melodiesofkupo | video; August 12, early evening

[ 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.

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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. ]

[ 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.

[ 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. ]

[ Ashelia sighs, shaking her head. ]

That is just the problem - the Princess has not been so young for a very long time.

On Crystallis, we were thrust backwards through time. We came across the Princess Sarah as she was thirty years or so before our arrival. We were put in crystal stasis when we were unable to stop the explosion of the Crystal of Fire, destroying the kingdom of Aqures Tosf, and awoke thirty years later just after we were transported backwards in time.

I was taken by the Calamity before we were able to find her again, but I understand that the Heroes did eventually locate her. She was the appropriate age. But now, here she is, once again a child. I do not doubt that it is indeed her...but there is something more going on where she's concerned.

[ Regis blinks, just for a moment, because thirty years or so hits very, very close to home, but he focuses on what Ashe is explaining, instead. ]

So... she was kidnapped as a child? Or she was returned to her current age after she has been an adult?

[ His assumption is to the former, but something about Ashe's words suggests that Sarah has become a child again, rather than still.

Because time travel shenanigans - more than different times to be pulled from - on top of worlds displacement shenanigans is just what they need. Then again, if that is what has happened already on Crystallis, they may not be able to avoid it. ]

The latter, it would seem. However...she spoke both of the promise we made during her childhood, and...well, what she felt were her failings when she did come of age as queen. Her use of a pseudonym would point to such knowledge. How apropos, considering the subject of my original video submission...

[ Regis listens intently, a small wrinkle between his eyebrows. This is... far more complicated than anything he has ever had a chance to learn about, and that makes things... complicated. He does not/i> like making mistakes that he could have avoided. ]

So we have somebody abducting a reigning monarch from another world - not merely bringing here, as we are, but abducting her - and forcing her to a younger stature, presumably to more easily affect or control her. We have all of us being drawn in, from our own worlds though sometimes different times, or from other places we have been to. And the experience of some who have been to a certain other place seems to be extremely relevant to Vaikuntha.

Do you think anyone else from Crystallis might be in danger? Or is it too soon to determine, either way?

video; August 12, early evening

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