Chapter 11: Absence of Color

{Dreamscape: Unknown….}

Noctis found himself left stunned into silence as he stared onward at the sight of his mother standing before him and Cari. Her long, wavy silver-white hair was glossy, her skin warm looking, and vibrant: everything he remembered his mother being. However, there was a distinct difference between her and the woman in front of him, and that was the woman's black-colored eyes. Taking in a deep breath, Noctis tensed, his heart pounding as a knot formed in the pit of his stomach while the woman slowly walked towards them, her black dress with its gold tone trim and the black satin choker with the Lucian crest around her ivory throat making her look far to ethereal as he continued to stare onward at her.

"Whose she Noct?" Cari questioned.

"My mother…..at least….I think she is…." The woman smiled as she came closer.

"Of course I'm your mother silly, why wouldn't I be?" she asked.

"Because….my mom's dead…" he stated this while he took a hesitant step back.

"Noctis, you sweet naïve dear: this is your world, and in here, I never died. I have been with you this entire time," she told him.

"I don't know…" Cari frowned.

"Why did you show up now?" she inquired.

"Because, I was waiting for you here: in this beautiful Kingdom by the sea." The woman stopped in front of Noctis and crouched down to his eye-level before a gentle smile graced her pale-pink lips.

"Noctis…." Cari wanted to warn her master; however, another part of her desired for this to be genuine and didn't wish to cause him in duress if that were the case.

"I missed you so much my little star…." The boy before the woman felt tears burn his eyes as he hesitantly put his arms around her, letting the woman hug him back.

"I missed you too….mom…." the woman brushed her fingers through his hair gently, her embrace warm and welcoming like it always had been as he smiled slightly into her pale hair.

"Oh dear, look at you….you're a mess. Covered in blood and dirt….once we're near some water I'll wash you up," she said as she stood and gently took his hand while Cari trotted along beside him.

"Okay….um…" Cari nodded a bit and Queen Aulea looked to her.

"You must be the Carbuncle totem I got for Noctis when he was a baby to protect him from bad dreams…" the Carbuncle looked to her.

"Yes, I'm Cari," she stated.

"It's so good to meet you Cari. I'm happy that you've gotten him through these dreams this far. Would you like to stay with us for a bit?" Cari tilted her ears back.

"I'm staying forever: Noctis is my Master now. We have a vow between one another that was forged when he gave me my name….it's unbreakable," she explained to Queen Aulea.

"Oh….well, I don't see a problem with that. The more the merrier…" Cari pinned her ears back at the tone she used that sounded highly unenthused, and that did not go unnoticed by her Master; however, he seemed as though he was electing to ignore it for now.

Just as promised, the moment they were near the water, Queen Aulea set to cleaning the blood off of Noctis's face, arms, and legs while Cari sat patiently beside him, watching the area on completely guard as she listened to the peaceful conversation between mother and child. Nonetheless, a distinct part of Cari's intellect and senses told her something about the entire ordeal was off, and whether that was the area they were in, or if it was Queen Aulea herself: she wasn't quite sure. For now though, Cari was content to be with her Master as he spent just a few moments longer with his mother while they walked the streets of the unknown city.

It seemed as though hours, upon hours had passed, while the trio traipsed about the city, looking through the windows, by streets and towering statues of what Queen Aulea described as the Tide-Mother. Noctis took in the information as they continued their walk, exploring the city as the rain continued to fall and the waves of the water tossed and turned. While they continued onward though, Noctis found himself beginning to gain a bit of a headache, his mind telling him that he needed to rest even though his body felt no exhaustion.

Midnight-blue eyes looked around the area, and spotted something a bit odd in a window of a place that seemed like a museum of some sorts. Cari tilted her head as Noctis slowly walked forward, looking at the sight of a beautiful white gown with off-shoulder sleeves that draped over the hands with a golden necklace that bore a crescent moon upon it. Next to the gown was a photo of a beautiful young woman with a warm smile, lavender-blue eyes, and fair blonde hair that was done up into an elegant, high-ponytail with a braided piece going across the top of her hair like a headband.

She wore a white dress, and upon her fair throat was an erudite silver chain with two stars and a crescent moon while delicate earrings with stars upon them were in her ears. Noctis rose an eyebrow as he looked onward at the picture as Cari and Queen Aulea walked towards him, and in just a few seconds of them reaching him, tears slid down his face that he tried to profusely wipe away despite them returning at full force.

"Noctis?" Cari asked in concern.

"I'm sorry, I don't know why I…." Queen Aulea put her arms around him from behind.

"Sometimes, things strike us in strange ways. Maybe this woman reminds you of someone?" she inquired.

"I don't know….maybe…." midnight-blue eyes glanced towards the window and instantly, he froze. Standing behind him was a strange shadow where his mother should have been which caused him to tense once again as he considered what it could be as she let go and grabbed his hand with a soothing smile and Cari followed while he walked away.

"It'll be fine….let's go and see one of the best views of the city: the Tide-Mother's statue. You can see the Risveglio Speranza from there," she stated. Noctis rose an eyebrow.

"Risveglio Speranza?" she smiled.

"It's a grand chapel. Absolutely beautiful and worth seeing," Queen Aulea stated in a matter-of-fact tone to the nine-year-old.

"Really?" she nodded as Cari quirked an ear to the side.

"You seem to know a lot about this town," she said.

"True, I come here often because it was where Noctis was born. It holds a dear place in my heart…."

They walked up the steps all the way to the top of the plateau where the giant, iron work statue of the Tide-Mother stood while Noctis looked up to it and then was lead to the edge of the overlook where a remarkable view of the city awaited them as the rain eased momentarily while the three of them continued to look out at the vast city, it's towering walls of waterfalls, the beautiful waterways, the architecture, and the scent of ocean air caught the young boy's senses as he stared onward as his mother, and Cari stood by him while he took in the sight. As he did though, a gentle hand was placed to his hand and Cari laid one of her ears flat as Noctis felt arms wrap around him in a comforting embrace once again.

It was a strange situation, being in an unnamed city with his mother once more, taking in the sights of the city as he tried to contemplate why he had come there in the first place while the warmth of his mother's embrace seemed to wash away the coolness of the rain. His eyes slowly started to close as he listened to the wave's crash, the rain patter across the cobblestone, and the faint heartbeats of his mother and himself. Cari curled up against his leg, purring as she did so while the content feeling washed over the three of them the entire time they stood there in the silence of this lost city with nothing but the sea surrounding them. As the peace continued though, a nagging sensation came to his mind and then moments later, a dark sensation came over him and thunder bellowed from above as lightening clashed in the skies. Midnight-blue eyes looked up as silver-white hair slid over his shoulder.

"Noctis….are you happy here?" she asked.

"I….guess…" discomfort unfurled within him as he was turned to face his mother.

"Then, why not stay here with me?" deep-blue eyes looked to black ones.

"Stay here?" he felt ill suddenly.

"Yes, stay with me….in this lost Kingdom surrounded by the sea: forever," she said in a calm, sweet tone. Cari's tail puffed out as her ears laid back while a snarl came from her.

"Noct…" the boy looked to her.

"But I….can't stay," he said.

"Why not? It would be so easy to forget that dreadful waking world and stay wrapped up in the silken embrace of eternal slumber, right here beside me Noctis…" fear began to claim his thoughts.

"Something isn't right…."

"Noctis…we should go," stated Cari. Instantly a snarl left the woman who stood before Noctis.

"No! You should leave you filthy rat!" the woman kicked at Cari, causing her to hiss and her fur to stand on end as she pinned her ears back and glared at her.

"Stop! Cari's my friend! Don't treat her that way…." The woman narrowed her eyes.

"Noctis, listen to me when I tell you to stay in this world with me: you'll be happier here. You don't have to go back to that dreadful place, or where that terrible man is that claims to act like your father," she said. Instantly midnight-blue eyes narrowed.

"Dreadful place? Terrible man? The Citadel is our home, and that man is my father, your beloved husband, and our King…." She stepped back.

"Noctis? Little star?" the boy felt a snarl come to his features.

"Who are you? You're not my mother! You've been trying to lull me in deeper to keep me from realizing that you aren't who you say you are!" he snapped as Cari jumped to stand between him and the woman.

"Noct, I…" he tightened his hand into a fist.

"You're that thing that's been hunting me and Cari through the Dreamscape, aren't you?" the woman looked down, her black eyes turning circular and her sleek silver hair going black and matted down into an almost oily fashion as she screeched and swung at him, her delicate hands turning into spindly, needle-like objects while her face contorted into a disgusting form that suited something from a nightmare while her body conformed into an almost insect-looking appearance while her clothes tore and tattered, the choker dropping to the ground as Cari snarled at her and Noctis reached down to grab it, looking at the Lucian Crest before turning his gaze to the monster before them.

"What…." Noctis was cut off by Cari.

"It's just as I thought…." He started to step away from the railing as Cari grew bigger and started to back away while the beast turned her distorted face to them, her gaze landing on them.

"Buttons?" Cari nodded.

"It's a Beldam, a hag that devours the souls of children. She's been sent to trap you here Noctis….that's why she took on the guise of your mother…to lure you into accepting her offer to stay forever," she explained.

"Silence! You wretched vermin! I should have thrown you into the ocean the moment you arrived! Evil little creature…." Noctis narrowed his eyes as he came to crouch next to Cari.

"We need to find that crystal and kill this hag…" he muttered as he gripped the choker with the crest on it.

"Crystal?! Hahahaha~ you won't be getting that crystal to open the door here: I have already destroyed that pathetic excuse for a key." The psychotic, and sinister laughter and smile that came from and remained upon the Beldam's face caused Noctis to feel ill as he looked onward at the monster.

"Don't worry Noct, we'll figure it out…." Cari said.

"No you won't…I'll be ending your pitiful existences long before you figure out how to open that door, dear Noctis…" the boy trembled a bit next to the Carbuncle, but not out of fear: it was anger that coursed through him.

"You used my mother's face….her voice….everything about her was stolen by you! I'll kill you for that you revolting monster! Do you hear me?! You're going to die here!" he snarled as the Airstep blade materialized in his grasp and Cari crouched, prepared to attack.

"Then come and kill me, kill your poor, helpless mother," she said. The boy stood straight and braced himself before lunging forward.

"You aren't my mother! And she was never poor, nor weak, or helpless! Don't you dare say those things about her!"

Noctis swiped at the Beldam who did her best to strike him back, occasionally scratching his arm or cheek with the ends of her needle-like fingers as she raced forward, striking in fast motions at him while he did his best to dodge the attacks as Cari jumped in, swiping at the Beldam with her tail as she knocked her back and covered Noctis who looked to her and nodded as they raced after the monster together, striking together while the Beldam screamed and howled at each attack that was sent her way.

Noctis wasn't as skilled at swordplay as Marshal Leonis or Gladiolus, he wasn't as thorough in his attacks as Ignis was right then, and he most certainly didn't match his father's might or capabilities right now: but he wasn't going to surrender. The monster before him and deceived him, played with his heart that was still so tender from the loss of his mother, and he would never take such a thing lying down. No matter how taxing this fight might have become, Noctis had no desire to surrender or back away from the battle until the Beldam was punished for her crimes and with Cari at his side he knew they would ultimately succeed if they worked together.

A sharp sting went through his side as the Beldam attacked again and struck his ribs, causing a sharp cut to be placed there while he dodged her attack by accident, the slick stone ground making his movements a bit sloppy as he tried to get better footing as the monster grinned in a sickly fashion and jumped on top of him, stabbing him in the side once again almost as he rolled just in time and was thrown into a wall for his troubles. Instantly, a gleam of red light surrounded him and he looked over to Cari as the ruby-crystal circlet formed about his head and he pushed himself up using his sword.

"You will die here you foolish little brat!" she snarled as he tasted copper in his mouth and narrowed his eyes while Cari backed in closer towards him. A deep breath leaving him as she glanced to see his eyes darkening to a deep amber-red tone.

"No, I won't…."

"Yes, you will….because my Master requires your corpse so that he may continue with his plans," she stated. A glare came to Cari's face as Noctis stood up straight and took in a deep breath, swallowing hard.

"You won't claim me!" Noctis's tone grew bold and sharp, the tone he had heard his father use so many times before when making his point as a King and now, he drew off of it in front of the monster.

"We shall see child. How will you escape without the crystal?" she probed. Dark eyes looked from side to side as Noctis thought and slowly an answer came to mind.

"Noctis, trust your heart….it will guide you to the light, and down the right path." The nine-year-old placed his hand to his chest and Cari looked to him.

"Noct?" he nodded.

"I have it, Cari….please back me up," he asked as she turned her gaze back to the Beldam.

"I'll always have your back Noct, promise."

{…..}

If you face the fear that keeps you frozen chase the sky into the ocean...

{….}

Author's Note: It was a bit of a strange chapter, but I give questionnaire points to anyone who can tell me where the Beldam came from. I'm sure someone out there knows! If you can answer, I'll let you ask a question pertaining to the Final Fantasy XV stories!

Have a great day or night, wherever you are!

Sincerely,

ShadowDragon94.