Chapter 2: Unita

"Promise you'll visit Tenebrae, Noctis."

...

"...Okay, you can open your eyes now, Noctis." Stella's voice said.

Noctis did so and looked around his surroundings. The area around him, Stella, Locke, Vivi and Erik is no longer the flower field, but a technological-designed dome. He watched as green rings ascend from the base of the dome to the top. Erik cracked his neck. "Well, mission complete." He said nonchalantly. Noctis watches Erik dig into his right pocket and bring out a pack of cigarettes.

"Shallost, there is a nine-year old here." Stella reminded.

"Right. I'll take my smokes outside the Teleportation Zone." With that, Erik departed from the group. Noctis shook his head. "What's his deal..." he mutters.

"U-um..." Vivi twiddled his little fingers.

"Come on, we should go and inform Yuki, then Queen Hilda." Locke said, leading the group out of the dome. Stepping out, Noctis found similar domes that matched the one he was at just now, seeing that they are in a building. He watched people enter and leave the domes, but what surprised him a lot is that most of them... aren't humans like him, Stella, Locke and Erik. They were... creatures. Some bestial, some avian, some draconic... Stella put a hand on his shoulder when she caught sight of his surprise.

"Don't be afraid; they won't harm you." She assured him. Noctis sighed in relief. Locke chuckled. "If Erik stayed with us, he'd comment that the ones more primitive won't and if you anger them." He commented. Noctis groaned at that comment.

They continued on and left the building, stepping out and seeing a large metropolis surrounding them. The skies above them shone with a brilliant starry night sky with a bright moon. Noctis could feel the chilling wind touch his exposed skin. He took a look at Stella, then at Locke and Vivi.

"At least some night is a break from that glaring sun I was under for hours..." Noctis breathed a sigh of relief.

"There you are. I kind of expected you guys to be later than expected."

A boy, which Noctis noted is a few years younger than him, approached them. He had dark blue hair unkempt at the front with bangs covering his right eye. He has blue eyes and is slightly shorter than Noctis and Locke. The boy is dressed in a white button shirt, a black jacket parted open, black pants and black shoes. The boy had a black bow tie loosely, an MP3 player with a neck strap and headphones that are able to be clipped onto his jacket.

"Mr. Yuki!" Vivi said.

"I saw Shallost pass by with a smoke earlier. He told me everything." Yuki said. He looked at Nocits. "...So, you must be Noctis Xer. I am..." Yuki suddenly yawned. He covers his mouth for a while before he put his hand down. "...Makoto Yuki. I'm part of the Foundation. The Foundation is... what you could say as a defence force. We fight against the Dulled, a formidable race which poses as a threat to our worlds. I guess you could all most of us..." Another yawn. "...warriors of light. It doesn't sound too bad."

"Can I ask what is a Crystal Power?" Noctis questioned.

"A Crystal Power..." Makoto yawned. "...is hidden power which dwells within many individuals. We have the potential to fend off the Dulled. Just so you know... my Crystal Power is Light, the power of Judgment... Shallost is..." One yawn. "...The power of Ignorance, Earth."

"My Crystal Power is Wind, the power of Commitment." Locke told Noctis.

"I-I'm Nature, the power of, um, Harmony..." Vivi shyly said.

"In rare cases, there are individuals bearing two Crystal Powers." Stella walked forward. "I am one of them. My Crystal Powers are Light, and Fire, the power of Love."

"Vivi said that my... Crystal Powers... are Lightning... and Darkness..." Noctis said.

"Hmm... Interesting... the power of Honor and the power of Fear." Makoto sounded intrigued. He let out a yawn. Vivi turned to him. "Mr. Yuki, you should get some sleep... It's not very safe around this time..." Vivi suggested. Makoto turned to him. "Yes, you're right... And I'm sure Noctis needs some sleep too."

"Huh? But I-" Noctis felt himself yawn and rubbed his eyes. He was getting sleepy...

"Looks like you're still adjusting." Stella said. She turned to Makoto. "We'll bring him to our condominiums. Once Noctis gets enough rest, we shall bring him to Queen Hilda." She told him. Makoto nodded. "Alright... just don't fall asleep while getting there." Makoto bid them farewell, walking away. Stella turned to Locke and Vivi. "Start up the car, please." She told them. They nodded and walked off.

Stella then turned to Noctis. "...Where are you from? Any city or so?" she asked with a smile. Noctis opened his mouth to speak, but stopped. He... couldn't remember anything else right now other than his name. What was his home? "I... don't remember..." Stella's smile faded.

"Oh, I see... You don't remember your home." Stella said. "...Don't worry. We will help find your home, Noctis. It's the least we can do for you." Noctis was about to open his mouth when a car stops by the side. The car is a regular five-seater. It had black all over it, and it's windscreen blocked the view of the car's contents. Stella opened the back seat door. "After you, Noctis." She offered.

"Isn't it supposed to be 'Ladies first' or something?" Noctis scratched his head. Stella giggled. "Good point." She entered the car first before Noctis followed her. He heard a gasp of surprise from Stella. He first looked at the front passenger seat. It was Locke taking the seat.

"I thought you'd be driving the car." Noctis said.

"Too bad I lost."

"Then who's-" Noctis turned to the driver seat, seeing a tan pointy hat. Vivi's feet kicked around in the air as he struggled to see in front of the car. "D-Don't worry... I'll drive safely." Vivi's voice trembled in an attempt to reassure his passengers. Locke appeared worried. Stella appeared shocked. Noctis didn't know what to feel as he saw Vivi's feet reach for the pedals.

...

Locke yawned loudly as the car stopped in front of the condominiums. If he had taken the wheel, they would be here in ten minutes. Instead, because Vivi was the driver, it took forty-five minutes to get here. And the car moved very slowly that frankly, a snail could overtake it. Noctis had already fallen asleep, resting his head on the window. Stella looked at him. "Well... someone has to take him to their room."

"Not me." Locke said. "I'll park the car, and besides... My bed's for only one. And I'm sure neither of us want to sleep on a couch." Stella nodded. "Same here. My bed is for only one..." They both turn to Vivi, who gulped. "M-Me?" He asked.

"Of course." Locke said. "You are a bit small, and he can fit in your bed. Besides, your bed can fit two people."

"Don't worry, Vivi: I'll help carry Noctis to your room." Stella assures the black mage. Vivi tilted his head down in defeat. "...O-Okay..." He sighs. Stella helps to carry Noctis out of the car while Vivi went out and Locke went to the driver's seat. The woman and the black mage watched the car drive off from the entrance before they both head into the towering building themselves.

"Noctis..."

"...Hm...?"

When Noctis opened his eyes, he was no longer in the car. But instead, he was facing a large lake. There is a long pole with a string from the top in front of him. Looking down, Noctis deduced that he was holding a fishing rod in his hands. He turned to his right and found someone beside him. He is a man with brown hair combed neatly, with the hair in front spiking upwards. He wore a white long-sleeved dress shirt, gray trousers and around his waist, is a black suit top tied around it. He had blue eyes and wore a pair of glasses. He, too, had a fishing rod in his hands.

"Fishing is a nice way to relieve some stress, doesn't it, Noctis?" The bespectacled man said, turning to him. Noctis stared at him and then looked back at the lake. They are seated on a wooden pier, watching the lures floating on the water surface. "Yeah... I guess so...?" Noctis admitted that he felt a bit relaxed just sitting on a spot and breathing in fresh air. He watched the lure from the bespectacled man's rod suddenly sink in the water. At that, the bespectacled man began to pull the fishing rod towards him. Noctis watched the spectacled man pull the fishing rod calmly until he did a powerful pull, fishing something out of the water.

A smelt swung about, unable to escape with something stuck in its' mouth. The spectacled man brought the smelt close to him and freed the fish from the hook of the fishing rod. The spectacled man released the fish back into the lake. Noctis focused on him as he took a seat down and fitted bait onto the hook.

He didn't notice the few tugs he had been getting. The spectacled man turned to him, calling out to him. "Noctis, you caught something!" The bespectacled man shouts. Noctis looked back at his fishing rod, realizing his loss of focus and starts to pull against his catch. He was surprised with the fight that the caught fish is putting up against him. No... it was... really strong...! Noctis got up on his feet, pulling as the fish trashed about. It emerges from the water, the bespectacled man widening his eyes in surprise.

"A walleye!" The bespectacled man exclaims as the fish plunges into the water again.

Noctis grunted, the fish is extremely strong. He saw the spectacled man stand beside him and held the rod as well. "On my signal, pull." The spectacled man tells Noctis. They watched the line go left and right repeatedly. "...Pull!" The bespectacled man shouts. He felt the man pull and Noctis did the same. They would be able to get that large fish...

...The line snapped.

Noctis and the man fell back on the pier, seeing a splash in the lake. The spectacled man lets out a sigh. "We failed to reel in the walleye..." The man said. Noctis turned to him, surprised to see that, despite the disappointment in the tone, that the man was smiling. "Next time, Noctis. You will reel in a walleye."

The spectacled man collects their fishing rods, bait bag, and a basket which Noctis notices that there are caught fishes in it. "Come along now, Noctis. The king's waiting for us to return with our catches."

Noctis looked at the spectacled man. Though he doesn't know anything about this guy... He felt comfortable. That this man was around... like he's a guide...

"Mr. Xer?"

A voice speaks out to Noctis just as the spectacled man turn back to him. "Right, err..." Noctis trails off.

"Mr. Xer..."

The spectacled man walked back to him. "Come on now... you know my name. It's..."

"Mr. Xer."

Noctis' eyes open as he felt a shake on his body. "You're finally awake, Mr. Xer..." It was Vivi's voice. Noctis turned his head to see the little boy. He isn't wearing the same attire Noctis last saw him. Vivi is dressed in a yellow t-shirt and white trousers with white socks. Noctis could now see more clearly that Vivi's skin is indeed black, looking at his gloveless hands now. He is still wearing his pointy hat... for a few seconds before Vivi summoned a staff and tapped it on his hat. His hat changes shape and what is left is a blue cap.

"Mr. Xer, we're going to the Foundation's Headquarters to have you be, um, properly introduced to Miss Hilda." Vivi told him. Noctis noticed that Vivi's hands were getting a bit close to his own face. "...Um... could you take a bath first...? You... really smell..." Vivi said. Noctis blinked and took a whiff on himself before reeling his head away. He really smells!

"Right." Noctis said. "I'll get cleaned up."

"I'll get you some clothes, Mr. Xer. I hope you like them." Vivi tells him.

"...Can you stop calling me 'Mr. Xer'? I may be many years older than you, but you can cut the formalities and just call me Noctis."

"Okay... Mr... Noctis..."

After his bath, Noctis walks out of the bathroom and finds a set of clothing on the yellow bed he had slept on, probably with Vivi, the night before. Noctis picks up the clothing, looking thoroughly and nodding. "The boy's got taste." Noctis commented before he proceeds to change in the clothing Vivi provided. After finishing, he looks at the mirror in the bedroom. He is now wearing an unzipped black jacket with skull-motif buttons and sequenced details on pockets, with a black motorcycle glovelet on his left hand. Underneath, he wears a steel gray shirt with skull prints and black cropped trousers and black socks. He walks outside and meets Vivi.

"Oh, um, Noctis. How... are the clothes?" Vivi asks shyly.

"They fit quite well, Vivi." Noctis replied.

"Oh, thank you, Noctis..." Vivi twiddled his fingers. "Um... We should get something to eat, Noctis."

Noctis and Vivi had breakfast in the dining room. Noctis made him and Vivi simple sandwiches. As they ate, Noctis had been staring at Vivi. He watched how Vivi just pressed the sandwich below his eyes... and pieces of the sandwich suddenly was absorbed into Vivi's face. As Vivi lowered his sandwich, Noctis watched how there was movement down there, like... he is chewing...

'O...kay...' Noctis thought. 'Not going to ask how it works just yet.'

After having their stomachs filled, Noctis headed out of Vivi's home with him. Noctis put on black boots with red soles and Vivi put on blue shoes. They enter one of the six elevators and Vivi stands in front of the elevator buttons. Before Noctis could reach and press one of the buttons, he blinked in surprise as the buttons slid down until they were in Vivi's reach. He pressed the '1' button and the elevator went down from '5' to '1'. Leaving the elevator, they meet up with Stella at the building lobby. She wore a white shirt and black pants with white high-heels.

"How is your night, Noctis?" Stella asked Noctis. Noctis scratched the back of his head. "It felt alright, I guess. I had a nice rest." He told her. Stella smiled. "I'm glad you are alright now. Now, Locke's waiting for us outside. He's ready to drive us to HQ."

The three met up with Locke at the entrance and he drove them to the Foundation's main building: the Headquarters or HQ for short. Locke wore a sleeveless white shirt, brown gloves, blue pants and brown boots. "Here we are." Locke parks the car at an outdoor parking lot. The group leave the car, Noctis taking in the sight of the building in front of him. This one, like the many others, had countless stories on first sight. Before they could enter the building, they were stopped by a pair of guards.

"Hold on, kupo. We have to scan you-oh, Miss Fleuret, kupo!" the guard inspecting Stella exclaimed.

Noctis looked at the two guards. They weren't humanoid. They are small, white-furred creatures with small limbs and small purplish bat-like wings on their back which are flapping and surprised Noctis that those petite wings could carry such a body. The creature's head is larger than their body and they have a large round pink nose with a pair of eyes appearing closed the entire time. They have tiny pointed ears and at the top of their head, there appeared to be a antenna with a pink ball of fur at the top.

"What are these... stuffed dolls?" Noctis asked, poking the other guard.

"K-Kupo!" the other guard felt offended. "I-I'm not a stuffed animal, kupo!"

"Come along, Noctis..." Stella walked behind Noctis and began pushing him towards the building. "Hey..." Noctis said while being pushed by Stella with Vivi and Locke behind them. Once inside, they entered the elevator in front of them. Stella hit the button labelled "T" above the other buttons that were labelled 'B' to '100'. The elevator moved more quickly than the ones in the condominium. After thirty seconds have passed, the elevator comes to a halt as the displayed showed "T" floor. The doors opened and Stella, Noctis and Locke head out first. Vivi walked out very slowly, trembling and avoiding sight of outside the building. Noctis took a look outside... and saw how many of the other buildings seemed like midgets compared to the HQ.

"Vivi, are you alright?" Noctis asked, noticing how slowly Vivi was catching up to them.

"I-I'm o-okay..." Vivi shook as he spoke.

"Vivi is scared of heights." Locke explained. "He's gradually learning how to combat heights, like we did back then in those mountains, but he always trembles at about this height."

"Well, I can see why..." Noctis took another look outside the building as Stella led him to meet Hilda. Stella stops in front of a door and knocks. "Stella Fleuret." She spoke. A click is heard and Stella opens the door. "Come on in." Stella tells Noctis as she headed into the room with Locke and Vivi following behind her. Noctis took notice of how the room appeared to be of medieval times. There are eight columns in the room, four set on each side. The floor is draped with red carpets and stone tiles. There is a large rectangular table with various parchments and a large chair behind it. There is a woman at the end of the room, writing on a detailed large paper spread on the wall.

"Queen Hilda, we're here." Stella speaks.

The woman turns around to meet her visitors. She has fair skin, blue eyes, and long blonde hair styled in two braids. She wore a long light blue and white dress with small blue triangles patterned throughout and a high slit on the side, a pair of blue sashes tied around her waist, and a blue cape attached to the dress with a brooch. She had an ornate blue headdress with long blue and white horns on both sides of her head, along with two pairs of smaller gold spikes closer to the top and a pair of blue sandals with bronze anklets.

"I see you have returned safely, Fleuret. And this must be... Noctis Xer. I've heard plenty about you from yesterday." Queen Hilda said. "...Pardon me. I am Hilda Fynn, the leader of the Foundation." She did a bow. "...The Foundation is the primary organization of Unita. Those who have Crystal Powers have the ability to face the Dulled, a plague focused on bringing the worlds into nothingness the Void."

"This is what the Foundation does. We combat against the Dulled to prevent their capture of worlds and dimensions. The Crystal Core's glow is weakening while the Dulled invade the worlds. And thus, we banish the Dulled from these worlds. We shall continue fighting for the hope of the worlds and dimensions." Queen Hilda said.

Noctis folded his arms, looking down. So, these Dulled are a threat to everyone's worlds, including his home, which he isn't able to recall? Noctis looked up. He couldn't stand by that and let those Dulled consume worlds.

"Let me join the Foundation. I know I can help." Noctis said.

"...I can never allow such a thing." Queen Hilda shook her head. "A youth like you shouldn't be involved in this war." Noctis rolled his eyes, walked away... and he returned pulling Vivi with him. He pointed to the little black mage. "You have a nine year-old boy fighting for you, and you are not allowing me to take part?"

"...You know little of battle. You would only be throwing your life away." Queen Hilda countered as Noctis lets go of Vivi. "...I would tell you to return to your home, but the situation had also affected your home."

"...I don't remember my home." Noctis told her. "Not even a bit of a trace of what it looked like, or who else lived there..."

"...Even so... Even if you have two Crystal Powers, I cannot permit you to join the Foundation. If you truly have nowhere else to go, you're welcome to stay here in Unita." Queen Hilda turns away. Noctis looked at her after her decision. He then shook his head and turned away, heading to the doors. "Noctis." Locke calls out, but Noctis ignores him. The door opens by someone else and Noctis passes by a man with white spiked hair before leaving. Stella sighed and she ushered Locke and Vivi to join Noctis. The trio head off to catch up with Noctis. Queen Hilda turned to the white-haired man. "Firion. What are your findings?"

"...Hilda, I have much to report." The white-haired man kneels first before getting up. "...In this world... there is..."