Another AU I was thinking about to music.

What if Ardyn and Somnus were twins? Like, fraternal twins. Ardyn was older by only a few minutes, but didn’t want the throne. Just like my last AU, they have magic without the crystal, but this time around Ardyn kind of gives into the temptation of running off for a year when they turn 20 and exploring the world before he has to come back and step in as his father’s heir. Somnus encourages this, and in the dead of night he takes off.

Problem is that the gods, like in the last AU, were planning on gifting them the crystal and putting the same plan in action. Ardyn is the only one who can heal people, because that’s what he wanted to study with his magic. Somnus learned how to wield the elements instead. And as Ardyn runs around and see sick people, healing them without the tie to the crystal enabling the scourge to seep into his soul, it just starts floating around and binding to the gods instead of him.

So they’re a little cross with Ardyn for ruining their plans already. (Except Ifrit, who is not at all on board with sacrificing his favorite humans.)((The god of light was his favorite fellow god, until he decided to become mortal, after all.)) So they issue Somnus an ultimatum, to save their own hides; Find your brother so he can begin his work for the gods and heal the scourge away.

He’s like, bummer, Ardyn just wanted a year of freedom, but okay. So he starts trailing after his brother with Gilgamesh, (slowly mind you) and starts learning that, hey, Ardyn can already heal the scourge, and two, he knows that I’m looking for him the little shit. Because Ardyn doesn’t know about the god’s proclamation, and is just like, whoops, dad must be super cross with me for taking off if he’s sending my brother and Gil after me, and leaves little clues around spots he’s been indicating where he’s going next. Very obvious clues. Like, literally, he draws on a map at one point that says ‘X marks the spot’ with a huge X on it and a silly looking drawing of Gil and Somnus following a trail to the X.

Occasionally, they spend nights in the same town and never even realize it. Or at least Ardyn doesn’t. The more Somnus learns about his brother, the more he realizes the gods are kind of full of shit. And when he does catch sight of him, he distracts Gil and they go a different direction so they don’t ‘catch’ him. (Gil legit does the same thing though, and knows that Somnus does it too, but he’s amused, so he keeps quiet.)

Eventually Ifrit, seeing that Somnus is now doubting Bahamut, sees his chance. Even though he’s getting sick from the scourge as well, he’s willing to step down as a god to save humanity, and has almost convinced Shiva as well. (He’s been secretly trying to make his fellow gods see Humanity’s worth and how they barely need to watch over them.) Ramuh is already on his side, because he delights in humanity more than he lets on. Leviathan is up in the air constantly changing her mind, but he can’t fault her, its her nature. Titan is behind Bahamut, and set in his way.

Anyways, he appears to Somnus and reveals the false prophecy that Bahamut intends to enact on humanity. Which causes him and Gil to freak out, and honestly try to find Ardyn to warn him away from going home. At the same time, the Draconian grows impatient, and honestly a little corrupted from the scourge that’s been binding to him for months now, and sets literal demons after Ardyn to drag him back to what will be Insomnia, and chain his magic to the scourge by force if he has to.

So eventually, it’d turn into a race against time, with Somnus and Gilgamesh trying to catch up to Ardyn, who is seeing more and more of the infected daily and feels obligated to help. And it turns into him actually being on the run from his brother, because it’s not just fun and games anymore, people are dying and will die if he doesn’t help them. Eventually, though an odd parallel, it would turn into Somnus trying to save his brother, like how Noctis tried to save Luna.

…But I’d want it to have a happier end I think. (Heck, might as well go completely self indulgent and have weird time shenanigans happen because of Somnus’s desperation and magic, and he accidentally yanks Noctis and co into the past to help.)

*edit: Also since one of my head canons is the Noctis looks exactly like Somnus, hilarity ensues once Ardyn sees them together. “Uh….are we triplets or was I adopted?!”

Just an AU I’m playing around with.

So I’m sitting here listening to music and thought of an idea for an Ardyn focused AU. Don’t get me wrong, I love him as a villain, but also, I want to see him just break the prophecy before it started.

Like, just imagine for a moment the reason the royal family has magic is because they’re related to the gods, but chose to walk a mortal life. But as time went on, the reason they had magic was lost. That long before Ardyn was born, the knowledge was lost to them. The gods remember though.

Then the scourge is introduced, and people in Ardyn’s time start getting sick. The gods could have eradicated it themselves, but at the cost of also becoming mortal and losing their magic. Why should they do that though? It would take time, but eventually, they could restore one of the blood line of Lucis to godhood and let them end the scourge by giving up their godhood and magic for good this time. The brothers would serve for this. One would be king, while the other would fall into the scourge.

So they put a plan into action. They appear to the Lucis Caelums and give them the crystal, something that will slowly start siphoning the magic from each successor of the line and storing it until the one they deem ‘the king of light’ is born. They tell them it is the soul of their world and that it must be guarded by the Lucis Caelums, that their magic is divine and was the best fit to over see it’s safety. Which of course they readily agree. The rite to tie the crystal to their line is planned for the next day, and each member will offer themselves up to the crystal to be judged on who will be it’s first protector.

But like, alright, through time shenanigans, imagine that young Ardyn goes to bed that night and dreams of thousands of years. He sees everything. The rise and fall of himself. His brother being tricked by the draconian into ‘killing’ him. Years of isolation in the prison on Angelgard. Getting free and walking into a world where the people have forgotten him. Learning early on that isolation was better than watching people he grew attached to die while he still lived. Hearing the plans the god had for his family. Growing hopelessly entrapped by the chains of the ‘prophecy’ and trying to change it. Being beaten into submission by the gods through the passage of years. The gods won’t let him die until he accepts that he’d to die on their terms. And when he accepts it, Noctis is born.

This part of the dream is the most vivid. Imagine him seeing Noctis, seeing that he has the face of brother, and his chest hurts. But he plays the roll of the villain and gets lost in the thought that soon, it’ll finally be over. He’ll die finally. He’ll have peace and…

Then he wakes, and he screams. He screams and cries, and REFUSES. With his heart beat in his ears, he runs to the crystal. He knows the truth. That it’s a shackle to the god’s will. His magic has always been HIS, and is not tied to the crystal. Not yet. He hasn’t received the order from the crystal, the gods really, to heal the people and allow the scourge to infect him down to his very soul. He knows what he is, and the crystal is at it’s weakest then. The only magic that has touched it has been from the gods that made it.

His brother and father run through the door the moment he places his hands on the surface of the crystal. And upon touching it, he’s in the Draconian’s realm, standing before a god. And he screams at him, accuses him, and firmly states that he refuses to let his family be used. The Daconian’s roars and an argument for the ages ensues. But the god doesn’t have a leg to stand on.

And before the Draconian can make a physical move, to stop him from foiling their plan, he’s back outside the crystal and forcing all his magic into it’s surface, splitting and cracking it apart with his fury. As it cracks, magic rips through the air. Flashes of the future, projected from Ardyn’s mind, echo around him and his family. And when it breaks apart, he collapses. It shatters, and when it does, it rips the magic from the gods, and kills the scourge before it can even really get a foot hold in the world.

chocobroness:

Here’s the one-shot I promised!

Prompto is like…8 In this. Can’t really decide.

I’m gonna leave this here before my anxiety tells me no.

—

He could always hear the singing, no matter what. He didn’t hear them that well but, sometimes when he was sad, or when it was night time and he was scared, the singing got just a bit louder. Like it was trying to make him feel better.

He liked the singing. Even if he didn’t know what the singing was. Even if he couldn’t hear what was being sung. He tried to explain it to him mom and dad, but they would only look at him oddly and say they couldn’t hear anything.

No one could hear it, and eventually he stopped talking about it. But he didn’t mind. Because it made him feel special, like the singing was just for him.

No matter where he went or how alone he was, the singing stayed with him. he liked that.

he liked the feeling of not being alone.

Today he had been a little excited, he was going on a trip to Galdin Quay with his parents, its been so long since they spent time together as a family and anytime spent with them was a treasure he did his best to cherish.

They had gotten there early morning to check in and had spent the day enjoying the beach and the yummy food. By night time, he had taken lots of photos with his camera, planning on sharing his photos with them later that night, like he used to when they were less busy with work.

Or he would have, had they not run into a business associate of theirs and soon been left to his own devices.

So here he was, hidden within the cover of night, sitting far away from the pier and watching the waves hit his bare feet.

He was told to be careful at night, because of the daemons they said, but he didn’t care, maybe his parents would notice him if he was in the dark long enough.

He closed his eyes. Paying attention to the soft singing that never leaves him, letting himself relax as it grew just a bit louder than normal.

“Now this is curious.”

“Ah!” He jumped and spun around, his heart pounding so hard against his chest. His eyes immediately landed on the one that frightened him.

His was really tall, taller than both his parents. his hair was kinda purple-lish red, and his eyes yellow but not really. The man was smiling as he walked closer to him.

“My apologies, I had no intention of startling you. Merely curious as to what a young boy like you was doing sitting alone at such a dangerous time.” Prompto ducked his head, hiding his face in his knees.

“Quite brave of you to be here.” The man continued, having now crouched down beside him, uncaring of the fact that his pant legs were getting wet.

“But bravery can also become foolish with enough quantities.”

“…M’sorry.”

“Quite alright child.” The tall man looked out to the sea, where the moon was large and full, almost touching the ocean line.

“Might I inquire your name?” Name? Oh, that’s right, he hadn’t given the man his name, mom would be mad if she heard that he was rude.

“I’m Prompto, nice to meet you.”

“A pleasure young Prompto, you may call me Ardyn” The talking stopped for a little while after, but Prompto didn’t mind, he just listened to the singing in his head, and he didn’t feel as lonely as usual with the strange man, Ardyn, next to him.

He closed his eyes and lost himself to the sound of the waves and the songs,

Songs that were surprisingly louder than normal.

He could almost make out words. Words he didn’t understand, words that seem so different than what he heard spoken by everyone around him, words that spun such pretty sounds.

And the man next to him was humming along to the very tune of the songs.

He looked at him, never having met another person who could hear the singing like him. Did that mean he wasn’t alone? That there was a reason he could hear the singing?

Ardyn glanced at the boy next to him and noticed him staring.

“Curious about my humming?” He smirked when Prompto seemed to realize what he was doing and turn red in embarrassment. But he nodded in response to his question.

“Well, its a special melody, not everyone can hear it. ” He seemed to be amused by his own words. “Not everyone gets a chance to hear it for long.”

“Is…"Prompto tried to figure out how to word it. “Is it special when you do hear it for a long time?”

Ardyn tilted his head, seeming to ponder the boy’s question.

“In a way, ” He started slowly. “There once was a time, that people knew of those who could hear the melody, many searched for those who could, but none could be found. Or rather, none wanted to be found.”

Prompto was now curious, not realizing that the singing grew louder, more possessive in a way.

“Why wouldn’t they want to be found?”

“They were very special. So special, the gods themselves were envious of them.For it was rumored that the songs they heard were connected to an entity that was more powerful than the combined power of the gods we worship today.”

“Woooow!” Ardyn chuckled at the look of amazement being shown by the boy.

“Indeed, But the gods were not pleased by the melody and demaned that no one listen to it again. Those that could, would not abandon the entity on the jealous whims of the six, so they hid, and the melody hid with them.”

“And no one heard about them again?”

“Indeed, lost to the seas of time and history.” Prompto couldn’t help but look down, thinking about what he heard. Why would they hide? Was it bad? Was a dangerous to be able to hear the singing?

“Oh no, They simply wished to be hidden, forgotten by the world.” Prompto blushed as he realized he spoke aloud.

“S-so that means no one could hear the singing anymore?”

“Well…not completely true. After all. I can.” Prompto perked up, the man’s face showing amusement.

“Really?’

"Of course, it would be useless to know of such people if I myself could not hear what they were known for.”

He could feel his heart pound heavily against his chest, because here was someone who could hear the same thing he could, that could tell him more about why he could hear them.

“I…”

“Hm…?”

Prompto was nervous, but his curiosity towards the subject was strong at this point.

“I…you..do you know how you can find out if someone can hear the singing too?” Ardyn stared at him, a moment of silence passed by them, Prompto fidgeting under his eyes.

”…Close your eyes” Prompto blinked in confusion, before doing so. After a moment of nothing, he felt of hand rest itself on his head.

“Huh?”

“Relax child.” Prompto took a deep breath and let it out, trying to do as he said.

He paid attention to the singing. listening to strange words that seemed so otherworldly.

He listened to them as they became louder than ever before.

Heard as the voices singing seemed to realize that they were becoming clearer to his ears. Felt as his being was flooded with their joy and pleasure at finally being truly heard.

So loud, the singing, it was as if he was surrounded by thousands and thousands of people, all wanting to be heard by him and him alone.

He never had anyone feel that way about him, not even his parents.

And here was this strange man, giving to him something he had wanted for so long in his short life.

He felt the hand leave his head, felt himself panic for a moment as the singing grew quieter, but immediately calming down when he realized he could still hear them clearly, still could make out different voices, and different words. So very different

but seeming to fit perfectly well within each other.

“Are you alright child?” He opened his eyes and looked at them man, gentle concern in his eyes. Prompto slowly reached up to touch his own cheeks.

They were wet, he had not realized he began crying, overwhelmed by such potent emotions.

“I’m glad I met you.” Was all he could say to the man, his voice hoarse as if he had cried greatly for hours.

“Oh?” The man seemed surprised at that, Prompto felt that he wasn’t surprised easily. But that didn’t matter to him.

“I’m not alone anymore.” He smiled at him, big and bright, and so very genuine.

“I can hear them now.” Ardyn didn’t seem to register what the boy was saying for a moment, having not felt this unaware in such a long time.

“I’m so happy. I could never hear them so clearly before! And it’s all because of you! All I want to do is sit here and listen to this singing forever!”

The man stilled at the child’s words.

“You can… hear them…truly.” But Prompto wasn’t paying anymore attention to him. Closing his eyes and focusing on the beautiful singing that was so wonderfully clear to him now, humming along to them, feeling the rush of joy that surged through him as the singing matched him tune for tune.

Ardyn watched the child slowly sway to the unheard song. A song no one else has heard since the fall of Solheim. Since he had walked down the path of immortality. He reached out. Gently grasping the boy’s head and pulling him close. Pressing his lips against golden locks with a tenderness that he had not used since those days so very long ago. When all that matter were him, his brother, and the future ahead.

“My dear, precious rarity.” He murmured quietly, closing his now bright golden eyes, the scourge exposing itself and listening alongside the boy to the songs and whispers of the daemons and souls beyond and within.

“The gods that damned me may not have planned for your birth, or for our meeting, but it seems Mother Eos and Lady Etro have granted me a gift i shall not take for granted.” He felt the daemons within, countless, separate from him yet all connected to one being, roar in what seemed to be agreement. As if placing claim on the boy themselves.

‘Somnus, if you could be here now.’ He thought, holding the boy close. ‘If you could be by my side and see this young child.’

“You won’t be alone Prompto.” He whispered in the language of old, the words slipping from his tongue as if he never stop speaking them. “Not anymore.“

—

(I would most certainly like if you told me what you thought of this. Please and thank you!)