Here we are again. I've been having somewhat of an art block ever since I left for a short trip in July. Luckily, I had this already prepared. I keep thinking things through when lying in bed waiting to fall asleep, but I can't write these words down and make them sound right. Help

I apologize for not answering to the reviews/comments I got. I'll get to it eventually, I'm just so slow.

Enjoy!

It had been a week since the accident, since he fell into that long slumber, since his mother passed away at the hands of a monster. Noctis still was healing, being kept inside the walls of his home and away from school until the doctor deemed he had fully recovered. Sometimes Princess Lunafreya of Tenebrae came for visits, though soon it would be his turn to go see her.

He spent most of the time napping the day away or playing with his toys. Sometimes, as was today's case, he would go to the back of the Imperial Palace where there was a garden in the open air. It had many flowers, which his mother liked to water them herself when she was still alive, usually humming a foreign melody to his ears. He would stare at the colorful flowers in wonder, longing, as his thumb rubbed over the jewel on the forehead of the Carbuncle doll, wishing for it to come to life and play with him.

Noctis did not have many friends. He could think of Lunafreya, and now Carbunble. His father perhaps, though he had little free time to play with him. His mother used to play with him and sometimes tell him stories before bed.. She would come to this very place and tend to the flowers here, always with him by her side passing her the gardening tools she asked for. He always dreamed of buying her a house where she would be able to have as many flowers and trees as desired. That was a silly dream, but one he had longed to fulfill.

He stretched his legs out before him and laid back on the grass, feeling the light dance on his face. The place only had enough sunlight around midday, or else it was cool and engulfed by shadows of the trees and tall walls of the palace. The sun was warm, heating his exposed skin and making his cheeks flush, and he closed his eyes to enjoy the feeling. Noctis could sense one of his caretakers nearby, out of sight, and he zoned her out, letting his mind wander and his body get lighter and lighter.

Soon, he was asleep and dreaming, though it was hard to tell so. He was sitting in his garden and the only real difference was that Carbuncle was curled around his bare feet, sleeping soundly, soft snores coming from it. He reached out and patted it, ran his fingers through its short, soft fur, and the creature shifted under his touch. Noctis could not tell if this was the real one or just something his mind made up, still he spent several minutes in that process, caressing its spine until it rolled on its back and let him play with his tummy.

"It is not the same." He lifted his gaze and looked at a tree where someone seemed to be walking out of its bark. "I cannot summon him to come and play. Archaens are very important."

It was she, the Goddess, visiting him once again.

She stepped out of the shadows and into the light, posture perfect and hands folded before her navel. Her black dress stretched on and on behind her, dragging over the green blades of grass with every step she took. The sleeves were long and partially covered her hands, held in place by a golden ring around her middle fingers. The vine-like headpiece she wore got tangled with her fine rose colored hair, and now that he was calmer, he saw that crystal strings hung from the side and went around the back of her head to the other, forming arches.

As she came to a stop before him, he pondered for long seconds if he should stand, bow or throw himself at her feet. She saved him from doing any of that as she lowered herself to his side, sitting beside him, and Carbuncle looked up at her with perked ears before hopping onto her lap. "Are you really the Goddess?"

"Yes," she replied easily, lithe fingers treading through white fur. "Why would I not be?"

He shrugged his small shoulders, leaning his arms onto his bent knees. "Shouldn't you be in the sky?"

Her soft laugh was soothing, one would say. "How do you know I am not here and there at the same time?"

His eyebrows pinched, bottom lip jutting out as he pondered over her words. "People can't be at two places at once."

"But I am not human, remember?" She patted Carbuncle on the head, and it leapt towards the young prince to rub itself against his shins, throat rumbling softly as if purring.

"So if you're in the sky," he started, leaning forward in anticipation, "can you talk to my mom?"

The Goddess nodded. "I only am here because she wished dearly for me to look over you." There was a renewed sparkle in his blue eyes and he smiled silly at her. "I do not have much time to talk, but remember your mother loves you."

"What?" He squeaked as her hands reached for his face, bare fingertips brushing his skin. "Why not? Why do you have to leave?"

"Open your eyes."

"No!"

"Wake up, Noctis."

A light tap of her fingers to his temples was all it took for him to pass out in her arms, and wake up with a gasp from his nap just in time to see his father rushing towards him accompanied by the doctor and his caretaker. He rubbed his eyes and his father placed his hands on his shoulders, calling his name until blue irises set on his aging face.

"Son, are you alright?" Regis looked at his exposed limbs searching for any sign of injury. "Miss Muriel said she called you many times but you weren't responding."

Noctis took in a sharp intake of breath and whipped his head around, black hair flailing with the motion. "I saw her again, dad."

Confused, the king frowned his forehead and combed his son's locks back into place. "Who, Noct?"

"The Goddess." He said without hesitation, catching everyone else out of guard. "She came to me again. She said mom loves me."

The doctor and caretaker turned away from the sight when Regis wrapped his arms tightly around the prince's shoulder, pulling him impossibly close. Noctis rested his face on the crook of his neck, hands gripping his father's cloak and eyelids drawing shut. They remained embraced, rooted to the spot under the midday sun, still mourning over the loss of a loved wife and mother.

Notes

Perhaps, and I know it seems like it, Lightning is a bit out of character. I just figured that she should be a little kind to the kid since he just lost his mother. Well, it appears that she is a lot happier and nicer by the end of Lightning Returns, so I might just use that version ofher for this