Ch.21
When morning came, the three quickly got up and got ready for the day. Cloud headed out first to drop Prompto back at the station before returning to the haven to get Zack. Even after he had something to eat, he couldn't help but feel unsettled. Something about this just felt off, but he wasn't able to put his finger on it just yet.
He knew something was clearly off about Ardyn, but there was no point in questioning him now when they had more pressing matters at hand. But Cloud was sure to make note of it to do something later. He was going to get to the bottom of this feeling that itched in the back of his mind. He would find out more about this world and more about just what was going on.
For now, they were heading off to the Disc.
Cloud and Zack followed closely behind Noctis's car, which of course followed behind Ardyn. They winded down the pathway that leaded closer and closer to the Disc, and as they neared Cloud could practically feel the energy that radiated off it. He had learned that the people of Lestallum harvested the pieces of the meteor to use as power for their city. That alone was enough to tell him this was a far different meteor than what he had experienced back home… and he wouldn't deny he was a bit jealous that Eos had such a beneficial meteor.
Eventually they pulled up to a barricade that prevented them from going any further, but just as they pulled up between the Regalia and Ardyn's car.
"We're here," Ardyn stated as he looked over at the group of men.
"Better not be a set up," Noctis said.
"Have I given you reason to doubt me?" Ardyn asked.
"No," Cloud thought to himself. "But that doesn't make you any less sketchy."
Ardyn then waved as he looked at the wall. "Hello! It's me! Be so kind as to open up!"
Right after he spoke, the gate did in fact open up. That was even more sketch than anything else he had said or done before and Cloud narrowed his eyes at the man. "What kind of connections do you have for them to do that?"
"Oh, I may not look like much, but let;s just say I have some influence. It's rather beneficial that we came together, wouldn't you agree?"
"No comment," Noctis huffed.
"Well, I mustn't keep the lot of you. Your audience with divinity lies ahead."
"You're leaving?" Prompto asked.
"Yeah," Zack added. "You come with us all this way only to leave? You got somewhere to be?"
"I drop you at the Achean's open door, and with that, bid you farewell."
"That wasn't any answer…" Cloud sighed.
After Ardyn backed up and drove back the way they had come, Ignis cleared his throat. "The path ahead looks rather narrow. I suggest moving at a slow pace for the both of us."
Cloud nodded. "Can do."
They all drove until the path prevented them from going any further by car or motorcycle. They all got out and started to head down a path that led practically right under the meteor, but Cloud could see that there was something else down there at the end of the pathway.
"So we keep going this way," Noctis commented.
"Then we'll find out what the empire's up to," Gladio added.
"And maybe dig dirt up on that Ardyn guy," Zack followed up with.
"Why? You think he may be hiding something?" Prompto asked.
"You think he isn't hiding something? The guy is full of sketchiness. I don't trust him!" Zack declared.
"He is rather on the mysterious side," Ignis said. "I'm sure I have heard his name somewhere before though… but I cannot recall."
"Guess it's just another thing to add to the list," Noctis said.
"Always something," Prompto nodded in agreement.
"In the meantime… have you noticed these ruins around the path?" Ignis said. "They look… quite familiar."
"Is that what I think it is?" Prompto asked as they finally reached the end of the long walk down.
Ignis hummed. "It is. Didn't expect to find a royal tomb here."
Zack looked at the tomb and then stared up at the sleeping Titan. "Which king or queen thought it would be a great idea to build a tomb besides a giant god holding a meteor?"
"Let's find out," Noctis said as he walked up to the edge of the tomb. He ran his hand over the inscription. "It's written in Old Lucian… I think this is the Founder King's tomb."
"Founder King?" Cloud asked.
"The first king of my family, from about 2000 years ago," Noctis answered.
"So you did pay attention in history class," Ignis grinned.
Noctis shrugged. "I remember some stuff. But might as well get the blade while I'm here."
Noctis reached out to acquire the blade, and as soon as he did the ground began to shake. It was much stronger and much more dramatic than any of the previous ones. As Cloud tried to keep himself upright, he glanced up to see if there was any change in Titan, but as far as he could see there was none.
"We must get away! Quickly!" Ignis shouted.
Cloud was ready to turn and run when he saw Noctis drop down to one knee, gripping a hand to his head. Cloud thought to move out to help Noctis, but he seemed to recover quick enough… but that didn't help that the ground beneath them started to crumble. The ledge that the tomb rested on fell away, taking the tomb with it, and Cloud realized Noctis would fall along with it.
Just as the ground gave way and Noctis started to fall, Cloud jumped forward. He slid down the slope, catching up to Noctis just as he was about to go over a small ledge.
"Noct!"
At the same time he called out for Noctis he saw that Gladio had been thinking the same idea as him. They both reached out just in the nick of time, each grabbing one of Noctis's arms.
"Pull up now!" Gladio instructed Cloud as they managed to pull Noctis up to the small ledge with them.
WIth another violet shake of the ground, Cloud looked at the meteor and saw that it looked like it was rising up. "I think I know why there's been earthquakes.."
The three started as the meteor was raised up higher, revealing Titan underneath it. "Goddamn… This is the Archaean?"
"Seems like we woke the big guy up."
"And he's what I expected him to look like compared to the Titan in Gaia," Cloud muttered.
"What?" Noctis asked quickly before shaking his head. Now that the tremors had stopped and Titan was just stared directly at then, Noctis stepped forward slightly. "Answer that later. I think he's trying to tell me something… But I don't know what."
"What would a god even want at a time like this?" Cloud wondered.
Aside from Minvera, he had never truly dealt with real gods. In fact he had never even dealt with Minvera, that was Zack who said he had encountered her before. All Cloud had done was use summons of the gods throughout his journey. This was a large leap from any old materia summoned back home. This was the real deal.
"Hey!" Prompto's voice rang out from above. "You guys okay?"
The three looked up the steep slope to see Zack, Prompto, and Ignis stared down from the edge.
"Thank heavens you're safe," Ignis shouted. "Is there a way back up?"
"No, but there's a path," Noctis said as he looked to the side. "Gonna see where it leads."
"You three try to get down," Gladio added.
"Can do!" Zack said. "Let's head out and hurry up. The quicker we get down there the better!"
"Be careful," Ignis said. "Now that Titan is awake, we must be ready for anything."
Once they saw the other three head off; Gladio, Noctis, and Cloud started to walk down the path they were on.
"Don't rush off on your own, ok?"
"And just who are you telling that too?" Noctis asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Either one of you," Gladio answered.
"Well, just don't get left behind," Noctis snarked, causing Cloud to laugh softly.
"So," Noctis said as they headed further down the path. He looked at Cloud. "You said something about Titan before?"
"We don't have the gods in my world, not like this. We have artificially created ones we use in summon materia."
"I remember you talked about that stuff before, but you said you don't use it anymore?"
Cloud shook his head. "No, not anymore. So really summoning gods is just at thing of a past."
"But you are familiar with them," Gladio stated.
"Guess you could say that," Cloud shrugged. "I know what Titan is capable of if that's what you're implying."
Noctis gave a nod. "Good to know if we ever need it."
As they headed down the path,Cloud really regretted his choice in clothing. Normally he didn't care either way, but the head was much more intense than it was moments ago, and he could tell that Noctis was feeling the same as he was. Their favored choice of all black was really coming to make them hate it at that moment.
When they came to a narrow cliffside, Gladio crossed first and Noctis followed second, with Cloud bringing up the rear. Part way through another tremor happened and Noctis nearly staggered, gripping his head from another headache.
"Of course it would happen now… always at the worst times," Cloud thought as he readied himself if he needed to catch Noctis.
Keep him steady!" Gladio shouted.
Cloud nodded as he gently kept one arm on Noctis as they continued their shuffle. They were moving as fine as they could, with Noctis sometimes needing to stop due to his headache, but then the tremors came again and rocks started to crumble in front of them.
Titan's hand came reaching out towards Noctis, just stopping a few inches in front of him.
"Hey! Titan! What's the big idea!?" Noctis shouted.
"Save it! Get to solid ground first!" Gladio said.
"Easier said than done," Cloud murmured softly.
"Can agree on that," Noctis replied as he looked at Gladio. "Go faster!"
Gladio huffed. "Calm down. I'm going as fast as I can."
Moving father, Gladio informed them that they were nearing the end of the Wedge. Gladio had grabbed on to a tree branch just as another tremor hit, causing Noctis to nearly fall. Gladio was the one to grab Noctis quickly and toss him around to the next area of solid ground.
Cloud saw that Titan's hand was coming again, right towards the two of them. "Move! Now!"
Just as the ground broke beneath them, they ran and jumped forward, landing to Noctis on the near area of ground.
Gladiolus huffed. "If that's his welcome, hate to see how he treats intruders."
"Let's not wait too long to find out," Cloud commented.
"If he wants to talk, so do I," Noctis groaned as he got back up to his feet.
"Glad the feeling's mutual. Let's move," Gladio said.
Moving further down the new path, they kept going downward, the path growing steeper at various points. Noctis groaned while staring up at the sky. "I'm sick of this endless walking…"
Suddenly, Gladio grabbed him and pulled him in close. "And I'm sick of your endless whining. Calm the hell down."
Cloud stared at the reaction, feeling a familiar memory from whenever he would hang around Barret. They both had that same tough attitude, just easily able to bluntly yell at someone. But it was clear that Noctis wasn't a fan of that type of attitude.
He tried to shove "Get off my back."
Gladiolus narrowed his eyes. "Are you a man of royal blood or aren't you?"
"Of course I am, '' Noctis answered. "I couldn't forget it if I tried. What about it?"
"I ain't saying that you've forgotten, but you gotta know something: You're not the only one who's having a tough time. We're all on edge. We Amicitia are the king's sworn shields. Guard the king with our lives—that's the way it's always been. I've embraced my duty. And I take pride in it. When you can't focus, I focus for you. It's my job, so let me do it, alright?
Cloud watched the two carefully, knowing that it was not his place to step in. But he could help but find himself curious on how these two must have grown up. Cloud couldn't even begin to imagine what it was like to grow up with someone as a sworn shield, but it was clear that despite Gladio's harsh tones, Noctis seemed to get the picture from it.
With that out of the way, they were able to keep heading downward. Noctis's phone soon rang with a call coming from Ignis, apparently imperial drop ships were flying into the area. Whatever they were planning, Cloud had a feeling that it was not going to fare well against Titan. Cloud could feel that a bigger battle was coming, more so than just a few beasts and daemons. This time there was going to be an army… and a god.
Going to be saving the battle for next chapter otherwise I feel this may go on for much longer XD
But anyways thank you for reading and see you next time!