The waves that had been crashing against the boat from the outset smoothed into gentler waters as they approached the grand entrance to Altissia. It was not sunny, as it had been the day they approached last time, but the rain hammering on the roof suited Noctis just fine. The sun had become a pain by this time, it hurt his eyes and it made his skin burn, and not just in the standard, sunburn kind of way.

Because of this he'd taken to wearing his royal jacket again, which was now distinctly visible to his companions. Ignis had repaired the damage sustained during the daemon attack and Noctis himself using part of it as a bandage, and it served well to protect him from the hateful glare of the sun. What it did not do, being entirely black, was protect him from the heat, and Ignis had insisted that the moment he was well they'd find him some new, more suitable clothes for the road.

As it was, he currently looked intimidating at best and slightly unstable at worst. No one in their right mind would wear a hat, a large black jacket, long trousers and sunglasses when it was raining and terribly humid. For the first time in his life Noctis had a glimpse into how Ardyn's fashion sense had become so warped, and he didn't like it one bit.

"Wow, so this is Altissia," said Prompto, standing next to him and gazing out of the window in wonder. Noctis could appreciate the sentiment, even if he didn't feel quite the same way himself. Too many bad memories.

"Beautiful, ain't it?" said Cid, still faithfully driving the boat. He had yet to be filled in on the details of Noctis's past—he didn't want it spreading around just yet. Or ever. "Sometimes I feel like I missed a trick settling in Leide instead of here, but they don't really need mechanics in Accordo."

"Why not?" asked Prompto.

"City's got canals instead of streets. Don't have any cars in Accordo, boy, only boats, and them not motorised either."

"Oh!"

"You have to pay the gondoliers to get around though."

"Oh."

Prompto looked very disappointed by this news, so Noctis decided to cheer him up a bit.

"Hey, we've got to waste this money on something, right?"

"We can ride in them?" asked Prompto, with a glint in his eye.

"If we get time," Noctis chuckled.

"Guess I just got one more reason to get to the Oracle ASAP," said Prompto, folding his arms and flashing Noctis a smug smile.

All of them seemed more at ease now that he was up and about, though Noctis could tell that Prompto was still a little out of sorts, since he'd taken to accompanying him everywhere. He recognised the behaviour, Prompto had done the same thing with Ignis when he'd been blinded. It touched Noctis that Prompto would do the same thing for him, even though he was only suffering from a temporary condition, but it did have the side effect of making him feel even more tired than usual, especially since the nightmares had made a horrible return. It was draining, trying to keep up a strong front.

Noctis decided to tune out for a bit in favour of just sitting and watching the water fly by through the window. The boat was very fast, the buildings barely registering in his vision as they sped past. He couldn't quite recapture the wonder of seeing Altissia for the first time, but he could appreciate the beauty, and found purpose in knowing that they would not let it be wrecked by Leviathan's wrath this time.

The city was old and artistic in its architecture, even viewed from the ocean, the structures rising from the sea in weathered red bricks and white plaster, balconies intersecting and weaving the city together like a huge beehive, its residents hurrying from place to place with the bustling activity of Altissian life, not frantically fleeing as war grew closer and closer to its shores. Gilded plazas rose high in the air, and everywhere the atmosphere exuded the peaceful luxury the Accordo Protectorate had assured itself with its trade, in spite of Niflheim's reaching grasp. It would not fall. Not this time.

But as they grew closer, Noctis's sharpened senses picked up on a certain discord in the city. People were not panicked, not like last time, but there was worry in the air. The guard that had stopped them last time was not there, Noctis now realised. As they docked in the bay, the whispers compounded. There were still officials dealing with immigration, but they looked harried and concerned. For a half-second Noctis found himself wondering if Niflheim was moving forcefully against Altissia, but all at once Ravus's words came back to him. No, it was quite the opposite. Niflheim was gone. Altissia's protectors had fled.

It was Ignis who came to greet them first in the captain's cabin.

"Morning," he said, smiling at Prompto and before turning his attention to Noctis. "How are you feeling, Noct?"

"Well, there's no sun, which is nice," he said, tapping his sunglasses ironically. "But, uh, on a more practical level, I think I'm gonna need help. Wish I still had my old wheelchair lying around somewhere, because my legs do not like being Starscourged, let me tell you."

"I doubt the rest of you likes it any either," said Ignis, a touch severely, though Noctis knew he hardly meant it.

"You got me there."

"I'll help you then, you've crushed Prompto enough today," said Ignis, moving over to him and offering his hand.

"Hey, we're practically the same size," groaned Noctis, in mock protest, but he took Ignis's hand.

"Exactly," said Ignis, sweeping his hand under Noctis's shoulders and supporting him so he could get up without putting too much weight on his legs. They still ached in protest, but he'd be able to walk like this, at least. "Gladio is waiting for us up top, will you be accompanying us, Cid?"

"Sure will," said Cid, taking the keys and powering the boat down. "I've got a friend in Altissia, runs a restaurant or something. I'll go see him while you boys get yourselves sorted."

"Excellent."

Prompto rushed ahead of them onto the deck and onto dry land, where Gladio was waiting for them. Noctis was a little frustrated with the slow pace they had to cut with his weakness, but there was no getting away from the fact he simply couldn't walk on his own. He allowed Ignis to help him onto shore, but found himself hoping more than ever they wouldn't encounter too much obstruction going to see Luna.

As they approached the Customs desk, the clerk waved them down.

"What's wrong with your friend?" he asked, looking at Ignis, which annoyed Noctis more than it ought to. He was perfectly capable of speaking himself. "That's an odd get-up he's got there."

"This is my cousin," said Ignis, lying artfully, "he's blind and injured his legs while we were at sea. We're looking for medical aid."

"Ah, that's mighty unfortunate that is—usually we wouldn't be able to let you in, but since those Nifs are gone I don't suppose it matters much anymore. I hope you get the medical help you need, sir," he said, tipping his cap in Noctis's direction.

Noctis had been about to nod, but remembering what Ignis said about his eyesight, he stopped himself just in time.

"Thanks," he muttered, instead.

That had to have been a joke on Ignis's part after what he'd told them, honestly.

"We should probably get you out of sight or into a wheelchair as soon as possible," mused Ignis, once they were past the clerk. "We're very conspicuous like this."

"Yeah," said Gladio, "there's a cafe just over there, why don't you sit down while I look around to see if I can find something."

One thing Noctis had rather neglected on his last tour of the city was looking around to see if there was any local mobility aid. It stuck him as morbid, given the circumstances, though it turned out the information would have been useful in the aftermath. Ignis had needed a cane after he lost his eyesight, and someone, probably Gladio, had definitely bought him one somewhere along the way. Noctis had been almost entirely tuned out of reality at the time so he didn't remember exactly where it was bought, but for once he didn't really find himself wishing his old Gladio was there. Noctis had the feeling he'd have something to say on the matter, and whatever it was wouldn't have been pleasant.

It wasn't long before the current Gladio came jogging back.

"Well, I can't see any wheelchair shops or anything, but there are loads of gondolas around. I bet if we asked we could ride one to wherever we need to go. Where are we going exactly?"

Noctis thought about it. He didn't know where Luna was, but he did know someone who did.

"We need to go to the First Secretary's manor."

It was only a short boat ride to the aforementioned manor, and Noctis remembered the winding canals of Altissia like they had been burned into his memory. In a way, they had been. The smell of the sea breeze and the freshness of the rain lit up his mind like fire—all of a sudden rubble surrounded him, and an ear-splitting scream echoed in his eardrums. Leviathan. She was still here, waiting for them.

For all the blue calmness of the water currently below them, she was there somewhere, deep below, sleeping but harbouring a grudge that had lasted centuries. His heart was hammering in his chest. He knew it was paranoia, he knew, but the thoughts wound around and around his head; he couldn't escape from them. He could still remember the panic, the raw terror and fury that had infused his very being as he went careening through these very skies, striking the sea goddess with incandescent rage. He had been so strong then, so powerful.

The boat had stopped, he realised. He got up in a kind of trance, seeing only the water, and Leviathan before him, the pain shooting through his legs all but forgotten. He'd been in so much pain before, this feeble agony was nothing, and besides, he could fly…

"Noct!"

Gladio had him by the shoulders, shaking him. How irritating.

"What?" he asked.

"What's going on, what's happening?"

Gladio seemed frantic, a wild look in his eyes. Where were the other two? Noctis looked behind, they were keeping their distance, or at least, he thought they were, it was all so blurry… He came back to himself in an instant—Six, his legs hurt! His knees buckled beneath him, but Gladio had a death-like grip on him.

"Ugh...what?" he muttered. What was that? That strange power he'd felt?

"Okay, we need to get you to the Oracle, now," muttered Gladio, practically carrying him over to the gates.

The guards on duty did not look thrilled to see them. Not that Noctis could blame them—they probably looked completely insane. Ignis and Prompto seemed to have caught up, because Ignis was approaching the guards, and Prompto was by Noctis's side, holding his arm in a comforting gesture. Noctis couldn't quite hear what Ignis was saying, but whatever it was seemed to be working, because the guards looked over at him with wide eyes, and took a step or two back, indicating they could enter.

Then journey into the manor was all a strange blur, Noctis barely registered the doors they passed by, the corridors they traipsed down. It was only when he was sitting down, and realised he was looking at First Secretary Camelia Claustra that his mind stopped warping the world into a carousel.

"Is he even with us?" she was asking, looking at him with an odd mixture of contempt and pity. He realised someone had removed his sunglasses, which was why his head was aching so badly.

"I can hear you," he said, though the words were slow and slurred, like his thoughts were getting lost somewhere between his brain and his tongue. Six, what was happening to him? Is this what it felt like to be dying? "Though I admit I'm not at my best."

"If you can hear, then you'll be able to understand what I'm going to ask you," said the First Secretary, and expression of careful neutrality now on her face. "The Oracle is also unwell due to her exertions, so my question to you is this: will her healing you cost her the energy to perform this rite she speaks of?"

Noctis did understand, almost painfully, but fortunately he also knew the answer.

"No," he whispered. "The pacts with the Gods drain her life-force. Healing is just a part of her. It won't hurt."

"I see," said the First Secretary, and there was now a faint smile on her face. "We shall speak more of this when you are well, Your Majesty, for now, my people will take you to your Oracle. Your retainers shall have to remain behind, I'm afraid, the fewer people who know her location, the better."

"I understand," he murmured, though the words barely came out.

It seemed they had wheelchairs in the manor for such occasions, because he found himself being helped into one, and taken through passage after passage. At one point he was sure he went underground, but he couldn't have said for certain. Then he was in front of a large blue door, and the guards flung it open, and he was wheeled inside.

His vision faded for a moment, as someone said, "My Lady, you have a patient in need of healing," then heavy footsteps clumped away, and someone held his wrist very tightly.

His vision slowly came back to him, first blurry and off-kilter, then sharp and clear. Luna was sitting beside him, smiling through tears. Had he made her cry? No…he didn't mean it…

"Oh Noctis," she said, a sad chuckled escaping her throat, "what have you done?"

"Just been getting into trouble," he coughed, it was terribly hard to speak now, "as usual."

She reached out, put her hand to his cheek—her skin was warm, in contrast to the cold that was starting to chill his very bones.

"Let's fix you up then, shall we?" she said, and her smile seemed to chase away the darkness.

All at once, she was pulling his face closer, and their foreheads met, like he had seen her do with so many people before.

Light suddenly poured in; the sticky, chilling ichor that was beginning to coat his heart and brain melted, evaporated in the face of such warm, intense brightness. The pain that accompanied his every move began to fade. His breath came easier, and his thoughts, which had been getting slower and duller by the second, were freed, and he could think again. He was...alive. It was a strange thought.

He felt Luna move away from him again, and opened his eyes, and no longer did the light pierce his retinas, making his head ache in protest. He was free.

He found his hands were shaking, tears stinging the edges of his eyes. Why was he crying? He was happy. Or was that the point?

"Thank you," he whispered, alarmed by the strength of his own voice, no longer dulled by the ichor stopping up his thoughts.

"It was nothing, Noctis, truly," she said, and he noticed now that her voice was very quiet.

He looked at her, properly, this time, his vision no longer clouded, and to his dismay he could see she was shaking as well. Her face was deathly pale, and despite the genuine smile on her face, from the way her eyes crinkled and her fingers shook, he could tell it was an effort for her to keep it on her face. Camelia had been right, she was ill, almost as ill as he had been, and he dearly hoped he'd been right about the healing not costing her.

"You're sick," he said, quickly getting out of his wheelchair, and almost collapsing onto the window seat next to her, his legs clearly having not regained their strength just yet.

"Careful, Noctis," she said, grabbing him tightly by the arms. "I have healed you but it will take time for you to fully recover. With how far the Starscourge managed to progress it will be at least several weeks before you are fully well again."

Noctis nodded. He really hated how long it was going to take to recover, but he wouldn't whine about it in front of Luna.

"As for me, well…" she glanced briefly up at the ceiling, as though wondering if it held the words she was looking for. "I cannot pretend the covenants have not been a strain on me. I had feared I mightn't have the strength to contact Leviathan in time, but I'm glad you're here, Noctis. Your presence eases my burden."

"And yours mine," he said, smiling and placing his hand over hers.

It felt unreal that they were there, the both of them. That he could see her, talk to her. It was so different from last time, from the pain and the grief that Altissia had always represented in his mind after that day.

"Luna, about the covenant…" he began. He didn't know how to finish. He should really tell her the truth, the whole truth, like he'd told the others. But it was such an immense burden…

"You want to know when I plan to perform the ritual, yes?" she asked, a frown now crossing her face. "I don't know, Noctis. We are both weak right now. You shall likely recover, but I don't know if I can. Is it foolishness for me to want to face this only when we are at our strongest?"

"No, not at all," said Noctis, he remembered how badly it could go, after all. "It's just...I'm worried. The light is fading faster now, you've seen it too, haven't you?"

Luna gave a slow nod.

"I'm worried our time is running out. I can't let the world fall into darkness again, I won't," and he felt it like a drum pounding in his head, telling him it was true, that he had to stop the darkness. His dreams flickered at the edges of his memory. All was lost without the light…

"Again?"

Luna was looking at him with wide, curious eyes. Well, that was it. He'd finally made a slip he couldn't recover from. This was probably his cue to tell her the truth, at last.

"When we spoke on the balcony," he said, trying to keep his voice from trembling, "do you remember what I told you, about my dreams?"

"How could I forget?" she asked, and there was a sad smile on her face.

"Well…" This was it, now or never. "Forgive me, but I wasn't entirely honest with you. I did see you die, but...in a different way. I was afraid you'd think I was crazy, but I hope you'll listen to me now."

"What is it, Noctis?" she asked, putting a gentle hand on his wrist. "What happened?"

"I think—ugh, it still sounds insane, but, I think I time travelled. Or something."

"Time travel." Luna was frowning, but she didn't sound like she didn't believe him. Just confused. "It does sound improbable, but the Astrals have powers beyond our comprehension. Perhaps this was their way of giving you a second chance?"

He hadn't thought of it like that before, in fact he'd been having quite hard thoughts of the Astrals, lately. But wasn't possible? Perhaps they really had helped him.

"Perhaps," he said aloud, pondering on the idea.

"So, what you're telling me is that those dreams you spoke of, you actually witnessed them, as part of this...other world?" she asked, looking at him intently.

"Yes, I—"

He was standing in a field, small, a child again, looking up at Luna as she was all those years ago. He still felt childish, so small in the face of the fate looming over them. It had almost killed him, being dragged away from her, lost in the tide as she faded into the afterlife. It wasn't fair! Why did she have to die?

All I wanted was to save you!

"Oh, Noctis." Thin arms wrapped around his shoulders and pulled him close, and he was resting his head on her shoulder, crying silently as the memories overwhelmed him. "I'm still here."

None of it felt real though, not in the face of that terrible moment. He reached up a hand, touching her arm, trying to remember that she was there, and alive. The tears wouldn't stop though.

"You know, we never even spoke," he whispered, trying to find words through the sobs. "I never got to meet you, even after all that time. It was only when...only when you were dying, you gave me the Ring, told me to move on, but—but—"

He couldn't speak through the tears now, sobs were wracking his entire body. He could feel Luna gently rubbing his back, whispering that it was going to be alright, but the grief was all-consuming. He knew he was being a pain, that she must already be suffering so much, but he just couldn't stop crying. He'd lost so much. Her, his dad, his inheritance, even his life. It had all come crashing down on him at once, all that pain crushing him under its weight, and he didn't know if he had the strength to stay upright. It was only her voice that was keeping him from breaking completely.

"Hush now," she said quietly, "we're both going to be alright. We're here now, aren't we? And I know you wouldn't let that happen again. I have faith in you Noctis. I know you will save me."

She sounded so...certain, as she said it. Like nothing else could possibly be true. The strength in her voice alone calmed him a little, put the tears at bay. From anyone else the idea of having such responsibility for them would be terrifying to him, but for Luna...well—all he'd ever wanted was to save her. And this time, that was exactly what he was going to do. He sniffed and pushed himself fully upright, wiping his eyes in an effort to get rid of the last of the tears.

"Thank you," he said quietly. "I think I'll be okay now."

"It is difficult for everyone, at times, but especially those of us chosen by the Gods," said Luna, smiling at him. "The path we walk is not easy, Noctis. It's difficult to find the light in such darkness, and that's why I help lead the way."

"You're a brilliant Oracle," he said, and he now noticed that the rain outside had stopped, and the sun was beginning to break through the clouds. "I won't let you die again. This world needs you."

It didn't particularly need him though. King of nothing.

"It needs you too, Noctis," she said, and there was a sharp look in her eye now, as though she knew what he'd been thinking. "I light the darkness, but you lead people though it. We shall both have to stay around a while longer, yes?"

"I suppose so," he sighed. "I still think we should do the ritual sooner rather than later though. Ardyn is planning something, and I don't know what it is, but I'm sure it's bringing the darkness sooner. If we're both still weak we can always ask for bodyguards."

Luna was frowning, but she nodded after a while.

"There is merit to your theory, I too have noticed the growing darkness. I shall speak with the First Secretary about it. You should too, at some point, but for now I insist you get some rest. The Starscourge has severely weakened you, you need to regain your strength before anything else."

Luna almost reminded him of Ignis with her lecturing, but he was fond of both of them, so he didn't say anything about it.

"Thank you, Luna," he said, taking her hand as he got up from his seat. "For everything."

"You're welcome, Noctis," she said, getting up herself, and moving his wheelchair around so he could sit back down in it. The look on her face suggested he wasn't going to get away with trying to just walk out.

He slumped into the chair, pretending to be sullen, as she wheeled him to the door.

"Just like old times, huh?" he said, shaking his head.

"One day, I will speak with you and you won't be injured in some way," she sighed, but he could hear the smile on her face, as she moved to knock on the door. "The patient has been healed, he'll be leaving now," she said, half-shouting, though her voice trembled at the effort.

The door burst open, and Noctis was taken from her in a rush, being wheeled down the corridor at a frankly alarming speed. Had they gone this fast last time? Perhaps they hoped if they went fast enough he wouldn't remember the route to where Luna was staying. There might be some merit to that theory, as it made him feel so dizzy he really wasn't sure where he was.

They definitely went underground at some point, but it was all a whirl of passageways and corridors until he reached a familiar white door, behind which he was sure was the First Secretary's office. As the door opened, he was proven correct, though the woman herself seemed to have left. It was only his friends in the room now, and they all looked up as he entered.

"Noct!" Prompto was up and on his feet in a second, Ignis swiftly following.

Noctis could see the guard behind him raise a hand.

"I have been instructed to allow you to keep the wheelchair, for now," he said, his voice deep and unyielding, as though daring them to contradict him. "Take your friend, but do not leave the city. The First Secretary will want to meet with you again."

"Understood," said Ignis, carefully approaching and taking the wheelchair from him.

They went outside in relative quiet, not wanting to speak of what happened until they were sure no one was listening. It was only once they were on the streets of Altissia that Noctis launched a formal protest.

"I can wheel myself y'know," he said, taking the wheels and propelling himself out of Ignis's grasp with force. The movement came back to him easily, despite it having been at least twenty years since he was last in a wheelchair. Muscle memory clearly died hard. "I might not be able to walk yet but I'm not useless."

"You do seem much improved, Noct," chuckled Ignis, jogging over to him.

"Yeah, now you can stop dressing like a complete fool too," smirked Gladio, walking up to his side as well.

"Well thanks," he muttered, but he couldn't keep the smile off his face.

"Seriously though, buddy, you look a lot better," said Prompto, clapping his shoulder.

"Not on his deathbed, you mean," snorted Gladio.

"I wasn't dying," he protested, but Ignis cut him off with a look.

"Regardless of whether or not that is true," said Ignis, in a tone that very much suggested he thought it was, "the important thing is that you are no longer in danger. I take it you will not let this happen again?"

Noctis was loathe to make promises he knew he couldn't keep, but Ignis's expression brooked no disagreement.

"Yes, Ignis," he sighed.

"Good," smiled Ignis.

"So, what's gonna happen now?" asked Prompto, scratching his head. "You guys going to go get Leviathan or what? How was Lady Lunafreya by the way? Eager to go ahead with the wedding?"

Those were a lot of questions, so Noctis had to take a moment to process them all at once.

"The simplest answer to all that is that though both me and Luna aren't exactly at the top of our game right now, we need to make the covenant with Leviathan sooner rather than later. And the wedding's off, Prompto. I'm 'dead' remember?"

"What?" cried Prompto, hopefully in reaction to that last part. "I don't remember that! So you're just going to leave her hanging?"

"It was an arranged marriage!" huffed Noctis, folding his arms and hoping it made him look intimidating rather than like a petulant child. "The only reason I was going to marry her was because I knew it would get her away from Niflheim. Niflheim's going to hell anyway, so I don't need to save her anymore."

"That's a noble sentiment, Noct," said Ignis, cutting off Prompto before he had the opportunity to complain more, "but I'm more concerned about what you said earlier. Both you and Lady Lunafreya are unwell?"

"Yeah, the covenants have been hitting her hard," said Noctis, the seriousness of the thing settling over him once again. "And she says it will take me at least a few days to get back on my feet, longer to recover fully. But the darkness is growing." He looked up at the sky, already beginning to look like evening. "We don't have any choice but to act. Time really isn't on our side."

"It is in our best interests to prevent permanent night from falling," said Ignis, frowning deeply. "Though I wish it didn't come at such a cost to both of you."

"You and me both," chuckled Noctis, though the laughter was empty.

"What do you wanna do now, Noct?" asked Gladio, folding his arms as he stood next to him.

"I guess…"

What did he want to do? Help Luna, mostly, but he knew there was very little he could do in the state he was in. She had told him to rest but after Caem he'd had enough of that to last him a lifetime. But he was by way of having little choice in the matter.

"Let's find somewhere to stay," he said, already thinking of the Leville, "then find somewhere to eat."

"Did you have anywhere in mind, Noct?" asked Ignis, with a knowing smile on his face. "You know Altissia better than we do, after all."

"I have an idea," he said, with a smile. It was nice to know he could say things like that now. "Let's go find one of those boats."

So! The Starscourge is finally gone (wow that sure took a while, huh?). At least Noct won't have to deal with that while facing Leviathan. On the other hand, facing Leviathan is no walk in the park, especially when you've still got the after-effects of the Starscourge to be dealing with—oh well, I'm sure it'll work out fine! (Right?) Also, Luna's finally back in the story! I do love writing her, so this chapter was a fun one for me to do.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter!