More than a Myth

A Prince Yet Again

Noctis couldn't open his eyes. He was afraid that he wouldn't be home, but in some other dimension or something. He was lying on the ground, slowly getting up. He heard his friends stirring nearby. He still hadn't opened his eyes when he stood.
Noctis took a deep breath. He gradually opened his eyes. Where was he? The outskirts of his kingdom.
Prompto jumped for joy, pulling all of the guys together. "We did it! We're back! Hell yeah! Woohoo!" Prompto released his friends and threw his hands in the air. "No more plain yellow chocobos!" Gladiolus rolled his eyes. "You're all worked up over that?"
Prompto turned to face him. "Ye—" The blonde's eyes widened.
Ignis asked, "What?"
He pointed behind Ignis, where they had come from. He said, "Look..."
Noctis turned around. There it was, the portal hadn't vanished. Noctis took a few steps closer. He spoke to it, like he did months ago when he was trying to get Lightning home. "Is it open on your side?"
A voice with and accent answered on the other side, "Hell yeah!"
Ignis said, "Looks like it was a success."
Gladiolus called, "Then come over!"

One by one, each of their companions from Pulse came through the portal, glad that they hadn't lost their new friends forever. Lightning came last, since she had seen it all before. While the group was marveling at the city, Noctis embraced Lightning, relieved that they could still be together, despite where they were from. She stated, "I was scared, Noctis."
Noctis patted her head. "Me too." He pushed her shoulders to move her back. He looked straight into her eyes. "But we're together. That's all that matters, right?" She nodded in agreement.
Ignis recommended, "We better get Noctis up to the castle. It doesn't look like the invasion did too much damage, but there's no doubt that the king is worried."
Noctis concluded while heading for the city, "And we need to find out what happened after the invasion. Let's go now so—"
Gladiolus kept him from moving by tugging on his shirt. "Hold it. You're a prince here, remember? If you just waltz on in the citizens will swarm us."
Noctis had gotten too used to being average like he was on Pulse. "So what do we do?"
Gladiolus planned, "I'll go and get you a hooded jacket to wear. Then we can get back to the castle."
Fang and Vanille were the most amazed with the kingdom. Sure, Cocoon was big and busy, but the great city was even more extravagant. Advanced technology was all around. It was morning there, unlike Pulse, where it was evening. Vanille twirled in front of them while singing, "It's all so big and fascinating!"
Hope said, "It kind of reminds me of Cocoon. Minus the floating in the sky part."
Sazh commented, "The city looks like Nautilus to me. Only there aren't chocobos running around."
Prompto suddenly gasped dramatically. He excitedly huffed, "We HAVE to go check something! Come on!" He took off through the streets. The group was following him, close behind. He led them to the square, where Fang could have sworn she heard a "kweh."
When they saw the animals around them, most of the Pulse dwellers were shocked. Sazh said, "Damn, kid. And I thought you were lying about that!"
Serah shouted with glee, "Colorful chocobos!"
The square had a picket fence that kept chocobos on display. Imagine any color in the world. There was probably a chocobo there that was that very color. The gang went up to the fence, reaching out to the large birds.
Fang stood next to Noctis, so he heard her say, "Not as big as Pulse's chocobos, but definitely more fun."
Noctis smirked. "Are Cocoon's the same?"
"Actually, no. They're a little smaller, but still bigger than these. They're all yellow too though." Fang clapped her hands together softly and whistled at one chocobo. Its attention was piqued, immediately coming over to Fang.
Noctis said, "Light did that same thing to another chocobo a while ago."
Fang laughed, "Who do you think taught her that neat little trick?"
Prompto exclaimed at Noctis, "Didn't you miss the variety?"
Noctis groaned, "You're not going to start skipping and prancing again, are you?"
Prompto frowned. "Not anymore." He readied himself to walk away, but something was in his way. Noctis warned, "Prompt, watch for that rock."
"AHHH!" Prompto tripped over a large stone in the street, sending him over the small fence and into a pile of loose feathers from the chocobos.
Everyone ran over to him. Snow called, "You alright, Prompto?"
With a flurry of feathers, Prompto sat up. He could have passed for a chocobo with so many feathers stuck to him. "Yeah, I'm good." They all laughed.
Noctis's heard a woman say behind them, "Let's get to the castle gates. The king is returning soon!"
Gladiolus turned to him. "You hear that?"
Noctis nodded. "Guys, I think we should head to the castle now. It looks like the king is on his way there."
Cent asked, "You mean your father?"
Noctis sighed. "Yes."
Lightning asked, "You heard those girls. The citizens will be swarming the gates looking for Solis. How are we going to get in unrecognized?"
Noctis reassured, "Don't worry. You know as well as I do that there are plenty of hidden passages in the castle. It will be easy getting in using one of them."