Noctis walked through the sylla blossoms and there was Luna as she was when he'd first met her. He looked down at himself and he was as he'd been when they'd met as well.
"What happened?"
"I do not know. I had thought this would be my goodbye but fate changed," Luna said, "It is someone else's."
"Who?" Noctis then noticed it was Ravus. Not the angry man he'd run into or the man who'd taken a blow for Luna, but Ravus as he should have been, whole and unbroken in body and mind.
"I knew what destiny had planned for my sister, and I decided I would defy it. My first defiance cost me my arm, and this defiance cost me my life. Don't feel like you owe me anything, Noctis. I did this solely for Luna and not for you. I still think you are unworthy of the power of kings and you will never be good enough for Luna. Prove me wrong."
"I promise," Noctis said. The landscape changed and he and Luna were adults once more watching Ravus fade away in a flurry of gray ashes.
Noctis woke up feeling like he'd been run over by a train. Oh wait, that was actually a sort of accurate description of what getting his ass handed to him by Leviathan felt like.
"Take it easy, Noct," it was Ignis. He had a bandage over an eye. What? "Don't worry about this. I still have the other one and I might get the sight back in this eye in time."
"Luna?" Noctis asked. His voice was raspy and didn't sound right.
"She will recover in time. Her brother's passing has hit her rather hard. Rest now. Your body still needs to recover from all the stresses it's been through." Noctis couldn't fight his eyelids and slipped back under.
The next he awoke he took in the room a bit more. It was far nicer than his room at the Leville. Much bigger. Fit for royalty or something like Luna's room at the First Secretary's Estate. That must be where they were. He pushed himself up ignoring how sore he was and that's when he realized something else was wrong. The room was big, but it seemed even bigger. Oh no. He held up his hands and his fears were confirmed. He'd been cursed again. How? That dark energy! How had Ardyn done that? It was then that he noticed a blonde head was on his bed leaning forwards from a nearby chair. The hair was too long and orderly to be Prompto's hair. Who? Noctis leaned forwards and gasped. Luna? She stirred and looked up at Noctis with a smile. Luna looked like she was twelve again.
"We're kids?" Noctis said.
"I don't know why Ardyn wished to do this, but even my own powers can't break through the enchantment this time," Luna said. Noctis nodded before he pulled her into a hug.
"I'm just so happy you're alright!" she hugged him back and they were both crying soon. Luna kept crying and Noctis just let her. After all, she'd lost her only remaining family. He could empathize.
"They're awake! Hey! We've got some food—are you two alright?" it was Prompto.
"I think we'll be fine," Luna said once they broke apart and wiped the tears away.
"Ignis did his best to replicate those tarts Noctis mentioned from when you were little," Prompto said placing a tray down on the bed. They reached for them and took a bite and nodded.
"These are exactly like them," Luna said with a smile after she'd finished her first bite. Noctis, mouth full, nodded. Prompto picked one up and took a bite.
"These are pretty good!"
"Prompto, I never thanked you," Luna said.
"Ah, you don't have to," Prompto said with a blush. Noctis knew he'd missed something but the pair didn't look like they were telling. He probably didn't need to know. Besides, there were tarts and other matters to figure out. Such as how to break this curse now. He and Luna being like this was definitely not something good for the prophecy.
"The people are going to want to see them," Secretary Claustra said over tea. Ignis sat across from her taking a drink of his tea and placing the cup down as carefully as possible in spite of his altered depth perception.
"I am aware of that, but how would we explain the fact that the Oracle and the King of Lucis have been turned into children?" Ignis said.
"I'm sure you can think of something," Secretary Claustra said, "Why not tell a version of the truth. Wasn't the reason for the previous cursed state of your King due to a daemon's spell?"
"It was indeed. There were two other cases. How would we explain the fact there are a few witnesses who saw Noctis as his proper adult self?"
"I suppose you could just blame the daemon that damaged your eye," Secretary Claustra.
"I presume should I look at the papers, you've already put forth a statement to that effect," Ignis said staring at her with his good eye.
"I can't pretend to know what the press will say," Secretary Claustra said before she sipped her tea again.
"I will discuss this with His Majesty. Would I be able to procure a copy of the most recent paper?"
"Of course." The Secretary motioned to a paper laying on the corner of her desk. Ignis stood up and inclined his head before carefully taking the paper and making his way out of the room.
"We were terrified you two would wake up thinking you were kids again. We already went through that once with Noct, and weren't looking forwards having two kids like that," Prompto said.
"Once?" Luna said. Noctis looked at Prompto.
"Thanks, Prompto. The first time I was cursed, I reverted to being eight years old completely, and had no memories after leaving Tenebrae," Noctis said, "I was scared until I'd accidentally summoned Carbuncle and he helped me."
"He seems like a good friend," Luna said. Noctis nodded.
"We have a situation," Ignis said entering the room and shattering the moment. He tossed the paper at the bed next to the tray while he clumsily took a remaining tart for himself to eat. Noctis scooted closer to Luna and found the story that had prompted Ignis's semi-dramatic entrance.
"Prophecy of the King of Light Real?" They looked up and shared a quick glance up at Prompto who had been given his own copy of the paper by Gladio, who'd just entered.
As the Oracle, Tenebrae's own Lady Lunafreya, performed a rite and woke a goddess from her slumber, Altissia's citizens were evacuated for their safety, but this reporter refused to leave and stayed to witness the event of a lifetime. Imperial troops descended from on high but a curious phenomenon began to happen not far from where I watched. The troops were being dispatched by someone. Dozens of troopers charged this lone warrior and onwards he moved. Then, with a brilliant burst of blue magic, he disappeared from one place and reappeared in another. It was Prince Noctis of Lucis! The rumors of his survival had been confirmed after all. I dared not get closer and used my binoculars to observe the Prince's progress through the city towards the bay where Leviathan had appeared in all her glory. Despite the Imperial interference, the Prince managed to make his way towards to the Leviathan. As I watched, I was confused by this, but he dared to engage with the Hydraean. For a brief moment, it appeared the Prince had picked a fight he couldn't win, but with a flash of golden light, he was back and glowing with an ethereal blue light. With this amazing power, he drove Leviathan back and he was winning. Once he'd landed a devastating blow to her, I lost sight of him. The Tide Mother seemed to rearing for an attack whenever a massive figure appeared in the waters and created stone barriers blocking the waters from washing our fair city away. I knew I had to know more about what it was I'd just witnessed. With relief and repair efforts underway, I made my way to the library and found a copy of the Cosmology and I was rewarded for my diligence. The Oracle only engages in these rites on behalf the King of Kings mentioned in the prophecy of the Stone. With his impressive powers and connection to the only remaining Crystal in all of Eos, I can only conclude one thing: Prince Noctis is the Chosen King of Light. I know there are many who will call me blasphemer but I can find no other explanation for these fantastical sights I witnessed. The King of Light walks among us, and we shall all be saved from the Darkness that threatens the Light by the grace of the Six and their Champion.
"So, people have figured it out, big deal!" Prompto said.
"Big deal? One of our greatest assets before was people thinking Noct was dead and people not knowing much about what it was we were doing. Now, the world knows Noctis is alive and knows of the prophecy's impending fulfillment!" Ignis said.
"It's worse than that, Prompto," Noctis said scanning further down, "…In light of the absence of any public appearances on the part of the Oracle and the King of Lucis, people have begun to speculate of the pair's survival. The Accordo Protectorate issued a statement affirming the well being of the Oracle and the King of Lucis, but then went on to state: "At this time King Noctis and Lady Lunafreya are recovering from the effects on the part of a daemon that attacked the weakened pair at the close of the rite with the Hydraean. Such effects were previously unknown until a pair of Hunters in Lucis had previously succumbed to the affliction."
"So?" Prompto said.
"The next article details the "Fountain of Youth" curse of Lucis and the pair of Hunters affected by it," Ignis said.
"Meaning, smart people will be connecting the dots," Gladio said.
"That could really suck," Prompto said.
"You think?" Noctis said crossing his arms.
"Noctis," Luna said. Noctis looked down. "I suppose we will have to trust the people as we try to find a way to over come this spell."
"What if they demand an appearance of you two while you're like this and the Nif's return?" Gladio said.
"I am certain we will be alright," Luna said placing a hand on Noctis's arm. He relaxed grabbed her hand. There was a faint blush on his cheeks. Luna smiled and entwined her fingers into Noctis's.
Luna and Noctis had changed into less conspicuous outfits, and Noctis had to forego spiking his hair. They were smuggled out a back exit and soon were out on the streets with Prompto trailing behind them. This wasn't exactly how Noctis had envisioned reuniting with Luna after all these years but life can be like that sometimes.
"It's so beautiful here," Luna said. Noctis nodded.
"It is," he forced himself to say.
"Ah, the most romantic city in the world!" Prompto said.
"And you're babysitting us," Noctis said.
"Being your wingman isn't too bad, eh, Noct?" Prompto said messing with Noctis's hair.
"Can we go on a gondola ride?" Luna asked.
"Sure!" Prompto said. Prompto took a few photos whenever he stopped and stood in front of Noctis and Luna.
"I think people are taking pictures of you two," Prompto said as he helped them into the boat.
"They were taking pictures of all the little kids who were dressed like us or have the same coloring," Noctis said.
"It's not very likely than any of them would have access to Noctis or my's pictures from when we were children," Luna said.
"Fair enough," Prompto said, "It's just not right."
"You dealt with the paparazzi well enough when we were hanging out in high school," Noctis said.
"That's because most of them seemed to be in a state of constant disbelief that you weren't in any of the rich sectors of the Crown City," Prompto said.
"Where are we off to today?" the gondolier said.
"The arena," Prompto said, "There's supposed to be a special match going on today."
"Indeed there is! Humans have signed up to fight the monsters," the gondolier said.
"Really?" Noctis said.
"Indeed."
MP:Sorry it's late. Life and all.
Also, I figured if the Prophecy of the Stone is IN the Cosmogony, it's not a secret. It just looks like it couldn't possibly happen. Until it does.
Also, for those of you who guessed it, Ravus DID heal Luna with his sacrifice.
Finally, since I saved Luna's life I also saved one of Ignis's beautiful eyes cause I could!