Chapter Text
Altissia had been beautiful. The city of dreams, really, with its elaborate architecture and little canals.
And now, Altissia was underwater.
Prompto watched buildings disappear beneath giant waves, tendrils of water flashing through the air and almost knocking him off the flying cycle he had managed to steal from the Nifs.
They had a plan. He shouldn’t still be here… they had a plan and he was late…
The Hydraean shrieked above him, her voice a piercing through the air like the wailing of sirens. It was all Prompto could do not to fall off. He hoped Ignis and Gladio were alright…
Through the flying water and debris, he could just barely make out two shapes. One was blinding white and gold and glowed with an unearthly, ethereal light, even in the wreckage. The other was dark, almost a perfect black, contrasting against the waves. The white shape moved slightly, and Prompto heard a clear call to the waters above. The black shape sailed through the air, smashing through flying tendrils of water and colliding, hard, with the Hydraean herself. Prompto stiffened, gloved fingers tightening around the cycle’s handles. It would…be okay, right? It had to be okay.
The Hydraean roared her fury, a wave colliding with the tiny white shape below. The black shape, reeling in the air, was suddenly smacked aside, colliding hard with the remnants of a wall and lying still.
Prompto’s blood ran cold. He had been given orders. They had a plan. He couldn’t stay. He shouldn’t have stayed at all…
But…
The white shape struggled to stand and Prompto, flying closer now, saw someone else. Someone familiar. And someone unwelcome. He stalked closer even as the white shape of Lady Lunafreya struggled to sit up, her white dress torn, her blond her disheveled. Something metallic and sharp glittered in the approaching man’s hand. Prompto could see…he could see and he acted before even thinking.
Ardyn did not reach his mark. He was saying something, something probably awful. Prompto could just hear his voice in his ears, drawling and unpleasant. It was lucky Lady Lunafreya was still on the ground…Prompto stood on the cycle and, turning it into high gear, launched it forward with a powerful kick. It whizzed through the air and collided with the advisor before the man could even react, disappearing into the whirlwind of water that tore through the air around them. Prompto was in free-fall now and when he landed, he landed hard on his side, letting out a pain filled wail.
They had a plan. They had a plan and Prompto ruined it. And probably broke a few ribs in the process. Not that he could tell…he was no doctor. He heard Lady Lunafreya let out a startled gasp before skin shuffled against stone.
Prompto managed to roll over onto his back to see her leaning over him, her pale gold hair a mess and whipping through the air. “Are you…?”
“I’m fine, Lady Lunafreya…” He wheezed, forcing a smile. “Are you?” She shot a glance at where the cycle had disappeared then back at Prompto.
“Thank you.” Her voice was shaky but she clutched her trident tight. The Hydraean shrieked above them and realization hit them both at the same time.
“Oh no…” Luna breathed.
Prompto tried to sit up but when the pain was a bit too great. Luna pressed a careful hand to his torso. “It’s alright.” For a moment, he felt warmth and a gentle, gold glow before the Oracle stood, leaning a little on her trident and carefully making her way over to where Noctis had fallen. From where he lay, trying to recover his breath, Prompto could just see them. She knelt behind Noctis, carefully pulling his head into her lap as the air glittered gold around them. He wanted to see, wanted to sit up…wanted to…
He couldn’t really move. His whole right side burned but at least he did something…something good. The lights above him flashed and suddenly Noctis was soaring. There was a clash of weapons against scaly skin. Prompto could barely see it above him before Lady Lunafreya swam into view once more. Her hands were careful, if a little shaky, as she gently pressed them to Prompto’s side.
“Here.” The white light and warm glow returned, this time spreading over all of Prompto’s side and he closed his eyes for a moment. It was like being dipped in a vat of something incredibly warm. The pain slowly yet surely ebbed away and Luna pulled her hands back. Prompto let his eyes snap open and slowly, he forced himself to sit up.
“H..?”
“Being an Oracle has some benefits at least.” She said gently and managed a careful smile.
“Thank you, Lady Lunafreya!” Prompto beamed and Luna carefully patted his hand.
“Luna is just fine.” She said and Prompto’s smile eased. “I…don’t think we’ve met.” She sounded apologetic and Prompto chuckled sheepishly.
“Prompto Argentum, La…Luna.”
“Thank you, Prompto…you…that was unexpected.”
“For me too, honestly.” They both jumped as the Hydraean shrieked far above them. The very air quaked. And Noctis… Luna stood quickly and Prompto followed, stumbling over his own feet.
“It’s fading.” She breathed and for a moment, Prompto was unsure of what she meant. He frowned before noticing that Noctis was sinking now. He seemed slumped forward and the weapons circling his body began to fade on by one. He was far lower in the sky now, hovering only some feet above them. The weapons kept vanishing. Forgetting himself and managing to not trip over his own feet, Prompto lunged forward just as the last weapon dimmed and Noctis’s body plummeted downwards. He wasn’t even sure how, but again, Prompto managed to make it just in time, the prince’s body landing on Prompto and knocking the blonde over.
“Oww…I…gotta stop doing that…” Prompto whined but found Noctis now securely in his arms. Luna was at their side immediately while the Hydraean reared in the water before her. Kneeling, Luna laid a careful hand on Noct’s shoulder, her eyes never leaving the Goddess in the water.
“You WILL accept the chosen King’s rule.” The Oracle said clearly and it was no longer a request. The earth quaked, the waters swirled and the looming shape of the Archeon rose from the torrent.
Funny, Prompto thought, he could have sworn the Archeon was a lot…bigger. But with Leviathan towering above them, water crashing against her serpentine body, Titan looked positively tiny in comparison. At least he wasn’t trying to step on them this time which Prompto supposed was a small blessing. He hadn’t realized just how hard he was gripping Noct’s shoulder and had to force himself to let go. If only a little. It probably wasn’t helpful that he was also shaking.
Luna, for her part, looked unshaken, steely resolve settling on her usually gentle features. Prompto would have studied her…studied her face…but now wasn’t the time. Large stones tore through the raging waters and the Hydraean roared, dissolving into pale blue mist. It hung in the air, seeming to shimmer in the faint rays of sunlight filtering through overhanging clouds before sinking in the sky, descending around Noctis and dissipating. The flying waters crashed to the land bellow and finally, the air was still.
Prompto let out the breath he didn’t realize he was holding and looked at Luna. She slumped tiredly against her trident but managed a gentle smile.
“It’s done.”
“…Geesh…”
The gentle smile warmed a little and Luna laughed softly. “Geesh is quite right.” Prompto gave her his best encouraging smile, peering down at Noctis. The Prince was unconscious now, the exertion of the battle taking everything out of him and Prompto studied his face. He looked so tired. More so than usual, worry lines creasing his forehead even now. Prompto wanted nothing more than to kiss them away.
But he held back.
This wasn’t the time. And Lady Lunafreya was literally RIGHT there. Not the best way or moment to clue her in on what was happening. Carefully, Prompto slid his arms underneath Noctis, adjusting his hold until he had the unconscious Prince slung over his back in a fireman carry. Reaching down, Prompto offered Luna a hand.
She took it gratefully, pulling herself up but refused any more help, leaning on her Trident for the time being. Prompto would have insisted but…well…he wasn’t as strong as Gladio and carrying Noct alone was taking some effort. Luna seemed to realize that quite well.
“Lady Lu…” Prompto began.
“LUNA!” A female voice overrode him and when they both looked up, a brown haired young woman came barreling towards them. She was soaked from the water, dirty and panting but when she reached Luna, she forgot all decorum and threw her arms around the smaller woman’s shoulders.
“Crowe..!” Luna gasped gently, but sank gratefully into the embrace.
“I’m never following your plans again!” The woman named Crowe chastised, leaning back to stare at Luna, her expression creased with worry.
Crowe…that sounded familiar…oh! Noctis had mentioned her before. The girl that Luna liked. Prompto felt suddenly very silly.
Luna was smiling, carefully taking one of Crowe’s bruised and bloodied hands into her own. “I’m quite alright, I promise.”
“Alright, my ass.”
“Crowe…”
“I was worried sick! And then the water and the Nifs and…” She broke off with a heavy sigh, letting her eyes close and chewing on her bottom lip. Luna let out a tiny laugh but her grip on Crowe’s hand never lost itself.
“I promise I’m alright. A few scrapes are nothing.”
“It’s a few too many.” Crowe insisted before finally noticing Prompto’s existence. She frowned. Prompto managed what he hoped was a harmless smile and half waved, careful with his grip on Noctis.
Luna was quick to his rescue, patting the taller woman’s hand. “He saved me, Crowe. It’s alright.”
“I knew your plan was a bad idea if you needed saving.” Crowe muttered but her gaze on Prompto softened. Prompto let out a sigh of relief. He could see what Noctis had meant now…she really looked like she could beat him up and then some.
Crowe, in her turn, heaved a sigh before wordlessly sweeping Luna into her arms. The smaller woman made a slight noise of surprise but Crowe looked too determined to worry. She measured Prompto with a look.
“Come on, let’s get these two to safety.” She said at last, indicating Noctis as well before turning on her heel and carrying Luna away. Prompto hurried to follow, careful not to trip over his own feet or slip on the wet cobblestones.
So…this was Crowe huh? She had quite the presence, Prompto noted as he tried to keep up with her strides. Noctis had said that she was Kingsglaive.
…Was. Under King Regis…Prompto briefly wondered if Noctis would keep the Kingsglaive. Give them powers again…He was sure Crowe could still kick ass without those powers though. As long as it wasn’t directed at him, he welcomed the idea.
Carefully shifting his hold on Noctis, Prompto tried his best to keep up. She was taller and had a longer stride and Prompto’s propensity towards tripping over his own feet wouldn’t really help in this situation. He was also beginning to worry. It had been too long since he heard from either Ignis or Gladio. And Gods… he had gone against the plan. The thought made guilt wash over him in waves and Prompto swallowed the lump in his throat. If something happened… if they were hurt… he would never forgive himself…