defyingfrigidity | First Flake [video]

[When the 'gear flicks on, the camera seems to be pointing at.... the ground. The ground, and a black-shoed foot. The camera shakes for a minute, and the voice of a young woman can be heard speaking.]

Is this strange device really meant to be used to communicate with others...? But how...

[It's then that a somewhat worried-looking Snorunt comes into view, its little arms raised. Whoever-it-was pauses before giving the device over to the creature. The camera then spins, and focuses on the owner of the voice; a pale, fair-haired young woman dressed in typical trainer clothes, looking very confused.]

I'm just not sure how I'm meant to-- [She's cut off by the Snorunt, who makes a few noises before moving closer and holding the pokegear up, getting a better view of the girl in the process. She sighs.] Okay... fine.

[She clears her throat and stands up straight, a rather regal-seeming posture for someone dressed in such casual clothes.] My name is Queen Elsa of Arendelle, and I'm afraid I've been kidnapped. I've been told that no, I really haven't been kidnapped, but... I can't exactly believe that, can I?

[Her brows furrow, then, and her shoulders seem to scrunch up a bit in a show of nervousness.] I need help. Information. If I can at least be told where exactly this "Johto" is, how far away I am from Arendelle... I would very much appreciate it. [She begins to wring her hands together, now clearly showing signs of someone who's deeply unsettled.] If there's any way at all to contact those back home... please... I need to know. My staff, my... my sister... they must be so worried....

[Her hands are now clenching each other tightly as she tries to calm herself, but it doesn't seem to be of any use. So, rather quickly, she approaches the Snorunt, taking the gear out of its hands and fumbling once more with it.] A-As I said, any help would be greatly appreciated. But for now, I'm afraid I must end this conversation. I apologize for how abrupt this is. G-Goodbye.

[Can't let them see, can't let them see--]

[Thankfully, she finds the right button to hit, and the screen goes dark.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Nah. That's kinda what I was aiming for.

[Granted, it's probably a really stupid metaphor, but if it gets the job done, why worry?]

I think it's more likely to be a fluke or some cosmic force that keeps dragging us here. That, or somebody with way too much time on their hands. But I wouldn't worry too much; your kingdom will be waiting for you whenever you get back, right at the moment you left.

Think of it like some kind of weird time magic. Doesn't make a lot of sense, but at least it's convenient.

Time magic actually seems like something I could understand. I didn't know such a thing was possible, and I don't know how such a thing would work, but... I've read about enough strange things that have happened because of magic.

[... And CAUSED strange things to happen because of magic, but she's not going to mention that. Is this how her people felt when she accidentally cursed Arendelle? Geez, why don't more people hate her for that....]

How strange are we talking?

[You said the magic words, Elsa. Strange magic. And Riku, being fascinated with other worlds, just can't resist.]

The old legends of the land my kingdom is a part of used to talk extensively about the end of the world. Even down to what gods would fight what creatures and such.

They were... very interesting reads.

[Riku's eyes widen for a moment, and he once again reaches for his chin. The end of the world... Man, there's something he thought he wouldn't hear again.]

Did they say anything about titans? Or earth, steel, and ice?

[It could just be a coincidence, but maybe...]

[Elsa looks a bit surprised at his reaction, but... nods.]

Titans? Not that word exactly, but there are many mentions of giants in those stories. Not all of them were malevolent, though. Some of the gods and goddesses the people once worshiped were even part - or fully - giant.

I... tended not to read too much about the end of the world tales, though. I was a child when I first found the books in the library, you see, and those stories frightened me. I'm sorry I can't help you more with that.

Nah, it's okay. I just wanted to see if there were any parallels.

[Which, now that he thinks about, is kinda on the vague side.]

See, a few years back there was this big disaster. Giant golems started roaming the world. There was mass panic, heaps of destruction... People seriously thought the world was gonna end.

I figured maybe it was something like that.

Here?

[Oh... oh dear. She was beginning to think this place wasn't so bad, outside of the whole pseudo-kidnapping thing, but that... really doesn't sound good.]

Has anything strange like that happened since then?

Sure. Strange stuff happens all the time, but nothing that serious.

[He crosses his arms and hums.]

Think the last real disaster was a hurricane with flying sharks, but that blew over in about a day. Worst thing that happened was a bit of property damage.

Flying sharks?!

[WHAT IN THE WORLD IS WRONG WITH THIS PLACE]

And you call that not serious???

Well, I meant nothing as serious as those titans.

[Sigh. Maybe he shouldn't have spoken so casually, though. He's really gotta remember that not everyone's as desensitized to weirdness as he is these days.]

It's like this. Weird, sometimes even dangerous stuff happens. The thing is, it's not happening every day. Sometimes we'll even go months without anything big going on. And during that downtime, the most you really have to watch out for are the wild Pokémon and Team Rocket.

... Team Rocket?

Team Rocket's this organization obsessed with stealing Pokémon, world domination, and destruction. Most of the time, they're quiet-- easy to miss, but it's important to keep an eye out for them just in case.

[His eyes narrow, and he speaks with a firm tone.]

I don't want to scare you, but they have caused problems before. They've blown up Olivine's lighthouse, hijacked the Magnet Train, and... sent out poisoned cookies. I'm seriously not making that up.

[Bowser was kind of an oddball.]

Anyway, chances are, you won't have a whole lot to wory about. Your best bet at staying safe is to train up a team of Pokémon to protect you. Well, and sticking with your friends never hurts.

[Strength in numbers and all that.]

That's horrible... has anyone been able to do anything about putting a stop to them? If we can't find a way home on our own, then perhaps we can do something about that, at least...

Actually, there's a group dedicated to taking on the Rockets-- they call themselves the Pokémon Guardian Corps. PGC for short.

They're kinda covert, but word on the street is that they're always looking for a helping hand.

[Especially now, when their membership has dropped to ridiculously low levels. What goes unsaid is that he's the leader-- mostly because this is a public space. No need to arouse suspicion.

So for now, he'll crack a smile and try to lighten the tone.]

By the way, I don't think I introduced myself. Name's Riku.

Riku? [Why does that... Oh!] My sister mentioned you! Anna says you're one of her friends here.

[She was hoping she'd get to meet some of Anna's friends, but she wasn't expecting it so soon!]

Wow, I'm surprised she mentioned me.

[Did he really leave that big of an impression? Well, dang.]

So you're her sister... Dang. I'm impressed.

[...]

But you're both royalty, so... what's it like? It's not every day you get to meet a queen.

Oh, believe me. Even if you've only spoken to her once, she'll still consider you a friend. That's just the type of person she is.

[Elsa can't (and won't!) hide the fondness in her voice a she says that. It's definitely a trait of her sister's that she greatly admires.]

And I suppose I'm not... really sure how to answer that. I know it may sound strange, but being a queen isn't always as glamorous as some people think it is. There's a lot of work involved. [She laughs.] Work that sometimes led to a few sleepless nights.

Edited 2014-09-13 23:58 (UTC)

Just like Sora... Well, I'm not complaining.

[In fact, there's a touch of fondness in his voice as well. For as cool as he tries to act, Riku's got his share of soft spots.]

And man, I can see why it'd be so stressful. You have to rule over a whole kingdom, right? And that's gotta be tough, even with servants and knights.

[Well, assuming she's got any.]

First Flake [video]

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