Chapter 6: Pause

{Insomnia: May 12th 2002, 9:05am}

"Noctis? Noctis? Hello? Are you paying attention?" asked Ignis as he looked towards the nine year old.

It was summer time, classes had been dismissed at the local schools for the holiday; however, that did not mean that the Prince of Lucis's training sessions and personal lessons stopped. Two days after the boy had slept the night at Ignis's apartment summer vacation had begun and now, the blonde was beginning to notice the young boy's attention span starting to wane. With a sigh, the blonde fixed his glasses and turned his gaze towards the child he was attempting to tutor with very little success. It was a basic session on medicinal plants, but the boy had seemed far too distracted to take interest in it.

"Hmm? Oh….sorry Ignis…." The boy looked down.

"Is something wrong?" asked Ignis as he noticed the boy's forlorn expression.

"It's almost summer time…so, I was….hoping that my father and I could go to the field on the outskirts of the city to look at the stars….and go through the forest….but…." Ignis frowned.

"He stated that he couldn't go. Didn't he?" he questioned as the boy nodded.

"I guess it's to be expected…..he is the King after all, and he probably doesn't want to think about my mom too much…." Noctis glanced towards the paper in front of him and Ignis sighed as he considered what the boy must have been thinking about.

Noctis was a child; however, he was far more aware of things than most seemed to assume he was. Ignis knew that the black-haired, blue-eyed boy in front of him had gone through several emotional situation before he had even turned nine, but that he had struggled through them and was doing his best to move along with his life and meet the expectations of those around him: he was trying to be strong enough. Ignis was well aware of that factor as well because he saw the boy pushing himself to do better at each obstacle he faced and while Gladiolus may have stated that the boy was far to gentle, meek, and sensitive towards other, Ignis had never seen those things as a weakness; but as the boy's strongest traits. With a sigh, Ignis sat down across from Noctis as the boy made randomized drawings of constellations on his notebook paper.

"What are you doing?" the boy looked to his page.

"I memorized some of the constellations….I start drawing them a lot of times without really thinking about it….sorry…" Ignis shook his head as he looked at the constellation that made up three that he couldn't name.

"It's fine, but….since we're on the subject: what are these?" he queried.

"These two are the Canis Minor and Canis Major….." Noctis pointed to the first two on the right side of the paper.

"What does that mean?" Noctis looked to him in confusion.

"You don't speak the Lucian language do you?" the blonde felt himself become a bit embarrassed by the boy's question. The reason was rather simple: he was born in Lucis, but he never had learned the traditional language that their ancestors had spoken. King Regis, Ignis's uncle, and Gladiolus's father could speak and write in the language – Gladiolus's little sister Iris was learning it as well – but, there were only a handful that were taught it now; however, judging by the boy's question, Noctis could understand it as well.

"Can you understand the language Noctis?" the boy nodded slowly.

"Not that anyone speaks it anymore….but I can read it, write, it and speak it," he said. Ignis felt his eyes grow a bit wide.

"How the hell does a kid this young understand that much of a practically dead language?"

"If I can ask, did King Regis teach you any other languages?" Ignis probed, curious as to what the boy had been taught in the past years.

"I can speak the Altissian and Tenebraenian languages….plus a couple others….but I'm still learning how to write them." Noctis glanced to the blonde who smiled before sighing.

"You're very intelligent Noct, that's a good thing…..it means you'll use your head and your heart as our future King," he stated. The black-haired boy looked down once again.

"Thanks, Specks…." The blonde grinned again.

"Anytime. Now, would you like to learn a bit about the yarrow plant?" Noctis looked to him, a glint in his eyes appearing again: the same gleam that showed in those sharp-blue eyes every time the boy became eager to learn something new.

"Sure, fire away."

{Citadel Library Gardens: May 15th 2002, 10:04am}

Noctis took in a deep breath and looked at the flowers in full bloom as the warm sun beat down upon it. This was the only garden in the castle grounds while the other side of the walk ways and the one nearest to the north wall was barren. The boy frowned, groaning as he considered this while pushing the gate open to take note of the empty garden on the other side of the gate. The ground was dull browned grass, and there were empty stone circles that should have been lush with plants and flowers of all kinds. A black iron and white marble fountain settled in the center amidst black stone pathways that stood out like burns. Midnight-blue eyes looked to the lifeless place before him and started to walk into the place to look onward at the dead trees that covered the light slightly as he considered what he would have done to make this garden as vibrant as the other ones around the palace.

"This is such a dull place…." The boy looked towards the gate nearest the wall of the eastern portion of the garden where a blue-haired, brown-eyed girl with freckles stood.

"What are you doing here?" the girl jolted when she took note of him standing there as Noctis started towards the girl who was standing inside the garden: a place she knew that she most definitely wasn't supposed to be.

"Oh no! I'm sorry! I'm leaving….I…." Noctis rose an eyebrow at her.

"It's fine. No one ever comes to this part of the gardens anyways," he said as she looked around nervously.

"Why?" he shrugged.

"Probably because no one took care of it. This garden hasn't ever been like the rest of them…the others are a bit thinner on the greenery but their picking up on adding in more plants," he stated as he looked at the garden. The girl swallowed the lump in her throat.

"Oh….that's stupid….I bet this used to be a beautiful garden…." The boy looked to her.

"Don't I know you?" he questioned as the girl looked him over.

"I'm in your class….we've never talked before." Noctis sighed as he started to walk towards her.

"Okay, I'm Noctis," he said holding out his hand to her as she smiled.

"Coraline Jones, nice to meet you personally." He dropped her hand and looked around at the garden.

"Hey, I gotta question," he told her as she looked at him in confusion.

"What?" the boy before her looked around and Coraline frowned.

"Could you help me fix up the garden?" Noctis asked.

"Wait….the Prince wants to get his hands dirty? Seriously?" the black-haired boy before her nodded numbly.

"Yep…." Coraline laughed a bit.

"Sure, why not! It'll be fun….I have some plants at my parent's house that I was gonna put in the flower boxes and in our garden, but they said we're gonna move houses eventually so why not put them here? So that the people in your palace can enjoy them too?" she stated as he smiled.

"I like that idea. When can we get started?" he asked her this and Coraline took in a deep breath as she thought for a few moments.

"Oh! I know, tomorrow around this time? How does that sound?" Noctis nodded.

"Yea, that sounds good. See ya then Cora…." The boy walked away and the blue-haired girl smiled a bit.

"He's definitely not what I expected….I could have sworn he would be a lot more stiff and uptight with that kind of behavior he shows at school…oh well, I better hurry up and get those plants loaded up. Maybe we can even get the first few rings filled up with them!"

Her thoughts continued to be merry as she skipped from the garden and Noctis returned to the main one near the library where he had expected to not encounter a soul as usual; however, as he turned from shutting the gate back he ran smack into someone that caused him to freeze. It was three people adorned in black clothing that bore gold accents of some kind alongside the Lucian Crest. Noctis felt his eyes grow wide as the three stared him over and his gaze remained with them.

The first was a taller man with cropped, brown hair that was tucked back into a pony-tail, while his eyes were a blue-gray tone. Next was a shorter, stockier built man with reddish toned hair, slight facial hair, and brown-hazel eyes, and lastly was a young woman with tanned skin, dark eyes, and long black hair pulled into a high pony-tail that was finished up with a braid at the side that hung over her shoulder. Noctis slid away, trying to avoid the three people as panic laced through him.

The three people watched him in pure confusion as he edged his way towards the pathway across a shrub and bush of roses near him; however, when he tried to turn and bolt away, Noctis ended up catching his toe on the white limestone path way and stumbled directly into the rose bush. His sudden yelp of pain caused the three people to rush to his aid instantly cutting the thorns from his limbs and pulling him towards their grasp at which point he scampered away from them almost as if they had burned him while blood ran in thin lines down his pale skin from where the thorns had decided to gouge deep into his flesh.

"Whoa kid….take it easy!" said the shorter man.

"Stay back!" the two men looked him over before the woman shoved them aside.

"The two of you are hopeless. Let me handle this…..hey, you okay kiddo?" she asked him in a calm voice while looking towards his wounds.

"I'm fine….I can treat them by myself…." The woman crouched before him and looked at the gash on his leg with a frown.

"Why not let us handle it kiddo? We're trained to handle all sorts of injuries," she told him as he narrowed his eyes.

"I don't know about that….who are you?" the woman smiled to him.

"Sorry, I'm Crowe Altius….the two lugs behind me are Libertus Ostium, and Nyx Ulric. We're part of the Kingsglaive Exterior Unit," she answered. The boy before them swallowed a bit in apprehension.

"Who are you?" asked Nyx.

"I'm…."

"Guys, if he's just got some scrapes then we better bounce. We're supposed to be reporting back to Council Elder Amicitia and Marshal Leonis about the border patrol," muttered Libertus as Nyx elbowed him in the ribs and Crowe shot him a glare.

"Sorry, he's a bit of a dummy. What's your name kiddo?" she asked as he looked them over.

"I'm Noctis…..Noctis Lucis Caelum…." The trio before him became as still as statues as the words left his lips and their eyes grew wide.

"Shit!" stated Nyx as he went into a humbling crouch before the boy and the other two followed. Noctis felt his irritation levels begin to rise.

"No! Don't bow to me…." They looked up in surprise.

"But, your Highness, we….." the boy shook his head fiercely.

"No, please…..I don't want you bowing to me. Bow to the King if you have to, but not to me. You helped me, so please…..don't act like that around me." The three of them stared onward before Nyx laughed.

"Great Ramaha! You are something else kid. Well, we better get him patched up and then we better get on our way," he stated as Crowe reached into her side pouch and pulled out a first aid kit.

"Just sit tight and we'll get these cuts cleaned and bandaged up. Hope you can take a little bit of stinging." Noctis nodded.

"I'll be fine," he said.

"Okay, then let's get you patched up kiddo." Crowe reached out and tenderly ruffled his hair to which he smiled in return for as she set to fixing up the cuts on his arms and legs.

{Inner Citadel: 11:50am}

Noctis ran alongside Crowe, Nyx, and Libertus as they rushed to the audience chamber where they were supposed to have met Council Elder Amicitia and Marshal Leonis nearly half an hour ago in hopes that the two of them would still be present. Noctis had chosen to go with them only because he felt partly responsible for their lateness and hoped to clear the air with the two adults on why the three Kingsglaive members were so far behind in their arrival. Taking in a deep breath, Noctis moved as swiftly as the three adults did and kept an even pace all the way until they reached their destination: at which point the four of them were out of breath, but glad to have finally made it. Crowe glanced at the young Prince beside her who had his hands on his knees, taking in a few deep breaths as they prepared to enter the audience chamber and she couldn't help but think that he would make a fine warrior in the coming years if his stamina levels continued to rise and be maintained like they were now.

Nyx and Libertus had been watching how the nine-year-old had managed to match – and even at times beat – their pace and found themselves impressed with the would be King of Lucis. The boy seemed to be rather well off in health and was surely going to be an interesting ruler when his time came; however, right then, the three Kingsglaive members had greater issues to worry about as Nyx stepped forward and opened the doors of the audience chamber, alerting not only Council Elder Amicitia and Marshal Leonis to their arrival: but King Regis's as well.

"Well….shit…." the trio thought as they heard the doors close behind them.

"What on this great plane made the three of you think that you could be so late?" asked Council Elder Amicitia.

"We apologize sir…we were delayed unintentionally…" Marshal Leonis frowned.

"Your excuses aren't warranted. I am afraid that you will have to be reprimanded for your actions. You have defied an order and have cost the three of us a great deal of time while waiting for you: time better spent preparing for a potential Nifilheim Empire strike," he stated. A faint scuffle came from behind the three Kingsglaive members and the three other adults found themselves confused by the noise.

"We're…." Libertus attempted to explain; however, he was cut off by the King.

"Who is behind the three of you?" King Regis inquired.

Noctis took in a deep breath and stepped out, wrapped in gauze and bandages from his legs to his cheeks, and the tips of his fingers and hands as he sent the trio of elder adults a slightly embarrassed expression as he tried to convey his apologies in a silent manner. However, it had clearly not been taken in such a light because a look of unbridled rage filled his father's face while looks of shock and disgust imprinted themselves upon the Council Elder and Marshal's faces.

"You….HOW DARE YOU LAY A HAND UPON MY SON!" the King bellowed. Noctis raced towards the front as the King took a step, a faint gleam appearing upon his hand as his son stood in front of his supposed attackers.

"No! Wait! They didn't attack me!" Noctis held his arms out to shield them as the Marshal and Council Elder Amicitia stared onward, surprised as the King stopped in his attack.

"Noctis….do not defend them!" the boy tensed.

"I'm not! It was my fault! I…." the King narrowed his eyes.

"Your heart is far too gentle! They have played you for a fool and you have been raised better. You cannot afford to be weak nor frail! Do not defend those who harm you! Am I clear? Nocits?!" the King snapped. The boy bit the inside of his cheek to the point that he tasted blood as he lowered his arms, an unsettling ache developing in his chest, causing his heart to quiver in its beats.

"I'm….not….I fell into a rose bush…..they pulled me out….and treated my wounds…." Noctis averted his gaze to the floor as the King felt a sense of foreboding overtake him.

"Noct…." The boy started to walk away.

"That was all I intended to say. I'll remove myself from your presence….I apologize for burdening you, Miss Altius, Mr. Ostium, Mr. Ulric….thank you for helping me…" with that the boy bowed swiftly and walked away, slamming the thick door behind him to secure it shut. Marshal Leonis stared after the boy as did the three Kingsglaive members who felt the air within the chamber grow thick.

"We should resume business," stated Council Elder Amicitia.

"Um….yes….sir…." the King took his seat as he listened to the conversation whilst his mind became clouded with the sight of his son's distraught expression over what had just happened.

Their conversation lasted roughly two hours, the reports being rather simplistic, yet detailed in the points they needed to be as the King remained steadfast and straight-faced until finally, Crowe, Libertus, and Nyx were allowed to depart for the wall again and Marshal Leonis thanked them for their time. It wasn't until the papers were put away, the door shut snugly into the frame of the room and the three older men were seated in another room where it was far quieter, and less oppressive that the Marshal began to consider what he had witnessed, much like the Council Elder was.

The two of them had seen the determination in Noctis's eyes when he stood in front of three people he barely knew and attempted to spare them any torment or pain as he tried to explain but was swiftly cut down by his own father in a manner far worse than any weapon could dare do. The words and tone used by King Regis had been a searing blade to the boy's heart; causing him inexplicable pain and fear. Council Elder Amicitia understood the pressures of raising children, for he had two of his own: eight year old Iris, and thirteen year old Gladiolus.

Being a single parent was quite a taxing job – possibly the most difficult on any world or in any realm – yet the King had granted his son the chance to attend school, interact with other children his own age, and to begin training in combat, and survival skills. However, Noctis was often alone and seemed to have no friends his age or be capable of spending time with his father.

"In short, his Majesty may be a fine King, but he is lacking when it comes to being a father….."

"Your Majesty, I…." the King took a deep breath.

"I wounded him terribly….." the two men looked between each other and then to their King.

"So, I take it you saw Noctis's expression?" inquired Council Elder Amicitia.

"Clarus, you have children of your own….I am certain you understand the pressure there is in raising them right….but it would seem that I am less capable of the task than I previously thought." Clarus took in a deep breath as Marshal Leonis looked down.

"I believe you to be a fine father, King Regis," stated the Marshal.

"Your words are kind Cor, but you, Clarus, and I all know that it was Aulea who raised our son right. I adored him and showed him how to do certain things and to be polite to those who worked within the palace and our citizens….but he was merely a little child then….now….he's becoming a young man and his heart is still to wounded from losing his mother so early on….I fear that I am beginning to fail him as a father….and as a King." the King stated these words as he tightened his hand and it shook in a weakened state. The two stared at the sight and felt a sense of realization fall upon them.

"It is far from time to surrender to the truth of the fates old friend. Please, for his sake….for the vow you took, hold onto the power and that thorny crown just a bit longer….he is still far too young to bear that weight and survive it," Clarus pleaded as Marshal Leonis took in a steadying breath.

"Least we forget: we three took a solemn vow quite some time ago. We will have no choice but to uphold it until the time comes…" King Regis nodded.

"Seven years, and things will begin to unfurl…we must pray that we can maintain our strength until then," King Regis stated. Clarus nodded alongside Marshal Leonis before looking to his friend, and ruler.

"Perhaps you should speak with Noctis, that may be the key to this situation….besides….he may need your support at times as both a King and a parent." The King nodded slowly and stood to his feet.

"Yes, I agree. Thank you both, old friends," he stated as he exited the room and Cor Leonis and Clarus Amicitia looked to one another.

"Noctis has quite the destiny ahead of him….doesn't he?" Clarus nodded slowly.

"One that is far greater than the powers and principalities of our world could conjure alone," he answered.

"Well then, I best up his training. Otherwise our future King may end up being a little out matched….and we can't have that, can we?" Clarus shook his head.

"No, most certainly not," he muttered.

{Upstairs: 2:50pm}

King Regis stared onward at the door to his son's room as he slowly pushed it open and looked to where his child was seated in front of the window, watching the sun set as he tried to reason out how to speak with him. Noctis's eyes earlier had told him of how greatly he had wounded his son with his biting tone and harsh words: something he never imagined doing. His nine-year-old son had seemed so remarkably courageous as he stood in front of three grown adults and tried to be a prime example of what a King was supposed to be: forgiving, understanding, and capable of listening to what others were trying to convey. His young, innocent, remarkable, beautiful, and brave child had done everything in that moment that his own father in his many years, had failed to do. Taking in a deep breath, King Regis walked into the room and shut the door, alerting the boy to his presense as he turned his sharp blue eyes on him and slowly looked down, a shiver lacing up his spine as he did so.

"Noctis…." The boy said nothing as he moved closer until he was settling himself upon the floor with the child who kept his gaze down to the point that his shadow-black bangs covered his piercing eyes.

"Please, talk to me about this….I know what I did wasn't right, and I hope that you could forgive me…" the boy took in a rattling breath.

"I….suppose so….." his voice was feeble and far too frail for King Regis to feel at peace with the boy's statement; therefore, he took in a steady breath and decided to find a means to remedy the situation.

"Noctis, I know that I cannot go this time; however, would you like to go out of the city and explore the forest? Perhaps do a bit of a star-mapping for us? Marshal Leonis has informed me that you have some of your map finished," he stated. The boy perked up slightly, but remained on guard.

"You would let me go without you? I thought that wasn't allowed?" midnight-blue eyes glanced to him from under ink-black bangs, causing the sharp color to nearly glow as he looked at the man.

"I believe that escaping the city for a bit would conceivably make you feel better, and give you a bit of a reprise from your studies and training. How does that sound?" King Regis offered this chance up to his son and slowly watched as the boy thought it over.

"Alright….if I can have the day…and some of the night…" the King nodded slowly.

"Very well, I shall have a few members of the Crownguard escort you for that day whilst Marshal Leonis tends to some duties within the city alongside his students…..ah….that reminds me…." The boy tensed.

"What?" King Regis smiled.

"I heard that you disarmed Gladiolus and he wasn't too pleased about it. The Marshal made a grand retelling of it….did you honestly disarm him in such a manner?" he probed. Slowly, Noctis nodded and then smiled a bit.

"He didn't like it at all. But, he was pretty funny….Marshal Leonis said that I was doing well…" the King smiled once again and reached out to the child, pulling him towards him as he stood, causing Noctis to go to his feet as well until his father pulled him into a tight embrace.

"I am very proud of you Noctis….and I assure you: your mother would be as well," he stated this as he mused the boy's messy black hair, and slowly, Noctis returned the embrace, closing his eyes as he took in the first time his father had hugged him, since his mother's death and committed it to memory.

"I'm proud of you to….dad…and thank you…."

{…..}

But I know you're gonna be okay…..

{….}

Author's Note: So, we're gearing up for the event that sort of kick-starts a lot of the events in the game and we'll be interweaving the events of the Platinum Demo into the story so that you guys can see what my take is on that. I hope everyone is enjoying this thus far, and I will look forward to your comments soon.

Sincerely,

ShadowDragon94.

P.S: does anyone know who Coraline Jones is from? If you do, you get a free question and I will answer it without – to the best of my ability – skipping around the truth. Just promise not to blab when you get the answer to other readers, okay?