Flames erupted into the sky, illuminating the darkness brought by the night. A large snake-like daemon was the cause of the flames. It slithered through the cars in search of its next target to slay. The half-woman/half-snake daemon peered into the cars with its swords drawn.

Noctis was dragged out of the car by his mother. She tried to usher him to safety away from the marilith, but it spotted them. It swung its swords, slicing the woman's back. She screamed at the top of her lungs as blood spurted from the large, deep gash. Her body toppled over and pinned the eight-year-old boy to the ground.

Laying in a pool of his mother's blood, Noctis was in utter shock. He couldn't process the horror he was witnessing. All he could see was the large daemon looking over him and his mother's corpse. He stared blankly at it as his mind desperately tried to understand what was happening.

The marilith swung its blade at the young prince, but its attack was intercepted by a rift. Its four arms penetrated the rift and before it could retract them, it sealed and severed its arms. The daemon cried out in pain and its tail lashed around.

Noctis' unfocused eyes drifted to a figure emerging from a toppled-over car. They limped towards him with a hand pressed against their bleeding side. He couldn't make out who it was until they drew closer. His once unsteady gaze managed to focus on who it was. "Makina," he weakly whispered her name.

The armless marilith set its sight on the princess. Although it was now weaponless, it still could use its tail. With what sounded like a hiss combined with a shout, it lashed out its tail.

Just before it struck Makina, she held up her hand and froze time. The daemon and the flames from the cars ceased. She lowered her hand as a surge of pain coursed through her chest. A whimper fell from her lips as the pain moved from her chest to her head. With her other hand, she pressed the palm against her left eye as a black substance leaked from the corner of it. From her right eye, a silver substance trailed down her face. An unbearable pain reverberated in her head, eliciting a bloodcurdling scream from her.

Makina fought through the pain and lowered her left hand to reveal the white of her was tainted black. Her right glistened with silver. Her lilac irises were brighter than usual and her pupils were now slits. She took a few more steps towards Noctis before falling to her knees, exhausted. She smiled apologetically to him. "I-I'm sorry, Noctis." With those final words, she collapsed and fell unconscious.

Noctis feebly reached out to her as time slowly restarted. His eyes widen in horror when the marilith went to attack the unconscious girl. Its tail whipped towards her.

Just as Noctis was about to shout her name...

༻──── ⋇⋆✦⋆⋇ ────༺

He woke up.

With a startled gasp, the prince sat up to find himself in his apartment. He had fallen asleep on the couch while waiting for Ignis and Gladiolus to arrive. He leaned against the back pillows and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Dammit..."

Prompto, who was spending the night, heard Noctis from across the room. He sauntered over and sat down beside him. "You doin' okay, buddy?"

"Yeah," Noctis grumbled. "But this nightmare could lay off..."

"Oh, that..." Prompto knew exactly what nightmare he was talking about. "Well, look on the bright side! Maybe Makina will see us off tomorrow. Maybe seeing her will get rid of the nightmare."

The prince leaned forward. He combed a hand through his messy raven locks, worry etched across his face. Makina had left a couple months ago to undergo more training and hadn't kept in contact with him or the others. Tomorrow was the day he would leave Insomnia to head to Altissia to wed Lunafreya.

It wasn't the leaving that worried him. It was the conversation he needed to have with the girl.
For the past two years, he'd been in a romantic relationship with her. After she left for training, his engagement to Lunafreya was announced. It tore at his heart that he would need to break up with Makina. He didn't want to break up with her. Instead, he wished she was the one he was supposed to marry. He adored Lunafreya, but only as a friend. He loved Makina with every fiber of his being and didn't want to end their relationship over an engagement that was forced upon him.

"Maybe..." Noctis mumbled.

Prompto was aware of Makina and Noctis' relationship. In fact, he was the one who encouraged the prince to pursue the princess. He found the idea of a prince of Eos and a princess of Iona to be a fairytale that needed to be written down in a book. But now that his best friend was being forced to marry another woman, he knew he wasn't doing too well because of how much he loved Makina. He could tell just how much Noctis abhorred the idea of having to end his relationship with the princess.

The blonde patted his friend's shoulder. He wanted to give him hope. "I know you're engaged and all, but you never know what could happen. Something might change and you'll be able to stay with Makina."

"Doubt it," Noctis scoffed.

"With that kinda attitude, nothing's gonna happen," Prompto sighed. He leaned back, folding his hands behind his head. "Man, if only Makina was here... You'd listen to her."

The prince eyed his best friend. "What're you talking about?"

"Don't pretend like you don't know! Whether Makina realizes it or not, she has you wrapped around her finger. You're like putty in her hands whenever stuff like this comes up." Prompto crossed his arms with a pout. "Why don'tcha listen to your best buddy once in a while, huh?"

"She doesn't have me wrapped around her finger," Noctis remarked.

"Dude, she does. You just don't realize it. Even after two years, you're still head-over-heels for her!"

His eyes narrowed. "What's wrong with that?"

"Nothing! It's just...you both act like you just started dating a few weeks ago even after this long. What keeps that spark ignited?"

Noctis shrugged his shoulder. "How should I know?"

Prompto wanted to question him further but knew he wouldn't get any answers. He groaned and decided to give up. "Whatever, dude..."

A few minutes later, Ignis and Gladiolus arrived. The four were planning to have a small celebration before their departure.

While Prompto and Gladiolus chatted, Noctis wandered into the kitchen to see Ignis. His advisor was busy making dinner for the four of them, but that didn't stop him from pestering him. He cleared his throat and spoke up. "Hey. So, uh..."

"No," Ignis promptly replied.

Noctis blinked in surprise. "How the hell did you know what I was gonna ask?"

"You inquire about Makina on a daily basis whenever I arrive."

The prince didn't realize how often he asked about Makina until now. He looked away from his advisor with a heavy sigh. "I can't believe she hasn't contacted anyone ever since she left."

"She is a busy woman occupied with improving her abilities. You could show the same determination as her," Ignis replied.

Noctis didn't have a snarky remark and fell silent. He walked out of the kitchen with a grumpy expression on his face. He returned to the couch and flopped down on the comfy cushions. He threw his head back and gazed at the ceiling. He tuned out Gladiolus and Prompto's conversation, searching for a solution to his predicament.

After a few minutes, Noctis sat up and pulled out his phone. Tapping the home button, he was greeted by a smiling Makina. He had taken the picture a year ago and set it as his background on his phone. Now, it felt bittersweet to see the image. He unlocked his phone and accessed his conversation with her. He saw the many texts he's sent her in the past couple months, but none of them had been read. It only made his concern skyrocket. Being pessimistic, he immediately thought about the negatives. He wondered if something bad has happened to her.

"I see Prince Charmless is still worried about Cinderella."

Hearing Gladiolus' deep voice, Noctis looked away from his phone. "What's wrong with that?"

"Did I say something was wrong?" The shield remarked. "I was just stating the obvious. And before you ask, she hasn't contacted me either."

At this point, Prompto was starting to worry. Makina was his friend too. "You guys don't think something happened to her, do you?"

"Nonsense," Ignis responded as he walked into the living room after finishing dinner. "Makina is capable of holding her own. She will be fine."

The blonde glanced around at the faces of his friends. "You think we'll see her tomorrow?"

Noctis shoved his phone back into his pocket. "Guess we'll only know if we do see her tomorrow."

༻──── ⋇⋆✦⋆⋇ ────༺

The day of departure arrived. Noctis found himself standing before his father in the throne room of the Citadel with Ignis, Prompto, and Gladiolus standing behind him. Beside the king was Fellux and Drautos. He wanted to question the king of Iona, but his father addressed him before he could say anything. "The decreed hour has come. Set forth with my blessing, Prince Noctis."

Noctis bows. "Thank you... Your Majesty."

"Take your leave, and go in the grace of the gods."

He lifts his head and straightens back up. "Right."

Noctis turns and walks past his friends, who look startled and confused. The three quickly turn back to the king and bow before setting off after the prince.

Regis stared at his son's back with a despondent expression. He was unhappy with the proceedings, knowing Noctis was keeping his feelings bottled up. He was aware this arrangement wasn't in the prince's favor. He glanced away from Noctis and towards Fellux. They both exchanged worried glances before proceeding to follow after him.

On the steps of the citadel, the two kings and Drautos caught up with the prince and his friends.

"Your Highness!" Drautos shouted.

Noctis stops and turns to see his father at the top of the steps accompanied by Fellux and Drautos. Seeing his father descending the stairs with his braced leg and walking stick, he sighed. "What now?"

Noctis walks back up some steps to meet his dad halfway as Fellux followed after Regis to support his friend to prevent him from falling.

Regis thanks Fellux before turning to speak to his son. "I fear I have left too much unsaid. You place a great burden on those who would bear with you."

"You're one to talk," Noctis remarked with a smirk.

Regis looks at the prince's friends and begins to address them. "I ask not that you guide my wayward son, merely that you remain at his side."

Ignis bows. "Indeed, Your Grace."

"We'll see the prince to Altissia if it's the last thing we do," Gladiolus reassured the king.

Prompto nodded. "Yeah, what he said."

"Hate to break this up, but Cor's got the motor running," Noctis stated.

"There is another matter we must discuss," Regis said, stopping his son before he could turn to leave.

"Yeah, and what's that?"

Fellux stepped forward while supporting the king. "We are aware this arrangement is unfair to you and my daughter. It has also been brought to my attention she has yet to be informed of the news. Her departure was sudden, but I assure she is well and will understand."

Noctis looked away from the former king of Iona. "Guess she hasn't contacted you either."

"Alas, she hasn't. However, you need not worry. I will inform her of the arrangements made once she returns."

The melancholy Noctis felt yesterday returned tenfold. "Right..." Wanting to leave as quick as possible, he started descending the stairs. "Fellux, Drautos, he's in your hands."

Regis stopped his son a second time. "And another thing."

"Again?" He groaned before turning to face his father once again.

"Do mind your manners around your charming bride-to-be."

Noctis walks back to Regis and bows with a deliberately exaggerated flourish. "Your Majesty, as well. Try to mind yours around our esteemed guests from Niflheim."

"You have no cause for concern," Regis reassured his son.

"Nor do you," the prince remarked.

"Take heed. Once you set forth, you cannot turn back," he warned him.

"You think I would?"

Regis stared into his son's eyes with a serious expression. "I need only know that you are ready to leave home behind."

"Don't know about you, but I'm ready as I'll ever be," Noctis responded. He turns to leave once again only to be interrupted by his father a third time.

"Take care on the long road," Regis said. Noctis stops once more and turns. The king continues speaking as he walks to his son again with help from Fellux. "Wheresoever you should go, the line of Lucis goes with you." He puts his left hand on Noctis' right shoulder. "Walk tall, my son."

Those were the king's final words before Noctis and his friends left Insomnia.

Not too far from the city gates, Noctis rested his arm on the door and placed his chin in his palm. He gazed out at the passing scenery as a single memory from two years ago surfaced in his mind.

༻──── ⋇⋆✦⋆⋇ ────༺

After high school graduation, Noctis was celebrating with Prompto, Gladiolus, Ignis, and Makina. They were in his apartment, munching down on the various dishes Ignis had made. They were going out later to continue their celebration.

Prompto and Noctis were sitting on the couch while Gladiolus and Ignis were talking in the kitchen. The prince looked around to see Makina wasn't around. He stood up from the couch to look for her and saw she was on the balcony.

"Dude," Prompto stood up and shoved him forward. "Just ask her out already."

Noctis didn't argue. He wandered out the sliding glass door and closed it behind him so the others couldn't eavesdrop. "Hey."

Makina, who had been leaning against the metal railing, pushed off it. She smiled at him. "Hey. What brings you out here?"

"I could ask you the same thing," he remarked. He walked over and stood beside her.

The snowy-haired girl glanced back up at the night sky. "On nights when the moon is full, you can see Iona from the city. On other nights, it's hard to see with the barrier and the city lights."

"Is that why we couldn't find you some nights while we were living in the Citadel?"

"Exactly." She combed a few snowy locks behind her ear. "Now that brings us back to you."

"Just...wanted to get some fresh air," Noctis lied.

"Uh-huh, sure." She crossed her arms. "Now are you gonna tell me the truth or lie again?"

He sighed. "I really can't hide anything from you." Then he remembered why he was here. "Well, maybe one thing..."

"We've known each other for twelve years." She leaned her back against the railing. "So, what's on your mind?"

"A lot, actually. But..." Noctis tried to force his confession. His mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. He groaned at his own failure. "Damn, why is this so hard...?"

"Wait..." She unfolded her arms and tilted her head to the side. Her snowy locks followed her movement. "Does this have to do with what Prom told me?"

The prince's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What did he tell you?"

The corners of her lips curled upward to form a smirk. "He may have told me about your crush."

Noctis' entire body tensed. He gripped the railing tightly, his knuckles having turned white. "He did?"

"Yeah," she laughed. "You don't have to be embarrassed. You like Lunafreya. I'm not surprised, especially since you spent a lot of time in Tenebrae."

He couldn't believe his ears. Prompto hadn't mentioned the crush by name, but Makina automatically assumed it was Lunafreya. He found himself staring into her violent eyes in disbelief. "Are you being serious right now?"

"Am I wrong?" She asked.

"Very."

"Hmm..." She tapped her finger against her chin. "It has to be someone in our class, then. Maybe Gemma or Ember? Oh! It definitely has to be Mai. She always has been—"

"You're unbelievable," he interrupted her. "It's you, dummy. We'll be here for the rest of the night if you keep trying to guess."

Makina tried to laugh it off. "You're not being serious, are you?" She realized how that sounded and quickly tried to correct herself. "Sorry, I'm not trying to insult you or anything."

"Do I look like I'm lying?" Noctis retorted.

She examined his face and body language. None of his nervous twitches were happening. He wasn't looking away or rubbing the back of his neck. Her eyes widen when realizing he was telling the truth. "Oh sweet Astrals, you're not." She grabbed his face with both hands and turned his head in both directions. "You didn't hit your head, did you?"

Noctis rolled his eyes. He grabbed her wrists and lowered her arms while staring deeply into her lilac pools. "Why is it so hard for you to believe I like you?"

Her cheeks were gradually turning red. "Because I've liked you for a while now and can't believe it's mutual. I didn't say anything because I thought you were head-over-heels for Luna."

"So, does that mean...?" Noctis' eyes glistened with hope.

She snorted with laughter when he couldn't bring himself to say "couple." "I guess so."

Noctis gripped her wrists tighter. He took a step closer to her and closed the distance left between them. As he leaned down to press his lips against hers...

༻──── ⋇⋆✦⋆⋇ ────༺

Noctis was stirred from his thoughts at the sound of a sputtering engine. He realized they were no longer in the city and were venturing down a road surrounded by dessert-like landscape. Seeing the car was slowing down, he leaned forward in his seat and asked the person behind the wheel who happened to be Prompto at the time. "What's wrong?"

Prompto checked the dashboard for any sign of what was wrong with the car. "I-I don't know!"

"Pull over," Ignis instructed the blonde.

He did as the advisor said and parked the Regalia on the side of the road. Everyone except for Noctis exited the vehicle. Gladiolus and Ignis checked to see what was the problem while Prompto paced nervously.

Noctis waited impatiently to hear from his shield and advisor. He gazed out at the landscape only to find his impatience growing. Trying to stave off his boredom, he pulled out his phone. He checked his messages, but he didn't find anything from Makina. With a disappointed sigh, he shoved his phone back into his pocket.

A few minutes later, Prompto received word from Gladiolus and Ignis about the car. He then passed on the news to the prince. "So, uh...the car's not moving anytime soon."

Noctis threw his head back with a groan. "Great..."