Chapter 18: Create

{Fenestala Manor: June 18th 2002, 8:50am}

"Come on Noctis, you're doing fine," Lunafreya stated as Noctis started walking just a bit down the hallway alone, using the wall as a means to support himself.

"This is a little….hard…" he stumbled a bit before taking in a deep breath.

"You'll be fine. I'm right here with you," she said in assurance as he nodded and continued to walk towards her.

Noctis had been working on moving by himself for the last few days, and while he was improving, the fact that he was still using medication and needed help moving about meant that he wasn't well enough just yet. Taking in a deep breath, the Lucian Prince straightened himself out and continued to walk forward, moving himself along the wall in a steady pace as he kept his gaze upon Lunafreya. The girl had stayed with him from the beginning, and having that support made him feel nothing short of courage as he went through these struggles of gaining proper function on his legs and managing to eventually get into his training regime again.

"I never thought I'd be looking forward to training with Marshal Leonis, and Gladiolus again….I've missed Ignis though…and Iris…Coraline must have left by now…"

His thoughts remained with those back in Lucis momentarily before a hand grasped his free one, startling Noctis a bit as he looked to the girl before him. Lunafreya smiled, placing a hand upon his shoulder to steady him as she assured him of his accomplishment. The hallway that he had been left to walk alone was quite long, but Luna had placed him in the middle of it, making it easier for him to move down to where she was, and where they both now stood. Lunafreya smiled to him once more as she helped him back to the wheel chair before pushing him down the hall as she considered what they would be doing for the day. Noctis was looking forward to seeing the rest of the forest trails where Lunafreya said that a few of woodland sprites resided.

They went out of the door and past the main gardens, returning to the forest where Lunafreya was hoping to show Noctis the beautiful pond and small waterfall where she had seen some of the tiniest woodland sprites dancing across the water and fixing up the flowers that grew there. Noctis had told her the other night under the stars that he had seen a few of the sprites in the gardens of the Citadel on occasion, messing with the plants and helping the grow. Coraline, one of his only friends from school had spoken to them and built a small house with them out of twigs and stones and put it under the juniper tree on the west part of the garden they had constructed. She had heard about how different it was and that one day they could see it.

"I was wondering…you made a mentioning of one of the constellations last night….do you know anything about the stars?" Luna asked the black-haired boy this as they continued down the trail.

"I kind of do. I got into cosmology about a year and a half ago….I've only been studying and charting the stars so far…" the girl smiled.

"Do you know about the Six?" she questioned.

"Oh, um….kind of….my mom prayed a lot but I'm not sure which one is the one she prayed to the most…" Lunafreya smiled.

"The House of Fleuret has always been prone to pray to Bahamut, the Draconian. He is the one who chose a pious maiden and bestowed to her his trident of which to request guidance from the stars," she stated. Noctis glanced towards her.

"Your mother's the Oracle, right?" she nodded.

"And one day, I too will become the Oracle of Eos," Luna explained as he looked back to the trail ahead.

"But, you're the Princess, aren't you?" she nodded.

"Yes, and my mother is the current Queen. One day, I will be someone's Queen while Ravus will remain as King of Tenebrae…mother and father are already preparing him a bride from the minor Kingdom to the north east of us. Her name is Princess Viola Olivae di Loviani, she's from Gretcia. You've heard of it right?" the boy nodded.

"It's a very small Kingdom to the north east of Tenebrae, and the south east of Lucis. The closest major Kingdom is the Nifilheim Empire which leaves it alone because it has no great power save for the bloodline of alchemists but most people don't account alchemists anymore. Even though the Lucian Kingdom uses it with the Kingsglaive…" the boy looked down a bit, sighing as he did so.

"Kingsglaive? Oh, right…they're the soldiers on the border of the wall surrounding Insomnia," she stated.

"Yea….I met three members of the Kingsglaive once….they were really nice….I fell into a rose bush and needed to be patched up a bit, so they did and I walked with them to the audience chamber to apologize for holding them up….that was the first time that my father yelled at me…" Noctis looked down as Lunafreya paused in the trail, placing her arms about his shoulders as she did, resting her head against his.

"You're such a good person….I think I'm always going to like being by you Noct," she muttered as he reached up and grasped her hand.

"Thanks, Luna…" the boy smiled.

"Any time Noctis. Now, shall we head on?" he nodded.

{Waterfalls: 10:15am}

The area open to them was a beautiful meadow next to a medium sized waterfall with a slightly broad stream in it. Noctis stared onward to the area as Luna stopped pushing the wheelchair and he glanced to her as she stepped forward and grasped his hand. Noctis pushed himself up, and slowly moved towards Luna, walking alongside her until they were in the middle of the meadow and they took a seat upon the ground. Lunafreya looked at the wild Sylleblossoms that grew in the meadow and hung near the stream where a few woodland sprites hopped along the rocks as they watched them. Noctis took in the beautiful place, shaded by the trees and sighed as he leaned back against the lush green grass and the sharp midnight-blue flowers, closing his eyes and taking in the sweet scent that surrounded him alongside the sound of running water. Lunafreya smiled, moving a bit closer, her pale blue dress dragging across the ground as she settled next to him and watched as he seemed to fall asleep.

As they remained in the silence, Luna could only find herself staring at the boy lying on the ground beside her. He was so different from anyone she had ever known, and while that should have caused her to have a slight uncertainty with him: she couldn't bring herself to do so. Noctis was shy, and stubborn, meek, but stronger, and so many other things. Everything about Noctis made her wish to learn more, make her inhibitions greater, and her will to make a difference stronger. He encouraged her, enthralled her, and so many other things as just a mere child. Lunafreya smiled a bit to herself as she brushed her hair behind her ear and looked towards the boy once more, taking in his peaceful form.

When he slept, he seemed peaceful, as though the world they lived in and all its troubles melted away from him; as if the trials of one day becoming King of Lucis never bothered him. The boy hummed a bit, his nose crinkling just a bit in a cute manner before he relaxed again, falling into a deep sleep as she shook her head and smiled before reaching out to begin playing with his hair, running her fingers through silken raven locks as she continued to think about the things that her brother told her. If Noctis was supposed to become her husband in the future, then she couldn't find it in herself to be concerned.

"I'll be fine so long as you're with me, Noctis….my dear Noctis…." She looked at the boy once more, clearing her throat a bit as she reached out to caress his cheek while the sun continued on through the sky and a smile reached her features once more.

Deus dormit….

Et liberi ignem faciunt….

Numquam extiguunt….

Ne expergisci possit…

"Luna?" lavender-blue eyes turned to midnight-blue.

"Yes? Noctis?" the boy smiled a bit.

"You've got a pretty voice…." He muttered a bit in a slightly tired tone while she smiled, coming closer until she was rested at his head where he glanced up at her as she grasped his shoulders, pushing him up a bit as he gave her a confused expression.

"Sit up for just a second…" a moment later, she was settled better and beckoned him to lay back down, causing his head to be rested in her lap. Deep blue eyes looked into her own and she smiled.

"Is this….okay?" she nodded, brushing his bangs from his eyes.

"You're so silly sometimes…close your eyes….I'll sing to you," she said. Dark blue eyes closed and she reached forward, grasping his hand in hers.

"M'Kay…" she giggled just a bit.

Omnia dividit….

Tragedia aram…

Amandum quae….

Et nocte perpetua…

Luna sang her song, the words echoing around them as she watched the young Prince slowly fall asleep, her voice lulling him as she watched him until finally she heard a faint chirp and looked to see Cari settled next to Noctis, watching over him and her before she returned to her song.

E hem desperationem…

Pavor omnivore potest…

Manes tempus expergiscendi…

"Luna?" the blonde-haired Princess looked to him.

"Yes?" she asked.

"That's pretty….it's a lament, right?" he slightly cracked open an eye and she smiled to him.

"Sort of…I called it Somnus," she said.

"That fits it…did you write it?" she nodded.

"I did…I play piano…what about you?" the boy took in a steady breath, at peace with the silence for now.

"Yea…violin too, but…I just don't mess with it enough…" Luna giggled slightly, looking at the boy.

"Then you should play for me one day. I'd like that a lot," she stated.

"I will, just tell me when…" the Princess of Tenebrae nodded.

"Thank you, Noctis…" she smiled down to him and he returned it, causing Cari to chirp as he kept his gaze upon the Princess.

"Are you gonna kiss her?" Luna shot a glance towards Cari who yelped as Noctis rose an eyebrow as he sat up.

"What?" the blonde frowned, but carried a humorous twinkle in her lavender gaze.

"Cari asked if you were going to kiss me," she said as the boy inched a bit back.

"I-I….what?" the boy started to stutter, blushing as Cari chirped again.

"You should kiss her, you like her….don't you Noct?" the two looked at the Carbuncle in both amusement and annoyance.

"Cari! You little pest," Noctis stated as she squeaked.

"Not my fault that you can't admit you like someone." Cari's words came out loud and clear, causing the boy to stare onward in questioning.

"You just talked out in the open…." The Carbuncle nodded as she looked at Lunafreya.

"Princess Lunafreya has the bloodline of the Oracles…meaning that she can commune with the spirit world…because of that, she can see and speak to me too. Isn't that good?" Cari seemed to smile and Noctis sighed, hanging his head a bit.

"It's good to meet you properly Cari. I hope you'll take good care of Noctis when I'm not present," Luna stated.

"Of course! He's my friend and my Master….I'll always watch out for him, until the end of the road and beyond…" Luna smiled to her, reaching out before petting her fur gently while Noctis watched them interact.

"Hey, Luna?" lavender eyes looked to him.

"Yes? Noctis?" she asked.

"Will you please come back to Lucis with me?" she smiled.

"I thought we already stated that I was going back with you to see Insomnia," she said.

"No, I mean….can you stay with me?" Lunafreya smiled and moved towards him before pulling him into an embrace, causing him to tense a bit before looking to her slightly while the scent of wild flowers and citrus came to his senses.

"Noctis, you've become so dear to me. You're my dearest friend…." He slowly wrapped his arms around her waist, finding himself at peace as long as she held onto him.

"I care about you to Luna…." She smiled, placing her hand in his hair before closing her eyes.

"So I'd be happy to come with you….but just in case something happens to where I can't see you for a long time…just so long as you're in my heart, everything will be alright," she said as he smiled slightly while Cari chirped, causing the two children to look to her as she sniffed.

"I'm gonna cry….the future King of Lucis and the Oracle of Eos being so close. This shows such a bright future for Eos….I know it!" Cari sniffled again, using her tail to brush her nose a bit as her ears twitched.

"You're too sweet Cari. Come here," Luna said as she held out her hand and soon the Carbuncle was between the two of them as Noctis laughed a bit while the two looked at the area around them.

"When it comes time, we'll leave here together. Okay?" Luna nodded at Noctis's words, seeing an incredible, strong, and beautifully warm light in his eyes that seemed to radiate from his very being. She returned his smile and couldn't help but feel relief at the notion that someone so kind and warm was going to become the King of Lucis, and one day, thanks to the information from Ravus, she would become his wife and that gave her a great peace of mind.

{Fenestala Manor: June 24th 2002, 10:00am}

It had been roughly two weeks since Noctis and King Regis had arrived in Tenebrae, and during that time frame, Lunafreya and Noctis had grown closer. Becoming constant companions of one another which had not gone unnoticed by Queen Sylva, King Acheron, or King Regis. The three rulers found themselves remarkably relieved at the fact that the two of them would one day become husband and wife and would have such a remarkable friendship to build off of. Queen Sylva had been healing Noctis of any blight that could have come from the Mirilith, and had seen a remarkable improvement in the nine-year-old as time went on as Lunafreya made sure he took his medicine and helped him move around and monitored his recovery as well. Everything about the boy from the first day of his arrival to now had changed to such a point that he was recovering far quicker than any had first believed he would.

Today though, Lunafreya was in the study that was nearest to the garden, sitting at a piano slightly playing as she worked on writing down a few notes and lyrics, finding herself enraptured in the process that always made her feel better as she considered her memories of the last two weeks and tried to draw off of them. Noctis's smile, his warmth, his scent, compassion, and humor alongside his sharp, but bright midnight-blue eyes, pale skin, and the sound of his voice and laughter. Everything about him for some reason inspired her as she continued on her task of trying to write a song. The girl sighed, feeling almost defeated as a few randomized words were written down from their conversation that she wanted desperately to draw off of, but couldn't. lying next to her on the bench, was her red notebook, rested with a page open that held a picture of her and Noctis sitting in the field near the garden watching the sunset which had become a nightly routine for them.

"Luna? Are you in here?" Noctis's voice called to her and she turned towards the door.

"I'm in here, hold on. I'll…" the door opened and she paused.

The boy was standing by the door, by himself without holding onto the wall for support. Lunafreya stared onward at the boy as he walked into the room, letting the door shut by itself as he continued to walk closer towards her until he had reached out steadily before grasping her hand as he smiled at the Princess of Tenebrae who felt tears rush to her eyes. Taking in a deep breath, the girl moved forward, wrapping her arms around him before she laughed, hot tears slipping down her face relief flooded her. Lunafreya had hoped since they had started working together that the boy standing before her would get stronger and eventually be able to stand on his own again; seeing it now gave her such a great relief that she couldn't even speak while the boy returned her embrace, gentling petting her hair as she laughed just a fraction.

"You did it! Noct…." Lavender eyes looked to midnight-blue ones as the boy returned her a smile.

"Luna, thank you for helping me out. I'm still not strong enough to do this for long periods, but I've gotten stronger because you were here, so thanks," he said with a bright smile as she shook her head.

"You can be so silly….sometimes you act like your age and sometimes you act older….but that's fine….you're just you, that's what matters Noct." She hugged him again as he looked at the notebook with the picture of them as he hugged her back once again.

"What's the notebook for?" Luna smiled as she looked at him.

"I wanted to give it to you. We'll fill it up with our memories and messages to one another for when we're away from one another. Cari can send it to me and back to you when needs be," she told him.

"That's a great idea! That way we're never going to be apart from each other. No matter what, I can always know you're alright." She nodded.

"Exactly, this way, I can always speak to you when I can't see you," Luna said as she hugged him tighter, being careful of his tender sides.

"Good…"

Unbeknownst to the two children, their parents watched their interaction with smiles upon their faces as they felt that nothing could possibly break their peaceful time. The three rulers left the doorway when Luna dragged Noctis to the piano and sat down with him while Cari settled on the ground on a cushion, curled up in the sunlight in slumber. For now, everything was fine, everyone was safe and their lives were peaceful.

{…}

Caught in all, the stars are hiding….

{….}

Author's Note: We're almost done with the Tenebrae Arc so soon we'll be seeing some things from the Brotherhood anime – which is quite good – and we'll be getting onto the main stuff that lines up with the Kingsglaive movie.

Now, a bilingual bonus:

Somnus – Sleep. This is also the main theme for Insomnia. At some point I will be putting in the English translation.

Have a good day or night!

Sincerely,

ShadowDragon94.