Lunafreya Nox Fleuret

Lunafreya Nox Fleuret, also known simply as Luna, is the main heroine in Final Fantasy XV and one of the two main characters in Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV.

A former princess of Tenebrae, she is a captive of the Niflheim Empire. Able to talk to the gods, Luna is the youngest Oracle in history. Despite it being under Niflheim's control, Tenebrae has some autonomy thanks to her. She is the younger sister of Ravus Nox Fleuret, and Prince Noctis's betrothed. Luna is the daughter of the Queen of Tenebrae, Sylva Nox Fleuret. She has two dogs: the white Pryna and the black Umbra.

Luna is the presence that supports Noctis for him to fulfill his destiny. Luna and Noctis are childhood friends but their feelings for each other are complicated, as both must upheld the burdens that come with their status.

Appearance
As a child, Luna wore a white dress with a ruffled hem and a zipper at the back. Her hair was shorter and she had bangs.

As an adult, Luna has long blond hair styled in side-swept bangs with a double braid headband and the rest twisted and pinned up. She has blue eyes and wields a double-sided trident, the traditional weapon of Oracles.

She is usually seen wearing a more casual knee-length white dress that has a single lace sleeve. Around the lace sleeve is a black strap with an intricate design and studs. A metal patch of Tenebrae's insignia is worn over her left breast. With this outfit, she wears white, platformed wedges. Her more formal wear that appears in her official renders, is an elegant long white dress that she wears with heels.

Luna's wedding dress is designed by real-life designer, Vivienne Westwood. It is a sleeveless floor-length gown with twin tail lapels that flare out on the sides from the waistline. A half skirt partially covers the front of the main skirt midway down. The bust is asymmetrical. The gown comes with a pair of matching fingerless evening gloves.

She wears the hair pin Nyx Ulric had given to her, courtesy of Crowe Altius, from the events of Kingsglaive, and a necklace that features a star on either side of a crescent moon pendant.

Personality
Luna is a strong-willed woman who talks about her hopes and dreams and acts on her own initiative. She remains unfazed even when surrounded by soldiers pointing guns at her, demonstrating her resolve as an Oracle. She focuses on the future and works to prevent the world from plunging into complete darkness. Befitting of her duties as Oracle, Lunafreya possesses unparalleled compassion.

Luna and Noctis have a complicated relationship. They are childhood friends, but are being made to marry to bring their kingdoms together. Luna loves Noctis who doesn't have the confidence to respond, although he thinks highly of her and he does return her love. She is said to be the presence that supports Noctis for him to fulfill his destiny.

She holds King Regis in the highest regard and doesn't blame him for what happened to Tenebrae, unlike her brother Ravus. Luna trusts her brother despite him serving the Empire.

Luna loves sylleblossoms, the blue flowers native to her homeland. The first page of the notebook shared between her and Noctis displays an ageless sylleblossom carefully pressed into the paper. A household servant mentions to Noctis how Luna would personally water the flowers, cultivating a wide, beautiful field of sylleblossoms that spreads across the lands of Tenebrae.

Abilities
Luna is an Oracle who prevents the plague Starscourge from advancing via her powers and presence. The plague makes daylight vanish from the world, and Luna prevents the world of Eos from plunging into an eternal night. As the Oracle she has the power to heal those affected by the plagues of darkness, and people travel long distances to be seen by her. Luna works tirelessly to help any who seek her out, and she is highly revered by all across Eos.

Luna can commune with the gods of Eos, the astrals. The famous trident she wields is said to be a ritual tool bestowed upon the first Oracle by the astral god Bahamut, and the weapon has served the Oracle lineage since.

Childhood
Lunafreya and her older brother Ravus were once royalty of Tenebrae and were close allies with the Royal Family of Lucis. She and Prince Noctis of Lucis are childhood friends, and the memories they share are cherished by both. The two spent time together following Noctis's near-death experience with a Marilith, when Luna kept him company while he was recuperating.

During this time, Luna told Noctis about the Crystal of Lucis and how his lineage had been chosen by the gods to expel the plague of darkness from the world. Though the eight-year-old Noctis did not understand what it meant, he promised Luna he would do it. Luna showed Noctis her red notebook and the pressed sylleblossom within, telling Noctis the flowers are used to weave the royal family's crowns. The two would continue to keep in secret contact via Luna's dog, Umbra, that acts as a magical messenger.

Niflheim invaded Tenebrae and killed many officials of the Royal Family of Tenebrae, including Luna's mother. While fleeing from Niflheim forces with Regis and Noctis, Luna chose to stay behind to be with her brother and Tenebrae was surrendered to Niflheim's control. Luna was held in captivity, so it is implied she had a rough childhood.

As told in Brotherhood: Final Fantasy XV, a teenaged Luna's pet dog Pryna once went missing while covertly visiting Noctis in Insomnia. When she returned, she had a handkerchief around her injured leg that read "Prompto". Gentiana, the ageless messenger of the gods that stays by Luna's side, suggested that they find out Prompto's identity. Luna sent Prompto a letter thanking him for saving Pryna and for being a friend to Noctis, prompting Prompto to self-improve and to befriend the prince.

The treaty-signing
Twelve years after the invasion of Tenebrae, the Niflheim Empire offers peace terms to Lucis; as part of these terms Luna is to be betrothed to Noctis. The terms are accepted and the wedding is planned to be held in Altissia. As depicted in Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV, King Regis sends one of his Kingsglaive, Crowe Altius, to bring Luna to Altissia. The plan goes awry when Luna is caught leaving by Ravus and a squad of magitek soldiers, and they force her to return to her room. Emperor Iedolas Aldercapt brings Luna with him to Insomnia, the crown city of Lucis, and she is removed from Niflheim custody. She is escorted to the Citadel by Nyx Ulric, a member of the Kingsglaive.

Luna greets Regis warmly, though Noctis and his friends have already departed to Altissia. At the party before the signing, Luna engages Nyx in conversation and learns that the Kingsglaive soldier sent to escort her was killed. She expresses remorse and receives a hairpin from Nyx that had been intended for Crowe to give to her. Later that night she is confronted by General Glauca, who asks her if she really thought that the peace treaty was real.

Glauca imprisons Luna on a fleet of airships outside the borders of Insomnia. The Kingsglaive arrive to rescue her, but Luna's kidnapping was a trap for them; many of their body are traitors. Nyx escorts Luna to safety on a hijacked airship after escaping Ultros, a daemon unleashed upon them. The Imperials steal the sacred Crystal, and Luna insists on returning to the Citadel against Nyx's desire to escape. Resolved to reach King Regis, Luna leaps off the airship and is caught by Nyx who reluctantly follows her.

The two arrive at the throne room to find Regis in combat with Glauca. Glauca removes the Ring of the Lucii from Regis and Ravus, who had remained behind to take his revenge on Regis, puts it on. The ring is a Lucian royal heirloom that contains the collective powers and wisdom of each Lucian monarch and grants its immense power only to those it deems worthy. Ravus is burned when the ring rejects him. Nyx, Luna, and Regis escape, and Regis gives the ring to Luna to pass on to Noctis. Regis erects a barrier between them despite her pleas to not leave them. Regis requests Nyx to protect Luna and the two watch on helplessly as Glauca kills Regis.

Nyx and Luna flee while being pursued by Niflheim forces. Nyx discovers he can no longer use magic as the result of the king's death, and soon realizes that Luna's hairpin is a tracer. Luna picks up the hairpin Nyx drops and tosses it into the machine that explodes.

The two arrive at a rendezvous point with plans to meet with the Kingsglaive leader, Titus Drautos. They are accosted by one of the traitorous Kingsglaive, Luche Lazarus. Luna reluctantly tricks Lazarus into putting on the ring to gain its power, and she takes it from his burning corpse. Drautos arrives, but another former Kingsglaive member, Libertus Ostium, rams him with a car, forcing Drautos to reveal himself as Glauca. To fend off the powerful Imperial commander, Luna readies to put on the ring until Nyx stops her and puts it on himself.

After being deemed worthy to wield the ring by the past kings of Lucis, Nyx orders Libertus to get Luna out of the city. The Ring of the Lucii returns to Luna's care after Nyx receives its powers. Nyx remains behind to battle Glauca while Libertus escapes the city with Luna. They part ways on the outskirts and Luna blends in with the refugees, meeting Gentiana outside the city.

To awaken the Six
En route to his destination, Noctis is shocked to learn that Insomnia has fallen and that his father and his betrothed are believed dead. In truth, Luna escaped Niflheim's conquest of Lucis, and lets Noctis know she is fine via a message delivered by Umbra. She appears in Noctis's visions when he confronts the astrals, the gods of Eos, also referred to as the Six. Noctis learns that Luna is going to rouse the Six, and is speaking to the astrals on his behalf so that he can forge covenants with them and gain their power.

Ravus becomes the high commander of the Niflheim army after Glauca's death. He is ordered to hunt down Luna, but ignores the orders. Instead, he helps Luna escape Lucis back to Tenebrae. Ravus disagrees with Luna's mission to help Noctis reclaim his throne, not believing Noctis is worthy of Luna's sacrifice, as communing with the gods is making her ill. He talks with her on her field of sylleblossoms, imploring her to stop sacrificing herself for Noctis, whom he believes will not be able to fulfill the prophecy as the King of Light. Luna asserts that it is ordained that Noctis is the Chosen King, and that Ravus of all people should know this as he was personally judged by the Lucian kings of old and rejected. Ravus accuses Luna of throwing her life away, but Luna asserts it is her choice. Luna is sad the carefree days of their childhood are over, and all she sees ahead of them is more darkness.

Luna makes her way to Altissia where the sea goddess Leviathan resides. She is sheltered by the local government, although Niflheim wants them to release Luna to them. Ravus is in Altissia as well, and when they meet Luna asks him to take the ring to Noctis, but he tells her it is her mission. When Luna informs him that her flesh is failing her, Ravus insists that she must fulfill her calling and that, although she may no longer have the strength to complete her duty, she has the willpower to find the strength. He encloses the ring in Luna's hand and comforts her.

Altissia is where Luna and Noctis were supposed to have gotten married, and her wedding dress is on display as a memorial to her. Noctis makes his way to Altissia and negotiates with the first secretary for Altissia to let Luna perform the ritual to rouse the Leviathan. He is successful, and though Niflheim soldiers approach her, she brushes their weapons aside and makes a public appearance to address the masses. She gives a speech where she explains that the world is being encroached by darkness, and that she will perform a rite of summoning. Noctis is among the crowd and is moved by her speech.

The Empire attacks and disrupts the summoning. Luna beckons to Leviathan, but her words do not reach the angered astral. Noctis is caught amid the chaos as the Chancellor Ardyn Izunia of Niflheim appears and wounds Luna, knowing Noctis would witness it. As she grips to Ardyn's arm, her healing powers activate, as he is tainted by the powers of darkness. He casts her aside and departs. To halt Leviathan's rampage, Luna summons the power of the kings of old to aid Noctis via the Oracles' trident, really one of the thirteen Royal Arms. Noctis fights Leviathan with the power of kings and wounds her. When the astral god Titan appears to oppose Leviathan, Luna shields an unconscious Noctis from the tidal wave.

Luna speaks to Noctis in a dream world where she gives him the Ring of the Lucii. Her spirit is consumed by the astral energy around them, but she promises to always watch over Noctis. The world proclaims her to be dead, unable to find her body. When Noctis awakens days later, he learns Luna has died but that she had left him a message in the notebook. On the last page he finds a pressed sylleblossom.

The finale
Noctis fulfills the prophecy as Luna had seen and becomes the King of Light and banishes darkness from the world at the cost of his own life. When Noctis's spirit confronts Ardyn in the realm beyond, Luna's spirit briefly aids Noctis as he and the spirits of the past Lucian kings prepare to deliver the final blow. Luna, wearing her wedding dress, appears with Noctis at the Lucian throne. King Regis congratulates the two after thanking Luna for her efforts in aiding Noctis.

Gameplay
Haruyoshi Sawatari, a producer at Business Division 2 who is leading development on the post-launch content, has said that if there's a demand to be able to play as a heroine like Luna, they will consider this for future downloadable content.

Creation and development
Lunafreya first appeared in the Tokyo Game Show 2014 trailer, where glimmering motes surround her, likely alluding to the nature of souls. Luna replaces Stella Nox Fleuret, the game's previous major female character during its time as Final Fantasy Versus XIII. The overhaul of her character was due to changes in the game's plot that as a result Stella no longer fit.

The switch from Stella to Luna was spurred by the development team's decision to construct the plot to fit within a single game. In the process, the Stella character's role was altered and expanded, and her identity was changed. Within the overall theme of "journey," the developers also needed to decide the position a heroine should take, and thought that rather than having a passive heroine who needs to be saved, a more determined heroine who actively engages with the events would suit better, and to play that role they thought they needed a different character.

Luna was designed by Yusuke Naora, the art director of Final Fantasy XV, who aimed to have Luna's design exude an indomitable will. The way her eye and lip make up is applied was altered, and her hairstyle was made to look like it would need the assistance of a handmaiden to reflect her nobility. To achieve the desired look, Naora worked with a professional hair and makeup stylist. They deliberately left some dispersion and variability at the tips of her hair to avoid her looking "too prim", as imperfections would give her a more relatable charm.

The likeness of Russian model Sonya Maltceva is used to portray Lunafreya and motion capture for the character is provided by Amanda Piery in Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV. Her look has been slightly altered since she was unveiled.

Voice
Luna is voiced by Rina Kitagawa in the Japanese versions of Final Fantasy XV and Brotherhood, and by Amy Shiels in the English version of Final Fantasy XV.

In the Japanese version of Kingsglaive, she is voiced by Shiori Kutsuna; in English, she is voiced by Lena Headey as an adult, and Liliana Chomsky as a child.

Omen
Luna appears in the short film unveiled at Paris Games Week 2016 that depicts a premonition King Regis has of his son's possible fate that he seeks to avert. Luna is embroiled in a battle of her own, calling out for Noctis, who chases after Luna's white dog Pryna through various dreamscapes. On reflective surfaces, Noctis has Luna's reflection, and Pryna has Umbra's, Luna's other dog. Noctis is ultimately unable to save Luna, appearing over her with fiery eyes and her trident in hand as if possessed, and as if he had been the one to kill her.

Gallery

 * Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV

Etymology and symbolism
This may play on her role as the Oracle keeping the darkness of the night at bay, being the light that illuminates the darkness of the night. It is thematically similar to "Stella", the Latin word for "star" and the name of Stella Nox Fleuret, whom Luna replaced during the development of Final Fantasy XV.

It can also mean "blossom" as in a "flower's blossom." Luna is associated with blue flowers known as sylleblossoms.

Her aspects could allude those of the Woman of the Apocalypse, one of many major figures of salvation in the Book of Revelations. She is described a "a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars" (12:1). The woman is pregnant and about to give birth, "travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered" (12:2)." The child she is to give birth to is said to grow into a "man who will rule with an iron rod", but is chased by "the Dragon", or Satan or Lucifer, who seeks to devour her child. Upon the Dragon waging its war in the heavens, the Woman escapes into the wilderness onto Earth, to where the Dragon gives chase. Heaven gives wings to the Woman, with which she further eludes the Dragon's breath of water that floods the land, which is absorbed by the earth. The Dragon declares "to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ" (12:17). Though Luna does not bear direct reference to this, aspects of the Woman is significant in her design and story elements and imagery.