eclipse_of_time | Video Post

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[If nothing else, this sort of broadcasting and storage and communication device isn't entirely unfamiliar to Ming. But everything else certainly is. First and foremost her own body. Where's the pulsing thrum of her magical energy? Even the mark on her chest is dull and decorative. It's a frightening thing to see. She can feel the passage of time, something only once felt briefly. And terrifyingly. The seconds are moving by her, taking her with them.]

[She realizes she can't feel any any magical energy. Not in the atmosphere, not in the earth, not in the large creature that follows her. It's an unfamiliar beast, but one that looks as though it would be right at home on the paradisaical beaches of her island kingdom.]

[If this is a kidnapping, it's a frightfully strange one. She's nowhere near Numara. This place isn't familiar at all! But she's not restrained. Quite the opposite. She's made it to a bench in the little village she awoke in, and then that overwhelming feeling that threatens to steal her consciousness slips upon her and she sits, shaking and confused, to fiddle with the portable teleson.]

What...what is this place?

[There's a high note of fear and confusion in Ming's lightly accented voice.]

Something's wrong...something's terribly wrong...what's been done to me?

What's going to happen to me?

[Without her magical energy, what is she? Her magic is her soul, her consciousness, her very being! She's never felt so tied to this human shaped shell in all of her existence. She's certain she can feel the decay and dying of mortal cells. Is this mortal death?]

Please...if someone can help me...

[It doesn't occur to her to explain further - there's not a single sentient thing in her world that doesn't know her face and who she is. What she is.]

[Surely someone can aide her!]

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I...I'm not sure! Most people are very helpful indeed, lets see... I know that this is a Pokemon. They're important in this world? I know my magic hasn't been taken from me, simply reconstituted in a way that allows me to be organically in this world. There seems to be no real purpose in my abduction...

But I don't understand what I'm to do here!

[Elsa perks up a bit at the mention of magic, but... no. Not now. She has to focus on helping this woman first, before she asks the questions.]

To be honest, I don't think anyone knows that. Some of us have been here for years and still don't know. There's no point to the kidnappings, and with time flowing in a way such that no time in our own home worlds passes, there's nothing to be gained from keeping us here, either.

Most of us make the best of the situation by traveling. Competing with your pokemon companions is a way of life here, and many of the others certainly seem to enjoy it.

Years? Oh no, no, I can't stay here years. I simply can't!

[Numara's just begun recovering from her last absence! And even if this is true, that the flow of time is so different here as to render time in Plank unmoving, she can't bear the thought of being away from her kingdom for so long.]

I don't travel.

It sounds horrible, I know. Believe me, the idea of being trapped here for years terrified me as well. But as I said, time is... odd here. My sister arrived here months before I did, but in my eyes, I saw her just the evening prior to waking up in here.

I know what it's like, having important work waiting for you in your home. But nothing will happen to your home during your time here, I promise.

[There's a pause, and she lets out a shaky laugh.]

I was the same way, when I first arrived. I kept myself cooped up in my castle for years, and only just started leaving a few months prior to my arrival... even then, I didn't travel nearly as much as I have here.

No, no, that's not the.problem, Numara will be alright. It's me I worry for, I don't leave my home.

... Is there a reason why...?

Oh, lots of reasons, I suppose.

I've stayed in the same place for a thousand years. I left once, but it was out of necessity, and not for long.

[... WELL THEN.]

A thousand years?

Oh, yes.

In my world, I'm immortal, made of magical energy within a human body. I've existed for a thousand years, give or take a few.

[Ming chuckles.]

[Elsa thought being in Johto for nearly a year now would prepare her for anything. Clearly, she was wrong.]

So you... are you some sort of deity, then...?

At the moment, I'm a perfectly normal mortal woman.

[She doesn't tend to call herself a goddess, even if she's worshiped as one by her people. She really isn't sure what she is.]

My name is Ming. Ming Numara.

... And that's all that matters now, right?

[She can completely understand the whole. Enjoying being normal for once thing.]

It's a pleasure to meet you, Ming. My name is Elsa.

It's certainly at the forefront of my mind. I can't imagine ever growing accustomed to this!

[She can't escape or blot out entirely the sensations of being mortal.]

A pleasure as well, Elsa.

It's... actually surprisingly easy to get used to how daily life in this land works.

Almost all of my life, I never went past the walls of my castle. But since coming here, I've learned how to make simple meals, camp, and generally take care of myself in ways I didn't need to before.

I know our situations must be different, since I've always been human, but even so... the people here are more than willing to help anyone adapt.

It's like a part of me's missing.

[She makes a small fond sound - Elsa's situation doesn't sound very different.]

I've never taken care of myself. Oh, there was a time a very long time ago, but I hardly even remember it. And even then, I had my magical energy. I'm afraid I haven't the faintest idea how to be on my own.

... I can understand that. I... [There's only a brief pause. Once, she may have been scared to admit this here, but now... now it's simply just a habit to pause before continuing.] I had magical abilities in my world, as well. I was born with them, and they were always just... there, even if I wasn't actively using them. So I understand that feeling of a piece of you just being gone perfectly.

[She offers Ming a sympathetic smile.]

Well, I don't know how much good I could do just over the network like this, but I'll gladly offer my assistance.

It's most distressing! I don't even know how to defend myself or care for myself without it.

Thank you. Surely...there must be protectors for hire somewhere.

That's what our pokemon are for! We're given them as companions to help us through this world, and if you get into trouble, they'll do their best to protect you. Sometimes without you asking them too.

[She still hasn't forgotten when Fenrir set Hans's pants on fire :|....]

[Ming glances at her Lapras, eyebrows raised. Certainly it looks a formidable beast, but...she can't understand it when it speaks, and she doesn't like the idea of someone else getting hurt for her. But she isn't immortal here.]

I suppose that's somewhat reassuring, but....

But...?

[Elsa's a patient person. She'll wait as long as she needs to for the newbie to get what she needs to say out.]

Oh, I suppose I'm simply used to being the one who protects.

... It's a strange thing to get used to, isn't it? I understand... for the longest time, I was always doing what I thought was right to protect my little sister, and I had to protect my people as well...

So adjusting to life here was very strange! But once you allow people to help you, to lift some of that burden off your shoulders... the feeling is amazing.

Matters of 'right' are often far too complex to say any one thing is the right or wrong thing to do. We can only ever do our best and hope it was the better of options.

Yes. Yes it really is.

[Elsa's smile fades a bit, but she looks more... reflective, than upset.]

I know what you mean. I thought I was doing the right thing, but in reality, what I was doing hurt both me and my sister in ways that, even now, we're still trying to recover from.

Life would hardly be life without missteps. How else are we to learn, if not through experience? Even those things that hurt us teach us and make us stronger.

[video]

defyingfrigidity - 2015-09-22 00:55 (UTC) - Expand

[video]

eclipse_of_time - 2015-09-24 16:46 (UTC) - Expand

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