"Noct." He stood before him with a kind smile as he cleaned the tears in his son's eyes.

When he heard the news, King Regis quickly came to his son.

Noctis had pushed Selene when he saw her in the garden. He'd screamed at her, called her names, and then the boy had cried and told the other child to stop stealing his father.

Regis felt both happy and sad, to know his son loved him that much… but he was certain that the child his son had pushed, had been hurt by his words, more than the boy thought… He had to reprimand him. Certainly, this was partially his fault, he should have told Noctis about Selene's situation, instead of waiting for the girl to get used to palace life…

"Son, you can't push Selene… it's not right."

"B-but, she's s-stealing you from me."

He cleaned the tears once again. "She is not. I've been busy with court."

"You're lying! The servants said they saw you with her. You love her more than you love me!"

Regis sighed and brought his child to his lap. "Noctis, you are my son, you are the gift of my life, there is no greater treasure more precious than you."

"Then why are you with her? Who is she anyway?"

"She's the daughter of a friend and her father died, protecting ME and her mother died a few years ago." His son's eyes widened at the realization of his words, he saw regret and shame reflecting in his blue eyes, he watched as the boy clenched his shirt and looked at the ground. "Selene has no one to take care of her, she's all alone…"

"So… why is she here?"

"Because I promised to take care of her… she needs someone to do that… I owe her that son, I owe her, because I took her father away from her." He rubbed his son's arms and held his hand tightly as he encouraged him to look back at him. He smiled. "So, can you be nice to her? Can you be her friend?"

"I… I was mean to her…" Noctis blushed and shifted awkwardly in his place. "Will she forgive me?"

The King smiled and ruffled his son's hair. "Well, first, you'll have to apologize and then," He sighed. "Then we'll ask her to be friends. How's that?"

The prince nodded his head firmly. He would apologize, he never meant to hurt her, he was just… jealous…

Noctis shifted uncomfortably as he stood before Selene. He raised his eyes to meet hers and quickly looked away, she had patches on her elbows and hands and her eyes were red and puffed, he felt ashamed. How could she forgive him after he'd hurt her?

His father stood encouragingly next to him and waited patiently. Noctis shifted with his hands and as he took a deep breath in, he spoke. "I-I'm sorry… I hurt you!" His voice was small, and barely audible but, somehow, she heard him.

Selene stared at the boy before her, in truth she didn't want to forgive him over what happened, the boy had taken out on her all of his emotions, she wanted to do the same! She wanted to scream at him, hit him, call him dumb, say that it wasn't her fault her parents were dead! That he had no right to be mean to her! But she said nothing… there was no point in doing so, the hole in her chest wouldn't disappear because of it… so she clenched her hands and instead she gave him forced smile.

"It's alright, I would have been mad too if I thought someone was stealing my daddy." Her voice cracked when she said her father's name… the king noticed but she hopped the boy didn't.

Noctis had noticed, and it made him feel worse…

Even after he had pushed her and called her all those bad names, Selene hadn't refuted, nor tried to defend herself. She'd accepted his insults and remained quiet. She had no dad to be angry for, no mom to console her, he also didn't have his mom, but he still had his dad…

He hated himself for hurting her… For some reason tears filled his eyes and he cried.

Selene and Regis were surprised and before the king could intervene the little girl reached for the young prince and gently embraced him, while whispering soothing words…

Noctis cried more…

She didn't understand. Why was he crying? Had she done something wrong? He kept crying, and as she tried to sooth him, she felt a knot in her stomach. It grew as he cried and it made her heart clench, it made her remember how her father held her when her mother died, it made her remember she would never feel that warmth again, it made her remember she didn't have a mom or dad, it made her remember she was alone…

"D-don't cry." Her voice failed and before she could avoid it, she too began to cry. "I'm, I'm sorry! I d-didn't m-mean to, to hurt you. I-I wasn't t-trying to s-steal your d-dad!"

The king and prince were shocked as they saw the tears falling from her golden eyes.

Selene fell to the ground and continued to cry. The loss, the pain of losing someone dear to her, she knew it too well… "I'm sorry! I'm so-sorry! I d-didn't… I want my daddy! I don't want to be alone! I want my daddy!"

The king quickly leaped for the child along with his son, who tried to sooth her through his own tears. He held the two children close to him. It was the only thing he could do… he couldn't substitute Selene's father, but he wished he could at least give the child some care and love, like he did with Noctis…

They'd slept in the king's room that night. The two children slept cuddled close to one another; his son held onto Selene's hand even as he slept, he hadn't released it since they left the garden. Regis smiled and turned off the lights, he pulled the blanket over the two as he laid beneath the covers with them.

He caressed his son's hair and placed a kiss on it, before he looked at the other child. He passed a hand over her dark hair. "I can't substitute your parents my dear, but… I hope one day, you'll rely on me as well and see me like family…"

He placed a kiss on her hair and laid down to sleep. The king didn't notice as the child with the golden eyes opened her eyes and stared at the two of them, without saying a word, a smile lingered in her lips as she went back to sleep.

Year ME 742

He ran with a mischievous smile upon his lips as he threw the mooglie plush toy and warped just around the corner to grab it. Behind him he heard the annoyed grunt of his friend, followed by the hurried footsteps.

"NOCT! GIVE IT BACK!"

He laughed as he turned to show his tongue before he quickly rushed.

They'd been doing this for the course of an hour, by now he was certain they had ran the entirety of the corridors in the citadel, well at least on that floor.

It all started quite innocently. His father had brought them some gifts from his trip. They were walking back to their room, when the small bickering between the two children started, which resulted in Noctis stealing Selene's present and running away with it.

In all honesty he had no recollection of what the fight had been about, nor did he remember why they'd started this game. But after a while, he realized it was fun to run away from Selene and having her run after him. It wasn't very prince like, and he was certain his etiquette teacher would have a fit if he saw them, but he didn't care, this was fun.

"GOT YOU!"

He was suddenly tackled to the bushes of the indoor garden, when he shook away the initial shock, he looked at Selene surprised.

"How did you do that? You were like five meters away from me!"

Selene's lips curled into a smirk as she took her plushie back. "A lady never reveals her secrets."

Noctis rolled his eyes and got up, proceeding with helping Selene up as well. When the two were back on their feet he grinned at his friend. "So, what do you want to play next?"

Selene frowned at the boy, and then proceeded sighing, there was no use in putting some sense into the boy's head, besides… she hated to admit it, but she had fun.

"No play, we have classes to attend, Evandrus-san said so."

"OH! Come on, Selene! We had classes yesterday and the day before, they won't change, even if we don't go for one day. Please?" He tried to do his best pleading face.

She hated him for that. He knew that if he gave her that face, with his blue eyes shining slightly and an innocent smile, she would cave, she hated that about him and she hated that she always caved.

"Ugh! Fine! But I'm not the one who'll get scolded!"

The prince smiled in triumph, the puppy look always worked.

The two children proceeded into leaving the garden while discussing what to play, neither of them had noticed the King watching the two with a gentle and warm smile. Regis sighed contently, happy that the two were getting along.

Noctis yawned as the teacher went on and on, he was dying for class to be finished. He looked outside and glared at the two children who were waiting for him.

Selene and Ignis were chatting while he had to take that class, it was his punishment for bailing, and surprisingly Selene was able to avoid the extra class, because she threw him under the bus, he frowned and looked back at the teacher, the sooner the old man finished the quicker he could play with his friends.

"So, Noct and Luna will get married?" She asked Ignis who held the history of Eos opened before him.

"Well, I think that's what the people expect, seeing as Noctis is the Chosen King."

She tilted her head to the side. "Who choose him?"

"Pardon?"

"I mean, if you are chosen you must have someone choose you, no?"

Ignis blinked before he chuckled amused. "Yes, the Crystal choose him."

"The one that King Regis controls? It's alive?"

"Noctis will be able to control it too, one day that is…"

Selene scoffed, she couldn't believe that the boy who was such a pain could be such an important person like lord Regis, but… her gaze shifted to the boy who was now writing something on his notebook. She could see them, all around him, the lights… They were different from the King's lights, these were brighter, more powerful than the king's.

"What is the Chosen king supposed to do?"

"Eh? Hum… well…" Ignis thought for a moment, what was Noctis supposed to do? He was the Chosen king, the one in legend. "He'll bring… light."

She eyed the older boy. "What does that mean?" He gave her a smile.

"I'm afraid only the Gods know our fate."

Selene frowned at those words. She didn't like that idea. She knew all about the Gods, about the Oracle, about the chosen King… and she didn't like it. 'Why should the Gods dictate what humans do? Why can't humans do that by themselves?' She voiced out her thought and Ignis quickly placed a hand over her mouth.

"Careful, Selene." He looked around for a moment before sighing and looking back at the girl, removing his hand. "We don't question the Gods, you know what happens to those who tried, you learned it in your lessons, no?" Yes, she had learned. "Sinners are sent to the Abyss, that's their punishment for abandoning humanity and the gods. The world beyond the great rift. No man's land, sinners land, the land that the Ariadust Clan came from… they are just traitors and monsters who threw their back on the Gods."

She clenched the hem of her dress and looked down to the ground. Her knuckles turned white with the strength of her grip, and she tried to do her best not to tremble. After all, Ignis didn't know… How could he know? It was a secret, a secret that her parents taught her from a young age to keep.

"You must never reveal your full name, Selene. Because if you do, they will hate you, they will scorn you, they will try to harm you, so you must never tell them your full name."

Yes, she would never reveal her full name, after all…

"Hey, guys! I'm finished!" She watched as Noctis came out of the lesson with a grin on his face. Her heart clenched and she waved back with a forced smile.

This place was precious to her, these people were precious to her. So, she would forget, she would ignore it, she would renounce it, that name of hers, the name of Selene Hymn D. Ariadust… the sinners Clan.

Year ME 744 Noctis is attacked by daemons and suffers a serious injury.

The scenery passed by as the car went on, the two children sat side by side. The woman smiled as she saw the young prince leaning against the girl's shoulder, they looked so cute.

She looked outside and sighed, they were almost to the city the car was driving slowly and safely nothing should happen, until it did.

When the car in the front exploded the two children woke and stared at the flames in front of them, the nanny quickly placing herself around the two.

The driver stopped the car, to avoid entering the range of flames. "What happened?"

Another explosion occurred. From his seat Noctis could see the Crownsguard that rode the rear car coming out of it.

"Oh dear," His aide said as she reached for him. His gaze shifted to Selene who was next to him, watching the flames with apprehension.

Gently he held her hand, giving it a squeeze and smiling when she looked at him. "It'll be okay." He mouthed.

"I'll have a look." The guard in the car offered as he prepared to open the door the driver stopped him.

"Wait!" They stared at the flames, the driver squinted his eyes as he tried to decipher the strange movement he'd seen.

Selene eyed the flames again, her eyes noticing something among the fire, something dark, like a spore? But... not a spore? She watched as something slithered behind the car, she felt her hand being squeezed as a serpent like creature rose from the flaming car.

A half woman and half snake creature, with six arms, each holding a different weapon, her eyes glowed a tinge of red in the darkness as she glared at them.

"A daemon?!"

"What is a Daemon doing here!?" The guards exclaimed.

"Has there been a leak in the wall?" One asked as it tried to reach for its gun.

"Protect his Highness!"

Selene didn't take her eyes from the monster, the Daemon didn't take long to reach them, she watched as it raised the swords in its hands and thrusted it towards the front of the car.

Red filled her vision. The smell of burned rubber and oil finally reached her nose. Screaming reached her ears.

She watched as the daemon stabbed the front of the car over and over, while grunting, it had a smile on its lips, it was having fun while killing. She felt a tug as the aide pushed them through the opened door and out towards the open field.

Noctis held her hand tightly as his other hand was pulled by the running woman.

As they ran, she heard the distinctive noise of a gunshot, being fired repeatedly. 'The other guards.' She assumed, they were attacking the monster.

"Protect the Prince!" She heard their screams, and she felt the hand that held hers being squeezed even more. They had no way of surviving, they were throwing their lives away for them.

Selene glanced back as the daemon peaked through the driver's window of their car, their eyes met. A shiver traveled down her spine as the car exploded and those red eyes looked at her through the flames.

She saw how the gorgon rose from behind the flames and growled at them. Sharp swords shone ominously as they cut through the fire and towards them.

The aide screamed as she was slashed from behind, her body trying to protect the prince. As she fell so did Noctis and Selene…

He watched slightly dazed as the ground filled with something viscous and warm… he raised his gaze to the serpent's tail that circled around them. As he felt the warmth on his arm, he looked at his hand to see red.

This was blood.

He turned to his aide, and in his innocent mind he knew she was dead. And, as the monster raised its six blades and looked at him, tilting its head as if pondering what to do, Noctis knew… he would die too…

But then something strange happened. As the daemon stared at him, it froze. Noctis felt something beside him move, someone held his other hand and placed itself before him and the monster.

'No!' He thought, as he knew who it was. 'Don't!' He tried to speak but his voice didn't come out.

Selene looked at the daemon. She wasn't afraid, this wasn't the first time she'd met one of them. Like before their gazes clashed and the girl recognized something in the Daemon's eyes she'd seen before… fear.

She maintained her gaze until ethereal, glass like, swords clashed with it.

The monster growled outraged and glared to the outsider.

King Regis stood with a furious and fearful glare as he looked at the Daemon, his swords circling around him.

"Check for survivors!" He ordered as he didn't take his eyes from the monster.

The little girl sighed and turned to Noctis with a smile. "Noct, your dad's here! You'll be okay!"

He wanted to say something but couldn't… soon enough the Crownsguard approached them and quickly began tending to his wounds, from between their figures Noctis saw his father… he was sweating, and his gaze was fixed on the monster, but he felt relieved… his dad came to save him… the last thing he remembered before he passed out was seeing his father's terrified expression.

"NOCT!"

AN: As promised part 2, I'll try to update a chapter every two to three weeks, so look forwards to it! Bye!