Chapter 7: A Garden

{Citadel Garden: May 21st 2002, 10:00am}

Coraline looked around the garden of the castle and saw Noctis was already settled upon the ground digging a few holes for the plants as he set to working on it. Noctis glanced back at her as the girl laughed at the smudges of dirt and muck on him already. They had been working on the garden for a little over a week now and it was steadily coming along and had gone so well thus far that some of the palace gardeners were starting to bring them in plants of all kinds to put in the garden that laid behind the iron gates. Thus far, there were seven out of the twelve flower beds fixed and their colors varied from sharp reds, yellows, blues, and pinks to crisp whites and midnight colors.

Today, they were planting a type of rose that was silver in color on its petals and seemed to have black stems. The flower was truly beautiful and did well in the climate around Insomnia and Lucis – in fact, it was known as the Lucian Rose because of its night-time colors – because of that, Noctis had taken great care in preparing a singular flower bed near the wall for the climbing verity rose to begin to branch out onto. Coraline brought the plant over to the bed near the wall and set it into the hole before she and Noctis covered it up and then fastened it to the trellis as they continued around the wall until their five carts were completely empty.

She went to watering the flowers briefly as Noctis set to fixing the stones around the beds and tending to the trees that were now growing leaves and flowers again. The fountain had been polished up, the plants given their new homes, and the walk ways were being fixed as they went. Coraline brushed her blue bangs from her forehead and looked to her friend as he pulled a few of the weeds from nearby and evened out the last few stones.

"The garden will be done before summer break is over," she said as Noctis looked around.

"Yea, it's turning out pretty neat, huh?" she nodded and crouched next to him as he finished pulling the last of the weeds out.

"I like the garden here….when I move, I want to make a garden just like it…." Noctis looked to her and slowly nodded.

"Then it'll be a pretty awesome garden," he stated while Coraline frowned a bit.

"I don't know if I'm going to like moving though…Lucis has been my home for so long now that I don't know if I'll be able to get used to a new place…" Noctis smiled a bit.

"You're really nice and you have a good personality so I think you'll make friends like it's nothing," he encouraged her as a smile came to her features.

"Your nice too….how come you don't have more friends?" the black-haired boy looked down.

"Because people are scared of me, or just want me to be their friend for personal reasons…." Noctis stated as Coraline frowned.

"But, Noctis….you can't let that control your life….not everyone wants to use you, or hurt you….you gotta…let people in." Noctis looked down at his dirtied hands and the flowers that stared up to him before he smiled a bit.

"I guess so….okay…I'll give it a shot…" he muttered as Coraline nudged him a bit.

"Noct, you gotta be a bit more outgoing. I know you can do it….besides, you got a great smile and laugh….and the more willing you are to open up to people…the better you'll be as a King." The black-haired, blue-eyed boy slowly nodded before Coraline stood.

"Thanks, Cora," he said as he too stood and she smiled.

"No problem, just remember what I said….if ya do that, you'll be fine! In fact, when I come back to Lucis one day, I'll bet you'll be all grown up into a dashing young man and will be the greatest ruler this country as ever seen!" she grinned broadly at him and he smiled in return before blinking as if he recalled something.

"Oh, you said that you were moving away soon so I….got something together for you," Noctis stated as he reached into his pocket and grabbed a black woven pouch and held it out to her.

"What's this?"

Coraline slowly grabbed the pouch from his grasp and then opened it to see silver-toned seeds within it. Instantly the blue-haired, brown-eyed, freckled girl knew what the Prince of Lucis has given her: Lucian Rose seeds. They were seeds that she could plant in the garden in her new home so that she could remember her original home. Coraline smiled broadly and hugged the young Prince before looking towards the boy with a peaceful grin upon her features.

"Thank you Noct! Now when I move I can have a beautiful garden. But I'm not ready to leave just yet…it'll be this winter or early spring…but I'll put it safely where I know I can use them for our garden when the time is right!" she stated with a smile.

"Any time, Cora…" he smiled faintly.

"Well, I'll see you later okay?" Noctis frowned.

"Actually, I'm going on a day trip tomorrow….so…I won't be back until the twenty-third. I hope you can handle this while I'm gone," he said.

"I will! But, it's good to know that when you're here alone taking care of this garden it'll be taken care of, but don't forget to trim and use some of the herb plants when you get the chance, and the tomatoes over in the north corner will need to be picked alongside the peppers; otherwise, they'll just rot." Noctis nodded.

"I know someone who will use those and since their budding and ready to pick, I'll leave a basket of it for him before I leave," he stated.

"Good, well….I gotta go! Thank you for the fun day Noct and I'll see you when you get back." With that Coraline skipped away and Noctis smiled as he looked over towards the iron-gate that lead through a maze of old stone walls and out to the street through the woods. He sighed as it clanged shut and he turned to leave, preparing to head back inside the citadel to clean up when he was once again met face to face with someone.

That someone, unfortunately – or perhaps fortunately – was his father. The King gave him a faintly confused expression as he looked at the now lush and beautiful garden full of flowers, herbs, and vegetables with silver Lucian Roses fastened safely to trellises that covered the stone walls. The flower beds were lined with white lime stone and the walk ways had been replaced with that stone as well whilst the trees were blooming, the flowers had grown into a vibrant rainbow of shades, the fountain bubbled and glistened in the sunlight whilst at the north-end of the garden King Regis noted that the tomatoes, peppers, and herb plants looked ready to be used. A questioning glance went towards his nine-year-old son who stood before him, dirtied, and covered in smudges of muck and dirt, soot from the once burned trees, and looked to the lush green grass that was starting to sprout. Noctis possibly didn't know this, but a fire had destroyed this garden when King Regis was only a mere child. The King took in a deep breath and turned his attention back to the boy before him.

"Noctis? Did you do this?" he asked. The boy swallowed and then turned his gaze towards the man.

"Yes, me and a friend did." The King felt a faint whirl of excitement go through him at the words.

"A friend? From school?" he inquired.

"Yes sir….her name is Coraline Jones…." The King smiled.

"What does she look like?" he probed and hoped the questions didn't make his child uncomfortable.

"Blue hair….brown eyes….she has freckles….and is really outgoing and nice." The King looked at the garden around them and placed a gentle hand upon his son's head.

"The two of you have definitely made an impressive garden. I am glad you seem fond of the place," the King stated as he mused the boy's hair and walked away. Noctis felt the smile that had started to rise to his features depart along with the hope that his father would have at least explored the garden after all the work he had Coraline had put into it. While he was happy that his father at least acknowledged that he had worked on something and it had bloomed into a rather remarkable place; however, it was only a small recognition. Noctis sighed, kicking a small chip of dirt before walking towards the Citadel and towards his room where he was planning on getting cleaned up and getting to bed.

"He doesn't care….I should have known…."

{Citadel Garden: May 22nd 2002, 7:01am}

Noctis started towards the garden with a picnic styled basket as he entered and headed over towards the northern corner where he started picking the tomatoes, peppers, and herbs as he began to stack them neatly into the basket and then closed it before rushing out of the garden, locking the gate behind him as he rushed towards the place where he knew Marshal Leonis was and where he knew Ignis would be later. Noctis made sure to move quickly and not become side tracked as he started down the hallway and further into the training hall until he arrived at the door of the same room he trained in all the time. Noctis took in a deep breath as he started to open the door and was instantly startled when the door opened and he stared up into the dark-colored eyes of Marshal Leonis.

"Ah, Noctis. Good morning, are you about to head off?" he asked. Noctis nodded swiftly.

"Yea….I just um….a friend and I from school started a garden at the eastern courtyard and we were growing a few vegetables and herbs…so…since Ignis likes cooking, I thought he'd like to have this." Noctis held up the picnic basket and the Marshal smiled as he slightly opened the basket and looked at the ripe tomatoes, peppers, and large clusters of herbs inside.

"I'm sure he'll love it. Tell me, have you ever tried Ignis's homemade pasta sauce? It's quite good. The items you have in here may let him make it, so how about you go on and I'll get to work with them. I'm sure Ignis will be very eager to cook something for you when you get back. Maybe he'll even teach you," Marshal Leonis stated as he took the basket from the young Prince and then ruffled his hair.

"Thank you Marshal Leonis. Tell Ignis and Gladio that I'll see them when we get back!" with that the boy turned on his heels and took off down the hallway while the Marshal waved and smiled.

"My, that boy sure seems excited," stated Clarus as he started towards the training hall.

"He is. Apparently he and a friend started a garden within the castle walls and they were growing vegetables and herbs as well…he just dropped off a nice batch of tomatoes and peppers with herbs for Ignis." The Council Elder looked into the picnic basket and smiled.

"My, I like hearing that he's doing something productive. Tell me, what does his Majesty think of this?" Clarus inquired.

"He seemed fairly unfazed by it….or perhaps he merely didn't desire to show it. His distance from Noctis may cause the boy to grow distant from his father if our King doesn't show him just a bit more affection." The Marshal glanced to Clarus who nodded.

"I couldn't agree more; however, I have a few papers to attend to and you have two students to train. Tell my son to behave, and for Ignis to give me that recipe for his homemade sauce, Iris is very fond of his cooking," he said as he left and the Marshal laughed.

"I will, have a good day."

"To you as well!" called Clarus as he left.

Marshal Leonis settled the basket down in a corner of the room whilst he waited for his two students to arrive. As he went about preparing the room however, an ominous chill slid across his skin, a sensation of panic and unease curling into the pit of his stomach as the Marshal took the years of experience and applied it to the sensation he was now feeling. Something very troubling was stirring, and it wasn't going to be a pleasant experience nor outcome: that much he was certain of. The Marshal took in a deep breath and then looked to the door as Ignis and Gladiolus entered and he smiled.

"Alright, time to start working kids," he stated.

"Your chipper…." Marshal Leonis sighed.

"I have to be, but before we start; Ignis?" he asked the blonde who perked up.

"Yes?" Marshal Leonis pointed towards the basket in the corner.

"A certain black-haired, blue-eyed boy left that for you this morning. Apparently he was about to head off for his day out of the Crown City and decided that he wanted to leave you a parting gift," he stated. Ignis walked over to the basket and opened it faintly before smiling as he realized what he had been left with.

"So, Noctis left you a basket full of vegetables?" Ignis smiled as he looked to Gladiolus who was staring into the basket from behind him.

"He grew these himself. I saw him working in that garden with a friend a bit back. It's interesting, I guess he was hoping I could use them?" he inquired.

"Yes, in fact I think he's looking forward to you teaching him how to make your homemade sauce when he gets back." Ignis smiled again.

"I would be happy to," he said as Marshal Leonis nodded.

"Good, now we need to get to work." The two teenagers nodded.

"Right…."

{Insomnia Forest: 12:03am}

Noctis sighed as he leaned against the seat in the back of the car that was heading back towards Insomnia only four miles out from the city. From the start of the day Noctis had explored the field areas, the forests, streams, ridges, and everything else as he went from the forests and towards the lake where he had been taught how to fish by one of the Crownguard members who seemed excited at how quickly he went to it. The woman sitting in the back seat with him was Felicia Acrux, who had been selected to come with him on the adventure he had taken today so to be prepared in case he had gotten injured. However, it wasn't until the sun set that he got out the telescope, his map and the rest of his gear and began to create the map of the stars now that he had a clear view of them.

The entire process had been taxing, but exciting as he continued to map out the stars until midnight had start to come and Felicia informed him that it was time to head back home. Noctis had put away the objects, and climbed into the car, where he was now, starting to doze off after the long, exciting day that had transpired. Felicia smiled and pulled him towards her before letting him lean against her as his eyes started to drop while they continued down the road. Felicia held him tight, running her fingers through her hair before smiling and watching as the boy continued to dozing off.

"The fireflies were really pretty….I should have brought a jar," Noctis muttered as he felt exhaustion begin to catch up with him.

"Well, I'm sure that King Regis will love to hear about them and your adventures today. It's such a pity he couldn't make it." Felicia used a comforting tone with him, and a soothing voice that reminded him of his mother; however, he couldn't bring himself to agree with the words she spoke.

"He doesn't care…." He muttered as he shut his eyes.

"I don't know about that, after all…he is your…"

A sudden crash caught their attention as Noctis turned his attention to the car ahead of them and watched as something slung into the side of the vehicle, causing it to explode in a sharp torrent of orange light and smoke. Felicia tensed at his side, clutching him tighter as he stared in shock at the sight of the fire that bloomed where the car and its passengers once stood. The driver of the car he was in questioned what could have caused it and turned around the car, hoping to avoid a collision as Noctis felt his heart leap into his throat, panic racing through him.

"What's going on?"

The car behind them and their car came to a stop near the wreck while another explosion from the gasoline tank went off, causing the area around them to vibrate as Noctis kept his eyes on the scene and Felicia continued to hold him tight, knowing that there was a great risk involved at this point. Another wave of flames flew high into the air alongside thick, black smoke and cinders as Noctis looked at the people in the car behind them as they got out to inspect what was going on.

"Oh no…." Felicia muttered in shock and dismay at the sight while the boy next to her stared onward, disbelieving as well.

"I'll have a look," stated the gray-haired man in the front passenger seat.

"Wait Claudius, it's not safe." Noctis felt a knot form in the pit of his stomach.

"What do you mean?" Felicia looked onward.

"Look!" she called their attention to the flames as a patterned, smooth-scaled form as it slithered by.

The form rose higher, revealing a black material covering with gold trim, blue skin, and the torso of a beautiful, yet terrifying woman with wavy, long green-blue hair, and six arms wielding sharp, menacing swords. Her tone was guttural, bone chilling, and unnaturally horrific as Noctis watched the creature look towards them while his heart began to pick up pace. Her face came into view, a circlet with a crescent moon on it visible as she remained slightly crouched over while Felicia gripped hold of Noctis's hand.

"A Daemon?!" questioned Claudius as his expression read nothing short of pure shock and horror.

"What is it doing here?" Noctis glanced to Felicia who stared onward, her grasp becoming almost bruising as he attempted to grasp what was happening.

"Have they broken the Wall?" asked the driver as Claudius looked towards the man.

"No! Cetus, that's not possible!" Claudius looked back to Felicia as Noctis took note of the monster – no, the daemon – moving closer as the two men prepared to fight and Felicia nodded.

"Protect the Prince!" he ordered as Noctis felt the door to his right being jerked open from the outside as Felicia pushed him forward.

Noctis's feet hit the ground as the four men charged the Daemon quickly being sliced down as Felicia attempted to guard his back and keep him moving towards the road and further along the road way. The screams of the Daemon, and the howls and throes of demise from the men of the Crownguard rang in a sharp pitch within his ears as Noctis considered what was happening. His mind went back nearly two years ago when he had first met Felicia and she had told him what a Daemon was, and when they were most active as Noctis felt nothing short of fear and panic began to pulse through his veins.

"Noctis! Don't stop! Keep running at all costs!" Felicia told him as she kicked off her heels to run quicker with him right beside her.

"Hmm…" he tried to answer, but the pace they were going prevented him from doing such.

Amidst the crackle of fire, the foul scent of smoke and burning oil, the screeches of the Daemon, the bitter-copper smell of blood and crisped skin from the heat and the sound of their own breathing and hearts blaring haphazardly against their ribs came the faint sound of cars roaring down the road. Midnight-blue eyes glanced towards the road-way and caught the sight of lights not far off. As the cars drew closer, Noctis and Felicia both knew that there would be more help coming their way soon, but they did not stop running despite that fact. As the Daemon inspected the car, the roar of the other vehicles almost drowned out the sound of the car Noctis and Felicia had just been in exploding: but it didn't. Felicia turned to gaze back in panic, knowing that the Daemon was looking for them.

"No, not for us….for Noctis….oh Dear Shiva….no…they can't have him!"

"Run! Noctis! Don't look back!" she screamed as the ferocious wail of the Daemon began to draw closer.

The clatter of the Daemon's blades rose and Felicia pushed Noctis forward just enough as the biting pain of the weapons sliced through her torso and back as she pushed Noctis down in hopes of defending him; however, Felicia failed. A sharp burst of magic lanced through the air alongside the blade, cutting into Noctis as well as they fell to the ground. The sensation of the hard, unforgiving earth met their bodies as Noctis felt everything go quiet, the sound of the fire, the roar of the monster, the rumble of the cars, and the pounding of his own heart and breathing as his vision momentarily flooded to black before the unnatural sting of pain laced through him, and his vision was forced back to a vivid clarity.

In a matter of seconds, his hearing and senses returned, causing the sounds and sensations to return as the bitter taste of blood filled his mouth and red slipped down from his forehead while it pooled around him from Felicia. The grating noise of the Daemon rang in his ears as he slightly lifted his left arm, looking at the distinct red of the blood he was lying in and the lifeless eyes of Felicia. As he looked around, the shadow of the Daemon caught his attention, causing him to look up into her soulless eyes as she tilted her head as if to examine him momentarily before her blades began to close in. At the exact second she was going to attack, a glowing white-blue series of blades shot through the air, wounding the monster.

Enraged, the Daemon turned her attention towards the five members of the Crownguard that had come while steadily walking forward, was none other than King Regis himself. Noctis felt a painful ache develop in his body, his vision swimming again as what seemed to be stardust appeared around King Regis as he manifested what was known by certain members of the Crownguard as the Royal Arms. The Daemon stopped the attack as the Crownguard members swarmed it and Noctis watched in faint confusion as to what was happening. The Crownguard was knocked back constantly, and King Regis stood tall and strong as chaos unfurled around him as he summoned the Royal Arms back to his side and attacked once more.

"Check for survivors!" King Regis ordered.

"Yes Sir!" the Crownguard members raced away as the Daemon and the King of Lucis stood before one another.

"It has been many a year since I saw something as putrid as you," King Regis stated as the Daemon growled.

"But I shall not be hindered here. You will die!"

The Royal Arms appeared around him again constantly striking against it as Noctis felt a strange sense of vertigo overtake him. his entire body felt numb and his skin cold as he heard several of the Crownguard members calling out to him as he was flipped gently onto his back as they surrounded him and began to check his wounds. The scream of the Daemon caused him to glance in the direction of where his father was fighting, his vision feeling detached, almost as if someone else was in control of his body.

"Prince Noctis?! Please, you need to respond!" stated one of the men.

"He's cold…"

"Oh Gods….keep him stable! We have to get him back to Insomnia," said the man who kept checking his pulse.

King Regis remained focused on the task at hand, his gaze continued to stay on the Daemon while the Royal Arms sped past him and struck the Daemon constantly. Pushing the beast closer to the edge, King Regis took in a steady breath, positive of what he was planning on doing as the Royal Arms braced against the Daemon's attacks, pushing it towards a cliff as he rose his arms and the monster tried to push back. Finally, the Daemon began to slide backwards, it's weight nearly shaking the cliff edge as it roared, screeched, and howled in evident protest as King Regis forced one of the Royal Arms to sliced the monster across the face, knocking it off balance as it shot one more attempt to break away before the King of Lucis sent a wave of assaults from the Royal Arms after the monster until at long last, it fell down the cliff.

"It is done…" King Regis stated as he lowered his hand and the Royal Arms vanished. The King took in a deep, but rattling breath, his face broken out into a cold sweat as he let the strain of the weapons wash over him while a member of his Crownguard approached.

"Your Majesty…" King Regis looked to him.

"Is he…" the man stared onward with a straight face.

"He is wounded, but currently stable," he said.

"Let me see him…"

King Regis rushed in a steady pace towards the place where his son laid upon the ground, looking weakly around him as if he was attempting to make sense of what was happening. It was as he came to crouch before his son and the Crownguard stepped back that guilt nearly overwhelmed the King who always felt so proud and assured in his power and place in the world. The King leaned over the child, fear forming a lump into his throat, and the anguishing memories of losing his wife crashed over him as he stared at the child in dread.

"Noctis?" he asked, but the boy did not respond, he merely stared onward at him.

"Noctis?!" he called his name once more, but the child continued to only look onward at him.

"NOCTIS!" the King yelled his name and the boy's eyes closed, his head lulling to the side as King Regis picked him up quickly into his arms.

"We need to get him to the doctor immediately, he's gone into shock," stated one of the Crownguard members.

"Take me back to Insomnia, the rest of you please try to recover the bodies of the others…." King Regis pulled the child fully into his arms and then raced towards the car as the driver hopped back in and they sped out, rushing as quickly as possible to Insomnia as King Regis held his child's bloodied, and wounded body to his own, hoping to keeping him alive and praying to whomever would listen to spare his child.

{…..}

And even though you're scared, you're stronger than you know….

{…..}

Author's Note: Well, it happened, Noctis went through the attack. Don't worry, I'll do some back-story explaining in the next chapter, so there will be a bit of a backwards time skip at the beginning of the chapter; however, it won't take up a great deal of it.

I hope you guys are still enjoying the story.

Sincerely,

ShadowDragon94.