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Chapter 41: Pocket

The conversation was paused briefly when Elena awoke. Ignis provided her with supplements to regain a little strength while asking a million medical questions. Prompto fussed over Elena like a worried mother, only to be held in a headlock by Matias as Hale lectured him in giving Elena some breathing space.

Noctis was yet again, lost in his worried thoughts, despite being relieved that Elena was all right after her ordeal. What had him baffled was the possibility that you were now a shapeshifter under his command. He hated the idea completely and refused to think that any moment he shared with you was bound by such a thing. All he wanted, was for you to be back with the group, with him, to spend the rest of your days happy - once the chaos was over.

"Noct?" Elena's voice echoed softly.

Noctis looked over to see Elena's exhausted eyes brimming with fear. "Yeah?"

"You found Oneechan right?" Elena's question confused Noctis.

"Found her? What do you mean?" Noctis didn't know what gave Elena such an impression.

"When you used her staff and summoned my parents, I saw her beside you,"

"You sure you're feeling all right?" Matias asked, pressing a hand on her forehead while pressing his other hand on his own to compare.

"I'm fine. Thanks to Ignis and Prompto, my fever has gone down," Elena mumbled.

"What do you mean you saw (Your Name)?" Noctis asked, "Did you perhaps mistake your mother for her?"

Elena shook her head. "I definitely saw Oneechan. She was standing right next to you,"

"We were right there with Noct and we didn't see or feel any presence Elena," Noctis was very much on Gladio's side on this one. The entire group was standing behind Noctis when he used your staff, so they would have definitely seen you, even as a silhouette.

"Elena. Are you sure?" Prompto asked, placing his hand gently on Elena's shoulder. "I can't say much because I was on the ground at the time. But judging from everyone else's expressions, (Your Name) wasn't there,"

"Perhaps we can discuss this at a later time. I fear if we stay here any longer, we'll have some unwanted visitors," Ignis suggested.

"Elena. Transform into anything that can fit in a pocket," Hale's instructions made Elena frown.

"Why?"

"Your fever may have gone down. That doesn't mean your strength has returned," Hale replied, "To hell are we going to let you engage in battle," Elena grumbled in disagreement, only for her eyes to widen.

"Do me a favor Noct?" Elena prompted.

"Huh? What?"

"Reach into your left inside pocket," Noctis' eyes narrowed. He was certain Elena did not know he had a pocket inside his long jacket. He looked to Ignis who was also quite surprised.

"Okay?" Noctis reached in and froze staring at Elena who looked hopeful.

Noctis had only ever kept two things in this particular pocket.

One was a family photo when he was just days old. It was the only photo he has of his mother with him in the photo. She had passed away when he was still an infant.

The other was the charm that Eduardo had given you in Malamlam Thicket. You had given it to him back in Altissia to keep safe for you. Noctis never got a proper explanation of the significance of the charm but he could tell it was of high importance.

"What exactly are you expecting me to pull..." Noctis stopped after his hand felt something soft. He grasped it and immediately froze when his fingers wrapped around something similar to a stick but softer. He pulled it out and like the rest of the group, his eyes grew wide with his jaw slightly agape. In his hand was a small Sampaguita flower that looked like it just bloomed. Noctis could feel his eyes water slightly missing you more than ever. Why was only Elena able to see you? He felt almost cheated.

Before anyone could utter another word the Sampaguita began glowing a familiar white light. Everyone watched as it burst into a few white orbs, coincidentally the same number as the people in the room. One orb floated to each of the group members. The first to receive one was Elena, whose eyes were brimming with tears. The white orb floated just above her outstretched hand for a few seconds before landing on her palm and fading. As for the rest, the white orb landed in different places: Matias, Hale and Gladio's landed in their foreheads, while Ignis and Prompto's landed on their hands like Elena. Noctis looked around and saw that his was still lazily floating around him, as if waiting for the rest to be received.

"Woah!" Prompto looked more alive than before. "That felt..."

"Amazing!" Matias finished with a grin.

Noctis looked to everyone around him, noticing they looked less exhausted. Relief washed over him as the group relished in being healed. Did you put that in my pocket (Your Name)? Noctis looked to the white orb floating around him, seeing it do a few loop-de-loops before floating straight for him, landing gently on his bottom lip, making him chuckle and piquing the curiosity of the rest.

"One of those huh?" Noctis said quietly as he felt warmth engulf and refresh his body.

An image of you laughing popped into his mind. Your hair was down and framing your face. Your clothes were as white as a Sampaguita and draped around your figure flawlessly. It was a different outfit to the usual - a chiffon sleeveless dress that cinched your waist but wrapped around your hips beautifully like a cocoon and stopped just above your knees.

"Be patient. It's not long now My King,"

Your words echoed as you spoke in those split seconds but it was enough to assure Noctis he would be indeed seeing you again. You were sitting down on the floor with your legs to the side. Noctis was apparently behind you as you had turned your head back to speak with him. When you turned to face forward again, Noctis noticed you were staring up at a design of a flower in the wall. It puzzled him as he stared up at it more closely, feeling he had seen the design somewhere before.

"Noct?" Prompto called. "You okay buddy?"

Noctis sighed, closing his eyes again, hoping he could see the image again quickly. He knew he had seen it somewhere.

"You saw Oneechan didn't you," Elena observed.

"I did," Noctis replied.

"How is she?" Elena asked.

"She looks fine. It doesn't look like she's injured anymore," Noctis replied, feeling the relief that took over the rest.

"Something else on your mind Noct?" Ignis asked, his eyes narrowing in concern.

"Just something I'm curious about. I saw a flower design on the wall of the room I saw (Your Name) in. I know I've seen it somewhere,"

"You shouldn't dwell on it," Hale suggested. "We need to progress in this maze,"

"Yeah," Noctis sighed, pushing his curiosity aside and focusing on the task at hand.

Just wait for me (Your Name). I will see you again. I promise.