Chapter 2: Continuing

{Insomnia: June 21st 2001, 11:00am}

Queen Aulea watched as Noctis read through his book near her as they sat in a sunroom within the castle. It was a beautiful summer day; however, her now eight year old son seemed to have no desire to leave her side as of late. A great part of her knew that it was because Noctis knew she was ill on a terminal level and was coping with what would soon come to pass in the only manner that he could find within himself. As he sat there reading in silence, seeming to appear too old for his age, Queen Aulea smiled and sat her own book down before she stood and moved towards him, causing her son to look up at her as she settled next to him and watched his movements for a moment as he turned his attention back to the book.

"Are you alright? Noctis?" the woman looked as the boy nodded.

"I'm fine…." The boy's tone suggested otherwise; however, she knew that it would take some time to coax the words from him.

"I know you're not. Noctis, are you worried or scared about…" the boy snapped the book shut.

"No! I'm not worried about anything! I'm fine….I…." his voice caught in his throat.

"Listen to me child, you don't have to be afraid," his mother told him this; however he only could shake his head.

"Father said I have to be strong and not worry you, but….I'm failing to do that….I need to make sure you're not worried….but you are now, so what? What am I supposed to…." Tears started falling and she reached out to gather the child up into her arms as the book clattered to the floor in a dull thud as the child in her arms began to weep.

"You aren't worrying me, and you haven't failed at anything Noctis. Listen to me," she placed her hands upon his cheeks and looked into his eyes as tears continued to fall. Using her thumbs she brushed the tears away as she watched her child.

"I don't want you to go…" she smiled as she pulled him towards her, holding him close.

"Noctis, listen….no matter what I'm never going to leave you," she said.

"No, you'll die….then you won't be here anymore….and if you're not here, then how can I see you? How can I know that you're going to be there when I need you?" Queen Aulea looked to him.

"You can tell, can't you?" she asked. He nodded, tears still falling as she held him close.

"I can see it…your dying…you're fading away….and I….just…." more tears continued to fall and she held him tighter, soothing his fears.

"Noctis, you don't have to be afraid of this. What you see and know can save people, it can help them….you can use whatever gifts or talents you possess to better the lives of your people when you become King," she told him.

"But you'll be gone….far away….and I won't see you again. We'll be separated and I'll still be here….you'll be too far…." She shook her head as she pressed her forehead to his.

"Noctis…." The boy sniffed a bit as she smiled to him, grasping his hands in hers as she looked into his eyes.

"There is nowhere you can go that I will not be with you. That much I promise," she muttered.

"Promise?" she nodded.

"I'll always be with you. Because no matter how far you are from me, there will never be anywhere that I can't follow. You'll be okay, you're my strong, brave warrior. I love you, so much that I will always protect you my dearest," she said as she pulled him into a tighter embrace and he returned it.

"I love you…" she smiled, tears welling in her eyes.

"As I do you, my little star…"

{Insomnia: August 10th 2001, 12:34pm}

King Regis sat with his wife as she laid in bed, her legs having recently become too weak for her to walk on. Slowly, the King of Lucis had watched his beloved wife grow weaker, her eyes dimmer, and her skin turn sallow as her voice grew brittle and soft. It seemed as time continued, he was left to watch his wife slowly wither away as she settled and made her peace with what would come for her soon. Noctis knew something was happening and the King could do nothing but submit to the reality present with them. King Regis wanted to weep only because the child that he would be left with would no longer have his dearest mother to be there for him. The King knew that when his wife passed, he would have to try and be there for his son more than he admittedly had been. As the thoughts consumed him, a gentle hand touched his own, gently tapping upon the black, gothic ring on his middle finger.

"Regis….please, take care of Noctis. Don't let him suffer just because I'm not here anymore. I want him to live a full life…." He nodded.

"Aulea, I think putting him in one of the academies and letting him see the world and interact with our subjects will be the best way to let him have a better grasp upon what the world is like," he stated as he took her hands.

"Thank you, Regis. Noctis needs this…he'll change yes, but if you do this….Noctis will be stronger and capable of dealing with the challenges that come his way….you know what he will face when he's older…please remember to let him know the truth when the time is right." The King nodded slowly.

"I will. Everything has been prepared for when the time comes; however, you know how he'll be once you are gone my dearest," he said as he reached out and placed a hand to her cheek.

"You can….keep him safe…I believe in your capability as my King, my husband, and as his father….Noctis loves you so dearly….do not let him fall…just believe in him and he will rise above all…..expectations…." Queen Aulea took in a shaky breath.

"Aulea…." She smiled.

"Can you bring Noctis to me? I think it's almost time…." She stated softly. King Regis nodded his head and slowly left his wife as she took in a deep breath and looked towards the open windows.

"I wish I could be here to see the person you'll be Noctis….you've been granted the grace of the stars…you are so blessed….so remarkably loved….and I believe you will become a remarkable King, and a guiding light to so many…."

King Regis soon returned with Noctis who was quick to come to his mother who patted the bed and held out her arms as the boy crawled into the bed with her before she wrapped her arms around him tightly and gave him a kiss on the forehead before she looked to her husband as he joined them and King Regis watched his wife hold their son tightly, tears welled within her eyes as he pulled her and their child into his arms and held them tightly. Noctis only closed his eyes, embraced in the arms of his parents as he listened to the silence, the sound of their breathing and heart beats, he caught their scents, felt their warmth, and engrained everything into his memory so that his heart and mind would always remember them as they were right then: together and at peace.

But the peace that was there would never last for long. In the days that followed, Queen Aulea's health continued to deteriorate and then, during the first week of September, King Regis came to see his wife one morning, and was greeted with the sight of her having passed peacefully in her sleep. The process of preparing for her funeral seemed to be endless, and for Noctis, everything seemed to have gone quiet. The child only saw empty spaces, and stillness where the person who shown the brightest in his life should have been. The days that followed left him numb and unsure of what to think of anything at the age he was. Eight years was nothing but a faint lapse in the time that should have come and gone but even though Noctis did his best to do as his father asked of him and to remain strong: King Regis knew that his son wasn't going to withstand it alone.

On the day of Queen Aulea's funeral King Regis kept Noctis close to him as best he could and only watched as his child remained quiet and unsure of what to make of everything. King Regis watched the boy as they accepted the condolences of many subjects, all passing in a blurred state to the staring eyes of the boy beside him. The day and it's grievances, came to a close towards the hours of sunset; however, it seemed to change nothing for the child who quietly followed, his expression blank and his gaze wandering almost as if the child had lost a piece of him somewhere. Noctis refused food for the day and King Regis allowed him to go to bed alone; however, as he settled there, alone in the dining room of the Citadel, he heard someone clear their throat and his gaze turned towards a familiar face.

"Ah, Marshal Leonis….it is good to see you," King Regis said as the Marshal took a seat not far from the King.

"I apologize for not being forefront in offering my condolences for her Highnesses passing. I was attempting to corral the masses who were there to do so and to see your son." The King shook his head.

"No, it is understandable. I thank you for your efforts on this day," King Regis stated to him as the man watched.

"Forgive me for asking this, but is Prince Noctis well? He seemed a bit sickly today." the King shook his head.

"The shock of losing his mother has been…rather taxing on him…" Marshal Leonis nodded.

"I suspected as much. You intend to send him to one of the academies in Insomnia?" he inquired.

"Yes, it was a wish of his mother for him to attend with other children, and to experience the world for what it is. I agree with her, knowing that it will make him a better King when the time comes." Marshal Leonis took in a steady breath.

"Then, shall I recommend a person to act as his overseer? He is another pupil of mine and I believe that he will do well," he said.

"I will trust your judgement. If Noctis is to attend a public academy I will require him to undergo personal training. He will need to learn hand-to-hand combat, sword skills, survival skills, and I want to have him undergo other forms of weaponry training." Marshal Leonis nodded.

"Yes, I agree. Those will be important for him if he were to ever go out on the field into battle. The boy that I have in mind is named Ignis Scientia; he's rather polite and skilled in several aspects. Between him, Gladiolus, and myself; your son will be well versed in many aspects," he stated.

"Good, hopefully changing his routine will help him overcome this depression…" Marshal Leonis sighed a bit.

"Your Majesty, you see a mother in the eyes of a child is a God. He's lost his guiding light at a very young age. Noctis is going to be changed by this for a long time….just remember, you have to be more than just the King, to that child, you have to be more of a father than you've ever been," he said calmly.

"Noctis will have to learn how to manage some of these trials alone, but you are correct in assuming that I will have to stand by him."

"You will do fine and we shall be there to help you Your Majesty. I believe that Noctis will be well looked after, and we will do our part so long as you continue to rule us wisely," Marshal Leonis explained as he stood while King Regis looked to him.

"I hope that I can do so….that I can withstand that which is not rightfully mine…." The King placed a hand upon the ring on his other hand and looked down as an item around his throat felt strangely weighted. King Regis took in a steady breath and Marshal Leonis nodded.

"Do not worry, Prince Noctis will be fine. I shall leave you to your meal, Your Majesty," the Marshal said as he bowed and left while King Regis looked towards the starry sky and the gleaming lights of the city from the window.

"May those who have placed their faith within me forgive my transgressions if I cannot keep what I have promised."

{Insomnia Academy: September 17th 2001}

The building that stood before the eight-year-old Prince seemed ominous if not highly intimidating as he was walked towards the entrance with an escort of the Citadel alongside the head of the academy as they walked the boy towards his classroom. His attire consisted of a pair of black pants, a black long-sleeved shirt with a short-sleeved, hooded over-jacket of the same color with a pair of sneakers that were the same. The others within the hall were dressed in paler, brighter colors whilst Noctis was dressed in the attire of the Crownguard's black clothing that was designed to distinguish him from the others and also keep him protected due to the enchantments on the clothing that had been made for him. Finally, they made it to the classroom, and Noctis looked at the group of children who only stared as he was escorted into the room whilst he awaited to be introduced to the class while he tried to brace himself for the people present and the strangeness of it all. The head of the academy smiled to him and then to the class.

"Hello class, I would like all of you to meet Prince Noctis Lucis Caelum, son of King Regis Lucis Caelum," stated the man. The room remained silent as the boy dressed in black bowed and thanked the Academy head and went to find a desk to settle into.

"Please make him feel welcomed here. He'll be with us until you leave us for High School."

The escort left, and Noctis took out his notebook and pencil before looking towards the students around him as they began to whisper about so many different topics that unfortunately related back to him. They spoke about his father, and his rule, they whispered about his mother and how tragic it was to see her die so soon before finally, they narrowed it down to him and how strange he appeared and that he looked nothing like what they expected him to. Noctis kept his gaze down, unwilling to speak about anything towards those who would spread gossip and talk about him in the manner that they were. It wasn't a matter of pride, but it was a principle of respect and that was something that Noctis as his age definitely understood.

A lesson his mother had encouraged him to remember was that if none would show him respect – whether he was Royalty or not – should never garner his respect unless they had shown him that they were deserving of it. Those who demanded his respect should be dismissed, those who tried to trample him and make him submit were to be removed or stopped, and those who would try to claim his life or cause him harm in order to control him would be destroyed. He kept her advice in mind as he looked at those around him and bore in mind that none of these people would probably amount to someone he could trust: they would all attempt to use him. Keeping his sharp cerulean eyes down, Noctis turned his attention to the chalkboard and focused as the teacher began to start their first lesson of the day.

As his first day of public schooling progressed, Noctis learned that many people wanted to talk to him and ask about what his life at the palace was like. They questioned how many servants he had, how many people his father had control over. They asked about the Crownguard, and they asked about the Kingsglaive and what they were like. Some had the audacity to question whether or not he had ever seen his father execute someone before when Noctis knew good and well that his father may have been a King in the time of a war, but he did his best to keep the bloodshed to a minimum.

At long last the day was done, and Noctis headed out of the school building as the students around him chatted as they headed home. Standing before him at the gate was a black car and a tall man with dark colored hair that he recalled having met with him and his mother a year prior. Today, he had a blonde with glasses standing beside him as he waited for him to come to the car. This man was Marshal Cor Leonis, a kind man who assisted his father on military strategies. Noctis stopped as the door of the car opened and he got in before the two shut the door and soon they were driving away. The blonde boy in the front seat glanced to him, having never seen him before. Noctis glanced at the boy who only stared and he frowned a bit before taking in his appearance. He was blonde, grayish-blue eyes, and wore glasses, but seemed to be around his age. Noctis glanced away before he looked out the window while the Marshal continued to drive.

"Did you have a good day?" Marshal Leonis questioned.

"I suppose….everyone had a lot of questions…" the man nodded.

"That is understandable; you are the Prince of Lucis after all," he stated while the boy looked down.

"They asked about my mother..." the Marshal glanced to him through the rear-view-mirror.

"And? What did you say?" the boy turned his gaze down.

"I didn't talk to them about her…." The man sighed.

"Some people are very insensitive Prince Noctis, you must remember that as you grow up and prepare to become the future King of Lucis. For where many will not show you compassion, you must learn when to display affectionate behavior, and when to become jaded," he stated.

"Jaded?" the Marshal smiled.

"It means cold or unkind towards others," said the blonde boy.

"Who are you?" the Marshal shot his student a faint scowl and the boy winced.

"I apologize for interjecting. I'm Ignis Scientia, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance Your Highness," he stated. Noctis looked down.

"Noctis…."

"Pardon me?" Ignis asked as he turned to fully look at the boy.

"You can call me Noctis….or….Noct….that what some people call me. I don't like being called by titles….it feels to distant….so, can you call me Noctis? Or Noct? Don't call me dumb titles like your Highness or your Majesty, or Prince anything….just Noctis…" Marshal Leonis laughed.

"B-But, I'm just a servant! I'm only part of the Crownguard, and I haven't even become a full-fledged member yet, I….." the Marshal cleared his throat as he finished his laughter.

"Ignis, the Crown Prince of Lucis just gave you the order to call him by his given name. That is quite an honor, it means that he likes you," he stated.

"I…very well….then just call me Ignis…" the boy rose an eyebrow.

"What about Iggy? Or specks?" he asked. The blonde stuttered.

"W-What?!" Marshal Leonis laughed once more, unable to avoid it as he looked at the blonde boy's startled expression.

"Noctis, I do believe that you have dumbfounded my student; and he is quite intelligent. It is a good sign that I believe you two will become fairly good friends," he said as Noctis looked down with a faint smile.

"Maybe…."

{…}

You had other plans to hang your hopes on…..

{…}

Author's Note: Well we're now heading towards the events of Noctis's accident. What did you guys think about Ignis's first time meeting Noctis? And what about Queen Aulea's death? These first few chapters to skip quite a few months, but after chapter 10 we'll have some more focus on longer time frames. I hope everyone is enjoying it.

Sincerely,

ShadowDragon94.