First new fic of 2022! Let's start with a crossover idea I have had for a while but haven't done anything until now! All based around ideas I had from the FFXIV FFXV event quest as well as a few other things that happened when I was played as my Prom character.
Prom had been walking through the streets of Ul'dah when he noticed a familiar face. He smiled as he ran over to the small Miqo'te and waved to her.
"Hey Kipih Jakkya! How are you today?"
"Ah Prom! One of my favorite customers! It is good to see you, and in fact I was looking for someone just like you!"
"Just like me?" Prom asked.
"Yes! I am in need of an Adventurer's help, and I know I can trust you."
Prom smiled, glad that his reputation was starting to get around. He was always set on helping people or doing whatever he could to just make a difference. "So what do you need?"
"You see, a certain rumor has been making its rounds of late," Kipih explained. "No few travelers passing through Thanalan report seeing an unusual black vehicle along with peculiar mechanical soldiers. Do you happen to know anything about them?"
Prom hummed. "Can't say that I do."
"Oh! Well let me tell you! There is a growing concern that there might be some unknown type of Garlean weaponry. Why, even the good people of Garlond Ironworks have been called upon to investigate."
"Wow really? Even them? Then this is really something quite large."
Kipih nodded. "Yes. But this story promises to be the most compelling story, and I intend to be the first reporter to tell it. But in order to do that, I require the contribution of the good folk such as yourself. Lest you wonder, the black vehicle was most recently signed near Black Brush, in Central Thanalan. Should you come into any information. I ask that you bring me word without delay."
"Of course," Prom nodded. "I shall do what I can. You can rely on me, Kipih."
She smiled and nodded back. "That was the intent!"
"Then I shall get right to it!"
Prom took off to head to Central Thanalan, riding on his trusty chocobo; Rose. He headed out towards the Black Brush Station, but stopped just a little ways outside of it to start scouting for any strange activity. At first he didn't see anything, and he started to pace back and and forth, reviewing the information in his head.
Eventually he heard a voice shouting. "Gah!" Why won't you move, damn it?"
Prom froze up, his heart nearly skipping a beat. "That voice… it almost was like… no I was just imagining it."
Approaching the nearby hill, he looked down and spotted the strange black vehicle. Just behind it was in fact a person, sitting down leaning against it. Prom slowly started to make his way down, not watching to startle or scare the person, he had no idea who the guy was after all.
As he came down the hill and started walking down the path to the vehicle and the person. Just as he was coming near, the person, dressed in all black, stood up. Once Prom was able to see him, he nearly stumbled over his own feet at the sight of the person.
"Hey whoa!" the person said as he ran over. The familiar tone in his voice shook Prom's heart again. "You okay?"
It was so close to his voice.
It was almost identical, right down to the tone of concern.
But at the same time, the accent wasn't right. There were differences… so Prom knew it couldn't be him. It was impossible to be him… it could never be his N'oct.
"Uh, yeah. I'm sorry, I'm just a tad clumsy," Prom said, trying to laugh it off as he stood up.
He stared again at the man who looked so much like N'oct, yet at the same time didn't. This man was a Hyur, most likely a Highlander from his height and build. That already was enough to tell him that this wasn't the same man he had known for years. This was just some strange oddness that he had no explanation for, but it still hurt his heart staring at him.
The semi-N'oct look-alike was now looking at him with a strange look. He narrowed his eyes for a moment before he shook his head. "No problem. Happens to anyone. So hey… uh do you know if there's a garage nearby?"
"Huh? A what?"
"You know a garage? A place where…" he let out a sigh. "Just my luck to have a breakdown in the middle of nowhere… Where is this place, anyway?"
Prom tilted his head. "You don't know? We're in Thanalan… you know in Eorzea?"
The man crossed his arms. "Thanalan? Eorzea? That's on no map I've ever seen. But wait… this couldn't be… maybe…" he muttered the last bit softly to himself. He then cleared his throat. "I'm not sure how I got here, and I got no idea where I need to go… but I'm going nowhere at this rate. Isn't there anyone around here who can fix cars?"
"Well I really have no idea what a 'car' is, but if anyone knows anything about vehicles, then Cid would be the guy to look to. If anyone can get things moving, it'll be Cid," Prom replied.
The man dropped his arms, looking shocked. "Wait what? Cid is here too?! What in the world's going on…?"
Prom shrugged. "I wish I could tell you, but I am just as lost as you are."
"Guess that makes sense. Anyway, might as well keep pushing her along," the man said as he walked around to the other side. "Hey, mind giving me a hand? She's heavier than she looks."
"Uh, yeah. That shouldn't be a problem."
"What's your name, by the way?"
Prom did his best to smile brightly as he gave a little wave. "I'm Prom."
The man seemed to hesitate, almost looking a little caught off guard. "I uh, well I appreciate the help… Prom. My name's Noctis, but you can call me Noct."
Prom nearly staggered backwards, almost tripping over his own feet again. First it was the voice, and then his appearance… and now the name. He felt like he couldn't breathe as he tried to process this new information that had just been given. He had no idea why The Twelve would ever do such a thing to him. He was a good Au Ra, he had never done anything bad in his life.
Why was he meant to suffer through this pain that tore into his wounds? The wounds that were still fairly fresh and now burned again with new twists and tears.
"Hey, you sure you're okay? You're looking a little pale?"
Prom nodded. "Yeah, I believe I should be good. I'm sorry, I only… nothing. I don't wish to weigh down our situation."
"If you're sure… but now let's put our backs into it… Talk about deja vu… Un… Believable. "
"Yeah, let's get to it," Prom nodded as he moved to the back of the strange thing that Noctis had called a car.
Prom gave Noctis the directions to head towards and they started to push. While Prom was pushing from behind, while Noctis pulled and pushed from the side. Slowly, they moved around the corner, and when they stopped, they were just in front of the Coffer & Coffin.
Even though they had only pushed a short distance, Noctis said it would be best to take a break. There were only two of them after all, and while Prom knew he was strong enough to push for longer, he could tell Noctis wanted to take things slow and easy.
Suddenly, Prom heard a voice from behind him.
"Oho, if it isn't Master Prom!"
Turning around, Prom saw three Ironworks helpers that all looked in awe and shock at the strange 'car' as Noctis had called. It.
They all ran over to it, staring at it closely.
"B-By the gods, she is magnificent. Such elegance, such refinement," one of them said.
"Ah, as you may have heard, we were tasked by the Alliance with investigating the mystery vehicle," another one said.
The one who appeared to be the leader of the three turned towards Prom and Noctis. "Master Cid himself should be close. If you'll excuse me a moment, I will direct him hither."
"Thank you," Prom said as he looked at Noctis. "Does that sound good? We should only have to wait a little for him."
"Guess so," Noctis answered.
Soon enough Cid came running down the pathway. He smiled and waved once he stopped right by the rest of the people. "Prom! Why am I not surprised that you're here already?"
"Of course. You know me well," Prom laughed.
Cid grinned and turned his attention to the car. "So this is the machine… At a glance it doesn't appear to be of Garlean make." He then looked over at Noctis, who seemed to be staring at Cid with an odd expression. "The young fellow there… I take it he's the owner?"
"Yup this is him. But…" Prom said as he made eye contact with Noctis. "We may have found ourselves in something a bit weirder than just the car. Noctis… uh Noct… doesn't know anything about here. Nothing of Eorzea or anything."
"Hmm, that's quite peculiar," Cid said before he stared down at the ground. "Might he have lost his memories like I did?"
"Hey," Noctis interjected. "I'm right here, you know? Now, if you're done talking about me… you're Cid, right?" He placed a hand on his hip. "Not quite the Cid I was expecting, but if you can fix the Regalia, then it's all good."
The conversation continued on with Cid eventually touching on the topic of the strange mechanical soldiers. While Prom already had the intent of checking them out, it turned out Noctis was familiar with them. He had called them Em-tees… or something like that. The word was foreign to Prom and Cid anyways, but it was clear that Noctis knew what he was talking about.
After Noctis explained about the soldiers he then started to think a little more. "It's kinda hazy… but there was a strange machine. And before I knew it, I was here, in this place you call Eorzea."
"That's quite an unusual tale, but then again I'm in the presence of unusual technology. I have no reason to doubt your words. You may have inadvertently activated a teleportation device and been sent to our world," Cid said. "At any rate, you seem to be acquainted with these mechanical soldiers. Perhaps you could investigate in our stead? They were most recently sighted near the Unholy Heir, not far to the east of here."
"Hmmm if they really are MTs, they might hold some clues on how to return home…" Noctis hummed. "Alright, leave them to me."
Without another word, Noctis ran off heading towards the Black Brush Station.
"W-Wait!" Cid called out before sighing. He faced Prom and shrugged. "It wouldn't do to leave our visitor to wander a strange land alone. Could you accompany him, Prom? Rest assured I'll tend to the Regalia in the meantime."
"I can do it! I'll make sure that he doesn't get lost," Prom chuckled before running after Noctis.
Calling his chocobo back, he got on her and started having her sprint as fast as she could to catch up to Noctis. He was just about to walk through the Black Brush Station as Prom came up from behind.
At the sound of her kwehing as they approached, he turned around. "Huh? A chocobo… and hey, what are you doing?"
"I thought I should help out. If you really aren't from Eorzea you are going to get lost real fast."
"Oh… guess you got a point. Don't really have a map to show me the way. So uh… which way do we go?"
"We got to head east of the Black Brush Station. Hop on," Prom said as he held out a hand.
"You sure?"
"The saddle is big enough," Prom said, a little softer. He knew that two people could fit on his saddle… it wouldn't have been the first time he had rode with another.
"It would cut down on time at least," Noctis said as he took Prom's hand.
Prom pulled him up and Noctis got situated on the saddle. Once Prom could tell that Noctis was settled he started Rose off on a small trot. "I'll try not to go too fast, okay? Chocobos can be rather speedy. And Rose loves going fast."
"Oh I know, I got chocoobs in my world. You can go fast if you think it'll help."
Prom found himself smiling as he adjusted the reins. "Okay, if you insist."
Soon Rose was speeding through the land, and Prom swore he could hear Noctis let out a small yelp. But Prom almost let out his own yelp when he felt Noctis grab onto him, with his arms around his waist.
"Could've warned me!" Noctis shouted, though from his tone he sounded like he was laughing.
"Sorry!" Prom chuckled in response.
Eventually, they got to the location and the two dismounted the chocobo. Prom smiled as he pet her on the head. "Good girl. I'll be sure to give you lots of greens later. Stay clear now, it could be rather dangerous."
"Really love the chocobo, huh?" Noctis asked.
Prom smiled. "Can't not love the feathery birds. They're the best! Rose is just my best girl!"
Noctis hummed softly. "Yeah, they really are."
"So, ready to go on to finding these Em-tees?"
"MT," Noctis corrected. "Just M and T. And yeah, let's find us some MTs."
Noctis crouched around the corner, and glared at what he saw further down the path. "There they are!"
Running, they headed down to where the group of MTs were, all holding those strange firearms just as described. Prom pulled out his bow and arrows and took a few steps back before firing right towards the heads of the MTs.
It wasn't long before a large machine started to come up, equipped with large guns and weapons. Prom had to dodge out of the way as it fired at him, maneuvering around the area to try and examine the large machine.
"They brought the big guns too?! Gimme a break…" Noctis grumbled loudly.
Thankfully as they kept at it, Prom could see they were wearing it down. As Prom stayed in his far range area, he tried keeping an eye on Noctis. He watched how he fought, and he still felt a little uncertain. Though it was a different weapon, the style of how he fought yet again was still so similar.
"There's gotta be something to explain this. It can't just be a coincidence," Prom thought to himself.
By the end of the battle, Noctis was already stretching and starting to walk towards Prompto. "So that's that. Looks like there aren't any clues here. Guess we'll keep looking?"
"Yeah, we should probably see what else we can find."
"But what should we do? Fighting the MTs didn't do anything other than clear the area. No clues on how I might be able to cross back…"
Prom placed a hand on his chin, thinking deeply. "Hmm maybe we should go and talk to Cid?"
Noctis raised an eyebrow. "That old geezer? Well, he did seem to know his stuff. "
"Right Let's go okay?" Prom said as he started walking back to where his chocobo was hiding.
When the two were back on her, they headed back to the Black Brush Station. There they found Cid and they then explained what they had just done. He said he was thankfully able to find the problem with Noctis's car and was already working to fix it, but he just needed more time to find the right parts.
Suddenly, Prom heard a voice coming up from behind them. "You must be the mystery man!"
Kipih came running along the way, running right up to Prom and Noctis excitedly. "Ooh, I'm no fashion correspondent, but I like your look! A simple silhouette with an emphasis on the details!"
Noctis blinked a few times. "Uh… what's the deal with you?"
"Ah! Where Are my manners? Kipih Jakkya, reporter for The Raven, at your service! You are the owner of the mysterious black vehicle, yes?" she asked as she pointed at Noctis.
Noctis turned to look at Prom and he only shrugged with a chuckle. "Relax, that's just how she is. Don't worry about it."
With a sign he turned back towards Kipih and started to explain about the Regalia, but of course Kipih began to ask many questions about Noctis and just where he was from. He gave a vague explanation though as to what he was doing beforehand in his world, how he had been traveling with his friends to meet someone important to him.
It made Prom wonder just who Noctis's friends were, and who the important someone was. He had so many questions building up inside, but he wasn't sure when would be a good time to ask him. He figured maybe he would ask later if he got the chance for it.
Eventually, Kipih agreed to give Noctis some answers he needed if he were to answer some of hers while they headed back to Ul'dah. They said their goodbyes to Cid and headed off that way with Kipih starting off the line of many questions.
Prom just offered Noctis a smile as they stared their walk. "Better strap in, Kipih is one to hound for questions if she can and won't let up."
"Heh, guess I better be prepared."
"I'll have to meet you two there, don't wanna leave Rose by herself. But I'll see you there shortly, okay?"
Noctis nodded. "Sounds good. See you, Prom."
Prom tried not to flinch from the tone… still so friendly and familiar when his name was said. It still hurts. "Yeah, of course."