This is a fantasy based on reality

PART ONE

NOCTURNE

Chapter One

The Star of Lucis

In the dream, he saw her standing before him once more. They were eight years old again. All around them, a sea of blue sylleblossom flowers waved with the help of the gentle hand of the wind. Her back was turned to him, so he could only see her in her white dress, blonde hair reaching down to her upper back. He made to reach out to her, but every step he took seemed to push her further away, and when she made to turn, it was over.

Morning, day before the signing

"Prince Noctis," came the familiar rough voice of Cor. The captain of the Crownsguard was a tidy man. He kept his brown hair short, his beard even shorter, and his clothes neat and meticulous. His eyes were sharp. Attentive. The world had made them suspicious of every corner, and they darted across the road as he drove the deeply black car, the Star of Lucis, up a winding overpass.

In the back seat sat Prince Noctis. His hair was black and messy, each strand layered upon the other as though in protest of the prim and properness one expected of royalty. His eyes were shut, and his head was slightly leaned against the window. With the mention of his name, his pale violet eyes fluttered open. He glanced up at the rear-view mirror, where they met Cor's light blue eyes.

"We will be arriving at the citadel in a few minutes," Cor said. "His majesty would prefer you were awake for such an occasion."

"I was just closing my eyes," Noctis replied with a light moan as he stretched his neck.

"The snoring might suggest otherwise, highness," Cor replied, amused.

"I… was snoring?"

"It happens to the best of us." Cor returned his gaze to the road. They entered a tunnel. He flashed on the headlights and picked up the pace.

Noctis stared absently at the concrete walls blurring by, the yellow lights lining the inside of the tunnel rapidly passing over his eyes. They were sore from being wakened so swiftly, and so each pass of the light made him wince slightly. He groaned as he straightened himself, using his black gloved left hand to push against the black leather of the seat. His right hand was not gloved, in an attempt at some sort of fashion statement. Even after he straightened, he found himself sinking into the seat, returning to the slouch his father frowned so heavily at.

On the radio, the song Somnus was playing. The piano and strings never failed to make Noctis feel oddly glum. Even the vocals were sad, sung in an ancient language. The song was named after the Founder King, who created the shining city they now occupied. The song sang of sleep, and of a coming war. It seemed almost prophetic. There was a sense of inevitability in its lyrics. Noctis had nearly memorized the song, which played every day on the Radio Insomnia station.

When they cleared the tunnel, the natural blue sunlight filled the car and Noctis grunted, momentarily closing his eyes. He reopened them and saw the citadel standing tall and proud over the rest of the skyscrapers lining the skyline of the royal city of Insomnia. The building's distinct rectangular spires built onto the four corners of the roof of the structure reached out and touched the blue sky, and near them Noctis noticed a few rectangular metal shapes hanging in the air, hovering near the citadel like buzzing insects.

"It's like a scene from an invasion," he muttered.

Cor, who heard this, pursed his lips. He studied the prince, who did his best to look as relaxed as possible. There was a falsity to it. He was trying too hard. The posture was still too stiff to be convincing.

Noctis tore his gaze away from the building and looked at the black seat in front of him. His kingdom of Lucis had been at war with the empire of Niflheim for some ten years. Despite this, he had barely felt its effects. Long ago, a king of Lucis had created a magical wall around the crown city, and his father sustained it even then with the power of the great crystal inside the citadel, as well as his own life force through the Ring of the Lucii he wore on his finger. This meant warfare didn't touch the city. The people went by living their lives almost absently from the bloodshed outside. The only evidence there was of the war having any effect on the city was with the king himself, who grew weaker with each passing day as he tried his best to keep the wall standing strong against the onslaught of the empire.

However, seeing the empire's ships within the walls of the city for the first time, Noctis never felt closer to the warfare that once seemed so distant. It finally came to their steps, and perhaps this was why his father agreed to the empire's terms? All lands surrounding the city were to be handed over to Niflheim. They would keep Insomnia. It wasn't so dissimilar to the empire's takeover of the Accordo Protectorate, whose people they allowed to live within a limited form of their former freedom within their beautiful water bound capital of Altissia. Still… there was something unsettling in the air. Something sinister about how they swarmed the citadel, as though they were closing in like a pack of hungry wolves.

If what they wanted was access to the city, they had it now…

"You'll be meeting with His Majesty at the citadel," Cor announced. "Afterwards, your friends are waiting at the market. Tonight, however, you'll be heading to the penthouse of Caelum Via. The party will be held there and the signing will be tomorrow at the citadel."

"Sounds like a plan," Noctis said.

The vocals returned to the song, and Noctis became distant again. After the tunnel, the overpass came to its apex, and the Star of Lucis was now riding high above the buildings nearby, but the citadel loomed ahead like a great, towering obelisk. The world seemed to have slowed as the song began to drown out all other noises in Noctis's ears.

Omnia dividit

Tragoedia coram

Amandum quae

Et nocte perpetua

In desperatione

Auroram videre potest

Mane tempus expergiscend

Cor turned off the radio as they approached the checkpoint before the citadel. He rolled down the window, stopped the car, and nodded at an Insomnian guard nearby. The guard nodded back. Cor then pressed a command on a touch screen prompt near the steering wheel. Ahead of the car, several small stone pillars that served as a way to stop traffic lowered into the ground, their flat tops fitting perfectly into the road as to become nearly invisible. Cor nodded again and drove forward. Noctis looked at the guard, who bowed. The prince gave a grimacing smile.

After the gate, the road became a driveway which wound around the courtyard of the citadel. Cor came to a stop in front of the tall stone stairs and turned the car off. He stepped out to help Noctis exit, but the prince very quickly exited before he could get to him. Cor frowned as Noctis ignored him. Noctis stretched and looked up at the citadel, never failing to marvel at its sheer size. Every time he looked up, he felt as though he were going to fall backward. As he observed the sky, he did his best to ignore the airships from Niflheim still hanging near the spires.

"His Majesty awaits inside, Prince Noctis," Cor said.

"Right," replied Noctis. "Well, what are we waiting for?"

Cor nodded and led the way up the stairs. Noctis made to follow, placing his black boot on the first step. He paused. He always paused. The prince took another look up. Even from the courtyard far below, he could faintly see the red glow from between the spires. On the roof of the citadel was the Chamber of the Crystal. Noctis had only been there once, when he was five years old and his father took him inside, as they did with all children of the Lucis Caelum dynasty. Within the dark chamber, the crystal had chosen him. This is what he had been told, though no one seemed to elaborate as to what being chosen by the crystal meant. No one, except for her...

Yet again, Noctis was pulled back to his youth. Eight years old, in the royal city of Tenebrae. Bound to a wheelchair after an accident, young Noctis had been wheeled around by the princess of Tenebrae, who would regale him with tales of the Astrals—the Gods of Lucis—and of the chosen task of the Lucii line. How they would protect the crystal granted to them by the Astrals, until such time as the Chosen King of Light would awaken his true power and vanquish the darkness.

It was all so incredibly vague. At first, being told he was the Chosen King felt strange to Noctis. He would have been lying if he said it didn't give a slight boost to his ego, but as time passed, the stories felt like... well, stories. Darkness seemed like a distant concept, especially in a city that never slept. So aptly named was Insomnia.

With a breath of Insomnian air, the Insomnian heir ascended the remaining steps. Cor swung aside the large doors and Noctis approached. However, he paused once more as he reached the entrance. He looked to his left and right. Two tall statues stood beside the door. They were of maidens, and black tears ran down their stone face. The melancholy and gothic architecture were spread throughout Insomnia, and the city seemed at times to be a celebration of death itself. Noctis had once asked Ignis for what reason the city seemed to revel in imagery of death—Ignis often held the answer to any question—and his retainer told him such was the influence of the Founder King Somnus. Even the crystal, which was often called the Crystal of Light, was occasionally referred to as the Crystal of Death. Particularly in the olden days. Noctis found the polarity of this representation odd, but shrugged it aside as the misunderstandings of ancient civilizations. Light. Death. What did it matter in the end? The crystal was to be protected by the Lucii. Such was their chosen task.

In the entrance chamber of the citadel, many paintings told tales of ancient wars, led by the former rulers of the Lucii, and their connection with the Astrals. The largest of these hanged on the back wall and stretched from edge to edge, depicting what was referred to as the Big Bang: a battle taken place long ago between the Astrals themselves. Even the Gods seemed incapable of avoiding warfare.

As they stepped inside, Cor walked off to the side and stood at rigid attention. As Noctis slowly walked inside, the door behind him shut on its own. The rectangular room was referred to as the Hall of History, and was about as far as the public could go. Straight ahead of Noctis was a set of stairs which rose and bifurcated to reach the upper level. At the foot of the stairs, leaning on a cane, stood the one hundred and thirteenth king of Lucis, Regis Lucis Caelum. A warm smile lifted his weary cheeks as his eyes fell upon his only son.

"Noctis," he said. "How are you feeling?"

"Same as ever," Noctis replied. He approached his father and gave a slight bow. "I see Niflheim has already arrived."

The smile on the king's face faltered, but it remained, albeit in a somewhat sad state. "That they have. The emperor will soon arrive. Worry not, Noctis. I won't have you meet him yet. Tonight, however. At the celebration. Did Ignis deliver your attire?"

"Stiff and uppity," Noctis replied with a light smile.

"It is regal wear, my boy," Regis laughed.

"I wasn't talking about the clothes."

"If you are indeed referring to your retainer, then know he has done all he was set out to do. A stiff upper lip is what you need. The Scientia family have stood proudly at our side for generations."

"It was just a joke," Noctis sighed. "You know I respect Ignis."

"Good." Regis was quiet for a moment. "I'm glad I could see you before tonight."

"Is this all you wanted?" Noctis asked. "Just to see me before tonight?"

"Is there something wrong with wanting to see my son in the morning?" Regis asked, amused. "Your friends are waiting for you, however. I won't keep you from them. But don't forget to change, Noctis. And…"

"And?" Noctis asked, tilting his head.

King Regis gently placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "Wheresoever you shall go, you carry the line of Lucis with you. Walk tall, my son."

"I'm pretty sure I'm going to an arcade," Noctis said with a half-smile.

"Even at an arcade," Regis said with a laugh.

"I'll see you tonight, then?" Noctis asked.

"Yes. I'll be coming later tonight." Regis paused for a moment and shot a glance at Cor. "I have some business to attend to in the citadel first."

"Right. Well, see you."

Noctis gave another short bow and turned to leave.

"Wait, son." Noctis turned. The king limped over to him and held out a hand. Noctis opened his palm and felt a metal object drop inside. "The Regalia is yours now. A gift."

"A-are you serious?" Noctis asked, stunned.

"Drive it with pride," Regis said. "Take it with you. I have some business to attend to with Cor. Oh. Do be careful. It is busy on the streets right now."

Noctis nodded and ran off, ecstatic. Cor gave a slight bow as the prince ran by.

When Noctis disappeared outside, all traces of a smile were wiped from Regis's face. He turned to Cor, who genuflected.

"I'm am sorry, Your Majesty," he said. "I and the other Crownsguard all looked for a way to be able to sneak the prince out. Niflheim has them covered. To try and sneak him out of the city now would be very risky."

"The fault is not yours, Cor," Regis said with a sorrowful sigh. "I leave it to you to do everything you can to ensure my son's safety. Not just for my sake, Cor. But for the sake of all Eos. Cor... protect him. Even if it means leaving me."

"Of course, Your Majesty." Cor knew then he had received the most serious order of his life. There was nothing that mattered more than this. Everything he had trained for had led to this singular mission. He had to protect the Chosen King of Light.

As Noctis descended the stairs, he saw a man climbing his way up. The man noticed him and smiled and bowed. Titus Drautos was a man whose face bore many of the world-weary patterns which were also etched into Cor, though his beard was less well kept, connected to a stubbly mustache. While Cor led the Crownsguard, Drautos led the Kingsglaive. While the Crownsguard served as the military force of Lucis, the Kingsglaive were the hand selected royal guard. They were granted access to the royal magic by King Regis himself, formed some fifteen years prior.

"Good morning, Your Highness," Drautos said.

"Good morning, Captain Drautos," Noctis replied. He rushed past the man, who climbed the rest of the way up and entered the citadel. Involuntarily, Noctis gave a glance back, seeing the man briefly before he disappeared inside. For a moment, something had flashed inside of him. A voice not his own... He didn't catch what it said, and Noctis shook his head. "I might be going nuts..."

The Star of Lucis was still parked at the bottom of the stone steps. Noctis stopped in front of the car, taking one last long look at his old car. It had been given to him for his sixteenth birthday, but he rarely used it, usually letting Ignis drive him around in it. He knew Cor and Drautos wanted to use it to ferry guests around, but he never figured it would mean the Regalia would now belong to him. Noctis looked to his left where, parked on the side of the driveway, was the Regalia itself. While both cars were sleek and black, the Star paled in comparison to the Regalia. The car was the shining definition of royalty. It was longer, sharper, adorned with symbols of the royal family. A custom-made thing of kingly beauty. Despite all that however, Noctis's favorite feature was easily the collapsible roof, a feature sadly absent from the Star.

Noctis spun the keyring on his finger and approached the car. He pressed a button on the fob and the car responded with a rapid succession of beeps. With his ungloved hand, he reached out and ran a finger across the black metal. As he looked into the window and into his slightly warped reflection, he was briefly taken back to a memory of his father returning from a trip abroad. He was reminded of how the Regalia once made him sad, as seeing it usually meant his father was leaving. He smiled, opened the door, and, for the first time in his life, took a seat on the leather seat of the Regalia.

Just wait until Prompto sees this, he thought, smiling wickedly.

With a roar, the car came to life and Noctis carefully pulled away. He took in a sharp breath as he passed through the gate, and joined the traffic of Insomnia.

Afternoon, day before the signing

Prompto Argentum was careful to avoid dropping the two glass bottles of soda he was carrying as he weaved his way through the densely crowded arcade. The closer the young blonde got to Noctis, the busier the crowd became, as was typical of the prince. He knew deep down, Noctis didn't enjoy the attention, but it was different when it came to video games. It might have been his and his best friend's greatest passion.

"Excuse me," he said. "Make way. Prince's best friend coming through."

He pushed his way through the crowd, and saw Noctis waiting at a fighting game cabinet.

"Eosian Cola for the peasant, and one Royale Dew for the royal dude," Prompto said as he handed Noctis his drink.

"You're such a dork," Noctis replied. "C'mon. I saved you a game."

They set their sodas aside and took to rapidly tapping away at the arcade cabinet's buttons. As their digital avatars collided and contested, the crowd gathered around them and chanted louder and louder. The fight was in a dead heat. Neither was really better than the other. As the seconds on the game began to tick down, it was Prompto who managed to land the one last hit needed to finish off Noctis. The prince growled as he slammed a fist on the cabinet, and Prompto leaped back, performing what was referred to as a pop off as he celebrated his victory.

"Please," Noctis said. "Did you think I was trying?"

"Don't be a sore loser, highness," Prompto replied with a laugh.

The two then entered an argument about who was the better gamer, which resulted in them still arguing an hour later, after they had taken a seat at a table outside of a shake shack.

"Listen," Prompto said. "I know being a prince makes you naturally feel better than other people, but video games are my domain. You can't come into my domain and think you can rule over it like you can rule over Lucis."

"Please," Noctis replied. "You might be good, no doubt, but I still hold the record in Brawl Brothers. Even then, you haven't beaten Odin yet in Verum Rex, so what domain do you rule over exactly? The domain of the loser?"

"Gentlemen, please. You're both losers"

The two turned to see the bulky and muscular physique of one Gladiolus Amicitia. The beast of a man took a seat next to them, and the stool threatened to flatten beneath him. Noctis once remarked that he was the only man who could pull off some semblance of a mullet, with his black hair short in the front and longer in the back. When questioned, he described it as, "business in the front and party in the back," in his typically gruff voice.

Gladiolus grabbed the shake which Prompto had placed on the table but a few minutes ago, and took a heavy sip.

"Are you kidding me, Gladio?" Prompto protested.

"Hmm. Delicious," he growled. He gave Prompto the now nearly empty drink back.

"Aren't you supposed to avoid drinking stuff like this?" Prompto asked. "You know? To avoid getting fat?"

"What, like you used to be?" Gladiolus laughed. "Yeah, I know. I've seen the pictures."

"Wait, Prompto used to be fat?" Noctis asked.

"Hey!" Prompto shouted, jumping to his feet. "How... how?"

"I'm the Shield of the King.," Gladiolus said, pointing a thumb at Noctis. "Think I don't look into the history of the people he associates with?"

"That's not right, man," Prompto sighed.

"What does it matter now, anyway?" Noctis asked. "You aren't fat anymore."

"I guess it doesn't..." Prompto muttered.

A shake was placed in front of Gladiolus, who looked up to see it had been placed there by the very rigid and very prepared Ignis Scientia. The tall man briefly pushed his glasses back, before rolling over a stool and taking a seat. He was a man so rigid even his brown hair was at attention, gelled into a sort of faux hawk, with only the bangs stuck straight up.

"You all seem to be having a lively conversation," he said. His accent was quite different from the others. All members of the Scientia family had a thicker tongue, speaking proper like the people of the Accordo Protectorate.

"We were just discussing Prompto's former weight," Gladiolus said.

"I don't think we should be!" Prompto shouted.

"Why not?" Ignis asked. "I think it should be admired how much healthier you are now."

"Really? Well..." Prompto started. "Hey! You knew as well?"

"I am the future king's retainer," Ignis replied. "I look into anyone he associates with."

"Well, aren't you two so important..." Prompto sighed.

Noctis broke out into laughter.

"Relax, Prompto," he said. "Don't feel left out or anything…" Noctis paused for a moment. "Want to see my car?"

"Oh, right!" Prompto shouted. "The Regalia! Yes, I want to see!"

"I'm coming as well," Gladiolus said. "What about you, Specs?"

Ignis, who was not offended by this nickname, shook his head and replied, "I'm to meet with Master Cor soon, actually. I was stopping by for a quick shake and to remind Noctis to wear the suit tonight."

"I'll have it on," Noctis sighed. "You and dad need to relax. I've got it all under control."

"I'd like to believe you, Noct," Ignis said. "I really would. I'll be stopping by before you depart to make sure you wear it right."

"I wasn't aware there was a right or wrong way to wear clothes," Noctis said.

"That's what has me concerned."

"That's a problem for later," Prompto said. "We have a car to admire!"

The three departed, leaving Ignis to sip from the shake in his lonesome. He did it with more dignity than one might imagine was possible. After a moment, his phone beeped. He pulled it out of his pocket and examined the screen, which was lit up from a text message from Cor:

MEET ME AT THE CITADEL.

Ignis replied he was on his way. He finished the shake and dropped it off in a nearby trash can, straightened his collar, and departed.

A block away, Noctis and his two friends approached the Regalia. It had been parked outside of the market, in a place where it was quite noticeable. A large party of ogglers and onlookers parted as Noctis and his friends approached. Gladiolus had managed to scatter them with one of his signature glares. When they finally had the chance to admire the car, Gladiolus whistled in appreciation.

"I always forget quite how awesome this car looks," he said.

"Yeah, and it's mine!" Noctis exclaimed. "It's a thing of beauty."

Prompto admired his reflection in the onyx metal. "Boy… you are a lucky one," he whispered.

"Don't I know it… wanna go for a ride?"

"With you at the wheel?" Prompto tapped his chin in mock consideration. "I don't know if I want to die yet."

"Are you serious?" Noctis exclaimed. "I drove it here!"

"I'm sure we'll hear all about it on the evening news as well," Prompto replied.

"Yeah," Gladiolus said. He cleared his throat and, in his best imitation of a newscaster (albeit one with a ridiculously deep voice), said, "Local prince ruins monumental peace treaty after running over half of the Niflheim visitors."

Prompto broke out into riotous laughter. Noctis frowned.

"Never mind. Offer rescinded." In a huff, he turned his back and folded his arms.

A group of four men ran by on the sidewalk, nearly crashing into Gladiolus and Prompto.

"Hey!" Gladiolus shouted.

"Sorry," one of the men said, briefly turning.

Gladiolus studied them. They were dressed all in black, in the unmistakable garb of the Kingsglaive. They rushed down the road and disappeared around a corner.

"The Kingsglaive," Gladiolus said. "Wonder where they are rushing off to?"

"I don't really understand the Kingsglaive," Prompto said. "How are they any different from the Crownsguard?"

"The Crownsguard are the military of Lucis," Gladiolus explained. "The Kingsglaive are more elite. They have been granted power by the king as well, unlike the Crownsguard. Basically, they serve as the royal guard."

"How exactly does the magic stuff work?" Prompto asked. "Like, I get the Lucii line, like Noct here, can use magic because of the ancient bloodline, but how does it work for the Kingsglaive?"

"It's... confusing," Gladiolus said. "The royal line can grant others a part of their power. Noct here can do the same thing for us too."

Noctis nodded. "If you're nice, I might even lend you some."

"I wonder how these guys feel about the treaty?" Gladiolus asked.

"Right," Noctis replied. "A lot of them have homes outside of the city. I can't imagine they're happy about the treaty."

"A lot of people aren't," Prompto muttered.

"Oh?" Noctis asked.

"Yeah... I've been hearing it all over. A lot of whispering, both negative and positive. There are people who have families out there, so some people feel like they've been thrown to the wolves..." Prompto looked over at Noctis, and noticed his expression had twisted into a grimace. "I mean, I don't I think all that! I'm just saying... it's what I heard."

Noctis was silent. He rapped his fingers on the Regalia.

"Don't think I haven't noticed," Noctis mumbled after a moment. "I don't know what dad is thinking. This whole thing seems wrong. Niflheim being here... I've got a bad feeling about the whole thing, but I don't know what to do about it."

"We just have to trust that the king knows what he is doing," Gladiolus said. "He's been doing this for a long time. He's a smart man, and he's doing everything he can. I'm sure of it." He pulled Noctis in with his arm, the young prince protesting. "We'll keep an eye out, yeah? And if anything goes wrong... I'll be here to protect you."

He released Noctis, who stumbled backward into the car. "Thanks, Gladio," he mumbled.

"I think it's time we got ready," Gladiolus said. "Things are going to get hectic tonight."

At the foot of the steps of the citadel, Cor Leonis had been pacing back and forth, considering the actions he was soon to take. Prince Noctis was at the market. Soon he'd be heading home to grab his clothes for the celebration. The Crownsguard had been monitoring him from a safe distance, feeding the reports back to him. Still... he saw something in the eyes of his soldiers. Even in those of the Kingsglaive. Their loyalty was being pushed to the limit. The threat of dissension was therefore at an all-time high, and Cor found himself gripping his katana harder than ever.

It had been days since the announcement of the terms of peace, and as Cor moved through the crowds of Insomnia, the whispers of the vox populi spoke promises of a coming turmoil. A broken people. He had made sure to look into the people under his command and keep close watch on those who had family outside of the city. The entirety of the Kingsglaive fell under this. All of them had hailed from towns and villages in the desert of Leide. They had seen bloodshed. They had joined in the hopes of protecting their families.

Cor ultimately could not object. His family had always been contained within Insomnia and he could not be sure if his loyalty would have crumbled in the face of these revelations.

"Good afternoon, marshal," said Ignis, whose voice pulled Cor from his grim thoughts.

Cor straightened himself out and cleared his throat as he saw the approaching retainer of Prince Noctis.

"Ah, Ignis," Cor said. "I'm glad you've made it."

"A request for a meeting with the leader of the Crownsguard can hardly be ignored," Ignis replied.

Cor laughed. "Of course." He cleared his throat again as he prepared to get down to business. "I imagine the terms of surrender have been made clear to you." Ignis nodded. "Good. The king has orders for us. Yours are not much different than they were before. Keep Noctis under watch... A few days ago, we looked into moving Noctis outside of the city before the signing ceremony. It proved unfeasible. This is where you come in, as well as Gladiolus. King Regis is no fool. This signing... is most likely a trap. It will fall to you two then to ensure Noctis makes his way out of the city. Always be nearby. Expect the worst. We know not when they might attack, but we know it is a very distinct possibility. Understand?"

Ignis slowly nodded. "I don't think anyone really trusts Niflheim."

"It would be very unwise to. They have us exactly where they want us. Days ago, Imperial High Chancellor Izunia arrived and gave the terms of our surrender. He made it very clear where we stand. Niflheim is prepared to steamroll over the outlands. There's only so long the king can sustain the wall."

"I do not envy the king his position," Ignis said.

"Nor do I," Cor replied. "Keep your ear to the ground, Ignis. Return to him now. Keep him safe, and keep your phone open. Should our worst fears come true, I will contact you with further instructions."

Ignis bowed. "Of course."

The retainer departed and left Cor to continue his pacing. His phone rang.

"Hello?" he said into the receiver. "Ah. Monica. Good... Have you found Mister Ulric?"