"Oops."
Stella gasped as she landed in a pair of arms. Ardyn grinned at her pale, dazed face and adjusted his grip on her.
"You should watch where you step," he said. "That fall could have…"
Stella punched him in the eye, ripped the necklace off him and rolled out of his arms. She cried out as she landed and twisted her ankle. She lay sprawled out on the road and clutched the necklace to her chest. She felt shaky after the who-knows-how-many-storeys drop.
She curled into a ball and clutched the necklace to her chest. Her sobs rang out into the night.
Well, the good news was that she didn't have to die from the fall. That would have been anticlimactic for someone like her.
Then again, potentially getting stabbed to death by her ancestor whilst cowering before him wasn't the best Option B.
Stella felt her energy ebb away with her motivation to get up and run. She hadn't gotten a good look at the gates to see if the nagaranis were still there. Even still, she'd have to tiptoe around the red giants, take another arduous journey through the abandoned subway system, get to her bike that hopefully should be in working order, then get past that pesky behemoth that blocked the way between Insomnia's border and Hammerhead. Doing all that with a twisted ankle? It would be a miracle to achieve.
Stella pushed her hands against the tarmac and barely lifted herself two inches.
Ardyn chuckled and she was picked up again.
"You look tired, Stells," he whispered. "You should get some rest."
Stella's body felt like lead. She didn't resist when Ardyn reached into her hands and popped the music box open. The soft notes guided Stella into her slumber. The last thing she was aware of was Ardyn joining in the lullaby and being carried into the Citadel.
Stella heard her cell phone pinging. She groaned. She thought she left that at Lestallum.
Taking her phone around with her attracted daemons so she never bothered leaving the house with it.
Maybe she took it with her in case something happened to her in Insomnia?
Wait, did she actually go to Insomnia?
Had the whole ordeal just been a horrid nightmare?
Stella snarled at another ping and she reached out, snatching the phone off from the grass.
Grass?
Stella opened her eyes and saw that she was in a forest clearing. Fireflies danced between the trees and across the starry, turquoise sky. The scene took her breath away. Everything looked so tall, so big. It was like she had tumbled into a fairy-tale book.
The phone pinged again and she checked the messages.
Thank goodness! I got through to you!
Stella turned and saw small fox looking at her. He sat down and smiled, tilting his head. The red gem on his forehead gleamed.
You need help. I can help you.
Stella's jaw dropped.
"Carbuncle?" she said and he nodded. "But why are you appearing to me? I'm technically not part of the Lucis line."
Stella Lucis Caelum.
Stella nibbled her lip. She was meant to change her name when the new dawn arrived. Her descendants won't be bound in servitude to the Astrals and they'll be able to live normal lives.
Quick!
Carbuncle jumped and nodded behind Stella.
We need to make sure the Starscourge doesn't get you.
"Starscourge?!" Stella jumped to her feet and stared down at her body. "Why am I seven years old?!"
Hurry!
Stella turned and saw a shadowed figure making its way through the forest. She turned back to Carbuncle who was already running down the path. With a frustrated groan, she ran after him. She felt so slow.
"I'd do a better job if I had longer legs!" she called after the Messenger.
Wouldn't we all?
Stella sighed in aggravation and swung her arms to give her momentum. She screeched to a halt as she saw the cliff edge and nearly fell. Pebbles dropped into the misty abyss below and she looked around for another way.
Down here!
Stella glared at the phone. "Maybe in twenty years time! I can't make this jump!"
"Oh, Stells…"
Shivers went up Stella's spine and she dared to look up. Ardyn towered over her, black liquid dripping from his eyes and lips.
Then again, what are a few broken bones compared to being man-handled by this creep?
Stella jumped and slid down the muddy slope.
She slipped near the bottom and fell into a lake. When she surfaced, she caught sight of Noct on the other side. He was fishing, with Prompto, Gladio and Ignis.
"Noct!" Stella called as she waved her hand. "Noct, over here!"
They didn't seem to hear or see her. Noct pulled his fishing rod away and dismissed it. He walked back to his party and they began to leave.
"Wait!" Stella called.
She swum over and got out by the pier. However, Noct and the rest of the group were gone. She sighed and shook her head, getting rid of the water in her hair. The phone pinged in her hand.
Well done!
Stella growled and looked around. "Where did you go?"
A small bark brought her attention to a boulder. She looked up and saw the Messenger perched on top, ears pricked.
This way.
"Where are we going?"
You'll see. Come on!
Carbuncle turned and jumped off the boulder. Stella glanced in the direction where Noct and the others disappeared to.
"Noct went this way."
We'll meet up with him soon. Chop, chop! Wouldn't want the Starscourge to catch you.
"Stells!"
Stella turned on her heel and her heart leapt when she saw Ardyn on the other side of the lake. He grinned and stepped forward into the lake. Something shot out of the lake, knocking Stella off her feet and spraying water everywhere. Leviathan loomed over Ardyn.
"Go!" she rumbled.
"I'm going!" Stella said as she jumped to her feet and ran after Carbuncle.
Quickly, quickly!
"This is as fast as I can go with little legs!" Stella shouted at the phone.
She zigzagged down the rocky paths, ignoring the pebbles going into her shoes and skidding around corners. Around every corner, she kept glimpsing Carbuncle's tail to indicate which way to go next. The phone kept pinging with messages to hurry, keep going and not far now. At this point it was pointless to waste time reading them, it was more or less of the same thing.
At least, that's what Stella assumed until she ran straight off a cliff.
I said to watch out for that!
"Don't spam me with pointless messages!" Stella yelled.
She plunged down through the treetops below and into the lagoon underneath. She tumbled along the currents until she surfaced by the mouth of a river. She stumbled onto the bank and shook her hair out.
"How many times do I have to nearly drown?" she grumbled. She twitched when the mobile pinged again. "This better not be another spam message!" she barked and checked the phone.
Just down the bridge to the Crown City!
Stella's heart leapt as she looked around. The mist cleared somewhat to reveal the large bridge which connected Insomnia to the mainland. After shaking her head again to get some water out of her ear, she scaled the cliff.
The bridge looked much bigger and longer compared to when she last trekked it. Her shoes squelched as she started crossing.
There were no cars littering the structure. It felt so empty, lifeless. It was damn depressing. Insomnia isn't Insomnia without the bustling population. It was the kind of environment Stella thrived upon. Busy, happy and so many stories forged under one dome.
To think it all disappeared during the space of one night.
Stella tripped on something on the bridge and stumbled to a halt. Her legs ached. She wished she had her bike. Or better yet, she'd like to be twenty-seven again. The trip down the bridge hadn't been exhausting that time.
She really wanted to sit down and take a break.
"Stells!"
Stella turned and jumped when she saw Ardyn on the edge of the bridge. He stepped forward and daemons appeared around him.
Taking a break didn't seem like a viable option.
Stella took off down the bridge, achy legs be damned.
By the time she crossed the halfway mark, the bridge shook. She fell flat on her face and water sloshed over the bridge. Some daemons were swept off but Ardyn wasn't swayed. He paused when a shadow crossed the bridge and they looked up to see Titan.
Stella's stomach clenched when he raised a hand. "No, wait! I'm still on the bridge!"
Titan slammed his fist on Ardyn. The bridge collapsed around the Accursed, whilst he stopped the fist with his hand. Stella got up to her feet and continued down the bridge. Salpinxes dropped down around her. She zigzagged around them, the bridge collapsing after her. Her legs were killing her by the time she reached Insomnia's gates. She pushed against them and cried out when they wouldn't budge.
"How do you expect me to get in?!" she yelled into the phone.
Shall we start with a B major?
"What?"
Carbuncle appeared next to her and barked a B major. Stella stared at him.
"This isn't the time to be singing!" she snapped.
The next three messages pinged in the first three notes of B major.
Fa
So
La
Stella glowered at the texts as music note emojis decorated them. She glanced at the collapsing bridge, stepped back with a sigh and looked up at the gates. She sung B major.
Now A.
Stella continued singing the scales as instructed by Carbuncle.
Every note brought back memories, good and bad, of rehearsals, recitals and performances in front of Insomnia. Her first singing lessons were when she was seven, she performed for the first time when she was ten. She took violin lessons too but rarely performed with it. Insomnia wanted her to sing so she sang.
Noct had training with Gladio and tutoring with Ignis whilst she dragged Prompto and Iris to watch her rehearsals. She loved her music but hated the fact she was governed by her agent and vocal coaches. Even her passion had to be controlled. It's not like Noct was told when to fish or not.
As the notes rang in the air, Stella saw the gates shuddering. Every note higher caused them to shudder more until finally, they cracked open. Stella took the opportunity to slip in and slam the gates closed behind her.
Insomnia was just as void of life as the bridge. No cars, no birds or rats, it was like a sterilised laboratory.
Carbuncle dashed down the road and the phone pinged with messages to follow. Stella followed him down the deserted streets. Her legs wobbled with every step.
Carbuncle led her to the theatre where she performed. It was the only place where she was allowed to sing, since it held more prestige than the other possible venues in the city. The Messenger walked down the alley, towards the entrance where she had to use to avoid crowds and fans.
The door opened, welcoming her in to the familiar backstage. Everything felt so big as she wandered in and followed Carbuncle to the stage. Everything was lit up beautifully, all it needed was an audience and the scene would be complete.
Stella stood at the centre of the stage, taking in the red, velvet seats, the golden decorations on the balcony, the regal boxes where Regis or Noct would sit and the large crystal chandelier that loomed over the room. She felt butterflies in her stomach. It reminded her of her first performance, standing in front of a large audience and feeling her palms growing sweaty. She nearly forgot the song she was meant to be singing that day.
She turned to Carbuncle, who was walking towards the grand, ebony piano on stage right.
"What are we doing here?" she asked.
Carbuncle jumped onto the piano stool and played a note on the ivory. It echoed through the empty theatre and Stella swallowed.
"I'm really not in the mood to sing," she said.
Singing is a part of you.
"It isn't going to get me out of here."
Noctis has the power of kings and is the bringer of light. You, Stella, have the light inside you.
Stella raised her eyebrows and Carbuncle tilted his head.
It comes out when you sing. It will push the Starscourge back.
"Stells…"
Stella turned and froze when she saw Ardyn in the wings. He grinned and stepped onstage. The chandelier began flickering as shadows crawled across the polished wood.
Carbuncle hit his paw on another key. He barked and Stella took a deep breath.
"You'd better be right about this," she muttered.
The first song that popped into her head was the aria she sung at her first performance. Ardyn froze in place and snarled. Stella's heart leapt as she saw him move back and her confidence swelled. She stepped forward and sung louder. As she did, she grew back to her adult body and her voice matured, nearly breaking.
The song filled the theatre. Stella felt it growing warmer and less isolated with every lyric. A white barrier formed between her and Ardyn, keeping him in the wings. It spread between the curtains, like ice across a window.
Ardyn's visage grew uglier and angrier as Stella finished the first verse. She jumped when a dark tendril shot out from a hole in the barrier and tried to grab her.
"Stells!"
Stella covered her mouth as Noctis shot past her and parried the tendril. Ardyn let out an inhumane roar and Noctis drove the tendril past the barrier. The barrier sealed up, leaving him trapped with the Accursed.
"Noct!" Stella cried and ran across the stage.
She slammed into the barrier, beating her hands against it. Noct held his blade up.
"Get out of here, Stells!" he called.
"Not without you!" Stella rammed her shoulder into the barrier and slammed her head into it. "Noct, please!"
"Stells…"
Stella widened her eyes as Noct turned to her with a sombre smile.
"This is what I have to do as king," he said. "It's what I've been chosen to do."
Tears brimmed Stella's eyes. "But we're twins," she croaked. "We were born together, we shouldn't have to be separated like this…"
Noct pressed his hand against the barrier and Stella moved her hand to press against it. "You have to go on to the new world. They need a leader."
Stella's bottom lip wobbled and she slammed her fists into the barrier. "It's not fair, Noct! Why can't I at least help with the burden? Why can't we take the blood price together?" She sobbed and pressed her forehead between her hands. "It's not fair…"
Noct smiled and pressed his forehead against where hers was. "If it were the other way round, I'd be begging to swap as well. The burden is for me. I happily accept it."
Stella slid to the floor, crying her eyes out. "It's not fair…"
Noct crouched to meet her eyes. "Hey. We had fun, right? All those memories we created, they can still live on. You knew for a while what it meant for me to be the True King."
Stella closed her eyes and dug her fingers into the barrier.
When they were young, they knew the clear difference between them. Noct could warp and draw out the elements to make magic and spells. Stella couldn't. She felt so jealous. She wanted to do what Noct did! They were twins, why didn't they have the same powers?
One day, Stella saw their father weep after he left the throne room. He wouldn't tell her when she asked why he was crying. Naively, she tried to ask the crystal why he wept. Of course, she didn't have a response. It frustrated her and she ran off.
Like most children, she had a spot where she went to sulk. Her place was by Somnus's statue, behind his left leg. She fell asleep and she dreamed.
She couldn't remember all of it, but she remembered seeing a man with long dark hair and kind, blue eyes. Over the years she would recall the dream piece by piece. By the time she was ten, she remembered being told that Noct would have to give up his life one day.
At first, she begged to swap places with him. She went to the crystal and to Somnus to pray and beg for her to take the burden, not Noct. Of course, it was a futile effort. So, she resigned to giving Noct the best memories possible.
"It was worth it, Stells." Stella opened her eyes to look at Noct. "I'll treasure every moment and every effort you made to make my life happy." He turned to Ardyn. "Go. The others are waiting for you."
Stella parted her lips and her phone pinged.
This way, Stella! We're almost there!
Stella saw Carbuncle walking up the aisle, towards the doors which led to the lobby. Noct rose and braced his sword for battle against Ardyn. Stella pushed herself to her feet, facing away from Noct.
"I love you, little bro."
Noct chuckled. "Love you too, big sis."
Stella grimaced as more tears fell. As she crossed the stage, she heard metal clash behind the barrier. She walked down to the seats and after Carbuncle down the aisle. She gripped the handle of the door and took a deep breath.
"Head high," she murmured and lifted her chin.
Walk tall.
Stella opened the door and stepped into the light.
Stella woke up in her bed in the Citadel. She saw the moon from her window, casting a cold light into the room.
She propped herself with her elbows and checked her surroundings. Nothing looked out of place, but she did spot her duffel bag on a chair. Ardyn had taken off her jacket and mask which lay next to the bag.
Stella didn't waste time, grabbing them and leaving her room. Her ankle felt much better.
She paused in the corridor when she felt something cold on her neck. Looking under her top, she saw the music box necklace. She took a deep breath and continued down.
When she reached the lifts, one opened with a ding. The light inside flickered and she walked past to the stairs.
"Stells…" Ardyn's voice hissed in the empty halls. "Where are you off to?"
Stella jogged down the first flight of stairs and pulled her mask up.
"Stells!" Prompto's upbeat voice came next. "Let's play King's Knight! Betcha I'll win this round!"
Stella went down the next flight of stairs, putting her braid into her hood and pulling it up.
"Oi, Stells!" Gladio's voice boomed. "Let's spar!"
Stella began jumping down stairs.
"Stella." Stella hesitated when Ignis's voice spoke. She was halfway down the Citadel by now. "I've come up with a new recipe. Care to assist me?"
Stella shook her head and began sprinting. Her legs shook every time she landed on a new floor. The voices continued to echo in the darkness, beckoning her to investigate. She was having none of it.
She shot across the lobby when she got to the ground floor. She struggled with the doors and cried out when she realised they were sealed shut.
"Stells!" Stella's heart nearly stopped when she heard Noct's voice. "Where are you going? It's late, we should be in bed."
A lightbulb went off in Stella's head.
Surely, Ardyn didn't know of their private entrance?
Stella ran back across the lobby and stopped when she saw Noct standing by the desk. He tilted his head and smiled.
"It's so late," he said with a yawn. "How do you have so much energy?"
Stella closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She turned away from him and ran towards the kitchens.
"Stells! You know how Specs can be when we go in there!"
Stella slammed the door to the first kitchen and grabbed a chair to wedge it under the doorknob. She dashed through the dusty, grimy rooms, grabbing a frying pan on the way. Ignis had been complaining about losing his for a couple of months when she had used it to fight off a yojimbo. That hadn't been the best fight that night.
Stella's heart leapt when she reached the back door and found it open. She ran out, down the steps and through the broken gate.
Finally, out of the prison, she shot off down the streets. She ignored the daemons that took notice of her immediately, she just ran. Past the abandoned school, through the subway tunnels, past the old apartment block and takeaway restaurants, Stella ran even if her stitch was acting up and her legs begged for mercy.
She couldn't stand being here any longer.
She nearly sung for joy when she finally caught sight of the gates which led to the bridge. She made another sprint and was stopped before she could step out.
A hand gripped her shoulder and pulled her back slightly.
"Stella."
Stella's eyes widened and watered. That was her father's voice. She looked down at her shoulder and saw the calloused hand, complete with the Ring of Lucii.
"You look tired, my daughter. Come home. I'll have Ignis make you a nice cup of hot chocolate."
Stella closed her eyes and sighed. Her legs wobbled from the sprint.
She opened her eyes and pulled her shoulder away from Ardyn's grip.
Walk tall.
Stella held her head up and stepped out of Insomnia. She sighed shakily as she crossed the bridge, adjusting her duffel bag. She reached down her top and played her music box. She lowered her mask.
Goblins appeared from underneath the abandoned cars, their eyes glinting when they caught sight of her. When Stella began singing, they moved away from her, hissing and disappearing into the nooks and crannies they had come out from.
Stella didn't look back. She didn't want to see if Ardyn was still there, donning either Regis's or Noct's image. She won't give him the damn satisfaction.
Relief washed over her as she arrived at her motorbike, parked on the road. After giving it a quick check, she determined it hadn't been too long since it was last ridden. She placed her duffel bag and the frying pan underneath the seat and started the engine. Only then did she take one last look at the Crown City.
She sat on her bike, looking over the structures that still stood even after all this time. She pulled her mask up and revved the engine. She rode back to Hammerhead and never looked back.