Of Ends...

Noctis watched as Carbuncle guided his child self through a menagerie of nightmares. Neither could see him. In whatever realm this was, he was nothing but a ghost. He mused at the irony.

He supposed this is what they meant when they say that your life flashes before your eyes as you die.

Well, in his case, he was already dead and at peace. Waiting to move on.

Noctis couldn't deny that he was enjoying this moment, his own struggles were over and he knew that this memory of his past self would soon wake from the ordeal that the Marilith attack had put him in. He knows the ending to this part of his story is one of the happiest in his life. So he sat, content with a peace only the dead could achieve, watching as Carbuncle lead his wayward counterpart to the world of the living.

He watched as young Prince Noctis reached the end of his nightmare, Carbuncle running along side him as the child dissipated into thin air - returning to the waking world by his father's side and soon to meet Luna.

The older King started as Carbuncle then turned to face him, his beady eyes staring directly at Noctis. He was taken aback by the fact that Carbuncle could see him, and even more by the grief the spirit was expressing.

-If you knew someone was destined to die, would you still try to help them?

The desperation in Carbuncle's eyes was one he had never seen before, and it didn't sit well with Noct. It was unusual for Carbuncle to express anything other than joy.

-Even if you knew it wouldn't make a difference?

Carbuncle was pleading with Noct and it caused a physical pain in his heart. To see Carbuncle reduced to this before him hurt so much more than he could say.

-Noct?

"Of course, Carbuncle! Of course." Was Carbuncle scared that Noctis would hate him for doing just that? Carbuncle had always guided him through his worst moments, Noctis could never hate him - even if he was aware that Noct was never destined to live long. The love Carbuncle had for Noctis was as clear as day, and Noct knew the feeling was mutual.

"Carbuncle... thank you for all that you've done. I will never be able to express how grateful I am for what you have done for me." His voice started to waiver.

It was true, Carbuncle had remained with him through every part of his story, from the beginning to here and now - the end.

Carbuncle's ears perked.

-Thank you for letting me. And I am glad we think the same way.

He then turned around, tail held somewhat higher.

-But... now that I know your answer there is one last stop we need to make before you move on.

"What do you mean?"

-Would you like to give alittle help to someone who shares your destiny? Although we can't change it, we may be able to give them a more fortunate ending.

Noctis didn't quite understand, but he continued to follow the spirit as it trotted ahead.

He smiled, "Was my answer from before not enough? Of course, I will help anyone in need."

-Even if it changes nothing?

"Even if it changes nothing. But I don't exactly understand what it is we will do."

-Don't worry about it Noct, you'll see when we get there.

-Also, at that point the rest will be left up to you. We have done all we can, not all of us were exactly for this idea.

Noct got the impression that the 'we' Carbuncle mention were the Astrals.

Suddenly, a blue haze(not unlike the one from a stitch in time on a certain train so long ago) descended upon them. Unease spread up through Noct.

Noct had noticed that much like the last time, all living things were completely frozen still. He looked up and noticed even birds were frozen mid-flight as they made their way home for the night.

Wind still blew and clouds still drifted, but other than that it was as silent as death.

He was led through this for a ways before he started recognizing his surroundings. These looked like the forests of the Malacchi Hills and Nebulawood in Duscae.

Carbuncle continued to pave the way, leading him through a path in one of the cliffs. Ferns brushed against him and he would catch a glimpse of the occasional flower among the foliage growing on the rock walls here. Despite the blue haze, it was beautiful.

They came to a halt at the end of the path - a chamber so similar to the one that held the Fulgarian's ruinstone in Fociaugh Hollow.

There was even a massive fulgurite at the far end. This one differed from the rest however, icy petals bloomed from it giving it the appearance of an unearthly glowing tree.

Noct could immediately guess which other two Astrals were in favor of this plan of theirs.

Carbuncle bound back past him, gently brushing against his leg as he did so.

-Umbra is leading them here. They will arrive shortly.

He then stated his farewell.

-Good luck Noct. We'll be waiting for you when you're done.

Noct got the feeling that this time, the 'we' did not include the Astrals. Noct turned to say goodbye, but his guide was already gone.

A gentle smile pulled at his lips. This wasn't the last time they would get to see each other.

He stepped up closer to the pale tree, entranced at the way the light fell onto him. It was a while longer before he was contacted by another Astral. The sun had already set in this timeless world, but the lingering light on the horizon had vanished during his wait.

He tilted his head as Shiva's voice echoed through him.

'They are not to know of what exactly lies ahead, the Prophecy cannot be changed. But you may impart upon them advice and goodwill. If they are to be more fortunate, then it will be through their own effort.'

He had barely felt the confusion of that statement before the sound of footsteps came through the entrance.

Prince Noctis and his friends from the beginning of their story froze before King Noctis at the end of his.

All in their early 20's and unscathed, even Gladio's second scar was missing. Their trip has likely just begun. But Noctis was wise enough to know that Insomnia had already fallen for them. Like all those acquainted with grief, they carried it in their stance.

It was jarring, having only spent a mere night awake in his 30 year old body, he was far more familiar with the faces down there than those he had just parted with a few hours ago. At the same time, he wondered if he had always looked so young. The experience between the Noctis down there and himself was not enough to have fundamentally changed him.

Was there even really a difference between them? He, at least, had had his personality tempered from his time in the Crystal and the aftermath of Altissia.

Maybe to them, it was a drastic difference.

Maybe that is why they looked upon him in awe - they saw him as the king their Noctis had and would become.

The younger group waited with baited breath, unaware of what to do.

Well, Noctis might as well give them an introduction worthy of that of a king, shouldn't he?

"I take it Umbra led you here? Likely for the same reason I was led here as well. You probably already know, but since I have gained a new title I might as well reintroduce myself." Noctis turned to face them fully. "King of Lucis, -"

"My name is " - he took a deep breath and fixed his intense gaze on each of them -

"Noctis Lucis Caleum."

A pause so thick it could be cut with a knife filled the chamber. He couldn't help the twitch of his lip as he held back a smirk, the faces of his younger self and his friends were the definition of shock and awe. They resembled gaping fish, with their jaws slack and eyes bugged - even Ignis was held victim of this stupor.

He figured not all of it was due to being from a future they had not yet seen. Their posture was that of someone who was in the presence of true royalty. Respect and confusion radiated from them simultaneously.

Gladio was the first to regain his senses. Straightening his back and meeting him eye to eye, he grinned.

"Damn Noct, I see age hasn't stopped you from being as dramatic as ever."

He tried to stop the snort of laughter, but it was too late. The spell his presence had put them under was broken and now all his younger counterparts saw him as just an older version of their laid-back prince.

"That's His Royal Majesty, Damn King Noct to you, Gladio." He replied cheekily.

Prompto was smacking his younger self in the shoulder and pointing Noctis out to him as if the younger had somehow missed his entire introduction.

Ignis pushed his glasses further up his nose. "I take it you are the one Shiva advised us to help?"

Noctis raised an eyebrow. "I was told it was you guys who were in need of assistance?"

"Whoa whoa whoa, hold up! You're Noct from the future?!" Prompto eloquently cut in.

"Well, to me, you guys are my friends and myself from the past."

The younger Noct stepped forward, finally cutting in. "Wait, so you can tell us how to regain Insomnia? You can tell us how to win, right?!"

He wanted to, oh how he was so desperate to warn them. To tell them all that he had learned, to change their future and get that Happily Ever After. But Shiva's voice rung in his head, a warning not to try and change the unchangeable. He hoped the desperation in his eyes was not as visible as that of his younger's.

"What I desire most... would be to tell you everything. However, there are certain limitation's to what I am allowed to say." He started descending towards them. "Trust me when I say that I will do everything I can to make your journey more fortunate."

The group begrudgingly took his words and the tension seemed to drain from them.

"For now, why don't we make camp and you let me in on your recent activities." Noctis smiled at them.

...

The search for a campsite was completed in record time. Their group was alight with excitement. Noct even found himself with a bounce in his step.

He was nervous that they would grill him about the future - about the Prophecy which the Astrals had clearly forbidden him from mentioning. To his relief, the conversation had ranged from how to beat certain bosses in King's Knight to what his biggest catch in fishing was.

"You're bullshitting me." Gladio harrumphed as they made their way up the ramp to the haven.

"I'm not, the arapiama was longer than you were tall - Liege of the Lake they called him." He pulls his arms out wide trying to show how big it was. "You even helped me catch him!"

"Now that sounds more believable."

The younger Noct cuts in at this. "What, you don't think I'd be able to reel it in by myself?"

"A pipsqueak like you? No way."

"That wasn't even the top catch. I have to say, the most difficult fish out there is the Pink Jade gar. I lost more lures to that fish than any other combined, and I reeled that guy in by myself!"

Gladio stoops to light the fire. "Hmmph, well without proof how are we supposed to believe all this?"

"Gladio, is that anyway to speak to your elders? I'm technically older than you now." Not to mention that he was also a king. How dare Gladio insinuate he could only catch small fry?

"Yeah Gladio, listen. You shouldn't talk to your future king like that, I am definitely capable of catching some monster size fish. It's treason to think that I can only catch puny fish."

The younger Noct's remark brings an 'omg' from Prompto as they set chairs up around the campfire.

"I'm hoping His Majesty did not come from the future just to tell us how to catch bigger fish?" Ignis inputs.

Noctis smirks, of course not. He also has knowledge of all their favorite recipes of the future. He could cater to his cook before moving on to the heavy stuff.

"Ignis, here let me help you with that." He moves over to help Ignis set up their grill. "I have a few ingredients that you grow particularly fond of."

He pulls those ingredients from his store in the Armiger and Ignis twitches. Noctis waits with bated breath.

"...I do believe I've come up with a new recipe."

Gladio whips his head up. "I'll taste test for ya, Iggy."

Noctis chuckles with mirth, knowing that dearest moments like this were those that he would miss the most.

There will be a few more chapters to this, but it won't be very long. The younger Noct will always be referred to as his younger self, younger Noct, etc. So it will be marked.

Although I have a good portion of this written out, I don't have the ending worked on at all which will probably be the longest chapter(besides maybe this one and the one dedicated to younger Noct). I am SUPER busy with university, and writing takes me a loooong time(I started this in May or June, and it's only out now at the end of August) so it will be a while between when chapters are released. Or maybe not. I'm unreliable.

And dyslexic with no beta reader so if you see anything that needs fixing PLEASE let me know. I want it to be easy to read with good flow. So concrit is welcome.

Please let me know your thoughts! Thank you for reading!