I think at this point, everyone understands that when Noctis sees Ardyn on the train and attacks “Ardyn”, he’s actually attacking Prompto. The bait and switch that makes the chapter interesting. Something I think a lot of people didn’t catch is that you don’t save the train with Prompto, you save it with Ardyn.
Here we have Prompto, getting attacked by Noctis after Ardyn’s bait-n-switch.
Shortly after, Noct falls unconscious, but when he wakes up, Prompto is there. Initially I had the assumption that Prompto had just reverted back to his normal appearance, but this isn’t the case.
We know that this isn’t Prompto, first there’s a few queues in the lines that follow
While I can’t include Audio in this post directly, this is the first line he delivers that is both oddly formal in phrasing and tone. Robbie Daymond does a great job of changing his annunciation for this line, and sounding much more formal. (audio)
Next suspect lines are during the battle… these changes are subtle, but they differ from Prompto’s character in some interesting ways.
First of all, what an interesting battle to introduce an ENTIRELY NEW Battle banter that we’ve never heard before, and never hear again. If you listen throughout the battle, you won’t notice any of his normal battle banter, at least not nearly as much. All the dialogue that really remain the same are his techniques
Second, we’ve always known Prompto to be a little bit timid in battle, though he’s brave when the time is right. However, Prompto has never been one to be overconfident, and he’s never been one to joke about the prospect of death. If you listen to the way these lines are delivered in english, they’re entirely nonchalant– not delivered in his usual anxious sarcasm.
Finally as far as damning banter goes... “Prompto” forgetting about guns for a second.(audio)
Finally, the definitive thing, they are switched in this sequence, proving that Ardyn can take Prompto’s form just as he can make Prompto take his.
So… that battle adds a little weight to this line.
ATTENTION 📣 📣 📣:
This also means that being attacked by Noctis, and being pushed off the train were the only things Prompto experienced before being taken to Gralea.
Which makes this question all the more important.
That entire time he was being tortured he had to wonder if Noctis had found out his secret, if he really hated him, really wanted to kill him, or was even coming for him, but he hung on, just to make sure that they were still friends.
Imagine Final Fantasy 