Noctis - Masquerade

Summary- Noctis has a plan, a plan he hopes will work so he can hold Erina in his arms once more. A plan that will let Prompto bring her right to him without her even realising it was planned. After all in a ball room full of masked men and women, what are the odds that he'd pick her to dance with.

A/N: hey there... This is the sequel to Familiar Stranger, I hope you enjoy it. As always I do not own Final Fantasy, I only own the plot and few characters my mind created.

* * *

Prompto and Gladiolus stood next to each other as they stood before Noctis. He had something big planned, both men knew it, they just had no idea what it was.

"So you left the girl with Stella?" He asked as he looked at his two friends.

Prompto nodded gingerly.  "Yeah she was pretty chilled about the idea of spending the day with another girl, Stella said they going shopping or whatever." He scratched the back of his head trying to sound like he wasn't worried about Erina.

"So what is this master plan of yours?" Gladiolus asked curiously.

Noctis raised an eyebrow and gave a smirk. "Well I went to see a King and Queen, if she is who I think she is, they are her parents, the only way to know if it is her though is if she has a certain, rather intricate hair clip in her possession. Stella already knows what to look for since we have her lodged in one of my families private homes. They have been sent dress shopping today and general shopping to get the girl what she needs, since it's rather evident that you..." He glanced at Prompto. "Dress her according to what you would like to see her in."

Prompto gave a sheepish grin but couldn't help but feel uneasy, the one girl he liked a lot more than he should have was destined for his best friend. "So what's the plan?" He asked.

"We need to help her remember who she is." Noctis replied to them.

"But how, there is no evidence to show her." Gladiolus replied.

Noctis shook his head, showing them the picture of a young girl who looked a lot like Erina did, smiling happily with her hair clip with a much younger Noctis grinning beside her.

Prompto chuckled at the picture. "Eh, you made quite a cute little kid, but that really looks like her and she looked quite smitten with you even then, though she was taught to do the opposite of what she felt."

Gladiolus nodded as he studied the picture. "It's her, there is no doubt, but what about Stella?"

Noctis gave an uncertain smile. "Stella and I are close friends, she's like a sister to me, she understands and is in to help me. Besides she has her eye on someone already and it's not me, though for the time being she will be accompanying me."

Both men nodded in unison at their friend. "If she has the clip it's definitely her then? "

Noctis nodded. " The clip is one of a kind, I had it custom made for her, no one else has one but her."

They nodded again.

Prompto shuffled around on his feet when a beep went off in his pocket. He blushed but ignored the urge to check if it was from Erina.

* * *

Stella smiled warmly at Erina as she stared wide eyed at all the shops around her. "Wow, so many!" She exclaimed before looking to the blonde beside her.

Stella chuckled. "Well let's get you started on your first shopping trip, also I was told by Prompto to get you a pretty ball dress so we have a lot to get done today." She spoke sweetly leading Erina into the first shop.

After an hour both women walked out with a few bags containing a few necessities that women really needed. New lingerie, and sleep wear which Erina didn't own. Next was a shop specialising in normal everyday wear.

Erina smiled as she eyes a typical lolita styled frock and grinned picking one in her size. So it continued in that very shop until they walked out unable to carry what they had bought. Stella had the driver take everything and soon the two went to the seamstress who would sort out thier dresses for them.

Stella stood and picked out a simple dress in a pale pink with a split up the side that stopped mid thigh, she also picked out dainty shoes in the same tone and some simple jewelry to match.  Her mask she had picked was a white mask with an intricate lace pattern in the shape of a butterfly.

She watched as Erina browsed through dresses until she stopped at a beautiful black and white dress. The top was corset style,  the bust decorated in black which thinned out round the section that covered her waist until only black crystals dotted the white silk and tulle of the skirt, she picked out a pretty pair of white high heels covered in silk dotted with the same black crystals and a simple necklace to match. She had the perfect accessory she wanted to wear to the ball in her hair.

Her mask was a simple one, made of black lace that covered her eyes and nose. Stella smiled as she made a mental note of what she was wearing, though she knew she would be attending with Prompto. In a sea of faces you could get quite overwhelmed when looking for someone.

The two females enjoyed a simple lunch before finishing up their shopping and heading to the home Noctis was letting them both live in for the time being until Erina regained her memories of her real identity and social standing.

It was at the house that both of them started slowly packing all Erina's new items when the girl turned and smiled brightly.

"Hey Stella, let's make dinner, so that when Prompto and Gladiolus get back we can surprise them and all sit and eat together."

Stella nodded and smiled. "That's a great idea,  I'm sure they will both appreciate it." Then she took a chance. "Erina, what would you do if you ever met the Prince?"

Erina spun around, her face draining of its colour. "I really don't know, I mean there is a very slim chance I will ever meet him so I'm okay with that."

"Oh, you know I feel deeply for him, all his life he has not given up looking for his love." She smiled sweetly.

"It's very endearing, I would love to have a romance like that." Erina gave a dreamy smile then continued packing her things when the front door opened and in marched Prompto and Gladiolus.

"Hey ladies it would seem there is something happening on Friday~" Prompto chimed happily.

"Eh?" Erina looked stunned as she watched Prompto.

"There is a ball at the royal palace, and we are all going." He smirked brightly. "And finally I will get to dance with you." He smiled at Erina who blushed deeply looking to the side.