Chronicles Twelve: New Problems

"Oracle…You see all this?"

"Yes…What happened here?"

"This world…the darkness came and…"

"The Starscourge?"

"No, something far worse. It…It took the crystal, and in turn, my father too. He then executed my whole family and I…I was spared because Uncle Glad…."

"The Kingsglaive helped you?"

"Yes…And they gave me this…"

"What is it? A crystal shard?"

"Yep. That's the last piece of the crystal here…He gave it to me and told me to keep it safe. But since you're here…you can keep it. And it can help you get out of here."

Lunafreya woke up, having the same dream again of seeing a dilapidated Eos and the young woman that rescued her. Ever since leaving the hospital, but having one of the nurses, Lucina, as her watch, the Oracle-Queen had the recurring dream that let her see that alternate reality. She had heard rumors that there was more than one Eos out there, but no proof of that ever surfaced…until recently. The sudden appearances of towns that everyone on Eos was sure weren't there before, people and races that most certainly weren't there and the rebuilt areas that many considered lost forever had her wondering if it was true. That…and she still had the crystal shard that young woman gave her. She kept it hidden in a box, away from prying eyes and most certainly from Noctis.

The Oracle wanted to make sure that no one would panic over seeing a shard that looked exactly like the one that used to be in the Ring of the Lucii. An idea to place in her husband's ring came to her and she looked at the sleeping king. Once again, he was nearly halfway out of the bed, looking ready to fall out any second.

Luna sighed, knowing he wouldn't wake up if one of the babies cried. That was confirmed as a whimper and a hiccup alerted her to the small baby monitor on her side of the bed. Luna picked it up, recognizing the whimper of Ventus. The little blonde always cried like that when something scared him and the woman carefully got out of bed, the pain radiating from her abdomen that was still healing from the surgery.

Entering the nursery through sliding doors, Lunafreya saw her three children in their cribs, still connected to various machines. Regina still had a breathing tube in, as she still had trouble breathing on her own without tiring. Aurelius had a heart monitor as the doctors found he had a weak heart. Ventus had a tube connected to his belly, as the baby had trouble keeping solids down, despite the trio being five months and starting on solids. Luna hoped that they would overcome their infirmities, but…there wasn't anything she could do despite her position as Oracle…

Picking up Ventus as carefully as she could, Luna suppressed tears as she said, "I'm so sorry. I feel that what has befallen you three is our fault…Your father and mine…"

Ventus whimpered, staring at his mother as she went to a nearby rocking chair. Rocking back and forth, trying to calm him back to sleep, Luna told him, "We…we weren't supposed to survive. Your father was supposed to sacrifice himself to save our Star and I…was supposed to do the same to give him the strength to do so. Instead, we found another way to save it…The true First King, Ardyn, had elected himself to do the role that Noctis was given, as that was his true calling…until he became the embodiment of the Scourge. We were able to bring him back from the path of evil, with the help of his brother Somnus and the other Lucii…your ancestors."

Ventus yawned and looked ready to go back to sleep when Luna continued with, "He sacrificed himself, along with the other Lucii and destroyed the Scourge. But, the war god, Bahamut, wasn't pleased with what we did. So, he attacked Insomnia and we fought against him. It was a bitter battle, with Noctis, the Kingsglaive, those who survived Gralea and Tenebrae, and myself against the dragon king, but we did it. We won. But at what cost?"

The baby snored and Luna gave a sad smile. Whispering, she said, "But, you're not worried about that, are you?"

Wiping tears that formed as she spoke to the tiny human, Lunafreya said, "I'm so sorry I brought it up. You all don't have to worry about that. You're just going to get stronger…I know it."

Another hiccup and Regina's wailing cut through the night. Ventus started crying along with her, mad that his sleep was interrupted. Aurelius, as usual, was knocked out, snoring.

"What's going on…?"

Luna gasped, seeing that Noctis had awakened. He usually was a deep sleeper…a very deep sleeper that made the woman question at times if he was alive or dead…But she was happy all the same as he could help her with the crying children.

Handing him Ventus and grabbing Regina, Luna asked, "What is wrong, child?"

Regina cried loudly and Luna was sure that the baby was going to wake up the whole Citadel. Trying to burp her, Luna asked, "Please, what is wrong?"

The baby didn't respond to that, her cries growing louder and more exhausted sounding. Luna stared at the girl and asked, "You're not giving me signs as to what's wrong. Please…What is wrong, my little girl?"

Regina hiccupped and continued crying. Noctis gave Luna a look of pity as the woman was confused. He sighed, telling her, "She's probably looking for me."

"For what?" Luna asked.

"Eh, she just cries when she thinks I'm not here. Regina…Regi, over here," Noctis said.

Ventus calmed down in his arms, staring at his still crying sister. Noctis called her again and the baby girl hiccupped, panting moments later as she ceased crying. She stared at him and then glowered at Ventus, who made another whimper. Luna didn't know if babies could become possessive at such an early age, but such behavior wouldn't be tolerated.

"Alright, time to go back to sleep," Noctis said, looking at Ventus and Regina.

The two babies looked as if they didn't want to return to their cribs, as their eyes welled up with tears. The instant Luna attempted to put Regina back, the girl cried. It was the same with Ventus and Noct said, "Alright…We'll stay…"

Finding her way back to one of the rocking chairs, Luna held onto Regina, who stared at her with wide blue eyes. The girl didn't look as if she was going to return to sleep and Luna heard a snore. Noctis managed to fall back asleep, holding Ventus in his arms. Ventus, with his entire fist in his mouth, slept as well and Luna wondered if it was early for the baby to start teething.

A hiccup and Luna eyed Regina. The girl continued staring as if she wanted to know her mom's face. Which was a good thing in Lunafreya's book. She hiccupped again and Luna held her on her chest, patting the baby's back.

"Oh. All that screaming and crying got you so worked up, you've given yourself the hiccups. But, I doubt that you and your siblings can understand me," Luna said.

A burp and Luna continued with, "You three will grow up to be strong. I must believe that…but it's so hard to see you like this…It's been five months and you still have your ailments…"

"AH!" Regina cooed.

She looked up at her mother, grinning. Another coo and little Regina placed her head on Luna's shoulder, sighing in relief. Smiling, Luna whispered, "Please watch over them. Heal them as I cannot."

Loud flatulence and Noct and Ventus woke up, sniffing the air. Laughing came from the center-most crib, Aurelius'. Luna covered her mouth as Noctis gagged. Swiftly placing Ventus back in his own crib, Noct ripped open a window, screaming, "GAS CHAMBER! GAS CHAMBER!"

"That smell shouldn't come out of a child! Oh, gods…" Luna said, muffled as she tried to stop the smell of rotten eggs, garbage that was left out in the sun for too long, and garula manure all rolled up into one.

Aurelius continued laughing, sitting up in his crib. Ventus did the same, joining his brother in releasing gas. Regina cooed and giggled, a small "poot" coming from her.

"Oh no. No, no, NO!" Noctis yelled.

"Majesty!"

The nursery's second door, which led into the hallway, opened and Ignis appeared with some frightened Crownsguard. The group immediately covered their noses, to which Ignis asked, "So, will you be needed help in changing diapers?"

"Yes, and what did you feed them today? That smell…Those smells…" Noct said, gagging.

"It was just a blend of pureed Galdin mangos, Duscaen orange juice, and Caem carrots. Regina and Aurelius took to them rather quickly while Ventus preferred Leiden sweet potatoes and Cleigne apples," Ignis explained rather calmly.

The rest in attendance left, gagging and gasping for fresh air. But the smells wafted through the air, getting stuck in rugs, curtains, and exposed clothes. The group couldn't get the smells out for days…

And there's chapter twelve. At least the babies are getting better, right? Even though they managed to stink up a good chunk of the Citadel…