Seventh.

[azumods]

ENCOUNTER. The journey eastward is something of a turbulent one; you've been here more than long enough - and time has readjusted itself enough - that the seasons are finally beginning to turn, lending itself to brisk, heavy autumn winds that will likely make flying a bit on the unpleasant side. Not enough to render things not worth it, but more than enough that the toll is felt. Thankfully, however, you'll be arriving at a city, with its promise of warmth and a Pokémon Center at the very least. Unfortunately, it seems that this evening, those promises will go unfulfilled. Your Drifblims and other Pokémon you came here on seem certain that Sunyshore exists, and it very much exists here - or, at the very least, it used to; however, the place you touch down seems largely untouched by civilization, all tall grass set on a series of low, rocky outcroppings that overlook the sea. All that remains to give you an impression that humans may have at least considered settling here once is the lighthouse, standing tall and resolute to the east of the field of grass and rocks you've touched down in the middle of. It still seems to be active, the light is currently on in the fading light of the day, its path sweeping across the water, across the barren land, across you. It's the one place to go, the obvious choice even without any other factors added in, but it also seems to be the one place that's occupied - they can barely be seen, but there's movement to be seen up behind the glass of the observation deck, a vague outline of what's definitely a person, though it's difficult to say what they're doing up there, or whether they've noticed you or not. The only place to go from here is up. The elevator in the lighthouse seems to be in good working order, well-maintained despite the fact that the structure itself is now effectively in the middle of nowhere; it only has two settings - ground floor and the deck - and it'll take you there swiftly and easily. It's warm in here, at least, even if it is a bit on the eerie side; the observation deck itself is enclosed, ringed with windows and a railing to lean against, the light itself stationed on a level above you and not impeding your vision or your ability to look out any. While he isn't immediately visible, there definitely is still someone on the deck when you arrive; he's standing facing the sea, and he's either confident or generally apathetic enough to not turn to face you as you arrive. The shock of blue hair and the uniform of the Team Galactic leader are familiar, however, even though you've only met him once; even though there's nothing here - not for him, not for anyone anymore - you've managed to find Cyrus. He doesn't tense at anyone's approach,though he does speak once he's aware of you, and he does seem aware of you rather quickly. "Are you here to kill me?" The words are calm, quiet; still authoritative, in their own way, but not a demand in the least. "If that's your intention, then I wouldn't be surprised. Though I wouldn't advise an attempt. Either way, it would be something of a wasted effort... And besides, I'm not going to instigate another reset. Not now. Not here."

Comments

[azumods]

[Dear god- ]

No, they didn't.

[hyruglyphics]

Oh I... good. I had been worried they - well I would be impressed at the results if they did...

[azumods]

...It isn't a matter of warfare or anything, if that's the concern.

[hyruglyphics]

Well I had assumed you had reversed time, but then I thought you might've made them deconstruct it with... well, masonry techniques.

[azumods]

[zelda that is

that is a little bizarre but you know what he'll roll with it]

...I'll admit the thought hadn't occurred to me, but it isn't something I would choose to inflict on them, either.

[hyruglyphics]

It would be rather cruel, yes.

[azumods]

I would say so.

[hyruglyphics]

Putting that aside, however...

[ She hums a little bit and brushes back some of her blonde hair... ]

Did you spend your childhood in this town, when it was here?

[azumods]

...I did, yes. I would occasionally spend time with someone elsewhere, but never for very long.

[hyruglyphics]

And it would... no, rather, it appears obvious that childhood was not what you would have wished it to be.

[azumods]

We don't always get what we want. What matters is what you make of it after the fact.

[So...no, it really kind of wasn't.]

[hyruglyphics]

No, we certainly do not. Children cannot choose where they were born, or what circumstances came to be around them. What destiny is laid out for them.

[ That last one might not be as legit in this world, but. ]

But yes, what choices people make are of the utmost importance - defining in a way that the beginnings can't... quite be.

[azumods]

Do you believe destiny to be an unchanging fact of life, then...? As opposed to something likewise influenced by choice.

[He seems to find that interesting, at least, specific to your world or otherwise.]

[discutio]

[a few feet to the left, ignis screams internally]

[hyruglyphics]

I do. [ I have to. ] The form that destiny may take and the path to that point might vary, but there are something ... which even if they could be changed, ought not to be. ... No matter how painful some of those steps along the way might have been.

[azumods]

[...]

Then perhaps it's my turn to admit to a lack of understanding... Might I ask what the point of free will would be in such a circumstance, or do you hold no true belief in such a thing?

[hyruglyphics]

The destiny of people isn't known to all, nor should it be. That is the domain of the gods, or those who have been... who have been given a purpose beyond what can be expected of most. [ She hums ] And though what point that destiny is fulfilled at is something which must be, as I said, the journey to that point is one's own. What trials they face, what choices they make, friends they have... that journey and life people have is a beautiful thing. It is that which gives people their free will, and... in some ways, can be seen as almost more important than the end point.

[ It's odd to explain this, if she's honest. Her life - the point of her life - was always laid out before her. Now past that, her life is an open canvas, but she is still the princess of Hyrule. It is hers to try to do what she can for her beloved land and people. Destiny is woven into the very fabric of Hyrule. It's inescapable in its nature. ]

[azumods]

...So as you see it, destiny is a fixed point, or perhaps a fixed outcome, that must come to pass... But what lies ahead of and beyond that point is of one's own choosing...?

[...He is making, like, a goddamn heroic attempt at getting his head around this.]

[hyruglyphics]

[ She nods ] And your path to that point is something that is your choosing as well, or at least pushed to your own capabilities. ... And it may well me that destiny's hand in your life is something you can never know until you are beyond that life.

[ This is what. She sincerely believes. ]

[azumods]

...How so, precisely?

[That. That last part.]

[hyruglyphics]

As I said, destiny is the domain of the gods, and the whims of the spirits and of the order of the world. Though it is obvious for some, for most of the world, they cannot know what they were meant for until it happens, or they may never learn it. Not until they achieve their eternal rest beyond death, when the perspective of the person is no longer that of their own life.

[discutio]

[...zelda we need to have a Talk later because you're unknowingly throwing him right off his game today]

[hyruglyphics]

[ She's never made any of this a secret . . . ]

[azumods]

[...Huh.]

So for some, their general purpose is merely...existing in the world, from their perspective. But their destiny is to be part of something outside of themselves that they nonetheless influenced, and as such cannot understand until they're in a state to comprehend that greater scope of things.

[...That is fucking fascinating?]

[hyruglyphics]

Precisely! I'm glad I was able to explain it well. It's... well, it's a matter of course in Hyrule, and has been for longer than our history records. So to explain it feels somewhat strange.