Chapter 13: Taciturn Ruby

{Dreamscape: Final Stage….}

Noctis and Cari continued their walk through the hallway, preparing themselves for whatever could be awaiting them at the end of it. The light grew brighter, stronger, and warm as they stepped through it finally and out to what appeared to be the front gates of the palace. Midnight-blue eyes looked around in questioning as Noctis took in the sight of the lush, ornate red carpet that was spread out down the stairs and out the drive way of the main entrance. It looked almost as if the Citadel was preparing to welcome guests; however, there was something else missing in the midst of all the ease that came from finally being back in Insomnia: there was no one there. Cari looked around, sniffing at the air as she considered what they were dealing with, curious and confused as Noctis was at the state of the city and all of its silence.

"Where is everyone?" Cari asked.

"I don't know…." She chirped.

"Is this Insomnia?" she questioned as Noctis nodded.

"Yea, this is the front entrance of the Citadel…" Cari pinned her ears back.

"Noct…I know this is your home and everything…but….something feels off," she stated as the boy slowly walked forward while she started down the stairwell.

"I know what you mean….this is weird….the city is never this quiet…"

Growing up in the heart of the Crown City, Noctis knew how loud the city could get – despite it being rather peaceful – and while he didn't mind it one bit right then: it also crossed him as ominous. Something about the entire ordeal felt off to him. Noctis glanced to Cari who twitched her ears this way and that, listening to the stillness and trying to find any signs of life as she did so while the boy near her mere continued to try and pinpoint why he had such a negative feeling from his home.

In the recent months, the Citadel had felt a bit more like a prison than an actual home; however, it never changed the fact that he always loved exploring the halls, walking through the gardens, talking with the servants, spending time with Ignis when he was teaching him how to cook, sew, and the medical training he had been enduring. Noctis even loved training with Marshal Leonis and learning about the stars from one of his tutors, and of course, he enjoyed spending time with Iris when he had the chance and even enjoyed teaching her about the stars. Everything about this place still felt like home to him, but now it felt cold, dead, and unnatural.

"Something's wrong….but what?"

Cari started coming down further from the top of the stairs alongside Noctis and just as she turned a painful, grating noise echoed throughout the area alongside a sharp roar that sounded terrifyingly deep and heavy. Midnight-blue eyes turned to see an enormous monster arise from a pool of black, liquid shadows and not far from it three more also rose, causing the two of them to stop where they were as Cari braced herself and in a matter of seconds, they were face to face with the Daemons. The giants appeared to be made of iron, which caused the ground to shake and rumble as they stepped towards them and the lead one rose it's gigantic black blade into the air and Cari jumped up, instantly, Noctis was bracing for an impact but it never came as the Daemon swatted Cari out of the way, knocking her into one of the pillars nearby.

"NO!"

Deep blue stared onward at the ugly face of the Daemon as it roared and he ran as it brought the blade down where he had been seconds before. Noctis tripped on the stairs as he ran towards Cari and he rolled down them before crawling his way further down as he turned his gaze momentarily towards the Daemons that had started their steady, and large strides towards them. Pale hands marred with scrapes, dirt smudges, and blood stains grabbed Cari who looked to him as he picked her up and started running again, trying to avoid the monsters as he began racing back up the stairs, preparing himself for an attack on something he feared he could not win against. Cari chirped, looking at him as he turned his gaze to her before looking back at the Daemons that stalked up the staircase in a slow, but ground-shaking pace. The Carbuncle flipped out of Noctis's grasp, a flush of ruby light forming around her body as she brushed her tail out, gouged out her claws, bared her teeth, and pinned her ears back while looking at the Daemons. Noctis felt his heart skip a beat while a knot formed within his stomach, fear unfurling within him.

"Cari, we can't beat these things!" he said.

"No, we can Noct….just trust me and yourself to do this…." He shook his head.

"Look at these things! Their huge….Cari….please, I'm scared! I don't want to lose you!" he begged. Cari growled at the Daemon before she took in a steady breath.

"I'll protect you Noctis! Even in your darkest dreams…."

Cari stood her ground as one of the Daemons swung it's sword at her and then seconds later she flipped and landed, larger than she had been before with nine-tails unfurled behind her and ruby shackles around her legs as she roared at the Daemons, challenging them as Noctis stared onward at Cari in shock as she charged the monsters for a moment and went to trying to strike them down. Noctis braced himself, trying to avoid the attacks as best he could while fear continued to rush through his veins despite his best efforts. Cari swiped one of the Iron Giants in the head and two of them slammed her into the ground, one holding her by the throat as she yelped in pain and Noctis's attempt to avoid the main fight ended as Cari was thrown across the way, instantly raising her head weakly as blood ran from the corner of her mouth and from a wound on her side.

The four Iron Giants started towards her and Noctis took in a deep breath as he rushed out towards Cari, dodging the Daemons as he slid across the ground while Cari looked to him, wounded more than she thought she would be in this battle. As she looked at the boy crouched by her, Cari was granted the distinct feeling that Noctis had been right: they couldn't win this fight. In all of their little trials, it had been a singular enemy or obstacle they had to face; however, here, it was four, massive, hulking, fierce, and dangerous Iron Giant Daemons that Cari should have known Noctis wasn't ready to battle. The boy beside her shook in fear of the Daemons that came towards them, both of them knowing that he wouldn't stand a chance against them alone as Cari shrunk back down and limped her way to the boy who pulled her into his arms, tucking her against him as he narrowed his gaze upon the towering monsters.

"N-Noct…." He shook his head.

"I'm right here Cari," he said.

"G-Go to the exit gate….y-you can…e-escape…." He looked to her and then turned his gaze back to the Daemons.

"No, I'm not leaving you behind no matter what. Cari, I promised you that we'd go together….wherever you go, I go too am I clear?" he questioned. Cari looked to him with tears welling in her eyes as she slowly nodded her head, curling up against him.

"Okay…but…." He took in a deep breath, remaining where he was as the leading Giant came towards them and raised its sword.

"No matter what happens, I won't run away: I'm not afraid!"

In that instant a blue-silver gleam covered their forms and the Daemon's sword lowered, causing Cari to close her eyes as she feared the worst before a sharp clang caught her attention and she made a noise of fright as the Daemons roared and the sudden sense of vertigo came over her as she felt something moving them and a thump go on before she opened her eyes. They were at the front steps of the palace, the Iron Giants started to turn towards them and Cari chirped, confused as she tried to figure out what had happened to move them so suddenly. At first she thought that perhaps Noctis had used that strange warping ability that he had pulled while they were on the table top; however, she recalled that he had no control over it and knew nothing about it despite what she had hoped. Now though, Cari was getting the sense that something was different as she looked at the Daemons once more.

"We're okay Cari. I won't let anything happen to you."

The voice that spoke was deeper, with a slight coarseness to it while also remaining remarkably gentle and slightly mischievous. Cari turned her gaze upwards and felt her eyes widen as she looked at the person holding her. The person in question, was a young man of around sixteen years of age or so, his skin was pale, almost an ivory tone, his hair was messily cut and his bangs a bit long, he had a calm smirk upon his pale pink lips that slightly showed his teeth as he looked to her fully from the Daemons and again, Cari felt a nostalgic sense before realization dawned on her as she recognized the scent of this person, and more importantly: his midnight-blue eyes.

"Noct? Is that you?" the person nodded.

"Yea, I don't know what happened….but I'm gonna use it to my fullest advantage…"

A slightly menacing smirk appeared upon the teenager's handsome features. Cari chirped a bit as Noctis settled her down upon the ground and stood, showing Cari that he was rather tall – but not greatly so – and wearing different attire that consisted of half-cut black pants, black mid-calf, lace up boots, a dark gray t-shirt with black skull motifs on it with a long, short-sleeved over jacket with metal plating across the left breast pocket and a skull and cross-bones design on his left sleeve while on his right hand was a mid-arm fingerless glove with two straps. The teenager clasped his hand and the Airstep blade appeared in his grasp while Cari looked to the Daemons.

"Noct…can you do it?" she asked. The boy nodded with another smirk as he locked his gaze upon the Daemons.

"I'm going to take these bastards out…watch my back…okay Cari?" the Carbuncle nodded and looked towards her Master.

"He's strong….incredibly strong…." She glanced him over once more and then looked at the Daemons.

"Cari, just keep an eye out and when you feel it's required, cast Ruby-Light….okay?" she nodded.

"Got it..."

"Good, let's dance you rust-buckets…"

Noctis posed his sword forward and in a matter of seconds, he vanished in a series of blue particles before reappearing before one of the Iron Giants as he struck it directly over the head, slicing it deeply across the face as he smirked and cut a flip over the top of it before he turned, slamming the blade down its back as he landed and cartwheeled away, landing in a crouch as he vanished and reappeared above the next one, slamming down upon it in a mid-air flip to the point that it nearly knocked one of the Daemons over before he slid back, taking in a deep breath as he rushed the third one, striking it's legs as he rolled across the ground and went to stand as one of the Iron Giants formed a large red orb in its hand, causing gravity to reverse and for Noctis and Cari to be dragged towards it until Noctis was batted across the way, flipping as he did until he landed with a glare within his eyes, blood running down the corner of his mouth as he bared his teeth, displaying sharpened canines that caused Cari to stare wide-eyed while his eyes turned a sharp red as another sword appeared in his grasp before he vanished and leapt into the air.

Noctis angled his body into a spin in the air before nailing the Iron Giant with the two blades directly into the back of its neck, taking it down as he did so and crushing in its skin, causing blood to gush forward, splashing him as he landed in a crouch and Cari flipped into the air, causing the ruby-crystal circlet to appear around Noctis's head. The sixteen-year-old smirked and vanished again, landing high above the remaining three Daemons as he hung from his sword, looking them over momentarily as he considered what they were facing.

"Okay, one down….three to go….hmm….let's see…"

"Noct! Can you take the one on the left? I have an idea!" the voice that came into his mind he instantly recognized as Cari's and nodded.

"I'm all ears," he said.

"You still have the earring I gave you when we first met….I'll send you some magic, show me what you've got and blast these tin-cans back to hell!" Noctis smirked again.

"I like your thinking Cari….okay, send it on," he told her as he felt a rush of cold, warmth, and an electric buzz flow through him as Cari cut a flip and was consumed by the colors of blue, orange, and yellow before she landed on the ground.

"Take 'em down Noct!"

"With pleasure…' Noctis stated as he warped down from the top and brought the blades down again, but as soon as he hit the ground he curled his fingers and reared his fist back, preparing to throw something.

"How about a real buzz killer!" the magic he threw was a large shock of lightening that zapped through the Daemons, weakening them as he warped once more and laughed just a bit as he tore clean through another one as Ruby Light healed the abrasions he received from it while he landed on the other side of the fountain that seconds later was shattered by the falling corpse of the second Iron Giant.

"You did it!" Cari cheered as Noctis turned, grasping the two swords firmly as he looked towards the final two Daemons.

"Two more!" he warped again and Cari watched, enthralled in the sight.

Noctis was quite the sight at this age, Cari could admit that – how he had managed to call on his future self's powers and form she wasn't sure, but right now, it didn't matter – and it didn't have to deal with just the fact that he was older and clearly was going to grow into a rather handsome young man; no, it had more to do with his abilities and his grace. He moved fluidly, his speed swift and agile while his hits were strong, fierce, and rarely missed. He was a remarkable fighter, and worked with his own physical movements as if he was one with himself. Cari found the sight of her Master interesting only because this showed her that the little boy she had met would one day become a powerful, skilled, and intelligent warrior in addition to his personality having changed. Noctis was still sweet, gentle, and kind, but his behavior and characteristics had become incredibly sarcastic, mouthy, sharp-witted, and confident. There were traces of his child-like qualities, but the rest of him was mature, and almost a sultry, and silken darkness that reminded Cari of the night. He was indeed different from the meek boy she had met; however, she liked the behavior and his compassionate, yet fierce personality.

"He's fiery, confident, and strong….this is what I've been seeing in him since I met him….he'll make an amazing warrior and an even better King…"

"Cari! Dodge!" the Carbuncle leapt away, flipping over the attack before landing upon the ground next to Noctis who laughed in a spirited, yet snarky manner as he looked at the two Iron Giants.

"Can we do it?" she asked. He nodded, laughing a bit as he did so.

"You bet, these guys are weaker now that they don't have their back-up…let's knock'em dead Cari…" she chirped.

"With pleasure, I got your back Noct," she stated.

"Good, just stay alert…we'll be out of here soon…"

Noctis warped once more, taking out the third Iron Giant in a matter of moments before turning towards the final one as he dodged the strikes and leapt up onto the top of the Daemon's sword before he summoned the two swords of his own and jumped forward, striking down the final Giant as it came crashing to the ground and he slid across the ground before coming to a complete stop in front of Cari who looked to him with a happy chirp before leaping into his arms as he pet her fur down, scratching her ears with a smile upon his face.

As the sun got higher into the sky, Noctis finally set Cari down, taking in a deep breath as the Daemons bodies dissolved and he looked towards the water that had begun to flood the street near them because of the fountain and the damage done to the water-ways near the gates. They sat there in silence as Noctis looked around and to the sky before turning his gaze down to the reflective surface of the water to momentarily stare at his own appearance in questioning while Cari chirped and looked at the water next to him.

"You look good, it suits you…the clothes and hair-cut I mean," Cari said with a look towards the boy who smiled a bit.

"So this is what I'll look like in a few years huh? It's kinda strange….but I'm glad I could do this…" he looked at his hands as Cari looked onward at the water and then to the end of the road and the gate nearby.

"It was impressive, your abilities," she stated.

"I guess so…..it felt weird, like part of me knew it was natural for me and yet another part of me wanted to panic because it was so new…" Cari chirped a bit as she looked him over again.

"Unfortunately for me…..the way you look now means I've got my work cut out for me," Cari said as she sighed, her tiny shoulders heaving.

"What's that supposed to mean?" midnight-blue eyes with a tiny ring of silver around the pupil that faded into that deep, beautiful dark blue looked to her, causing Cari to examine him once more.

"You're going to be a heartbreaker. Especially looking like you do….well, cute kids make beautiful adults I guess," she mentioned, sighing once more as the boy gave her a confused look.

"Cari…." She perked her ears up.

"What I mean is that I'm going to have to beat the girls off of you….with a stick…" she stated, drawing at the last syllable of the final word and causing her Master to give her a disgruntled expression.

"You're being over dramatic…" Cari chortled.

"Overdramatic? Oh no I'm not! You're just being too humble….you're quite attractive Noct….besides, you're still cute and awkwardly adorable," she teased.

"Imp!" she coughed.

"Takes one to know one," she explained as Noctis gave her a disgruntled expression again and growled as he pulled his knees up to his chest before resting his head on them.

"Hey…Cari?" the Carbuncle looked to the sixteen year old.

"Yea?" dark-blue eyes glanced to her.

"Thank you…..for helping me through this and deciding to come with me…." She shrugged.

"No problem…." He looked down at his reflection.

"It's more than that….Cari, you're my friend like I said….considering that I don't have many friends….I'm glad I met you here, and I'm glad that you're still by my side…" Cari smiled.

"I'm glad you feel that way, because I'm gonna be here for a long time," she stated.

"Good, because I….really trust you. It's thanks to you that the silence didn't claim me….that I'm going to wake up and continue on in my life and endure the hardships but also that I'm going to grow stronger and be able to make a difference in the lives of those around me…I can feel that already…" Cari moved a bit closer, nudging his thigh with her head.

"I'll have your back until the end of the road, okay Noct?" a smile graced the boy's features.

"Right back at cha Cari…." The Carbuncle looked at the water once again as they sat there in silence for just a moment longer, preparing to head into the waking world and what would await them there.

"Should we get going?" she inquired as he nodded and reached down to pick her up before standing as he looked to Cari as she scampered up to his shoulders.

"Yea, let's go home…"

The two of them walked through the water and down the path way before stopping short as a familiar sight reached the sixteen-year-old as they made it to the end of the gate and pushed it open, the light flooding in as they looked at the empty city and at the very bottom of the stairs, was a black car that Noctis instantly recognized as the Regalia, his father's car. Cari chirped once more as the boy raced down the staircase and she leaped down from his shoulders and then towards the car as Noctis looked to her. They were finally at the end of their journey and as Noctis looked back at the gates of the Citadel he felt a moment of nostalgia and the sense of this moment being ingrained deep into his memories as he opened the door of the car and scooped Cari up once again before entering the car with one last look at the castle as the door shut behind him and Cari, and he leaned back against the seat with Cari in his lap, the two of them slowly dozing off.

"Remember, I am always with you…Noctis…"

{Insomnia: Citadel: June 4th 2002, 10:00am}

"He still hasn't woken up?" asked Gladiolus as Ignis looked onward from a distance at the sleeping form of the boy while King Regis remained where he was while Clarus and Marshal Leonis stayed close by as well. Today, Iris had come with them so that she could put some fresh flowers in a vase for Noctis, stating that it would make him feel better. She had gone over with her and Gladiolus's father to do this, and now was looking at the sleeping boy while King Regis looked down in solemnity, concern overtaking him further and further while Gladiolus looked at the scene before glancing to Ignis.

"We don't know if he ever will Gladio….that's what I don't think you get…" the teenager frowned.

"Noct, please….wake up…." Muttered Iris.

"Don't worry Iris, he'll be fine…."

Clarus wished deeply that his words could be completely accounted for; however, he knew better at this point in the situation. Noctis had been in a deep coma for two weeks now, and had shown no signs of wake up again. The boy remained silent, his breathing shallow, and his entire form remained still. Taking in a deep breath, Clarus grabbed his daughter's hand and the two of them left while King Regis remained silent, not even looking as Marshal Leonis too left and the five people began to leave.

However, just as they did they heard a rustle of fabric and paused as a faint wince was heard and the King stood, shooting to his feet as they turned their gaze back towards the man only to see the child lying on the bed turning his head to look towards King Regis who had tears in his eyes as he grabbed the boy's hand once again, drawing his attention as they rushed back towards him and the boy flinched a bit, blinking as he looked around the room before locking his gaze with his father's. King Regis swiftly pulled the boy up into his arms as he curled up towards him, his body feeling heavy and weak, but only a very slight amount of pain as he gently clutched the front of his father's clothes and the others stared onward in relief of the sight.

"Prince Noctis!" stated Iris in joy as she came a bit closer and King Regis smiled, putting his hand to the back of the boy's head.

"Thank the Gods…" Marshal Leonis caught the boy's attention as he looked to him momentarily.

"You gave us quite the scare Noct. It's good to see you awake," Ignis said as the others looked on in relief at the sight.

"Hmm…" the boy merely leaned against his father.

"Gladiolus, get the doctor! He needs to know that Noctis is awake," stated Clarus as he turned his gaze towards the Prince who blinked a few times tiredly before the King tightened his grip on the child in his arms lightly as he found relief flooding through him while tears finally came.

"Noctis, I'm so happy that you're safe….I was terrified that you would never wake up. Thank the Gods, you're okay,' King Regis said as he cupped the boy's face, staring into his tired and jaded eyes.

"M…" Clarus looked to the King who once more had concern on his face.

"Is he alright?" Clarus nodded.

"He hasn't been able to speak for two weeks. Once he gets moving around, he'll be fine," he assured the King who looked at his son.

"Don't worry Noctis, you'll be fine…no need to strain yourself, take your time." The boy nodded slowly.

"Mhmm…" the King once again embraced the child who merely curled up against him, feeling relief in him as he realized that he was finally in the world of the waking and down at the foot of his bed, was Cari, curled up sleeping soundly.

{…..}

Sometimes the past can, make the ground beneath you feel like quicksand….

{…..}

Author's Note: Whew, we're finally out of the Dreamscape, so I can assume all of you know what is coming next. This will show you guys a lot of how the events of the Dreamscape will shape Noctis's personality in the future. Hope you guys have a wonderful day and night!

Sincerely,

ShadowDragon94.