Chronicles Three: Voices

"Sophiar Laboratories Log: Tuesday, 20th of June, Year 747 ME. This is Dr. Reginald Callum recording. Nero's abilities have increased as he nearly put St. Ignis' Hospital in Keycatrich under with powerful telepathy. It was during the game last Saturday when he passed out from unknown causes at the time and he was transported to St. Ignis'. We then found out that it was due to exhaustion, but that wasn't possible as the children weren't pushed to their limits during the game. And based on my findings, it was more of his power awakening. And apparently, someone has been trying to contact him telepathically. But who? The only ones that have such abilities are those from our family line."


Wednesday, June 21st, Sophiar Labs…

After getting discharged and seeing Pietro practically hovering over him in almost everything he did, Nero stayed home after Dr. Callum pulled him off the team for the season. Apparently, whatever was going on with him and his abilities was affecting his daily life and the dark-haired boy didn't like that. He wanted to finish the season and finally get the Lucian Knights to victory. But he couldn't do that passing out every five seconds.

Disappointed, Nero started doing chores and noticed Pietro was nowhere to be found in the manor. Relieved, as his best bud/foster brother wasn't there to watch nearly his every move like a helicopter mom, Nero grabbed his laundry bag, placed it on his lap, and started rolling towards the laundry room on the 1st floor. His room was on the second and a series of ramps and turns allowed him to reach without the need of using the manor's elevator. He didn't like using it as he wanted to be as independent as he could be.

Once there, he stopped at the door, hearing an odd beat. It was rather catchy and sounded like a tribal march from Galahd. Opening the door, he saw Pete staring at the 1st washing machine, and the blonde was confused as he stood in the rather large room that could've been mistaken for a laundromat.

"Uh, did you drop the Jak and Daxter game disc in there or something?" Nero asked.

"No. I just put my clothes in there and it started doing this tribal beat. Pretty sweet, though!" Pietro said.

He grinned and rushed out of the room. Nero figured that Pietro would do something weird and braced himself for the chaos. Putting his bag on the floor, near the "rocker washer", Nero asked, "Uh, is there a tribal warrior in there? Um…"

"Sounds like the washing machine's a time traveler. What's inside?"

That voice from before. Nero looked around, trying to find the source, but there wasn't anyone else there. It spoke again, asking, "Why does it sound like tribal drums?"

"I…I dunno. But I don't wanna open it and mess up the rhythm," Nero said aloud.

"Huh? What?"

Pietro returned with a guitar and a camera. He grinned and said, "Nero record me rocking out! I'll call this song, 'Washer Gear: Revengeance'!"

"You know 'revengeance' isn't a word, right? And we can get sued by the 'Iron Gear' people," Nero said, trying to discourage his friend from making a rather lame video.

"C'mon! It'll be cool! Like who else has a 'death metal' washing machine?" Pietro said.

"I'm pretty sure that beat's not death metal. Sounds like a legion of washing machines is about to attack."

Nero clamped up, hearing the voice a third time. Pietro noticed and asked, "You okay? You need to take a break?"

"I'm fine. I just think that this is more tribal or something," Nero said.

The washer changed the beat, slowing down and Pietro started playing the guitar. He then sang, "RULES OF LAUNDRY! RULES OF LAUNDRY! As the hills of laundry piles up…"

"Does he do this often?"

"Yup. He does," Nero muttered, thinking of ways to get rid of the video footage of his best friend rocking out to a washing machine.

"Dad…? Why are there…?" Regina said, seeing a very odd sight.


The blonde-haired Stella and Cato's eyes were wide as they saw two of them…their father. Or what was left of him. One was the familiar and hated Mad King while the other…was something else. He looked far more feral than the other and couldn't really stand well as he staggered after shooting the Mad King with a Thundaga spell.

But they had a job to do and that was to free Eos. And if she was in that statue, then…

"Hold them off!" Regina said.

Stella and Cato summoned their weapons, with Stella using a small shield and short sword and Cato using twin pistols. They attacked the two kings, with Stella clashing with the Mad One and Cato firing at the newcomer. If they could buy Regina some time, she could use whatever power she could muster to awaken Eos. And if she could, then the goddess could help them start over.

Floating above the scene, Nero watched as the group started fighting the two. The youngest of the group, Stella, blocked a punch and staggered back from the grey-haired, looking like he was a zombie "Mad King". The other, her twin brother Cato, fired shots at the other man, who looked like he was a grey-haired version of the long-gone Draconian in the Cosmogony.

The "Draconian" was shot several times, but got up after each hit. The blonde-haired Cato, who looked like a Galahdian rocker with the sides of his head shaved and the middle tied up in a ponytail, continued to shoot. He yelled, "Just stay down, already!"

The "Draconian" tried to say something, but his voice came out raspy and unintelligible. He also had a sad expression on his face as he continued to approach but was pushed back by gunshots. He also didn't look injured either from getting attacked like he was in one of those questionable crime movies.

The eldest of the trio, Regina, rushed towards a statue that looked like a woman holding a giant sword and was petrified in mid-swing. The expression on her face was one of determination and Nero wondered why the statue looked familiar. As a matter of fact, the whole darkened ruins looked familiar to the boy. But that wasn't possible as he had never left Leide before.

"C'mon. I need you to help us," Regina said.

She pulled out a small crystal from her pocket and started channeling red light and fire into it. As she did, the dark-haired young woman became more and more pale. As if she was…

"NO!"

The "Mad King" punched Stella, sending her flying toward the edge of the platform, and he lunged at Regina, who was too busy concentrating. Cato and the "Draconian" stopped fighting each other and quickly rushed towards the "Mad King". The "Draconian" stopped midway, collapsing while holding his head in pain. Cato jumped, trying to tackle the "Mad King", but missed and hit the stone floor.

Regina gasped, getting pushed off the stone walkways by the "Mad King". But she tossed the crystal she was holding and it struck the left thigh of the statue. Eyes wide, the "Mad King" could only watch as the statue was engulfed in bright light. The "Draconian", however, roared violently, turning into a black-scaled dragon and flying down where Regina was knocked off.

Nero covered his face, the light becoming blinding, and heard the shrieks and cries of the group as the light engulfed everything in those ruins.


"Nero! Nero, bud, wake up!" Pietro said.

Nero had fallen asleep while the two were playing "Gaiabound 2: Gigas Strikes Back". The two had gotten to a place called Tucson after a long dungeon crawl and Nero dozed off on the family room's couch. Pietro didn't think that part of the game became boring, but…

"Nero, bud, c'mon. We're in the next part of the game. And it's your turn to play," Pietro said, shaking his friend.

Nero's eyes shot open and he looked around. But something was off. He looked around as if not knowing where he was and his eyes started glowing red. The light that usually showed in his veins didn't appear and he looked at Pietro.

The blonde froze, not knowing if his friend would attempt to do that echoic speech that caused headaches. Instead, Nero, or what seemed to be him, asked, "You're…?"

"Um…Nero? Y-You okay, bud?" Pietro asked.

"Nero? That's not…?" "Nero" said.

Wait, Nero…? Nero wasn't "Nero"? What was…? Did this have to do with what Dr. Callum told him earlier, Pietro thought?

"He's probably going to be so mad. Um…You're 'Pete', right?" "Nero" asked.

"It's short for Pietro. But um, yeah," Pietro told him.

"I didn't think we could switch like this. But…if he asks, I didn't mean to switch. It just sort of happened," "Nero" said.

So, if he wasn't Nero, then…?

"Who're you then?" Pietro asked.

"Nero" looked a bit lost and his eyes fluttered for a moment. He shook his head and said, "What…? What just…?"

Pietro grinned and said, "Hey! Welcome back, buddy!"

"Um, what?" Nero asked.

Pietro explained what happened and Nero looked surprised. He then said, "Did…Did I say anything weird like that?"

"That 'other you' said something about not knowing you could switch and it just 'sort of happened'. Is it because you got telepathy or something?" Pietro asked.

Nero shrugged and Pietro said, "It was kinda creepy."

"Sorry," Nero muttered, looking quite ashamed of himself.

"It's okay. I just hope something like that doesn't happen when we're back in school," Pietro said, turning his attention back to the game.

Nero seemed to perk up, saying, "I thought we agreed I'll play in Tucson and Happy-Happy Village."

"You sure you're up to this?" Pietro said.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Really," Nero told him while taking the controller.

"Noct…? Noctis, are you there? Can you hear me? Wait, why are there…? If this is the case, then we need to wake up soon and very soon."


Monday, June 26th, Sophiar Baseball Flats, Leiden Parks Department Number 2…

"Wow, so this is a baseball game?"

'I was pretty sure that you saw when you made me pass out and get taken off the team this season,' Nero thought, grumbling.

He joined Pietro in going to another baseball game as the Lucian Knights were going up against the Galdin Trevallies. Since Nero wasn't a part of the team anymore that season, all he could do was watch, but at least he was allowed in the dugout, which made several of his teammates whoop and holler in glee. Coach Amici was surprised and said, "Dr. Callum let you come?"

"Yeah. Well, it's not that far from my house. And besides, you guys may need some help, right?" Nero said, hoping to get back on the team.

"Sorry, kid. I already turned in the batting order. And your dad will probably kill me if I let you back on the team now," Coach Amici said.

Nero sighed. It was worth a shot. Maybe next time?

"I don't know. After that accident, I don't think your coach wants to risk it."

'And who's fault is that?' Nero thought, not finding replying to the voice as weird.

"I said I was sorry. Can't you forgive me?"

'I don't even know who you are,' Nero thought as he rolled towards the bats.

He saw who was up first and groaned. It was Iolanda. The Moogle plush-holding girl rushed to Nero and asked, "You're not playing?"

"No. Dad took me off the team. But I'll cheer ya on from here," Nero said, handing her a bat.

He then stared at her and said, "Hit the ball and run like they're gonna steal Moggy."

Iolanda's mood changed and Nero heard the voice say, "Creepy. Is she always like this with that really ugly Moogle doll?"

'Unfortunately, yes,' Nero thought, replying.

To the voice's surprise, Iolanda hit the ball, making a cracking sound with the bat, and took off running. She dodged the first baseman, slid past the second, and got caught between the second and third base. Everyone in the dugout, including Nero, yelled at her to keep dodging as the opposing team kept tossing the ball back and forth, attempting to tag her out. To everyone's surprise, the third baseman tried to tag her, only for Iolanda to cartwheel out of the way. She made it to third base and the home team crowd cheered.

"Whoa! What did you say to her, Nero?" Pietro asked, incredulous.

"All I said was hit the ball and run like they're gonna steal her Moogle plush," Nero replied.

"That seemed like proper motivation."

"Okay, Pete, you're up next," Coach Amici said.

Nero handed Pete his bat, a steel bat, and said, "Hit it over the fence! You can do it!"

"We're praying for you," Cece said, sounding a bit condescending.

Pietro cut eyes at her and immediately stopped, saying, "Isn't she caring?"

Nero didn't think so but said nothing.


"What is that…?" Prompto said, cautiously approaching something that looked like a humanoid, giant lizard.

Whatever it was, it wore tattered and torn black bits of clothing and looked like a humanoid dragon. The creature had finished slaying a Garulessa, one of the few faunas that were left in the world and looked ready to consume it. The black-scaled creature heard Prompto approach and it locked its fire-red eyes onto him. The sight was terrifying and Prompto regretted going off on his own near Alstor Slough.

"H-Hey…are you…is that you, bud?" Prompto asked, noticing the bits of cloth that looked familiar.

The draconian beast snarled, barring very sharp teeth, and seemed to not want the blonde near its dinner. But Prompto wasn't interested in taking its meal. He just needed to know if the rumors were true. Rumors from some of the surviving hunters claimed that they saw two versions of the Mad King. The one everyone knew was hiding out most days in the Citadel, sending hordes of monsters to various parts of Eos. The other was seen haunting the lands near the Nebulawood. The few fauna left in the region had hightailed it out of there and any zombified persons kept clear of the place as well.

With Luna and Aranea, Prompto left their hideaway in Saxham, only to get lost in the midst of the forest and wound up outside of it. That's where he saw the sight of the beast, attacking a lone Garulessa. The bits of cloth that it wore were tattered and barely covered its scaly chest, legs, and back. The sight was pitiful and Prompto started to think the rumors were true. If that was the case, then he needed to reach his buddy and fast.

With a loud roar and the beast fully transformed into a dragon, burning the last bits of the clothing and its humanoid form with blue flames. The large black beast that oddly looked like a wild version of Bahamut violently roared in Prompto's face and the man doubted that his friend was even in there. Steeling himself for what would be his final battle, as there was no way he could run away fast enough, Prompto muttered, "Sorry, Noct…If it's really you, I'm sure you'd want me to end all this."


"Yes! Yes! Yes! We won! We won!" Pietro said, very happy as the team had finally won a game.

Nero grinned, seeing that his motivation tactics had worked. Maybe he should return to the team as a junior coach or something. As if knowing what he was thinking, Pietro said, "I doubt Dr. Callum'll let you come back."

"Well, I'mma convince him that I'm fine. Seriously, I didn't pass out or anything today," Nero said.

Pietro, happy, bounced around and said, "We finally won a game! Seriously, let's get something to celebrate!"

Nero's grin grew wider as he knew just what to get. Some Cup Noodles! All they had to do was find the truck and…

"Cup Noodles? Are you sure that you would want to eat that? No schnitzel sandwiches? No stew?"

'And there goes the voice again,' Nero thought, annoyed.

Pietro noticed the sudden silence and said, "Um, well I can get the Cup Noodles for you and you can get back to the house."

"But I'm fine!" Nero said, getting frustrated.

Pietro shook his head and Nero sighed, seeing that he couldn't change his friend's mind. With a huff, Nero rolled himself back to his home, with several of the scientists and other workers giving him bewildered looks upon his return. He went to his room, shut the door, and sighed loudly.

Not caring if anyone heard him, Nero said, "I'm fine. Why is everyone treating me like I'm made of glass or something?"

"I'm sure it's just a sign that they care for you."

Nero grumbled, as the voice's incessant contacting him was very annoying. And possibly the reason why he had been passing out lately. If he could figure out why, then Nero felt he could shut the voice out.

Calming down and heading for the family room, as it was his turn to play Gaiabound, Nero rolled along, seeing several aides below, discussing something. They were hired by the government to aid his father in whatever research they were in. He didn't get why his home had to be a lab, but it had always been like that. He also wondered why his dad placed sensors all over his room. The boy doubted that the man was aware that he knew of their existence.

After arriving in the family room and seeing the game system, the Tinden GameCo. "Switch", Nero took the controller, placed it on the couch, and hoisted himself out of the chair and onto the right side of the sofa. Waving a hand towards the television, the flat screen turned on and Nero grinned as the title screen of the game appeared. He loaded up the last save, which was in the terrifyingly blue "Happy-Happy Village." Almost everything, save for the landscape and main character, was colored in varying shades of blue. It was rather depressing and Nero hoped never to see a place like that in real life.

"So, this is 'Happy-Happy Village'? Ironic as blue is usually associated with sadness."

And the voice was back. Out loud, Nero asked, "So, what's the deal with you contacting me all the time? Who're you?"

"I…Um…I don't know why I can contact you…And…I don't really remember my name…The last thing I remember is this…lady attacking me. She had something that looked like a giant sickle and…well…"

"So, you're a ghost or something?" Nero asked.

"Um…no. I don't think so. After I got attacked, I woke up in this weird metal place. And I haven't been able to leave. And no one's told me my name. All I got is a serial code on my forearm."

Nero looked down at his right forearm and yelped as he saw a QR code with a series of numbers around it. The numbers were "0114-736-8003". The boy shook his head and the numbers he saw on his arm were gone. Shaken and wanting to get back to the game, Nero tried to ignore the voice and forget what he saw.

He had the main character, Ness Takaya, walk around the village to get information. While doing that, Nero ran into several enemies, all of them dressed in blue sheets. The sight was unsettling as they looked like the people that actively hunted down Lucians and Galahdians way back in the day as they dared to defy the establishment. Or so his grandfather, Morrison Callum, told him.

"Lucians? That's what everyone's called here?"

Nero was about to reply and screamed as he saw a white-haired kid sitting on his left. He fell to the floor with a loud thud and the newcomer looked at him and asked, "Huh? What's wrong?"

The white-haired boy in grey and white clothes stared, not getting why Nero was scared. The boy came out of nowhere and he was on his couch and, and…

Looking at himself, the boy, who actually was translucent like a ghost, muttered, "It…It worked. It actually worked."

"Nero!"

The door burst open and Dr. Callum entered, seeing his son on the floor. He looked around and two other assistants appeared, helping Nero up. Worried, the man asked, "What happened? Are you alright, son?"

Nero nodded and the ghost kid said, "This your dad?"

Unwilling to reply, as he didn't want to have his dad think he was crazy, Nero said nothing. Dr. Callum, however, said to his assistants, "Please help Nero onto the couch. I'll take it from here."

With a nod, the pair did as they were told and left. Dr. Callum closed the door and said, "Now, who are you?"

Nero was taken aback and the "ghost kid" asked, "You…You can see me?"

With a stern expression, the man said, "Yes. Telepathy is one of the abilities our family has. And I know that you've been contacting Nero for quite some time. Who are you and why are you spying on my son?"

"I-I wasn't spying. I…I was just…I just wanted someone to talk to. There's no one here for me to talk to and all I've ever seen is this metal room and…" the ghostly one said, voice choking up a bit.

He looked sad and Dr. Callum told him, "I understand that. But…there is no reason for you to have such an ability. And you contacting my son has placed him in harm's way…with the incident at Keycatrich."

"I didn't mean…I really didn't…" the ghostly boy said, disappearing.

Once gone, Dr. Callum said, "Nero. Please ignore that boy as much as you can. I'm afraid certain groups will…"

"Will what?" Nero said.

Dr. Callum sat on the bed and explained. The Callum family came from an ancient Lucian line that exhibited supernatural traits more so than average Lucians. Said abilities allowed for them to perform wondrous feats and even helped them rule the Cavaugh region for a time as guardians to the populace. But when Gestahlians grew in power and took over the entire continent, Lucians, and their neighbors, the Galahdians, were driven from their homes. The Callum family went into hiding and…

"We're just regular people now?" Nero said.

Dr. Callum nodded and said, "I thought your powers would awaken when you were about 15, but I see that the Six had other plans. Your mother was sure that it wouldn't appear so early but after the Balouve incident…"

The man's expression grew sad and Nero remembered it was a touchy subject. His mother, while carrying him, continued to work at the underground labs near Longwythe Town. There was an accident involving a crystal and...

"Your mother…If she had stayed behind that day, she would be here with us," Dr. Callum said, looking sullen.

He then shook his head and said, "There's no use dwelling on it now. Just please heed my warning. Do not allow that child to contact you again. I'm afraid if it's what I fear, then we'll be in grave danger."

"But you telling me all that, wouldn't that put us in danger too?" Nero asked.

"No, as I've blocked that child's mind from hearing what I told you. But please, remember my warnings, Nero," Dr. Callum said.

He left and Nero heard, "Um, I'm not going to say anything."

"Wait. You heard everything?" Nero said.

The ghost kid returned, looking down at the floor. He nodded and said, "Um, I kinda went and read your mind when your dad created telepathic blocks. He's a powerful telepath, but…Maybe he has to practice more?"

Nero's face paled and the boy told him, "I promise I won't say anything as I…literally can't. I can't speak and the only way I can talk is with telepathy. But I won't say anything about you to those science guys where I'm at."

Looking at the security feed in the family room while sitting in his office, Reginald sighed, realizing that the "ghost child" had returned. Apparently, he found the man's telepathy inadequate to keep him away as he learned everything. Based on his clothes, he looked like someone from the fortress labs near the Ostium Gorge. He had seen a few in that attire when he visited recently and wondered if…

"Oh no…If…If he's one of Viktor's…experiments…then…" Reginald muttered.

"He's not like that. He's a good kid."

A familiar chirp and a light blue tinted fox with a ruby on horn its head appeared. Reginald smiled, not seeing his little friend in months. The fox hopped on top of the desk and chirped, mentally telling him, "Hello, Reg."

"Carbuncle. To what do I owe this pleasure?" Reginald asked.

"Levi wanted me to check up on you two. She said something about a 'kid in white'," Carbuncle said, looking around.

Another chirp and he asked, "So, Nero met him already?"

"Telepathically. But if he's what I think he is, then we may need to move," Reginald said.

"Trust me. I've seen him and the poor kid's one of hundreds of kids like him. But he's a good kid. Just need to learn to control his powers," Carbuncle told him.

What did Carbuncle mean by "kids like him"? And "hundreds"? What was going on?

Before the doctor could ask, Carbuncle said, "If you're really worried about him, don't. They don't even let him out of his cell as the scientists declared him 'too dangerous to be let out'. But the other kids they do. And anyone that comes near doesn't stay long for him to even try to start up a telepathic conversation. Almost as if they're terrified of what he could possibly do."

More information that Reginald was lost on. He tried to ask, but Carbuncle hopped off the table and said, "If you're really curious, just look up the 'Two Worlds' project Aure was working on. You'll get a bit of an inkling of what's really going on."

Carbuncle then disappeared in a flash of red light.


"Noctis? Noctis, please! It is I, Luna…WHOA!"

Lunafreya, after Prompto tracked down the black dragon hunters said was haunting the Nebulawood, arrived just as the blonde gunner dodged a salvo of fireballs. The large dragon thrashed about in the open tree line, threatening to set the entire forest on fire and possibly blow up the old armory in the woods. Joined by Aranea Highwind, the dragoon and former Niflheim commodore, pulled Luna behind a boulder, saw the sight, and asked, "Two Mad Kings and two dragons?"

"I'm afraid so. Aranea…?" Luna said.

"On it," Aranea said, leaping into the air with the Stoss Spear.

Lunafreya stepped out of her hiding spot and called out to the dragon again, seeing nothing that would suggest that it was Noctis. The dragon, with scales as black as night, roared viciously as Prompto ducked behind some boulders. Luna called out a third time in a rather loud voice and the dragon seemed to hear her. It landed in front of her and roared in her face, releasing nearly toxic halitosis.

'Noct wouldn't be too pleased with himself if he was lucid…If this really is him,' Luna thought.

Holding her trident close and locking eyes with the beast, she saw the fire-red eyes of the dragon. There was madness as well as powerful hatred and rage. As if it was completely blinded by all three. Its appearance looked like something from one of the games Prompto and Noctis used to play. What was it, "Daemon Hunter"?

Another roar followed by a snarl and Luna said, "Please, stop! Stop attacking! It is I, Lunafreya!"

The dragon rose up and was about to crush her when Aranea came crashing down, slamming the Stoss Spear into the back of its head. The beast reeled, not able to tell what happened, and fell. Luna teleported out of the way, next to Prompto in his hiding spot. Aranea, looking smug, said, "You did say if anything like this happened, I could beat the crap outta ya."

A growl and the dragon quickly woke up, rising up and releasing a powerful wave of energy. Aranea was sent flying and she landed near the armory. Seeing this, the dragoon leaped into the air just as the black dragon released a powerful blast of flames. The blue and red flames struck the armory and the ruins exploded, setting the forest on fire. It then flew off, heading in the direction of Lestallum.

Aranea landed next to Prompto and Luna and the former Oracle used what little power she had to teleport them out of the burning forest and onto a cliff near the Disc. The trio saw the flames and smoke rise up to the heavens. The sight was horrible and added to the already dreary landscape Lucis had become.

Praying, Luna muttered, "Please, someone. Anyone from the Six and Stars Above. We need help…We've…We've lost him…"


And there's the next chapter. So, it seems that in one of these realities, Noctis was turned into a monster and everything went downhill for Eos.

How will this relate to this fic? Stay tuned.

-miano53