Now that Episode Ardyn is out, I feel more comfortable posting this. These next two chapters were actually written nearly a year ago before this upload. At that time, we could only speculate into Ardyn's past but now that we have confirmation of his history…I actually feel much better posting this where now I've shattered all of that :)

The Ballad of Ardyn Izunia: Act I

Noctis woke that morning to the growl of his stomach. He checked the clock and noted it was going on nearly ten. If Ignis was going to bring him breakfast, he would've done so by now. That meant the food was waiting in the private dining room set aside for only members of the royal family. The private dining room would enable him to wear whatever he so chose—such as his favorite black pajamas decorated with tiny skulls.

Only bothering with putting on slippers and half-heartedly running a hand through his wild hair, he shuffled down the hallway, into an elevator and out onto a floor that had a warm scent, something comforting such as baked bread. At the end of the hall were a set of tall doors and he threw open both grandly. "Hey Ignis! What's for—oh. H-hi there…"

There were already three people in the room. One indeed was Ignis, who was placing a plate at his spot at the table, as though telepathically knowing he was about to arrive. His father was also there, which is where Ignis moved over next to pour him coffee. And then there was…Noctis didn't know who this person was, but never had a guest been brought to this dining room before. Brunches, luncheons and dinners with heads of state were held much further below in the Citadel, often outside on a terrace if the weather permitted or in a room that'd been decorated with artistic care to the guests' home country. Noctis waited to be introduced.

He could already tell this wasn't good just by the way his father sat down his utensils.

"I have something very important to tell you, Noctis, and I need you to believe everything I'm about to say," Regis took in a deep breath. "You might want to have a seat first."

Noctis drifted numbly to his chair, which Ignis was back at and had pulled out for him. He sat down cautiously, glanced at his advisor over his shoulder, and upon the received shrug, he turned back to his father.

"It would seem…we're not alone," said Regis, speaking carefully as he searched for the right words.

"Dad…that's kinda what happens when you're in a room full of people," Noctis smiled. "Unless you mean something other-worldly. In which case, did someone spot Gentiana again?"

"Listen, Noctis! This is important," his father uncharacteristically snapped. "You and I are not the last Caelums. This man," he gestured to the guest, "Is part of our family. His name is Ardyn Lucis Caelum."

A glass shattered.

As all eyes turned to Ignis, the chamberlain apologized profusely and left to get cleaning supplies.

At last, Noctis turned his attention completely to the newcomer and the man smiled widely and waved a hand. "Hi-ho!" he chirped, gold eyes gleaming. "I actually go by Ardyn Izunia now."

Noctis figured he must've been younger than his father of fifty, unless his magenta hair was dyed. That was probable considering his facial stubble was black. He was certainly older than forty, so if Noctis had to guess—

"I'm over two-thousand years old," the stranger helpfully supplied with an even bigger grin.

Another glass shattered.

"I am so terribly sorry!" Ignis blushed, crouching down to pick up the larger of the glass pieces. A trick of the light shielded his eyes behind his glasses. "What's gotten into me?"

"Never to fear, I do happen to have that sort of effect on people," Ardyn waved him off jovially. Turning his intense gaze back to the prince, he leaned forward and asked, "Would you care to know everything? All of it? I certainly don't mind. I've been dying to tell my story."

Did he have a choice? Without looking, Noctis could see his father was only lightly picking at his food and Ignis most certainly wasn't picking up the shattered teacups with any urgency. Everyone was clearly waiting for this moment. "Sure, go ahead. This ought to be good." He picked up a slice of banana bread and nibbled.

Sitting back to cross long legs, Ardyn inquired, "So…where to begin?"

"Two thousand years ago?" Noctis suggested.

"Ah, that would be best. Bravo, my fair prince!" Ardyn cheered, bowing his thanks.

Noctis too blushed at how grandiose it was. The man both unsettled him and intrigued him and he didn't like feeling so conflicted.

"Indeed our story starts over two-thousand years ago…back when Lucis was young. And so was I."

~.~.~

Ardyn Caelum was born to act. He'd used the money from his parents' insurance upon their deaths to attend a liberal arts school all the way in Tenebrae. Left behind in Lucis was his little brother, Somnus, who continued to diligently tend to the family farm, his disapproval of his older brother no secret. Ardyn studied over three and a half years of theater before, right on the cusp of graduation, he quit. The act of quitting with the end so near was supposed to be art, he told his horrified brother after he returned home. The degree was a shackle, see? Having the degree was supposed to mean you'd made it, your acting was pre-approved. But to decline something that so many coveted, that was true artistry!

No, Somnus did not get it. Even as the gentler of the two, it was all he could do to not tear into his older brother.

But Ardyn was determined to prove he'd made the right decision. That summer, he began to travel around Lucis under the guise of a healer. With the mysterious illness ravaging the world, many flocked to any assistance offered and he was more than happy to oblige. After months abroad, he would return home where his brother would refuse to touch what he called "blood money". Ardyn saw it as no consequence as there wasn't a cure regardless. Might as well give that money to someone who would put it towards a better cause: in his case, the building of a town theater!

One summer evening, shortly before nightfall, Ardyn came back from a trip to find the house empty. He started with the kitchen first and it proved to be the right choice. A folded letter had been placed on top of the fireplace, which still had a few burning coals. The letter was short and only informed that Somnus had chosen to move to Solheim, asking to not be followed. The farm was now Ardyn's responsibility; may that finally tame his wild and sinful ways.

Ardyn dashed the paper against his palm and threw it on the coals. Curse his brother! Always the perfect, good little boy. He never would've guessed that his brother would flee like that.

Just like he had.

He shook his head. No. He'd done nothing wrong. He'd perfected himself overseas. What was there for a farm boy like Somnus across the Cygillian? Nothing, Ardyn decided, stepping out the back door to survey the fields in the dying light. His brother would find that there was nothing more to be found in Solheim than in Lucis and would soon come crawling back for the familiarity of home.

Standing in the midst of swaying wheat as dusk settled, he looked upon the seemingly endless acres of property. Those fields had been his first stage as he'd acted out the dramas he'd written himself, much to the delight of his brother. At some point though, Somnus had begun to turn his attention to reality while Ardyn remained firmly in the world of imagination. He allowed himself a moment of lament before making his decision.

He'd sell the farm! It was certainly worth a sizeable amount. And at long last, he'd have the money for his theater. In fact, he'd have enough for a second business venture; a school for the performing arts, something Lucis so desperately lacked. He could turn a profit in two ways. Maybe Somnus leaving was the best thing that could've happened.

And that's when the massive sword slammed into the ground in front of him. Missing by a mere five feet, it struck with a ringing crash that deafened him for nearly a minute afterwards and knocked him off his feet. He quickly scrambled backwards and when the dust had cleared, he bore witness to the strangest monstrosity ever seen by man.

It had the appearance of a dragon and stood well over a hundred stories tall on humanoid legs. It dressed in armor reminiscent of a knight with metallic golden wings. Long red ribbons flowed from the dark blue and gold suit. Ardyn didn't need to be told what this was; anyone would've guessed the same. One of the legendary Six had decided to bless him with an appearance.

About time!

The Astral held up a hand, though he first glanced at his palm before looking back at the human. "Are you…Somnus…Kai-ay-lum?" he sounded it out.

The voice was a deep garble, the language unintelligible to the ears. However, the translation was transmitted directly to his brain with no lag. Ardyn thought about the question for only a second. "Kailum. And yes I am. And you are…?"

The deity regained himself, curling the hand at his side. "I am the Astral, Bahamut. Somnus, we have had our Messengers keep watch on the humans for a long time and at last, they reported to us a human worthy of a special gift who lives here."

Messengers?

It was here Ardyn noticed the family dog sitting beside the creature, unnoticeable at first as a tiny spec not even as big as the Astral's pinky toe. It was a scruffy thing, black top coat with gray-white underneath. He couldn't remember his family ever actively getting the dog nor did they ever go out of their way to care for it, except for of course Somnus. The dog had been on the farm for as long as he could remember and somehow never seemed to age. Its unassuming appearance meant it was always a part of the background and except for throwing out scraps of food, no one else had paid it any mind. It was the family dog only because it'd chosen to hang around the farm and that was it. No name had ever been given.

But now, Ardyn could've smacked himself with how blinded to the obvious they'd all been. As he looked at the canine, he could see the real wisdom behind that dopey dog stare. In fact, the dog wasn't being dopey at all. It was scratching at the leg of the Astral, barking, at times turning to Ardyn and snarling. It knew the truth and was going to tattle. He'd have to find a way to silence the mutt.

As luck would continue to have it, Bahamut did it for him. With a snap of his fingers, the dog vanished with a whine. "Umbra's done his part very well but forgive us that we cannot allow him to stay with you. A Messenger that spends too much time on the mortal plane will become mortal and die. And so the same is said for us…" he added quietly.

Ardyn quirked an eyebrow.

"But today, on behalf of the Six, I would like to offer you something extraordinary, Somnus. For your selflessness and hard work, we wish to share with you the power of the Gods." He knelt down, only halving his massive height. The left hand uncurled again and when it opened, a large black gem the size of a carriage floated in the palm. One face of the stone had a tear-shaped scoop missing, exposing the inside. From within, a wonderful blue and purple light swirled, accented with darting white stars and a glowing aura.

Ardyn began to reach out to it…

"Additionally," Bahamut spoke again, snapping him to attention, "We ask that you take this ring and wear it always. It will allow you to command the power of the Crystal. We Other beings have come to refer to it as the Ring of the Lucii. As the new guardian of this country, nay, this world, you are the light and hope for Eos. I hereby dub thee Somnus Lucis Caelum. Please accept both for our gratitude in exchange for undertaking a very large burden."

The name was simply too perfect. Who knew sticking the name of the country in the middle was all it took to elevate it to such prestige? Ah, but yes, the Astral mentioned a catch. Ardyn should've been prepared; nothing this good came for free. "Ask me anything," he beseeched.

The Astral breathed out in a very human way, a long and heavy sigh. "By now, I'm certain you've heard of the plague ravaging the world. Our kind refers to it as Starscourge. We ask that you use the powers of the Crystal to help humanity. Despite that we may seem…indifferent, many of us do not wish to see humanity perish."

The lack of inclusion for all Six was not missed.

"You will go to those who have been tainted and as the Oracle, you shall heal them. Upon that cleansing, we will then crown you King of Lucis to protect this country. One day, a great evil will befall the world and a King of Light will be chosen to defeat it. He will need both the Crystal and Ring of the Lucii to accomplish this task. Until then, we ask the Caelum lineage to be the guardians of them."

Made a divine Oracle in a single night with immeasurable powers plus a promotion to king within a few years? Ardyn stopped from examining the ring he'd been handed and looked to Bahamut with a twisted grin. "Before I completely accept your offer, I must ask: why? Surely you gods could cure the planet yourselves, no?" His distaste for the Astrals had never been something he'd had to hide. Many in Lucis didn't even believe in them, but Ardyn had never fallen completely into atheism. He felt instead the humans were simply ignored, no matter what the old legends proclaimed about humans and Astrals fighting together.

But to answer him, Bahamut rose from his crouched stance and turned his back, his long capes bowling over the endless waves of grain. "We prefer to help those who help themselves. However, even we know when humanity has been given a predicament that exceeds their abilities. It's only right for us to do our part."

Ardyn again raised a fine eyebrow. "You caused the Starscourge, didn't you?"

The Astral was shocked to silence before muttering, "It's all Titan's fault…he coughed on Eos and got everyone sick! All he had to do was cover his mouth! His penance was saving the world from that meteor." He looked into the distant west, where, it was theorized, Titan had caught a falling meteor that still burned to this day. Covering up the lapse, the Astral began to float up, his crystalized wings vibrating. "We will give you five years and afterwards will return to check on your progress. We understand that we've laid a large burden upon you, but he that will bear the crown of Lucis must be able to withstand at least this much. Speaking of which, one last thing…"

Ardyn relaxed his shoulders. "It can't be that bad."

And yet Bahamut looked away. "Using the Crystal will drain you of your life. It's the toll to use it."

The actor very nearly threw the Ring back at him. "And you don't think, perchance, that was important enough to mention a little sooner?"

But the god shrugged. "It was the only way to ensure the power would not be abused. Now if you'll excuse me, I must return. Five years, human. I shall visit again in that time." He left much the same way he arrived, in a in a flurry of dust and wind.

Ardyn looked down at the ring a moment before slipping it on his wedding finger. He wouldn't be marrying; a spouse would only slow him down. He had a much bigger goal to accomplish now and wanted nothing getting in his way.

"Let's get to work."

~.~.~

"Yeah, but all of this doesn't explain why you're in our house," Noctis cut in.

"Noctis!" said King Regis. "I know he's unbearably long-winded and painfully theatric but please, try to be strong! The story most certainly must be near the end…right?" he turned to Ardyn.

The magenta-haired man exhaled, setting down his cup. "I suppose I should make the rest quick though that makes for such a dull story. Fine, let us move on with act two…"