Chapter Two: Is That a Sword or Are You Happy to See Me?

Ignis took in another shuddering breath, holding his hands cupped like a priceless jewel laid between his fingers. If he so much as jostled his hand the wrong way, if he sneezed, if he so much as breathed the wrong way… something terrible could happen.

This was the worst moment of his life.

It wasn't as though Ignis's life had been without hardships; losing his parents at a young age, becoming the chamberlain and advisor to a lazy prince, falling in love with said lazy prince, watching that lazy prince become a man, only to be sworn to another…. All of that had hurt. Some of it, particularly the loss of his parents, had left scars that had never fully healed. The most recent of events had yet to even stop gushing red across his fingertips and yet…

"Noctis?" Ignis whispered against his close hands, hoping that his voice was not too loud. If Noctis was so small… if he really held the prince between his fingers…

Tap. Tap tap.

Ignis felt something gently pinching at his palm and Ignis felt his heart beat straight into his throat.

Oh, to the Six…

Ignis looked over his hands to Gladio and Prompto who both stood, shell-shocked and silent.

"Noctis?" he whispered one more time, a prayer to the heavens as he slowly opened his fingers. It took all the strength in him to not let his legs fold out from under him. Whatever the Imp had done, whatever magic or poison or spell it had used…

Noctis was only the size of his pinky finger, holding out one of his swords that he had clearly stabbed through the leather to hold on. Ignis didn't even mind the pinch when he took in too deep of a breath and Noctis's entire body shuddered forward like he were about to be sucked right up into Ignis's mouth.

Ignis was quick to force his mouth closed and point his nose down toward his chest, raising his hands closer to eye level.

Everything was small. His clothing, the filigree on the sword stuck like a pin to the leather of his glove, the spikes at the top of his head… even the little middle finger Noctis was waving at him as he screamed something Ignis could not hear. It was both the most endearing and terrifying thing he had ever seen in his entire life.

"Fuck."

Ignis looked up to Gladio, his face holding in as much terror as he possibly could. The last thing that Noctis needed was to see panic on Ignis's face; it would only worry him. Due to his current status as being the same size as a very small, very easily crushed insect, it was best for Noctis to not attempt to run off. It was best that Noctis didn't move...

"Oh my god, I almost squished him!" Prompto screamed as he grabbed at his face. He rushed toward Ignis only to be grabbed by the collar.

Ignis's hand was steadier than he had ever imagined possible as Gladio wrestled a sobbing Prompto to the ground.

"Is he okay? Did I kill him?"

"Iggy, is he okay?"

Ignis cupped his open hand at the bottom, unsure of what to do. He could see Noctis's terrified face and was very much thankful for his prescription glasses.

"He seems… well." Ignis could almost hear Noctis saying something, but it was too quiet. If it had been any other time, Ignis would have joked that not hearing Noct talk while angry would have been a blessing. Now it made his entire chest seize up. "If we do not count the fact that he is the size of… of…"

"He's a shr—imp!" Prompto sobbed, his voice hiccuping mid-way through the word.

Small Noctis let go of the sword and clapped his hands over his ears, his entire small face scrunched up in pain.

"Quiet!" Ignis harshly whispered. "His ears… by the Gods, we must sound like Behemoths to him."

This only made Prompto cry louder.

Ignis gently reached out one finger to Noctis's small head, gently petting the hairs back. He could see the scrunching of his tiny eyes smoothen out and slowly, ever so slowly, he opened his eyes yet again.

"There, there," Ignis whispered, hoping that his voice would not be too overwhelming to the tiny prince. "We'll… we'll figure this out. Gladio."

Gladio was busy pulling Prompto a distance away to calm down. The Shield's head darted up. "Yeah?" It was clear that Gladio was in as much of a fret as Prompto (and himself if he were honest to himself) but at least he was able to hide it behind the mask his father had long ago taught him.

"We need to get to a haven. We… there's no way to figure out what has occurred in here. I need you and Prompto to guide me out. One to the rear, the other to the front. I shan't be fighting."

"Obviously."

Ignis would have raised his hand to push up his glasses, but he had precious cargo… such precious cargo.

"Noctis, please take care to hold on. I will do my best to walk as slowly as possible."

He waited for small Noctis's nod before slowly bringing his hand down to his chest, holding the hand cupped against his heart. Ignis could only hope that the sound of his heartbeat would calm Noctis and that he would feel a little more comfortable…

If not…

How long would it take until Noctis was back in his normal body?

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