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“Alright, Luna, spit it out,” Iris said knowingly as she pulled the car she was driving out of Insomnia and onto the road to Hammerhead. “What’s the real reason for this last second trip to visit Cindy, because while I know she’ll appreciate the parts, delivering them wasn’t so urgent that you needed to drag us out of the Citadel like it was on fire.”
Luna huffed a mirthless laugh, “I suppose there’s no fooling you, Iris.”
“Of course not,” Iris said seriously. “I’m your Shield and your friend, and as both, I know that something is totally wrong in Luna land, so spill the beans already and let me help you.”
Despite the sadness weighing her down, Luna couldn’t help but give a small smile at her friend’s antics. Iris had a remarkable way of cutting straight to the heart of a matter. If only her own heart wasn’t so full of doubts and complications. The situation she found herself in, the reason for her grabbing her Shield for an urgent mission away from the city was not the easiest thing to explain. “I’m afraid it's no simple matter,” she began with a sigh.
“That’s okay,” Iris said. “We’ve got plenty of time on the way to Hammerhead. Just get whatever’s weighing you down off your chest and we can figure it out from there.”
Luna closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the headrest of the passenger seat. “I never expected to survive the prophecy, you know?”
“Yeah,” Iris acknowledged. “I know. Gladio told me after the fact that Noctis didn’t think he was going to live to see the dawn either.”
Luna opened her eyes and nodded. “Indeed. Which is, I fear, the crux of our problem now. Neither of us expected to live long enough to have to sort through the complicated webs our hearts have woven.”
“Ah, I see,” Iris said softly. “Noctis is being an idiot again.”
“It’s not his fault,” Luna tried to defend.
“Yes it is,” Iris insisted. “Look, men in general are oblivious idiots, but when it comes to knowing when someone loves him, Noctis is the dumbest of them all. Believe me. Hints don’t work, even if you clobber him over the head with them. You’re just going to have to come out and tell him you want to get married or he’s never going to make a move.”
This was the part Luna was going to struggle to explain. “That’s not the issue at hand, Iris. Noctis is well aware of my affection for him. The problem is that his heart belongs to another, and that for the sake of his happiness, I must find a way to cast my own longing aside.”
“Wait… what?!” Iris shouted and swerved to the side of the road, practically slamming on the breaks. “He’s always loved you.”
Luna’s eyes stung with tears as the scene she’d witnessed prior to fleeing the Citadel replayed yet again in her mind’s eye. “There’s no mistake, I’m afraid. Whilst they were unaware of my presence, I accidentally stumbled upon Noctis and Prompto sharing a kiss. The longing on Noctis’ face as he looked at him as they parted was… overwhelming. Somewhere along the line, circumstances have changed, and because I love him—I can’t begrudge Noctis for pursuing his happiness. Nor will I stand in their way.”
“Oh, Luna, I’m so sorry. I always knew those two loved each other but I never guessed they loved each other like that.”
Luna sighed and closed her eyes again, struggling to get her emotions back under control. “I confess, while the moment I witnessed came as an unwelcome surprise, had it been anyone else but Prompto, I fear I would have shattered much more intensely.”
The clinking sound of Iris’ seatbelt unlatching met Luna’s ears and she opened her eyes to find her friend practically climbing over the center console to envelop her in a tight hug. “It’s okay to be upset, Luna.”
“I know,” Luna said truthfully, “and I am. Which is why I needed to get out of there.”
Iris pulled back and looked Luna in the eyes intensely. “Yeah, and lucky for you, I’m sorta an expert in getting over a stupid and oblivious prince turned king. We’ll go to Hammerhead, visit Cindy, eat tons of junk food, and go out on a nice adventure!”
Smiling through her tears, Luna replied, “That sounds marvelous.”
Hammerhead had come a long way in the last few months. The last time Luna had the occasion to visit, thick metal walls, and barbed wire still surrounded the outpost—a lingering vestige of the toll the long night had held on them all. Now all that fortification had been torn away, though a large pile of scrap metal presumably rescued from said fortification had been set up behind the garage. Luna could almost imagine this must have been what things were like before, as they pulled into a parking space outside.
“Looks like Aranea’s here too,” Iris remarked as Luna helped her to unload the trunk full of automotive parts.
Sure enough, the roof of a familiar airship could be seen peeking out from where it had parked behind the diner. “I suppose so.”
“Well, I’ll be,” Cindy said as she stepped out of the garage and walked forward to greet them. “What brings Lady Lunafreya all the way out here on this fine day?”
Iris rolled her eyes and huffed goodnaturedly, “Nice to see you too, Cindy.”
“Just teasin’, Iris. You know that,” Cindy scoffed dismissively.
“I do,” Iris said with a grin.
“We’ve brought some automotive parts,” Luna added as she nodded to the bundle in her arms.
Cindy’s eyes lit up. “That’s real swell of you. Come on in and set those down on the workbench. I was just about to break for lunch why don’t you both come along so we can catch up? Aranea’s waitin’ on me to join her in the diner.”
“So long as we’re not intruding we’d be delighted,” Luna answered.
“Of course we’re not intruding, silly, ” Iris playfully chided. “She just invited us.”
Luna smiled as she set down her parcel of parts and followed Cindy. “Of course.”
Aranea looked up from where she was seated at a booth as the trio walked in. “Well, this is a surprise. What are you doing all the way out here, Lady Lunafreya? That pretty boy of yours not around?”
Luna’s heart tightened painfully as she answered quietly, “No. Just myself and Iris today I’m afraid.”
Iris lightly squeezed Luna’s shoulder in support and said, “I’ll order for us. Go on and take a seat.”
She nodded and took a seat across from Aranea, who looked at her scrutinizingly as Iris and Cindy placed their orders. Luna felt like she was astonishingly transparent, but sat in silence until the other two returned. Iris slipped into the booth next to Luna, and Cindy took her seat next to Aranea.
“So, what did the pretty boy do this time?” Aranea asked once everyone was settled.
“Why is everyone assuming it is Noctis’ fault?”
“Because it's obvious,” Aranea said bluntly.
“Noctis might be a King,” Cindy said firmly, “but that boy’s as socially awkward as they get. Sticks his foot in his mouth more than a groomin’ coeurl.”
Luna glanced at Iris who shrugged as if to say it was her decision, so she sighed and said, “Yes, I’m upset, but for all that Noctis is the cause of my pain, I cannot and will not blame him for it.”
Aranea nodded knowingly. “He finally realized he’s head over heels for Blondie, didn’t he?”
Lowering her head and casting her gaze down at the table, Luna replied, “I’m afraid so.”
“I’m sorry, Luna,” Cindy said quietly.
“It’s no one’s fault,” Luna insisted. “For all my affection for Noctis, we have spent more time apart than we ever spent together. Prompto is a wonderful, kind man, who cares deeply for others. It was even I who encouraged him to be a friend to Noctis in the first place since I myself was unable to be there for him outside of our occasional secret correspondence.”
“Yeah, but he could have explained all this to you before making a move on Prompto,” Iris said seriously. “That part is his fault.”
Luna shook her head, “It’s no matter. Regardless of how it came about, I care for both of them far too much to stand in the way of their happiness. I simply need to move on.”
“That’s the spirit,” Cindy said firmly. “No use cryin’ over a man who can’t give ya whatcha need in a relationship.”
“Which is why we’re gonna focus on you,” Iris added. “Before we go back, we’re going to do something that you’ve always wanted to do, but couldn’t for one reason or another. Something that has nothing to do with Noctis and everything to do with yourself.”
The girl behind the counter called out that their orders were ready and Iris and Cindy stood up to collect it.
Meanwhile, Luna pondered. She was not in the habit of focusing too heavily on her own desires. In fact the only desire she’d ever really allowed herself to linger upon concerned her affection for Noctis. Her entire life had been connected to her duty and to him, admittedly to an unhealthy degree. Now that magic had departed from their world and the dawn was restored, she truly did have the chance to break free and pursue her heart’s own path.
Iris plopped a burger and a huge basket of fries in front of Luna with a grin. “I promised you junk food, so eat up.”
“Thank you, truly,” Luna said as she began to eat. It was delicious. Fatty, and salty, in a way that felt extremely satisfying.
“So, anywhere in particular you’d like to go?” Aranea asked. “I don’t have anything better to do for the next few days, and could give you a ride. Air travel is a lot faster. We could get to Tenebrae in less than an hour.”
“I could close up the shop for a few days and come too if you’d like,” Cindy offered. “I think I’ve earned a break and a chance to travel a bit. Besides, we gals gotta stick together when the goin’ gets rough.”
“We’re with you, Luna, for whatever you need,” Iris said firmly.
Luna teared up. “Thank you.”
Aranea grinned widely, “So where are we heading?”
“Tenebrae first if it isn’t too much trouble,” Luna said emotionally. “I’d like to visit Ravus’ memorial and see if the field of Sylleblossoms has recovered.”
“No problem, Princess,” Aranea said firmly. “We can head out as soon as we’re done here.”
“Whoo hoo! Ladies only roadtrip… sky trip… same difference!” Iris declared happily. “Cindy, do you think we could leave the car here at the garage?”
Luna glanced out the window and took another bite of her burger as her friends discussed the logistics of the trip. She was grateful for them and their unquestioning support. Her heart was still sad, but she’d overcome this obstacle, clear her head, and be able to return as more of an independent person. It was time for her to focus on herself.
The fields of Sylleblossoms once again bloomed from hill to vale. Gorgeous blue flowers that swayed gently in the wind and never failed to smell like home. Very few people chose to return here after the sun returned. Most of the surviving population, regardless of what nation they’d previously hailed from, remained in Lucis, where they would build new lives for themselves, much like Luna herself. She gathered seeds from a few blooms that were past their prime, collecting and storing them carefully. While this place was no longer home, at least she could bring a small touch of what once made it so, to where she’d chosen to begin her life anew.
The shock of Iris’ ringtone broke through the peaceful silence. Iris looked at her phone with a grimace and said simply, “It’s Gladio,” before stepping away from the group to answer the call. “Hey, Gladdy…”
Luna wasn’t intentionally eavesdropping as she began to gather flowers for a few bouquets, but Iris didn’t step far away and her voice carried through the quiet fields.
“Luna wanted to go on a trip. I submitted the paperwork before we left and we’ll be home in a few days.” Iris frowned at whatever her brother said and replied, “No. The whole world doesn’t revolve around Noctis. He can wait a few days. We went through the proper channels. Luna deserves to have some time off and she’s taking it. I’ll let you know when we get back.”
“Sorry about that,” Iris said when she hung up the phone and returned to the group. “I guess Noctis didn’t realize you’d left. Wanted to talk to you. Made it clear it could wait until we get back.”
“Thank you,” Luna said sincerely as she finished tying off her third bouquet. “I believe I’m ready to visit my brother’s memorial now.”
Cindy, Iris, and Aranea had also gathered a few flowers of their own and together they made their way to the ruins of the Manor. It hadn’t and likely would never be rebuilt, but Ravus’ memorial stone stood tall amongst the wreckage that nature had reclaimed as its own. Luna laid one of the bouquets she had gathered on the ground near stone and the others laid their own flowers down beside it.
“I miss you, brother,” Luna whispered. “I do not know which way my path will yet take me, but I know that you always, above all else, desired my happiness. I shall strive to find what will make me so.”
She bowed her head, praying silently for a moment before turning to Aranea. “I know the body no longer resides there, and that the snow has long since thawed, but could we visit the place where Shiva once rested?”
“Of course,” Aranea answered sincerely. “It won’t take long.”
Luna missed Gentiana’s gentle supporting presence. Shiva’s human guise had long been her shadow, and a bit of a maternal figure to her in her own way. The once frozen wasteland of Niflheim was now lush with green life. The body of the Glacian no longer dominated the landscape but the imprint of where it once stood remained untouched by the vegetation that surrounded it—just a blank stretch of soil.
It almost felt like, in a way, Shiva’s spirit lingered in the spot, waiting for Luna to visit before resting completely. She laid the second of her bouquets down upon the barren soil, and sprinkled a handful of the seeds she’d collected.
“I’ll go fetch you some water,” Cindy said softly. “There’s a stream nearby.”
Luna prayed silently where she knelt. Being here didn’t feel the same as the way she used to feel Gentiana watching over her, always, but she felt more connected to her than she had since the day that the dawn returned.
Cindy returned with a container full of water, handing it to her silently, and Luna poured it over the seeds she had scattered. She sensed a spark, and then suddenly, miraculously, the seeds began to sprout underneath her fingertips.
“Whoa,” Iris said breathlessly.
Aranea chuckled, “Guess there’s still a bit of magic left in the world after all.”
“Astrals work in mysterious ways,” Cindy said with a shrug. “Guess she was waitin’ on you to pop by for a visit.”
Luna smiled as she watched the flowers grow and mature and bloom in a matter of moments. She gently ran her fingertips across the brilliant blue petals, and a happy tear made its way down her cheek. “I suppose she was.”
“You ready for this?” Iris asked as they got into the car. “We can take more time if you need it, just the two of us.”
Despite the melancholy of her heart when she thought of Noctis, Luna actually did feel ready. After their trip, Aranea had dropped them off at Hammerhead with a firm declaration to call her if she needed anything. She’d spent another handful of days with Cindy and Iris in the garage, eating junk food, and learning how to tune up an engine. It was nice, and she felt lighter than she had when she’d set off on this journey just about a week ago.
The time had come to face her problems, resolve her lingering issues with Noctis, and head down a new road. Wherever that road would take her, she was ready to explore it, with friends at her side. Happiness might take a different form than she’d expected, but she was ready to take the journey, and knew she’d eventually discover what it meant for her.
“Yes,” Luna answered firmly as she made herself comfortable in the passenger seat. She took a deep breath, inhaling the sweet scent of the final remaining bouquet of Sylleblossoms she'd kept for herself, the flowers remaining as perfect as they'd been the day she'd picked them as she cradled them in her hands. “It’s time to go home.”