"Wait, you're what?" cried Cloud. Noctis told him everything during their ride in his black limo.
"Yep, that's right I'm the prince of Luce." Noctis told him nonchalantly.
"So let me get this straight: you, the prince of Luce, went into hiding in Cosmos Canyon so that you can escape the stress of being you?"
"Exactly. I'm very happy that no one in the Cosmos Canyon hadn't revealed my location."
Cloud had a hard time believing it. He heard about The Three Kingdoms: Niflheim, Tenebrae and Luce but he hadn't visited any of them. Not during his journey, or during the time he was working for his delivery service. He heard that those kingdoms weren't too friendly, in fact they ranged war on each other. Shinra would have conquered them if not for the war with Wutai and if it had more people like Sephiroth, so the President made a pact with the three kings. They would not attack them and vice-versa and nobody would stick their noses into each others business. After Shinra's fall Reeve made sure that the pact was still the same. Frankly those kingdoms didn't care too much what is happening outside their walls. When the Meteor threaten to destroy the world, none of them seemed to care. It was said that Luce had found a cure for Geostigma but it didn't pass it to everyone else. This made Cloud to hate Luce, because of their selfishness many people died. "Did your kingdom...found a cure for Geostigma?" he asked.
Noctis looked on the window. "Yes. I know what are you thinking. We used it to save ourselves and let the others die. I tried to set the cure all over the planet but my father said that I shouldn't care what's happening outside our borders." he said.
Cloud looked at his face. It showed sadness, guilt. He was familiar with those. He blamed himself for the deaths of Zack and Aerith, for not being able to find a cure for Denzel. But with the help of his friends he got over it, so he will help Noctis get over it too. "Don't worry too much about. You probably did all you could. It's in the past." he said to him and he stared on the window as well. Noctis looked at him. He wasn't hating him like some of the people in Cosmos Canyon, because he couldn't help them. He smiled and turned to the window again. It was silent for the next few minutes when Cloud broke the silence. "Once again, why am I wearing a suit?"
Noctis smiled and looked at Cloud to see if everything was alright. He wore a white shirt, with a black dress suit over it, with black pants and shoes and a black bowtie. "Because we are attending to a high-class party and your outfit screamed 'I-am-a-red-neck-and-inside-my-head-is-only-violence'"
Cloud growled and turned to look on the window. After 15 minutes they reached their destination. It was sure a high-class party alright. Everyone in tuxes or expensive dresses. He couldn't believe he accepted doing this. He only hoped that the party crashers will arrive already so that he could get out of here.
"Hey, why the long face? Look, there some girls who would love to meet you." Nocits said. The said 'girls' were ladies in their late 50's. Cloud shot Noctis a 'Are-you-serious?' look. Noctis started laughing which irritated Cloud even more. Noctis attention was drawn by a beautiful blond girl, with a simple, yet stunning, white dress. He turned and she smiled at him. In that moment, everything around Noctis disappeared. Even it was only seconds, for Noctis it was like years as they looked at each other. Her purple beautiful eyes, her amazing smile, God he saw an angel. He could hear Cloud in the background but he couldn't understand what he was saying. And then he turned and walked away. "Excuse me, Cloud. I have something important that I have to attend to. Have fun and try not show everyone that you're a red neck." Noctis said and made his way in the crowd while Cloud shot him a glare from behind. Then he turned towards the ladies who were advancing towards him. He gulped. 'Where is Sephiroth when you need him? Probably laughing his ass off right now.' he though.
"Thank you for allowing me this dance, miss." Noctis said as he made a small bow.
"My pleasure, prince Noctis. Will you be so kind to come on the balcony when you're done here?"
"Of course!"
When Noctis entered the balcony he saw something amazing. "...this is" It was a painting of the goddess Etro.
Stella turned to face him. "Are you finish downstairs, prince Noctis?"
"..."
"Can I ask you?"
"What?"
"About the light? The one we saw in the dancing hall."
"Don't ask." he said as he sat on the bench
"Prince, you must be gifted, to be able to see the light in the dark, at least that's the legend in Tenebuira."
"An old legend..."
"Did the goddess lend you hers?"
"I wonder..."
"The Light...What do you think it means?"
"It's a problem."
"My name!"
"Your name?"
"You didn't ask for it."
Noctis wanted to slap himself but instead he remained silent.
"I'm Stella."
When he was about to say something his wrist watch started to beep. 'Talk about the right moments.' he thought. "Stella, I gotta go."
"Sorry for holding you up."
"Noct..."
"Pardon?"
"Just call me Noct."
She smiled. "I had fun today, let's do this again Noct."
He smiled too. "Alright let me think about it..."
"*giggle* 'til next time." she said and left. "See, I've got powers too." she called over her shoulder.
Noctis was about to call Cloud when he turned and find him in front of him.
"About time you finish up with you're girlfriend." he said.
"How did you..."
"Let's skip this, okay?" Cloud said and he and Noctis start walking. "How long until the rest get here?"
Noctis was about to answer him when suddenly and explosion was heard. A transport ship just 'anchored' and guys in knight armor appeared and pointed their guns at people. "They might be a little late." he said and Cloud let out a sigh. "Look on the bright side Cloud."
"Bright side?"
"The party just started."
The knights were pointing at Cloud and Noctis. From the middle of them a man appeared. "Lord Noctis, please excuse us for coming uninvited to your party but Lady Lydia requested to see you."
"Sadly she choose a bad time to ask me on a date, now leave!" he said.
"I'm afraid that you must come, if you wish that your guest leave in one piece." he said and some soldiers scared some civilians by aiming their guns at them.
"This is your last warning, leave or you'll suffer a beating that you never had before."
The men started to laugh. "Oh, yeah. You and what army will do that?" the leader said.
"I don't need an army for that. Me and my associate can handle that." Noctis said and the soldiers burst into laughter. Cloud and Noctis looked at each other and nodded. Without warning they punched the commander and sent him to the dream world. The other soldiers were shocked, they barely registered what happened. Before one of them could give order to open fire all of them joined their leader. "Okay ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming, err, you know where the exit is and I wish a pleasant evening." When he finished his speech the crowd ran like crazy towards the exit. Because there were too many people Noctis couldn't see Stella, but Cloud assured him that she is fine. Once Cloud and Noctis suited up they met up with Gladiolus and Prompto outside.
"Where are Nanaki, Vincent and Ignis?" asked Cloud.
"They are cleaning the east side of the city." Gladiolus told him.
"Noctis your father is escorted out of the city right now. He said that you should come with him, but everyone knows that you're not going to do that." Prompto said.
Noctis smirked at his friends remark. "Okay, we split up, so that we can clean the house faster, will meet up at the central plaza. Cloud I'm sending you a map of the city. It will show you were you are and were you must be." he said and sent him on the phone all he needed.
"Got it!"
"Alright, let's go!"
The name for Noctis's kingdom is invented. 'Luce' means 'Light' in latin, or I hope so. I used an online dex, hope it was right. The real action will start in the next chapter. Please read and leave a review.