video; August 12, early evening

[desertbloomed]

[ Ashelia is sitting in her room, straight-backed as ever. The edge of her deep red peasant blouse can be seen a couple inches below her collarbones. Thankfully, she's chosen to doff her frankly gigantic red mage hat, the tip of the feather barely visible in the frame behind her. ]

You're sure it is working? How is one supposed to - ah, I see.

[ Ahem. ]

Good evening, everyone. I hope this message finds you well.

You're not writing a letter, it's a video! Relax!

[ The moogle gets a sharp look that says, "don't interrupt me." It works. ]

Firstly, I owe several people an apology. I deceived you; my name is not Alma Beoulve. I am Queen Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca. I am newly come to Vaikuntha, but before being brought here I was one of a number of Heroes of Light on Crystallis.

[ She looks down for a moment, brows furrowing. This is clearly hard for her.

'Twas not my intention to lie. I simply felt...as though I could not continue on as myself. I was amongst the first group of Heroes to be brought to Crystallis, but was taken by the Calamity before seeing the conflict through to its end. As the founder of the Heroes' Guild, I failed my comrades. I was ashamed. I still am. However, there is work to be done, and thus I appear to you all in this manner.

[ Ashelia takes a sip of water before continuing. ]

I now see, as I learn to use this device, that the girl Ashelia has appeared to others. The true identity of the girl is Princess Sarah of Aqures Ixen, the kingdom the Heroes of Light first appeared in. She appeared to me in the garden the day I arrived here.

She...she is scared. She seemed scared. [ She shakes her head. That's not the point. ] She is being kept by someone. Who knows the danger she puts herself in when she visits us. [ Though, sneaking out against the wishes of others is very in character for the young girl. There's the beginning of a smile at the corners of Ashelia's lips and eyes before she continues on. ]

As for the identity of her captor, I couldn't say for sure, though I have my guesses. The Princess said her captor is a woman who has forgotten happiness. And wants everything to end. We...we must save her. If nothing else, she once again holds the answer to the riddle that is Vaikuntha. I promised her I would come for her. I intend to keep that promise.

[ There's a pause as she considers whether or not to say this last bit. ]

She also asked me to look after you all. I gave her my word that I would, and I do keep my word. Just...know that.

Comments

private voice;

[alborada]

[ Sylvarie is on this at once, her voice holding a faint tremor as she speaks. Nonetheless, she has to remain calm, no matter how much the name Sarah always invokes strong feelings within her heart. ]

Your Majesty please, I beg you. Forgive me if I am being insolent, but this Linkshell may not be the safest in which to discuss this if the princess truly is in danger.

private voice;

[desertbloomed]

Linkshell? [ Ashelia is clearly unfamiliar with the concept. ] This is...not sent directly to the other Offworlders? [ You fucked up, Ashe. ]

private voice;

[alborada]

It is, or at least it is meant to, in addition to those of us who work in Curti Center. [ Breathing out slowly, she continued. ]

However, it has been acting... strangely. Though I have heard nothing regarding any of these happenings from the Mognet Office itself, there is at least one person in this Linkshell who is neither an outworlders nor an employee, to my knowledge.

text; private

[promiselisting]

Wow

Okay then. Wow.

I guess this means I wasn't wrong about her being important.

[ and quick as anything, she's setting up her own security. And strengthening it as much as she can. ]

You know you could have just replied to my post. Then again I'm guessing this is your first time using this kind of network device?

text; private

[desertbloomed]

You Would be Correct. My Moogle has been Most Unhelpful in my Endeavours to Learn how to Use this Device. I am Afraid I've a Long Way to Go.

In Addition, it is My Experience that Young Children Appearing and then Disappearing as if Out of Nowhere is Rarely Unimportant.

text; private

[promiselisting]

[ Oh goodness yes, Ashe very much does type like someone who is New To Typing. ]

I mean yeah, that's why I was trying to find out more about her. But it looks like she only comes out when new people arrive, which... only really just established itself as a pattern recently.

I don't know if you were able to read the post or my notes, but I'm Futaba Sakura, one of the first people Sarah spoke to about four months ago.

video

[dreamsoftomorrow]

I doubt your friends think you failed them. If they were here, they likely would tell you otherwise.

[He offers her a small smile. He has some experience on what she said happened to her. In a far different manner, but he feels like he gets where she's coming from regardless.]

It's nice to meet you again, Queen Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca. [His smile widens a little.] That's a long name, is there another way you'd like to be addressed?

video

[desertbloomed]

I appreciate your kind words, and you may be right, but it changes naught. I pushed to be a leader, made assurances and promises, and I was unable to see them through.

[ Ashelia smiles back, haltingly at first. ]

Ah...in my home of Ivalice I am known as the Lady Ashe. I suppose that will do just fine here.

Well met, Hope.

[dreamsoftomorrow]

Yeah, but it wasn't due to anything you did that you couldn't follow through. It sounds like it was completely out of your hands.

[He nods.]

What do you plan on doing here, if you don't mind me asking? Aside from looking out for us.

Video

[boomchucka]

[Perhaps Ashelia will recognize the face of one her fellow Heroes of Light as Selphie gives her a respectful nod before smiling warmly.]

We didn't fail Crystallis, Your Majesty.

I don't believe we spoke to each other while there but it's a pleasure to meet you.

[Selphie follows up with a simple question. It's not meant to come across as rude, but maybe could help out a fellow Hero.]

Did you need some help with your iMog?

Video

[desertbloomed]

[ By the surprised look on her face, Ashelia very much does recognize Selphie's face. ]

Perhaps you did not. I, however, made promises and assurances as a leader, and I was unable to see them through. It...it needs fixing.

All that aside, well met...ah...Sophie I believe it was? [ They may not have met directly, but Ashelia had Merlose keep sparse personnel files on as many Heroes as she could. Names and faces, nothing more. ]

...it would seem I do need some help. [ If there is one lesson she could learn from her brief time as Alma, it is that humility is a virtue. ]

Video

[boomchucka]

[Selphie sees that surprised look before giggling a bit at the mistake. She's used to people doing that by now.]

Selphie! Selphie Tilmitt, to be exact. Takeshi, Reno, Johnny, Bonnie and Sparks are here as well.

There were others, like Chrom, who carried on your will after you turned to Crystal. It wasn't easy, and we lost a lot of people along the way, but we completed the mission.

I might be able to help over the mognet but uh... maybe the Curti Centre staff could help you better right now. Didn't your Moogle help you?

video;

[regisrex]

Your Majesty.

[ Have a Regis, Ashe, who is looking - well, not upset over the deceit, at least. ]

New beginnings are important, yes, and I know not if I would not have attempted something like that, had I not had close friends and family already here when I arrived - even if they are from thirty years later than I am - and my son, who is not born yet for me, is king already.

[ A slight pause, and before she mistakes that, ] while, for me, my father still lives, so I am not.

[ Royalty, yes. King, no. ]

It seems that the visit to the Empress may have plenty of people born to rule, after all.

That said, thank you for the information about the young lady. I have heard about her though I have not met her myself, and if I do, I will try to help.

[ He is just as aware as others that more may be listening in than she would like to know the information, but the coeurl is out of the bag now, so reassurance may be easiest. ]

private video; yes, she figured it out

[desertbloomed]

[ Ashelia stares into screen for a good couple moments. That was a mouthful and a brainful. However, her mind immediately went to how comforting it would be to have her father here with her...a train of thought best left at the station. Yes, that was a terrible analogy. I'm just getting back into this. ]

While your situation sounds...uniquely difficult, it must be a great comfort to have your son here with you. [ What would she do if her child was here with her? That wasn't a good though to entertain either; the familiar childbearing-related knot was already forming in her stomach. ]

I do appreciate it. Treat her kindly if you do see her. She has been through much. Even now, after everything, I believe she desires to save her captor. To forgive her. It takes a strength of will few are capable of.

private video; awww wonderful

[regisrex]

[ Regis notices the change of privacy and nods. While he thought it a good idea to respond publicly, more detailed discussion is much better off private. ]

It's... interesting to know, in a way, what the future holds. [ And heartbreaking. ] But I am definitely glad that he is here. [ And not back there. Not yet.

And, on that note, Regis's eyes widen just a fraction, growing sad. ]

How old did you say she is?

[ Because he's pretty sure the little princess is likely too young to have to deal with all of that. ]

Voice -> private

[piume]

[ A tumultuous first meeting isn’t nearly enough to make a fair judgement, so Lean is ready to cast his first impressions aside. Unlike others, however, he doesn’t rush into calling the queen by her title, genuine as it is. ]

I’m glad to hear you’re... feeling better. With this, I hope we can put our differences behind us.

[ This is not the end of his message, the second part coming under a private lock. ]

I know from Sylvarie that you’ve already been informed of the dangers of disclosing delicate information, which is something to keep in mind in the future. Your knowledge of Crystallis and its lore will definitely be of help, if you are willing to share.

Voice -> private

[desertbloomed]

To you, sir, I owe a more direct apology. I can only hope you'll understand where such a tumult came from. I give my word, you'll not endure such unacceptable behaviour from me again.

[ Deep breath. It was necessary, but that doesn't mean it was easy. ]

I will endeavour to answer any questions you may need me to. Alas, as I stated, my time on Crystallis was cut short before the end of the conflict. It would seem to have gone on longer and become more desperate than I had imagined it would...but I will share what knowledge I can.

text > private

[hatejakku]

It sounds like most people only see her when they first arrive. It's possible to assume she's being held somewhere around the Curti Center, right?

[ He was starstruck about meeting a Queen, but the kid being in danger made that courtesy vanish. He's very sorry. ]

I'm sure Futaba and others have actively tried to look for her but I can start a search there anyway.

text > private

[desertbloomed]

While not Impossible, I would Highly Doubt it. She did not Leave in the Conventional Sense; She Disappeared, Quite Literally. By My Reckoning, She is Being Held Elsewhere, perhaps not even on Vaikuntha Itself.

That Being Said, I am Most Certain there is Pertinent Information in the Researchers' Possession which is Being Held from Us. If You Desire to Search through the Facility, perhaps such Things would be More Prudent a Goal than our Wayward Princess.

[ But where are her manners? ]

Perhaps, though, Before I Send You Off to Cause Trouble for Our Poor Hosts, You would Do Me the Pleasure of Knowing Your Name? I'm Afraid You Have De at a disadvantage.

text > private

[hatejakku]

I didn't know she had abilities like that. I shouldn't really be surprised. Still, only appearing to new people is definitely weird.

But you're right. I'll start there, see if I can find anything. I'll let you know.

[ Oh, whoops! ]

Right I'm sorry! My name's Finn. It's a pleasure to meet you.

[ He's glad he's not doing this in person or he'd be fumbling all over himself. ]

private video;

[acceptedlife]

[There was plenty he could say or do regarding this video. In fact, the selfish part of him wanted nothing more than to ignore it. Yet he, more than anyone, knew what it meant to lie to others. He had for eight years of his life, after all. Almost his entire life, which started as a different lie to begin with.

He sighs as he sets the reply as private, and shows the blank wall behind him. He bows after setting the device on his bedside table.]

I thought I recognized you, Your Majesty.

[ There is a little irritation in his voice.]

Like that fool said publicly, you didn't fail us and we didn't fail the people of Crystallis. [Somehow. Also he means Selphie, if there's any doubt.] And since some people have likely said that sharing information sensitive like this with "killerofworlds" still on the contact list is reckless, I'll spare you that lecture and instead get to the point.

I have a copy of the report Jade Curtiss and Rukia Kuchiki supplied us with before the end began. If you like, I can share it and my notes continuing their work with you before I make it public myself.

private video;

[desertbloomed]

I thought you had. Your kindness in the face of such pettiness...I'll not soon forget it, Takeshi. You've my sincerest thanks.

[ Killerofworlds? That's new. And not especially subtle. ] Killerofworlds...this is that mysterious user on the network that one of the researchers mentioned?

Jade... [ A moment of silence for a good friend and comrade. ] I would like that very much. I do intend to keep my promises to the Princess. To do so, I expect I'll need to more fully understand what transpired after I was put into stasis.

What do you make of this invitation from the Empire? [ Ashelia narrows her eyes. ] An end-of-summer festival in a place with so many blatant connections to Crystallis is no coincidence.

[voice, then video]

[shinra_dog]

"Holy shit, it's Ashe!"

[The screen fuzzes a bit as Reno hastily turned the video function on, realizing she probably wouldn't recognize him otherwise. He looked surprised, confused, but generally happy to see her.]

Another "Hero of Light." Perfect timing, yo. Sparks'll probably be thrilled -- well, as much as Sparks can manage.

video;

[desertbloomed]

Reno. I'd heard you had been brought here as well. You seem to be doing well. [ Ashelia nods at Reno cordially, but the movement is comfortable and grounded, as is the smile on her face. ]

My timing is impeccable, isn't it? Just in time for a meeting with the Empress herself. What do you know of this Empire?

video, meant to reply to this sooner

[kuposcreed]

[There's a flickering, a thumping noise, a flash of light, and then a moogle face that fills the screen on the return video. The fluffy little thing seems to be on the verge of tears.]

Ahhh! Miss Ashelia! You're alright kupo~

[Bonnie remembers her, and she's sure that she'd remember Mary, but she won't hold it against their brief leader if she doesn't remember the Assassin's companion. Right now she's just happy that another familiar face is actually the person she remembers.]