Disclaimer: Anything that is not mine, is not mine. The game, the characters, they are not mine. The concept of the story is mine, but the elements added that were not originally mine, are definitely not mine. I hope that's enough disclaimer!
"Don't worry. You're safe now."
Stella widened her eyes at the familiar male patron standing in front of her. Piercing blue eyes? Messy yet groomed blonde hair?
A goatee?
Everything checked out. The man was a stalker.
Without thinking, she threw a fire spell to his face before jumping over her table and sprinted towards the exit of the hunter's headquarters.
Gladiolus and Ignis quickly turned to the sound of Prompto's scream and ran to him, though Ignis was starting to have much more difficulty squeezing himself through the now alarmed crowd. Prompto rolled his body against the ground in his attempt to put the flames out burning its way from his clothes onto his skin.
"Prompto!" Ignis called out, taking his jacket off and swatting it on him to save him from further pain.
Gladiolus tore his eyes away from Prompto and turned to the running merchant. "She's getting away!"
"That's her! That's Stella!" Prompto yelled after Gladiolus who began running after the supposed princess.
Stella looked back and gasped when she caught a glance of Gladiolus quickly closing in. She hurled a blizzard spell at him which he dodged narrowly. He took out his broadsword when he heard Ignis calling after his name.
"She must not be harmed!" Ignis imposed loudly.
"But she has to be stopped!" Gladiolus yelled back.
"Stella!" Prompto cried out. "We're not here to hurt you! Let's talk!"
She fought the urge to turn around. She couldn't show them her brief moment of hesitation and let them catch her. They couldn't catch her and then regret it later. She had to keep running forward.
Except when a distinct growl shook the ground beneath her did she skid to a stop, as did the three men behind her.
Glowing violet orbs began circling over a spot on the ground, as a colossal snake with a woman's head slowly emerged from the surface, cracking the dry soil of the area. Stella gaped at the towering nagarini before her, its hisses and screech filling the baleful air of the night. Slowly recovering from her fire attack, Prompto sprinted in front of her and readied his gun.
"I got you!" Prompto said.
Stella ignored his promise and stretched her right arm to her side, her eyes blazing at the giant daemon. A long intricate silver staff with a circular blue crystal materialized in her hands while small electrical bolts angrily chipped around it.
Gladiolus' eyes widened briefly at her weapon before switching his eyes to the enemy.
"From the sound of it, I'd say we are currently facing a nagarini." Ignis said cautiously. "We must protect the princess at all costs!"
"Heh, we'll see if she'll allow that."
As soon as Gladiolus spoke, Stella leapt away from her spot and waved her weapon towards the serpent, summoning a powerful blizzard spell on it's head and staggering it. Prompto rolled over the ground to avoid being struck by the magic and fired his bullets from a safer distance. Ignis however ran closer at the wrong moment and felt the biting cold of the ice spell on his chest.
"Out of the way!" Stella yelled with exasperation at the men as if the obvious wasn't apparent yet.
Gladiolus gave the enemy one more strong hit from his blade before running to Ignis' side. "Iggy, hang in there!"
Ignis stumbled as he picked himself up. "I'm fine."
"Use this!" Stella yelled at them once more after throwing another blizzara spell at the daemon and tossed a bottle of hi-potion at the largest man in the party. Gladiolus caught it and handed the curative to Ignis who promptly broke it and instantly making him feel rejuvenated.
"That confirms it, then." Ignis stated plainly.
"I know." Gladiolus replied while pulling his friend up. "Let's talk later. Got some cleaning up to do."
Prompto could not believe it. Or rather, could not admit it.
He was lying on his back against the cold cemented ground at the battle's aftermath, victory fanfare and everything, which was basically dominated by the magic spells of the only female member of the party. In their history of battles, female members of their small army were always the more powerful ones, and he wondered if it was because they were born as women, or they were more serious about fighting.
But he was serious too, wasn't he? He was supposed to be the defender of damsels in distress, not the other way around!
More importantly, she could do magic! Without tossing flasks of elemancy! She just waved her hands and magic simply popped out of thin air!
Was that possible? Even Noct was not capable of that.
The gunner leapt to stand on his feet and stared at Stella. Streaks of dirt stained her white clothes and her blonde hair now more unruly. Her purple orbs were gazing down at the fallen nagarini, as if the moment was just sinking in. Ignis and Gladiolus were heaving behind her.
"You," Gladiolus started. "have a lot of explaining to do, young lady."
"Well said." Ignis remarked with a hint of sarcasm.
Stella swiftly turned around and pointed her staff at the two who stepped back slowly and heedfully. "I don't owe anyone an explanation." she said sternly. "Why are you following me?"
"We're just trying to help!" Prompto said defensively, almost stammering in his words. Stella gave him a sideway look, stopping him on his tracks. "I don't know what you know and why you're so afraid of us-"
Stella cut him with a swift fire spell on his feet, earning a shriek from Prompto. "Wrong answer. And I'm not afraid of you."
After successfully avoiding the attack, Prompto tried to regain his composure and straightened up. "Fine! Why don't you trust us?"
Stella's eyes narrowed at him. "That doesn't answer my question. Why are you following me?"
"Look, we just want to keep you safe. You're too precious at this time, you know?"
"And for a good reason." Ignis added.
Stella turned back to Ignis. "What reason?" she demanded.
Gladiolus boldly stepped forward in front of the pointing blue orb of her staff, chin lifted. "How desperately do you want the answers?"
"Depends on how desperate you are to have me."
"A bit too desperately, I'm afraid." Ignis said. "And to be frank, the whole Lucis is, too."
Stella's eyes narrowed. "Lucis?"
Prompto and Gladiolus exchanged confused looks.
"It sounds to me there is so much more to be discussed with you."
"Like what? What should I know?"
"What do you know?" Prompto asked.
Stella threw him a bewildered look.
"You seem like you know something, but not everything. Or else, you wouldn't be running away from us, right?"
Prompto cautiously stepped forward and onto Stella's side. "Why were you running away? What did they tell you?"
Stella hesitated for a moment. "That daemons are after us." she finally said, still rigid. "They will attack anyone who stay in a place for too long."
"… and?"
Stella slowly lowered her staff halfway down, but nevertheless alert. "That's… all they ever told me."
"That lacks too much clarity for a reason." Gladiolus said.
"Not the best excuse, either." Prompto agreed. "Like, couldn't they come up with a more elaborate excuse? But, you know, still scary."
A moment of silence passed before Ignis approached the young woman and stopped a few feet away from her.
"You're a princess, Stella." he finally said. Prompto glanced at him before looking back at the girl for her reaction.
"Bit of a shocker, huh." Gladiolus said after reading Stella's expression.
She was about to raise her staff again when Ignis began speaking once more. "That's just the tip of the iceberg. There are much more you need to know about your background and why you are so crucial at this point in history of Lucis. But right now, we have to head back to the headquarters. Before any more daemons actually ambush us."
Stella looked at the three men who were all waiting for her, debating whether or not she would trust her life with them. She knew about them: the brave three who fought beside the late King Noctis to defeat the tyrannical Ardyn and save the world from eternal night. But even then, how would she know their true intentions when they ever really served one King? Even before the starscourge, it was hard to trust anyone. Let alone, a group of strangers who was were once involved in a political dispute in a kingdom and were now searching for her. But what did she know?
She didn't even know she was a princess as they claimed her to be, which opened a whole new can of worms.
"I'll follow you." she said. "But only on one condition."
"You name it!" Prompto said cheerfully before any of his friends can answer, mentally hopping in his huge relief.
"You answer all my questions." Stella said. "And I mean all questions."
"We'll spare none." Ignis promised.
Stella's staff finally disappeared in her hands and her shoulders relaxed. Her eyes scanned the three strangers whose relief mixed with resolve in their eyes.
The tallest of them started walking his way back to the entrance of the safe zone where Iris was nervously waiting. He patted Ignis' back, prompting him to follow behind. "We're heading back now. You coming or what?"
Cor was examining the fidgeting princess sitting across from him. Her hair was unkempt, her clothes too casual and simple for a merchant who aimed to sell more goods, and her mannerisms lacked grace. Her eyes seemed to be trying to avoid him, traveling to their other companions inside the room.
"Your name is Stella?" he asked.
Stella's head snapped at him, her eyes widened and her smile tight. "Yes, Sir." She knew him, the legendary "Immortal" Marshal of the late King. She heard stories about him from her father, and she remembered wishing to meet him for her fourth birthday. Tales of his adventures thrilled her to seek her own, and now he was sitting in the same room as her, talking to her.
"May I know your whole name?"
"Stella Caelum Ville."
"No other in between?"
"I'm afraid that's all I know, Sir."
"What is your mother's name?"
"Was." Stella nervously corrected. "She died in childbirth. And her name was Sarah Ville."
"And your father?"
"Nubis Ville."
Cor gently nodded. He then pointed at the pendant she was wearing. "Who gave that to you?"
Stella instinctively held the intricate epiphyllum pendant. "My father did."
"When?"
"On my seventh birthday."
"Did he say why?"
"He said that this necklace will keep me safe."
Cor nodded once again and looked at the three former glaives, two of which were looking right back at him: one was smiling and the taller one smirking.
Stella followed his gaze and looked back at him. "Why?"
"Are you aware of King Noctis' whole name?"
"Noctis Lucis." Stella replied truthfully.
Cor shook his head. "He was Noctis Lucis Caelum." Cor said. "The king before him, his father, was named Regis Lucis Caelum."
Stella leaned back on her chair, a heavy breath escaping her lips.
"You belong to the line of Lucian royalties." Cor explained. "And we have been looking for you because you are King Regis' last order. He wanted us to find you."
"Following the tragedies that happened in the past ten years in Lucis, I believe you understand now why." Ignis added. "The bloodline continues with you. You are the only surviving Lucian royalty who has the right to rule over the kingdom."
Stella shook her head. "This is all hard to believe…" she whispered.
"Hey, take it easy." Gladiolus' gentle voice echoed against the walls of the caravan.
"I've… I… never knew. No one has ever told me until now."
"I don't know if I'm supposed to ask but," Prompto said. "Where's your fa-"
"Stop," Gladiolus cut in, pointing a finger at him. "right there."
Stella looked up at Prompto, knowing what he was about to ask and choosing to answer anyway. "He died shortly after Insomnia fell, and the death of Lady Lunafreya." she replied. "We were aboard the train to Tenebrae when the Imperials attacked."
Prompto slid his hands into his pocket and turned around. Stella caught the uneasiness in his sudden change of disposition, but the anticipating eyes of the others roused her to carry on.
"There were many explosions." Stella choked on her words at the memory. "Too many."
"We know." Ignis said. "We were there."
Stella nodded, hoping she could stop telling more. To stop remembering all the sadness and regret. Deciding that she had said enough, she changed the subject.
"May I ask you something?"
Ignis nodded. "And we will answer, as promised."
Prompto turned back around and looked at Ignis.
"How am I related to King Noctis?"
"No one knows for sure, yet." Cor replied. "We were expecting to know more from you. Or your guardian, which I know you do have."
Stella slowly nodded. "I do."
"Steve, I believe?"
Stella was surprised at the accuracy of it. "Yes."
"Where is he?"
"He's back in our house. He's too old to be out here, so he always stays home. I think he's better off resting."
"He allows you to wander on your own?"
"Yes, I can take care of myself. Can't a princess go alone?"
"Yes, quite right." Ignis replied.
Stella chuckled, shaking her head. "This is all too hard to believe. We don't even have an evidence to prove this."
"For starters, your ability to cast elemental magic is a dead giveaway to your lineage." Ignis said, stepping closer. "The only people who are capable of elemancy are Lucian royalties, such as Noct. However, yours are more advanced. Perhaps, if given the opportunity to explore and test it, even more powerful that the late King Regis'."
She tilted her head slightly. "How?"
"Noct had to absorb the magic from elemental deposits and store them in special flasks. Those flasks act like bombs that cast powerful magic with different potencies. While you can independently cast those same magic, if not far more powerful, from nothing."
Stella took a deep breath. "I always thought they came from my staff."
"And there is also the matter of your staff. Your ability to summon it at will also stems from your Lucian bloodline."
"You sure know a lot about royalty."
"Well," Ignis said in a matter-of-fact tone. "we were the last of the Kingsglaive."
Gladiolus crossed his arms. "Do you know where your necklace came from?"
Stella shot him a curious look. "No."
"It is a gift from King Regis so it will be easier to find you. So when the right time arises, such as now, we can find Lucis' next ruler."
Stella's doubtful eyes narrowed at the bulky man. He looked at Prompto who immediately fished out the letters from his pocket and handed them to Stella. "It says so from these letters. We found them from the palace in Insomnia." he said. "Well, Talcott and Iris did anyway. They have everything you need to know, more or less."
She examined the letters in her hands and instantly recognized her father's handwriting in all of them. He knew all this time, even before she was born, yet why did he choose not to say anything? In one of the letters, Nubis was clearly fearing for her safety, but what good was her safety when she was unaware of what purpose it served? She was left in the void of things, and now that she was out of it, she had many questions for him that he would never be able to answer.
The most obvious of them was…
"Who…?"
Prompto and Gladiolus looked at each other diffidently before turning back to the girl.
"Who… what?" Prompto asked.
"Who was the Lucian?"
"Between your parents?"
Stella nodded.
"We are not certain, either." Ignis admitted. "We too are in search for more answers. But the most important matter has been settled, now that we have found you."
"Maybe… maybe Steve knows more?"
"Can you take us to him?" Gladiolus put forward.
"Yes."
"Great!" Prompto cheered. "Where's the guy?"
"Not too far from here." Stella replied. "Before any further introductions, though, I never got your names."
"Oh, y-yeah." Prompto scratched the back of his head, realizing that so much had been said and done, yet she never knew who they were. "I'm Prompto 'The Amazing' Argentum, that's Gladiolus 'Big Guy' Amicitia, that's Ignis 'Specs' Scientia-"
"I can't help but think you are being too mundane with our introductions, save your own." Ignis remarked.
"that's Cor 'The Immortal' Leonis," Prompto continued. "the girl from a while ago was Iris 'The Grown-up' Amicitia. And before you ask, yes, she's his sister. And the other guy is Talcott 'Cactuar' Hester."
Stella giggled. "Those are really interesting aliases."
"Pet names, practically." Prompto said. "Want one?"
Curious, she replied "Sure."
"Stella 'The Disappearing Princess' Caelum."
"Hmm…" Stella mused. "That's a bit too long for an alias."
"Lacks creativity, too." Ignis added.
"It's like you didn't even try." Gladiolus said.
Prompto smirked. "Well, if Stella wants to change it, she gotta earn it!"
The house Stella was talking about did not fare any better than the caravan. It stood among the other shacks, shielded from the daemons by the illumination from the lamplights in a secluded area not too far from the headquarters. The creak from the opening door was their first indication the household was one touch from being destitute, and the interior confirmed it. Stella had warned them not to expect too much, but they were surprised nevertheless. Three lightbulbs scattered on the ceiling dimmed the room with yellow light. Despite the worn out couch and the unstable chairs and tables, the room was neatly kept without any trash strewn around, telling the lack of human activity. Stella directed them to what they would presume as the living room and asked them to wait there.
"Steve is usually sleeping at this time of the night." she said. "Let me check if he's awake."
After another creak from a different door, she was in another room.
Prompto looked around, observing the fading colors of the chipped wood that made the house. Or cabin. Or was it even considered any form of a decent home? He walked into the kitchen, spotting a small fridge neatly stacked plates inside an open shelf. Many questions ran through his mind like how long had they been staying there? Didn't her parents, or at least Nubis, secure a home somewhere secluded and safe where they were free to move? Well, they lived in tents at campsites, caravans, and not-too-shabby hotels when they could afford it, but this was a little too low in the line of ideal homes.
"How is Her Majesty's abode?" Prompto heard Ignis ask from the other room, somewhat knowing the answer.
"Grand and luxe." Gladiolus said sardonically. "Just as what you would expect."
"But this is home to her, I guess." Prompto said, approaching his friends. "I mean, it is safe, at least. She and Steve are blending pretty well among the other shacks here. Hard to spot a princess in this place, I'll tell you that."
"Keep in mind that they moved from place to place to ensure that no one followed them" Cor cut in. "This may very well be only temporary."
Prompto and Gladiolus turned around when the door behind them creaked open again. Stella stepped out, pushing a wheelchair that carried a thin old man with patches of white hair and gaunt cheeks. If they didn't know any better, he was already dead.
Prompto gulped when Steve's eyes looked at him, wondering what exactly was he going through. "Uhm, is the dude okay?"
Stella nodded slightly. "He's doing fine tonight. Better than last night."
"I heard you come in" Steve said in his weak, raspy voice. His eyes fell on Cor. "And I know who you are."
Cor straightened up and looked back at him. "I wish I could say the same with you."
Stella parked him beside the couch and sat close to him. "They have many questions for you Steve. Uhm…" she looked up at the group before turning back to him. "We have many questions we'd like to ask you."
"Oh, I'm sure you do." he said.
Cor gestured at Stella. "I think you have the most right to get answers."
"Y-yeah! Pretty sure we have the same questions anyway." Prompto added.
Stella took a deep breath. She had too many concerns in her mind that she wanted settled.
"Have you always known?"
"Yes." Steve nodded. "Way before you were born."
"Why…" Stella searched the ground for words. "did you keep this from me?"
"As typical as it sounds, I'm only protecting you from the truth. Just until the right moment comes."
Stella met her caretaker's eyes. "Is this why we keep moving?"
"I'm afraid so." Steve replied weakly.
"I was told daemons will be after us. You and Dad did."
"I'm sorry for lying. Please, forgive me for lying to you."
Stella nodded vehemently, fighting the tears from having to hear Steve plead for forgiveness. Steve never liked lying, and she could imagine how hard it was having to do it all the time. She reached for his hand and held his eyes with hers "This is a lot to take in, Steve. I wish you should've mentioned something sooner… Anything."
"I'm sorry, Stella. But we only wish to protect you. Not until we are sure you will be in good hands."
"Good hands?"
Steve looked at the group. "Your crownsguard."
Stella followed his gaze and met the eyes of the men in the room. A proud smile formed in Prompto's face, while Ignis nodded at her.
"Count on it." Gladiolus said.
"I'm glad to hear that I can." Steve said, slowly exhaling as he did. He faced Stella once more. "I cannot protect you. Not like this. It's part of my duty to ensure that you will be free from harm, but I can only do so much."
"But I can take care of myself!" Stella said, placing a palm on her chest. "You saw me in battles, and I can fight. Can't I?"
"So were the Kings before you." Steve nodded once to emphasize his point. "But even they were not able to handle what came to them on their own. That was precisely what your father was afraid of."
"He did mention it in the letters." Gladiolus added. "He was worried about your fate as Queen."
Stella's eyes fell on her lap. "I can't be Queen. I don't even know how."
"We have an idea. We'll see you through." Ignis assured.
Stella took in another deep breath and closed her eyes, her heart beating furiously against her chest. She could picture herself diving from a high cliff downwards into the black, swirling unknown beneath. "Who do I thank for this?" she whispered.
"Your mother, Stella." Steve replied, causing everyone to look at him. "Your mother was the princess. Your father corresponded with King Regis on her behalf. She belonged to the Lucian line."
"How?" Prompto jumped in.
Steve slowly shook his head. "I am not aware how. I'm sorry."
"Did she also live in Insomnia?"
"No." Steve replied. "She lived in the shadows of her Lucian relatives, as did her ancestors. It was only King Regis who discovered of her existence and only then did he reach out to her."
"And then I'm suddenly popping out of nowhere to rule Lucis?" Stella clamored dubiously. She leaned her back on the couch. "What do I do now?"
Everyone remained silent for a moment while Stella searched for answers. Steve leaned close to Stella and squeezed her hand with as much strength as he could muster. "I wish I could tell you to follow your own path. But your duty awaits you, Stella. Lucis needs its ruler."
"Yeah. Royal orders." Prompto said. "Well, it'll be your orders from here on out, but we gotta do as we're told."
Stella nodded. "I… guess I'll just have to do what I can. Or try, at least." She shrugged. "I guess I'll have to."
Seemingly convinced by her answer, Steve nodded at her before facing the Queen's new guard. "She's under your watch now. Please, take good care of her."
"But," Stella faced Steve. "what about you?"
Steve smiled softly. "Don't worry, Your Majesty. I'll be right behind you."
