He came out of the crystal a confused and achy man. Honestly, he was surprised his hair wasn't longer, wait… his hair was long at all? He had randomly scratched his head before, but now brought both hands up. Yes, his hair was certainly longer now, and the facial hair probably made him look like a scraggly bear. Plus moving hurt, it felt as if his limbs hadn't been used in ages.
The sound of his phone going off with Prompto's ringtone startled him, he nearly jumped out of his skin. Well, it seemed his phone still worked, but he was sure from the length of his hair that he'd been gone long enough for the damned thing to die for good.
He pulled the phone from his pocket and clicked on the message. He stared for a long time at the date sent verses the date received. How the fuck was that even possible? The text was from six years ago. And even that was four years after any date he could remember. Fuck.
He opened the message and read it several times, only glancing up from it with a horrified expression when Umbra barked at him. "Umbra, wha-?"
He bent down and pet the dog, giving him a hug before Umbra insisted they move. He followed him to a boat, and drove it back to the land barely discernible in the distance. Everything was so dark, the sun gone seemingly forever. This was all his fault! If only he'd been stronger! Been able to resist Ardyn's hallucinations and not lost Prompto in the first place. Maybe then they wouldn't have fallen apart like it seemed they had.
Landing in Galdin Quay he pulled his phone back out and texted Prompto back.
[ChocoboKing: I really hope you didn't off yourself with your birthday gift Prompto. I bought those so you could protect yourself while I wasn't around.
[ChocoboKing: I… I'm sorry. I should have been there for you. This should have never happened.
[ChocoboKing: I love you too you know. Another reason why the marriage with Luna felt so forced. I'm so sorry Prompto.