After the announcement from Mister Mog got through to everyone and the gates were open to the rest of the island everyone in the lobby went their separate ways. Some went onto the beach and to explore the rest of the exotic island, while others stayed in the resort's main building. There was a cafe near a pool where some people went for a good view of the beach, while others went to their rooms for some privacy. Then there was the lobby.
With its simple furniture consisting of three white couches and a small coffee table was perfect for simply relaxing and to avoid the tropical heat from outside.
It is for this reason that those who gathered in the lobby now enjoyed each other's company.
At first it had started with one woman, a blonde in a form fitting but elegant white dress, but she was quickly joined by a younger woman with short pink hair and wearing a peach colored sundress. Her demeanor was confirmed as she nervously asked the older woman if she could join her at the table.
"By all means," said the blonde in a friendly tone.
The pink haired girl sat down opposite her new guest and sighed lightly. "This place...it's a bit too much to take in all at once."
The older woman nodded once in agreement. She had tried to take in the news of the resort in parcels but by the time she could comprehend it all in a confident manner something in her mind told her she wouldn't be able to scratch the surface. Hence, she had given up on it for the time being.
The girl then remembered something crucial. "Oh where are my manners?" She cleared her throat and spoke in a royal tone, "My name is Lenna Charlotte Tycoon, Princess of the Kingdom of Tycoon."
The other woman put her hands on her lap and spoke softly, "Lunafreya Nox Fleuret-Caelum, Queen of Insomnia."
Lenna's eyebrows arched, "A Queen? Wow, I must say I you're certainly as beautiful as one."
Luna appreciated the compliment, "Thank you."
"So, Lunafreya, what do you think of this place?"
Turning her head in the direction of the front desk, Luna at first didn't answer. Her eyes laid on a man in black as he asked the moogles at the desk all sorts of questions. Eventually she did answer, "Mysterious, but something about it has me feeling content."
"Content?"
"Yes, like there is nothing here to worry about."
Nodding in agreement Lenna spoke. "I understand that feeling. At first I wasn't sure if this place was real or just a dream, but now..." She giggled, "I think if it is a dream I don't want to wake up anytime soon."
Despite her secret hesitations, Luna couldn't help but smile as Lenna giggled at her own acknowledgement of the situation.
"Excuse me?"
At the nervous utterance of those two words both Luna and Lenna turned to see a woman standing between them. She seemed uneasy. "Mind if I sit down here?"
Both of the women said it was okay, and the new arrival took her seat next to Lenna before burying her face in her hands.
Luna grew concerned, "You alright?"
At first glance she thought the woman had been crying but she just yawned.
"I will be, once I-oh what's the use..." said the woman. Her short white dress with gold trim looked very expensive and yet both Luna and Lenna knew that not just anyone could wear such a garment.
Yet when it came to ask Lenna was too bashful to do so, and so Luna did it for her. "You're royalty, aren't you?"
The new woman smoothened out the short brunette hair of hers, "How do you know that?"
"Let's just say that I am observant," said Luna confidently.
"Gathering herself, the woman introduced herself as properly as she could, "Then you're correct. Sarah Cornelia, Princess of Palamecia."
Taking this news in stride Lenna's demeanor brightened. "Well, small world, isn't it? At least three royals gathered in one island no one knows about. What are the chances?"
As much as she wanted the topic to go in another direction, something was bothering Luna. Changing the subject she asked Sarah curiously, "So Sarah, what is wrong with you? You seem...disturbed."
Straightening her posture the princess sighed, "It is nothing worth fretting over, to be honest. Just caught in a silly predicament."
"Must have been one heck of a predicament. You look like you just got out of the sun," said Lenna, taking note of Sarah's face being red as an apple.
Sarah brought her hands back to her face and placed them on her cheeks. There she felt the heat rising off them. "Oh dear..." She looked ready to break down all over again.
To prevent this Luna waved her hand to get the attention of a moogle passing by. "Excuse me? May we have something to drink, please?"
The moogle happily acknowledged the request, "I'll bring some sweet tea right away kupo!"
Thanking the moogle Luna turned her attention back to Sarah, "Try and calm yourself, Sarah."
Though the situation wasn't life threatening, the whole thing caught the attention of a passerby. A woman in her late teens wearing a simple white dress with a red cape, her heavily braided and meticulously tended hair draped over her left shoulder.
"May I ask, is everything alright?"
Luna looked at the stranger then at Sarah, who seemed to be holding herself together quite well despite not explaining why she was on the verge of falling apart. "I think Sarah is on the edge of a panic attack."
The stranger went around the couch and sat on the other side of Sarah, "It'll be okay. Just take a couple deep breaths-"
Sarah did so at the stranger's instruction and within minutes she calmed herself and sat back on the sofa. Her face was still red but she was in stable condition.
"What happened to get you like this? And don't say it was nothing to worry about otherwise I will lecture you," said Luna, now wanting to get to the bottom of this mystery. With that in mind her tone was a bit more serious than before.
Feeling like she had no other choice, Sarah closed her eyes and finally broke her silence on the subject. "I thought I was dead..."
The other three women went silent, none of them had expected that answer. The moogle arrived with the tea it had promised, but it didn't say a word as it dropped off its cargo and left as silently as it had arrived. Even the happy-go-lucky demeanor took a back seat in this situation.
"My last memory was being encased in crystal as I watched my home burn to the ground. Then the world went black and for the slightest moment I felt my heart go cold. When I opened my eyes, I was in a room I had no memory of and...well, I thought I was in heaven."
Such an idea would send a shock through anyone no matter how brave they were, and with that in mind Luna couldn't help but feel sorry for Sarah. After all, she knew exactly how death worked, having gone through it herself once upon a time.
Still, there was silver lining in this scenario. "But you're alive. That is what matters."
Lenna poured everyone a glass of tea, though she put more in Sarah's compared to everyone else. She needed it.
"Lenna? Is everything alright?"
As if this situation couldn't get more crowded, a young man in a blue tunic and red cape came up to the women. He noticed Sarah in distress, though it was clear his target was the princess of Tycoon.
Lenna recognized the young man. "It's alright Bartz, my new friend here is just a bit uneasy. She'll be fine."
It wasn't just something to say to make Sarah feel better, it was as if it was a promise.
The man known as Bartz took a step back, "Okay, well, just so you know there's a guy looking for a girl named Sarah. Big guy with a fairy and he just went outside looking for her."
Sarah slowly sat up, though Lenna tried to set her back so she could rest more she refused the help.
Instead she took a drink of the tea she had been offered, taking it down all in one go. She then looked up at Bartz, "Would you take me to him?"
Before he could answer Bartz was cut off by Lenna who had a better idea. "You should rest in your room. Bartz can go and fetch your friends while I escort you upstairs."
As much as she wanted to argue the strength wasn't in Sarah right now. She complied. "Very well...let's go." She set the glass on the coffee table before standing up and Lenna followed suit.
After bidding farewell to Luna and the other woman, the three went about their way; Bartz heading outside while Lenna helped Sarah to the stairs.
Luna sighed in worry. Then she turned to the other woman who had chanced upon them before. "I hope she'll be fine."
"I think she will, though it will take more than a good nap, I would think," said the other woman.
"By the way, I must ask, who might you be?"
Remembering that she never introduced herself beforehand, the woman smiled at Luna. "Ovelia Akatscha, former Queen of Ivalice."
Another royal? The coincidences of today were piling up and Luna couldn't help but smile. "Well then, Ovelia. On behalf of my friends I thank you for your assistance with Sarah."
Ovelia turned her head in the direction of where Sarah had gone, her thoughts still lingered on her. "I've gone through something similar to what she described, so I have some familiarity with her feelings on the matter."
"On what?"
"Being at death's door and thinking there was no way to back out," said Ovelia, a twinge of fear go through her voice.
"I am sorry to hear that," said Luna with sympathy in her words. Now she had two people she only just met have more in common with than she would have thought possible.
"It's alright. I had someone there to hold my hand and pull me back," said Ovelia as she smiled lightly at Luna.
"I know how that feels as well," said Luna as she thought of her special someone.
Speaking of which...
A man in black regal gear and short spikey black hair approach the women. Immediately he went to Luna and embraced her, "You alright?"
"Yes, Noct, I am," whispered Luna.
"Noct?"
This came from Ovelia and Luna motioned to her husband in her direction.
Rolling his eyes Noctis turned to Ovelia. "Noctis Lucis Caelum." He hesitated to finish, but with his wife's eyes narrowed at him Noctis completed his introduction. "King of Insomnia."
Noctis had always had trouble addressing others in a regal matter. Thankfully Luna was there to help him along.
"Nice to meet you, Your Majesty," said Ovelia with a polite curtsey.
Bashfully Noctis looked away, "No need for that, please..." He had yet to get used to all the formality, even after a happy marriage of two years with Luna.
Still his uneasiness was a slight form of entertainment for others, especially his wife.
"Well, Noctis, what did you find out?"
"We have a private suite and it is ready for us to inspect, as you requested," replied her husband.
"Then we better-oh, Ovelia? Would you want to talk some more?"
The other woman shook her head, "Nay, I think I will wait here for my friend. You two go on ahead."
"Very well," said Luna. She looked up at her husband and hooked her arm with his. "Shall we?"
Noctis motioned towards the stairs, and his lovely wife lead the way.
