glistening with tears.

"Iggy." She said in a small voice as she jumped out of Noctis' arms and into Ignis'. Ignis smiled as he held her for a moment before pulling away to look at her face. Brushing her tears away before smiling as he handed her a handkerchief.

"Thanks, Iggy." She said while giving him a soft smile.

Gladio cleared his throat a bit to get her attention. He gave her a cocky smirk.

"Now, where's my hug?"

"Gladio!" She said happily as she ran into his arms. Being around her friends again made her momentarily forget about the events that happened a few days prior.

Once she pulled away from Gladio, she noticed the young man standing not too far away from them. He had a deserted look on his face. She knew that look all too well. Rosalie always felt that when she was little and when she was away from her friends. Noctis followed her gaze and smiled a bit.

"Let me introduce you to someone." He led her to Prompto who looked extremely nervous.

"Rosie, this is Prompto Argentum. Prompto, Rosalie Chronis."

"Please call me Rosie, it's nice to meet you." She said as she held out her hand as she gave him a small smile. Prompto returned her smile as gripped her hand and shook it excitedly. Rosalie couldn't help but giggle. He reminded her of an excited puppy.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Princess!" He yelled a bit too loudly as he bounced on the balls of his feet. Rosalie blushed a bit.

"Pleasure is all mine, but please call me Rosie." She asked softly.

Now it was Prompto's turn to blush; he was embarrassed because he thought he had just made a complete fool out of himself. He knew Noct didn't like to be treated like a prince. He had just blindly assumed that she was different.

"Oh! I am so sorry! I didn't mean to offend you!" He said, as he frantically tried to apologize.

Quickly he bowed to show how sorry he was for being a total screw up. He closed his eyes tight to wait for the harsh words that were bound to come his way. But instead, a pair of soft, warm hands gently grabbed hold of his shoulders, squeezing them softly. One hand left his shoulder and moved towards his chin lifting his head up, he was sure that he was looking at her, but he refused to open his eyes.

"Prompto. It's okay, you didn't offend me. P-please, just be yourself." She said in hushed tones as a blush spread its way onto her cheeks causing them to burn. Prompto snapped his eyes open to look at her's in surprise only to find them looking elsewhere in embarrassment.

"Shall we all head inside then?" Ignis inquired as he smirked at the awkward couple's exchange of words. Gladio nodded in agreement as he followed Ignis up the stairs.

Once all of them were inside, Rosalie sighed in relief to be around familiar surroundings and to the fact neither Noctis or Gladio teased her about becoming flustered earlier from talking with Prompto. Ignis was leading the way for their merry band of misfits, while the Future King and his Shield were chatting about food. Then there was Prompto and Rosalie who brought up the rear of the group. They walked in awkward silence, neither one knowing what to say to the other.

"Uh, how long have you known Noct?" Prompto inquired, silently praising himself for not turning into a stuttering tomato.

"Hm, since we were eight years old."

"Whoa! Really?!"

"Yeah," She said with a small smile. "When did you meet Noctis?"

"Oh," He turned bashful all of a sudden as he reached around to rub the back of his neck. "I knew him in middle school, but, uh, I didn't introduce myself to him until high school," Prompto admitted.

Rosalie was about to ask why but was interrupted by Ignis. "Here we are. And it looks like we are just in time for dinner."

"Awesome! I'm starving!" "Finally." "Yay! Food!" Chorused the other three men, making the only female of the group laugh at their antics as they made their way to the table.

Ignis and Noctis sat on one side of the table while Gladio, Rosalie, and Prompto sat on the other. Once the food was served Rosie laughed at the look of glee that was on the usually stoic prince's face It was his absolute favorite dish; 'Chips and Dish.' Which was basically nothing more than a plate of french fries. While they ate all of the boys decided to get her up to speed with what was happening.

"Whoa! You're getting married?!" She yelled in surprise as Noctis was rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.

"That was my reaction too," Prompto whispered rather loudly to her.

Rose reached over the table to whack Noctis on the back of his head. "We text each other every day! And you are only now telling me!"

"Sorry, it slipped my mind...Jeez did you have to hit me so hard?" She just glared at him in response to his question. Leaning back in her seat she crossed her arms over her chest as she fiddled with her father's ring that was on her thumb.

"Well, I hope you know I'm coming with you."

Noctis smirked. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

Just as Rosalie was about to reply Rex came into the dining room and asked her to go with him. Rosalie's bright smile vanished as the light left her eyes. She knew why she was needed. The four friends still sitting at the table didn't know what to say or do to make Rosalie feel better. Gladiolus quickly rose from his seat, causing the chair to screech in protest.

"Rosie!" He hollered towards her before she could leave the room. "Just so you know we will be staying the night, so we all can go together in the morning. When you're done, we will be in Noctis' old room."

Rosalie gave him a watery smile as she began to follow Rex quietly out of the chamber and into the hall, winding their way through the building before getting to the throne room. Once they reached the throne room, Rex pushed open the huge doors. As the doors began to open the hinges made loud groans of protest. As Rosalie crossed that threshold, she could feel the tension in the air causing her chest to tighten and her body to feel heavy. It was suffocating.

King Regis stared down at the young woman whom he has known since she was born. He felt nothing but sorrow for the loss that she has suffered, and guilt for what was about to come.

"Start at the beginning, my dear." He said softly as the heavy doors were closed behind her.