Noctis - Belle of the Ball

Summary: The stage had been set, all he had to do was get her in his arms. With all the help he had been getting, a dance with her was the one thing he knew he had to do himself. But would she reject him if she knew he was the Prince she had been told to avoid. Would she avoid him after he proved he had known her most of his childhood. Noctis knew that Erina had no idea what was about to unfold before her.

A/N: and it's me again! This is the sequel to Masquerade, finally!! As always final fantasy does not belong to me, only the plot and the characters do, so please go ahead and enjoy.

* * *

The day had come, only Noctis had wished the time would pass quicker. He was aware that Prompto and Gladiolus were on their way to the small mansion to get ready for the evening as Stella and Erina were in the process of getting ready for the main event of the day.

Erina had never felt so pampered in her life as she watched a kind women style her hair for her into soft waves with black crystals strewn on the strands. Part was pulled back and held in place by an intricate hair clip. She had smiled gently and whispered a name she had last heard many years ago. "Lucis."

Stella had heard and smiled gently. "Who is that Erina?"

Erina gave a sad smile at the distant memory. "It was someone I held very close to my heart, he gave me this, but I think he has forgotten about me, after all I am only a commoner."

Stella shook her head and smiled warmly. " Look at yourself Erina, you look like a true princess tonight and I am sure you are going to be the belle of the ball, I'm sure where ever he is, he is thinking of you right now."

Hours had passed and soon the sun started dipping when the two females helped each other into their dresses and slipped on their masks smiling at one and other. In silence they left the comfort of the room they had used to meet Gladiolus and Prompto who stood smiling when they first saw Stella.

"Wow you look good." Gladiolus commented and he walked to get Stella.

She chuckled softly. "Just wait until you see her..."

A few seconds later Prompto felt his mouth hang open when Erina walked down the staircase with the grace of a swan. Stella smiled proudly as Erina reached them and bowed slightly before Prompto.

"W-wow you look beautiful." He stuttered out as he took her arm.

Soon the four were on their way to the ball.

Stella smiled as she watched Erina stare wide eyed at all the couples who attended. Once inside she stared even more at dancing couples and groups who chatted animatedly, yet most females seemed to glance around in hopes to spot the Crown Prince himself. Gladiolus had met his partner for the night at the ball itself, a young woman with dark hair and eyes who instantly started chatting with Erina.

"My you look gorgeous in that dress, my name is Anna." She gave a friendly smile.

Erina smiled back at her. "You look very pretty to in your dress, sure to capture the heart of any man who lays eyes on you."

It was when the main dance started. Gladiolus had swept his partner into the crowd and Prompto had politely bowed and asked her to dance. Stella had found Noctis and was dancing with him, leading him slowly to where she was. She noticed how his eye widened when he saw Erina.

It was when another song started that the Prince wasted no time in moving towards them and asked Erina to dance. She had politely accepted and was soon whisked away into the crowd.

Prompto danced with Stella, smiling gently. "So he finally has her in his arms... I wonder how it's going to go when she finds out who she is, but damn she really is the belle of the ball tonight, everyone keeps staring at her."

Stella smiled and nodded. "Yet she is so humble,  she does not even notice all the gazes on her, she exudes and air of royalty yet doesn't acknowledge it."

Erina stared up at the blue eyes that watched her from behind the mask, a kind smile set on the man's face as he twirled her. "May I say you look beautiful tonight my lady." Noctis spoke so only she could hear.

A light blush covered her cheeks. "You look very handsome sir."

" Hmm yet so many stare at you." He quipped watching her blush deepen.

"N - no... I am sure it is you they stare at." She smiled sweetly turning her head when he noticed the hair pin.

"That is a very pretty hair pin." He commented.

"Thank you, it was given to me by someone I dearly wish to see again one day." She smiled up at him. "If I may ask sir, what is your name?"

He smiled down at her leaning close to her ear. "My name is Lucis."

Erina felt her eyes widen as she started up at him. "It can't be...." She whispered as she stared up at him.

He nodded. "And your name my lady?"

"It's Erina..." She whispered as she remained staring at him.

Noctis smiled down at her. "Would you mind accompanying me for a walk? That is if it wouldn't be a problem?"

Erina blinked and gave a slow nod. "I would like that."

Stella watched as the two vanished from the room towards a balcony and smiled up at Prompto.

* * *

Outside the sky was clear, as she walked beside the man. She felt like she knew him but couldn't be sure how she knew him. It was until he turned and faced her holding something out towards her.

She glanced down at the envelope in his hand and took it slowly from him opening it to reveal a picture of her as a child with a young boy. "Where did you find this?" She whispered as she looked up at him, only to find the man who stood before her had removed his mask.

He was an older version of the boy in the picture, yet he was the Crown Prince himself. She felt her breath catch in her throat as she stared up at him.

"It can't be... " She whispered as she moved away from him slowly.

"But it is... It's me Erina, I have been looking for you since forever... You are a princess, why did you forget?"  Noctis spoke softly as he moved towards her.

Erina shook her head. "No... no I am not... I am not the princess you have been looking for." She spoke softly, her voice cracking.

"It is the truth though Erina, when we were children I gave you that clip for your birthday, then you went missing and I needed to find you, I never gave up on you. Whatever you have been told about me is nothing but a lie. I would never harm you." He reached for her hand gently entwining their fingers.

Erina shook her head, " are you telling me that all my life I have lived a lie, that my mother lied to me about everything."

Noctis hugged her close to him and sighed softly. "Your mother, the woman  who raised you was only your real mother's sister. Your real mother is a queen and your father a king who has fallen ill."

Still Erina shook her head. "No... It's not true... you all along... This whole thing was just to get me..." She cried, pulling away from him and running.

Noctis chased after her not caring that his mask had been removed. He chased her through the crowd passing Prompto and Stella who in turn both followed after him.

"What happened?" Prompto asked has he caught sight of Erina.

"She doesn't believe me, she fled when I tried to explain everything to her." Noctis ran as fast as he could.

He ran after her until he had lost sight of the palace itself. It was late into the night, the full moon high up in the sky as he walked along a worn path near where she was staying. The breeze carrying her soft sobs as he rounded the corner to the back of the mansion where she sat by a small pond, the clip in her hand as she stared at her reflection.

"Erina..." her name left his lips as he watched her turn to face him.

"Lucis..." She cried as she s looked down at the clip.

"My full name is Noctis Lucis Caelum the Crown Prince of the kingdom Lucis.  You are the one person destined for me and I have never given up on you Erina Kate Lance. And now that I have finally found you please don't run from me." He spoke softly as she stared up at him.

He kneeled down before her slowly taking her hand and pressing a gentle kiss to her knuckles. "You have no idea how much I have missed you Erina." He whispered.

That was when she cautiously touched his cheek staring at him. "You have become so handsome Lu-Noctis. Why did I only know you by Lucis? "

The man chuckled at the fond memory. " when we were younger I told you my name, and you didn't like it very much so you decided to call me Lucis. When I was told you were taken I felt so sad I vowed I would find you and keep you safe for the rest of your life when I found you."

Erina smiled gently up at him stroking her cheek slowly before he moved down and kissed her gently.
That was how Prompto and Stella found the two when they finally reached them. Stella gave a small relieved sigh and so did Prompto when Noctis looked at them and nodded.

"We need to go to the palace, I have an announcement I would like to make." Noctis spoke lowly as he held Erina next to him.

She gave a small nod and smiled.

* * *

At the palace, Noctis walked up to his throne and cleared his throat slightly. He knew he had every single persons eyes on him.

"Tonight I found the one thing as important to me as this kingdom is, many years ago she was taken from me until Prompto and Gladiolus,  my two loyal friends helped me finally find her. I present to you the missing Princess, Princess Erina Kate Lance whom I wish to make my queen." He held out his hand helping Erina towards him when the lights around them flickered.

"How sweet..." A cruel voice echoed in the silent hall. "You, blonde boy, stole her from the glade and corrupted her... Crown Prince I want that Princess back."

Erina felt her heart stop, the woman she once called her mother had found her. She held tightly onto Noctis' s hand as she shook her head. "I will not go back with you... I will not be locked away from everything ever again. You lied to me, told me you were my mother."

"Of coarse I am not your mother, I am however your aunt." The woman sneered.

"Then why?" Erina asked slowly.

"Why? Because I could not bare a child, my sister could and she stole my only love from me!" She shouted out enraged. "No one deserves to be happy!  Not you,  not this little boy! Are you aware that I told you all those things because I knew either way you'd end up with him and then at least you'd be unhappy and think you where forced into it! You two had always been so taken with each other when you were children, your marriage was simply to strengthen bonds, nothing more, no gain of power, nothing, just bonds,  what a waste!"

Erina shook her head, staying close to Noctis who brushed his thumb over the top of her hand gently. "To be so cruel though to those who did you no wrong... no wonder you were banished." She whispered.

She turned and looked up at Noctis, her face held a gentle expression. "Please, just please make her go away..."

He nodded and glanced at Gladiolus and Prompto who had already made their way over to the enraged woman.

* * *

Extended ending*

Noctis looked at the sleeping figure beside him. She lay cuddled up against him, her face looked angelic. Gently he kissed her hair watching as her eyes slowly fluttered open and a lazy smile graced her lips.

"Hmm my love it's still dark out can you not sleep?" She whispered in a sleeping voice.

He smiled shaking his head. "I still cannot believe that you are finally beside me."

She gave a sleepy chuckle. "I promise I am not going anywhere."

He smiled wider. "And why is that my beautiful Queen?"

"Because I love you, I belong beside you my handsome King, plus we have a wedding to attend in a few hours, you wouldn't want to fall asleep been the best man?" She smiled cuddling up closer to him.

"Still a shocker if you ask me, to see Prompto and Stella so happy." He chuckled, mirth twinkling in his eyes.

"His not so bad, he taught me a lot of what I know." She smiled. "He may be rough on the edges and people may not place him with Stella but I can assure you those two are best suited for each other."

Noctis gave a laugh pulling her closer, burying his nose in her hair. "Hmm to think he would have stolen your heart."

At this Erina burst into a fit of giggles. "Would you have been jealous?"

She watched as her love blushed and kissed her to silence her from teasing him.

"Maybe a little." He teased softly watching her smile widen.

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.

Noctis - Familiar Stranger

Summary: Noctis finds himself curious about the girl who was with Prompto, the girl who fled from his throne room the minute her eyes landed on him, something about her seemed familiar, yet he couldn't place his finger on what is was. She definitely reminded him of someone he knew when he was much younger.

A/N: Moshi mosh desu~ it's me, and this is the sequel to Lost and Found. I do not own Final Fantasy neither do I own the characters used from my own personal amusement. I do however own the plot and Erina.

* * *

"Gladiolus,  who is that girl with Prompto?" Noctis rested his head against his palm as he watched his close friend.

"Ah, the ladies name is Erina, she has not told us more than that though. She grew quite fond of Prompto." He watched carefully gauging his friends reaction.

"Hmm I see, I would like to meet her sometime, though she seemed frightened of me." He glanced to where she had been, then back at Gladiolus.

"It was brought to my attention that she had mentioned to Prompto before, that her mother had raised her and told her to keep away from the Crown Prince... We all know there is only one, isn't it a little strange?" Gladiolus watched as Noctis frowned deep in thought.

"If by chance... by some chance I can prove she is her, it would mean Prompto found her, but it's mere speculation now, the missing Princess is known as Erina Kate Lance. It's strange that she has the same first name but was found...." He glanced up, "Where did you find her?"

Gladiolus smiled, "we found her by accident by the looks of it, while we were out one day, we were on our way back and stumbled across a covered glade near the big lake, and well there she was amongst the flowers, she was very friendly but also came across as very strange according to what she told us."

Noctis motioned for Gladiolus to continue,  his full interest on what he was been told.

"She had told us she had lived in the glade with her mother most of her life, but she had never been allowed to leave, that is where Prompto comes in. She seemed quite taken with him so he started telling her about life beyond her glade. It eventually led to tonight when she decided on her own to leave. Prompto had snuck her a phone, I had taught her to use it so she could contact one of us should something happen."

"That was rather smart of Prompto, but if it is her and she's taken with Prompto, it will cause problems." Noctis sighed as he casually crossed his legs.

Gladiolus nodded slowly, "Is there anything else you wish to know? " Noctis shook his head in reply.

"No, but find out more about her and keep me informed, there is something I need to get done in the mean time."

Gladiolus bowed and left to join the other two who waited for him outside the palace.

Noctis rose from his throne when he was all alone and walked over to a window looking down at the female who stood beside his close friend, eyes narrowing carefully he focused on her face before walking to his study.

Opening a small chest which was placed on his desk he pulled out an aged picture of a young girl with snowy hair and doe like grey eyes along side a younger version of himself. In the picture the girl showed off an ornamental hair clip he had given her as a birthday present, her cheeks a light pink.

"If you still have that clip, it's the only way I will know if it's you or not..." He sighed as he placed the picture back and sat staring out the window of his study.

* * *

Erina giggled nervously as Prompto teased her, scolding her playfully for been a chicken. "Come on, most women would give anything to be in the vastly,  let alone in his presence, his really not a bad person at all."

Erina nodded looking back up at the palace. "I don't know what it is... but early, inside, it felt rather nostalgic,  like I may have been here before, but it's impossible, since I'm just a normal girl." She pouted gently.

Prompto grinned down at her and shrugged. "It's a bit overwhelming the first time you walk around it, but it's not very homey. That's the part Noctis dislikes the most."

"Ah getting along well I see, I reported to Noctis, we are now free for the rest of the night to do as we please." Gladiolus informed them as he walked to his bike. "And he would like to meet you Erina."

Prompto watched the girls face pale. "N - no I can't he will keep me for himself and lock me away." She stuttered out earning looks of worry from both men.

"Who ever told you that, Noctis has always been a gentlemen,  if he was really like that do you think he would take time looking for a missing princess? " Prompto asked softly.

Erina sighed lowly and nodded. "But mother always told me such bad things about the Prince, that he is harsh and unkind."

Gladiolus looked at the girl and shook his head. "Did your mother ever tell you to avoid anyone else?"

"No, she only told me to stay away from the Prince no matter what." Erina replied.

Prompto caught on to what Gladiolus was doing and remained silent, listening carefully.

Gladiolus nodded in thought then looked back at the girl running a hand through his dark hair. "And did anyone else ever find the glade? "

Erina nodded but her smile faltered to a sad one. " A few wanderers found it, but some of them never returned and at the time mother had been home. You where the only ones who ever came back."

Gladiolus glanced at Prompto, eyes narrowing slightly. "Do you know if your mother has a sister?"

Erina pouted as she thought about the question. "She never said anything but I did over hear her talking once in her room in a very soft voice about a sister in the kingdom."

She watched as both mens eyes widened at what she had just told them.

"Erina, does the surname Lance sound familiar? " Prompto asked in a hurried tone.

"Y - yes, it's my surname, why?" She watched as both mens faces paled.

"We found you!" Prompto smiled, though he still looked shocked.

"Found who?" Erina asked curiously.

"The missing princess." Gladiolus answered humbly.

"Oh? Where is she?" Erina glanced around her carefully.

Prompto looked to Gladiolus and led her to a fountain pointing out Erina ' s own reflection,  both men watching as her eyes widened.

"No? It can't be, I'm just a normal commoner." She answered them in the softest voice ever.

Both men glanced at each other, before staring down at the female who stared at her reflection.

* * *
Noctis had heard the commotion in the front of his palace and walked out onto his balcony looking down at the trio. They hadn't realised he was watching them, having heard everything that was discussed.

His eyes widened as he stared at the girl. "It can't be... maybe just, I wonder how to get you to remember, to remember me, and when we were kids. After all if you were just told to stay away from me it could just be you." He turned and walked into his study looking for a way to contact her family.

* * *

The king and queen had aged since they last saw Noctis so it had come as a surprise when the  young Crown Prince showed up at their castle. It was in a study that they held a small meeting over some tea and cakes.

"Your Highness, Queen Emilia,  I need to ask, do you have a sister?" Noctis asked, his face a mask of calm.

"I do. But I saw her many years ago, my husband banished her, but lately he has fallen ill hence why he cannot be here with us currently.  A twin sister to be exact, she was deeply in love with my husband, but she could not bare children. She had tried to kill Erina when she was but a mere baby."

Noctis nodded. "Did you ever have any knowledge of her location?"

The Queen gave a smile and nodded. " I did, she stayed in a small glade near a great lake, the boundary between our kingdom and yours. But after a few years she was never seen there again."

"Two of my men found a girl who looks the almost the splitting image of you and the king. They found her in the glade near the great lake." Noctis spoke slowly watching the woman's eyes widen and tear up slightly.

"You mean to tell me she is alive and well, it sounds though like my sister was the one who...?" The woman gave a choked sound as tears spilled down her cheeks.

Noctis nodded and gave a small smile. "Yes, alive and perfectly well, it would seem like it, but we need to find out if all the speculations are true or not, but she doesn't seem to know or remember that she is royalty, she thinks she is a commoner."

The Queen nodded, drying her tears. "Please, help her remember who she is."

Noctis nodded, understanding how the Queen felt. "I feel the same and we will do our best to help her remember."

Noctis - Lost and Found

Summary : A young girl, lost as a small child, brain washed into thinking she was just like every other person, except she isn't.  Erina finds herself in a sticky situation when she is hunted out and found by the friends of the one man she had been taught to avoid at all costs, but how long will it take them all to realise she is right under his nose. Though she fights him, her memories slowly come back to her until she has to face the consequences she has been thrown into.

O/C: Erina, long snow white hair, storm grey eyes, straight forward, blunt, fierce, but can be soft, gentle, kind and forgiving.(Her rougher side is taught to her by Prompto)

* * *

One day in a small Kingdom, tucked away in a small, corner outside of th,  a king and his beautiful queen gave birth to a beautiful little girl with the purest white hair and clear grey eyes, they named her Princess Erina Kate Lance.

As in most fairy tales happiness was in abundance in the small castle and the stone walls always filled with laughter, warmth and love. But as there is happiness, tragedy will always be hiding around a corner, waiting silently to strike when least expected.

It was on such a day that Erina and her mother had been having a picnic in one of the many gardens when the young girl was lured into the forests surrounding the castle and never, ever seen again. Although a handsome reward was offered for her safe return, nobody ever saw a sign of the young girl, leaving many of the kingdoms residence saddened at her disappearance.

* * *

"Dear child, come brush your mother's hair."

"Yes mother." Erina replied sweetly as she walked to her mother's room to fetch her hair brush.

"Did you make the dinner I asked you to?" The woman asked, the slight hint of annoyance in her voice.

"Yes mother, it's ready, it just needs to be warmed up over the fire." The young girl smiled as she brushed her mother's hair.

"Did any strangers come by the glade today?"

"No mother, not today." She continued brushing her mother's hair.

"All is well then, it would be such a problem if someone where to find you my dear, I don't know what I would do without you." The woman gave a twisted smile.

"Mother, when will you take me with you to the capital?"

"Now, now my dear child, you are still so young and vulnerable,  there is a man there whom you must avoid." The woman countered, her voice hardly masking her agitation.

"But mother I am of age, hardly a child,  I never venture further than the glade, all I wish is to see the capital." Erina pleaded, but all her efforts fell on deaf ears.

"No, and I will not repeat myself child,  the minute you set foot in that capital you are in danger, that man will find you and steal you from me. He is cruel and does not care for anyone but himself, he will lock you away and keep you to himself."

Erina frowned as she looked at her mother, " I'm sure no person is so cruel."

"And that is what will get you in trouble the instant you leave the glade. Now drop the topic,  you are not leaving." The woman snapped, standing up and walking to her room where she sighed.

"She is so much like you were my dear sister, except you stole the love of my life and all I got was a cabin, hidden in a glade, banished from your Kingdom."

Lana was the splitting image of her sister, due to her antics she had found herself banished, so her revenge was to steal her sisters first born and raise the child as her own, as she could not bare children.

She was well aware that Erina was to marry the young Prince once they were both of age, uniting the two kingdoms in the end, so she had done her best to tell Erina to stay away. Yet she never used his name, as she had a suspicion the girl would hunt the Prince out, out of curiosity.

She knew there was no real danger to the child besides the creature that lurked beyond the glade, but as Erina grew older, so did her curious nature.

Sighing Lana slipped into her night gown and into her bed, retiring for the night.

* * *

In her bed room Erina sighed as she had a mental debate with herself until she decided she would run away. She longed to see the world, people had stumbled across the glade often, she had spoken with them and befriended many of them who returned when her mother was not home. One such person was a young man named Prompto,  who had told her of how he was sent to hunt a missing princess and take her home to her family and the man who loved her.

Erina had found it endearing and very romantic, though neither knew that the topic of conversation was indeed right there. It was that night that Prompto had come to her to help her flee from her mother, offering to take her in and help her live a normal life in the capital.

She ran as fast as she could to the edge of the glade, and through the secret entrance, beyond the cave, and into a thick forest which bordered a beautiful lake. It was under the moonlight by the edge where he had promised to meet her. And that was where she had found him awaiting her arrival.

The blonde boy flashed her a cheeky smile as she approached him. "So running off into the night with a stranger huh? Pretty romantic in its own way isn't it?" He teased watching as a pink tint dusted her cheeks.

Erina gave a sweet smile and shook her head. "Says the idiot who taught me bar manners, but really thank you for helping me, I owe you my life."

Walking beside him she glanced around her in wonder. "It's really beautiful out here, I have never been beyond the glade, though sometimes from my room I could see the furthest edge of the lake during the day."

Prompto smiled triumphantly, he had yet to tell Noctis that he had finally saved his very own damsel in distress, whilst looking for his. It was further along in the forest that Gladiolus had met the pair with two motorbikes, smiling at the familiar face of the girl who walked beside Prompto.

"Hello Gladiolus, it's been a while since you last came to visit." She chuckled when the man gave her a hug.

"Well we have been rather busy, that is all, but when Prompto told me you wanted to leave the glade, I had to come along and help or you'd still be walking." He chuckled "And as promised I brought motorbikes I had told you about."

Erina gave a wide smile as she stared at the machines then clasping her hands together she grinned. "So when do we go on them?"

Prompto laughed leading her to one and climbing on after helping her on, her dress she wore had long since been discarded and she wore a normal outfit of shorts and a top he thought would look really good on her, paired up with boots and a jacket with a fur lined hood. Prompto gave a grin when she wrapped her arms around him, uncertain of how to hold him.

"Now remember, if you don't want people to look at you strangely, ditch the over polite manners, they make you stand out." He chuckled.

Gladiolus rolled his eyes, "And as always you manage to corrupt yet another lady."

Prompto laughed before looking over his shoulder at the young female, "now don't forget to hold on tightly,  wouldn't want you falling off and getting hurt." He gave a wink causing her to blush as she simply nodded and held onto him tightly.

* * *

The ride had been a long one and it led Erina to wonder how they had actually managed to find her. The drive through the capital was one that left her in wonder and awe before they pulled into a large entrance to what seemed to be a castle.

Prompto turned to her when he felt her grip on him turn vice like for a second. "You okay? I hope you don't mind, we always tell Noctis what happened throughout the day. He worries a bit about us if we don't report to him."

Erina simply nodded and swallowed the lump on her throat as the bikes pulled up into a drive. She followed silently until they entered a throne room, her heart freezing when she saw the one and only Prince she had been warned to stay away from...

She glanced up at Prompto desperately, tugging on his arm. "Is he?"

"The Prince , yes but he doesn't like the title very much, the one and only Prince Noctis, his the Prince I have been telling you about." Prompto smiled proudly but it faded when he saw her face pale.

"I don't feel comfortable here, I will rather go wait outside, please, I was warned to stay away from the Prince at all costs." She begged.

Prompto placed his hands on her shoulders to steady her then looked to Gladiolus who eyed Erina warily. He knew that Prompto had also picked up on her strange behaviour and in such nodded. "Take her outside, I will report to Noctis." He smiled as he left the two standing at the entrance to the throne room.