Chapter V -Dark Clouds -Part II
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“First Titan, now Ramuh.” Gladio said once the company started for the first Runestone “Chasing down deities is hard work.”
“Think how Lady Lunafreya must feel.” Prompto thought out loud in answer to his friend.
“If the strain of the rites is as Gentiana suggested, I fear she’s far worse off than we are.” Ignis said, looking back at Six, making sure her sickness was not holding her back.
She nodded her head at him, readjusting her hood and blessing him with a smile.
Walking a little further down the road, the company was startled by one of Gladio’s infamous sneezes. Six, being the one to stand closer to him was the first one to turn towards him “We should get outta the rain.” She laughed at how he startled her, ruffling his hair as he scrunched his nose.
“We should be getting close.” Noctis said, looking back at them.
“We should have gotten a chocobo ride.” Prompto thought out loud, moving to walk closer to them.
“With this kind of rain?” Six smiled back at him.
“The little cuties would probably feel sick.” Prompto pouted at the idea.
“Talking of sick,” Gladio wondered, turning his attention to his lady and wrapping a hand around her waist “Are you feeling any better?”
“I’m fine, love. Don’t worry about me.” She gave him a warm smile as he kissed her forehead.
“You don’t have a fever, so that’s a good sign.”
“We should hurry up and get out of this blasted weather anyway.” Ignis instructed.
“Over there.” Noctis said, pointing at a path behind a couple of Niflheim drop-ships.
“What do we do about the MTs?” Prompto asked, summoning his gun.
“We could go around them.” Noctis suggested.
“Or we could take them down. It’s not that many of them.” Six argued, not liking the fact that Noctis would prefer to go around than hone his skills.
“Six,” Noctis sighed “you’re sick. We’re going around before we get hurt.”
“Noct…” Six was about to scold him for using her sickness as a means to flee the fight but sighed as she was sure there was going to be another chance soon “Fine.”
The company sneaked away from the unaware MTs, getting closer to what seemed like a tree trunk –or a frozen lightning, Prompto and Noctis kept bickering about what each of them saw.
“You’re supposed to touch it,” Six said with a sigh, eyes darting between the boys “not guess what it is. It’s a rune stone.”
“Right.” Noctis laughed at how annoyed she seemed to be. It reminded him of all the times she would say something similar when he and Prompto would get into a fight like this one. Each of them not changing their mind as to what was happening; and Six getting in the middle of it like a referee –or a mother. Someone they could both use.
Noctis moved closer to the rune stone and extended his hand towards it. Sparks of lighting filled the space between them, making their way to the tips of his fingers while a sense of energy run though his body.
Suddenly, Noctis was back in Tenebrae again. He had fallen asleep, looking at the pictures of Luna’s book.
Six was there, as always. She was talking with another woman. Noctis thought she was really pretty. Her long black hair, just a little shorter than Six’s, pale skin and rose cheeks. Her eyes were closed. Why were her eyes closed when she spoke with someone?
“I know what I must do, Gentiana.” Noctis heard Six say to the lady. Gentiana. Beautiful name. “I just wish he will be ready as well, when time comes. And that I will be able to let him go.”
Six’s voice got lower as Noctis opened up his eyes. Looking at the two women and gasping as Gentiana turned her attention to him.
“Ah, the young prince is recovering well.” She told him, eyes still closed, making Noctis turn to Six with a questioning look.
She just nodded at him and his attention was back to the impressive lady as she got up from her seat “Who…?”
“Gentiana, a Messenger.” She answered before the question left his lips “The prince has read of our kind?”
Blue eyes back at his friend while she pointed at the Cosmogony book in his hands “Oh,” he said once he understood “I tried to, but I only know what Luna and Six told me.”
“Hm, Lady Lunafreya.” Gentiana said with a soft smile.
“Yeah, Lunarffr…” Noctis stuttered, trying to pronounce the name just as Gentiana had just done and failing, making both the older ladies huff a smile at his try “Luna.”
“It is heartening to see the future King and the Oracle enjoy such familiarity.” The Messenger said, slightly turning her head towards Six, as she slowly rolled her eyes at her with a smirk “The fate of our world may depend on it.” Noctis remembered her say, before she opened her dark emerald eyes to take a look at him.
“I remember…” Noctis said, getting his bearings back “Back in Tenebrae with Gentiana…” he turned his attention to Six, he wanted to ask what she was talking with the Messenger about; her choice of words capturing his attention. He stopped when his eyes met hers. A certain look of wonder painted in her tired silver eyes.
“The revelation of the Stormsender awaits the King…” Gentiana’s voice was heard inside Noctis’ mind. “Hurry hence to the eye of the Storm. Foreign hordes fear the True King’s ascension. The fearful seek to seal the path of what must come.”
Six flinched in pain as Gentiana spoke to the dark haired Prince, “What’s wrong?” Prompto asked, catching her reaction.
“Slight pain.” She turned her attention at Noctis, who seemed to be experiencing the same thing “Noct? Another headache?”
“I hear her,” he said, making his way to her “Gentiana. Did you-”
“No,” Six answered, slightly offended that she only got to experience the aftermath of the Messenger’s voice but not her words “I can’t hear her. She must be speaking directly to you.”
“Divine voices in your heads again?” Gladio asked, worry embedded in his voice.
“Hopefully it won’t amount to the same headache it did with the Archean.” Ignis thought out loud, measuring his friends’ feelings.
As the company started for the second Runestone, Gentiana’s voice was heard once again, sending chills down the Prince’s spine, as well as his Glaive’s “The Oracle’s call awakens the gods… that their blessings find the King.”
“You alright?” Six asked Noctis, sharing his pain “What did she say?”
“That Luna’s awakening the Six.” He answered, looking back at her, trying to understand why she felt the pain but had no idea what Gentiana said to him.
“Hey, how come that lady’s helping you out anyway?” Prompto asked after a few minutes of walking in the rain.
“Gentiana?” Noctis wondered.
“Yeah. Is she like your fairy godmother or something?”
“I think she’s more a Messenger of the gods.” Noctis answered his friend’s curiosity “Whoa! So she’s human?” the blond turned his attention to the hooded Glaive, wishing she knew more.
“Don’t know.” She huffed a laugh “Ramuh was the one to explain it to me, once, but he’s not much of a talker.”
“You can speak with the Gods?” Ignis asked in awe.
“I did, once.” She smiled at how much of a child he seemed to be. His advisor’s certainty fading for a few seconds.
“The hell?” Gladio grunted as he moved his phone to his ear again, waiting for his sister to answer one more time “I can’t get a hold of her.”
“Iris?” his girlfriend asked, wonder in her voice.
“She call you?”
Six checked her phone to make sure “No messages.”
Gladio let out a sigh, pushing the end-call button and placing his phone in his back pocket, he was starting to worry.
“Hey,” Six touched his bicep, drawing his attention away from his thoughts, “She probably has it on silent.”
“Yeah.” The Shield agreed, intertwining his fingers with hers as they all made their way to the second Runestone.
As they reached it, Noctis heard the messenger’s words in his head “The covenant is forged, but the revelation awaits. Make now for the Stormsender and let judgment be passed.”
“Noct! You okay?” Gladio asked, feeling the light squeeze Six gave his hand as she had yet another headache.
“Yeah.” The Prince answered casually “Another reminder to receive the blessing.”
“That divine power’s just waiting for you.”
“Almost like Ramuh’s not feeling up to a good fight.” Six mocked the easiness of the trials.
“Do you really wish to mock the gods?” Ignis raised his eyebrows at her.
Six didn’t answer; just shrugged her shoulders with a playful smirk on her lips.
Noctis grew silent as he moved closer to the second Runestone, letting his eyes stay on Six’s face for a few clicks; when she nodded, he arched his hand, letting the power it held fly within him; Gentiana's voice filling his thoughts again once all power from the Runestone was his.
“O King. Journey to Fociaugh, the eastern hollow. The seal has been lifted. Deep within the heart of the rock lies the rune stone, the portal to power. No other can be allowed to find it.”
“Last one’s in the cave.” Noctis grunted, rubbing the exact same spot on his forehead as his Glaive was.
“Let’s hurry up and get this over with.” Gladio proposed, his worried eyes darting between the Glaive and the Price.
“Finally!” Prompto breathed in awe “Time to meet with the Stormsender!”
…
“Amazing.” Gladio thought out loud when the company finally seemed to be close enough to the cave they were looking for “The power of the gods in the palm of your hands.”
“Never dreamed I’d see lore come to life before my very eyes.” Ignis agreed.
“Leaving Insomnia was eye-opening, but this is mind-blowing.” Prompto joined in the conversation.
“You still have more to see, Prom.” Six smiled at the boy, her words painting a smile on his face at the possibilities of upcoming sceneries and adventures they promised.
Before Noctis managed to open up his mouth to join them, a lightning strike came down, connecting sky and earth just a few feet away from them, where the cave was supposed to be.
“That one was pretty close.” Gladio commented, placing his hand on Prompto’s shoulder to calm him down as the sound the lightning caused made him jump up in fear.
“Which means we must be as well.” Six continued his thought, looking as Noctis made his way forward.
“Look,” Gladio pointed at the rubbled entrance “over there. I bet that’s the spot the lightning struck.”
“And we’re supposed to go inside?” Prompto stuttered a bit before he swallowed his fear away.
“Fociaugh Hollow.” Six whispered as she reminisced the last time she was there. Back then, there was no opening in front of the cave.
Ramuh was watching! She could feel it.
“No telling what waits inside.” Ignis said, fixing his hair now that the heavy rain didn’t weight it down.
“No.” Six agreed, taking her hood off and using her fire magic to help all four of them with their wet clothes “So keep your eyes open.”
“Stay sharp.” Gladio instructed Noctis as he moved on ahead.
“Always.”
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this place.” Prompto moved faster to stand next to the Glaive and the Advisor as the Shield and the Prince moved forward.
“As if danger lurks ‘round every corner.” Ignis agreed, making sure he’s checked all around them for possible movement.
“Avoid all corners! Got it!”
“I’m not sure that’s what he meant, sunshine.” Six laughed at the kid’s answer.
“Over here,” Noctis called back at the rest as he felt around the rock walls “there’s an opening in the walls.”
“Should be able to slip through.” Gladio commented when everyone was in place.
“Let’s see.”
Noctis went first, followed by Prompto as Six instructed before slipping through behind them. In order of height and size, they all moved through the cracks, leaving the Shield to pass through last.
“Tight squeeze.” Gladio grunted when he felt the cold rock against his buffed chest.
“Maybe for you, pretty easy for me, though.” Prompto answered, proud for his torso’s size; until he felt the walls around him tighten “On second thought…” he grunted as well “maybe not!”
“Stop whining you two. If my chest can fit, so can yours.” Six said, earning a low growl from the Shield and making Ignis scold them both.
“Not the time, children.”
“Sorry, Iggy.” The couple laughed.
“Shh. Keep quiet.” Ignis instructed once they were all out in open space. His eyes darting around the seemingly empty halls in front of them.
“It never ends!” Prompto comment on their surroundings and walking around dramatically, moving ahead to stand on the end of an opening that seemed deeper than it should be “Guys… wait! What was that sound?”
“My baby…” everyone was a little off after hearing that bone chilling whisper. The voice sounded to be coming from everywhere at once, given that it echoed around the empty chambers and openings of the cave.
And then, Prompto’s terrified scream and Six calling out to him while running off is all Noctis managed to comprehend before he found himself running right behind her.
The rooms and the halls were now filled with daemons. It was a trap. One they never saw coming.
The remaining four all run toward the sound of Prompto’s voice as they kept on killing anything that stood in their way.
“Prompto?” the dark haired prince called out to his friend.
“Prompto!” Gladio decided to test his own roaring voice “Are you okay?”
“No, I’m not okay!” Prompto yelled back at them “This place is literally the worst! And why did it have to be a snake!? That thing dragged me all the way over here!”
“Prom, just stay away from it! We’re on our way!” Six ordered him, summoning her sword and piercing it right between a Midlayer’s eyes.
Prompto’s scream was her answer as the daemon disappeared into a purple smoke.
“Prompto!”
“They just keep coming!” Noctis warped next to her, saving her from a Hobgoblin’s punch.
“Then we keep sending them back!” Gladio answered, taking it down once and for all.
After a while of fighting, it was Prompto, who’d found them first, shooting down all four remaining Imps with his gun, before reloading.
The company just stood there, looking at him out of breath. He took them down with a smile on his face after getting away from whatever was holding him.
“I’ve seen worse.” Six smiled up at him, letting her sword dematerialize as she caught her breath and moved closer to him.
“Do you mean it?” Prompto’s eyes widened as she checked him from cuts or bruises “I mean, do you? Mean it?” he cleared his throat, eyes still wide, awaiting her response.
“I’m glad you’re alright, kiddo.” Six chuckled, ruffling his hair before turning back to the others.
“She’s here.” Prompto felt a chill down his spine “I just know it. Show yourself already!”
“Cool it!” Gladio gave him a light shove, before turning around at the unsettling sound.
That when the Snake daemon appeared. Naga! She appeared as if from the water of the cave, placing herself between everyone and Gladio. Cornering him against a wall and breathing green smoke down on him.
“See! I told you! There she is! That’s her!”
“Gladio!” Six run to her boyfriend’s side, only to find a small green frog in his place “What?”
Her eyes turned red instantly, Naga grabbing all her attention as she stood there, asking for… her baby?
“Baby?” she thought out loud, eyes turning silver again as Ignis took Gladio’s frog body and placed it in his pocket “We don’t know where your baby is.” She answered the daemon “Turn him back and we can help!”
Naga’s features turned darker once the words left Six’s lips “LIAR!” the snake roared “YOU took him!”
And just like that, she attacked! Using her lower body to send everyone flying.
Gladio fell from Ignis’ pocket and right on Six’s feet. She picked him up and brought her closer to her face “Just hang on.” She whispered to him.
“You could kiss him and bring him back.” Prompto threw an idea toward the Glaive as he shot Naga in the face.
“I’m not gonna do than in the middle of a battle, TAKE HER DOWN!” Six ordered, placing Gladio down and charging toward the snake “Avoid the green smoke!”
Naga might have seemed strong, but the fight was over pretty quick, all it took was a blizzard spell from Ignis and Noctis’ sword to bring her down, but even then, she kept on asking for her baby.
What on earth could she mean?
The thought left all their minds once Gladio hopped back into his original body, standing on his own two feet again.
“See, he’s alright.” Six huffed a laugh as a shiver run down Gladio’s spine.
“That…” he said “Was horrific!”
“Yes, let’s not let anything similar happen again.” Ignis agreed, dematerializing his daggers and fixing his glasses on the bridge of his nose.
“Noct, another one out!” Prompto cheered proudly.
“Yeah, nice one, Prince.” Six agreed as the dark haired boy tried to hide his blushing cheeks with a casual “Thanks.”
“Let’s go find that final Runestone, yeah?” she asked and they all agreed. Moving towards the entrance of the chamber Naga was standing in front of; coming across the Stone right away.
Just like the other two, the company could see and feel the energy emerging from inside it. Calling the Chosen toward it.
“That’s the last Runestone.” Ignis said in awe once they moved close enough to it.
“Finally.” Prompto and Six shared the same thought.
When Noctis touched the last stone, he saw her. Luna, forging the covenant with the Astral, Ramuh.
Once his hand touched the stone, Six’s eyes turned a bright red, taking everyone by surprise as she seemingly didn’t know. She kept staring at Prince Noctis, and soon, the red started fading away. When the blessing was received, they understood. As the Chosen opened up his eyes the power flying within him could be shown, his eyes had changed.
The Trial of Ramuh had been finished.
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