Soft pressure of water around the ankle of his boots, this dark reality. Black was all around him, soft source of light on the reflection of the water shined in the likeness of little gems. This again... The blurred watery lines flowed along after him, carrying the other, the mirror image of himself. Noctis didn't know if he could trust it, after what he'd seen, if that was even himself...

Soft wind pushed its way back against his jacket, seeming to come from wherever it pleased. The rune was there in the copy, the reflection. Maybe it was by allure meant that Noctis dipped his fingers into the water marring and dispersing the image creating dark empty water. Alone without a reflection he continued on in the dark. Stopping as he stepped on grass, he gazed at the dull green color. The night sky was around him in this chilling valley. Moonlight shared its source with his eyes, there were trees behind him and the end of a hill top before him. His steps were soundless even when sound should have been there, Noctis couldn't even register that he was taking them if not for his advancement in this world.

Taking a breath the air was freezing, edge of the hill came closer stopping at the tip of his boot. Insomnia. Noctis closed his eyes, slowly going down to his knees, tall dark towers sparkled in the distance but there was no movement in the city. Only a few stopped cars, roads were empty and streetlights had failed to turn on. Alone... Noctis gripped his shoulders stepping back.

"Help me..." His voice cracked, tear running down his cheek. The stars shone brightly overhead, the only things seeming to retain some animation. He reached his hand up for them noticing the shadow that repeated his action held a long pole beneath him, a trident. Jolt shot off in his chest, gripping back suspending his breathing.

Noctis sprinted, running unsteadily his steps only started to appear to gain control as he came closer to the line of the fern trees waving behind him. The shadow was still there reaching out to the stars bearing its trident. Separated from him, it was on the ground where he no longer stood, nothing made sense.

Fleeing into the darkness of the trees' skirts, he couldn't see the shadow this far in the distance. Branches gripped at his jacket trying to bit him down like angry geese. All that fueled him was the sharp chill that he breathed striking up in his chest and the want for this to all stop.

His feet fumbled on the uneven rocky ground, becoming loose and sloppy. Gravel was shifting in the sparsely padded sand. Running wasn't a problem, not with as much as Gladiolus always loved making him run on their practice in the morning, but this was something that he might not be able to escape from...

Later time passed, Noctis wondered if there wouldn't be an awaking up in the normal world. Pace slowing to a jog, things were barely visible in the shelter of the forest. Floor was like water, you didn't know how far down it went or if it was shallow, all he could see was dark. His hands fumbled though his pocket for maybe a flashlight but even his phone was missing and it had definitely been there. Pain sieged him, gripping in a spasm down his arm. Eyes going to the rune as he fall back against a tree trunk. Glowing a mauve color, light formed around the rune "Uhh..." Noctis breathed other arm pressing hard on the rune to try and make it hurt less.

He watched the sight of something moving over in his direction. Seeing only clips of her form from the low glow, the girl from the city. The one that had a rune in the city. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail it was darker than the blonde he loved... the color of Luna's. Smile crossed her face as she knelt down to him now at the base of the tree. "Who are you?" Noctis breathed finally being able to hear his words, feel himself speak. "Stella."

She peered up at him casting her face in the purplish glow. "Don't fight it Noctis."

"Why would you tell me that?" Noctis moved away pressing his head back against the tree in regret as the rune sizzled, Heat and sparks of fire crackled off it in short flickers.

"Would you fight destiny?" Her words were quiet but echoed as her hand began to crumble, bits and loose dry sand melted away into the ground and nested itself on the laces of his boots. Noctis stepped away from the thick based trunk, his steps became faster. The forest was soon behind him now seeing it as a dark maze that meant to keep him, it was no longer a shelter that could block out the rest of this reality. What even was his destiny? Air was heavier, trees started to all look familiar, Darkness and misdirection waved its way in, twisting what wasn't and what was. The glow from his rune cut, casting him back into complete darkness. Everything disappeared and along with it the floor. Noctis was plummeting, never ending darkness waited for him, promising no stop. A hand grabbed his arm sending him into a hard halt as he hung suspended in the air. His legs dangled beneath him as he tried to swing up. Somehow being pulled up through the dark. Strong arms pulled him and laid him back into fine sand. Noctis opened his eyes closing them instantly at the shot of sunlight to them.

"You alright your Highness?"

Noctis blocked the sun with his hand gocking at the person before him, Cor.

"How did you get me? Where are we?" Noctis sat up quickly looking around at the swaying palm trees and calm ocean water. There was daylight, Noctis couldn't believe it laying back down.

"You got me out of..."

"I'm not sure that I'll be able to do it again. It took a long time to find you."

Noctis could feel the warmth of the sand against this head and neck. "Where's everyone?"

"They're back at the hotel. I already texted them." Cor watched him with his piercing blue eyes.

Noctis thought about this. He had disappeared, he wasn't staying where he had been any longer. Chance of actually getting lost might be possible. Noctis squinted sitting up and went to stand up, supporting himself with his hands but when he put the one down with the rune. A hard shock ran up to his shoulder, it was painful. Noctis hissed, swallowing, caught off guard. The rune lite. Cor covered it just as Noctis started to lose sight. It slowly came back, the beach, people off in the distance. "You're not going anywhere yet." Cor said keeping his hand over Noctis' rune. "What? How did you do that?"

"I drew a boundary rune on my hand. I can potentially block whatever this one is getting called to." Cor said.

Cor helped Noctis up to his feet slowly removing his hand from the now dark rune. Noctis gazed at the darker lines that appeared like a tattoo on his skin. The warmth of the beach was so relaxing it seemed to lighten some stress from his chest. "I'm starving."

"I'm sure you are after being gone for three days... come." Cor walked off and headed in the direction of tents. Three days?... Noctis felt his phone buzz almost shocked at it. Remembering how it hadn't been there when he looked for it when he was... was whatever that was. He clasped it pressing the answer button without looking. "Noctis?"

"Ignis,..."

"We're on our way now just stay put with the Major-"

"Luna, is Luna with you?" Noctis' voice dropped he pressed the phone closer to his face. "She is."

Inhaling his breath stuck in his chest, he gazed down at the phone hanging up. Cor handed him a plate of noodles. Noctis looked at them rectuantly carefully removing the pieces of vegetables that topped them, "Thanks."

Ignis looked back in the car, Luna's soft sobs had been the only sound in the car for the longest time. "You're going to see Noctis, that makes you feel better doesn't it?" Prompto chimed. Gladiolus watched outside the window as it started to rain.

Luna pushed her bangs back watching a spot in the road. As the car got closer, Umbra's hairless form, startled Ignis into slamming on the breaks. "What in the-"

Crash! The road shook, Umbra ran off, her distorted state was horrifying to the watchers in the car. Large form crashed the side of the car completely blocking the road now. Three headed, drool rolling down from its fangs that hung out from an underbite. Black fur, a hell hound with two whip like tails. "Out of the car." Gladiolus chirped already dragging his sword out behind him. "Ummm that's kind of big..."Prompto stepped out unsurely and than was forced to roll back out of the way as large paws crashed down.

Luna hurried out eyes locking on it, "I wished we could be happy... but I knew that wasn't to be." Gladiolus slammed into it nearly getting bitten up by one of the heads.