locked to zenith

[bakedapple]

[ Link's mental space feels like being outside, so depending on where you are, you might not realize that someone has started Communion with you. Since joining the Zenith, the landscape of Link's mind has gone from idyllic, sunny forests to icy, overcast mountains. A frigid wind blows against your face, carrying the scent of firewood and meat roasting over an open flame. The diminutive Hylian is not sitting by the fire, but standing at the edge of a rocky ledge, his back turned. ]

There's going to be another Oracle soon. I can feel it. The rest of you can feel it too, right? That... pulling feeling.

[ He sighs. ]

If we lose this one, it's over. The Meridian isn't going to go easy on us. I know them... I know how badly they want to win. To them, the stakes couldn't be higher.

So let's talk. About what we're going to be up against, and... well, planning ahead isn't really something we can do, but at least we can warn each other of the dangers that individual Meri pose.

And I... I want to say something, too.

[ He sits down where he stands, his feet hanging off the cliff. There's a sense that he knows this isn't going to go over well, but it's important enough to him to say it anyway. ]

Killing the other guy before they kill you is what war is. That's normal. But Kenos is different. Death doesn't work the way it should here. We don't die permanently. You can neutralize someone threatening you by just dissipating them. There's nothing to gain by destroying their soul after you're no longer in danger.

So, I don't think any of us should shatter anyone ever again.

If you claim someone's Shard, you should protect it. If you feel that you can't do that, give it to someone else.

...I'm not stupid. I know a lot of you aren't gonna agree to this. And the Meris probably won't either. I'm sure they want revenge for what happened to Quetzalcoatl, and those of you who lost the Shards Yima gave you probably aren't feeling very merciful right now either...

But if we don't come to some kinda agreement now, that's going to become normal. Things are gonna get really bad. I don't want that. So... can we talk about it, at least?

Comments

[semicharmed]

Well. I was more focused on keeping other things to myself. [ :D! ] And I consider our foes to be the ravening, world-eating darkness, which isn't really the impression I get from you.

[ Plus whoever's pulling strings behind the scenes, but Matt is trying very hard not to say that to Silco even though he'd love to. ]

[zauneyete]

[ A soft scoff. ]

I do not make enemies of forces of nature, normally, no.

[ He'd seen it, after all. That darkness. (Was it really the same? Who knows! But he remembers that pitch black he had seen in the Regent's throne room even now. It was not sentient, it was not evil. It simply... was. It had been grand and great, and all-encompassing.) ]

It is something to guard against, and prepare for, but fight? Or stop? Can you stop a storm? Or the undertow, boy?

[semicharmed]

[ A polite, disbelieving pause. ]

I can stop a storm. [ Emphasis on "I." ] Or call one. And I can usually reason with an undertow.

I don't think this thing that's hunting us is a force of nature at all. Un-nature, maybe. But whatever it is exactly, is it that weird to think we might be fighting a war on multiple fronts?

[zauneyete]

It is not something with emotions or purpose is perhaps a more accurate term, since you seem to think you can wave your hand and change the seasons.

[ Said with all the derision of: some of us live on a normal plane of reality, matt!! ]

Going to war with it is as if you are an ant struggling against being stepped upon. It is not a war, it simply is.

So no, I do not think we are fighting a war. We are seeking refuge from it, and the fact that it is finding ways in is something to guard against, not fight.

[semicharmed]

Well, I agree with you that whatever this is exactly, we're effectively ants to it.

But it definitely has emotions and purpose. You haven't noticed familiar faces or voices trying to lure you off? Things stalking you in the dark?

[zauneyete]

No, I'm blind.

[ He says. Sarcastically. ]

Purpose, yes. Of course it has purpose.

Emotions, however, I will believe when I see proof of it.