Nyxnoct

Nyxnoct is the slash ship between Noctis Lucis Caelum and Nyx Ulric from the Final Fantasy XV fandom.

Canon
As the two protagonists of Final Fantasy XV—Nyx as the lead in Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV and Noctis mainlining the game and other installments itself—Nyx and Noctis bear many parallels and similarities to one another as well as the circumstances they become embroiled in.

As a Glaive of King Regis’ Kingsglaive, Nyx Ulric was a native of Galahd who lived there with the likes of Libertus Ostium—with whom he ran a bar with—and had a sister known as Selena Ulric. However, all of this changed when the Wall that extended over much of Lucis and the territories outside of Insomnia, the capital city, was weakened and crumbled, creating a breach that the empire of Niflheim took advantage of and exploited. Nyx fought in the local Resistance against imperial oppression, but his sister was killed, and he was saved by King Regis of Lucis. In a violent invasion, Nyx and many of his future comrades were forced to seek asylum in the capital, and he lost his family as a result. Living as refugees, though they were looked down upon by local Insomnians, their aptitude for magic allowed them to connect to the Crystal and become elite soldiers in service of the Crown. Within Kingsglaive itself, the plot follows Nyx and Princess Lunafreya as they scramble to survive the decimation of the Crown City, King Regis personally charging Nyx with her protection.

Near the end of the movie, Nyx becomes one of the only people capable of wearing the Ring of the Lucii and surviving. In doing so, he was deemed worthy by the past Kings of Lucis (and especially King Regis) and granted immense magical power, including the ability to summon the Old Wall. Although it drains his life before sunup, Nyx’s sacrifice allows many Lucians to flee the decimated city, including Lunafreya which begins the plot of the game.

Meanwhile, Noctis begins the game as the Crown Prince of Lucis, inheritor to the throne and only heir of King Regis. The child of King Regis and Queen Aulea, Noctis was born into privilege but faced great travesty at a young age when he lost his mother in infancy and he and a caretaker were attacked by the daemon, Marilith, when he was eight that resulted in him becoming disabled. Because of this incident, it affects Noctis negatively and compels Regis to withdraw Noctis from most royal duties, allowing him to live in an apartment in the city and attend a public high school. Eventually, as Noctis approaches his 20th birthday and royal engagement to Lunafreya, Regis sends him and his Kingsguard/friends (Prompto, Ignis, and Gladio) to leave Insomnia a day before the invasion that unfolds in Kingsglaive that transpires into the events of Final Fantasy XV.

Like Nyx, in the main ending of FFXV, Noctis also ends up sacrificing his life in a similar fashion for the fate of Eos, donning the Ring in order to defeat Ardyn once and for all and cleanse the world of the Starscourge. In doing so, the people of Eos come to live beyond its tyranny and the empire of Nibelheim winds up in shambles after years of treachery.

Parallels
As the two protagonists of FFXV, Nyx and Noctis bear many themes and parallels in common with one another. As Nyx was a predecessor of sorts, he paved the way for Noctis’ eventual success.

Both come from backgrounds of loss that suffered immensely because of Niflheim’s machinations, having lost their parents and people dear to them in an invasion waged roughly twelve or so years apart.

In a respect, many speculate and believe that King Regis saw Nyx like he was a son to him as much as Noctis due to the official description saying Regis saved Nyx as a child. It was why he had so much faith in Nyx to both protect Lunafreya and do what it took to save as many Lucians as possible.

The bulk of their stories concentrate on the tragedies of the past and sacrificing themselves for the betterment of the future, especially when that is what led to both wearing the Ring of the Lucii in the first place. As they progress through their stories, they learn of the sacrifice that has to be made and the responsibilities they must shoulder, the Ring of the Lucii emblematic of that sacrifice.

The scene where Nyx talks with Luna on the eve of the signing ceremony is adapted from the original opening for Final Fantasy Versus XIII, complete with the painting of the goddess Etro on the background. As the original scene featured Noctis and Stella, in Kingsglaive with Nyx and Luna further solidifies the parallels between them as protagonists.

They also share similar values, as Nyx and Noctis were both outraged at the idea of innocent people being sacrificed for a nebulous, greater destiny they hadn’t yet understood at the time. They both despised the idea of people dying specifically for Noctis’ sake, fated or not.

Nyx and Noctis both perish in similar ways, as the use of the Ring to its full extent chips away at their souls in exchange for power, both shown in climatic scenes where the battle is finally over and they’re faced with a new dawn they expire before they can see.

Interaction
Although it isn’t known to what extent Noctis has interacted with Nyx or the other Glaives, there was a canon script novella known as Parting Ways that details an interaction before Noctis and the others leave Insomnia. In it, Libertus speaks with both Drautos and Nyx in a phone call that elaborates on how Nyx drives the Star of Lucis—one of Noctis’ cars—with Noctis in order to ferry him back to his apartment. This is later reflected in how Nyx and Drautos are later shown driving in the Star during Kingsglaive.

Another possible connection is the sheer similarity between Nyx and Noctis’ combat styles, especially displayed in the Omen trailer and Kingsglaive. Because of Regis’ infirmity and pre-mature aging due to the strain using the Crystal’s power have placed on him, the Glaives are the only other people connected to the Crystal capable of Warping, a key part of Noctis’ arsenal. Given this and Nyx’s own elite ability when it comes to using the Crystal’s magic and warping, many fans believe Nyx mentored Noctis in fighting techniques. As his closeness with Regis and the royal family is well-known, many believe this to be the case.

In addition, when Noctis returns to the ruined Insomnia ten years after his stasis in the Crystal, he’s able to find both of Nyx’s kukris and wield them. This is displayed in the promotional render with him and Nyx where the pair wield one kukri each. He also uses Nyx’s kukris in the Omen trailer.

Although not an interaction in the traditional sense, when Noctis first confronts Ardyn in the throne room, the illusions of Regis, Luna, and Nyx’s corpses are suspended from the ceiling. While Regis and Luna made sense to include for the shock factor, fans speculate that Nyx’s corpse was included as a hint of possible closeness to Noctis, or because of Ardyn’s personal fascination with the Glaive. Given how Iedolas’ corpse is also suspended despite not having sentimental value to Noctis, the latter could be a possibility.

Quotes
"Rule well, young king."

- Nyx, Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy

"A pair of blades wielded by a hero who fought for the future of his homeland. One was forged in the Crown City, and the other in Galahd."

- Ulric’s Kukris, description

Fanon
Although not the most popular ship for either character, Nyxnoct has a modest but dedicated following that consistently produces content. Currently, it has almost 800 slash works on Ao3 and 80 works that are platonic. On Noctis’ end, it’s rivaled by Noctluna and Promptis, while on Nyx’s, Lunyx and Libnyx. Sometimes, some fans like to ship them both with Lunafreya due to the romantic insinuation between her and Nyx and the canonicity of Noctis and Luna.

Because of Nyx’s position as a Glaive and Noctis as the prince, a popular trope explored in fanworks is the two of them exploring the divide between their two ranks and accordingly establishing a relationship despite the gulf between them. Because Nyx and Noctis both lived in the city, some like the idea of them going on city escapades or staying over the other’s apartment. Due to Regis’ familial closeness with both of them, others like to see them navigate their relationship with Regis overseeing and being a voice of guidance, often leading to typical father & son antics from both angles.

Otherwise, many shippers like to involve the Glaives in their relationship, seeing Noctis as a kid brother of the Glaives who trains with them and sometimes have adventures in Galahd or across Eos.

Fandom
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Trivia

 * Both are 7* rarity, optional playable characters in the game, Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius.
 * They both have names that translate or are related to Night. Noctis is the genitive singular form of the Latin word nox meaning "night", while Nyx is the name of the Greek personification/goddess of night.