Stella let out a tearful scream as she pushed herself away from Ardyn once he revealed himself. He watched as she tripped over something, probably a rock or her own feet, and crawled back, tears brimming in her blue eyes.
It made something stir in his dead heart.
"Why do you keep running from me, Stells?" he asked as he followed her slowly.
He pressed his foot on her ankle before she could move away further. He offered her a crooked smile, holding his hands out for her.
"It's OK, my star," he cooed. "Your lovely uncle is here to make everything better…"
Tears ran down his princess's cheeks and he only smiled wider.
A while ago…
Ardyn's legs felt heavy as he wandered the empty streets of the city. His limp was more exaggerated than usual, at this point he was practically dragging the leg along the pavement.
His mind was plagued with dark thoughts, more than usual since nearly strangling the life out of his Stella.
Should have killed her.
What were you hoping to trap her here?
Do you really believe she'll love you?
She's a creature of light, you are not.
It is sickening the way you follow her, hoping for the salvation that you've never deserved.
She needs to know who's in charge…
"Shut up!"
His voice was clear and angry. His wave of emotion expelled a wave of dark energy, hitting any daemon unfortunate enough to be too close to him.
Ardyn doubled over and choked. Black ooze splattered onto the broken pavement before him and he rested his shoulder on the nearest lamppost. It was like his ribcage was crushing into his lungs and his airways were blocked. It was as if he was drowning with a thousand arrows through his chest.
"St-Stella…" he rasped as he held his chest. He tipped his head up to glare at the sky. "Ai…leen?"
There was a dark chuckle somewhere in his plagued conscience.
They're one and the same.
Your beloved ran to your brother as does 'your little star'.
Why do you fight us?
You know we're right.
We gave you power.
She, on the other hand?
She's already left you.
Ardyn's pain disappeared quickly at the last voice. He turned around and saw a Nagarani slithering up to him, hissing angrily.
He reached out for her as she leaned down and let him examine her memories.
From her point of view, she was towering over the princess. Stella looked up at her, eyes wide with fear. She summoned her axe and held it up, ready to throw it.
The Nagarani responded by circling her and breathing blue mist over her. Stella turned into a toad and the Nagarani tried to grab her with her jaws.
Stella evaded the attack and dove into the nearest drain.
Ardyn drew away and stuck a katana through the Nagarani's forehead. The lifeless daemon fell to the side as he returned the katana to his armiger.
"Running from me already, my sweet?" he murmured. "Oh, you haven't seen me at my worst. How will you handle me then?"
The daemons inside him sung with joy as he made his way out of Insomnia.
He was halfway down the bridge leading towards the mainland when he heard a startled scream. He turned and saw Stella halfway between the sewage pipe and the river, flailing her arms rather comically. She belly-flopped into the water and Ardyn's lips quirked.
So unladylike. Was she really a princess?
Ardyn watched her swim towards the bank. He sat on the hood of an abandoned car, cupping his chin thoughtfully.
There were so many ways he could approach her.
Should he scare her across the dark wastelands and have her pass out with exhaustion?
Should he have her circle the same area until her mind broke?
If she was so scared of snakes, maybe he could lure several Nagas or Nagaranis to torment her…
Maybe he could pretend to be one of her friends.
Maybe…he should disguise himself as Ignis.
He chuckled darkly, shaking his head.
Ah, yes, her beloved Ignis. The reason why she was under oath to be his. Poor girl would probably die for him, not that Ardyn was keen on killing the princess without enjoying her company.
The diary he acquired was full of praises for Ignis. There didn't seem to be anything Stella disliked about the chamberlain. She confessed to singing ballads whilst thinking of him. She tried to cook for him despite it ending up as a disaster most of the time. She whined about wanting to spend more time with him, although her schedule didn't allow it.
It made Ardyn sick.
How could she love a perfectionist who tries too hard to hide his flaws? Could she not see that he was only doing his job in cooking and cleaning for her? That his relationship with her could only ever be professional?
Oh, how she cried when Ignis lost his vision before her. She screamed and wailed as she cradled him. Such a blessing it was for the King's Hand to see her before his world fell to darkness.
Ardyn wondered, would her embrace be as warm as it looked? Would she pity him enough to let him rest his head on her lap and stroke his hair? Would she press those soft looking lips onto his skin? Would she cry for him and his pain?
Ignis seemed to not know what a privilege that was.
Ardyn blinked and he was in the chamberlain's body. He looked at the cane in his hand with a frown and mimed using it to feel his way down the road. He adjusted the dark glasses on his face and cleared his throat.
"I…have come up with a new recipe."
He chuckled to himself, holding his head. He regained his composure, although his smirk was wide and cunning.
"Twinkle, twinkle little star," he hummed as he continued crossing the bridge, "how I wonder how you'll cry…"
Ardyn could see Stella in the far-off distance. She was drenched from falling in the river, and with no sun to dry her, she looked exhausted. He could faintly hear the squelch in her boots and he saw her heavy movements.
As soon as he was confident she was close enough to see him, he tapped his cane on the road. A group of goblins appeared around him and he summoned a dagger, much like Ignis's. The goblins began attacking him and he retaliated.
He closed his eyes and mimicked Ignis's blind fighting.
"Ignis!"
Ardyn held back a smirk as Stella came rushing to his aid, axe out and cleaving off heads.
By the end, she was catching her breath, arms limp and shivering with the weight of her axe. As she dismissed it, she turned to him and reached for his hands.
"Ignis, are you OK?" she asked with worried eyes.
"Stella?"
Ardyn squeezed Stella's hands, relishing in their warmth. They were so tiny and soft compared to his.
"Stella is that you?" he asked, and Stella sniffed. "Is it truly you?"
"Yes, yes, it is," Stella sobbed. "Ignis!"
Ardyn stepped back as she flung her arms around him. He felt a warmth growing in his chest as he brought his arms around the crying princess. He cradled the back of her head, tangling his fingers in her dark hair.
He sighed.
"It's alright, Stella," he whispered. "It's all gone now. Everything is going to be alright…"
He pressed his lips to her forehead.
Stella's warmth left him as she backed away. Her eyes were wide with fear now as she covered her mouth. Her body trembled.
"Iggy?" she whispered.
"Stells?"
Stella gasped and backed away more. She extended her arm, but her hand was too shaky to summon anything. She dropped it and raised her other arm defensively.
"Ardyn," she spat.
Ardyn tilted his head and sighed, approaching her slowly.
"Oh, my sweet Stells," he said. "Couldn't you have let this last a little bit longer?"
Stella let out a tearful scream as she pushed herself away from Ardyn once he revealed himself. He watched as she tripped over something, probably a rock or her own feet, and crawled back, tears brimming in her blue eyes.
It made something stir in his dead heart.
"Why do you keep running from me, Stells?" he asked as he followed her slowly.
He pressed his foot on her ankle before she could move away further. He offered her a crooked smile, holding his hands out for her.
"It's OK, my star," he cooed. "Your lovely uncle is here to make everything better…"
Tears ran down his princess's cheeks and he only smiled wider.
"Ssh, ssh…"
He crouched to her level, hands resting on the bruises of her neck. Stella flinched as he focused on his white magic, something he hadn't used for millennia, and healed her neck. She looked up at him confused.
He smiled at her, hands resting on her cheeks. His thumbs brushed the tears away.
"Why?" the princess whispered.
He sighed again.
"Because I promised to not harm you, my star," he said. "What I did was an impulsive reaction. Please, accept my apology."
Stella crawled back, turning her head so she was out of reach from his grip.
"Do I really have to go back?" she asked.
Ardyn swallowed the ache in his throat.
"Oh, Stella. You talk as if it's your execution. Do I truly repulse you? Even though I've done nothing but follow the prophecy?"
He grabbed her by the front of her hoodie and pulled her to her feet. Stella squeezed her eyes tightly shut as he leaned over her.
"All the death of your loved ones," he whispered, "all the sorrow and pain coursing through you is because of your beloved Astrals!"
He grabbed her chin and turned her face towards him.
"They're taking your brother away from you," he whispered. "Not me, them. They made me who I am."
Stella clenched her fists and glared at him.
"Sure," she spat. "You had no choice."
"Oh, I didn't, my star."
Stella flinched as he tightened his grip on her wet hoodie.
"Do you know what can happen to a mind in solitary confinement?" he asked. "Do you know what can happen to a mind in solitary confinement with daemons running rampant through your body?"
He pulled her closer.
"Do you know what could happen to a mind, wracked with daemons, confined to a dark room where no-one can find you, for two thousand years?"
Stella's eyes widened, and he smirked.
"Yes, my beloved. For that was my reward. All those months spent travelling and saving the people from the scourge, only to be slaughtered like a beast by my own flesh and blood."
Stella looked away, nibbling her lip.
"Somnus d-"
"Don't you dare speak his name!" Ardyn roared and Stella gasped, grabbing his wrists to try and pry herself from his grip.
How dare she?! How can she say his brother's name so sweetly? Yet whenever she spoke his name, it was dripped in venom.
"He was a jealous, bitter usurper!" he barked. "Oh, how he jumped at the opportunity to be rid of me! How he smirked when he ran his accursed blade through me!"
He could feel her terrified pants on his skin. The anger ebbed away as he let his hand reach up to her pale cheek.
"I just wanted to help my people, Stella," he said. "You understand that, surely? They lived their lives freely whilst I walked on with their illnesses."
He turned Stella's face back towards him. She was silent now, pressing her lips together and squeezing her eyes shut, as if she were afraid to say anything more.
The more he scrutinised her face, the more reality seemed to fade away.
The headstrong, stubborn princess was no longer in his grip. Instead, there stood a woman with kind, blue eyes and hair as golden as the sun.
His grip began shaking.
Aileen?
Ardyn pulled the woman forward and kissed her lips tenderly. He sighed, wrapping an arm around her waist and cradling the back of her head, gripping her hair.
Tiny hands grabbed the front of his coat and the sweet lips remained tightly sealed as he tried to deepen the kiss. He pushed against the resistance, gripping the woman tighter.
Finally, he was pushed back, the kiss severed, and a resounding gasp broke the silence.
Stella was clutching his coat with one hand, the other covering her mouth as she looked away. She looked mortified.
His eyes lit up with realisation.
"Oh, my princess," he whispered into her ear. "Did I steal your first kiss?"
He expected anger. But her fear was all the more delicious.
Stella's blue eyes were as wide as saucers, brimming with more tears as her mouth tried to utter words. But her body failed her.
She collapsed into his arms and he scooped her up to carry her. He rested her head on his shoulder and pressed his lips to her forehead.
She was coming down with a fever. Such a delicate body to go through such stress in the span of a few hours, of course it was going to give in sooner or later.
Ardyn looked at the Hammerhead sign in the distance and rolled his shoulders. A few seconds later, onlookers could see the royal shield carrying the princess towards the shelter.
Ardyn lay Stella out on the bed and let his illusion drop. Stella was breathing heavily, her face more flushed than it was earlier. She was sweating and squirming in her forced sleep.
Ardyn sighed softly as he stripped her of her wet clothes and tucked her under the warm, dry bedcovers. He grabbed a towel to dry her face and hair. His fingers brushed against her feverish skin and he checked her temperature once more.
He'll have to leave to gather ingredients for medicine.
He paced up and down the trailer, deep in thought. Most of the plants needed wouldn't be found in the wild anymore due to the lack of sun.
Ardyn looked through Stella's clothes and found a damp wallet. He counted the Gil and hummed.
She didn't carry much. What she had wouldn't cover the potential cost of what was needed.
He looked through her belongings again. He found some batteries and raised an eyebrow.
Ah, yes. That's why she and the others went to Insomnia in the first place. The mechanic girl here was asking for these batteries specifically.
They might be of some value. Perhaps Ardyn, under a guise, could get something of a reward to help contribute towards the medicine.
What he found curious was that Stella didn't have her phone. He was sure she had a phone, he'd seen her use one before.
He glanced back at the sleeping princess, idly playing with the batteries in his hand.
He remembered first meeting her on the train to Tenebrae. He remembered her sunny smile as she relaxed and chatted to him for hours. They spoke about her theatrical career, the plots of the many plays she took part in and other things.
For example, he knew she liked playing the violin, but her career pushed her to sing more. She talked about her disappointment, aspiring to write songs for her beloved instrument. Alas, her busy schedule didn't allow her to pursue such ideas.
Ardyn sat on the bed, reaching out for her face. He brushed the hair away from her eyes and sighed.
He took his own phone out and dialled Gladiolus's number. He knew everyone's numbers when tracking them through their journey. You know, just in case he needed to give them an aggravating speech as the villain in this warped fantasy.
He listened to the dial tone, his spare hand drifting to Stella's.
"Yeah?"
"Ah, such a cold tone," Ardyn sighed and smirked as he heard Gladiolus growl on the other end.
"Ardyn…!"
Ardyn tilted his head, fingers circling Stella's skin. "Now, now, I'm here with an offer." He watched Stella's feverish face. "Our little songbird tried to fly away, only her wing seems to have gotten broken…"
"What have you done to her?!"
"Why, nothing," Ardyn said with a mocking gasp, placing his hand on his heart. "Truly, Gladio, I am hurt that you think I would harm her even in the slightest." He smirked slightly. "But of course, this little incident has made me wonder; why did she decide to fly away so early? Ah, yes, maybe she wants a proper goodbye to her friends before committing to her promise."
His hand went back to hers.
"So, I thought to myself, being the gentle and loving uncle that I am…I'll let her spend some time with you, starting at eight in the morning tomorrow. Then we can all live in peace, providing she returns to her home within twelve hours."
He crossed his legs.
"That should be plenty of time, no? Time to gather some of her belongings, time to have a proper, tearful goodbye…"
He smirked.
"Time for heartfelt confessions?"
He could picture Gladiolus hesitating in the moment. Ah, anyone would have been blind to not notice how the shield looked towards the princess. Ardyn noticed how at the altar, Gladiolus immediately took Stella into his arms, ignoring her pleas to help Ignis. He wondered if Gladiolus had approached Stella with romance in mind, but perhaps he didn't, given their statuses.
"Ten years is a long time after all. It would be a shame to carry such a burden for all that time."
He chuckled.
"Goodnight, Mr Amicitia. Oh, and we're in Hammerhead by the way. I'll leave her at eight o'clock sharp. I wouldn't waste any precious time if I were you."
He hung up and glanced at Stella. His hand was holding hers and he pulled away, as if her touch burnt him. He swallowed.
His hand hovered over the covers, knowing what kind of body lay underneath. A tempting thought to gaze upon it once more.
How long had it been since he had felt a woman's caress?
You could take advantage of her.
She needn't know.
You know you just want to taint her.
Let us take her…
"No," Ardyn hissed and the voices stopped. He tucked her hand back under the covers. "No…"
He got up and changed into Gladiolus's body. He looked back at Stella, gripping the batteries in his hand.
"Sleep well, little star," he said. "You have…an eventful day ahead of you. Try not to break anything."
He smirked to himself and left the trailer.