Chapter 13: New World
The next morning Ardyn was gone. Amy frowned knowing he must not have slept at all and waited for her to fall into a deep slumber before leaving her for what he thought was the last time. She sighed and dressed in her fighting gear before grabbing Kyoko. She unlocked the box laying on her table to reveal a small necklace that had glowing, red and black jewels with an easy to open clasp. This was her only hope of saving both Ardyn and Noctis. Amy placed that in her bag along with the mega-phoenix that she had kept since before she went into hiding. She came down to find Luna and Ravus having breakfast with Jessabelle.
"Where's daddy?" she asked innocently.
"He's… gone on a hunt super early." She lied. "Ravus, I'm going out on a hunt. I haven't gone in so long I need a fix. May I use the sword Ardyn gave to you?"
"Where exactly are you going with it?" He asked suspiciously. He knew that a holy sword could only be used for one thing. Daemons.
"Out. I just need… you to take care of her ok? Please… I need to do this." She insisted.
Ravus sighed. "I would rather go with you."
She looked up at him shocked. He wanted to go? Well if anything, he could be a lot of help when it came to the daemons… "Go with me? You don't even know where I'm going!"
"I know what this sword is used for and I'd rather you take me with you for whatever mission your insisting on doing. You don't want to get yourself killed, do you?" he huffed.
Amy was shocked, but smiled. "Well Ravy, you really do care about me, don't you?" He tensed but looked away.
"Would you rather me not?" he spat.
"No, I'm flattered more than anything. I think it would be a good idea if you came with me to be honest… It will make my plans go smoother."
He nodded and put his coat from the Empire back on. She placed her own fighting jacket on and pulled her daughter in for a hug.
"Be good for auntie Luna alright?" she told her kissing her forehead.
"I will Mommy!" she exclaimed as her mother let go of her. She hugged Luna tightly before she left with Ravus through the woods and past the barrier into the streets of Insomnia. They fought their way through the strong daemons for what seemed like hours until they heard the clangs of the fight between Noctis and Ardyn.
Amy stood staring at the two Kings' warping through the skies. Her heart was aching at the dread she felt. In order for her to attempt this idea she had to witness both of their deaths.
"Not going to interfere?" Ravus asked.
"No… I…I can't." She shuddered. She went through this in her head so many times that she hoped she would be calm but watching the love of her life being defeated by Noctis in person was more than she could handle. A tear escaped her eye that she batted away trying to even out her breathing. Soon, she saw her cue. As she saw him fall to the ground she grabbed the necklace from her bag and ran to the site with Ravus following in case daemons were to come out of nowhere.
"A…Amy?" Noctis asked confused when she ran up and knelt at his side.
"What…are you doing here?" Ardyn asked softly with his hand lifting to her face. "Surely you do not wish to watch me as I fade…"
"No…" She whispered as she placed the necklace around his neck. Almost immediately, the parts of him that were fading into the atmosphere stopped. Instead his body was going to stay where he was. "I…I can't let you… you deserve… a funeral." She whispered softly with tears. She kissed his hand and placed it down.
Noctis was still in shock but nodded understanding how much he meant to him. He had no ideal of why but he said his goodbyes. "Now, you fill finally know peace." He told the dying daemon. "Close your eyes, forevermore."
"I will await you in the beyond…" Ardyn replied averting his eyes from Amy and staring right at the young king.
Amy couldn't hold back her tears. Watching the life leave his eyes but his body remain was too much for her. This is the only way to save him. She told herself.
"How… I thought you were dead…" Noctis asked her softly.
"No, I was hiding… that's all." She sniffed. "Ravus, can you carry him to a place where he can be safe from the daemons?"
"Right… of course." He nodded. "I'm not sure how you stopped his body from deteriorating… daemons disappear."
"It's… part of my plan…" Was all she said standing up as the boys came out from the Citadel.
"Amy!" Prompto exclaimed running over. "What… where were you?"
"I… I was hiding with my daughter… Ardyn… told Ravus to protect us." She explained.
"We all thought you were dead!" Gladio yelled hugging her causing her to stiffen. She still felt so guilty for what she did to Ignis.
"We were extremely worried." Ignis said with a comforting smile.
"Ig…Ignis… you…"
"Do not worry about it Amy, you did not have a choice."
Amy frowned. She was hoping he had not told the others. There was silence for a little while until Ravus broke the silence.
"You're not telling them about L…"
"No. Stop spoiling Ravy." She said trying to give a smirk. "Just… protect his body ok? It's important. Noct, I have to go into the throne room with you while they fight the daemons."
"What dae…" Prompto began but that was when the Iron Giants appeared. "Oh… so weird how you do that…"
"Wait… but you can't go in there with me that's…" Noctis began.
"I will not interfere Noct. I will stand in the corner and wait until I need to go on with my plan… hoping that it will work." Amy explained. She could see Ravus wanting to protest but instead placed Ardyn's broken body onto the steps and stood with his sword protectively.
"Never thought I would have to fight alongside them…" he grumbled.
"Thank you Ravus." Amy nodded. "I'll meet you up there. You can say your goodbyes… I don't… think I can watch that again."
She ran up the steps before he could say anymore. She arrived in the throne room and sighed leaning against the wall and staring up at the throne. She imagined Ardyn sitting there with his adorable, sexy, smug look. She dared to walk up and feel the soft yet rough velvety material. It was still vaguely warm from where Ardyn had sat previously waiting for his fateful last battle. She grasped the edge as she let tears fall once more.
"I still don't understand," Noctis began from behind her, "but I can see that you loved him. What you did to save his body from fading was very kind of you. Could you at least tell me why you must be in the room with me when I call upon my ancestors?"
"No, I'm afraid it won't work if I do. You will just have to trust me. For the sake of Eos," she sniffed once more as she turned around and walked down the steps. She hugged Noctis tightly. "I truly hope… that this works. You all deserve a happy ending."
She let go and crouched down in the corner of the throne room waiting for the deed to be done. She faced the wall unable to watch her friend being stabbed by multiple weapons and then one final with his own father's sword. She was temporarily blinded by the brilliant light that erupted from this act. She took some deep breaths as she turned around to see Noct's limp body slumped over his father's sword. She frowned as she slowly walked up and gently pushed him back in a comfortable position. She took the sword out of his torso and looked at her watch.
Only one minute has passed… She sighed as she watched his ring carefully as it began to fade and finally disappear after about five minutes. Perfect timing. She took out the dark red feather from her bag and activated it in front of Noctis. It took a few seconds before he took a deep intake of breath and woke up heaving in surprise.
"A…Amy?" He asked.
"Welcome back Noct!" She said hugging him with tears in her eyes. A strange wave seemed to pass over the throne room.
"Well done Amy." A familiar Australian voice came from behind her. She wheeled around to find Shiconen smiling at her with his prominent grey eyes and thrift store clothing.
"Does… Does that mean I've done it? Saved Eos?" She asked in shock.
"Yes." He nodded.
"Then that means…the mega-phoenix…" her voice trailed as the fact of her plan came to her mind. It worked… he's… She bolted past Shiconen before Noctis could ask her any more questions. She ran out the front of the Citadel to where Ravus was holding up a weak and broken Ardyn…but he was alive. It took all that Ravus had to hold Prompto, Gladiolus, and Ignis back from attacking.
"Ardyn!" She exclaimed with happy tears before she ran to hug him gently.
"Amy…how…did you do it? I'm human again…mortal…" he asked in disbelief.
"A mega-phoenix. I made sure to use it after the ring was gone. Then I knew your daemon was gone and you were freed. Shiconen came and told me that in that act I've saved Eos." She explained. The chocobros' weapons went down as Noctis came trotting down behind her. He was obviously still in pain as well but he was able to walk by himself.
"Noct!" Prompto exclaimed hugging him tightly.
"H…hey… Ow…" Noct said with a gasp.
"Oh… sorry dude." His best friend said worried.
"Careful, they both aren't fully healed. The feather only brought them back." Amy explained. "Some potions should help."
Ignis nodded and handed a potion to Noctis who used it immediately and felt better. Amy gave Ardyn a hi-potion and it eased his pain. "Feel better love?" She asked softly.
"Much better… I do not understand. Why did you allow me to live? Surely, Noctis could have had a child with Luna…"
"Luna… What are you talking about!" Noct asked. "You killed her…"
"Not quite…" Amy started. "I… asked him to make you think that she had died with an illusion. I saved her to help make up for deaths. Ravus too. They counted as two, my daughter and myself make four, and I had to save two more people. That's why I chose you and Ardyn. You both deserve a second chance. You deserve to live happily with Luna while Ardyn deserves to live a normal life again. I know it's hard to understand, but I love him. He was betrayed by the astrals and had no one to love or care for him for 2000 years. By the time I got here, he had no choice but to make up for his sins by doing what he did."
The boys were quiet. They didn't know what to think about all of this. She could tell. She went over to her love and held him close to her. "You deserve to be happy. Everyone deserves a happy ending." She told him.
"But…what about what he did on the train?" Gladio asked. "You can't tell us taking Prompto was part of the plan…"
"It was." Ardyn nodded. "He needed to know where and how he was born and I needed to lead Noctis to the crystal. Two birds with one stone as they say. If it were not for Amy, all that I would have done would be in malice and vengeance. She reminded me that I was once the savior. That I saved many from becoming victim to the Starscourge but in return became a daemon myself. The astrals betrayed me after giving me these powers that caused me to become immortal. My own son tried to destroy me. She gave me the love I lost so long ago. I had hoped that once the two of us were gone her daughter Jessabelle, whom I adopted as my own child, would take over the line of Lucis as the new queen. A hope for all of humanity."
Amy smiled sadly. "Come on, you guys had a long battle. We should go and meet up with Luna and Jess. I'm sure you want to see her again after everything," she told Noctis.
The group trekked through the empty streets and through the forest after what seemed like hours. Ardyn's body was no longer strong so Ravus and Noctis (to Ardyn's surprise) helped him as they made their way through.
"Noctis!" Luna's voice sounded as they came through to the clearing where the small house sat. The blond woman ran up and embraced her childhood friend and fiancé bringing happy tears to Noctis' eyes.
"Luna… so, what Ardyn said was true? He didn't kill you. I…don't even know what to say." Noct said hugging her tightly.
"Daddy!" Jessa squealed as she ran to hug her adoptive father. He winced in pain, but held her in return gently.
"Hello Jessabelle."
"Are you hurt? What happened?" she asked curiously. "Who all of them?"
Amy chuckled and came over. "Well, these are your other uncles. Uncle Noctis, Uncle Prompto, Uncle Gladio, and Uncle Ignis."
"Wow! I've got a lot of uncles." She said amazed.
"She sounds adorable." Ignis smiled kindly. "Would you mind if I cooked us all a meal? I'm sure it's been a while since you've had my cooking. I've mastered my skills now that I can only rely on four of my five senses."
"I think that would be wonderful. Ignis correct?" Luna asked. "I've only heard stories about you I do not believe we have ever met."
"Yes, of course Lady Lunafreya," he added with a bow.
Prompto was quiet in the background until Pryna came up and stood up so she could lick his face.
"Pryna! Hey girl!" he said with his blue eyes lighting up and petting her.
"I see she remembers you. You did help her out after all." Luna smiled. "It is great to finally meet you."
"Um… yea… me too." He nodded nervously. "Thank you… for pushing me to be Noctis' friend… I probably would have never known who I was or gained so much confidence if you didn't send me that letter…"
"You are quite welcome Prompto." She nodded with a small bow.
"I'm still shocked with everything." Gladio shrugged. "But I guess we can talk about it later. All that fighting made me really hungry."
"You have really big muscles!" Jessa pointed out causing him to laugh.
"That I do," he added ruffling her hair causing her to giggle.
This newly formed family piled into the house that was only occupied by Ardyn ten years ago. The oldest at the table was quiet. He truly felt as if he should have stayed dead. "Rest in peace" as Noctis put it. Ardyn made some room for the boys in the living room before helping Amy put Jessa to bed. It seemed that she fell asleep the best when he told her stories. He kissed her sleeping forehead before meeting with Amy out in the hallway.
"Amy, maybe you should room with Lunafreya tonight," he suggested.
"Why? We usually sleep in the same room." Amy asked curiously. Part of her insecurities was worried that he hated her for bringing him back. What if he wanted to truly die? What if she was just being selfish…
"Because now that I have been given a second chance at mortality I wish to marry you so we may have a proper family." He told her. She stared up at him in the happiest tears she could muster. He wanted to marry her? Her? Despite his pains, he knelt to the ground and took a beautiful golden ring with onyx jewels surrounding a round garnet. "This is the same ring that I gave to my wife two Millenia ago. I always had it hidden away and close to my heart. I thought I would die with it hidden on a cord around my neck, but I never thought that I would have the opportunity to give this ring to anyone. Would you give me the honor of marrying me for the rest of the mortal life that has been bestowed upon me?"
She laughed slightly as she nodded. "Of course. I love you. Why would I say no?" She said hugging him as her lips found his. He stood and pulled her closer to him as they kissed. The ring slid on her left ring finger as if it belonged there. She was the happiest she had ever been in her entire life. She left her old life behind and now she was living in the fictional world of Eos and engaged to a man who was once a vengeful daemon. She would give everything to make sure that her future husband lived the life he deserved in the first place. One of peace and love.
Three years later, Noctis and Ardyn had begun to work together in order to bring the world into one nation. Noctis suggested to work side by side as Kings of Lucis. Ardyn would teach Noctis everything he once knew about ruling before he became the Savior and would retire and live a simple life for the rest of his days with his wife Amy. Jessabelle trained to become a member of the newly formed Crownsguard while her little brother James was raised as a nobleman to rule alongside Noctis and Lunafreya's daughter Hope. Peace was restored throughout the land and all close family and friends remained close to eachother's hearts.
AN: I hope you all enjoyed this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you wish to find out what happens after the happy ending was created there may be a sequel in the future to have to do with the marriages and the next generation of Chocobros.