Welcome to Final Fantasy versus XV!

If you are new to this fic, thanks for deciding to check this out. In this project, I endeavor to retell the story of Final Fantasy XV with the darker themes presented in those old versus XIII trailers.

If you are a returning reader, you might notice this is a new prologue to the story. It sets the stage for something important I want to happen much later in the story. Hopefully you enjoy this new start to the story! Thanks for reading.

Prologue

Asleep in the Fantasy

The sound of the creature feasting tore through the cacophony of the heavy rainfall. Lying in the mud, Noctis Lucis Caelum gritted his teeth as he tried his best to crawl from the overturned car. He could hear the great beast tearing into a helpless woman on the other side of the car, her screams cut short by the sound of crunching bone and splitting sinew. Noctis moaned, his legs numb. He couldn't feel anything as it slid helplessly across the wet mud.

The eight-year-old prince tensed as he saw the long tail of the beast twitching ahead of him, the beast so large that the rest of it was obscured behind the car, just out of sight of the boy crawling across the mud. He heard the great monster rising behind him and Noctis turned his head, looking at the creature from between the strands of black hair splatting against his forehead from the heavy rain.

The monster was serpentine, but its face was human and female. As it rose to look at the young boy, it raised its six arms, each holding a glistening sword. It let out a roar, its black hair flailing wildly as though alive.

Noctis gasped as the beast smashed the car aside using its large body and quickly closed in on the eight-year-old prince.

Noctis let out a yelp.

There was a flash of light.

In the brief time before he blacked out, Noctis swore he saw his father appear, surrounded by several floating swords.

When next he opened his eyes, he was in an unfamiliar place. It looked like a garden, but a pinkish mist hovered in the air, giving the appearance of a mystical terrain. Noctis was still on his stomach, but he could feel his legs again. With a light moan, the young boy rose to his feet and looked around. He stood on cobblestone, a few feet away from a water fountain. The fountain displayed a grey statue of a young woman, tears flowing in small rivers from the eyes of the statue to the watery basin at its feet as the statue stood, eyes cast upward and arms outstretched as though praying to something far above.

Encircling the fountain, Noctis saw several blue flowers the likes of which he had never seen before. When he leaned down closer to them, a sweet scent caressed his nostrils. He ran his finger across the petals of the flower, and they were smooth to the touch.

Where am I? the young boy thought.

Encircling the cobblestone garden, Noctis saw many tall, verdant trees, the green leaves swaying with a gentle breeze. From the cobblestone garden, Noctis saw a path of stones leading off between the trees. He shrugged his shoulders and followed the path, listening to the rustling of the leaves and the gentle whistle of the winds. Were there any wildlife, he could not hear it.

He wasn't sure how long he walked for. The stone path winded and winded, leading him through the trees for several minutes. The garden had vanished a number of turns ago and he sensed he was simply at the mercy of the stone path.

On and on it went, until the trees finally parted, and Noctis walked into a field of winding hills, each covered with the swaying blue flowers he saw in the garden. As he stepped out, he heard a strange cry. A squeak coming from between a few swaying flowers. Noctis looked down and saw the flowers separating as a white creature pushed its way through. It was small, covered in course white fur. Two large ears twitched as it looked up at Noctis with wide brown eyes, a small horn protruding from above its eyes.

Hello.

Noctis was confused for a moment as he heard the voice in his head. He wondered if it was his own thoughts, somehow growing independent of himself. Before long though, he pieced it together as he saw the small foxlike creature staring up at him, a sort of wisdom in its eyes he had never seen in an animal before.

Yes, Noct. I'm talking to you.

"How?" Noctis asked.

You… are asleep. The creature replied. This is your sanctuary. The World of Sleep. You are chosen by the Crystal, and so this place is your sanctuary, Noct. Come here, whenever you need to escape from your world. You are always welcome here.

"What are you?" Noctis asked.

I… haven't quite figured that out yet. I think I am a Carbuncle. At least, that's how you perceive me.

"Perceive?" Noctis asked, scratching his head.

It means it is… how you see me in this world. It's not what I really look like.

"Well what do you look like?"

I don't remember.

"Oh. Well, how do I get out of here?" Noctis asked. "I think something important was happening before I got here, but I can't remember what."

Just get to the end of the maze. I'll lead you there.

And so, Noctis followed the carbuncle. It led him across the hills of blue flowers, down into a strange tunnel at the end of the hills, and through the tunnel to a castle covered in flames. Noctis took in the strange spectacle, as though he had stepped into a nightmarish hellscape. He sensed something inside, a being of immense power waiting for him.

"Is that how I get out?" Noctis asked.

Looks like it.

"I thought you said this was a safe place," Noctis said, worried. "Go to the flaming castle? That doesn't seem safe."

Well, you've come here for a reason beyond just a place to escape, the carbuncle tried to explain. It looked a little confused itself though. I think you need to take control of this place first. There's a darkness trying to find its way into your head, Noct.

"A… darkness?" Noctis asked, scratching his head through his messy black hair. "That sounds scary though. I don't know if I want to go."

How can you leave if you don't? It's the only way out. Once you do this, this place will be yours to return to whenever you want.

Noctis stood there for a while, staring at the burning castle. He wondered if he really could do this. As he stood there, an image flashed in his head. A boy lying in a large bed, drenched in sweat. A bolt of lightning flashing outside, visible from a nearby window. The light briefly illuminated the figure standing beside the bed, resting a hand on the boy in unending prayer for his return.

"I have to do it," Noctis said. "If I don't, that man will be sad forever."

The carbuncle nodded.

"What do I do when I'm in there?" Noctis asked.

You face the fear inside and awaken your power. Easy enough, right? Just go in there. You can do it! Then… maybe I can be…

The carbuncle trailed off. Noctis tilted his head and stared inquisitively at the little creature.

"You can what?" Noctis asked.

I think that I might finally find out what I am, the carbuncle replied. It smiled up at the boy. Maybe, you could help me out with that.

"Of course, I'll try to help," Noctis promised, raising a fist to his chin. "I guess it's time to find out how."

With his resolve strengthened, Noctis marched across the hellish courtyard to the castle gate. As he approached, the large stone gate swung partway open of its own accord. The boy looked back at the carbuncle. The creature raised a paw, as though saying, "Well, go on." Noctis peered through the opening to the dark hall inside. He gulped and stepped inside.

Within the dark hall, Noctis could see naught beyond the light that peered in through the cracked door. As he stepped into the darkness, he felt dread wash over him. Yet, regardless, he stepped forward, thinking of the carbuncle who had been guiding him through this strange dream. Thinking of the father and his sick boy, who Noctis knew he needed to wake up.

As he stepped further and further into the blinding darkness, he heard something breathing ahead. An orange glow erupted, expanding several feet in front of Noctis. As the flames emerged, it took shape, revealing a large man on fire. It sat upon a throne of bone and death, its gaze piercing into Noctis's eyes. Noctis took a step back, in fearful awe of the sight.

The fiery being stood, so tall its head nearly reached the ceiling thirty feet above. In its hand, it called forth a flaming sword and took a step toward Noctis. The boy wondered then what he could do. He turned to see if the carbuncle had followed, but he saw no trace of the little guy. Noctis took several more steps back as the giant demon made its way toward him.

As it closed in, more of the room illuminated. Noctis saw a set of stairs nearby, which ran along the walls of the room, leading up to a place he couldn't see. Noctis ran to the stairs and nearly stumbled over the steps as he ran and ran, ascending as quickly as he could. The orange glow expanded more and more as Noctis felt the being chase after him. The ceiling had disappeared, and the room transformed, turning to a long spiraling set of stairs and nothing else. Everything else in sight was simply darkness.

Still, the being closed in. It roared, speaking in an unfamiliar tongue.

What do I do? Noctis shouted in his head.

He felt a rumble and was dismayed to see the steps ahead of him crumble. Soon, he too fell after, falling into the darkness. He saw the fiery being falling too, far below him. Yet, Noctis fell faster, drawing closer and closer. He let out a scream.

A blinding golden light pierced the darkness. The fiery being disappeared. The last thing Noctis saw was a pair of golden arms, opening and embracing him.

Young Noctis awoke in a soft bed. He groggily sat up, letting out a moan. Beside him, he heard a sound. A gasp. The boy turned to see his father, who had been slumped in a chair, suddenly bolt to his feet. As his weary, sleep deprived eyes fell upon his son, they blazed with light and a smile, wide and warm, filled his face.

"Noctis!" he cried. "You are awake!"

Noctis looked around the white room, finding its four corners completely unrecognizable. The bed, the posters, the windows, the dressers, everything was unrecognizable.

"Where am I?" he muttered.

"You are in Tenebrae," Regis said, caressing his son's forehead. "You are okay now."

The door to the room opened and a tall lady robed in white entered. She smiled at the young prince. A warmth emanated from her, similar to the warmth that caught him in the nightmare. The golden arms that freed him from the fires. From behind her, a young boy and girl rushed in, standing next to their mother. Noctis caught the eye of the blonde-haired girl, and she delivered unto him a warm smile. Noctis smiled back.

In time, the dream faded from memory and he forgot the promise he made to the carbuncle. It would be several years before Noctis returned to the World of Sleep, and by that time, everything would change.

Fabula Nova Crystallis