More than a Myth

All For You

Lightning buried her head in Noctis's chest, his powerful arms wrapping around her waist. He kissed the top of her head as she sobbed. That's right. The emotionless Lightning Farron was sobbing like a child. She didn't even know why she was crying. Maybe it was because she was happy to see he was alive. Maybe it was because she was so confused and didn't know what else to do. Maybe it was because she was angry that she had no idea what was going on.
Noctis shushed her lovingly, "It's okay, I'm here."
She stepped back and punched his shoulder. He yelped and rubbed the spot she hit while she yelled, "That's the problem!" Noctis gave her a questioning look. She loudly explained, "Your stupid friends told me you were assassinated! Why did they say that if you're fine?!"
Noctis grinned. "I had them tell you so I could surprise you. What really happened was more complicated."

Noctis lie on the floor with red liquid all around. Ignis and Gladiolus looked around as Solis came near. "How did it go?"
Gladiolus said, "I think it went rather well." He turned to Ignis. "Clear over here. You?"
Ignis nodded. "All clear. You can get up now, Noct."
Noctis sat up, rubbing his neck. "That paintball really hurt." He stood, dusting himself off. "Did it look legit?"
Solis chuckled, "If I hadn't been in on the act I would have thought you were killed."
Noctis called out, "Nice shot, Prompt."
Prompto approached them, a massive paintball gun leaning on his shoulder. "Thanks. I was aiming for the middle of your neck, but this gun isn't as accurate as a real rifle. But it's okay, I hit around your jugular artery, which is a deadly place to hit."
Noctis shivered. "Those gunman instincts you have hidden really scare me sometimes, you know that?"
He smirked. "Sweet!"
Solis put a hand on Noctis' shoulder. "You sure you want to give up everything and live on Pulse?"
Noctis nodded. "What's done is done. There's no way I could show my face here now. Besides...I need her."
His father responded, "Alright. I'm sorry I started this whole mess. I'll support you from here on out."
Gladiolus patted Noctis's back while handing him a towel to wipe the red paint off. "We'll try to secretly visit. The portal doesn't look like it'll close anytime soon, but we don't want anyone finding it, now do we?"
Noctis smiled. "Thanks. And in return, I'll keep you guys updated."
Noctis changed into more comfortable clothing. With his "death" freaking out the populace, Noctis and his father and friends were able to sneak over to the portal unnoticed.
Prompto had a sad smile on his face. "I'll miss you man. I hope you're happy there."
Noctis looked to all of his friends. "Thanks guys, really."
Ignis smiled. "If we wouldn't help you fake your death to elope with your girlfriend, what kind of friends would we be?"
They all laughed.
Solis gave Noctis one last embrace. "Have the guys smuggle pictures over soon. I want to hear from you soon."
Noctis answered, "I promise."
Noctis turned to the portal. Before stepping through, he stopped. "I've got an idea. Ignis, Prompto, Gladiolus? Will you guys do me one last favor?"
"What?" they asked in unison.
With a friendly smirk, he said, "Tell everyone that I'm dead. When Light is alone, I'll come out and surprise her. Just because I want to piss her off."

Lightning just stared at him. "So you had your friends fake your death so you could be with me?"
He nodded.
"And you can't go back because everyone thinks you're dead?"
He nodded again. Lightning punched him again with all of her might. "What was that for?!"
Lightning shouted, "You abdicated the throne for me! What's going to happen to the kingdom?!"
"That's why I waited until the wedding. Since Stella was the queen, she gets full control over the kingdom. That way I wouldn't be abandoning all of my people completely."
"What about your friends and father!"
"The guys said they'd visit secretly every once and a while, like I told you. My father may even come a few times. They all supported the plan."
"What about working! You don't know anyone here or what you would need to do to survive!"
"I'm sure Fang wouldn't mind me coming back to P.L.R."
"And why would you give up everything for me! You just threw away your whole life!"
Noctis touched her cheek. "Because I love you."
Lightning looked down. Her shoulder trembled. Noctis heard her crying again. "What's wrong?"
Without looking at him, she uttered, "You... dumbass!"
He was ready to defend himself, but Noctis stopped. She looked up at him. Her cheeks were wet with tears, but she was... smiling. She wasn't crying from pain, but from joy. He thought she would be angrier for a while, but he was wrong. From the looks of it, she accepted that he loved her enough to sacrifice his whole kingdom for her. Lightning hugged him tightly. "I was so scared you were gone for good."
Noctis rubbed her back. "I know. But it's okay now. Things will start looking up."
"Why?"
Noctis pushed her shoulders back so he could look at her. "I need to tell you something."
"What?"
"I don't want to spend my new life on Pulse with my girlfriend."
Lightning was now beyond baffled. If he didn't come here for her, then what was he up to?
He pulled her back into an embrace. He whispered into her ear, "Don't get me wrong, I want to spend my life with you. Only I'm hoping you won't be my girlfriend... but my wife."
Lightning pulled back and stared at him in amazement. "Really?"
He smiled. "Yes. Lightning, will you marry—"
She kissed him before he could finish. She put her hands around his neck as he held her waist.
He would take that as a yes.

Epilogue – More Than a Myth

The wise man put the envelope down on his desk. His son had his friends smuggle it over from the distant world so he could see. It contained pictures of him and his wife and their friends. The old king simply stared out his window. "I'm glad you're happy, Noctis." With a smile on his face, he said, "It was an act of love by the last king."

Lightning and Noctis were doing their ordinary missions from Fang since they both work at P.L.R until Serah called for them to meet with her.
Lightning was with Noctis hanging outside a classroom waiting for Serah to finish up her lesson. "So tell me again as to why we're here?" "Serah said she needed us for something, never actually gave me any details." "I wouldn't mind helping Serah out but she could have at least told us why we're here." That's when the door they were standing close to open and pop up Serah's head. "Come in you guys!" They did as told and were now inside the class fill with young little students. "Okay this is Lightning and this is Noctis, they will be telling you all about combat. Before we begin, don't forget your project on the crystal kingdoms is due next week!" Lightning and Noctis turn their heads to look at Serah. "Project-" "On the crystal kingdoms?" "Well, why not? It's nothing bad just a part of knowledge they need to know." "Right.." The couple said together. "Why should we do a project on crystal kingdoms Miss Farron?" Said a little girl with black hair and green eyes. "Yea it's just a myth. I don't see anything special about that." Noctis decided to answer for Serah with Lightning backing him up. "Well students, to you it's just an ordinary myth but-"
"You'd never know... if it was more than a myth. Now let's start with the basics."