It was a peaceful, ordinary day in the kingdom of Lucis as a group of children, all wearing identical school uniforms, ran home.

"I still don't think it's real." One of the girls said as she ran.

"Oh come on, it has to be!" A boy protested, "He was a king of Lucius, after all! And he's in our history books!"

"But that doesn't mean everything the legend say about him is true." Another boy argued, to which the first girl nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, they could've just made some stuff up to make it more interesting!" The first girl added.

"Come on, who can come up with stuff like all that?" Another girl asked. "I mean, one king doing all this incredible stuff by himself, you can't make that up!"

"Yes, you can." The second boy stated.

"Well then how about we ask my grandma and your grandpa?" The first boy suggested. "They were alive when the king was, right?"

"Yeah…alright, let's see who's right then." The first girl agreed.

The children arrived home a few minutes later; their argument paused until they spoke to their respective grandparents, who were siblings. They found said grandparents in their home's sitting room when they arrived.

"Grandma!" The second girl cried. "Can you help us?"

"With what, dear Lucy?" Grandma asked.

"Ben learned about the legend of the King of Light in school today and he thinks it's real." Lucy answered as she gestured to her older brother, who nodded in agreement.

"And you two don't think it is?" Grandpa asked as he looked at his own grandchildren.

"Of course not!" The first girl protested. "There's no way it's all true!"

"Mia's right, it's probably based on what really happened but it's not all true." Mia's younger twin brother, Matthew, agreed.

Grandma and Grandpa shared a look before they both stood up.

"Wait right here." Grandma instructed with a smile. Instantly, the four children sat down in a half circle around the chairs the grandparents were sitting in as the two grandparents walked out.

Minutes later, Grandma returned with a journal in her hands. Following her was Grandpa, who was carrying a thick photo album.

"You want to know the story of the King of Light, right?" Grandpa asked. At the children's eager nods, the elderly man opened up the photo album to the first page and handed it to Ben, the oldest of the elderly man's great-nieces and nephews.

Ben held the photo album in his lap as his sister and cousins looked at it with him. The first page had only one picture.

The picture showed a group of six people, five men and one woman. They stood in front of a black Regalia, four of the men standing close with the woman standing beside them and the last man standing a fair distance away. Only the last man looked uncomfortable, the rest looked quite close.

Under the picture was a message scrawled in messy handwriting.

This was the first picture I took of all of us, right before our journey started. Kinda crazy, looking back at this. I hope you kids enjoy this album and remember that your parents love you, even more than the rest of us do.

"What is this?" Lucy whispered, knowing this was special to her grandmother.

"This is an album filled with pictures from the King of Light's journey." Grandma explained. "And this," she added, holding up the journal she held. "is a journal of a member of that party who wrote everything that happened down."

"Who's?" Matthew asked.

"The man in the center, of course! King Noctis Lucis Caelum." Grandpa answered.

"You mean…the legend's real?" Mia whispered, shocked.

"Of course, though it isn't entirely accurate." Grandma shook her head.

"Do you want to hear what truly happened?" Grandpa asked.

"You'll tell us?" Ben asked eagerly.

Grandma looked at Grandpa.

"Do you think they're ready?" She whispered.

"I think they are, little sister." Grandpa nodded. Nodding in agreement, Grandma opened the journal and began to read.

"Today, I am leaving home to go to Altissia to marry my childhood friend, Luna. The only reason I'm writing this is to please Ignis, he thinks it'll help but I doubt that. To be honest, I'm not in love with Luna, though she is a good friend. But I need to make sacrifices in order to protect my kingdom and that's what I'll do."

Noctis stood before his father, King Regis, with Gladiolus, Prompto and Ignis behind him. Beside Regis was Alexandros Lux Venefica, the Enchanter charged with protecting the king. Further was Alexandros' daughter, Novalee, saying goodbye to her young children, Chiara and Dante.

Novalee, or Nova, had long light brown hair that she wore in a low bun at the moment though a few strands were free to frame her face. Her eyes were a warm hazel color and she wore a sky blue shirt under a long sleeve leather jacket she borrowed from Noctis, black jeans and combat boots as well as a motorcycle glovelet on her right hand.

Chiara and Dante, despite being twins, looked nothing alike. At only four years old, Chiara had long black hair and hazel eyes while Dante had short light brown hair and blue eyes. But as they clung to their young mother, it was obvious neither wanted her to leave.

Quickly, Noctis looked away from them.

"The decreed hour is come." Regis said. "To guide you, Tenebrae has sent Solis Praesidio." As the king spoke, a young man around Noctis' age walked towards the prince's company.

Solis had reddish brown hair that was long enough to reach his shoulder and green eyes. He wore black pants, shoes and jacket with a dark green shirt and a strange black backpack. Around his neck, he wore a necklace, though the charm was tucked into his shirt, hidden from view.

"Your Highness, it is an honor to travel with you." Solis said as he bowed to the prince.

"Thanks. Welcome aboard." Noctis greeted. This seemed to startle Solis before he straightened up and moved to join Gladiolus, Ignis and Prompto.

"Set forth with my blessing, Prince Noctis." Regis said. Noctis bowed to his father.

"Thank you…Your Majesty." He said.

"Take your leave, and go in the grace of the gods." Regis stated.

"Right." Noctis said. His eyes once again darted over to Nova as she continued to say goodbye to her children before he turned around and left the throne room without another word.

Gladiolus, Prompto, Ignis and Solis turned as Noctis left before they hurriedly bowed to Regis and ran after the prince. Nova followed right behind them, trying to catch up.

"Well, princes will be princes." Prompto commented as they followed Noctis.

"So much for royal protocol." Ignis added as they began to walk down the steps outside the castle.

"Not like you had to deliver a formal address…" Gladiolus stated.

"Did you really have to leave your dad like that though?" Nova asked as she ran forward so Noctis was forced to look at her. "Honestly, Noct, what was that about?"

"Nothing Nova." Noctis stated.

"Yeah, right, sure. Like I'd believe that for two seconds." Nova rolled her eyes. "He may be king but he's still your dad."

"I don't think he can forget something like that." Prompto said.

"It is highly unlikely." Ignis agreed.

"Oh you know what I meant." Nova rolled her eyes again.

"Do we really?" Gladiolus teased the only girl.

Solis simply stared at the group as they interacted so easily, so freely.

"Your Highness!" Drautos called, causing the party to stop and turn only to see Regis walking down the steps with his cane, Drautos and Alexandros by his side.

"What now?" Noctis asked as he walked over to his father. Nova joined him, walking over to her own.

"You didn't think you could leave without saying goodbye, did you?" Alexandros asked as he hugged his only daughter tightly and kissed the top of her head. "Be safe."

"I will, watch Chiara and Dante for me please. I'll be back soon." Nova promised. Alexandros nodded as his right hand rested on his daughter's right arm. "Don't worry, I won't forget." Nova whispered as she touched her own father's right arm.

Both of Alexandros' arms had identical tattoos on them that looked as if sky blue and orange beads were wrapped around his arms, wrapped around his middle finger and his shoulder so they never ended. They were the marks of the Enchanter.

"I fear I have left too much unsaid." Regis said as Noctis reached him. "You place a great burden on those who would bear with you."

"You're one to talk." Noctis quipped.

"I ask not that you guide my way word son, merely that you remain at his side." Regis said as he spoke to the four men and one woman who would be traveling with Noctis.

"Indeed, Your Grace." Ignis bowed.

"We'll see the prince to Altissia if it's the last thing we see." Gladiolus vowed before he too bowed.

"Yeah, what he said." Prompto nodded.

"I'll protect your son just like my father protects you, Your Majesty." Nova swore as she walked over to stand beside Noctis while Alexandros joined Regis.

"I shall not leave His Highness's side until my duty is complete, Your Majesty." Solis stated as he bowed.

"Hate to break this up, but Cor's got the motor running." Noctis cut in dryly. "Drautos, Alexandros, he's in your hands."

"And another thing." Regis spoke up as Noctis started to walk away. Noctis turned back to his father. "Do mind your manners around your charming bride-to-be."

Unnoticed by all save one, Nova's fingers twitched.

"Your Majesty, as well." Noctis said as he bowed to his father once again. "Try to mind yours around our esteemed guests from Niflheim."

"You have no cause for concern." Regis assured as Noctis straightened. While the rest of the party got in the Regalia, Nova and Noctis stayed near Regis.

"Nor do you." Noctis stated.

"Take heed. Once you set forth, you cannot turn back." Regis said.

"You think I would?" Noctis questioned.

"I need only know that you are ready to leave home behind." Regis clarified.

"Don't know about you, but I'm as ready as I'll ever be." Noctis said confidently. He tried to leave again when his father spoke up.

"Take care on the long road." Regis said. "Wheresoever you should go, the line of Lucis goes with you." Placing a hand on his son's shoulder, Regis spoke his final words. "Walk tall, my son."

Noctis nodded, smiled at his father one last time and made his way to the Regalia with Nova at his side.

Before they set off, Prompto had Cor take a picture of the party of six with the Regalia. Then they got in the car, Ignis at the wheel, and set off.

"Now we're on the road to Altissia, where I will be wed to my childhood friend for peace and at the sacrifice of marrying the woman I love. But it is a worthwhile sacrifice, a necessary one, and one that I will gladly make if it means my people are in no danger of war."

"You mean it was an arranged marriage?" Mia cried.

"That's right." Grandma nodded.

"But weren't Lady Lunafreya and King Noctis in love?" Lucy asked.

"No, they were simply good friends. Their wedding was for peace, not for love." Grandpa explained.

"Why do you girls care so much about King Noctis' love life? When do they start with the battles?" Matthew asked.

"Yeah! When does King Noctis fight Titan and Leviathan and…and Irfrit?" Ben asked.

"Soon, don't you worry." Grandma assured with a smile.

"How do you have this stuff anyway?" Mia suddenly asked.

"Now that, that's a secret." Grandpa winked. "Now who's ready for the next part?"

All four children raised their hands.

Hi and thank you all for reading this first chapter. I'm only posting this cause I'm really excited about the idea and I have time. I still do not have a laptop sadly so updates will not be often. Thanks to EmeraldWings1992 for the help and ideas as well as listening to me. I hope you guys enjoy, leave a review to let me know what you think. Later!