Well, I didn't get any comments, but I was certainly surprised by the number of people have already apparently been interested in my story even despite my horrible attempts at a summary. It would be easier if this site let us use longer descriptions, but I guess it kind of makes sense why they keep it short.
Anyway, thanks to everyone who has been interested so far int the story, and for all the favorites and follows I've already gotten. Since I've got time and the inspiration for it, I guess I'll just continue on and update the next chapter since you guys seem to like the story so much. As always, feel free to leave me a review below.
Chapter Two: Angels Fall
Two months passed before the pup was really aware of where the time had gone. He truly found himself happy and at ease with both Lunafreya and Noctis, though Ravus he avoided. As the young Prince had promised, staying in his human form tended to get people to like him more and made them less afraid of them. In fact, if visitors didn't know that he was a MT, they usually didn't even expect it. A few even confused his fair complexion and hair as making him a younger brother to Lunafreya, to which her older brother Ravus was not amused.
To say that Noctis had recovered was practically an understatement. While the death of his mother still often haunted him, it was obvious that being around Lunafreya and his new friend had brought him back out of his shell as quickly as he had withdrawn into it. His reaction to the young Thunderdog's presence surprised Prompto, since most people ran as far away as possible when they realized what they were holding a conversation with.
Lunafreya however explained that it was because he was full of a power of light not unlike her own. While he had apparently been born with this light, which is what had begun to cause his strange fondness for humans and coloration, it had somehow only grown stronger in the process of becoming a MT, which was something he didn't talk about. It was painful and frightening to remember, and Noctis and Lunafreya had quickly learned to leave the subject untouched.
Still, he had grown accustomed to living indoors again, not sleeping on the floor but living like a human child unlike a young pup. He had grown used to eating with people like they did, in playing games with the young Prince and Oracle, and just growing used to the idea of acting like a person instead of a daemon. It had changed his reactions to things drastically. Even in human form, he no longer growled or yelped, using his voice instead to make more human like noises. The only thing that could give away that he was not human was the fact that he was rather socially awkward in many situations.
Being a MT had given him quite the eye for detail, and he was able to tell Noctis's mood from some distance away. Along with that, his own natural senses as a Thunderdog were beginning to come in. The most prevalent of those were, of course, his nose and his ability to sense how dangerous people, situations, or areas were becoming. This often kept the young Prince out of trouble, though the Empire hadn't bothered the young Prince again. Perhaps they feared war, or perhaps they were waiting. Either way, Prompto was glad because it meant his young friend was safe.
Prompto had become very fond of the young Prince, who continually treated him like a friend instead of a servant or a monster. He often invited Prompto to join him and Luna even though the servants and her elder brother protested his proximity to them. The young Thunderdog, already being a creature that naturally ran in packs, had become quickly loyal to Noctis and hardly let him out of his sight, often helping him attempt to walk or being near in case he fell. Soon, without Prompto noticing it, the boy no longer needed to hold onto his beast like form just to walk.
However, talks of Noctis returning to his father were something that snapped Prompto back to reality and made him nervous again. Noctis was determined that Prompto was going to come with him back to Insomnia, out of the reach of the Empire that had hurt his friend so badly. The Thunderdog however was less sure that the king would be happy to allow a beast to hang around with his son anymore. Nervously sitting to the side, he watched as Noctis and Luna discussed the subject.
"I'm going to miss you, Luna," Noctis said, a little wistfully. It was plain to see that the two had grown extremely close over the year he had been here. "But, I'm going to have to go home again. I wonder how Iggy and Gladio are doing?" Luna smiled and glanced towards Prompto in the corner.
"Keep him close," she told him. "He will help you."
"Of course Prompt's coming with me," Noctis replied, grinning at his friend. "He's my best friend. There's no way I'm leaving him here." The smile faded from his face quickly as he noticed the Thunderdog's frown. "What's wrong?"
"Do you," Prompto finally managed, quietly enough that the two almost didn't hear him. "do you think they'll try to separate us?"
"No way," Noctis immediately denied. "I won't let them!"
"I have already sent word to the king," Luna said reassuringly. "He has already been made aware of your circumstances. He wishes to meet you, Prompto. After all, its not often you find a daemon favored by the gods."
"You talked to dad?" Noctis asked Luna, seeming surprised. She smiled.
"Of course," she replied. Noctis grinned and turned back to Prompto.
"See?" he said. "Luna took care of it. So you can come home with me, okay?"
Prompto found himself at a loss for words. What was he supposed to say to that? He could go with Noct? What if he managed to mess up this chance and they threw him out anyway? What if Insomnia was worse than the Empire? He'd heard stories from Noctis about how great his home was, but that was for humans. He wasn't sure what to do, but he did know that he was almost desperate to not be separated from his young friend.
Noctis, frowning, patted the seat next to him, indicating to Prompto that he wanted him to sit next to him. He quickly changed into his daemon form, crossing the space between them and sitting down with a huff next to the prince. Immediately he could feel both Luna and Noct running their hands through his soft fur, which they had almost always seemed fascinated with doing. He supposed that they probably didn't get the chance to pet a daemon very often, even if he was technically a MT now. And he had to admit that he liked the feeling of it.
Maybe if he had lived a normal life, had been born a normal Thunderdog, he would have been appalled and angry at the thought of anyone treating him like he was nothing more than their pet. Now however, he supposed that was the life that he had always lived. He didn't mind letting them pet him, though his pride kept him from showing how much he enjoyed it. He could tell from Noctis and Luna's giggles behind his head though that they could read him enough to tell.
"Why don't you just ask if you like to be pet so much, mutt?" Noctis laughed.
"Mutt?" Prompto asked, sounding offended.
"Well," Noctis explained with a grin still on his face. "You're a MT, so you have a human and daemon form. So you're a mutt." Prompto paused, thinking about it, before baring his fangs in a smile and beginning to laugh as well.
"You got me there," he said. "I guess I am a mutt."
Hearing that Prompto was at least joking around with them again, if not the one making bad jokes, seemed to assure Noctis that his friend was practically back to normal. The boy's grin grew and he continued to stroke the Thunderdog's head as he and Luna continued their chat. Prompto was soon lost in his own thoughts, practically elated at the fact that he might at least get the chance to stay with Noctis. To be honest, he wasn't sure where else he could even go if he wasn't with his friend. And having Noctis call him his best friend...if Prompto had a tail, it would be wagging.
After a long while, the door to the bedroom opened, admitting a tall man. He had wide shoulders and his eyes looked severe, though not unkind. Rather he looked like the kind of creature that had seen countless battles and would see many more. His skin was darker than the people he had seen before, though he was by no means dark skinned. His hair was cut short and brown, well trimmed, and his brown eyes were watching the scene with interest.
They landed on Prompto the longest, as if sizing him up. Prompto met his eyes and didn't move under his scrutiny, guessing this was one of his first tests. The man reeked of danger, but a firm kindness as well. He was a soldier, of that the young MT was sure, and he'd his fair share of battles and then some. As the man continued to stare him down, Luna and Noctis finally seemed to notice his presence, both watching the man warily, as if waiting for his judgment as well.
"So," the man said in a powerful voice, perhaps not in sound alone, but because of experience. "this is the Prince's infamous pet. A Thuderdog, huh?"
"His name's Prompto," Noctis said, his eyes flashing protectiveness, which the man didn't miss. "and he's a MT, not a pet. He's my friend, Cor."
Cor's eyes flicked towards the young Prince, before returning to Prompto. It took nearly all of his willpower to fight his instinct and not flee from the man's gaze. He wanted to stay with Noctis, and he was willing to do anything he could to prove it. The stern man again met Prompto's gaze, watching him for a long moment. He didn't have any visible weapons, but he was almost sure that he could soon get some in his hands, even if the Thunderdog didn't understand how. The corner of the man's mouth lifted a little in a smirk.
"You've got good eyes," he said to him. "Prompto, was it? You really want to stay with him, that badly?"
"Yes," Prompto replied instantly, making the man nod.
"Then you make sure to watch his back," the man warned. The Thunderdog just nodded, relieved that this man at least wasn't going to drag him away at the first chance he got.
Prompto felt Noctis's hands slip around his neck as he pushed up off the bed. The motion was stiff, and he certainly wasn't fully recovered, but it was enough for him to walk on his own and to be able to move without aid. However, once he had gotten to his feet, one of his hands remained on Prompto's neck as if to assure him that he wasn't going anywhere without him. Cor's brow raised at this, but Lunafreya soon stood and gave a quick bow of her head to the man. Cor returned it.
"Please," she said, her voice one of the gentlest tones he'd ever heard her use. "Allow Prompto to stay by Noctis's side. He is more than he seems."
"How so?" Cor asked, all seriousness now.
Instead of answering right away, Luna turned and smiled to Prompto, holding her hand out towards his nose. Confused as to what she was doing, but trusting her, he turned his head and pressed his nose into her hand. A link of power seemed to flow through the two of them between the contact that they'd just created, and Prompto's eyes widened at the soft and warm feeling it produced. Light began to flow as the contact prolonged, making even Noctis turn with surprised eyes to the scene.
Cor's eyes narrowed, though not dangerously, as he watched this strange occurrence. Luna continued to smile, and Prompto was beginning to become aware of her mind. It was as if a strange, unseen and unheard melody was playing through it, slowly becoming stronger as they remained touching. The light was growing steadily brighter as well. But then Luna pulled her hand away and everything returned to normal. A little startled, Prompto shook his head and snorted, almost like a horse.
"He is full of light," Luna continued to explain. "not darkness as the rest of his kind. He may be a MT, as well as a daemon, but he walks in the daylight and is far kinder than any other being like him. Even the gods have given him their approval."
"The gods have?" Cor asked, seeming more interested now. Luna nodded with another smile. This time as she reached out to pet him, Prompto didn't become a living night light.
"They have," she replied. "As you know, Noctis was attacked under our watch. As I prayed to the gods for help, Prompto came and carried him out of harm's way. He was the answer to my prayers."
"Yeah," Noctis said, not seeming to quite understand what was being said but feeling the need to defend his friend anyway. "He saved me, and he was hurt really badly by the Empire. So I decided I was going to save him." Cor's eyes flicked towards Noctis, softening just slightly for the first time since he'd entered the room.
"I see," he said.
The man turned his back on them, looking thoughtful as he sat there, crossing his arms and seeming to just stare at the far wall. Noctis glanced at Luna, who just smiled at him, and Prompto could feel his hand tighten uncertainly on the fur on his back. If Prompto hadn't been as "tame" as he was, he probably would have gotten more nervous at the feeling and maybe even snapped at the young prince. There were plenty of stories of "tamed" daemons and monsters, even ones like Chocobos, who would do the same when the energy was felt. Prompto however was anything but normal and only flicked his ear in response to the pressure. Cor nodded to himself, then turned again.
"We'll be late if we stay any longer, your majesty," Cor said, then gave him a small smile. "And bring your MT along."
"You mean, you'll let him stay?" Noctis cried happily.
"Who am I to refuse the call of the gods?" the man replied, turning and making his way down the hall to where Noctis had his bags all packed.
Prompto blinked, returning to his more human form as Noctis happily chatted with Luna. Nearly immediately though Noctis had thrown an arm around both him and Luna, wincing a little as the sore muscles along his back pulled. He was grinning from ear to ear though, looking more excited than ever with the news that Cor was going to let his friend stay with him. Even the young MT felt a smile on his face despite the knot his stomach was currently trying to tie itself into.
"You'll finally going to get to see Insomnia," Noctis said happily. "You won't have to worry about the Empire there, and you'll meet everyone else."
"Yeah," Prompto replied. "I suppose I will." Then, as usual, he couldn't help but make another quip. "Hey, think maybe you should invest in a shock collar? Wouldn't want you to lose me after all." Noctis laughed.
"A shock collar wouldn't work on you," he said. Prompto grinned back.
"I guess it wouldn't," he said.
Cor poked his head in the room, seeming to pause a moment at surprise at the tiny boy now standing in the room where the daemon had been a few moments ago. He didn't seem to take long to recover however, and just shook his head. Prompto wasn't sure, but he might have seen some amusement on his face, though his severe eyes almost made him rethink that.
"Come, highness," the man called. "The car's waiting."
Noctis visibly winced at the thought of having to sit in a car for that long, knowing that it was probably going to hurt a whole lot. Still, he grinned and said goodbye to Luna, lingering in the room for a long moment. Soon he was hurrying off down the hallway after the man, and Prompto paused a moment. Luna embraced him once, then smiled and motioned for Prompto to follow his young Prince. Prompto gave her a grin, then rushed off after the dark haired boy.
His prince?
Yes, he'd die for Noctis. He cared for him that much. Noctis was his best friend after all, and he would always be loyal to him for that.
And there's the end to that chapter. It was shorter than the first chapter, but I added in a whole time skip so I didn't doubt that it would be shorter. There will be a couple more of these until we reach the main part of the story, which will be similar to the game, but different as well. And well, you'll still need your tissues.
