Chronicles Thirteen: New Discoveries
Two weeks after the "Night of Endless Flatulence", Insomnia, the Citadel…
As Lunafreya watched over the triplets, the Lucis Caelum trio laid on the floor of the nursery. Aurelius and Regina were finally disconnected from their machines, but Aurel had a small wireless monitor over his heart. Lucina had told her that the babies had made leaps and bounds since the "Night of Endless Flatulence" and wondered if Noctis and Luna's watching over them had something to do with it.
The babies' laughter filled the room and Luna didn't see the cause. But certain happy grandparents did. Regis and Aulea saw Carbuncle, Noctis' guardian, walking past Aurel. The dark-haired child crawled towards it as it walked to the door. Regina soon followed, along with a curious Ventus.
Just as they reached it, Luna went to the door, saying, "No, no, no."
Aurelius shot her a dark look, wanting to follow the Carbuncle into the hall. Regina slapped the door, whining, and Ventus sniffled. Luna didn't change her mind and the triplets continued whining to leave. But, they were only five months going on six…and they didn't know how to walk. Crawl, yes. Walking, nope.
"Well, they really don't know how to walk," Regis told Aulea.
"But look at them. They're so curious. They remind me of when Noctis was small," Aulea said.
Regis shot her a confused glance and she said, "Who do you think brought Carbuncle when he was injured by that Marilith?"
"Well, I thought you'd move on to the Hereafter. I didn't know you were accepted into the Lucii at the time," Regis said.
As they were distracted, including Luna who had looked away for a second to check on a text from Prompto, the trio had somehow managed to teleport away, trying to find the invisible Carbuncle that walked the halls. When Luna did, however, her eyes widened and she screamed, "NO!"
The Citadel, 22nd-floor hallway…
Aurelius, Regina, and Ventus crawled along the rugs, following the Carbuncle that didn't seem to notice the babies' interest in it. For crawling infants, the trio was quick. Auras had enveloped their bodies, and they teleported whenever the Carbuncle or any one of them were out of sight.
Regis and Aulea, sensing the kids, took chase and saw the babies teleporting, trying to catch up with the Carbuncle. That also made it harder for any Kingslglaive that saw them catch them as they would teleport out of their grip and somewhere else.
"This is exactly like how Noctis discovered his powers…" Regis muttered.
A squeal of delight and the door to the meeting hall had opened. Following the second and third squeals, the grandparents found their grandchildren on top of the table that was used for the failed signing ceremony with Niflheim nearly fifteen years ago. The kids found the Carbuncle, who looked quite uncomfortable as they were tugging at its tail, legs, and horn.
The only thoughts running through the babies' minds were "fluffy", "kitty" and "super blue". Aurel and Ven gasped as the Carbuncle vanished, reappearing at the door. Regina crawled and Regis nearly leaped to catch her, despite being intangible, when the baby girl teleported and reappeared at the door.
Aurel and Ven did the same and they began phasing, still giving chase to the Carbuncle.
With Carbuncle…
"What's…the deal…with those kids?! I don't think I can take much more of this, Lady Gentiana!" the Carbuncle said, running through the halls.
He was being chased by three kids, one of them oddly looking exactly like Noctis when he was a baby. They were relentless and apparently quite violent. Something Carbuncle blamed on Noctis.
Hiding behind a planter on the 24th floor, the Guardian Messenger watched as the babies crawled/teleported past him. Peeking out, Carbuncle sighed in relief as he didn't see them.
"I'm not going to let these babies make me fail. I gotta find Noct and tell…" Carbuncle said to himself.
"BAH! YAA-AAH!"
The happy squeals made Carbuncle's ears turn in their direction and he saw the babies. The grinning triplets found him again and Carbuncle ran off, trying to find his way to the throne room…or wherever Noctis was. But it was hard to keep them away as their teleporting had them keep chase.
"Why can't they just tire out or something?! Leave me alone!" Carbuncle cried.
Ven, crawling rapidly as if he was under the influence of Hastega, grabbed for the Messenger's tail and missed. Regina crawled ahead, teleporting, and reappearing in front of Carbuncle. She tried to go after his ruby horn, but the Messenger jumped over her and she fell onto the floor. Aurel was the most persistent, crawling, phasing, and teleporting to the Carbuncle as he had made it to the stairs leading to the 25th floor.
Carbuncle climbed the stairs, only for Aurelius to reappear at the top. He grinned, slobbering as he was teething, and cried out with a loud, "EEE!"
"DAA!" Regina cheered, at the bottom of the stairs.
"DA-DA! BA-DA!" Ven said, appearing in the center, next to the Carbuncle.
He grabbed him again, holding him like a stuffed toy. Carbuncle squirmed, whining as the baby's grip was crushing him.
"Umbra! Pryna! Where are you two when I need you?! Help! Guys! Help! HELP! HELP! HE-EE-ELP!" Carbuncle screamed.
A bark and Carbuncle could've cried as he saw Umbra. The black dog was at the bottom of the stairs, next to Regina. His tail wagged and he asked, "Need help?"
"Yes, please! Help! UMBRA, HELP! HE-EELP! HE-EE-EE-ELP!" Carbuncle screamed.
"Okay, okay. No need to scream like that. And besides, I doubt Noct and the others can understand you," Umbra told him.
Regina, distracted by Umbra, giggled as she pulled at his ears. Umbra simply sat down, letting her play, and it immediately made Ventus and Aurelius jealous. The two teleported to where their sister was, and they started fighting over who could play with Umbra. Which ended with the triplets crying.
Carbuncle was grateful, but a bit guilty for letting the kids fight and making each other cry. But he had to get to Noct. He had to give a message, but where was he? Where was the King?
"Oh, he's on the 20th floor…" Umbra replied.
Carbuncle rolled his eyes, muttering, "I was going the wrong way the whole time…"
"So, we still can't figure out where these places are coming from?" Noctis asked.
He looked over a world map with Ignis, Cor, and Gladio, along with Minister Tot and several others from Parliament. Noct kept receiving reports from the Crownsguard regarding the new regions in Eos. Most reported the residents living there with no recollection of where they had been for the past 2,000 years. If anything, most insisted that they were either Lucian, Altissian, Tenebraen, or Niff. But no one had seen those places before.
Noctis stared at the map, realizing that the entirety had to be redrawn and countries would have to figure out which town and region belonged to who. He hoped that it wouldn't lead to another war as the world didn't need another disaster. Maybe he should hold a summit with world leaders or take a census or something…As long as it didn't lead to another war, he was fine with whatever worked best.
"Maybe the Crownsguard should interview these newly discovered peoples and figure out…" a senator started.
Gladio shook his head, saying, "They've already done that. Most see themselves as Lucian, despite not even being near Lucis. And those in the far north see themselves as neither Niff nor Lucian. Not even Tenebraen."
"So, our newly discovered 'territories' are Crescent Lake near Ravatogh, Cornelia in Duscae, Fabul in Leide, Pravoka near Cape Caem, Gridania in the Fallgrove…" Cor started.
"The Wutai islands east of Insomnia, Destiny Islands off the coast of Galdin Quay, and Balamb in northern Galahd," Ignis added.
"Then we have Eternia in western Niflheim, Modeoheim in the southwest of that continent, Figaro in eastern Niflheim, and Ancheim in the southeast. Then near Altissia is the isle of Mysidia and west of that is Lynari Isle and Kilanda, the newly resurfaced volcanic isle. And the new northern continent and the sky islands…or continents that have appeared. So much so quickly…and we need to figure out what to do before any unsavory ones get any ideas," Minister Tot said.
Noctis stared at the map, wondering why the "resurfacing" was happening. The world was still healing and having something like that happen was…worrying, to say the least. The others awaited his order and he said, "Keep monitoring the situation. We need to know if these new places have 'unfriendlies'."
"BAH!"
The sound of a baby rang out in the meeting hall and Noctis checked underneath the table. There, a Carbuncle, Umbra and his three kids sat. The Carbuncle was getting its tail pulled and looked terrible while Umbra looked guilty, almost as if apologizing to the King for having the triplets follow him there. To which Noct mentally asked how the trio got there.
"Oh, so the young princes and princess wish to join our meeting?" Minister Tot asked.
Seeing their dad, the trio crawled towards Noct, finally leaving Carbuncle alone. The little Messenger was relieved, and Umbra whined, sounding guilty.
"We'll reconvene tomorrow," Noct said, picking up Aurelius.
He then texted Luna, telling her, "Found 'em."
Hopefully, that would alleviate her panic, Noct thought.
And the world's still getting weird going-ons. And the triplets have Noct's teleporting powers. Wonder what other shenanigans they'll get into.
Thanks again to darkpaladin89 for their reviews and for those that are still reading this fic.