Chapter Text
The day the Lucian royalty arrived in Tenebrae, Lunafreya had spent most of the morning pacing around her room.
The room itself was quiet, except for each step she took across the wooden floor. The activity below her was muffled by floors and walls and closed doors, but a hurricane of thoughts spun in her mind.
Queen Sylva had told her children the week before of the special visitors who were soon coming. Visitors to Fenestala Manor were not uncommon, as many people flocked there to seek healing from the Queen Oracle Sylva nox Fleuret. Just as often, Queen Sylva would leave the manor to go to those who could not come to her.
However, Queen Sylva explained that this time, things were different. Their visitors were not of the common folk, and they came for more than healing. She emphasized that King Regis Lucis Caelum was a friend above all, and that Lunafreya and Ravus were to be kind to him and King Regis’ son, the Crown Prince Noctis.
The admonishment was not directed at Lunafreya, and she knew that. Her manners were impeccable, but Ravus’ often left things to be desired. Her older brother was of the age where children were often surly.
Most importantly, Lunafreya knew that her meeting Prince Noctis was a fateful event.
But she was worried.
Lunafreya wasn’t supposed to be worried, so she only paced where no one would see her. She was supposed to be happy, to think about how this meeting would set her on a path of predestined future.
Twelve-year-old Lunafreya had only one secret, and it was that she didn’t want to ever see the future she was supposed to help along.
The story as she was supposed to know it was laid out in her Cosmogony books, and had been taught to her since she was young. The divine messenger Gentiana had come to stay in Fenestala Manor since Lunafreya was only four years old, and all her studies since then focused on preparing her for her future duties as Oracle. Lunafreya had known since she was small that Noctis Lucis Caelum was the Chosen King of Light, the future King of Lucis that Lunafreya was sworn to aid, as the future Oracle.
Lunafreya’s troubled thoughts came because of what was not written in her volumes of Eos’ history, or spelled out in her studies. Maybe that was meant to protect her - a mere child - from the truth of the matter. But it made her feel like she was being used, and her otherwise unshakeable faith almost wavered in the face of it.
She hadn’t meant to run into anyone, let alone the Accursed, on the fateful afternoon that had changed everything . Lunafreya had just turned eleven and had snuck out of the manor’s gardens, only meaning to stay out for an hour.
When she met the ‘man of no consequence’ he recognized her, and their encounter had ended after he told her a story, and he had taken his leave quickly when Pryna appeared to guide Luna home.
Perhaps some of it had been embellished. Lunafreya knew that logically, she should assume that everything the Accursed had said were lies meant to manipulate her. But her heart told her it wasn’t. At least in one case, Ardyn had told her the truth, the only truth Lunafreya had never wanted to hear.
Even though she had yet to meet him, Lunafreya didn’t want Noctis to die.
Just thinking about it made her insides burn. Maybe Gentiana wouldn’t be mad if she found out what Lunafreya knew. But the messenger would surely tell Queen Sylva, who would not be happy to find out how Lunafreya had learned this.
And neither would be happy to hear that Lunafreya didn’t want to accept it.
She was sure that meeting Noctis was only going to make things worse. She hadn’t told a soul what she knew, and it hurt everytime she thought about. It wasn’t fair. It was cruel, and Lunafreya hated it. But a child had no way to do anything about it, so Lunafreya paced.
It wasn’t easy to push these thoughts away when someone came to tell her to join her mother and brother, and the three of them stood on the steps of the manor to greet the Lucian royalty as their friends.
Lunafreya watched the convoy of dark vehicles pull up. They stuck out against the natural backdrop of Tenebrae, like stickers pressed into a scene that didn’t match. The people who exited the cars all wore dark clothes, and most of them turned their focus to one car in the center of the convoy.
Lunafreya picked out King Regis with ease, as every Lucian guard in the vicinity was looking his way and the man held himself in a regal manner.
King Regis was focused on something else, and Lunafreya didn’t quite understand until she got her first glimpse of Noctis.
When King Regis had settled his son in the wheelchair, Queen Sylva descended the steps. Ravus and Lunafreya stayed put, watching.
The wheelchair made Noctis look even smaller, Lunafreya observed. He wasn’t looking around much, his eyes shadowed by his dark bangs. Lunafreya couldn’t even catch his eyes and offer a smile, although she tried. Noctis’ eyes stayed mostly set on his father.
Lunafreya watched as King Regis and her mother shook hands, and then the sovereigns shared a hug. So they were friends. Queen Sylva didn’t greet many people with that much familiarity.
The Queen turned, leading the Lucian royals towards the manor. She was speaking, telling King Regis how much of a pleasure it was to see him after all this time.
There was another man at King Regis’ shoulder, and he helped make sure the wheelchair safely got to the top of the stairs. Now Queen Sylva turned to her children, gesturing them forward.
There was a bounce in Lunafreya’s step. She was torn between her excitement at the meeting and her fear. To have a new friend was a wonderful thing, but Lunafreya was afraid to look into Noctis’ eyes and not be able to forget that this was the boy the Astrals wanted her to lead to slaughter. Like he wasn’t just a little boy.
Lunafreya swore she felt Gentiana’s hand on her shoulder, and glanced up to see - but the messenger was nowhere to be seen.
“This is my son Ravus, and my daughter Lunafreya.” Queen Sylva was saying softly, and Lunafreya quickly looked back at their guests.
King Regis stepped around his son’s wheelchair to offer a handshake to both of them. Ravus murmured a polite greeting, and Lunafreya looked up at King Regis’ face as he shook her hand.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you both.” The Lucian King said, and the smile on his face was so genuine that Lunafreya had to smile back.
When King Regis stepped back, he quietly prompted Noctis, saying, “Introduce yourself, son.”
The nudge made Noctis raised his head higher, tentatively making eye contact with Ravus and Lunafreya. Lunafreya smiled at him, trying to be encouraging. “I’m Noctis.” He said, voice still shy and soft.
Lunafreya didn’t want to let her heart break now, but it was hard to keep it together.
That evening, the royalty of Tenebrae and Lucis dined together. King Regis and Queen Sylva spoke during most of the meal; Ravus seemed rather sullen this night, for reasons Lunafreya wasn’t sure of, and Lunafreya herself couldn’t find many words. Noctis was completely silent.
Everytime Lunafreya looked at him, she wanted to scream. This was the little boy that the Astrals wanted to put to death. Her faith in the Six was strong, and Lunafreya had always believed in her calling, but she couldn’t understand this. Were they ever going to tell her? Was she meant to lead him by the hand to his death?
It was supposed to be for the good of the world, so that the Accursed and the Starscourge would be forever destroyed. But all Lunafreya could see was a little boy who would never truly live, because of mistakes that were not his own.
Lunafreya was jerked from her thoughts at the end of dinner, when Queen Sylva suggested, “Lunafreya, why don’t you show Noctis around our home?”
Lunafreya’s head shot up to look at her mother. She nodded dutifully, putting a smile on her face. She pushed her chair out and rounded the table to approach Noctis.
His eyes moved to her as she came to his side.
“Hello.” She said softly.
“Hi.” He answered back.
“It’s very nice here, I think you’ll like it.” Lunafreya offered as she carefully reached for the handles of the wheelchair, her eyes asking permission.
“Yeah.” Noctis answered, and his small nod comforted Lunafreya. She gripped the wheelchair and gently rotated it, trying to be as careful as possible. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the pair of sovereigns watching them. Both Queen Sylva and King Regis looked pleased.
Lunafreya turned her head just enough that her hair would hide her face, and pushed Noctis’ chair out of the dining hall.
Lunafreya spoke as they went, telling Noctis idle things about the manor and the history of Tenebrae, posing a rhetorical question to him every once in awhile to see him nod or hum in acknowledgement.
They pause at the base of the main, great staircase. “I’d show you my room.” Lunafreya said, glancing up the stairs. “But maybe later.” She finished apologetically.
“I can walk.” It’s the first full sentence Lunafreya has heard him speak. “I just get tired. And it hurts sometimes.”
“It’s alright.” Lunafreya answered quickly. She didn’t want to get them into trouble, or having Noctis hurting his first night in Tenebrae. “I know! I can introduce you to Umbra and Pryna.”
Noctis looked up at her, a little confused, as Lunafreya stuck two fingers into her mouth and whistled.
A bark answered, and then out of nowhere, two dogs bounded up to Lunafreya’s feet. She laughed and knelt.
“Noctis, this is Umbra-” Lunafreya patted the darker dog, “and Pryna.” She finished, petting the white dog.
Noctis extended a hand and Pryna pushed her head under it. For the first time, Lunafreya saw a smile work its way onto Noctis’ face.
Lunafreya scratched Umbra, smiling. “They’re messengers, and also very good friends.”
Pryna started licking Noctis’ hand, and the boy let out a small laugh. “I like them.” He agreed.
The two played with the dogs for awhile before Lunafreya continued the tour. The pups accompanied them now, scampering along the halls.
Toward the end of the night, as Lunafreya was bringing Noctis back to the room where he would be staying, he spoke.
“Hey, can I call you Luna?”
The question made her pause before she kept walking. “I think I’d like that very much. Everyone always calls me by my full name, but...Luna. I like it.”
Luna smiled at him and Noctis smiled back.
Luna promised Noctis before leaving him that she would show him the gardens, soon. “Sylleblossoms are flowers native to Tenebrae. They’re beautiful, I think you’ll like them.”
Noctis nodded. “Oh, Luna?”
“Yes?”
“You can call me Noct, by the way.”
Luna grinned. “Alright. Goodnight, Noct.”
“Goodnight Luna.”
Queen Sylva gave Luna a tight hug before sending her daughter to bed.
“Thank you for being so kind to him.” The Queen murmured. “King Regis said he has not seen his son so light-hearted in some time.”
“He’s very nice, I like him a lot.” Luna confessed. “I want to show him the gardens, and the fields of sylleblossoms. I think he’ll like it.”
“I think he will, sweetheart.”
“Mom, is he going to be okay?” Luna couldn’t help but ask.
Queen Sylva pressed a kiss to Lunafreya’s forehead. “Yes, dearest. He has been recovering well from his injuries, and I will be able to handle the rest. I promise all will be well.”
The answer comforted Luna, and she bid her mother goodnight and went to bed.
She got to her room before she started crying.
Umbra and Pryna pushed their noses against her hands, trying to give comfort. Luna sniffed and curled up on her bed. The dogs curled up against her.
“Wherefore does the lady weep?”
The voice was kind and concerned, and Luna opened her eyes to see Gentiana silhouetted against the window.
She couldn’t tell the truth; at least, not the full truth.
“I’m worried for him.” Lunafreya whispered. “He’s so small.”
Gentiana gently laid her hand on Luna’s head, stroking her hair. “The prince of light will be well. The Oracle will see to it.”
Luna didn’t answer. She knew Gentiana meant well, but the Messenger didn’t know that Lunafreya’s fears were about a further future, about Noctis’ destiny.
“The young lady must keep her faith. The Chosen King may yet be young, but the lady growing close to him will soothe both of their hearts.”
“Yes.” Luna whispered tearfully, rubbing her eyes with her palms.
“Try to sleep, and as the sun will rise, fear will be chased from the lady’s heart.”
Luna closed her eyes for a long moment, and when she opened them again, Gentiana was gone.
She was sure the High Messenger was still watching. Luna slid off the bed and changed into her pajamas before she crawled back under the blankets.
Noct was her friend; Luna knew that for certain. Even if only for this short time, all would be well. Maybe after Noctis went home, Lunafreya would try to talk to her mother about the prophecy and seek solace.
All will be well, Luna thought. All will be well.
Luna didn’t see Noctis walk for three more days, as they traipsed through the manor and the gardens having all kinds of fun. This was also the third day in a row that Luna had taken him to the sylleblossom fields, and this time, as they went past a knoll covered in flowers, Noctis suggested they sit atop it for awhile.
Luna glanced between the hill and the wheelchair, uncertain if she had the strength to get it up to the top, especially through the thick flowers.
Noctis braced himself on the arms of the wheelchair and told Luna he would be fine.
She had worried, but the two of them made it to the top with more ease than Luna had expected. Her concern was soon forgotten as they laughed and picked flowers to make crowns.
Luna finished lacing the last of the stems together and leaned over, delicately placing the crown on Noct’s dark-haired head.
“I crown you, King Noctis!” Luna announced and they both giggled.
Noctis quickly went to finish the crown in his hands, and Luna ducked her head so that he could reach.
“I crown you, Queen Luna!” He told her as he placed it over her ears.
Umbra was pushing his nose into the crook of Luna’s arm, and she pets the dog’s ears. “The Queen Oracle and the King of Light.” Luna said with a smile. “Rulers both brave and kind.”
“Light?” Noctis queried, and that one word made Lunafreya’s blood run cold. She had managed to forget, for the last few days, and the title had slipped off her tongue. Years of believing in her calling was not written over so easily.
“Yes.” Luna said, tugging Umbra a little closer. “Do you know the stories?”
“I think.” Noctis said, frowning a little. “Not as well as you, probably.”
“Well.” Luna started, swallowing hard. She hoped Noctis would not know her apprehension. “It’s a title for a special king of Lucis. It was said by Bahamut that one day, the Chosen King would come. And that’s you.”
A bark made Luna and Noct both jump, and Luna whipped her head around to see Pryna bounding up the hill. She rolled up onto her knees, rubbing the dog’s snout and thanking the Astrals for the timely intervention. “Come on.” Luna said, getting to her feet and brushing off her knees. “There’s a pond further along here that I haven’t shown you yet, there’s beautiful fish in there.”
“What kind of fish?” Noctis asked, sounding excited once more. Luna offered him her hands, and helped haul him to his feet.
“I’m not quite sure what they are? But they’re a rainbow of colors, and they’re wonderful.”
“Goodnight, Luna.”
“Goodnight, Noct.”
When Luna left Noctis that evening, she still felt unsettled. She thought that she should try and tell him about the prophecy, about the Crystal and what being the Chosen King meant; but telling him about the caveat seemed like a mistake. She couldn’t unload that horrible, horrible thing onto him -- it would be cruel.
She was halfway back to her room when a voice jerked her from her thoughts.
“I don’t find him very impressive.”
Lunafreya stopped and turned to look at her brother, who was scowling at her. Luna scowled back.
“He’s a boy, Ravus. And he’s my friend. I don’t know what you think he should be like.”
“He’s supposed to the King of Kings , the legend itself, and he won’t even talk to most people.” Ravus sneered. Luna’s scowl deepened.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Lunafreya said stiffly. “You fudged all of your studies on that part of Cosmogony lore anyways.”
Ravus didn’t snap something back, because Luna was right.
“Not to mention, you’ve not spoken a word to him, so you wouldn’t know what he’s like.” Luna’s tone grew hotter. “Don’t make erroneous assumptions just because you want to be mean. It’s not becoming of you.”
Ravus spun on his heel and stormed down the hall. Luna resisted the urge to make faces at his back, because it wouldn’t amount to anything.
With a huff, Luna turned away and hurried the rest of the way to her room, eager to sleep and put this day behind her.
Luna and Noct spend the rest of the week in relative joy. The dogs chased them through the halls and Luna ran as fast as she could, pushing Noct’s wheelchair down the halls and taking the corners as quick as she dared. It was more fun than Luna had had in years, since Ravus had started pushing her away in favor of being grumpy.
One afternoon, Luna knew she had one thing to do before their time was up. So as Noct settled on her bed, she pulled out one of her Cosmogony books.
She knew the story well enough to tell it without the book, but she sat beside Noctis and flipped through the pages as she talked.
“The Crystal was gifted to mankind, so we might know lasting prosperity.” She focused on her breathing throughout the whole story. She ran her hand along the illustration and glanced at Noctis.
“If the Crystal belongs to everyone, how come only Lucis gets to use it?” Noct’s eyebrows were drawn together.
“The Kings of Lucis do not simply use the Crystal; they also protect it.” Luna explained.
“Wait, so my dad’s guarding it?” Luna supposed it made sense that Noctis didn’t really know. He was so little, and Luna supposed eventually being king wasn’t the same as becoming the Oracle. She’d been in training since she was younger than he was now.
“Yes.” Luna confirmed.
There was awe on his face and in his voice. “I had no idea.”
Luna took a deep breath. “To crown the King of Light is the calling of the Crystal. And keeping the Crystal safe until that day falls to the line of Lucis.”
“And I’m the Chosen?” It felt like there was a heavy pressure on Luna’s chest. Of course he remembered the conversation they’d already had.
“Yes.” Luna nodded, reaching over to set her hand on Noct’s. “Only the True King, anointed by the Crystal, can purge our star of its Scourge.” She recited the words while trying not to think about them. It was her responsibility, her duty, to tell Noctis the story. But she couldn’t tell him the truth, even though it tore her apart.
“You really think I can do that?” Noctis had come out of his shell during their week together, but some of his initial shyness tinged his voice.
Luna nodded confidently. “As Oracle, I will see to it.”
Noctis tilted his head. “Huh?”
“To aid the King is the Oracle’s calling.” She explained. “I will do everything I can to help you.” If there was any promise she could and would keep, it was that one.
Noctis bit his lip but nodded. “Then I guess I can do it. I won’t let you down!”
Lunafreya couldn’t help but smile. “I know you won’t.”
The last day that Lunafreya and Noctis would spend together in Tenebrae, there was a bit of chill in the air. Luna wore a cloak with a furred neckline over her clothes and Noct had a scarf tucked into his jacket. Lunafreya and Noctis laughed as she pushed the wheelchair through the grass, following after King Regis and Queen Sylva.
Luna was mid-sentence, saying something to make Noctis laugh. She could see the pair of sovereigns watching their children with smiles on their faces in her peripheral vision, and Ravus standing behind his mother in the half-circle of guards and other nobles who accompanied the royals.
Noise and shadows suddenly cast on the ground below made Luna pause her words to glance upward, and she had only a few seconds to realize what the metal bastions were as they cut the sky, before there were metal soldiers dropping down, coming down all around them.
In an instant, the whole of Tenebrae was ablaze.